An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, providing for departmental powers and duties as to small personal care homes; and imposing penalties.
HB494 would add a new article to Pennsylvania’s Human Services Code creating a regulatory framework for “small personal care homes,” defined as residences that provide food, shelter, and personal assistance or supervision for up to three unrelated adults who need help with daily living tasks but do not require a licensed long-term care facility. The bill is aimed at small, often home-like care settings that fall outside the state’s existing personal care home definition, and it gives the Department of Human Services authority to oversee them.
Under the bill, the department could enter and inspect these homes, review records, and interview residents to determine suitability and compliance. Operators would have to maintain records, and anyone providing assistance or supervision would need to submit Pennsylvania State Police criminal history information. The department would also be required to conduct at least one unannounced annual onsite inspection of each small personal care home, create a registry of administrators, and issue regulations setting minimum standards for building conditions, equipment, operations, care, programs, services, training, and staffing. Violations could lead to Commonwealth enforcement actions seeking injunctions or other relief.
HB494 would expand state oversight into a currently unaddressed category of residential care by placing small personal care homes under the Human Services Code. It would authorize DHS to inspect, register, and regulate these homes and their administrators, require criminal background checks for staff providing care or supervision, and establish enforceable minimum standards. The bill would affect operators of small adult care settings, residents receiving assistance, and the department responsible for licensing and enforcement.
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from debate or roll call history. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a consumer-protection and oversight bill intended to improve safety and accountability in small care settings. Its introduction by multiple sponsors suggests at least some legislative interest in addressing regulatory gaps in this area.
The main likely point of contention is the balance between resident safety and regulatory burden. Supporters would likely favor background checks, inspections, and minimum standards to protect vulnerable adults in small, unlicensed settings. Opponents or affected operators may object to increased compliance costs, inspection authority, recordkeeping requirements, and the possibility that homes serving only a few adults could be treated like larger licensed facilities. Another possible issue is the scope of DHS authority over private residences that provide care.