Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 07-15-025.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is amending chapter 388-78A WAC, Boarding homes, to add new sections regarding the resident protection program and amend several existing sections in the chapter to be consistent with the new sections on the resident protection program.

     Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East, First Floor, Rose Room, 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503 (one block north of the intersection of Pacific Avenue S.E. and Alhadeff Lane. A map or directions are available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/docket.html or by calling (360) 664-6094), on December 11, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than December 12, 2007.

     Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, e-mail DSHSRULESCOORDINATOR@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on December 11, 2007.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS Rules Consultant, by December 4, 2007, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at johnsjl4@dshs.wa.gov.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposed rule making adds sections to chapter 388-78A WAC regarding due process rights for persons alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited or financially exploited boarding home residents/resident protection program. The proposal adds information about investigations, notification, hearings and appeals. Relevant definitions are clarified and additional relevant terms will be defined in WAC 388-78A-2020 Definitions. The department is amending WAC 388-78A-2600 Policies and procedures, to clarify that boarding homes need to train their staff about abandonment and financial exploitation of residents, and amending WAC 388-78A-2470 Criminal history background checks, to make language consistent with new resident protection program sections.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: Persons alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited or financially exploited boarding home residents are entitled to due process. The proposed changes provide individuals, boarding home providers, the department and others with clear guidance regarding due process rights of individuals alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited or financially exploited residents.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.20.090.

     Statute Being Implemented: Chapters 18.20 and 74.34 RCW.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Todd Henry, P.O. Box 45600, Mailstop 45600, Olympia, WA 98504-5600, (360) 725-2580; Implementation and Enforcement: Pat Jennings, P.O. Box 45600, Mailstop 45600, Olympia, WA 98504-5600, (360) 725-2404.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The department determined there were no more than "minor costs" as defined in changes made in RCW 19.85.030 in 2007. A copy of the statement may be obtained by contacting Todd Henry, P.O. Box 45600, Mailstop 45600, Olympia, WA 98513, phone (360) 725-2580, fax (360) 438-7903, e-mail henryte@dshs.wa.gov.

     A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Todd Henry, P.O. Box 45600, Mailstop 45600, Olympia, WA 98513, phone (360) 725-2580, fax (360) 438-7903, e-mail henryte@dshs.wa.gov.

October 19, 2007

Stephanie E. Schiller

Rules Coordinator

     "Abuse" means the willful action or inaction that inflicts injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment on a resident. In instances of abuse of a resident who is unable to express or demonstrate physical harm, pain, or mental anguish, the abuse is presumed to cause physical harm, pain, or mental anguish. Abuse includes sexual abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, and exploitation of a resident, which have the following meanings:

     (1) "Mental abuse" means any willful action or inaction of mental or verbal abuse. Mental abuse includes, but is not limited to, coercion, harassment, inappropriately isolating a resident from family, friends, or regular activity, and verbal assault that includes ridiculing, intimidating, yelling, or swearing;

     (2) "Physical abuse" means the willful action of inflicting bodily injury or physical mistreatment. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, striking with or without an object, slapping, pinching, choking, kicking, shoving, prodding, or the use of chemical restraints or physical restraints;

     (3) "Sexual abuse" means any form of nonconsensual sexual contact, including, but not limited to, unwanted or inappropriate touching, rape, sodomy, sexual coercion, sexually explicit photographing, and sexual harassment. Sexual abuse includes any sexual contact between a staff person and a resident, whether or not it is consensual;

     (4) "Exploitation" means an act of forcing, compelling, or exerting undue influence over a resident causing the resident to act in a way that is inconsistent with relevant past behavior, or causing the resident to perform services for the benefit of another((;

     (5) "Financial exploitation" means the illegal or improper use of the property, income, resources, or trust funds of the vulnerable adult by any person for any person's profit or advantage)).

     "Activities of daily living" means the following tasks related to basic personal care: Bathing; toileting; dressing; personal hygiene; mobility; transferring; and eating.

     "Adult day services" means care and services provided to a nonresident individual by the boarding home on the boarding home premises, for a period of time not to exceed ten continuous hours, and does not involve an overnight stay.

     "Ambulatory" means capable of walking or traversing a normal path to safety without the physical assistance of another individual:

     (1) "Nonambulatory" means unable to walk or traverse a normal path to safety without the physical assistance of another individual;

     (2) "Semiambulatory" means physically and mentally capable of traversing a normal path to safety with the use of mobility aids, but unable to ascend or descend stairs without the physical assistance of another individual.

