2018 Revised Code of Washington
Title 71 - MENTAL ILLNESS
71.24 Community mental health services act.
71.24.590 Opioid treatment—Program licensing or certification by department, department duties—Definition.

RCW 71.24.590 Opioid treatment—Program licensing or certification by department, department duties—Definition.

(1) When making a decision on an application for licensing or certification of a program, the department shall:

(a) Consult with the county legislative authorities in the area in which an applicant proposes to locate a program and the city legislative authority in any city in which an applicant proposes to locate a program;

(b) License or certify only programs that will be sited in accordance with the appropriate county or city land use ordinances. Counties and cities may require conditional use permits with reasonable conditions for the siting of programs. Pursuant to RCW 36.70A.200, no local comprehensive plan or development regulation may preclude the siting of essential public facilities;

(c) Not discriminate in its licensing or certification decision on the basis of the corporate structure of the applicant;

(d) Consider the size of the population in need of treatment in the area in which the program would be located and license or certify only applicants whose programs meet the necessary treatment needs of that population;

(e) Consider the availability of other certified opioid treatment programs near the area in which the applicant proposes to locate the program;

(f) Consider the transportation systems that would provide service to the program and whether the systems will provide reasonable opportunities to access the program for persons in need of treatment;

(g) Consider whether the applicant has, or has demonstrated in the past, the capability to provide the appropriate services to assist the persons who utilize the program in meeting goals established by the legislature in RCW 71.24.585. The department shall prioritize licensing or certification to applicants who have demonstrated such capability and are able to measure their success in meeting such outcomes;

(h) Hold one public hearing in the community in which the facility is proposed to be located. The hearing shall be held at a time and location that are most likely to permit the largest number of interested persons to attend and present testimony. The department shall notify all appropriate media outlets of the time, date, and location of the hearing at least three weeks in advance of the hearing.

(2) A county may impose a maximum capacity for a program of not less than three hundred fifty participants if necessary to address specific local conditions cited by the county.

(3) A program applying for licensing or certification from the department and a program applying for a contract from a state agency that has been denied the licensing or certification or contract shall be provided with a written notice specifying the rationale and reasons for the denial.

(4) For the purpose of this chapter, opioid treatment program means:

(a) Dispensing a medication approved by the federal drug administration for the treatment of opioid use disorder and dispensing medication for the reversal of opioid overdose; and

(b) Providing a comprehensive range of medical and rehabilitative services.

[ 2018 c 201 § 4045; 2017 c 297 § 14; 2001 c 242 § 2; 1995 c 321 § 2; 1989 c 270 § 21. Formerly RCW 70.96A.410.]

NOTES:

Findings—Intent—Effective date—2018 c 201: See notes following RCW 41.05.018.

Contingent effective date—2017 c 297 §§ 14 and 16: "Sections 14 and 16 of this act take effect only if neither Substitute House Bill No. 1388 (including any later amendments or substitutes) nor Substitute Senate Bill No. 5259 (including any later amendments or substitutes) is signed into law by the governor by July 23, 2017." [ 2017 c 297 § 18.] Neither Substitute House Bill No. 1388 nor Substitute Senate Bill No. 5259 was signed into law by July 23, 2017.

Findings—Intent—2017 c 297: See note following RCW 18.22.800.