Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee
HB 2339
Brief Description: Adjusting certification renewal for home care aides and nursing assistants.
Sponsors: Representatives Chambers, Riccelli, Schmick and Bateman.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires home care aide certifications to be renewed every two years.
  • Requires nursing assistant credentials to be renewed every two years.
Hearing Date: 1/24/24
Staff: Elizabeth Allison (786-7129).
Background:

Long-Term Care Workers and Home Care Aides.
A long-term care worker is any person who provides paid, hands-on personal care services for the elderly or persons with disabilities, including 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.  Most long-term care workers must become certified as home care aides within 200 days of being hired.  To become certified as a home care aide, a long-term care worker must complete 75 hours of training, pass state and federal background checks, and pass an examination.

The Department of Health (Department) is authorized to adopt rules to establish criteria for licensing.  Current rules adopted by the Department require home care aides to renew certification every year.

 

Nursing Assistants.
A nursing assistant is a person who assists in providing nursing and nursing-related activities to patients in a health care facility under the supervision of a registered nurse.  There are two levels of nursing assistants:  certified nursing assistants and registered nursing assistants.  Nursing assistants must graduate from a nursing assistant program, pass a criminal background check, and pass an examination.

 

The Board of Nursing (Board) is authorized to adopt rules relating to competency and other provisions for nursing assistants.  Current rules adopted by the Board require nursing assistants to renew credentials every year.
Summary of Bill:

Certifications for home care aides must be renewed every two years.  Credentials for nursing assistants must be renewed every two years.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 22, 2024.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.