SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 2774

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Health & Long-Term Care, February 27, 1998

Title:  An act relating to an advisory committee on matters relating to the regulation of adult family homes.

Brief Description:  Creating an advisory committee on matters relating to the regulation of adult family homes.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Backlund, Kastama, Sterk, Wood, O'Brien, Lambert, Zellinsky, Cody, McCune, Smith, Van Luven and Costa).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long‑Term Care:  2/24/98, 2/27/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Deccio, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Benton, Fairley, Franklin, Strannigan and Wojahn.

Staff:  Rhoda Jones (786-7198)

Background:  Adult family homes are regular neighborhood residences providing care for two to six residents.  The owner of the adult family home, or staff hired by the owner, provide the care.  They provide room, board, laundry, necessary supervision, assistance with activities of daily living, personal care and social services.  Nursing services can be provided in the home.  Adult family homes are licensed, regulated and inspected by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).  The state has approximately 2,300 adult family homes providing services to almost 8,000 clients.  Of the total adult family home caseload, approximately 3,000 are state clients.  Adult family home care has been part of the state's long-term care system for over 27 years.

DSHS has the authority to establish advisory committees and currently has a functioning adult family home advisory committee that has worked on licensing and training issues.  The advisory committee has diverse representation from various long-term care providers including some adult family home owners.

Summary of Bill:  The Secretary of the Department of Health must appoint an advisory committee, in consultation with DSHS, on matters relating to the regulation of  administrative rules, enforcement process, staffing, and training requirements of adult family homes.  The advisory committee is composed of six members.  Three of the members must be consumers and three are facility providers who provide services to the developmentally disabled, the mentally ill, or persons with dementia.  The chair of the committee must represent the public.  Terms for the selection of members and duration of membership on the board are specified.  The advisory committee is established in addition to already existing advisory committees in both the Department of Social and Health Services and the Department of Health.  The advisory committee is given the authority to establish meetings.  Each member of the advisory committee must serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The people who actually provide the services need to be involved in rule-making.  This legislation assures that adult family home providers will be part of that process.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jeff Larsen, WSRCC (pro); Bill Day, Adult Family Home Association.