BILL REQ. #:  S-4291.1 



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SENATE BILL 6350
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State of Washington60th Legislature2008 Regular Session

By Senators Prentice, Keiser, and Kohl-Welles

Read first time 01/15/08.   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development.



     AN ACT Relating to adult family home caregivers; amending RCW 74.39A.240, 74.39A.280, 41.56.113, 41.56.029, 41.04.810, 43.01.047, 74.39A.009, 74.39A.350, and 74.39A.360; reenacting and amending RCW 43.79A.040; adding new sections to chapter 74.39A RCW; creating new sections; and providing an effective date.

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

PART I - DEFINITIONS

Sec. 1   RCW 74.39A.240 and 2002 c 3 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 74.39A.030 ((and)), 74.39A.095 ((and)), 74.39A.220 through 74.39A.300, sections 2 through 4, 6, 7, and 9 of this act, 41.56.026, 41.56.113, 70.127.041, and 74.09.740 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Adult family home provider" means the same as in RCW 41.56.030.
     (2)
"Authority" means the home care quality authority.
     (((2))) (3) "Board" means the board created under RCW 74.39A.230.
     (((3))) (4) "Caregiver" means a caregiver, as defined in RCW 70.128.230, who is employed by an adult family home provider. "Caregiver" does not include adult family home providers.
     (5)
"Consumer" means a person to whom an individual provider or caregiver provides any such services.
     (((4))) (6) "Individual provider" means a person, including a personal aide, who has contracted with the department to provide personal care or respite care services to ((functionally disabled)) persons with functional disabilities under the medicaid personal care, community options program entry system, chore services program, or respite care program, or to provide respite care or residential services and support to persons with developmental disabilities under chapter 71A.12 RCW, or to provide respite care as defined in RCW 74.13.270.

