BILL REQ. #:  S-3753.1 

Read first time 01/18/10.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to credentialing as a nursing assistant; amending RCW 18.88A.010, 18.88A.060, 18.88A.085, and 18.88A.140; adding a new section to chapter 18.88A RCW; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 18.88A.115.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 18.88A.010 and 1991 c 16 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature takes special note of the contributions made by nursing assistants in health care facilities whose tasks are arduous and whose working conditions may be contributing to the high and often critical turnover among the principal cadre of health care workers who provide for the basic needs of patients. The legislature also recognizes the growing shortage of nurses as the proportion of the elderly population grows and as the acuity of patients in hospitals and nursing homes becomes generally more severe.
     (2) The legislature finds and declares that:
     (a) Occupational nursing assistants should have a formal system of educational and experiential qualifications leading to career mobility and advancement. The establishment of such a system should bring about a more stabilized workforce in health care facilities, as well as provide a valuable resource for recruitment into licensed nursing practice.
     ((The legislature finds that)) (b) The quality of patient care in health care facilities is dependent upon the competence of the personnel who staff their facilities. To assure the availability of trained personnel in health care facilities the legislature recognizes the need for training programs for nursing assistants.
     ((The legislature declares that)) (c) Certified home care aides and medical assistants are a valuable potential source of nursing assistants who will be needed to meet the care needs of the state's growing aging population. To assure continued opportunity for recruitment into nursing practice and career advancement for certified home care aides and medical assistants, nursing assistant training programs should recognize the relevant training and experience obtained by these credentialed professionals.
     (d) The registration of nursing assistants and providing for voluntary certification of those who wish to seek higher levels of qualification is in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 18.88A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The commission shall adopt criteria for evaluating an applicant's alternative training to determine the applicant's eligibility to take a qualifying examination for nursing assistant certification. At least one option adopted by the commission must allow an applicant to take the examination if he or she:
     (a)(i) Is a certified home care aide pursuant to chapter 18.88B RCW; or
     (ii) Is a certified medical assistant pursuant to a certification program accredited by a national medical assistant accreditation organization and approved by the commission; and
     (b) Has successfully completed twenty-four hours of training that the commission determines is necessary to provide training equivalent to approved training on topics not addressed in the training specified for certification as a home care aide or medical assistant, as applicable. In the commission's discretion, a portion of these hours may include clinical training.
     (2) By August 1, 2010, the commission, in consultation with the secretary and consumer and worker representatives, shall adopt rules to implement this section and to provide, by January 1, 2011, for credentialing reciprocity to the extent required by this section between home care aide certification and nursing assistant certification. The secretary shall also adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement this section and the credentialing reciprocity program by January 1, 2011.
     (3) Beginning December 1, 2011, the secretary, in consultation with the commission, shall report annually by December 1st to the governor and the legislature on the progress made in achieving career advancement for certified home care aides and medical assistants into nursing practice.

Sec. 3   RCW 18.88A.060 and 1994 sp.s. c 9 s 710 are each amended to read as follows:
     In addition to any other authority provided by law, the commission may:
     (1) Determine minimum nursing assistant education requirements and approve training programs;
     (2) Prepare, grade, and administer, or determine the nature of, and supervise the grading and administration of, examinations of training and competency for applicants for nursing assistant certification;
     (3) Determine whether alternative methods of training are equivalent to approved training programs, and establish forms((,)) and procedures((, and criteria)) for evaluation of an applicant's alternative training ((to determine the applicant's eligibility to take any qualifying examination for certification)) under criteria adopted pursuant to section 2 of this act;
     (4) Define and approve any experience requirement for nursing assistant certification;
     (5) Adopt rules implementing a continuing competency evaluation program for nursing assistants; and
     (6) Adopt rules to enable it to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter.

Sec. 4   RCW 18.88A.085 and 2007 c 361 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) After January 1, 1990, the secretary shall issue a nursing assistant certificate to any applicant who demonstrates to the secretary's satisfaction that the following requirements have been met:
     (a) Successful completion of an approved training program or successful completion of ((alternate)) alternative training meeting established criteria ((approved)) adopted by the commission under section 2 of this act; and
     (b) Successful completion of a competency evaluation.
     (2) ((The secretary may permit all or a portion of the training hours earned under chapter 74.39A RCW to be applied toward certification under this section.
     (3))) In addition, applicants shall be subject to the grounds for denial of certification under chapter 18.130 RCW.

Sec. 5   RCW 18.88A.140 and 2003 c 140 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit or restrict:
     (1) The practice by an individual licensed, certified, or registered under the laws of this state and performing services within their authorized scope of practice;
     (2) The practice by an individual employed by the government of the United States while engaged in the performance of duties prescribed by the laws of the United States;
     (3) The practice by a person who is a regular student in an educational program approved by the secretary, and whose performance of services is pursuant to a regular course of instruction or assignments from an instructor and under the general supervision of the instructor;
     (4) A nursing assistant, while employed as a personal aide as defined in RCW 74.39.007 or a long-term care worker as defined in chapter 74.39A RCW, from accepting direction from an individual who is self-directing ((their)) his or her care.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   RCW 18.88A.115 (Home care aide certification reciprocity) and 2009 c 580 s 16 & 2009 c 2 s 11 (Initiative Measure No. 1029) are each repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state.