Wash. Rev. Code » Title 70 · Chapter 70.24
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.24.015 (2026)

Legislative finding

✓ current as of May 2026
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The legislature declares that sexually transmitted diseases and blood-borne pathogens constitute a serious and sometimes fatal threat to the public and individual health and welfare of the people of the state. The legislature finds that the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and blood-borne pathogens is rising at an alarming rate and that these diseases result in significant social, health, and economic costs, including infant and maternal mortality, temporary and lifelong disability, and premature death. The legislature further finds that sexually transmitted diseases and blood-borne pathogens, by their nature, involve sensitive issues of privacy, and it is the intent of the legislature that all programs designed to deal with these diseases afford patients privacy, confidentiality, and dignity. The legislature also finds that medical knowledge and information about sexually transmitted diseases and blood-borne pathogens are rapidly changing. It is therefore the intent of the legislature to provide a program that is sufficiently flexible to meet emerging needs, deals efficiently and effectively with reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and blood-borne pathogens, and provides patients with a secure knowledge that information they provide will remain private and confidential.
[ 2020 c 76 s 1; 1988 c 206 s 901.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1991–2014 · leading case: In Re Juveniles A, B, C, D, E, 847 P.2d 455 (Wash. 1993).
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In Re Juveniles A, B, C, D, E, 847 P.2d 455 (Wash. 1993). · cites it 8× “RCW 70.24.015. By adopting this statute, the legislative intent was "to provide a program that is sufficiently flexible to meet emerging needs, deal[] efficiently and effectively with reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, and provide[] patients with a secure…”
State v. Stark, 832 P.2d 109 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 3× “" RCW 70.24.015. However, the Legislature also sought to protect the public from those who are infected that act irresponsibly and endanger others.”
State v. Mercado, 326 P.3d 154 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “340, adopted in 1988, is declared in RCW 70.24.015: The legislature declares that sexually transmitted diseases constitute a serious and sometimes fatal threat to the public and individual health and welfare of the people of the state.”
State v. Farmer, 805 P.2d 200 (Wash. 1991). “See RCW 70.24.015. Consequently, it has provided few exceptions where nonconsensual HIV testing may occur.”
Spokane Cnty. Health Dist. v. Brockett, 839 P.2d 324 (Wash. 1992). “RCW 70.24.015. The AIDS act establishes six AIDS Service Network Regions.”
Roe v. Quality Transp. Servs., 838 P.2d 128 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). “None of these statutes suggest a legislative intent to announce public policy in the area of drug testing. In fact, their existence suggests to us a legislative desire to articulate publibc policy in the area of privacy.”
State of Washington v. Heather L. Mercado (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “340, adopted in 1988, is declared in RCW 70.24.015: The legislature declares that sexually transmitted diseases constitute a serious and sometimes fatal threat to the public and individual health and welfare of the people of the state.”
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