PART II - CAREGIVER REGISTRY

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 74.39A RCW to read as follows:
     ESTABLISHMENT OF REFERRAL REGISTRY. (1) The authority shall establish a single, centralized referral registry, known as the "adult family home caregiver recruitment center," to carry out the duties in this section.
     (2) The authority shall request and every adult family home provider shall provide a list of all current caregivers annually by July 1st, except that initially the lists shall be provided within thirty days of the effective date of this section. The list shall include the names and addresses of such caregivers, as well as information necessary to determine whether the caregiver or prospective caregiver has met the minimum requirements for training set forth in RCW 74.39A.050 and has satisfactorily undergone a criminal background check within the prior twelve months.
     (3) Before placing a caregiver or prospective caregiver on the referral registry, the authority shall determine that the caregiver or prospective caregiver has met the minimum requirements for training set forth in RCW 74.39A.050, has satisfactorily undergone a criminal background check within the prior twelve months, and is not listed on any long-term care abuse and neglect registry used by the department.
     (4) The authority shall not deny any caregivers or prospective caregivers referred by adult family home providers a place on the registry, unless the caregiver or prospective caregiver fails to meet the minimum requirements set forth in subsection (3) of this section.      (5) The authority shall remove from the referral registry any caregiver or prospective caregiver the authority determines not to meet the minimum requirements set forth in subsection (3) of this section or to have committed misfeasance or malfeasance in the performance of his or her duties as a caregiver. The caregiver or prospective caregiver may request a fair hearing to contest the removal from the referral registry, as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW.
     (6) The authority shall provide assistance to adult family home providers and prospective adult family home providers in finding caregivers and prospective caregivers through the referral registry.
     (7) The authority shall, to the extent authorized by caregivers and prospective caregivers, provide routine, emergency, and respite referrals of caregivers and prospective caregivers to adult family home providers and prospective adult family home providers.
     (8) The authority shall, upon request, provide to a labor organization seeking to organize caregivers a list of all caregivers and prospective caregivers on the referral registry. The list shall contain the names and addresses of such caregivers.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 74.39A RCW to read as follows:
     PROVIDER DUTIES. (1) Every adult family home provider shall pay to each caregiver wages at a rate of not less than nine dollars per hour.
     (2) Beginning October 1, 2009, every adult family home provider shall contract with the authority for all hours of care provided by each caregiver.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 74.39A RCW to read as follows:
     AUTHORITY DUTIES. Beginning October 1, 2009, the authority must carry out the following duties:
     (1) Establish qualifications and reasonable standards for accountability for, and investigate the background of, caregivers and prospective caregivers, except in cases where, after the department has sought approval of any appropriate amendments or waivers under RCW 74.09.740, federal law or regulation requires that such qualifications and standards for accountability be established by another entity in order to preserve eligibility for federal funding. Qualifications established must include compliance with the minimum requirements for training and satisfactory criminal background checks as provided in RCW 74.39A.050 and confirmation that the caregiver or prospective caregiver is not currently listed on any long-term care abuse and neglect registry used by the department at the time of the investigation;
     (2) Undertake recruiting activities to identify and recruit caregivers and prospective caregivers;
     (3) Provide training opportunities through a contract with the training partnership established under RCW 74.39A.360 for caregivers and prospective caregivers;
     (4) Cooperate with the department, area agencies on aging, and other federal, state, and local agencies to provide the services described and set forth in this section. If, in the course of carrying out its duties, the authority identifies concerns regarding the services being provided by a caregiver, the authority must notify the relevant area agency or department case manager regarding such concerns;
     (5) Enter into contracts with adult family home providers, whereby providers pay the authority an hourly rate for caregivers. The authority shall establish the rate or rates through rule, according to the following criteria:
     (a) The initial rate should cover, at a minimum, the hourly cost of the minimum wage for caregivers established under section 2 of this act;
     (b) The initial rate may also cover reasonable administrative costs related to the authority's duties in this section; and
     (c) The rate shall be adjusted upward to reflect increases in wages and/or fringe benefits: (i) Mandated by federal or state legislation, administrative rule, or decision; (ii) mandated by a legislatively funded collective bargaining agreement; or (iii) requested by a provider;
     (6) Pay wages to caregivers for hours of care provided on behalf of adult family home providers under contracts established under subsection (5) of this section. Wages shall be based on the greater of the hourly wage: (a) Established under section 3 of this act; (b) mandated by federal or state legislation, administrative rule or decision; (c) mandated by a legislatively funded collective bargaining agreement; or (d) requested by a provider;
     (7) Administer fringe benefits for caregivers. Fringe benefits, including but not limited to health insurance, paid and unpaid leave, and retirement, shall be established either through legislation and/or through a legislatively funded collective bargaining agreement. If an adult family home provider wishes to offer a fringe benefit not established through legislation and/or collective bargaining to a caregiver providing care in the provider's adult family home, the provider may do so. Any additional fringe benefits shall be the sole responsibility of the adult family home provider;
     (8) Deduct and remit payroll taxes from wages. Payroll taxes include, but are not limited to, income taxes, industrial insurance premiums, and social security and medicare taxes;
     (9) Collect cost reports for all adult family home providers, and share cost reports with the department. The cost report information shall include, at a minimum, the total hours of care provided by adult family home providers, the total hours of care provided by caregivers, and the total cost of each of the above. The cost report information shall also include, at a minimum, the total cost of noncare-related items, such as supplies or capital costs. Cost reports shall be submitted annually on a calendar year basis. Partial year cost reports will be acceptable in the event that an adult family home provider begins or ceases holding a medicaid contract, and/or for the partial year beginning on October 1, 2009.

