SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 5003

                       AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 19, 1991

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

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5003 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; L. Smith, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Johnson, L. Kreidler, Niemi, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Scott Plack (786‑7409)

Hearing Dates:February 27, 1991; March 5, 1991

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5003 as recommended by Committee on Health & Long-Term Care be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, L. Kreidler, Metcalf, Murray, Newhouse, Niemi, Owen, Saling, L. Smith, Talmadge, West, Williams, and Wojahn. 

Staff:  Judy Fitzgerald (786-7715)

Hearing Dates:March 11, 1991

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.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR (Health & Long-Term Care):

The bill will help stop the operation of adult family homes without a license and grants the department the ability to close homes when they represent an imminent danger to the residents.

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Health & Long-Term Care):  None

TESTIFIED (Health & Long-Term Care):  Kamala Bremer, SW Washington Agency on Aging (pro); Evan Iverson, President, Senior Lobby (pro); Kathy Leitch, AASA-DSHS (pro); Ivy Gratias, Adult Licensed Family Homes of Washington (pro); Jeff Larsen, Adult Licensed Family Homes of Washington (pro)

TESTIMONY FOR (Ways & Means):

The bill will help stop the operation of adult family homes without a license and grants the department the ability to close homes when they represent an imminent danger to the residents.

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Ways & Means):  None

TESTIFIED (Ways & Means):  Kamala Bremer, SW Washington Agency of Aging (pro); Evan Iverson, President, Senior Lobby (pro); Kathy Leitch, AASA-DSHS (pro); Ivy Gratias, Jeff Larsen, Adult Licensed Family Homes of Washington (pro)