Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 43.70 - Department of Health.
43.70.130 - Powers and duties of secretary—General.

RCW 43.70.130
Powers and duties of secretary—General.

The secretary of health shall:
(1) Exercise all the powers and perform all the duties prescribed by law with respect to public health and vital statistics;
(2) Investigate and study factors relating to the preservation, promotion, and improvement of the health of the people, the causes of morbidity and mortality, and the effects of the environment and other conditions upon the public health, and report the findings to the state board of health for such action as the board determines is necessary;
(3) Strictly enforce all laws for the protection of the public health and the improvement of sanitary conditions in the state, and all rules, regulations, and orders of the state board of health;
(4) Enforce the public health laws of the state and the rules and regulations promulgated by the department or the board of health in local matters, when in its opinion an emergency exists and the local board of health has failed to act with sufficient promptness or efficiency, or is unable for reasons beyond its control to act, or when no local board has been established, and all expenses so incurred shall be paid upon demand of the secretary of the department of health by the local health department for which such services are rendered, out of moneys accruing to the credit of the municipality or the local health department in the current expense fund of the county;
(5) Investigate outbreaks and epidemics of disease that may occur and advise local health officers as to measures to be taken to prevent and control the same;
(6) Exercise general supervision over the work of all local health departments and establish uniform reporting systems by local health officers to the state department of health;
(7) Have the same authority as local health officers, except that the secretary shall not exercise such authority unless the local health officer fails or is unable to do so, or when in an emergency the safety of the public health demands it, or by agreement with the local health officer or local board of health;
(8) Cause to be made from time to time, personal health and sanitation inspections at state owned or contracted institutions and facilities to determine compliance with sanitary and health care standards as adopted by the department, and require the governing authorities thereof to take such action as will conserve the health of all persons connected therewith, and report the findings to the governor;
(9) Review and approve plans for public water system design, engineering, operation, maintenance, financing, and emergency response, as required under state board of health rules;
(10) Take such measures as the secretary deems necessary in order to promote the public health, to establish or participate in the establishment of health educational or training activities, and to provide funds for and to authorize the attendance and participation in such activities of employees of the state or local health departments and other individuals engaged in programs related to or part of the public health programs of the local health departments or the state department of health. The secretary is also authorized to accept any funds from the federal government or any public or private agency made available for health education training purposes and to conform with such requirements as are necessary in order to receive such funds; and
(11) Establish and maintain laboratory facilities and services as are necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the department.

[ 1990 c 132 § 2; 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 § 251; 1985 c 213 § 2; 1979 c 141 § 46; 1967 ex.s. c 102 § 1; 1965 c 8 § 43.20.010. Prior: (i) 1909 c 208 § 2; RRS § 6004. (ii) 1921 c 7 § 59; RRS § 10817. Formerly RCW 43.20A.600 and 43.20.010.]
NOTES:

Legislative findings—Severability—1990 c 132: See note following RCW 43.20.240.


Savings—Effective date—1985 c 213: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.


Severability—1967 ex.s. c 102: "If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1967 ex.s. c 102 § 13.]


Public water systems—Complaint process: RCW 43.20.240.

Structure Revised Code of Washington

Revised Code of Washington

Title 43 - State Government—Executive

Chapter 43.70 - Department of Health.

43.70.005 - Intent.

43.70.010 - Definitions.

43.70.020 - Department created.

43.70.030 - Secretary of health.

43.70.040 - Secretary's powers—Rule-making authority—Report to the legislature.

43.70.041 - Five-year formal review process of existing rules.

43.70.045 - Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Excellence in Health Care.

43.70.047 - Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Excellence in Health Care.

43.70.050 - Collection, use, and accessibility of health-related data.

43.70.052 - Hospital financial and patient discharge data—Financial reports—Data retrieval—American Indian health data—Reporting—Patient discharge data—Confidentiality and protection.

43.70.053 - Hospital consolidated annual income—Reporting.

43.70.054 - Health care data standards—Submittal of standards to legislature.

43.70.056 - Health care-associated infections—Data collection and reporting—Advisory committee—Rules.

43.70.057 - Hospital emergency room patient care information—Data collection, maintenance, analysis, and dissemination—Rules.

43.70.060 - Duties of department—Promotion of health care cost-effectiveness.

43.70.064 - Health care quality—Findings and intent—Requirements for conducting study under RCW 43.70.066.

43.70.066 - Study—Uniform quality assurance and improvement program—Reports to legislature—Limitation on rule making.

