SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 6289
As Passed Senate, February 11, 2002
Title: An act relating to qualifications for adult family home providers and resident managers.
Brief Description: Specifying qualifications for adult family home providers and resident managers.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Fairley, Kohl‑Welles and Rasmussen).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long‑Term Care: 1/24/02, 1/28/02 [DPS].
Passed Senate: 2/11/02, 49-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6289 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Thibaudeau, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Costa, Deccio, Fraser, Parlette and Winsley.
Staff: Rhoda Donkin (786‑7198)
Background: Adult family homes are long-term care facilities licensed to care for up to six individuals. Anyone who wants to operate one of these facilities must get a license from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). The minimum qualifications for getting a license include being at least age 21, completing 320 hours of direct caregiving experience with adults in a licensed setting, and a curriculum of basic training.
Legislation that passed in 2001 added the requirement that adult family home license applicants have proof they graduated from high school or received a GED certificate.
There has been concern that requiring a high school diploma as a prerequisite for applying to be a licensee disqualifies foreign born applicants who have been educated but who don't have a U.S. high school diploma.
Summary of Bill: Minimum education requirements for an adult family home applicant are modified to include government-approved public or private education in a foreign country, proof of admission to higher education institutions which are described in the legislation, or successful completion of a registered nursing degree or any medical degree requiring an education. The legislation takes effect on May 1, 2002.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: May 1, 2002.
Testimony For: This will open up opportunity for people who have been educated in other countries to qualify as adult family home providers.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: PRO: Asile Capusan, Eugen Capusan, Luke Esser; Kathy Leitch, DSHS-AASA; Skip Dreps, NW Paralegal; Jeff Thompson, HCA; Ree Sailors, OFM; Audrey Woodin, WSRCC; Bill Day, Adult Family Home Assn.