URGENT ACTION NEEDED:
Request a Hearing for HB 1398!
February 24, 2025 Update
Subject Line: Please schedule HB 1398 for a hearing- not a fiscal bill a bill for equity!
HB 1398 (now SHB 1398) got scheduled for a hearing! Thank you to everyone who reached out to legislators and helped spread the word. Your voices made a significant impact and we need your help again to keep moving SHB 1398 forward.
If our bill doesn’t get voted out of committee on Friday, February 28, it’s dead. We need to ensure that everyone signs in PRO for our bill on equitable pay, and reaches out to legislators to get our bill voted out of Appropriations.
We have just one week to get our bill to Rules Committee before it dies. 85% of bills die. Our bill is about pay equity, and we can’t stand for not being included any longer. We need your help to keep this bill alive!
What Happened?
Our bill for equitable pay, HB 1398, has been moved to Appropriations. It must get a hearing so it can continue on to the Rules Committee. If it does not get a hearing, our bill dies.
We must act now! We need you to email the Appropriations Committee IMMEDIATELY to educate them on the fact that there is no fiscal impact from this bill. Don’t assume they know. They need to hear from us!
This is a crucial moment, and we need everyone to take action. Please don’t wait.
What We Need You to do:
Email Appropriations Leadership and Cc Our Bill Sponsor!
Send one email to the below addresses:
To:
Cc:
Email Template:
Subject Line: Please schedule HB 1398 for a hearing- not a fiscal bill a bill for equity!
Good Morning Representatives,
My name is, I live in the [Your Legislative District] I am [Your role to adult family homes]. I am reaching out today on behalf of over 5,000 adult family homes in the state of Washington who want to see Adult Family Homes included in existing law, by amending RCW 41.56.465 through the passage of HB 1398.
This modification to existing law would require a panel to consider the same factors for adult family home providers as it does for individual providers. The bill removes references for considerations regarding some family childcare providers and requires the panel consider certain factors concerning uniformed personnel instead. Passage of this legislation will not impact the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) workload or client benefits. Therefore, there is no fiscal impact to DSHS from this bill. The Bill Analyis can be found upon referencing the link here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zxpueoveepoi4todxwzra/1398-HBA-LAWS-25.pdf?rlkey=71dnzymj30nfxpb6u9bgke8r8&st=wghk5joi&dl=0
Included in this analysis you will note:
“The decision of the panel is not binding on the Legislature. If the Legislature does not approve the funds necessary to implement an arbitrated collective bargaining agreement, the decision is not binding on the state.”
We understand that interest arbitration bills typically have a cost associated with them. Our ask is for a modification to existing legislation that determines Medicaid rates, a federally secured funding stream. This bill for us is about equity.
[EXPLAIN HOW YOUR HOME SUPPORTS MEDICAID PATIENTS OR HOW YOU CAN’T SUSTAIN PATIENTS DUE TO THE LOW RATES.]
Thank you for considering.
[Your Name]
Please send questions to Courtney@adultfamilyhomecouncil.org
Not a Member Yet?
Membership fees enable the Council to cover legal expenses and fund staff to advocate with the state and regulatory agencies. The participation of every adult family home is vital to ensuring fair regulations and rates that accurately reflect the costs of caring for our vulnerable adults. Consider becoming a member of the Council to help us continue improving conditions for all adult family homes in Washington State.