Brief Description: Concerning assisted care facilities.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Schual-Berke, Hinkle, Cody, Skinner and Moeller).

House Committee on Health Care
Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:

Boarding homes are facilities that provide housing and basic services, and assume general responsibility for the safety and well-being of residents. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is responsible for licensing and overseeing the operation of boarding homes. The Department of Health is responsible for the construction review and approval process.

Summary:

The Departments of Health and Social and Health Services, and the Building Code Council will develop standards for small boarding homes. The Department of Health and the Building Code Council will study the risks and benefits of modifying and simplifying construction and equipment standards for small boarding homes, and report their findings to the Legislature by December 1, 2005. The DSHS is required to implement a food safety component as part of the required training for staff and providers in adult family homes. Food handler permits will not be necessary for persons working in adult family homes after June 30, 2005 who successfully complete training requirements. Employees or providers who have food handler permits prior to June 30, 2005 must maintain continuing education classes of one-half hours per year to maintain the food handling and safety training but do not need to renew the permit if they receive the continuing education.

A special capacity adult family home licensed to provide services to seven or eight residents is created. Prior to licensing an adult family home as a special capacity adult family home, the DSHS must consider the prior compliance history of the licensee, the experience level of the licensee, the adequacy of the physical space in the home, and the numbers, qualifications, and training of readily available staff.

Special capacity adult family homes must install smoke detectors that are interconnected and monitored by a central monitoring company. These adult family homes must have a residential automatic fire sprinkler system. The sprinkler system must be inspected annually by a state certified inspection and testing technician.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   94   2
Senate   46   0   (Senate amended)
House         (House refused to concur)
Senate         (Senate insists on its position)
House   92   0   (House concurred)

Effective: July 24, 2005

Partial Veto Summary: The Governor vetoed the requirement that the Department of Social and Health Services license a new category of larger adult family homes which could serve up to eight residents, from the current limit of six residents.