Title: An act relating to adult family home services.

Brief Description: Regulating adult family home staff.

Sponsors: Senators Thibaudeau, Deccio, Keiser, Parlette, Kohl-Welles, Benson and McAuliffe.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 2/9/05, 2/28/05 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5650 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Benson, Brandland, Franklin, Johnson, Kastama, Kline, Parlette and Poulsen.

Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)

Background: Adult family homes are facilities licensed to care for up to six individuals who need long-term care. These homes provide room, board, laundry, necessary supervision, assistance with activities of daily living, personal care, and nursing services if necessary. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is responsible for licensing adult family homes, which provide community-based residential care for elderly and disabled individuals.
Individual food handler permits are required for adult family home providers and staff.

In 2001, Governor Locke partially vetoed SHB 1320. The veto removed the authority for employees of adult family homes to replace a food handlers license from the Department of Health with approved additional food safety training as part of their regular care giver training. The requirement for the Department of Social and Health Services to develop opportunities for its staff to become familiar with the routines of adult family homes was also eliminated.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The Department of Social and Health Services (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.

Documentation that the information or training has been provided to the individuals must be kept on file by the employer.

Employees or providers who have food handler permits prior to June 30, 2005 must maintain continuing education classes of one half hours per year to maintain the food handling and safety training but do not need to renew the permit if they receive the continuing education.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: Adds requirement that employers keep documentation that information or training is provided to employees.

Adds requirement that one half hour of training per year to maintain food handler permits.

Removes requirement that adult family home employees have food handler permits after June 30, 2005 if they complete training requirements.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This is a good bill because it allows providers to continue to treat our clients as family. The bill will not change the way we currently live in our homes. This legislation will continue to assist us in developing a family atmosphere in Adult Family Homes.

Other: There needs to be an amendment in order for the Department of Health and the Division of Social and Health Services to support this bill.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Allen Gasselin, Individual; Aaron Mountain, Washington State Residential Care Council; Pat Mashburn, Adult Family Home Provider. OTHER: Penny Black, Department of Social and Health Services.