Sec. 5   RCW 74.39A.280 and 2002 c 3 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     AUTHORITY POWERS. In carrying out its duties under chapter 3, Laws of 2002 and this act, the authority may:
     (1) Make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the performance of its duties or exercise of its powers, including contracts with public and private agencies, organizations, corporations, and individuals to pay them for services rendered or furnished;
     (2) Offer and provide recruitment, training, and referral services to providers of long-term in-home care services other than individual providers, caregivers, and prospective individual providers and caregivers, for a fee to be determined by the authority;
     (3) Issue rules under the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW, as necessary for the purpose and policies of chapter 3, Laws of 2002 and this act;
     (4) Establish offices, employ and discharge employees, agents, and contractors as necessary, and prescribe their duties and powers and fix their compensation, incur expenses, and create such liabilities as are reasonable and proper for the administration of chapter 3, Laws of 2002 and this act;
     (5) Solicit and accept for use any grant of money, services, or property from the federal government, the state, or any political subdivision or agency thereof, including federal matching funds under Title XIX of the federal social security act, and do all things necessary to cooperate with the federal government, the state, or any political subdivision or agency thereof in making an application for any grant;
     (6) Coordinate its activities and cooperate with similar agencies in other states;
     (7) Establish technical advisory committees to assist the board;
     (8) Keep records and engage in research and the gathering of relevant statistics;
     (9) Acquire, hold, or dispose of real or personal property or any interest therein, and construct, lease, or otherwise provide facilities for the activities conducted under this chapter, provided that the authority may not exercise any power of eminent domain;
     (10) Sue and be sued in its own name;
     (11) Delegate to the appropriate persons the power to execute contracts and other instruments on its behalf and delegate any of its powers and duties if consistent with the purposes of this chapter; ((and))
     (12) Contract with a financial institution either to act as trustee or custodian to receive and deposit payments in and make expenditures from the caregiver payment account as described in sections 4 and 7 of this act, and to perform other duties and functions in connection with the transactions authorized under this section; and
     (13)
Do other acts necessary or convenient to execute the powers expressly granted to it.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 74.39A RCW to read as follows:
     PAYMENT RATES. (1) The authority shall determine, for each adult family home provider each time the authority increases the hourly rate:
     (a) The percent increase in the hourly rate by which the adult family home provider contracts with the authority for caregivers; and
     (b) The percent of costs incurred by adult family home providers that are personnel costs associated with hours of care provided by caregivers, according to the previous year's cost report data.
     (2) For each adult family home provider, the percentage in subsection (1)(a) of this section shall be multiplied by the percentage in subsection (1)(b) of this section. Each client-specific daily rate of payment from the medicaid and state-funded long-term care programs to the adult family home provider shall be increased by the resulting percentage.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   A new section is added to chapter 74.39A RCW to read as follows:
     ACCOUNT. The caregiver payment account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All payments received from adult family home providers as described in section 4(5) of this act must be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of paying wages to caregivers as described in section 4(6) of this act, administering fringe benefits under section 4(7) of this act, and making deductions from wages for purposes described in section 4(8) of this act and RCW 41.56.113. Only the executive director of the authority or the executive director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW. An appropriation is not required for expenditures described in this section.

Sec. 8   RCW 43.79A.040 and 2007 c 523 s 5, 2007 c 357 s 21, and 2007 c 214 s 14 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     INVESTMENT OF ACCOUNT. (1) Money in the treasurer's trust fund may be deposited, invested, and reinvested by the state treasurer in accordance with RCW 43.84.080 in the same manner and to the same extent as if the money were in the state treasury.
     (2) All income received from investment of the treasurer's trust fund shall be set aside in an account in the treasury trust fund to be known as the investment income account.
     (3) The investment income account may be utilized for the payment of purchased banking services on behalf of treasurer's trust funds including, but not limited to, depository, safekeeping, and disbursement functions for the state treasurer or affected state agencies. The investment income account is subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for payments to financial institutions. Payments shall occur prior to distribution of earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this section.
     (4)(a) Monthly, the state treasurer shall distribute the earnings credited to the investment income account to the state general fund except under (b) and (c) of this subsection.
     (b) The following accounts and funds shall receive their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period: The Washington promise scholarship account, the college savings program account, the Washington advanced college tuition payment program account, the agricultural local fund, the American Indian scholarship endowment fund, the foster care scholarship endowment fund, the foster care endowed scholarship trust fund, the students with dependents grant account, the basic health plan self-insurance reserve account, the caregiver payment account, the contract harvesting revolving account, the Washington state combined fund drive account, the commemorative works account, the Washington international exchange scholarship endowment fund, the developmental disabilities endowment trust fund, the energy account, the fair fund, the family leave insurance account, the fruit and vegetable inspection account, the future teachers conditional scholarship account, the game farm alternative account, the GET ready for math and science scholarship account, the grain inspection revolving fund, the juvenile accountability incentive account, the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 expense fund, the local tourism promotion account, the produce railcar pool account, the regional transportation investment district account, the rural rehabilitation account, the stadium and exhibition center account, the youth athletic facility account, the self-insurance revolving fund, the sulfur dioxide abatement account, the children's trust fund, the Washington horse racing commission Washington bred owners' bonus fund account, the Washington horse racing commission class C purse fund account, the individual development account program account, the Washington horse racing commission operating account (earnings from the Washington horse racing commission operating account must be credited to the Washington horse racing commission class C purse fund account), the life sciences discovery fund, the Washington state heritage center account, and the reading achievement account. However, the earnings to be distributed shall first be reduced by the allocation to the state treasurer's service fund pursuant to RCW 43.08.190.
     (c) The following accounts and funds shall receive eighty percent of their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period: The advanced right-of-way revolving fund, the advanced environmental mitigation revolving account, the city and county advance right-of-way revolving fund, the federal narcotics asset forfeitures account, the high occupancy vehicle account, the local rail service assistance account, and the miscellaneous transportation programs account.
     (5) In conformance with Article II, section 37 of the state Constitution, no trust accounts or funds shall be allocated earnings without the specific affirmative directive of this section.

