HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESSB 5180
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
Title: An act relating to the legislative advisory committee on aging.
Brief Description: Establishing the legislative advisory committee on aging.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Senators Bailey, Walsh, Darneille, Keiser, Palumbo and Conway).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care & Wellness: 3/10/17, 3/15/17 [DP].
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 17 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Macri, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Graves, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Clibborn, DeBolt, Harris, Jinkins, MacEwen, Maycumber, Riccelli, Robinson, Rodne, Slatter, Stonier and Tharinger.
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
The Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Aging and Disability Issues (Committee) was established in the 2013-15 operating budget and reauthorized in the 2015-17 operating budget. The Committee's membership has varied over its four years, and has included a combination of legislators, executive branch representatives, and representatives from stakeholder groups.
The Committee has been assigned various responsibilities, including:
profiling Washington's older population and population with disabilities;
inventorying services and supports for aging populations and populations with disabilities;
identifying strategies to better serve the health care needs of an aging population and people with disabilities to promote healthy living and palliative care planning;
identifying ways to fund long-term services and supports;
promoting financial security in retirement; and
reviewing housing, land use, and transportation options for an aging community.
The Committee has issued four reports, including its latest in December 2016. The Committee expires on July 1, 2017.
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Summary of Bill:
The Legislative Advisory Committee on Aging (Committee) is established. The Committee consists of eight voting members comprised of the legislators from each caucus of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In addition, the Department of Social and Health Services and the Health Care Authority must each appoint a liaison representative to serve as nonvoting members. The Committee may review issues of importance to the aging community, as well as individuals with disabilities, including housing, long-term care, health and wellness, transportation, and finances. The Committee expires on July 1, 2019.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Aging and Disability (Committee) has taken the time to become familiar with the issues that are important to families facing Alzheimer's and other dementias. It is important to continue this work and dive deeper into some of the issues. For the last four years the Committee has undertaken an ambitious agenda that has helped identify the most challenging policy issues facing the aging population. As a result of the Committee's research and recommendations, many key pieces of legislation have passed to help ensure the comfort and well-being of some of the most vulnerable populations.
Washington ranks second in the nation for providing long-term services and supports and at the bottom in funding, which means that Washington does more with less. The Committee is key to maintaining national leadership. Aging "baby boomers" can benefit from the information brought to the Committee and the policies that are enacted.
The Committee should focus on promoting financial security in retirement, promoting advance planning and advance care directives, protecting the rights of vulnerable adults through assisted decision-making and guardianships, and meeting the needs of the aging demographic impacted by reduced federal support.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Amber Ulvenes, Alzheimer's Association of Washington State; Joanna Grist, AARP; and Liz Tidyman.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.