HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2056
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care & Wellness
Health & Human Services Appropriations & Oversight
Title: An act relating to assisted living facilities.
Brief Description: Concerning assisted living facilities.
Sponsors: Representatives Van De Wege, Bailey, Cody, Johnson and Warnick.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care & Wellness: 1/9/12, 1/16/12 [DPS];
Health & Human Services Appropriations & Oversight: 1/31/12, 2/2/12 [DPS(HCW)].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS |
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Jinkins, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Hinkle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Clibborn, Green, Harris, Kelley, Moeller and Van De Wege.
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
Washington began licensing boarding homes in 1958. The Department of Social and Health Services licenses and conducts inspections, investigations of complaints, and enforcement actions related to boarding homes.
Boarding homes are facilities that provide housing and basic services to seven or more residents. Residents of boarding homes are people who live in a boarding home for reasons of age or disability and receive services provided by the boarding home. Services provided to residents by boarding homes include housekeeping, meals, snacks, laundry, and activities. They may also provide domiciliary care including assistance with activities of daily living, health support services, and intermittent nursing services. Intermittent nursing services include: medication administration, administration of health care treatments, diabetic management, nonroutine ostomy care, tube feeding, and delegated nursing tasks.
Nonresident individuals may also live in a boarding home and receive specified services, but they may not receive domiciliary care from the boarding home. Some of the services that nonresident individuals may receive upon request include:
emergency assistance;
facility systems to respond to the potential need for emergency assistance;
nursing assessment services;
preadmission assessment for transitioning to a licensed care setting;
medication assistance and prefilling insulin syringes;
nutrition management;
dental services; and
customary landlord services.
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Summary of Substitute Bill:
The term "boarding home" is changed to "assisted living facility" throughout the boarding home licensing statute and elsewhere in the Revised Code of Washington. The Department of Social and Health Services is authorized to apply rules regarding boarding homes to assisted living facilities.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill makes changes to account for legislation enacted in 2011. The provisions related to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children are removed. The Department of Social and Health Services is authorized to apply rules regarding boarding homes to assisted living facilities.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available. New fiscal note requested on January 16, 2012.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Washington is very progressive in assisted living policies, except in naming those facilities. This will put Washington in line with a trend toward using the term "assisted living facility." Boarding homes have been regulated by the state for over 50 years and it is time to update the term. The care provided in boarding homes has evolved over the last 20 years and it is time that the terminology be updated. The term "boarding home" carries many negative connotations and this name change will help consumers understand the services of these facilities. This will decrease confusion for policy makers and consumers. The section related to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children may need to be removed.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Van De Wege, prime sponsor; Dave Knutson, Washington Health Care Association; Lee Field, Senior Services of America; Scott Sigman, Aging Services of Washington; and Ingrid McDonald, AARP.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS & OVERSIGHT |
Majority Report: The substitute bill by Committee on Health Care & Wellness be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Dickerson, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Johnson, Ranking Minority Member; Schmick, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cody, Green, Harris, Kagi, Overstreet, Pettigrew and Walsh.
Staff: Carma Matti-Jackson (786-7140).
Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Health & Human Services Appropriations & Oversight Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Health Care & Wellness:
No new changes were recommended.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Washington is very progressive in assisted living policies, except in naming those facilities. This will put Washington in line with a trend toward using the term "assisted living facility." Boarding homes have been regulated by the state for over 50 years and it is time to update the term. The care provided in boarding homes has evolved over the last 20 years and it is time that the terminology be updated. The term "boarding home" carries many negative connotations and this name change will help consumers understand the services of these facilities. This will decrease confusion for policy makers and consumers.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Van De Wege, prime sponsor; Dave Knutson, Washington Health Care Association, Washington Center for Assisted Living; and Scott Sigmon, Aging Services of Washington.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.