Read first time 02/05/13.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to operators of multiple adult family homes; and amending RCW 70.128.065.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 70.128.065 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 3 s 203 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A multiple facility operator must successfully demonstrate to the department financial solvency and management experience for the homes under its ownership and the ability to meet other relevant safety, health, and operating standards pertaining to the operation of multiple homes, including ways to mitigate the potential impact of vehicular traffic related to the operation of the homes.
     (2) The department shall only accept and process an application for licensure of an additional home when:
     (a) A period of no less than twenty-four months has passed since the issuance of the initial adult family home license; and
     (b) The department has taken no enforcement actions against the applicant's currently licensed adult family homes during the twenty-four months prior to application.
     (3)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the department shall only accept and process an additional application for licensure of other adult family homes when twelve months has passed since the previous adult family home license, and the department has taken no enforcement actions against the applicant's currently licensed adult family homes during the twelve months prior to application.
     (b) The department shall accept and process applications for licensure of additional adult family homes when less than twelve months have passed since the previous adult family home license, if the applications are due to the change in ownership of existing adult family homes that are currently licensed and the department has taken no enforcement actions against the applicant's currently licensed adult family homes during the twelve months prior to application.
     (4) In the event of serious noncompliance leading to the imposition of one or more actions listed in RCW 70.128.160(2) for violation of federal, state, or local laws, or regulations relating to provision of care or services to vulnerable adults or children, the department is authorized to take one or more actions listed in RCW 70.128.160(2) against any home or homes operated by the provider if there is a violation in the home or homes.
     (5) In the event of serious noncompliance in a home operated by a provider with multiple adult family homes, leading to the imposition of one or more actions listed in RCW 70.128.160(2), the department shall inspect the other homes operated by the provider to determine whether the same or related deficiencies are present in those homes. The cost of these additional inspections may be imposed on the provider as a civil penalty up to a maximum of three hundred dollars per additional inspection.
     (6) A provider is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day operations of each licensed home.