SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5797

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Health & Long-Term Care, March 5, 2003

Title: An act relating to the timing of the inspection of adult family homes.

Brief Description: Requiring the department of social and health services to inspect adult family homes at least every twenty-four months.

Sponsors: Senators Parlette and Brandland.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 2/20/03, 3/5/03 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5797 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Deccio, Chair; Winsley, Vice Chair; Brandland, Franklin, Keiser and Parlette.

Staff: Rhoda Donkin (786-7198)

Background: Adult family homes provide room, board, and care to elderly and disabled individuals statewide. Currently, there are 2,083 licensed adult family homes providing care to 11,000 individuals, 3,274 of whom are Medicaid clients. These homes are licensed to care for up to six unrelated individuals, and they are regulated by the Department of Social and Health Services. State law currently requires that the department conduct inspections at least every 18 months, subject to funding.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The department is authorized to conduct inspections of adult family homes every 24 months in homes that have had three consecutive inspections without any citations.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill allowed all adult family homes to be inspected every two years.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: This will allow the department to spend more time on poor performance homes, and less time doing routine inspections on good homes.

Testimony Against: The current inspection schedule of 18 months is a minimum. There are very vulnerable and ill people in adult family homes. Maintaining the current practice is important for their safety.

Testified: PRO: Bill Day, Adult Family Home Association; Terry Kohl, Wendy Mitchel, Washington State Residential Care Council; CON: Hilke Faber, Resident Councils of Washington; Kary Hyre, LTC Ombudsman; Ruth Shearer, senior; Pat Lashway, DSHS.