S-4175.2 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6641
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By Senators Wood, Fairley, Swecker and Winsley
Read first time 01/26/98. Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.
AN ACT Relating to a pilot project for third-party accreditation of boarding homes; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature recognizes the need to involve the boarding home industry, the consumers of assisted living and retirement services, the long-term care ombudsman, and state regulatory agencies in the collaborative process of developing standards and procedures for accreditation of licensed boarding homes. As participants, consumers can help develop standards that more closely address their needs and make the accreditation of boarding home providers more meaningful to them when choosing among competitors. Providers can maintain flexibility in the marketplace and more quickly recognize and respond to the changing needs of its client base. Regulatory agencies can save money and remain assured that performance standards are high. For these reasons, the legislature finds that it is in the best interests of the boarding home industry, boarding home consumers, and state regulatory agencies to support an industry-funded pilot program prior to changing or developing new standards for boarding home regulation.
(2) A coalition of assisted living providers represented by state-wide assisted living professional trade associations, the long-term care ombudsman, state regulatory agencies, and consumer groups representing, but not limited to, the assisted living clientele such as the senior lobby, the American association of retired persons, and the alzheimer's association shall develop a plan for implementing a pilot program for the third-party accreditation of boarding homes licensed under RCW 18.20.020. The pilot plan must be funded by the assisted living federation of America. The plan shall review the overall feasibility of implementation, cost or savings to the regulating agency, impact on client health, safety, quality of care, quality of life, and financial and other impacts to the boarding home industry. The pilot third-party boarding home accreditation plan shall be presented to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate by January 4, 1999.
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