43.41.370 - Loss prevention review team -- Appointment -- Duties. - Washington Statutes

Loss prevention review team — Appointment — Duties.

(1) The director of financial management shall appoint a loss prevention review team when the death of a person, serious injury to a person, or other substantial loss is alleged or suspected to be caused at least in part by the actions of a state agency, unless the director in his or her discretion determines that the incident does not merit review. A loss prevention review team may also be appointed when any other substantial loss occurs as a result of agency policies, litigation or defense practices, or other management practices. When the director decides not to appoint a loss prevention review team he or she shall issue a statement of the reasons for the director's decision. The statement shall be made available on the web site of the office of financial management. The director's decision pursuant to this section to appoint or not appoint a loss prevention review team shall not be admitted into evidence in a civil or administrative proceeding.

     (2) A loss prevention review team shall consist of at least three but no more than five persons, and may include independent consultants, contractors, or state employees, but it shall not include any person employed by the agency involved in the loss or risk of loss giving rise to the review, nor any person with testimonial knowledge of the incident to be reviewed. At least one member of the review team shall have expertise relevant to the matter under review.

     (3) The loss prevention review team shall review the death, serious injury, or other incident and the circumstances surrounding it, evaluate its causes, and recommend steps to reduce the risk of such incidents occurring in the future. The loss prevention review team shall accomplish these tasks by reviewing relevant documents, interviewing persons with relevant knowledge, and reporting its recommendations in writing to the director of financial management and the director of the agency involved in the loss or risk of loss within the time requested by the director of financial management. The final report shall not disclose the contents of any documents required by law to be kept confidential.

     (4) Pursuant to guidelines established by the director, state agencies must notify the office of financial management immediately upon becoming aware of a death, serious injury, or other substantial loss that is alleged or suspected to be caused at least in part by the actions of the state agency. State agencies shall provide the loss prevention review team ready access to relevant documents in their possession and ready access to their employees.

[2002 c 333 § 2.]

Notes: Intent -- 2002 c 333: "The legislature intends that when the death of a person, serious injury to a person, or other substantial loss is alleged or suspected to be caused at least in part by the actions of a state agency, a loss prevention review shall be conducted. The legislature recognizes the tension inherent in a loss prevention review and the need to balance the prevention of harm to the public with state agencies' accountability to the public. The legislature intends to minimize this tension and to foster open and frank discussions by granting members of the loss prevention review teams protection from having to testify, and by declaring a general rule that the work product of these teams is inadmissible in civil actions or administrative proceedings." [2002 c 333 § 1.]