House Moves Bill to Require Welfare Department to Report on Licensing of Personal Care Homes
House Moves Bill to Require Welfare Department to Report on Licensing of Personal Care Homes
The state House of Representatives is getting ready for a final vote on a bill to require the Department of Public Welfare to prepare and submit a report on the state's licensing of personal care homes.On Tuesday, the House approved the bill, sponsored by Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith, D-Chester, on the bill's second day of consideration. The full chamber could vote on the bill as early as today.
The measure requires the department, by March 1 of each year, to submit an annual report on the licensing and inspection of personal care homes to the governor, the chief clerk of the Senate and the chief clerk of the House.
The report shall include the following information covering the preceding calendar year: number of licensed personal care homes; number of residents in licensed personal care homes; number of personal care homes which have received an annual inspection; number of licensing inspectors, statewide and by region, as defined by the department to identify counties; ratio of licensing staff per licensed personal care home; number of personal care homes operating with a provisional license, statewide and by county; number of personal care homes operating with a full license, statewide and by county; number of personal care homes which the department has closed or taken legal action to close; description of violations of The Public Welfare Code, classification of violations and frequency of violations; the extent to which the department assessed financial penalties against licensed personal care homes as provided for in The Public Welfare Code; specific plans of the department to ensure compliance with The Public Welfare Code regarding inspection of licensed personal care homes and enforcement of regulations; and any other information the department deems pertinent.