Communicable Disease, STD Modernization Rule Update

The Board is considering amending chapters of the state’s Communicable Disease and Notifiable Conditions rules to implement changes made by Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB) 1551 as it relates to HIV/AIDS. The Board may also consider other technical or editorial changes as needed. Revisions may include, but are not limited to:

  • Establishing reporting requirements and procedures for investigations for sexually transmitted diseases;
  • Specifying behavior that endangers the public health;
  • Defining specimens that can be obtained and tests that can be administered for sexually transmitted diseases, blood-borne pathogens, and other infections;
  • Determining categories of employment that are at risk of substantial exposure to a blood-borne pathogen; and,
  • Defining what constitutes an exposure that presents a possible risk of transmission of a blood-borne pathogen. 

During the 2020 Legislative Session, the Legislature passed ESHB 1551, Modernizing the control of certain communicable diseases (Chapter 76, Laws of 2020). This bill modernizes the state’s control of communicable disease laws by ending statutory HIV/AIDs exceptionalism, reducing HIV-related stigma, defelonizing HIV exposure, and removing barriers to HIV testing. The new law took effect June 11, 2020. The Board is undertaking rulemaking to consider possible revisions to Chapters 246-100 and 246-101 WAC to assure consistency with the bill’s requirements and protect public health and safety.

Visit the Communicable Disease rule web page for more information, how to participate in the rulemaking process, and find meeting and rule documents.