PART III - CAREGIVER BARGAINING

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   A new section is added to chapter 74.39A RCW to read as follows:
     COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR CAREGIVERS. (1) Solely for the purposes of collective bargaining and as expressly limited under subsection (2) of this section, the governor is the public employer, as defined in chapter 41.56 RCW, of caregivers who, solely for the purposes of collective bargaining, are public employees, as defined in chapter 41.56 RCW. The public employer shall be represented for bargaining purposes by the governor or the governor's designee appointed under chapter 41.80 RCW. The governor or the governor's designee shall periodically consult the authority during the collective bargaining process to allow the authority to communicate issues relating to the long-term in-home care services received by consumers. The governor or the governor's designee shall also consult the authority on all issues for which the exclusive bargaining representative requests to engage in collective bargaining under subsection (4) of this section. The authority shall work with the developmental disabilities council, the governor's committee on disability issues and employment, the state council on aging, and other consumer advocacy organizations to obtain informed input from consumers on their interests, including impacts on consumer choice, for all issues proposed for collective bargaining under subsection (4) of this section.
     (2) Chapter 41.56 RCW governs the collective bargaining relationship between the governor and caregivers, except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter and except as follows:
     (a) The only unit appropriate for the purpose of collective bargaining under RCW 41.56.060 is a statewide unit of all caregivers;
     (b) Bargaining authorization cards furnished as the showing of interest in support of any representation petition or motion for intervention filed under this section shall be exempt from disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW;
     (c) Notwithstanding the definition of "collective bargaining" in RCW 41.56.030(4), the scope of collective bargaining for caregivers under this section shall be limited solely to:
     (i) Wages, fringe benefits, and training;
     (ii) How the department's core responsibility affects hours of work for caregivers as described in subsection (4)(b) of this section; and
     (iii) Public employer contributions to the training partnership as described in subsection (5) of this section;
     (d) The mediation and interest arbitration provisions of RCW 41.56.430 through 41.56.470 and 41.56.480 apply, except that:
     (i) In addition to the factors to be taken into consideration by an interest arbitration panel under RCW 41.56.465, the panel shall consider the financial ability of the state to pay for the compensation and fringe benefits provisions of a collective bargaining agreement; and
     (ii) The decision of the arbitration panel is not binding on the legislature and, if the legislature does not approve the request for funds necessary to implement the compensation and fringe benefits provisions of the arbitrated collective bargaining agreement, is not binding on the authority or the state; and
     (e) Caregivers who are related to, or family members of, consumers or prospective consumers are not, for that reason, exempt from this chapter or chapter 41.56 RCW.
     (3) Caregivers who are public employees solely for the purposes of collective bargaining under subsection (1) of this section are not, for that reason, employees of the state for any other purpose. Chapter 41.56 RCW applies only to the governance of the collective bargaining relationship between the employer and caregivers as provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section.
     (4) This section does not create or modify:
     (a) The adult family home providers' and prospective adult family home providers' right to select, hire, supervise, and direct the work of, terminate, and determine the conditions of employment for any caregiver. The right to supervise and direct the work of any caregiver includes assigning work tasks, evaluating job performance, and providing additional worksite specific training;
     (b) The department's authority to establish a plan of care for each consumer or its core responsibility to manage long-term care services under chapter 70.128 RCW, including determination of the level of care that each consumer is eligible to receive;
     (c) The department's obligation to comply with the federal medicaid statute and regulations and the terms of any community-based waiver granted by the federal department of health and human services and to ensure federal financial participation in the provision of the services;
