FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 5003

                                   C 40 L 91

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

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

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

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

BACKGROUND:

In 1989, the Legislature enacted an Adult Family Home Licensing Act.  Adult family homes provide personal care, room and board to one but not more than six adults with functional limitations.  The law provides minimum standards to promote the development of adult family homes that have safe, humane and homelike living environments.  It requires that all residential 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 is authorized to administer the licensing program.  There are currently no penalties for those adult family homes refusing to become licensed.

SUMMARY:

Anyone operating 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.

DSHS may also secure an injunction to stop operation of an adult family home when conditions in the home constitute imminent danger to the residents.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      49    0

House 95    0

EFFECTIVE:July 28, 1991