     "Applicant" means the person, as defined in this section, that has submitted, or is in the process of submitting, an application for a boarding home license.

     "Basic services" means housekeeping services, meals, nutritious snacks, laundry, and activities.

     "Bathing fixture" means a bathtub, shower or sit-down shower.

     "Bathroom" means a room containing at least one bathing fixture.

     "Boarding home" means any home or other institution, however named, which is advertised, announced, or maintained for the express or implied purpose of providing housing, basic services, and assuming general responsibility for the safety and well-being of the residents, and may also provide domiciliary care, consistent with this chapter to seven or more residents after July 1, 2000. However, a boarding home that is licensed for three to six residents prior to or on July 1, 2000, may maintain its boarding home license as long as it is continually licensed as a boarding home. "Boarding home" does not include facilities certified as group training homes pursuant to RCW 71A.22.040, nor any home, institution or section thereof which is otherwise licensed and regulated under the provisions of state law providing specifically for the licensing and regulation of such home, institution or section thereof. Nor shall it include any independent senior housing, independent living units in continuing care retirement communities, or other similar living situations including those subsidized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Boarding home" may also include persons associated with the boarding home to carry out its duties under this chapter.

     "Building code" means the building codes and standards adopted by the Washington state building code council.

     "Caregiver" means anyone providing hands-on personal care to another person including, but not limited to: Cuing, reminding or supervision of residents, on behalf of a boarding home, except volunteers who are directly supervised. Direct supervision means oversight by a person who has demonstrated competency in the basic training (and specialty training if required), or who has been exempted from the basic training requirements, is on the premises, and is quickly and easily available to the caregiver.

     "Construction review services" means the office of construction review services within the Washington state department of health.

     "Continuing care contract" means, as stated in RCW 70.38.025, a contract providing a person, for the duration of that person's life or for a term in excess of one year, shelter along with nursing, medical, health-related, or personal care services, which is conditioned upon the transfer of property, the payment of an entrance fee to the provider of such services, or the payment of periodic charges for the care and services involved. A continuing care contract is not excluded from this definition because the contract is mutually terminable or because shelter and services are not provided at the same location.

     "Continuing care retirement community" means, as stated in RCW 70.38.025, an entity which provides shelter and services under continuing care contracts with its members and which sponsors or includes a health care facility or a health service.

     "Contractor" means an agency or person who contracts with a licensee to provide resident care, services or equipment.

     "Crimes relating to financial exploitation" means the same as "crimes relating to financial exploitation" as defined in RCW 43.43.830 or 43.43.842.

     "Department" means the Washington state department of social and health services.

     "Dietitian" means an individual certified under chapter 18.138 RCW.

     "Document" means to record, with signature, title, date and time:

     (1) Information about medication administration, medication assistance or disposal, a nursing care procedure, accident, occurrence or change in resident condition that may affect the care or needs of a resident; and

     (2) Processes, events or activities that are required by law, rule or policy.

     "Domiciliary care" means:

     (1) Assistance with activities of daily living provided by the boarding home either directly or indirectly; or

     (2) Health support services, if provided directly or indirectly by the boarding home; or

     (3) Intermittent nursing services, if provided directly or indirectly by the boarding home.

     "Enforcement remedy" means one or more of the department's responses to a boarding home's noncompliance with chapter 18.20 RCW and this chapter, as authorized by RCW 18.20.190.

     "Financial exploitation" means the illegal or improper use of the property, income, resources, or trust funds of the vulnerable adult by any person for any person's profit or advantage other than for the vulnerable adult's profit or advantage.

     "Food service worker" means according to chapter 246-217 WAC an individual who works (or intends to work) with or without pay in a food service establishment and handles unwrapped or unpackaged food or who may contribute to the transmission of infectious diseases through the nature of his/her contact with food products and/or equipment and facilities. This does not include persons who simply assist residents with meals.