     (d) The legislature's right to make programmatic modifications to the delivery of state services under chapter 70.128 RCW, including standards of eligibility of consumers and adult family home providers participating in the programs under chapter 70.128 RCW, and the nature of services provided. The governor shall not enter into, extend, or renew any agreement under this chapter that does not expressly reserve the legislative rights described in this subsection (4)(d);
     (e) The residents', parents', or legal guardians' right to choose and terminate the services of any licensed adult family home provider;
     (f) The rights of providers and caregivers under the national labor relations act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 151 et seq.; and
     (g) RCW 43.43.832, 43.20A.205, or 74.15.130.
     (5) At the request of the exclusive bargaining representative, the governor or the governor's designee appointed under chapter 41.80 RCW shall engage in collective bargaining, as defined in RCW 41.56.030(4), with the exclusive bargaining representative over public employer contributions to the training partnership for the costs of: (a) Meeting all training and peer mentoring required under this chapter; and (b) other training intended to promote the career development of caregivers.
     (6) The state, the department, and the authority may not be held vicariously or jointly liable for the action or inaction of any caregiver or prospective caregiver, whether or not that caregiver or prospective caregiver was included on the referral registry. The existence of a collective bargaining agreement or the placement of a caregiver or prospective caregiver on the referral registry does not constitute a special relationship with the consumer.
     (7) Upon meeting the requirements of subsection (8) of this section, the governor must submit, as a part of the proposed biennial or supplemental operating budget submitted to the legislature under RCW 43.88.030, a request for funds necessary to administer this act and to implement the compensation and fringe benefits provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into under this section or for legislation necessary to implement the agreement.
     (8) A request for funds necessary to implement the compensation and fringe benefits provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into under this section shall not be submitted by the governor to the legislature unless the request has been:
     (a) Submitted to the director of financial management by October 1st prior to the legislative session at which the requests are to be considered; and
     (b) Certified by the director of financial management as financially feasible for the state or reflective of a binding decision of an arbitration panel reached under subsection (2)(d) of this section.
     (9) The legislature must approve or reject the submission of the request for funds as a whole. If the legislature rejects or fails to act on the submission, any collective bargaining agreement must be reopened for the sole purpose of renegotiating the funds necessary to implement the agreement.
     (10) When any increase in caregiver wages or fringe benefits is negotiated or agreed to, no increase in wages or fringe benefits negotiated or agreed to under this chapter will take effect unless and until, before its implementation, the department has determined that the increase is consistent with federal law and federal financial participation in the provision of services under Title XIX of the federal social security act.
     (11) The governor shall periodically consult with the joint committee on employment relations established by RCW 41.80.010 regarding appropriations necessary to implement the compensation and fringe benefits provisions of any collective bargaining agreement and, upon completion of negotiations, advise the committee on the elements of the agreement and on any legislation necessary to implement such an agreement.
     (12) After the expiration date of any collective bargaining agreement entered into under this section, all of the terms and conditions specified in any such agreement remain in effect until the effective date of a subsequent agreement, not to exceed one year from the expiration date stated in the agreement, except as provided in subsection (4)(d) of this section.
     (13) If, after the compensation and fringe benefits provisions of an agreement are approved by the legislature, a significant revenue shortfall occurs resulting in reduced appropriations, as declared by proclamation of the governor or by resolution of the legislature, both parties shall immediately enter into collective bargaining for a mutually agreed upon modification of the agreement.

