Committee moves to register small adult residential care homes after DSS estimates 1,300 unlicensed facilities

Senate Bill 564, presented by Senator Sertavent, would require adult residential care homes that house fewer than four residents to register with the Department of Social Services (DSS). The sponsor said current regulations apply only when four or more residents live in a facility and described a "blind spot" in oversight affecting smaller homes.

The sponsor originally proposed a licensing and regulation framework but scaled the bill back to a first-step registration to limit fiscal impacts after receiving a fiscal impact statement. The sponsor said the registration would let DSS "wrap our arms around" the universe of these homes and better understand where they are and what services they offer.

Delegates asked about incentives to register and enforcement; Carl Harris, Deputy Commissioner of Human Services at DSS, said the agency is the appropriate entity to continue work on outreach, registration and possible future regulation. He acknowledged outreach and training would be required. The sponsor and several members urged moving the measure forward so DSS can gather data; the subcommittee recommended reporting and referring SB564 to Appropriations by an 8-0 vote.