Bill would limit routine DSHS reviews of community residential service providers
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Summary
Engrossed Senate Bill 60‑24 would limit DSHS to one routine annual review per community residential service business in specified areas and require divisions to share documents to reduce duplicate requests; providers testified supportively citing burdensome duplicate audits.
Engrossed Senate Bill 60‑24 would restrict routine reviews by the Department of Social and Health Services to one annual routine review per community residential service business in specified subject areas and require DSHS divisions to combine and share review activities where possible to minimize duplicated requests.
Committee staff told lawmakers the bill is a companion to House Bill 2230 and aligns with the House‑passed version. Staff said the limitation does not apply to incident investigations, adult protective services, mortality reviews or monitoring required by other laws.
Senator Chris Gildan, sponsor, told the committee the bill seeks to reduce redundant reporting and administrative bloat so caregivers can spend more time providing care. Provider witnesses — including Jennifer Langel, executive director of Total Living Concept, and Melissa Johnson of the Community Residential Services Association — described overlapping financial and quality reviews that together consumed weeks of staff time and disrupted services, and urged passage to shift resources back to client care.
No committee vote was taken during the hearing.