Z-0787

AN ACT Relating to an advisory council for aging and adult services; amending RCW 18.51.070; adding new sections to chapter 43.20A RCW; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 43.20A.680, 43.20A.685, 43.20A.690, 43.20A.695, 18.51.100, 18.51.110, 18.51.910, and 18.51.911.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature acknowledges that the department of social and health services, through the aging and adult services administration, provides several diverse long-term care services to a broad range of people who have functional disabilities. The legislature also recognizes that the state council on aging and the nursing home advisory council do not adequately represent the interests of persons with functional disabilities who require these services. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to replace the state council on aging and the nursing home advisory council and establish an advisory council for aging and adult services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.20A RCW to read as follows:

The aging and adult services advisory council is established as an advisory council to the governor, the secretary of the department of social and health services, and the department's aging and adult services administration. The aging and adult services administration shall provide appropriate staff support.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.20A RCW to read as follows:

(1) The aging and adult services advisory council shall have twenty members. The initial members of the council shall be appointed by the governor to staggered terms such that approximately one‑third of the members serve terms of one year, one‑third serve terms of two years, and one‑third serve terms of three years. Thereafter, members of the council shall be appointed by the governor to terms of three years, except in the case of a vacancy, in which event appointment shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term for which the vacancy occurs. No member of the council may serve more than two consecutive three‑year terms.

(2) Eleven or more of the members shall be from consumer organizations that represent clients of the state aging and adult services system. Members shall also be appointed from other associations with an integral interest in the aging and adult services system. In addition, the governor may appoint at‑large members, in order to ensure that rural areas (those areas outside of a standard metropolitan statistical area), minority populations, and those individuals and associations with special skills that could assist the council are represented. The council members shall elect a member from a consumer organization biennially as chair of the council.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 43.20A RCW to read as follows:

The aging and adult services advisory council shall meet bimonthly. Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses and per diem in the performance of their duties as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 43.20A RCW to read as follows:

(1) The aging and adult services advisory council has the following powers and duties:

(a) To serve in an advisory capacity to the governor, the secretary of social and health services, and the aging and adult services administration on all matters pertaining to policies, programs, and services offered by aging and adult services and their effect on the long-term care field; and

(b) To provide for self‑advocacy by citizens of the state through sponsorship of training, legislative and other conferences, workshops, and such other methods as appropriate.

(2) The council shall establish bylaws to aid in the performance of its powers and duties.

Sec. 6. RCW 18.51.070 and 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 64 are each amended to read as follows:

The department, after consultation with ((~~the nursing home advisory council and~~)) the board of health, shall adopt, amend, and promulgate ((~~such~~)) rules((~~, regulations,~~)) and standards with respect to all nursing homes to be licensed hereunder as may be designed to further the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter in promoting safe and adequate medical and nursing care of individuals in nursing homes and the sanitary, hygienic, and safe conditions of the nursing home in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 43.20A.680 and 1981 c 151 s 1;

(2) RCW 43.20A.685 and 1981 c 151 s 2;

(3) RCW 43.20A.690 and 1981 c 151 s 3;

(4) RCW 43.20A.695 and 1981 c 151 s 4;

(5) RCW 18.51.100 and 1984 c 287 s 39, 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 65, 1971 ex.s. c 85 s 1, & 1951 c 117 s 11;

(6) RCW 18.51.110 and 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 66 & 1951 c 117 s 12;

(7) RCW 18.51.910 and 1990 c 297 s 3, 1988 c 288 s 4, 1986 c 270 s 3, & 1983 c 197 s 24; and

(8) RCW 18.51.911 and 1990 c 297 s 4, 1988 c 288 s 5, 1986 c 270 s 4, & 1983 c 197 s 50.