HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1253

As Amended by the Senate

BYRepresentatives Prentice, G. Fisher, Wood, Rasmussen, Day, Leonard and Wineberry;by request of Department of Licensing

Changing provisions regarding nursing assistants.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Chandler, Morris, Prentice, Sommers, Sprenkle, Vekich, and Wolfe.

House Staff:John Welsh [786-7131]

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Nursing assistants are currently required to have completed at least 75 hours of training within six months of employment in a nursing home.  Federal law enacted in 1987 requires that nursing assistants complete a nursing assistant training program within four months of employment.

The Board of Nursing is required by state law to develop curriculum standards by rule and approve nursing assistant training programs.  But state law requires at least 25 classroom hours in specified subjects and 50 hours of on-the-job clinical practice.

SUMMARY:

The requirement of nursing assistants to complete a nursing assistant training program within six months is shortened to four months to comply with federal law.

The number of classroom hours in specified subjects and clinical training hours required by state law is repealed, and the Board of Nursing is authorized to determine curriculum standards by rule.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  The registration and certification program for nursing assistants is clarified to include nursing assistants employed in settings beyond nursing homes, such as hospitals, hospice care facilities, home health agencies or other entities where health care services are delivered.

Other housekeeping changes are made in the law.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Chris Rose, Department of Licensing.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    These changes are necessary to implement changes in the federal Medicaid law.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 95; Excused 3

Excused:    Representatives Bristow, Schoon and Todd