43.70.068 - Quality assurance—Interagency cooperation.

43.70.070 - Duties of department—Analysis of health services.

43.70.075 - Identity of whistleblower protected—Remedy for retaliatory action—Definitions—Rules.

43.70.080 - Transfer of powers and duties from the department of social and health services.

43.70.081 - Transfer of certain behavioral health-related powers, duties, and functions from the department of social and health services.

43.70.090 - Authority to administer oaths and issue subpoenas—Provisions governing subpoenas.

43.70.095 - Civil fines.

43.70.097 - Enforcement in accordance with RCW 43.05.100 and 43.05.110.

43.70.100 - Reports of violations by secretary—Duty to institute proceedings—Notice to alleged violator.

43.70.110 - License fees—Costs—Other charges—Waiver.

43.70.112 - Online access to health care resources—Annual accounting of use of funds and use of online resources—University of Washington.

43.70.115 - Licenses—Denial, suspension, revocation, modification.

43.70.117 - Health care professionals licensed in another state or United States territory or the District of Columbia—In-state practice on a limited basis—Requirements—Limitations.

43.70.120 - Federal programs—Rules—Statutes to be construed to meet federal law.

43.70.125 - Health care facility certification—Unfunded federal mandates—Applicant fees.

43.70.130 - Powers and duties of secretary—General.

43.70.140 - Annual conference of health officers.

43.70.150 - Registration of vital statistics.

43.70.170 - Threat to public health—Investigation, examination or sampling of articles or conditions constituting—Access—Subpoena power.

43.70.180 - Threat to public health—Order prohibiting sale or disposition of food or other items pending investigation.

43.70.185 - Inspection of property where marine species located—Prohibitions on harvest or landing—Penalties.

43.70.190 - Violations—Injunctions and legal proceedings authorized.

43.70.195 - Public water systems—Receivership actions brought by secretary—Plan for disposition.

43.70.200 - Enforcement of health laws and state or local rules and regulations upon request of local health officer.

43.70.210 - Right of person to rely on prayer to alleviate ailments not abridged.

43.70.220 - Transfer of powers and duties from the department of licensing.

43.70.230 - Office of health consumer assistance created—Duties.

43.70.240 - Written operating agreements.

43.70.250 - License fees for professions, occupations, and businesses.

43.70.260 - Appointment of temporary additional members of boards and committees for administration and grading of examinations.

43.70.270 - License moratorium for persons in the service—Rules.

43.70.280 - Procedure for issuance, renewal, or reissuance of credentials—Extension or modification of licensing, certification, or registration period authorized.

43.70.290 - Funeral directors and embalmers subject to chapter 18.130 RCW.

43.70.300 - Secretary or secretary's designee ex officio member of health professional licensure and disciplinary boards.

43.70.310 - Cooperation with department of ecology.

43.70.320 - Health professions account—Fees credited—Requirements for biennial budget request—Unappropriated funds.

43.70.323 - Hospital infection control grant account.

43.70.327 - Public health supplemental account—Annual statement.

43.70.334 - Temporary worker housing—Definition.

43.70.335 - Temporary worker housing operating license—Fee—Display—Suspension or revocation—Fines—Refunds—Rules—Application of department of labor and industries standards.

43.70.337 - Temporary worker housing building permit—Plans and specifications—Fees—Rules.

43.70.340 - Temporary worker housing inspection fund—Fees on temporary worker housing operating licenses and building permits—Licenses generally.

43.70.400 - Head injury prevention—Legislative finding.

43.70.410 - Head injury prevention—Program, generally.

43.70.420 - Head injury prevention—Information preparation.

43.70.430 - Head injury prevention—Guidelines on training and education—Training of emergency medical personnel.

43.70.435 - Diagnosed concussions of students—Report.

43.70.440 - Head injury prevention act—Short title—1990 c 270.

43.70.442 - Suicide assessment, treatment, and management training—Requirement for certain professionals—Exemptions—Model list of programs—Rules—Health profession training standards provided to the professional educator standards board.

43.70.443 - Study of evidence-based suicide assessment, treatment, and management training—Report—Updates.

43.70.444 - Washington plan for suicide prevention—Steering committee—Report.

43.70.446 - Suicide-safer homes project—Suicide-safer homes project account.

43.70.447 - Suicide assessment, treatment, and management—Curriculum for dental students and dentists.

43.70.452 - Agricultural industry workforce behavioral health improvement and suicide prevention—Pilot program.

