One of our followers received a response to their PIA request. Now we can see a little glimpse into the BLE’s consultation with health and safety officials about in-person exams. Here’s a thread with some of our initial thoughts and the full document at the end. 1/15

It appears approval by DSHS is based on misrepresentations/assumptions that (1) examinees will be in rooms by themselves for the entire duration of two-day exam; (2) each room has separate “air handler”; and ... 2/15

(3) sick examinees will know they are sick and choose not to attend without a health screen barring them. Reading through this we have a lot of questions. 3/15

1. There is no mention of sleeping in hotels overnight & what that entails. This is concerning considering how much effort is expended to assure the DSHS that the examinees will be confined to their rooms during the lunch break. 4/15

What about dinner? What about moving from room to room during the evening? Does the BLE stop caring as soon as the exam is turned in on day one? 5/15

Quote from DSHS: “I agree that there is little added benefit in health screenings if applicants are in separate rooms for the entire exam day.” 6/15

2. No testing and no health screens at all. This is concerning because DSHS is concerned with sick examinees traveling across the state to attend the exam. They are counting on test takers to abide by a COVID honor system. 7/15

Quote from DSHS: “In past versions that I have reviewed, there was clear language about counseling applicants ahead of time to not attend the exam day if they feel sick or have a fever. This type of messaging is still important.” 8/15

Continued quote from DSHS: “While the exam day procedures look great, we do not want any sick individuals traveling across the state to hotel rooms and potential exposing others along the way.” 9/15

Henricks almost begs them to say no screening required: “We are wondering if health screen is useful or necessary with this approach. We could do temperature checks before each applicant checks in the hotel.” 10/15

Henricks continues: “It would be difficult but we could also do them before the start of the examination but since they won't be leaving their room except possibly at lunch, we question the utility of doing that.” 11/15

Henricks does mention: “We will counsel applicants not to attend the exam if they are ill.” 12/15

3. The DSHS approval is based on the assertion that each room "should have a separate air handler.” This tracks with the assertion in the BLE docs that each room will have a separate HVAC system. We still have no confirmation of this. 13/15

Other highlights:
- Henricks mentions the possibility of Feb. 2021 exam being hosted in hotels
- Appears “hotel plan” was sent to DSHS on 7/24; BLE introduced “hotel plan” at 7/16 meeting. There is no indication from disclosed documents that DSHS was notified before then
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Full document can be found here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f035fd1a63f0f68db477462/t/5f2a125badbbb13e3f222f9b/1596592789740/Bar+Exam+w+DSHS.pdf
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