Governor Jay Inslee today put a pause on most efforts to terminate agreements creating health districts and combined city-county health departments throughout the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency.
Proclamation 20-78 is based on the critical need to ensure continuity and stability of operations and services provided by local health jurisdictions during an unprecedented pandemic.
Exceptions to this pause are permitted when: (1) all parties to the agreement mutually agree to termination; or (2) a party seeking termination receives approval from the Secretary of Health. To grant a request to terminate, the Secretary must determine that termination would not adversely affect the COVID-19 pandemic response. The Secretary must respond to the request within 14 days of receiving the request.
This order is effective immediately and will remain in place during the state of emergency.
Proclamation 20-78: Stability in Local Health Jurisdictions is available here.