     "General responsibility for the safety and well-being of the resident" means the provision of the following:

     (1) Prescribed general low sodium diets;

     (2) Prescribed general diabetic diets;

     (3) Prescribed mechanical soft foods;

     (4) Emergency assistance;

     (5) Monitoring of the resident;

     (6) Arranging health care appointments with outside health care providers and reminding residents of such appointments as necessary;

     (7) Coordinating health care services with outside health care providers consistent with WAC 388-78A-2350;

     (8) Assisting the resident to obtain and maintain glasses, hearing aids, dentures, canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, and assistive communication devices;

     (9) Observation of the resident for changes in overall functioning;

     (10) Blood pressure checks as scheduled;

     (11) Responding appropriately when there are observable or reported changes in the resident's physical, mental, or emotional functioning; or

     (12) Medication assistance as permitted under RCW 69.41.085 and as described in RCW 69.41.010 and chapter 246-888 WAC.

     "Harm" means a physical or mental or emotional injury or damage to a resident including those resulting from neglect or violations of a resident's rights.

     "Health support services" means any of the following optional services:

     (1) Blood glucose testing;

     (2) Puree diets;

     (3) Calorie controlled diabetic diets;

     (4) Dementia care;

     (5) Mental health care; or

     (6) Developmental disabilities care.

     "Independent living unit" means:

     (1) Independent senior housing;

     (2) Independent living unit in a continuing care retirement community or other similar living environments;

     (3) Boarding home unit where domiciliary services are not provided; or

     (4) Boarding home unit where one or more items listed under "general responsibilities" are not provided.

     "Independent senior housing" means an independent living unit occupied by an individual or individuals sixty or more years of age.

     "Infectious" means capable of causing infection or disease by entrance of organisms into the body, which grow and multiply there, including, but not limited to, bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and fungi.

     "Licensee" means the person, as defined in this chapter, to whom the department issues the boarding home license.

     "Licensed resident bed capacity" means the resident occupancy level requested by the licensee and approved by the department. All residents receiving domiciliary care or the items or services listed under general responsibility for the safety and well-being of the resident as defined in this section count towards the licensed resident bed capacity. Adult day services clients do not count towards the licensed resident bed capacity.

     "Majority owner" means any person that owns:

     (1) More than fifty percent interest; or

     (2) If no one person owns more than fifty percent interest, the largest interest portion; or

     (3) If more than one person owns equal largest interest portions, then all persons owning those equal largest interest portions.

     "Manager" means the person defined in this chapter, providing management services on behalf of the licensee.

     "Management agreement" means a written, executed agreement between the licensee and the manager regarding the provision of certain services on behalf of the licensee.

     "Mandated reporter":

     (1) Is an employee of the department, law enforcement officer, social worker, professional school personnel, individual provider, an employee of a facility, an operator of a facility, an employee of a social service, welfare, mental health, adult day health, adult day care, home health, home care, or hospice agency, county coroner or medical examiner, Christian Science practitioner, or health care provider subject to chapter 18.130 RCW; and

     (2) For the purpose of the definition of mandated reporter, "Facility" means a residence licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW (boarding homes), chapter 18.51 RCW (nursing homes), chapter 70.128 RCW (adult family homes), chapter 72.36 RCW (soldiers' homes), chapter 71A.20 RCW (residential habilitation centers), or any other facility licensed by the department.

     "Maximum facility capacity" means the maximum number of individuals that the boarding home may serve at any one time, as determined by the department.

     (1) The maximum facility capacity includes all residents and respite care residents and adult day services clients.

     (2) The maximum facility capacity is equal to the lesser of:

     (a) The sum of the number of approved bed spaces for all resident rooms (total number of approved bed spaces), except as specified in subsection (3); or

     (b) Twice the seating capacity of the dining area(s) consistent with WAC 388-78A-2300 (1)(h); or

     (c) The number of residents permitted by calculating the ratios of toilets, sinks, and bathing fixtures to residents consistent with WAC 388-78A-3030; or

     (d) For boarding homes licensed on or before December 31, 1988, the total day room area in square feet divided by ten square feet, consistent with WAC 388-78A-3050; or

     (e) For boarding homes licensed after December 31, 1988, the total day room area in square feet divided by twenty square feet, consistent with WAC 388-78A-3050.

     (3) For the purposes of providing adult day services consistent with WAC 388-78A-2360, one additional adult day services client may be served, beyond the total number of approved bed spaces, for each additional sixty square feet of day room area greater than the area produced by multiplying the total number of approved bed spaces by twenty square feet, provided that:

     (a) There is a least one toilet and one hand washing sink accessible to adult day services clients for every eight adult day services clients or fraction thereof;

     (b) The total number of residents and adult day services clients does not exceed twice the seating capacity of the dining area(s) consistent with WAC 388-78A-2300 (1)(h); and

     (c) The adult day services program area(s) and building do not exceed the occupancy load as determined by the local building official or state fire marshal.