Sec. 10   RCW 41.56.113 and 2007 c 184 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     CAREGIVERS--PAYMENT FOR DUES. (1) Upon the written authorization of an individual provider, a family child care provider, ((or)) an adult family home provider, or a caregiver within the bargaining unit and after the certification or recognition of the bargaining unit's exclusive bargaining representative, the state as payor, but not as the employer, shall, subject to subsection (3) of this section, deduct from the payments to an individual provider, a family child care provider, ((or)) an adult family home provider, or a caregiver the monthly amount of dues as certified by the secretary of the exclusive bargaining representative and shall transmit the same to the treasurer of the exclusive bargaining representative.
     (2) If the governor and the exclusive bargaining representative of a bargaining unit of individual providers, family child care providers, ((or)) adult family home providers, or caregivers enter into a collective bargaining agreement that:
     (a) Includes a union security provision authorized in RCW 41.56.122, the state as payor, but not as the employer, shall, subject to subsection (3) of this section, enforce the agreement by deducting from the payments to bargaining unit members the dues required for membership in the exclusive bargaining representative, or, for nonmembers thereof, a fee equivalent to the dues; or
     (b) Includes requirements for deductions of payments other than the deduction under (a) of this subsection, the state, as payor, but not as the employer, shall, subject to subsection (3) of this section, make such deductions upon written authorization of the individual provider, family child care provider, ((or)) adult family home provider, or caregiver.
     (3)(a) The initial additional costs to the state in making deductions from the payments to individual providers, family child care providers, ((and)) adult family home providers, and caregivers under this section shall be negotiated, agreed upon in advance, and reimbursed to the state by the exclusive bargaining representative.
     (b) The allocation of ongoing additional costs to the state in making deductions from the payments to individual providers, family child care providers, ((or)) adult family home providers, or caregivers under this section shall be an appropriate subject of collective bargaining between the exclusive bargaining representative and the governor unless prohibited by another statute. If no collective bargaining agreement containing a provision allocating the ongoing additional cost is entered into between the exclusive bargaining representative and the governor, or if the legislature does not approve funding for the collective bargaining agreement as provided in RCW 74.39A.300, 41.56.028, or 41.56.029, as applicable, the ongoing additional costs to the state in making deductions from the payments to individual providers, family child care providers, ((or)) adult family home providers, or caregivers under this section shall be negotiated, agreed upon in advance, and reimbursed to the state by the exclusive bargaining representative.
     (4) The governor and the exclusive bargaining representative of a bargaining unit of family child care providers may not enter into a collective bargaining agreement that contains a union security provision unless the agreement contains a process, to be administered by the exclusive bargaining representative of a bargaining unit of family child care providers, for hardship dispensation for license-exempt family child care providers who are also temporary assistance for needy families recipients or WorkFirst participants.

