Title: An act relating to the number of residents allowed to reside in an adult family home.

Brief Description: Changing the number of residents allowed to reside in an adult family home.

Sponsors: Senators Deccio, Thibaudeau, Keiser and Benson.

Brief History:

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

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5687 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Benson, Brandland, Franklin, Kastama, Kline and Poulsen.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senators Johnson and Parlette.

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.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Adult family homes are facilities licensed to care for up to eight individuals.

All adult family homes licensed for more than six clients must install smoke detectors that are interconnected and monitored by a central monitoring company. Smoke detectors must be installed in each sleeping room and installed at a central point in a corridor or area which gives access to each separate sleeping room.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: Adds language requiring adult family homes licensed for more than six clients to have smoke detectors installed.

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 legislation will allow Adult Family Home providers to provide additional services to the community such as providing respite care for families in need. There will be no capital costs for most providers which will help keep costs low for residents. Helps reduce stress on the community care system.

Testimony Against: Standards in Adult Family Homes are not as rigorous as they are in other settings. Allowing more residents into a home but not requiring additional staff is dangerous. A major concern is how more people would be evacuated in case of fire or disaster. If you have more residents to evacuate but no additional staff to help, lives could be lost.

Who Testified: PRO: Aaron Mountan, Washington State Residential Care Centers; John Reese, Jr, Adult Family Home Provider; Allen Gasseling, Washington State Residential Care Centers; Patricia Mashburn, Adult Family Home Provider.

CON: Kathy Leitch, Department of Social and Health Services; Kary Hyre, Long-Term Care Ombudsman.