H-3784              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1583

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representatives Day, D. Sommers, Bristow, Hargrove, Baugher, Wineberry, Dellwo, Heavey, Rayburn, P. King, Kremen, Taylor and Sanders

Read first time 1/20/88 and referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

AN ACT Relating to chore services; reenacting and amending section 207, chapter 7, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. as amended by section 1, chapter 1, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. and by section 1, chapter 2, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. (uncodified); and making an appropriation.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 207, chapter 7, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. as amended by section 1, chapter 1, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. and by section 1, chapter 2, Laws of 1987 2nd ex. sess. (uncodified) is reenacted and 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((330,946,000))

!tj2!tr331,246,000

@i2General Fund Appropriation‑-Federal!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr334,686,000

!sc ,10Total Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr((665,632,000))

!tj2!tr665,932,000

          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) $300,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation is provided solely for the contracted chore service program to increase the hourly unit rate to $8.02 beginning September 1, 1988.

(4) $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))) (5) 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.

          (((5))) (6) $3,000,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation, and $1,500,000 of the general fund‑-federal appropriation, are provided solely to increase the number of persons served in the chore services program and the community options program entry system (COPES).  To the extent possible, the department shall maximize use of the community options program entry system for all new clients requiring chore or personal care services.

          (((6))) (7) 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.

          (((7))) (8) $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.

          (((8))) (9) 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.

          (((9))) (10) $1,090,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation is provided solely for the respite care demonstration project.

          (((10))) (11) 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.