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Providers tell committee SB 6024 would cut duplicative audits and free staff for client care
Summary
Senate Bill 6,024 would limit routine DSHS reviews of community residential service providers to one annual routine review per subject area, with exceptions for incidents and required federal/state reviews. Provider witnesses said current audits are duplicative and time-consuming. Fiscal note was requested and pending.
Committee staff briefed Senate Bill 6,024 on Jan. 19 as legislation to streamline monitoring, oversight and investigatory activity for community residential service providers certified and contracted by DSHS.
Allison Mendiola told the committee the bill would require DSHS to conduct no more than one annual routine review per provider in specified subject areas — client finances, client service plans, federal compliance reviews, client community integration, provider finance and general quality assurance — and to combine review activities when possible. Exceptions would apply for incident reports, complaint investigations, citation follow-up, mortality reviews, or activities required by federal or state law. Staff noted records- and document-sharing rules would be adopted to minimize repeat requests; a fiscal note was requested and not yet received.
Senator Chris Gildon framed the bill as an efficiency measure to reduce duplicative reporting that takes provider staff away from direct client services.
Provider witnesses testified in support. Scott Livengood (Mountain Supportive Living Services; legislative chair, Statewide Association of Providers) told the committee providers tracked 25 different audits and inspections with overlapping focus areas and said on-site inspections can last up to a week and require significant staff time. "We look for ways to create efficiencies so that our focus could remain squarely on client services," Livengood said.
Jennifer Langel (Total Living Concept; chair, Community Residential Services Association) described two visits over six months that audited similar items (client finances, client services, support plans) and involved many full-time staff for multiple days; she said resources should be prioritized for client care rather than administrative bureaucracy.
The committee closed the public testimony on SB 6,024 and will consider next steps during scheduled executive-session work in the short session. No formal vote was recorded during the hearing.