     "Medication administration" means the direct application of a prescribed medication whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or other means, to the body of the resident by an individual legally authorized to do so.

     "Medication assistance" means assistance with self-administration of medication rendered by a nonpractitioner to a resident of a boarding home in accordance with chapter 246-888 WAC.

     "Medication organizer" means a container with separate compartments for storing oral medications organized in daily doses.

     "Medication service" means any service provided either directly or indirectly by a boarding home related to medication administration, medication administration provided through nurse delegation, medication assistance, or resident self-administration of medication.

     "Neglect" means:

     (1) A pattern of conduct or inaction resulting in the failure to provide the goods and services that maintain physical or mental health of a resident, or that fails to avoid or prevent physical or mental harm or pain to a resident; or

     (2) An act or omission that demonstrates a serious disregard of consequences of such a magnitude as to constitute a clear and present danger to the resident's health, welfare, or safety, including but not limited to conduct prohibited under RCW 9A.42.100.

     "Nonresident individual" means an individual who resides in independent senior housing, independent living units in continuing care retirement communities, or in other similar living environments or in a boarding home and may receive one or more of the services listed in WAC 388-78A-2030 (2)(a) through (g). A nonresident individual may not receive domiciliary care as defined in this section, directly or indirectly by the boarding home, and may not receive the items or services listed under general responsibility for the safety and well-being of the resident as defined in this section, except during the time the person is receiving adult day services as defined in this section.

     "Nonpractitioner" means any individual who is not a practitioner as defined in WAC 388-78A-2020 and chapter 69.41 RCW.

     "Nurse" means an individual currently licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW as either a:

     (1) "Licensed practical nurse" (LPN); or

     (2) "Registered nurse" (RN).

     "Over-the-counter (OTC) medication" means any medication that may be legally purchased without a prescriptive order, including, but not limited to, aspirin, antacids, vitamins, minerals, or herbal preparations.

     "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association or any other legal or commercial entity.

     "Physician" means an individual licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW.

     "Practitioner" includes a licensed physician, osteopathic physician, podiatric physician, pharmacist, licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, advanced registered nurse practitioner, dentist, and physician assistant. Refer to chapter 69.41 RCW for a complete listing of practitioners.

     "Prescribed medication" means any medication (legend drug, controlled substance, and over-the-counter) that is prescribed by an authorized practitioner.

     "Prescriber" means a health care practitioner authorized by Washington state law to prescribe drugs.

     "Problem" means a violation of any WAC or RCW applicable to the operation of a boarding home:

     (1) "Recurring problem" means, for all purposes other than those described in RCW 18.20.400, that the department has cited the boarding home for a violation of WAC or RCW and the circumstances of (a) or (b) of this subsection are present:

     (a) The department previously imposed an enforcement remedy for a violation of the same section of WAC or RCW for substantially the same problem following any type of inspection within the preceding thirty-six months; or

     (b) The department previously cited a violation under the same section of WAC or RCW for substantially the same problem following any type of inspection on two occasions within the preceding thirty-six months.

     (c) If the previous violation in (a) or (b) of this subsection was pursuant to WAC or RCW that has changed at the time of the new violation, citation to the equivalent current WAC or RCW section is sufficient.

     (d) When there is a change in licensees between the first and the second or third citations, the new licensee must accept, and the department will consider, the prior licensee's compliance and enforcement record as part of the new licensee's compliance record at that boarding home if any person affiliated with the new licensee was affiliated with the prior licensee at the same boarding home. A person is considered affiliated with the licensee if the person is an applicant for the boarding home license, or is listed on the license application as a partner, officer, director, or majority owner of the applicant.

     (2) "Serious problem" means:

     (a) There has been a violation of a WAC or RCW; and

     (b) Significant harm has actually occurred to a resident; or

     (c) It is likely that significant harm or death will occur to a resident.

     (3) "Uncorrected problem" means the department has cited a violation of WAC or RCW following any type of inspection and the violation remains uncorrected at the time the department makes a subsequent inspection for the specific purpose of verifying whether such violation has been corrected. When a change in licensees occurs, the new licensee is responsible for correcting any remaining violations that may exist, including complying with any plan of correction in effect immediately prior to the change in licensees.

