SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5297

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 6, 1991

Brief Description:  Concerning aging and adult services.

SPONSORS:Senators West and L. Kreidler; by request of Dept. of Social & Health Services.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

Staff:  Don Sloma (786‑7414)

Hearing Dates:February 6, 1991

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), through aging and adult services administration, provides several diverse long-term care services to people who have functional disabilities.  The State Council on Aging and the Nursing Home Advisory Council are two organizations that advise DSHS on the provision of these services.  Questions have been raised concerning duplication of effort relative to these two advisory committees.  The Nursing Home Advisory Council is scheduled to terminate under current law in June of 1992.

SUMMARY:

The State Council on Aging and the Nursing Home Advisory Council are abolished and replaced by a newly created Aging and Adult Services Advisory Council.  This council would include 20 members, 11 of whom are consumers that represent clients of the state aging and adult services system.  In addition, the Governor may appoint at-large members in order to ensure that rural areas, minority populations, and individuals with special skills that could assist the council are represented. 

The council must meet bi-monthly.  Members must be reimbursed for travel and per diem, but may receive no compensation for their services on the council.

The council's duties include advising the Governor, the Secretary of Social and Health Services, and the Aging and Adult Services administration on policies and programs offered by Aging and Adult Services and their effect on the long-term care field.  Duties also include providing for self-advocacy by sponsoring training, legislative and other conferences, workshops and by other unspecified methods.

The council must establish by-laws to govern its operations.

The council must also advise DSHS on the regulation of nursing homes.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available