Provides that, if the department determines that the health, safety, or welfare of residents is immediately jeopardized by a boarding home's failure or refusal to comply with the requirements of chapter 18.20 RCW or the rules adopted under this chapter, and the department summarily suspends the boarding home license, the department may appoint a temporary manager of the boarding home, or the licensee may, subject to the department's approval, voluntarily participate in the temporary management program.

Declares that the purposes of the temporary management program are as follows: (1) To mitigate dislocation and transfer trauma of residents while the department and licensee may pursue dispute resolution or appeal of a summary suspension of license;

(2) To facilitate the continuity of safe and appropriate resident care and services;

(3) To protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents, by providing time for an orderly closure of the boarding home, or for the deficiencies that necessitated temporary management to be corrected; and

(4) To preserve a residential option that meets a specialized service need or is in a geographical area that has a lack of available providers.