Sec. 11   RCW 41.56.029 and 2007 c 184 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR PROVIDERS. (1) In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.020, this chapter applies to the governor with respect to adult family home providers. Solely for the purposes of collective bargaining and as expressly limited under subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the governor is the public employer of adult family home providers who, solely for the purposes of collective bargaining, are public employees. The public employer shall be represented for bargaining purposes by the governor or the governor's designee.
     (2) There shall be collective bargaining, as defined in RCW 41.56.030, between the governor and adult family home providers, except as follows:
     (a) A statewide unit of all adult family home providers is the only unit appropriate for purposes of collective bargaining under RCW 41.56.060.
     (b) The exclusive bargaining representative of adult family home providers in the unit specified in (a) of this subsection shall be the representative chosen in an election conducted pursuant to RCW 41.56.070.
     Bargaining authorization cards furnished as the showing of interest in support of any representation petition or motion for intervention filed under this section shall be exempt from disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW.
     (c) Notwithstanding the definition of "collective bargaining" in RCW 41.56.030(4), the scope of collective bargaining for adult family home providers under this section shall be limited solely to: (i) Economic compensation, such as manner and rate of subsidy and reimbursement, including tiered reimbursements; (ii) health and welfare benefits; (iii) professional development and training; (iv) labor-management committees; (v) grievance procedures; and (vi) other economic matters. Retirement benefits shall not be subject to collective bargaining. Wages, fringe benefits, and training subject to collective bargaining for caregivers under section 9 of this act shall not be subject to collective bargaining under this section. By such obligation neither party shall be compelled to agree to a proposal or be required to make a concession unless otherwise provided in this chapter.
     (d) In addition to the entities listed in the mediation and interest arbitration provisions of RCW 41.56.430 through 41.56.470 and 41.56.480, the provisions apply to the governor or the governor's designee and the exclusive bargaining representative of adult family home providers, except that:
     (i) In addition to the factors to be taken into consideration by an interest arbitration panel under RCW 41.56.465, the panel shall consider the financial ability of the state to pay for the compensation and benefit provisions of a collective bargaining agreement.
     (ii) The decision of the arbitration panel is not binding on the legislature and, if the legislature does not approve the request for funds necessary to implement the compensation and benefit provisions of the arbitrated collective bargaining agreement, the decision is not binding on the state.
     (e) Adult family home providers do not have the right to strike.
     (3) Adult family home providers who are public employees solely for the purposes of collective bargaining under subsection (1) of this section are not, for that reason, employees of the state for any other purpose. This section applies only to the governance of the collective bargaining relationship between the employer and adult family home providers as provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section.
     (4) This section does not create or modify:
     (a) The department's authority to establish a plan of care for each consumer or its core responsibility to manage long-term care services under chapter 70.128 RCW, including determination of the level of care that each consumer is eligible to receive. However, at the request of the exclusive bargaining representative, the governor or the governor's designee appointed under chapter 41.80 RCW shall engage in collective bargaining, as defined in RCW 41.56.030(4), with the exclusive bargaining representative over how the department's core responsibility affects hours of work for adult family home providers. This subsection shall not be interpreted to require collective bargaining over an individual consumer's plan of care;
     (b) The department's obligation to comply with the federal medicaid statute and regulations and the terms of any community-based waiver granted by the federal department of health and human services and to ensure federal financial participation in the provision of the services;
     (c) The legislature's right to make programmatic modifications to the delivery of state services under chapter 70.128 RCW, including standards of eligibility of consumers and adult family home providers participating in the programs under chapter 70.128 RCW, and the nature of services provided. The governor shall not enter into, extend, or renew any agreement under this chapter that does not expressly reserve the legislative rights described in this subsection (4)(c);
     (d) The residents', parents', or legal guardians' right to choose and terminate the services of any licensed adult family home provider; and
     (e) RCW 43.43.832, 43.20A.205, or 74.15.130.
     (5) Upon meeting the requirements of subsection (6) of this section, the governor must submit, as a part of the proposed biennial or supplemental operating budget submitted to the legislature under RCW 43.88.030, a request for funds necessary to implement the compensation and benefit provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into under this section or for legislation necessary to implement the agreement.
     (6) A request for funds necessary to implement the compensation and benefit provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into under this section shall not be submitted by the governor to the legislature unless the request has been:
     (a) Submitted to the director of financial management by October 1st prior to the legislative session at which the requests are to be considered; and
     (b) Certified by the director of financial management as financially feasible for the state or reflective of a binding decision of an arbitration panel reached under subsection (2)(d) of this section.
     (7) The legislature must approve or reject the submission of the request for funds as a whole. If the legislature rejects or fails to act on the submission, any collective bargaining agreement must be reopened for the sole purpose of renegotiating the funds necessary to implement the agreement.
     (8) If, after the compensation and benefit provisions of an agreement are approved by the legislature, a significant revenue shortfall occurs resulting in reduced appropriations, as declared by proclamation of the governor or by resolution of the legislature, both parties shall immediately enter into collective bargaining for a mutually agreed upon modification of the agreement.
     (9) After the expiration date of any collective bargaining agreement entered into under this section, all of the terms and conditions specified in the agreement remain in effect until the effective date of a subsequent agreement, not to exceed one year from the expiration date stated in the agreement.
     (10) In enacting this section, the legislature intends to provide state action immunity under federal and state antitrust laws for the joint activities of adult family home providers and their exclusive bargaining representative to the extent the activities are authorized by this chapter.

