House votes to ban restrictive covenants that discriminate against people with disabilities in adult family homes

March 9, 2009

OLYMPIA—The House voted 68-28 Monday evening to prohibit restrictive covenants from interfering with the right of people with disabilities to live in adult family homes located in residential communities.

"Discrimination against people with disabilities in adult family homes is just plain wrong, and this bill will right that wrong," said state Rep. Dawn Morrell, D-Puyallup, the lead sponsor of House Bill 1935.

Although some adult family homes have won lawsuits to protect their right to remain in a residential area, the litigation is expensive and should be unnecessary, according to Morrell.

In the public hearing on Morrell's bill, one owner of an adult family home testified she had to spend $10,000 to defend her clients' rights to remain in a residential community.

Owners of family homes voiced strong support for Morrell's legislation.

"We believe elderly people have a right to live in the community, just as you or I do," said Bonny Bruce, a member of the Clark County Adult Family Home Association.

Morrell's bill also directs the Department of Social and Health Services to create a specialty certification for persons who complete the recently created training program for adult family home operators at the University of Washington School of Nursing.

The bill also directs future licensing and renewal fees for adult family homes to be set in the state budget, in lieu of the current $50 licensing and renewal fees that are set in a separate statute.

Morrell's bill sailed through the committee process without a single witness speaking in opposition. HB 1935 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

"This bill is about the most important kind of consumer protection: It will protect a basic right of people with disabilities," said Morrell

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