     "Prospective resident" means an individual who is seeking admission to a licensed boarding home and who has completed and signed an application for admission, or such application for admission has been completed and signed in their behalf by their legal representative if any, and if not, then the designated representative if any.

     "Reasonable accommodation" and "reasonably accommodate" have the meaning given in federal and state antidiscrimination laws and regulations which include, but are not limited to, the following:

     (1) Reasonable accommodation means that the boarding home must:

     (a) Not impose admission criteria that excludes individuals unless the criteria is necessary for the provision of boarding home services;

     (b) Make reasonable modification to its policies, practices or procedures if the modifications are necessary to accommodate the needs of the resident;

     (c) Provide additional aids and services to the resident.

     (2) Reasonable accommodations are not required if:

     (a) The resident or individual applying for admission presents a significant risk to the health or safety of others that cannot be eliminated by the reasonable accommodation;

     (b) The reasonable accommodations would fundamentally alter the nature of the services provided by the boarding home; or

     (c) The reasonable accommodations would cause an undue burden, meaning a significant financial or administrative burden.

     "RCW" means Revised Code of Washington.

     "Records" means:

     (1) "Active records" means the current, relevant documentation regarding residents necessary to provide care and services to residents; or

     (2) "Inactive records" means historical documentation regarding the provision of care and services to residents that is no longer relevant to the current delivery of services and has been thinned from the active record.

     "Resident" means an individual who:

     (1) Chooses to reside in a boarding home, including an individual receiving respite care;

     (2) Is not related by blood or marriage to the operator of the boarding home;

     (3) Receives basic services; and

     (4) Receives one or more of the services listed under general responsibility for the safety and well-being of the resident, and may receive domiciliary care or respite care provided directly, or indirectly, by the boarding home.

     "Resident's representative" means:

     (1) The legal representative who is the person or persons identified in RCW 7.70.065 and who may act on behalf of the resident pursuant to the scope of their legal authority. The legal representative shall not be affiliated with the licensee, boarding home, or management company, unless the affiliated person is a family member of the resident; or

     (2) If there is no legal representative, a person designated voluntarily by a competent resident in writing, to act in the resident's behalf concerning the care and services provided by the boarding home and to receive information from the boarding home if there is no legal representative. The resident's representative may not be affiliated with the licensee, boarding home, or management company, unless the affiliated person is a family member of the resident. The resident's representative under this subsection shall not have authority to act on behalf of the resident once the resident is no longer competent. The resident's competence shall be determined using the criteria in RCW 11.88.010 (1)(e).

     "Respite care" means short-term care for any period in excess of twenty-four continuous hours for a resident to temporarily relieve the family or other caregiver of providing that care.

     "Restraint" means any method or device used to prevent or limit free body movement, including, but not limited to:

     (1) Confinement, unless agreed to as provided in WAC 388-78A-2370;

     (2) "Chemical restraint" which means a psychopharmacologic drug that is used for discipline or convenience and not required to treat the resident's medical symptoms; and

     (3) "Physical restraint" which means a manual method, obstacle, or physical or mechanical device, material, or equipment attached or adjacent to the resident's body that restricts freedom of movement or access to his or her body, is used for discipline or convenience, and not required to treat the resident's medical symptoms.

     "Room" means a space set apart by floor to ceiling partitions on all sides with all openings provided with doors or windows.

     (1) "Sleeping room" means a room where a resident is customarily expected to sleep and contains a resident's bed.

     (2) "Resident living room" means the common space in a resident unit that is not a sleeping room, bathroom or closet.

     "Significant change" means a change in the resident's physical, mental, or psychosocial status that causes either life-threatening conditions or clinical complications.

     "Special needs" means a developmental disability, mental illness, or dementia.

     "Staff person" means any boarding home employee or temporary employee or contractor, whether employed or retained by the licensee or any management company, or volunteer.

     "State fire marshal" means the director of fire protection under the direction of the chief of the Washington state patrol.

     "Toilet" means a disposal apparatus used for urination and defecation, fitted with a seat and flushing device.

     "Volunteer" means an individual who interacts with residents without reimbursement.

     "Vulnerable adult" ((means "vulnerable adult" as defined in chapter 74.34 RCW.)) includes a person:

     (1) Sixty years of age or older who has the functional, mental, or physical inability to care for himself or herself; or

     (2) Found incapacitated under chapter 11.88 RCW; or

     (3) Who has a developmental disability as defined under RCW 71A.10.020; or

     (4) Admitted to any facility, including any boarding home; or

     (5) Receiving services from home health, hospice, or home care agencies licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW; or

     (6) Receiving services from an individual provider.

