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SENATE BILL 5883
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State of Washington 56th Legislature 1999 Regular Session
By Senators Franklin, Winsley and Thibaudeau; by request of Department of Social and Health Services
Read first time 02/15/1999. Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.
AN ACT Relating to giving the department of social and health services authority to impose a moratorium on new adult family home licenses; adding a new section to chapter 70.128 RCW; repealing RCW 70.128.061 and 70.128.062; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 70.128 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The department of social and health services may implement a moratorium on the issuance of new adult family home licences if the number of licensed adult family homes exceeds the department's capacity to monitor for safety and quality of care standards. The department's monitoring capacity shall be determined by measuring the number of licensed adult family homes per adult family home licensor. If the average number of licensed adult family homes per adult family home licensor exceeds the ratio allocated in the department's operating budget, the department may implement a moratorium.
(2) When a moratorium is in place, the department shall have the discretion on a case-by-case basis to issue an adult family home license based upon an applicant's ability to accommodate the resident needs of a particular geographic area, ethnic community, or the needs of residents with unique or special care needs.
(3) The department of social and health services is authorized to adopt rules for implementing the provisions of this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
(1) RCW 70.128.061 and 1997 c 392 s 402; and
(2) RCW 70.128.062 and 1997 c 392 s 403.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.
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