HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1134

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

Title:  An act relating to the creation of the adult family home advisory council.

Brief Description:  Creating the adult family home advisory council.

Sponsors:  Representatives Kremen, Ludwig, Zellinsky, Padden and Linville.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, February 12, 1993, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives Dellwo, Chair; L. Johnson, Vice Chair; Dyer, Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Campbell; Conway; Cooke; Flemming; R. Johnson; Lisk; Morris; Thibaudeau; and Veloria.

Staff:  Antonio Sanchez (786-7383).

Background:  Adult Family Homes are licensed by the state to provide residential care for up to six frail and functionally disabled persons in a homelike setting.  The residents are physically and developmentally disabled and elderly adults who require supervision or assistance with activities of daily living and/or health related services and are unable to live alone.

The Adult Family Home Program has been in operation in Washington for 24 years.  What began as a model project with a few homes in Seattle, Tacoma, and the Tri-Cities, currently consists of approximately 1,092 licensed Adult Family Homes caring for 4,370 individuals statewide.  Approximately 1,200 of these residents are state funded cases.  Of these state funded Adult Family Home clients, approximately 65 percent are either developmentally disabled or otherwise disabled persons under 60 years of age.  The elderly comprise the remaining 35 percent of Adult Family Home residents.

Although the Department of Social and Health Services works with the Adult Family Home owners in work groups during the development of departmental rules, currently there are no statutorily authorized Adult Family Home Councils or advisory groups that serve in a formal advisory capacity to the Department of Social and Health Services.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  An Adult Family Home Advisory Council is established.  The 12 member council is made up of representatives from the Department of Social and Health Services, Adult Family Home owners, residents, representing the developmentally disabled, elderly, and mentally ill, and the state long-term care ombudsman.  Terms for how long a member shall hold office are set and other requirements for meetings and leadership are outlined.  The council is required to review, make recommendations, and consult with the Legislature and the Department of Social and Health Services regarding the development of all rules and regulations pertaining to Adult Family Homes.  The council is also mandated to provide specific recommendations to the department and the Legislature on the way the Adult Family Home Program can increase its utilization, improve safety and health standards, improve the quality of life for residents, and establish uniform training for home owners.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute reduces the advisory board from 21 to 12 members and limits the meetings to three per year.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill will give Adult Family Homes the ability to respond to the health and safety needs of the elderly, developmentally disabled and mentally ill.  This will be an improvement over the current department process.

Testimony Against:  The bill is limited to Adult Family Homes only.

Witnesses:  Representative Kremen, prime sponsor; Jean Dodd, Alzheimers Association, AARP (pro); Kathy Leitch, Department of Social and Health Services (con); Jeff Larsen, Adult Licensed Family Homes of Washington (pro); and Evan Iverson, Senior Citizens Lobby.