     (7) For the purposes of requesting and receiving background checks pursuant to RCW 43.43.832, it shall also include adults of any age who lack the functional, mental, or physical ability to care for themselves.

     "WAC" means Washington Administrative Code.

     "Willful" means the deliberate, or nonaccidental, action or inaction by an alleged perpetrator that he/she knows or reasonably should have known could cause a negative outcome, including harm, injury, pain or anguish.

     "WISHA" means the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, chapter 49.17 RCW administered by the Washington state department of labor and industries.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 and 2006 c 242. 06-13-028, § 388-78A-2020, filed 6/13/06, effective 7/14/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090. 06-01-047, § 388-78A-2020, filed 12/15/05, effective 1/15/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. 04-16-065, § 388-78A-2020, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]

     Reviser's note: RCW 34.05.395 requires the use of underlining and deletion marks to indicate amendments to existing rules. The rule published above varies from its predecessor in certain respects not indicated by the use of these markings.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-01-047, filed 12/15/05, effective 1/15/06)

WAC 388-78A-2470   Criminal history background checks.   (1) This section applies to any individual associated with the licensee or boarding home who may have unsupervised access to residents, including but not limited to:

     (a) Employees;

     (b) Managers;

     (c) Volunteers who are not residents;

     (d) Contractors; and

     (e) Students.

     (2) The boarding home must:

     (a) Ensure any individual associated with the licensee or boarding home who may have unsupervised access to residents has had a background check of conviction records, pending charges and disciplinary board decisions completed within the past two years, and is repeated every two years thereafter, and that individual has not been:

     (i) Convicted of a crime against children or other persons as defined in RCW 43.43.830 or 43.43.842;

     (ii) Convicted of crimes relating to financial exploitation as defined in RCW 43.43.830 or 43.43.842;

     (iii) Found in any disciplinary board final decision to have abused a vulnerable adult as defined in RCW 43.43.830;

     (iv) The subject in a protective proceeding under chapter 74.34 RCW;

     (v) Convicted of criminal mistreatment; or

     (vi) Found by the department to have abandoned, abused, neglected or exploited a minor, or abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a ((minor or)) vulnerable person, provided the individual was offered an administrative hearing to contest the finding, and the finding was upheld, or the individual failed to timely appeal the finding.

     (b) Not hire or retain, directly or by contract, or accept as a volunteer, any individual prohibited from having unsupervised access to residents under (a) of this subsection, except as provided in subsection (6) of this section and RCW 43.43.842.

     (3) Prior to first starting his or her duties, the boarding home must:

     (a) Require each prospective employee, manager, volunteer, contractor and student associated with the licensee or boarding home who may have unsupervised access to residents to disclose, consistent with RCW 43.43.834(2), whether he or she:

     (i) Has been convicted of a crime, including any of the following as defined in RCW 43.43.830:

     (A) All crimes against children or their persons;

     (B) All crimes relating to financial exploitation; and

     (C) All crimes relating to drugs;

     (ii) Has had findings made against him or her in any civil adjudicative proceeding as defined in RCW 43.43.830; or

     (iii) Has both convictions for (i) and findings made against him or her under (ii).

     (b) Require each individual making the disclosures required in subsection (3)(a) of this section:

     (i) To make the disclosures in writing;

     (ii) To swear under penalty of perjury that the contents of the disclosure are accurate; and

     (iii) To sign the disclosure statement.

     (4) Prior to first starting his or her duties, the boarding home must take one or more of the following three actions for each prospective employee, manager, volunteer, contractor and student associated with the licensee or boarding home who may have unsupervised access to residents:

     (a) Initiate a background check on the individual through the department, which includes taking the following actions:

     (i) Informing the individual that a background check is required.

     (ii) Requiring the individual to complete and sign a DSHS background authorization form prior to the individual having unsupervised access to residents;

     (iii) Submitting all background check authorization forms to the department's:

     (A) Aging and disability services administration with the initial application for licensure; and

     (B) Background check central unit for currently licensed boarding homes.

     (iv) Verbally informing the named individual of his/her individual background check results and offering to provide him or her a copy of the background check results within ten days of receipt.

