SB 919

This bill establishes specific procedures and requirements for the Department

of Health Services and adult family homes to follow when a licensed or certified adult

family home is closing, intends to close, or is changing its type or level of services or

the means of reimbursement the adult family home will accept. An “adult family

home” is a residential care facility, generally housing three or four residents.

Current law provides that a licensed adult family home is one in which three or four

adults who are not related to the operator reside and receive care, treatment, or

services that are above the level of room and board, including up to seven hours per

week of nursing care per resident. Under current law, a certified adult family home,

in general, provides care and maintenance for three or four adults, each with a

developmental disability, above the level of room and board but not including nursing

care.

Current DHS administrative rules require 30 days' written notification of the

closure of an adult family home. The bill provides that an adult family home must

provide to each resident, to the resident's guardian, if any, and to a member of the

resident's family who is not the resident's guardian, if any, unless the resident

requests that notice to a family other than a guardian be withheld, written

notification of closure or a change in the type or level of service or means of

reimbursement accepted at least 30 days prior to the closure or change. The bill

establishes specific requirements for the notification to be provided by an adult

family home, as well as other requirements and procedures for the adult family

home, including specific requirements relating to planning for the relocation of

residents. The bill requires the adult family home to notify DHS of its intention to

close or to change the type or level of services or means of reimbursement accepted

and to provide DHS with a preliminary plan that DHS must approve. The bill

provides that, within 30 days following notice under the provisions of the bill, a

resident may request a hearing regarding the adult family home's compliance with

the procedures and requirements required under the bill.

The bill also requires that, in the circumstance of an adult family home closing,

intending to close, or changing its type or level of service or means of reimbursement

accepted, DHS must provide, direct, or arrange for relocation planning, placement,

and implementation assistance.