Title 72 — Title 72 STATE INSTITUTIONS

Any person who procures the escape of any patient of any state hospital for the mentally ill, or institutions for psychopaths to which such patient has been lawfully committed, or who advises, connives at, aids, or assists in such escape or conceals any such escape, is guilty of …

(1) The following entities must each ensure that every consenting patient possesses a valid identicard, issued by the department of licensing under chapter 46.20 RCW, prior to the individual's release from care in the applicable facility:(a) State hospitals licensed under chapter…

Whenever a patient dies, escapes, or is paroled or discharged from a state hospital, the superintendent shall immediately notify the clerk of the court which ordered such patient's hospitalization. A copy of such notice shall be given to the next of kin or next friend of such pat…

In the event of the sudden or mysterious death of any patient at a state hospital, not on parole or escape therefrom, such fact shall be reported by the superintendent thereof to the coroner of the county in which the death occurs.[ 1959 c 28 s 72.23.190. Prior: 1951 c 139 s 45. …

No mentally ill person under the age of sixteen years shall be regularly confined in any ward in any state hospital which ward is designed and operated for the care of the mentally ill eighteen years of age or over. No person of the ages of sixteen and seventeen shall be placed i…

The department may designate one or more wards at one or more state hospitals as may be deemed necessary for the sole care and treatment of persons under eighteen years of age admitted thereto. Nurses and attendants for such ward or wards shall be selected for their special aptit…

The superintendent of a state hospital shall be the custodian without compensation of such personal property of a patient involuntarily hospitalized therein as may come into the superintendent's possession while the patient is under the jurisdiction of the hospital. As such custo…

Upon receipt of a written request signed by the superintendent stating that a designated patient of such hospital is involuntarily hospitalized therein, and that no guardian of his or her estate has been appointed, any person, bank, firm, or corporation having possession of any m…

The superintendent shall also have authority to receive funds for the benefit of individual patients and may disburse such funds according to the instructions of the donor of such funds.[ 1959 c 28 s 72.23.250. Prior: 1951 c 139 s 50. Formerly RCW 71.02.580.]

The department shall have the power, in the name of the state, to enter into contracts with any duly authorized representative of the United States government, providing for the admission to, and the separate or joint observation, maintenance, care, treatment and custody in, stat…

Nonresidents of this state conveyed or coming herein while mentally ill shall not be hospitalized in a state hospital, but this prohibition shall not prevent the hospitalization and temporary care in said hospitals of such persons stricken with mental illness while traveling or t…

Whenever it appears to be to the best interests of the patients concerned, the department shall have the authority to transfer such patients among the various state hospitals pursuant to rules and regulations established by said department. The superintendent of a state hospital …

Any person not authorized by law so to do, who brings into any state institution for the care and treatment of mental illness or within the grounds thereof, any opium, morphine, cocaine or other narcotic, or any intoxicating liquor of any kind whatever, except for medicinal or me…

(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Lift team" means hospital employees specially trained to conduct patient lifts, transfers, and repositioning using lifting equipment when appropriate.(b) "Safe …

(1) By November 1, 2000, each state hospital shall develop a plan, for implementation by January 1, 2001, to reasonably prevent and protect employees from violence at the state hospital. The plan shall be developed with input from the state hospital's safety committee, which incl…

By July 1, 2001, and at least annually thereafter, as set forth in the plan developed under RCW 72.23.400, each state hospital shall provide violence prevention training to all its affected employees as determined by the plan. Initial training shall occur prior to assignment to a…

Beginning no later than July 1, 2000, each state hospital shall keep a record of any violent act against an employee or a patient occurring at the state hospital. Each record shall be kept for at least five years following the act reported during which time it shall be available …

Failure of a state hospital to comply with this chapter shall subject the hospital to citation under chapter 49.17 RCW.[ 2000 c 22 s 6.]Notes:Findings—2000 c 22: See note following RCW 72.23.400.

A state hospital needing assistance to comply with RCW 72.23.400 through 72.23.420 may contact the department of labor and industries for assistance. The state departments of labor and industries, social and health services, and health shall collaborate with representatives of st…

By September 1st of each year, the department shall report to the house committee on commerce and labor and the senate committee on commerce and trade, or successor committees, on the department's efforts to reduce violence in the state hospitals.[ 2005 c 187 s 1.]

The provisions of RCW 70.41.410 and 70.41.420 apply to hospitals governed by this chapter.[ 2008 c 47 s 4.]Notes:Findings—Intent—2008 c 47: See note following RCW 70.41.410.

