SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6112

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 1, 2018

Sponsors: Senators Bailey, Keiser, Darneille, Rivers, Van De Wege and Kuderer; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill

Requires residents who need assistance evacuating, have a bedroom on the floor of the home from which the resident can be evacuated to the designated safe location outside the home without the use of stairs, elevators, chairlifts, or platform lifts.
Requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) develop the related rules in consultation with the largest organization representing fire chiefs in the state.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6112 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Kuderer, Vice Chair; Rivers, Ranking Member; Bailey, Becker, Conway, Fain, Keiser, Mullet and Van De Wege.

Background: An adult family home is a residential home that provides personal care, specialty care, necessary supervision, laundry, room and board for up to six adults who need long-term care. Adult family homes are licensed by DSHS.

Adult family homes are required to ensure that all residents can be safely evacuated in an emergency and must develop a fire drill plan for emergency evacuation of residents. The home must be able to evacuate all residents from the home to a safe location in five minutes or less and nonambulatory residents are not allowed to live above the first floor of the home.

Summary of Bill (First Substitute): Residents who need assistance evacuating the adult family home to a safe location outside of the home, must have a bedroom on the floor of the home from which the resident can be evacuated to the designated safe location outside the home without the use of stairs, elevators, chairlifts, or platform lifts. As DSHS establishes the related rules, they must work in consultation with the largest organization representing fire chiefs in the state of Washington.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE (First Substitute):

Requires residents who need assistance evacuating, have a bedroom on the floor of the home from which the resident can be evacuated to the designated safe location outside the home without the use of stairs, elevators, chairlifts, or platform lifts.

Requires DSHS develop the related rules in consultation with the largest organization representing fire chiefs in the state.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: There is need for greater adult family home capacity and there are existing regulations that require adult family homes to safely evacuate the residents.

CON: This would put residents and fire fighters at risk. Many residents are incapable of self-evacuating.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Barbara Bailey, Prime Sponsor; Candace Goehring, Residential Care Services, Aging and Long Term Support Administration. CON: Robert Bradley, Washington State Association of Fire Marshals.