OLYMPIA – A meaningful advancement toward ensuring that tribal voices are represented on local boards of health throughout Washington state was recently signed into law. On Tuesday, May 13, Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1946, sponsored by Rep. Natasha Hill (D-Spokane).
Washington state is home to 29 federally recognized tribes. However, many do not have representation on their local boards of health. Local boards of health are county-level organizations with a broad purview over matters of public health, including enforcing state public health statutes and rules, controlling and preventing infectious diseases, and abating public health nuisances. Current law only requires a single tribal representative serve on a local board, no matter how many tribes may be in the local community.
“I’m hopeful that, moving forward, this law will ensure the opportunity for the inclusion of every one of our tribes in the decision-making processes that shape public health systems in our communities – their communities,” said Rep. Hill.
While this new law impacts every federally recognized tribe within Washington state, the issue of lack of tribal representation on local health boards was first brought to Spokane’s 3rd District delegation by a local Native American health care organization.
“I want to thank the local tribal members and tribal healthcare provider who brought this issue to us, and Senator Marcus Riccelli for laying the groundwork to address these inequities and calling me in to help make this needed change a reality,” said Hill. “I also want to thank my colleagues Rep. Debra Lekanoff, for being a supportive cosponsor, and Rep. Lisa Parshley, for her work with Thurston County tribes to improve the bill. Every tribe should have a seat at the table when it comes to healthcare decisions—because representation leads to better health outcomes. This new law ensures they do.”