Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Health Care Committee

HB 2312

Brief Description:  Repealing department of health registration of adult family homes.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cody, Campbell, Schual‑Berke and Edwards; by request of Department of Health.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Repeals registration program of adult family home providers and resident managers under the Secretary of Health.

$Establishes adult family home advisory board to advise the Secretary of Social and Health Services on matters relating to the adult family home program administered by the department.

Hearing Date:  1/17/02

Staff:  John Welsh (786‑7133).

Background:

Providers and resident managers of adult family homes are required to register with the Department of Health as health providers, and are subject to the disciplinary authority of the Secretary under the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

The Adult Family Home Advisory Committee advises the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Social and Health Services on matters relating to the regulation, administrative rules, enforcement process, staffing, and training requirements of adult family homes.  The committee is composed of six members, of which two are resident advocates, three are adult family home providers, and one member represents the public and serves as chair.

The Department of Social and Health Services licenses adult family homes and enforces standards for the operation of adult family homes and the qualifications of providers and resident managers, as well as conducts inspections and requires training of operators.  The department has disciplinary authority, including the imposition of sanctions such as civil penalties, refusal to issue a license, suspension or revocation of licenses, imposition of conditions on the operation of an adult family home, and suspension of resident admissions, including injunctive relief.

Summary of Bill:

The registration program of adult family home providers and resident managers under the Department of Health is repealed, including the advisory committee.  Registration fees collected by the department are returned to the registrants, less actual program costs, according to a distribution formula determined by the department.  The inclusion of registered adult family home providers and resident managers under the disciplinary authority of the Secretary of Health and the Uniform Disciplinary Act is also repealed.

The Secretary of Social and Health Services is required to designate an advisory board on matters pertaining to the adult family home program administered by the Department of Social and Health Services.  It must include representatives of statewide adult family home associations and nonaffiliated providers, the state long-term care ombudsman program, the statewide resident council program, consumers, and family representatives.  The secretary must convene the advisory board periodically to encourage dialogue on matters affecting the adult family home program, including inspection, enforcement, and quality improvement activities, and shall seek comments and recommendations on proposed rules, implementation of programs, and methods and rates of payment.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 16, 2002.

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