Title: An act relating to care facilities.

Brief Description: Concerning assisted care facilities.

Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Schual-Berke, Hinkle, Cody, Skinner and Moeller).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/15/05, 94-2.

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 3/28/05, 3/31/05 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Deccio, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Brandland, Franklin, Johnson, Kastama, Kline, Parlette and Poulsen.

Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)

Background: Boarding homes are facilities that provide housing and basic services, and assume general responsibility for the safety and well-being of residents. The Department of Social and Health Services is responsible for licensing and overseeing the operation of boarding homes. The Department of Health is responsible for the construction review and approval process.

Summary of Amended Bill: The Departments of Health and Social and Health Services (DSHS), and the Building Code Council will develop standards for small boarding homes. The Department of Health and the Building Code Council will study the risks and benefits of modifying and simplifying construction and equipment standards for small boarding homes, and report their findings to the Legislature by December 1, 2005.

The DSHS is required to implement a food safety component as part of the required training for staff and providers in adult family homes. Food handler permits will not be necessary for persons working in adult family homes after June 30, 2005 who successfully complete training requirements. Employees or providers who have food handler permits prior to June 30, 2005 must maintain continuing education classes of one half hours per hear to maintain the food handling and safety training but do not need to renew the permit if they receive the continuing education.

A special capacity adult family home licensed to provide services to seven or eight residents is created. Prior to licensing an adult family home as a special capacity adult family home, the DSHS must consider the prior compliance history of the licensee, the experience level of the licensee, the adequacy of the physical space in the home, and the numbers, qualifications, and training of readily available staff.

Adult family homes licensed for seven or eight residents must install smoke detectors that are interconnected and monitored by a central monitoring company. Adult family homes licensed for seven or eight residents must have a residential automatic fire sprinkler system. The sprinkler system must be inspected annually by a state certified inspection and testing technician.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: The DSHS is required to implement a food safety component as part of the required training for staff and providers in adult family homes. Food handler permits will not be necessary for persons working in adult family homes after June 30, 2005 who successfully complete training requirements. Employees or providers who have food handler permits prior to June 30, 2005 must maintain continuing education classes of one half hours per hear to maintain the food handling and safety training but do not need to renew the permit if they receive the continuing education.

A special capacity adult family home licensed to provide services to seven or eight residents is created. Prior to licensing an adult family home as a special capacity adult family home, the DSHS must consider the prior compliance history of the licensee, the experience level of the licensee, the adequacy of the physical space in the home, and the numbers, qualifications, and training of readily available staff.

Adult family homes licensed for seven or eight residents must install smoke detectors that are interconnected and monitored by a central monitoring company. Adult family homes licensed for seven or 8 residents must have a residential automatic fire sprinkler system. The sprinkler system must be inspected annually by a state certified inspection and testing technician.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: Small boarding homes provide a valuable service to the community and save the state considerable money. Small boarding homes offer a higher level of care for patients that may otherwise find themselves in a nursing home setting. This bill allows a study to determine if the higher construction standards required for larger facilities are realistic to impose of small boarding homes.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Schual-Berke, prime sponsor; Richard Moore, Adult Family Homes Association of Washington; Bill Day, Adult Family Homes Association; Kary Hyre, Long Term Care Ombudsman; Lauri St. Ours, Northwest Assisted Living Facilities Association; Jonathan Ames, Washington Health Care Association.