SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 2056
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Health & Long-Term Care, February 16, 2012
Title: An act relating to assisted living facilities.
Brief Description: Concerning assisted living facilities.
Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Van De Wege, Bailey, Cody, Johnson and Warnick).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/09/12, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 2/16/12 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Conway, Vice Chair; Becker, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell, Kline, Parlette and Pridemore.
Staff: Kathleen Buchli (786-7488)
Background: Washington began licensing boarding homes in 1958. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) licenses and conducts inspections, investigations of complaints, and enforcement actions related to boarding homes.
Boarding homes are facilities that provide housing and basic services to seven or more residents. Residents of boarding homes are people who live in a boarding home for reasons of age or disability and receive services provided by the boarding home. Services provided to residents by boarding homes include housekeeping, meals, snacks, laundry, and activities. They may also provide domiciliary care including assistance with activities of daily living, health support services, and intermittent nursing services. Intermittent nursing services include medication administration, administration of health care treatments, diabetic management, nonroutine ostomy care, tube feeding, and delegated nursing tasks.
Summary of Bill: The term boarding home is changed to assisted living facility throughout the boarding home licensing statute and elsewhere in the Revised Code of Washington. DSHS is authorized to apply rules regarding boarding homes to assisted living facilities.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This is consumer legislation. Most people know boarding homes as assisted living facilities; this will help consumer awareness. This bill will have no effect on policy and will not have a fiscal impact. Washington State is a progressive state in development of services, but uses terminology that is outdated. Using the term boarding home creates consumer confusion.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Van De Wege, prime sponsor; Dave Knutson, Lee Field, WA Center on Assisted Living; Scott Sigmon, Aging Services of WA.