     (b) Obtain from the individual's prior employer a copy of the completed criminal background inquiry information for the individual, subject to the following conditions:

     (i) The prior employer was a nursing home licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW, a boarding home licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW, or an adult family home licensed under chapter 70.128 RCW;

     (ii) The nursing home, boarding home or adult family home providing completed criminal background inquiry information for the individual is reasonably known to be the individual's most recent employer;

     (iii) No more than twelve months has elapsed from the date the individual was employed by the nursing home, boarding home or adult family home and the date of the individual's current application;

     (iv) The background inquiry for the individual is no more than two years old; and

     (v) The boarding home has no reason to believe the individual has or may have a disqualifying conviction or finding as described in RCW 43.43.842.

     (c) When using staff persons from a home health, hospice, or home care agency licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW, or a nursing pool registered under chapter 18.52C RCW, the boarding home must establish, maintain and follow a written agreement with the agency or pool to ensure the requirements of subsection (2) of this section are met for the agency or pool staff who may work in the boarding home.

     (5) The boarding home must ensure that all disclosure statements, and background check results obtained by the boarding home, are:

     (a) Maintained on-site in a confidential and secure manner;

     (b) Used for employment purposes only;

     (c) Not disclosed to any individual except:

     (i) The individual named on the background check result;

     (ii) Authorized state and federal employees;

     (iii) The Washington state patrol auditor; and

     (iv) As otherwise authorized in chapter 43.43 RCW.

     (d) Retained and available for department review:

     (i) During the individual's employment or association with a facility; and

     (ii) At least two years following termination of employment or association with a facility.

     (6) The boarding home may conditionally hire, directly or by contract, an individual having unsupervised access to residents pending a background inquiry, provided the boarding home:

     (a) Obtains a criminal history background check authorization form from the individual prior to the individual beginning work;

     (b) Submits the criminal history background check authorization form to the department no later than one business day after the individual started working; and

     (c) Has received three positive references for the individual.

     (7) The department may require the boarding home or any other individual associated with the boarding home who has unsupervised access to residents to complete additional disclosure statements or background inquiries if the department has reason to believe that offenses specified under RCW 43.43.830 have occurred since completion of the previous disclosure statement or background inquiry.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090. 06-01-047, § 388-78A-2470, filed 12/15/05, effective 1/15/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. 04-16-065, § 388-78A-2470, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]

     (a) Maintain or enhance the quality of life for residents including resident decision-making rights;

     (b) Provide the necessary care and services for residents, including those with special needs;

     (c) Safely operate the boarding home; and

     (d) Operate in compliance with state and federal law, including, but not limited to, chapters 7.70, 11.88, 11.92, 11.94, 69.41, 70.122, 70.129, and 74.34 RCW, and any rules promulgated under these statutes.

     (2) The boarding home must develop, implement and train staff persons on policies and procedures to address what staff persons must do:

     (a) Related to suspected abandonment, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or financial exploitation of any resident;

     (b) When there is reason to believe a resident is not capable of making necessary decisions and no substitute decision maker is available;

     (c) When a substitute decision maker is no longer appropriate;

     (d) When a resident stops breathing or a resident's heart appears to stop beating, including, but not limited to, any action staff persons must take related to advance directives and emergency care;

     (e) When a resident does not have a personal physician or health care provider;

     (f) In response to medical emergencies;

     (g) When there are urgent situations in the boarding home requiring additional staff support;

     (h) In the event of an internal or external disaster, consistent with WAC 388-78A-2700;

     (i) To supervise and monitor residents, including accounting for residents who leave the premises;

     (j) To appropriately respond to aggressive or assaultive residents, including, but not limited to:

     (i) Actions to take if a resident becomes violent;

     (ii) Actions to take to protect other residents; and

     (iii) When and how to seek outside intervention.

     (k) To prevent and limit the spread of infections consistent with WAC 388-78A-2610;

     (l) To manage residents' medications, consistent with WAC 388-78A-2210 through 388-78A-2290; sending medications with a resident when the resident leaves the premises;

     (m) When services related to medications and treatments are provided under the delegation of a registered nurse consistent with chapter 246-840 WAC;

     (n) Related to food services consistent with chapter 246-215 WAC and WAC 388-78A-2300;

     (o) Regarding the safe operation of any boarding home vehicles used to transport residents, and the qualifications of the drivers;

     (p) To coordinate services and share resident information with outside resources, consistent with WAC 388-78A-2350;

     (q) Regarding the management of pets in the boarding home, if permitted, consistent with WAC 388-78A-2620; and

     (r) When receiving and responding to resident grievances consistent with RCW 70.129.060.

