Z-988 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL NO. 1260
_______________________________________________
C 1 L 87 E2
State of Washington 50th Legislature 1987 2nd Special Session
By Representatives Grimm, Brough, Lewis, Beck, Walker, Betrozoff, Ballard, McLean, Moyer, Fisch, Amondson, Miller, Doty, C. Smith, Silver, Chandler, D. Sommers, Fisher, P. King, Schoon, Brooks, Leonard, May and Ferguson; by request of Governor Gardner
Read first time 8/10/87.
AN ACT Relating to minimum wages for low wage earner nursing home employees; amending RCW 74.46.430; amending section 207, chapter 7, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. (uncodified); and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. Section 207, chapter 7, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:
!tp1FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES‑-LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES
@i2General Fund Appropriation‑-State!w×!tr$!sc ,16
!ae0!tr((326,546,000))
!tr327,946,000
@i2General Fund Appropriation‑-Federal!w×!tr$!sc ,16
!ae0!tr((331,586,000))
!tr333,186,000
!sc ,10Total Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16
!ae0!tr((658,132,000))
!tr661,132,000
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
(1) The department shall provide an integrated system of long-term care services which will allow for the most efficient, equitable, and appropriate use of available resources. The department shall endeavor to provide these services in the least restrictive and most cost-effective manner appropriate for individual clients.
(2) Vendor rate increases shall average 2.0 percent on September 1, 1987, and 4.0 percent on September 1, 1988, for the adult residential care, contracted chore, adult day health, and senior citizens services act programs.
(3) $3,000,000 of which $1,400,000 is from the general fund‑-state appropriation is provided solely for nonadministrative wages and benefits enhancements above the money necessary to fund the minimum wage.
(4) Department-contracted nursing homes shall provide for and assure payment of compensation for staff of no less than $4.76 per hour beginning January 1, 1988, and $5.15 per hour beginning January 1, 1989.
(((4)))
(5) Nursing home rates shall be adjusted for inflation under RCW
74.46.495 by 3.7 percent on July 1, 1987 and 3.6 percent on July 1, 1988.
(((5)))
(6) $650,000, of which $312,000 is from the general fund‑-state
appropriation, is provided solely for laundry services to state clients
residing in skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities.
(((6)))
(7) Grant payment standards shall be increased by 2.0 percent on
September 1, 1987 and 4.0 percent on September 1, 1989, for adult residential
care clients.
(((7)))
(8) $1,090,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation is
provided solely for the respite care demonstration project.
(((8)))
(9) At least $14,766,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation
shall be initially allotted for implementation of the senior citizens services
act. At least 7 percent of the amount allotted for the senior citizens
services act in each fiscal year shall be used for programs that utilize
volunteer workers for the provision of chore services to persons whose need for
chore services is not being met by the chore services program.
Sec. 2. Section 43, chapter 177, Laws of 1980 as last amended by section 2, chapter 476, Laws of 1987 and RCW 74.46.430 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The department, as provided by this chapter, will determine prospective cost-related reimbursement rates for services provided to medical care recipients. Each rate so determined shall represent the contractor's maximum compensation within each cost center for each patient day for such medical care recipient.
(2) As required, the department may modify such maximum per patient day rates pursuant to the administrative review provisions of RCW 74.46.780.
(3) Until the effective date of RCW 74.46.510 and 74.46.530, the maximum prospective reimbursement rates for the administration and operations and the property cost centers shall be established based upon a minimum facility occupancy level of eighty-five percent.
(4) On and after the effective date of RCW 74.46.510 and 74.46.530, the maximum prospective reimbursement rates for the administration and operations and the property cost centers and the return on investment allowance shall be established based upon a minimum facility occupancy level of eighty-five percent.
(5) All
contractors shall be required to adjust and maintain wages for all employees to
a minimum hourly wage established by the legislature in the biennial
appropriations act, if the legislature appropriates moneys to fund
prospectively the portion of the minimum wage attributable to services to
medicaid patients. Prospective rate revisions to fund any minimum wage
increases shall be made only on the dates authorized in the appropriation act.
((A portion of this legislative appropriation shall be used to enhance
nonadministrative wages and benefits above the moneys necessary to fund the
minimum wage specified in this section.)) The department shall by
regulation limit reimbursement to the amount appropriated for legislatively
authorized enhancement for nonadministrative wages and benefits above the
moneys necessary to fund minimum wages specified in this section. The
department in considering reimbursement for legislatively authorized wage
enhancements will take into consideration facility wage history over the past
three cost report periods.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately. Passed the House August 10, 1987.