(1) To facilitate a public-private collaborative arrangement between a comprehensive cancer center and an institution of higher education and maintain the independence of the comprehensive cancer center as a nonprofit private entity, a comprehensive cancer center that is operated in conformance with subsection (3) of this section is not: (a) A state agency, state employer, quasi-government entity, or the functional equivalent of a state entity for any purpose under Washington law; (b) Subject to any obligation or duty of a state agency, state employer, or quasi-government entity under any Washington law; and (c) Subject to state laws or rules and local ordinances, resolutions, or rules specifically applicable to state agencies solely because of an entity's status as a state agency, but is subject to generally applicable state laws and rules and local ordinances, resolutions, and rules. (2) Employees of a comprehensive cancer center that is operated in conformance with subsection (3) of this section are not employees of a state agency, nor have any right or entitlement to any benefits conferred upon employees of a state agency. (3)(a) For purposes of chapter 71, Laws of 2022, and to ensure that a comprehensive cancer center maintains its character as a nonpublic entity, a comprehensive cancer center must not: (i) Perform an exclusively governmental function, but perform cancer research and medical treatment that are traditionally performed by both governmental and nongovernmental entities; (ii) Receive a majority of its operations funding from the government of the state of Washington or its agencies or institutions, but perform research and medical services under contract to both governmental and nongovernmental entities; (iii) Be subject to day-to-day management by any state agency or institution of higher education; and (iv) Be created solely by a state agency or an institution of higher education. (b) For purposes of chapter 71, Laws of 2022, and to ensure that the employees of a comprehensive cancer center are at no times employees of a state agency or institution of higher education, state employer, quasi-government entity, or the functional equivalent of a state entity, no state agency or institution of higher education, nor the employees, designees, or agents of a state agency or institution of higher education, may: (i) Directly exercise employer management over comprehensive cancer center employees' day-to-day operation of the comprehensive cancer center; (ii) Solely determine the compensation, benefits, and working conditions of comprehensive cancer center employees for their comprehensive cancer center employment; or (iii) Engage in collective bargaining, the ratification of collective bargaining agreements as an employer, or other discussion with the exclusive bargaining representatives of the employees of a comprehensive cancer center related to comprehensive cancer center employees. (4) For the purposes of chapter 71, Laws of 2022, the following definitions apply: (a) "Collaborative arrangement" means a written arrangement between a comprehensive cancer center and an institution of higher education, through which the cancer care programs of the comprehensive cancer center and institution of higher education will be aligned and managed. (b) "Comprehensive cancer center" means a comprehensive cancer center as defined in RCW 82.04.4265 that enters into a collaborative arrangement with an institution of higher education and is operated in conformance with this section. [ 2022 c 71 s 2.]
‹ Prev All Washington sections Next ›
Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.