SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2435

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed Senate - Amended, February 27, 2018

Title: An act relating to reducing training requirements for certain respite care providers who provide respite to unpaid caregivers and work three hundred hours or less in any calendar year.

Brief Description: Reducing training requirements for certain respite care providers who provide respite to unpaid caregivers and work three hundred hours or less in any calendar year.

Sponsors: Representatives Kilduff, Schmick, Cody, Muri, Kagi, Tharinger, Pollet and Tarleton.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/07/18, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 2/20/18 [DPA, w/oRec].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate - Amended: 2/27/18, 49-0.

Brief Summary of Bill

(As Amended by Senate)

  • Changes training requirements for individual providers (IPs) who only provide respite services to Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA) clients and work less than 300 hours in a year.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.

Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Kuderer, Vice Chair; Rivers, Ranking Member; Bailey, Conway, Fain, Keiser, Mullet and Van De Wege.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senator Becker.

Staff: LeighBeth Merrick (786-7445)

Background: ALTSA is the division of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) that administers long-term care services to eligible individuals in Washington State. The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) administers supportive services to eligible individuals with disabilities in Washington State.

Long-term care workers are either contracted by the state or employees of state-licensed agencies and facilities, and provide paid personal care services to individuals with developmental disabilities and long-term care needs. IPs are long-term care workers that are contracted by the state to provide in-home care for ALTSA and DDA clients.

Long-term care workers must complete 75 hours of entry-level training that is approved by DSHS. Certain IPs that are caring for family members or providing limited care have reduced training requirements. IPs who are providing respite care services for DDA clients and working less than 300 hours in a calendar year must complete 14 hours of entry-level training within the first 120 days of becoming an IP. IPs who are providing respite care services for ALTSA clients and working less than 300 hours in a calendar year must complete 35 hours of training within the first 120 days of becoming an IP.

IPs that are represented by an exclusive bargaining representative must complete training through the partnership designated by the exclusive bargaining representative. The training partnership must provide reports to verify that individual providers have complied with all training requirements.

Summary of Bill: IPs who provide respite care services for ALTSA clients and work less than 300 hours in a calendar year are subject to the same training requirements as IPs who provide respite care services for DDA clients and work less than 300 hours in a calendar year.

The IP must complete 14 hours of training within the first 120 days of becoming an IP. Five of the 14 hours must be completed before providing care, which includes two hours of caregiving orientation and three hours of safety training. The training partnership must offer at least 12 of the 14 hours online. Five of the online training hours must be individually selected from elective courses.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: Respite care is critical for family caregivers. It gives them a break from caregiving and time to take care of their personal needs, like getting a haircut and going to their own doctor's appointments. Family caregivers report that respite is the number one thing they need to continue caring for their loved one. There is a shortage of respite care providers and the state needs to expand capacity so more people have access to this service. The current 35-hour training requirement is a barrier for people who want to become a respite care provider for ALTSA clients. Allowing ALTSA respite care providers to have the same 14-hour training requirements as DDA respite care providers will help increase respite care provider capacity for ALTSA clients.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Christine Kilduff, Prime Sponsor; Kate White Tudor, Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Joy McBride, Lewis Mason Thurston Area Agency on Aging; Richard Hardy, citizen; Bea Rector, Department of Social and Health Services.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.