The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed so that persons who are in need of care and treatment for mental illness shall receive humane care and treatment and be restored to normal mental condition as rapidly as possible with an avoidance of loss of civil rights…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as affecting the laws of this state relating to the criminally insane or insane inmates of penal institutions. Where the term "insane" is used in other statutes of this state its meaning shall be synonymous with mental illness as defined…

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to …

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2632.SL) ***It shall be the duty of the secretary of the department of social and health services, in cooperation with the United States bureau of immigration and/or the United States department of the interior, to arrange for the deportation of all al…

The secretary shall also return all nonresident sexual psychopaths, psychopathic delinquents, or mentally ill persons who are now confined in or who may hereafter be committed to a state hospital for the sexual psychopath, psychopathic delinquent, or the mentally ill in this stat…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2632.SL) ***For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter the secretary may employ all help necessary in arranging for and transporting such alien and nonresident sexual psychopaths, psychopathic delinquents, or mentally ill persons, a…

The Interstate Compact on Mental Health is hereby enacted into law and entered into by this state with all other states legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:The contracting states solemnly agree that:ARTICLE IThe party states find that the proper and exped…

Pursuant to said compact provided in RCW 72.27.010, the secretary of social and health services shall be the compact administrator and who, acting jointly with like officers of other party states, shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out more effectively …

The compact administrator is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into supplementary agreements with appropriate officials of other states pursuant to Articles VII and XI of the compact. In the event that such supplementary agreements shall require or contemplate the use of a…

The compact administrator, subject to the moneys available therefor, may make or arrange for any payments necessary to discharge any financial obligations imposed upon this state by the compact or by any supplementary agreement entered into thereunder.[ 1965 ex.s. c 26 s 4.]

No person shall be transferred to another party state pursuant to this chapter unless the compact administrator first shall have obtained either:(a) [(1)] The written consent to such transfer by the proposed transferee or by others on his or her behalf, which consent shall be exe…

Duly authorized copies of this chapter shall, upon its approval be transmitted by the secretary of state to the governor of each state, the attorney general and the administrator of general services of the United States, and the council of state governments.[ 1965 ex.s. c 26 s 6.…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2632.SL) ***Nothing in this chapter shall affect the right of the secretary of social and health services to deport aliens and return residents of nonparty states as provided in chapter 72.25 RCW.[ 1979 c 141 s 234; 1965 ex.s. c 26 s 7.]

After the acquisition of Harrison Memorial Hospital, the department of social and health services is authorized to enter into contracts for the repair or remodeling of the hospital to the extent they are necessary and reasonable, in order to establish a multi-use facility for per…

(1) There is established at Orting, Pierce county, an institution which shall be known as the Washington soldiers' home.(2) The department is authorized to work with public or private entities on projects to make the best use of the soldiers' home property and facilities. These p…

The director of the department of veterans affairs shall appoint an administrator and director of nursing services for each state veterans' home. The administrator shall exercise management and control of the institution in accordance with either policies or procedures promulgate…

All of the following persons who have been actual bona fide residents of this state at the time of their application may be admitted to a state veterans' home under rules as may be adopted by the director of the department, unless sufficient facilities and resources are not avail…

For purposes of this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(1) "Actual bona fide residents of this state" means persons who have a domicile in the state of Washington immediately prior to application for admission to a state veterans' home.(2) "Department" means…

Chapter 70.129 RCW applies to this chapter and persons regulated under this chapter.[ 1994 c 214 s 23.]Notes:Conflict with federal requirements—1994 c 214: See RCW 70.129.901.

In the maintenance of the state veterans' homes by the state through the department of veterans affairs, such maintenance shall include, but not be limited to, the provision of members' room and board, medical and dental care, physical and occupational therapy, and recreational a…

The state treasurer is authorized to receive any and all moneys appropriated or paid by the United States under the act of congress entitled "An Act to provide aid to state or territorial homes for disabled soldiers and sailors of the United States," approved August 27, 1888, or …

There shall be established and maintained in this state a branch of the state soldiers' home, under the name of the "Washington veterans' home," which branch shall be a home for honorably discharged veterans who have served the United States government in any of its wars, members…

There shall be established and maintained in this state a branch of the state soldiers' home, under the name of the "eastern Washington veterans' home," which branch shall be a home for veterans, their spouses, and the parents any of whose children died while serving in the armed…

The "Walla Walla veterans' home" is established and maintained in this state as a branch of the state soldiers' home, and is a home for veterans, their spouses, or parents any of whose children died while serving in the armed forces, who meet admission requirements contained in R…

The administrators of the state veterans' homes are hereby authorized to:(1) Institute programs of hobby promotion designed to improve the general welfare and mental condition of the persons under their supervision;(2) Provide for the financing of these programs by grants from fu…

The administrator of each institution referred to in RCW 72.36.090 may purchase, from the appropriation to the institution, for operations, equipment or materials designed to initiate the programs authorized by RCW 72.36.090.[ 2018 c 45 s 5; 1959 c 28 s 72.36.100. Prior: 1949 c 1…

The administrator of the Washington veterans' home and the administrator of the Washington soldiers' home and colony are hereby authorized to provide for the burial of deceased members in the cemeteries provided at the Washington veterans' home and Washington soldiers' home: PROV…

(1) The department shall establish and maintain in this state an eastern Washington state veterans' cemetery.(2) All honorably discharged veterans and their spouses or state registered domestic partners who meet eligibility requirements under 38 C.F.R. Sec. 38.620 are eligible fo…

All income of residents of a state veterans' home, other than the personal needs allowance and income from therapeutic employment, shall be deposited in the state general fund—local and be available to apply against the cost of care provided by the state veterans' homes. The resi…