Committee hears changes to adult foster‑care rules: more respite time, 12‑hour substitute shifts and limits on provider-initiated video monitoring

The Senate Human Services Committee took testimony on House Bill 1460, which would change respite, substitute‑care and monitoring rules for licensed adult foster care homes. Representative **** Anderson (District 6) described constituent concerns from rural providers and sought statutory changes to make independent adult foster homes more workable in remote communities.

Representative Anderson said one provider asked to allow substitute caregivers to work 12‑hour periods rather than an 8‑hour cap so long drives and staffing gaps in rural areas would be simpler to manage. Anderson also said providers asked for a different count of allowable respite days during a two‑year period — testimony referenced moving from the current limit (96 calendar days in two years, as represented in current practice) toward a higher allowance so providers could take more regular time off.

Nancy Nicholas Meyer, director of Adult and Aging Services at the Department of Health and Human Services…