(1) The department may issue a provisional certification to a long-term care worker who is limited English proficient to allow the person additional time to comply with the requirement that a long-term care worker become certified as a home care aide within two hundred calendar days after the date of hire as provided in RCW 18.88B.021, if the long-term care worker:

(a) Is limited English proficient; and

(b) Complies with other requirements established by the department in rule.

(2) The department shall issue a provisional certification to a long-term care worker who has met the requirements of subsection (1) of this section. The provisional certification may only be issued once and is valid for no more than sixty days after the expiration of the two hundred calendar day requirement for becoming certified.

(3) The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.

(4) For the purposes of this section, "limited English proficient" means that an individual is limited in his or her ability to read, write, or speak English.

[2015 c 152 § 4; 2013 c 259 § 2.]