HOUSE BILL REPORT

                     SSB 5003

                           As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to adult family homes.

Brief Description:  Providing penalties and remedies for a person operating an adult family home without a license.

Sponsor(s):  Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators L. Smith, L. Kreidler, Conner and Snyder).

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, April 1, 1991, DP;

Passed House, April 11, 1991, 95-0;

Passed Legislature, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Minority Member; Cantwell; Edmondson; Franklin; Paris; Prentice; and Sprenkle.

Staff:  Antonio Sanchez (786-7383).

Background:  Adult family homes provide personal care and room and board to one but not more than six adults with functional limitations.  In 1989, the Legislature enacted an Adult Family Home Licensing Act.  The law currently provides minimum standards to promote safe and humane living environments in adult family homes.  It requires that all adult family homes meeting the definition of an adult family home be licensed and meet the standards as defined in the act.  The Department of Social and Health Services administers the adult family home licensing program.  There are currently no penalties for those adult family homes refusing to become licensed.

Summary of Bill:  Anyone operating or maintaining an adult family home without a license is guilty of a misdemeanor.  The Department of Social and Health Services may also seek a court injunction preventing unlicensed adult family homes from operating.

The Department of Social and Health Services may also secure an injunction to stop operation of an adult family home when conditions in the home constitute imminent danger to the residents.

Anyone convicted under this act who again operates or maintains an adult family home without a license will be guilty of a separate offense for each day the unlicensed home is in operation.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  More stringent regulations with penalties will provide a safe environment for the elderly and disabled in adult family homes.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Ivy Gratias and Jeff Larsen, Adult Licensed Family Homes of Washington (pro); Evan Iverson, Senior Lobby (pro); and Kathy Leitch, Department of Social & Health Services (pro).