BILL REQ. #:  H-1250.2 

Read first time 02/02/2007.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to studying adult family homes; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature believes that vulnerable, frail, and elderly Washingtonians have a right to live in appropriate and the least restrictive long-term care settings. Adult family homes are a critical component of Washington's long-term care system, and it is important that they be utilized in the most appropriate manner. In order to utilize them correctly, the legislature needs to understand how they are currently used.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The joint legislative audit and review committee shall conduct a comprehensive study that examines the current adult family home system in Washington state. Specifically, the study shall include:
     (a) A summary of how adult family homes fit into the long-term care system;
     (b) An analysis of the current client acuity levels in adult family homes;
     (c) An analysis of the training mechanism for caregivers in adult family homes;
     (d) An analysis of the liability exemption for adult family homes;
     (e) A regional needs analysis for adult family homes, broken down by city and county;
     (f) An analysis of current regulation and oversight of adult family homes;
     (g) An analysis of the average wages and benefits for adult family home caregivers; and
     (h) An analysis of the average length of stay for caregivers in an adult family home.
     (2) The joint legislative audit and review committee shall submit the final report to the legislature by October 31, 2007.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.