Focus: Responsible for promoting the use of science-based knowledge in decision-making about asthma prevention & control, and making policy recommendations to both governmental and non-governmental entities, as appropriate. 

Key Information:

Senate Bill 5841 acknowledges asthma as the most common chronic disease in children and puts measures into place to address asthma in schools.

• This legislation requires a uniform policy for all school districts regarding the training of school staff about children with asthma and requires the adoption of policies regarding asthma rescue procedures.
• Schools also must authorize students to self-carry and self-administer medication to treat asthma.
• The new legislation also requires the state explore effective asthma management strategies. "This is good news for school children with asthma," said state health officer Dr. Maxine Hayes. "Although there is no cure for asthma, children can still live a healthy and active life by keeping their asthma under control - this is definitely a step in the right direction." This legislation passed the Senate 45 to 0 and the House 94 to 0. It was approved by the governor on May 13, 2005 and went into effect on July 24, 2005. Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism in our state. With the implementation of SB 5841 policies we anticipate fewer lost school and work days for those 500,000 families impacted by asthma. Read the text of Asthma Senate Bill 5841, providing for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of asthma.

  Background:

  Members of the Policy Committee of the Washington Asthma Initiative researched possible legislation to be introduced in the 2005 Legislative Session to address the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of asthma for Washington State residents. The legislation proposes changes and additions to current sections of the Revised Code of Washington that are based largely on policy recommendations from a RAND Health Report, "Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes in the United States: A Blueprint for Policy Action".

  Questions:

  Please forward any questions, comments or suggestions to Carrie Nyssen at cnyssen@alaw.org.