Committee advances CCRC registration changes, adopts disclosure amendment; recorded roll call 15-4

The Health Care & Wellness Committee voted to report substitute Senate Bill 5691 out of committee with a do-pass-as-amended recommendation after adopting amendment Blake 250. The amendment requires applications to register as a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) to include a written statement indicating whether the residency agreement includes an entrance fee in lieu of payment for future care and services and whether those services are fully or partially covered.

Representative Macri moved the amendment Blake 250 and said it would “provide some more information about the types of contracts, including whether or not the entrance fees that residents pay help to support the ongoing long term healthcare services provided in the communities.” Representative Schmick supported the amendment, saying clarity about the investment seniors make in CCRCs is helpful.

There was substantive debate about the bill's enforcement provisions. Representative Schmick said he would vote no on the bill because, while he supported clearer disclosures, he opposed the expansion of Consumer Protection Act enforcement and the availability of triple damages. He described that expansion as the primary reason for his no vote. Representative Macri and other supporters emphasized consumer protections and Attorney General enforcement of contract provisions.

The committee recorded individual roll-call votes. Committee staff announced the tally as 15 ayes and 4 nays; the transcript lists members and their votes during the roll call (see actions). By the announced vote, substitute Senate Bill 5691 was reported out of committee with the do-pass-as-amended recommendation.

Nut graf: The amendment adds disclosure requirements intended to make CCRC contracts more transparent to prospective residents and regulators; debate centered on whether expanding Consumer Protection Act enforcement across all contract provisions imposes litigation exposure that some members oppose.

Implementation and follow-up

- The adopted amendment requires registration applications to state whether residency agreements include entrance fees and whether services are fully or partially covered. - Supporters said the changes provide consumers and regulators with clearer information about contract structure and funding. Opponents cited concerns about broader Consumer Protection Act application and its remedies.

The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill out of committee on a recorded roll call; the committee will forward the bill as amended for further legislative action.