     (3) The boarding home must make the policies and procedures specified in subsection (2) of this section available to staff persons at all times and must inform residents and residents' representatives of their availability and make them available upon request.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. 04-16-065, § 388-78A-2600, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]

     (2) A department investigation may include an investigation of allegations about one or more of the following:

     (a) A licensee;

     (b) Boarding home administrator;

     (c) Employee of the boarding home;

     (d) Entity representative;

     (e) Anyone affiliated with the boarding home; and

     (f) Caregiver.

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     (a) Will not include the identities of the alleged victim, reporter and witnesses; and

     (b) Will include the necessary information for the individual to ask for an administrative hearing to challenge the preliminary finding.

     (2) The department must make a reasonable, good faith effort to find the last known address of the individual alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a resident.

     (3) The department may extend the time frame for notification beyond ten working days for good cause.

     (4) The department will serve notice of the preliminary finding as provided in chapter 388-02 WAC.

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     (a) The federal or state department or agency list of individuals found to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited or financially exploited a vulnerable adult;

     (b) Other divisions within the department;

     (c) The agency or program identified under RCW 74.34.068 with which the individual alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a resident is associated as an employee;

     (d) The employer or program that is currently associated with the individual alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a resident, if known;

     (e) Law enforcement; and

     (f) Other investigative authorities consistent with chapter 74.34 RCW.

     (2) The notification will identify the finding as a preliminary finding.

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     (2) The request must be made in writing to the office of administrative hearings.

     (3) The office of administrative hearings must receive the individual's written request for an administrative hearing within thirty calendar days of the date written on the notice of the preliminary finding.

     (4) The written request for a hearing must include:

     (a) The individual's full legal name, current mailing address and the telephone number;

     (b) A brief explanation of why the individual alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a resident disagrees with the preliminary finding;

     (c) A description of any assistance needed in the administrative appeal process by the individual, including a foreign or sign language interpreter or any reasonable accommodation for a disability; and

     (d) The individual's signature.

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     (2) If a conflict exists between the provisions of this chapter and chapter 388-02 WAC, the provisions of this chapter prevail.

     (3) If an administrative law judge within the office of administrative hearings determines that a preponderance of the evidence supports the preliminary finding that the individual alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a resident, then the administrative law judge will issue an initial order.

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     (a) The department notifies the individual alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a resident there is a preliminary finding pursuant to WAC 388-78A-3410; and

     (b) The individual alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited or financially exploited a resident does not ask for an administrative hearing; or

     (c) The administrative law judge:

     (i) Dismisses the hearing following withdrawal of the appeal or default; or

     (ii) Issues an initial order upholding the finding and the individual alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a resident fails to appeal the initial order to the department's board of appeals; or

     (d) The board of appeals issues a final order upholding the finding.

     (2) A final finding is permanent.

     (3) A final finding will only be removed from the department or agency list of individuals found to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a vulnerable adult if:

     (a) It is rescinded following judicial review; or

     (b) The department decides to remove a single finding of neglect from its records based upon a written petition by the individual found to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a resident provided that at least one calendar year must have passed between the date a request was made to remove the finding of neglect and the date the final finding was finalized and recorded.

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     (2) If the department appeals the administrative law judge's decision, the department will not change the finding in the department's records until a final hearing decision is issued.

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     Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-78A-3470   Reporting final findings.   The department will report a final finding of abandonment, abuse, neglect, exploitation and financial exploitation within ten workings days to the following:

     (1) The individual found to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a resident and for whom there is a final finding;

     (2) The boarding home licensee or entity representative that was associated with the individual alleged to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a resident during the time of the incident;

     (3) The employer or program that is currently associated with the individual, if known;

     (4) The appropriate licensing, certification or registration authority;

     (5) The federal or state department or agency list of individuals found to have abandoned, abused, neglected, exploited, or financially exploited a vulnerable adult; and

     (6) The findings may be disclosed to the public upon request subject to applicable public disclosure laws.

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     (2) Confidential information such as names and other personal identifying information of the reporter, witnesses, or the resident will be redacted from documents unless release of that information is consistent with chapter 74.34 RCW and other applicable state and federal laws.

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