Board to await state rulemaking on HB 1946 that would add tribal seats to county boards of health; local outreach underway

Public-health staff told the Thurston County Board of Health on May 13 that implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1946 — the legislative change directing counties with five commissioners to make seats available for local tribal membership on boards of health — is pending rulemaking by the State Board of Health.

"How this is going to be implemented is currently being worked out by the State Board of Health, and is expected to complete the rulemaking that could potentially go into the fall," said Dr. Freiheit (identified in the meeting as the staff presenter). Staff said they have reached out to local tribal governments and will remain engaged in the rulemaking and outreach process.

Board members raised procedural questions about quorum and how additional seats would affect voting. Staff responded that the rulemaking will be the forum to clarify those issues; until rules are issued, staff plan to invite tribes but will not treat a tribe’s nonparticipation as removing seats. As one board member summarized, the county will "wait for the rulemaking" before making formal recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.

Staff identified local tribal governments they had contacted; in discussion the tribes named were the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation and the Squaxin Island Tribe. Staff said the county currently anticipates inviting up to three tribal governments in the county’s Board of Health district configuration.

There was no formal vote; the board requested staff continue outreach and return with updates after state rulemaking.