As of June 11, 2020, Washington state two-, four-, and 7-hour HIV/AIDS trainings are no longer required.
Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB) 1551 (Chapter 76, Laws of 2020) repealed statutes concerning AIDS education and training for emergency medical personnel, health professionals, and health care facility employees. In support of ESHB 1551, the Department of Health repealed AIDS education and training requirements for professions and facilities under the Secretary's authority.
ESHB 1551 added a definition of Bloodborne Pathogen in RCW 70.24.017 to include HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C and eliminated outdated and duplicative statutory requirements for HIV/AIDS occupational exposure education and training for health care professionals and certain categories of employees.
Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Training remains required under Chapter 296-823 WAC adopted by the Department of Labor and Industries. Training conducted in compliance with this rule meets the curriculum requirements for HIV/AIDS training. Contact your employer or the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries for more information and training options.
Background
In 2014, Governor Inslee issued a proclamation to end the HIV epidemic in Washington by achieving the goal to reduce new HIV diagnoses by 50 percent by 2020. The End AIDS Washington report (PDF) recommends that we modernize Washington's HIV laws to reflect current science and reduce HIV-related stigma. Washington's laws related to HIV/AIDS primarily sit within Chapter 70.24 RCW, Control and Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Disease.
Many parts of the statute have not been updated, since they were enacted in 1988. The law was outdated and inconsistent with current state and national best practices. ESHB 1551 addresses HIV stigma and modernizes the law; including eliminating the requirement for additional HIV/AIDS training for health care professionals.
History
The purpose of requiring specific HIV/AIDS training was to ensure health care professionals were adequately educated and informed about the latest etiology and epidemiology; testing and counseling; infection control guidelines; clinical manifestations and treatment; legal and ethical issues including confidentiality; and psychosocial issues including special population considerations. Until June 11, 2020, health care professionals were required to complete HIV/AIDS Training and Blood Borne Pathogen (BBP) Training. ESHB 1551 eliminated outdated and duplicative statutory requirements for HIV/AIDS occupational exposure education and training for health care professionals and certain categories of employees.
Additional Information from Labor and Industries
Bloodborne Pathogens WAC 296-823 - Laws and Rule
Labor and Industries Safety and Health Rules - Bloodborne Pathogens Chapter 296-823