Sec. 12   RCW 41.04.810 and 2007 c 184 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     TITLE NOT APPLICABLE TO CAREGIVERS. Individual providers and caregivers, as defined in RCW 74.39A.240, family child care providers, as defined in RCW 41.56.030, and adult family home providers, as defined in RCW 41.56.030, are not employees of the state or any of its political subdivisions and are specifically and entirely excluded from all provisions of this title, except as provided in RCW 74.39A.270, 41.56.028, ((and)) 41.56.029, and section 9 of this act.

Sec. 13   RCW 43.01.047 and 2007 c 184 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     PROVISIONS NOT APPLICABLE TO CAREGIVERS. RCW 43.01.040 through 43.01.044 do not apply to individual providers under RCW 74.39A.220 through 74.39A.300, family child care providers under RCW 41.56.028, ((or)) adult family home providers under RCW 41.56.029, or caregivers under section 9 of this act.

PART IV - CAREGIVER TRAINING

Sec. 14   RCW 74.39A.009 and 2007 c 361 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     DEFINITIONS. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (1) "Adult family home" means a home licensed under chapter 70.128 RCW.
     (2) "Adult residential care" means services provided by a boarding home that is licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW and that has a contract with the department under RCW 74.39A.020 to provide personal care services.
     (3) "Assisted living services" means services provided by a boarding home that has a contract with the department under RCW 74.39A.010 to provide personal care services, intermittent nursing services, and medication administration services, and the resident is housed in a private apartment-like unit.
     (4) "Boarding home" means a facility licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW.
     (5) "Cost-effective care" means care provided in a setting of an individual's choice that is necessary to promote the most appropriate level of physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being consistent with client choice, in an environment that is appropriate to the care and safety needs of the individual, and such care cannot be provided at a lower cost in any other setting. But this in no way precludes an individual from choosing a different residential setting to achieve his or her desired quality of life.
     (6) "Department" means the department of social and health services.
     (7) "Enhanced adult residential care" means services provided by a boarding home that is licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW and that has a contract with the department under RCW 74.39A.010 to provide personal care services, intermittent nursing services, and medication administration services.
     (8) "Functionally disabled person" or "person who is functionally disabled" is synonymous with chronic functionally disabled and means a person who because of a recognized chronic physical or mental condition or disease, including chemical dependency, is impaired to the extent of being dependent upon others for direct care, support, supervision, or monitoring to perform activities of daily living. "Activities of daily living", in this context, means self-care abilities related to personal care such as bathing, eating, using the toilet, dressing, and transfer. Instrumental activities of daily living may also be used to assess a person's functional abilities as they are related to the mental capacity to perform activities in the home and the community such as cooking, shopping, house cleaning, doing laundry, working, and managing personal finances.
     (9) "Home and community services" means adult family homes, in-home services, and other services administered or provided by contract by the department directly or through contract with area agencies on aging or similar services provided by facilities and agencies licensed by the department.
     (10) "Long-term care" is synonymous with chronic care and means care and supports delivered indefinitely, intermittently, or over a sustained time to persons of any age disabled by chronic mental or physical illness, disease, chemical dependency, or a medical condition that is permanent, not reversible or curable, or is long-lasting and severely limits their mental or physical capacity for self-care. The use of this definition is not intended to expand the scope of services, care, or assistance by any individuals, groups, residential care settings, or professions unless otherwise expressed by law.
     (11)(a) "Long-term care workers" includes all persons who are long-term care workers for the elderly or persons with disabilities, including but not limited to individual providers of home care services, direct care employees of home care agencies, providers of home care services to persons with developmental disabilities under Title 71 RCW, all direct care workers in state-licensed boarding homes, assisted living facilities, and adult family homes, respite care providers, community residential service providers, and any other direct care worker providing home or community-based services to the elderly or persons with functional disabilities or developmental disabilities.
     (b) "Long-term care workers" do not include persons employed in nursing homes subject to chapter 18.51 RCW, hospitals or other acute care settings, hospice agencies subject to chapter 70.127 RCW, adult day care centers, and adult day health care centers.
     (12) "Nursing home" means a facility licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW.
     (13) "Secretary" means the secretary of social and health services.
     (14) "Training partnership" means a joint partnership or trust established and maintained jointly by the office of the governor and the exclusive bargaining representative of individual providers under RCW 74.39A.270 and the exclusive bargaining representative of caregivers under section 9 of this act to provide training, peer mentoring, and examinations required under this chapter, and educational, career development, or other services to individual providers.
     (15) "Tribally licensed boarding home" means a boarding home licensed by a federally recognized Indian tribe which home provides services similar to boarding homes licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW.

Sec. 15   RCW 74.39A.350 and 2007 c 361 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     ADVANCED TRAINING. The department shall offer, directly or through contract, training opportunities sufficient for a long-term care worker to accumulate sixty-five hours of training within a reasonable time period. For individual providers represented by an exclusive bargaining representative under RCW 74.39A.270 and for caregivers represented by an exclusive bargaining representative under section 9 of this act, the training opportunities shall be offered through ((a)) contracts with the training partnership established under RCW 74.39A.360. Training topics shall include, but are not limited to: Client rights; personal care; mental illness; dementia; developmental disabilities; depression; medication assistance; advanced communication skills; positive client behavior support; developing or improving client-centered activities; dealing with wandering or aggressive client behaviors; medical conditions; nurse delegation core training; peer mentor training; and advocacy for quality care training. The department may not require long-term care workers to obtain the training described in this section. This requirement to offer advanced training applies beginning January 1, 2010.

Sec. 16   RCW 74.39A.360 and 2007 c 361 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     TRAINING PARTNERSHIP. Beginning January 1, 2010, for individual providers represented by an exclusive bargaining representative under RCW 74.39A.270 and for caregivers represented by an exclusive bargaining representative under section 9 of this act, all training and peer mentoring required under this chapter shall be provided by a training partnership. Contributions to the partnership pursuant to ((a)) collective bargaining agreements negotiated under this chapter shall be made beginning July 1, 2009. The training partnership shall provide reports as required by the department verifying that all individual providers have complied with all training requirements. The exclusive bargaining representative shall designate the training partnership.

PART V - GENERAL PROVISIONS

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 17   Part headings and captions used in this act are not any part of the law.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 18   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 19   If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 20   This act takes effect July 1, 2008.

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