HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2707
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care
Appropriations
Title: An act relating to long‑term caregiver training.
Brief Description: Modifying the commencement date for long‑term caregiver training.
Sponsors: Representatives Edwards, Skinner, Cody and Schual‑Berke.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care: 2/5/02, 2/8/02 [DPS];
Appropriations: 2/9/02, 2/11/02 [DPS(HC)].
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Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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$The effective date for basic and specialty training requirements for long-term caregivers is changed to September 1, 2002.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Schual‑Berke, Vice Chair; Campbell, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Conway, Darneille, Edwards, Ruderman and Skinner.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Alexander and Ballasiotes.
Staff: Dave Knutson (786‑7146).
Background:
In 2000 the Legislature mandated training for caregivers in all long-term care settings. The mandated training includes basic and specialty training. A steering committee for community long-term care training and education was established to advise the Department of Social and Health Services on rules related to training materials, competency testing, training effectiveness, and other training matters. The statutory training standards take effect March 1, 2002.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
The statutory training standards implementation date is moved from March 1, 2002 to September 1, 2002. Boarding home and adult family home operators may attest that their in-house training complies with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) standards.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
A specific date of September 1, 2002 is set for implementation of basic and specialty training requirements. An emergency clause is added.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not Requested.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Testimony For: The materials needed to implement the revised training standards will not be ready by March 1, 2002. The DSHS needed a delay before new training standards go into effect.
Testimony Against: The implementation date should be to a date certain. The DSHS should not be given so much discretion in deciding when to implement revised training standards.
Testified: (Support) Penny Black, Department of Social and Health Services; Laurie St. Ours, NorALFA; Tom Stanley, Emeritus Assisted Living; and Bonnie Brian-Caldwell.
(Oppose) Gene Forrester, Senior Citizens Lobby; Kary Hyre, Long-term Care Ombudsman; and Hilke Faber, Residents Council of Washington.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: The substitute bill by Committee on Health Care be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Doumit, 1st Vice Chair; Fromhold, 2nd Vice Chair; Sehlin, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Boldt, Buck, Clements, Cody, Cox, Dunshee, Grant, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, Lisk, Mastin, McIntire, Pearson, Pflug, Ruderman, Schual‑Berke, Talcott and Tokuda.
Staff: Amy Hanson (786‑7118).
Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Health Care:
No new changes were recommended.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Testimony For: This bill reflects dialogue between the Department of Social and Health Services and providers in resolving areas of disagreement. The bill establishes a workable process for both the department and providers, and marks the continuing advancement of providing quality care for residents. We support moving the deadline, but have some fiscal concerns regarding the mandatory review requirement for the department.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Brendan Williams, Washington Health Care Association; Kathy Leitch, Department of Social and Health Services; and Terry Kohl, NorALFA