FINAL BILL REPORT
SB 5177
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
C 216 L 17
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Requiring long-term care workers to be trained to recognize hearing loss.
Sponsors: Senators Bailey, Keiser, Palumbo and Conway.
Senate Committee on Health Care
House Committee on Health Care & Wellness
Background: A long-term care worker is any person who provides paid, hands-on personal care services for the elderly or persons with disabilities. The term includes individual providers of home care services, direct care workers employed by home care agencies, providers of home care services to people with developmental disabilities, direct care workers in assisted-living facilities and adult family homes, and respite care providers. The term does not include employees of nursing homes, hospitals, acute care settings, residential habilitation centers, hospice agencies, adult day care centers, and adult day health centers. The term also excludes people who are not paid by the state, any private agency, or facility licensed by the state to provide personal care services.
Long-term care workers must meet statutory training requirements within 120 days of being hired. These training requirements include 75 hours of entry-level training that must include:
two hours of orientation training regarding their caregiver role;
three hours of safety training, including basic safety precautions, emergency procedures and infection control;
seventy hours of long-term care basic training, including training relating to core competencies and population specific competencies.
Summary: The 70 hours of long-term care basic training must include training relating to identification of potential hearing loss in a client and how to seek assistance if hearing loss is suspected.
Votes on Final Passage:
Senate | 49 | 0 | |
House | 98 | 0 | (House amended) |
Senate | 49 | 0 | (Senate concurred) |
Effective: | July 23, 2017 |