SECTION 1. Subsection (b) of section 74 of chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended in line 10 by inserting after the words “determined by the council” the following:-  

An orientation shall be completed by all personal care attendants hired on or after January 1, 2014 within six months of the date of initial employment as a personal care attendant. 

The council shall work jointly with interested stakeholders to establish the curriculum, standards and processes of an orientation program for persons newly hired as personal care attendants.  The orientation program shall be offered at multiple locations across the Commonwealth and shall include training on independent living principles, identifying and reporting fraud and abuse, and workers’ rights and responsibilities. The orientation shall require no more than three hours to complete.

The council shall also establish procedures for consumers to opt-out of the council orientation, provided that a similar orientation is otherwise offered.  However, even if the consumer chooses to opt-out, all personal care attendants still shall retain the right to choose to also attend a council orientation.

Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect the personal care attendant program principles of consumer control, including the consumer’s right to hire, train, direct, and dismiss personal care attendants.