43.70.460 - Retired primary and specialty care provider liability malpractice insurance—Program authorized.

43.70.470 - Retired health care provider liability malpractice insurance—Conditions.

43.70.480 - Emergency medical personnel—Futile treatment and natural death directives—Guidelines.

43.70.490 - Emergency medical service personnel training program—Assistance to persons with disabilities—Requirements—Law enforcement officer training—Definitions.

43.70.495 - Telemedicine training for health care professionals.

43.70.500 - Health care services practice indicators and risk management protocols.

43.70.510 - Health care services coordinated quality improvement program—Rules.

43.70.512 - Public health system—Foundational public health services—Intent.

43.70.515 - Foundational public health services—Funding.

43.70.525 - Immunization assessment and enhancement proposals by local jurisdictions.

43.70.526 - Childhood immunizations—Resources for expecting parents.

43.70.533 - Chronic conditions—Training and technical assistance for primary care providers.

43.70.540 - Data collection—Legislative finding and intent.

43.70.545 - Data collection and reporting rules.

43.70.550 - Public health services improvement plan—Contents.

43.70.555 - Assessment standards.

43.70.560 - Media violence—Reporting reduction efforts.

43.70.570 - Intent—1995 c 43.

43.70.575 - Definitions.

43.70.590 - American Indian health care delivery plan.

43.70.595 - Health equity zones.

43.70.600 - Survey regarding exposure to radio frequencies—Results.

43.70.605 - Personal wireless services—Random testing on power density analysis—Rules.

43.70.610 - Domestic violence education program—Established—Findings.

43.70.613 - Health care professionals—Health equity continuing education.

43.70.615 - Multicultural health awareness and education program—Integration into health professions basic education preparation curriculum.

43.70.617 - Prenatal nutrition best practices—Educational resources for pregnant women.

43.70.619 - Pregnancy complications—Informational resources.

43.70.620 - List of contacts—Health care professions.

43.70.630 - Cost-reimbursement agreements.

43.70.640 - Workplace breastfeeding policies—Infant-friendly designation.

43.70.645 - Donor human milk—Milk bank safety standards.

43.70.650 - School sealant endorsement program—Rules—Fee—Report to the legislature.

43.70.660 - Product safety education.

43.70.665 - Early detection breast and cervical cancer screening program—Medical advisory committee.

43.70.670 - Human immunodeficiency virus insurance program.

43.70.675 - Public health advisory board.

43.70.680 - Volunteers for emergency or disaster assistance.

43.70.690 - State asthma plan.

43.70.700 - Locally grown foods—Women, infant, and children farmers market nutrition program—Fruit and vegetable benefit—Rules.

43.70.705 - Fall prevention program.

43.70.710 - Annual review of medication practices of five jails that use nonpractitioner jail personnel—Noncompliance.

43.70.715 - COVID-19 public health response account.

43.70.720 - Universal vaccine purchase account.

43.70.725 - Health extension program—Dissemination of evidence-based tools and resources—Rules.

43.70.738 - Down syndrome resources—Development.

43.70.740 - Adjudicative proceedings.

43.70.750 - Community assistance referral and education program—Review of certification and training—Recommendations to the legislature.

43.70.765 - Opioid drugs—Warning—Patient education materials.

43.70.770 - State opioid response plan.

43.70.780 - Fruit and vegetable incentives program.

43.70.790 - Health care facility inspection and investigation availability.

43.70.800 - Oversight, consolidation, and standardization—Review.

43.70.810 - Provision of medical information—Dissemination of requirements and authority.

43.70.815 - Environmental health disparities map.

43.70.820 - Environmental justice obligations of the department of health.

43.70.825 - School-based health center program office.

43.70.830 - Lead contamination in drinking water in school buildings—Sampling and testing—Data-sharing agreement.

43.70.835 - Lead contamination in drinking water in school buildings—State-tribal compact schools.

43.70.840 - Lead contamination in drinking water in school buildings—Technical guidance.

43.70.845 - Lead contamination in drinking water in school buildings—Department of health as lead agency—Waiver.

43.70.850 - Suicide-safer homes task force.

43.70.900 - References to the secretary or department of social and health services—1989 1st ex.s. c 9.

43.70.901 - References to the director or department of licensing—1989 1st ex.s. c 9.

43.70.902 - References to the hospital commission—1989 1st ex.s. c 9.

43.70.910 - Effective date—1989 1st ex.s. c 9.

43.70.920 - Severability—1989 1st ex.s. c 9.