HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 634        FILED ON: 1/14/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2245

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Tram T. Nguyen

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to strengthen the direct care and dementia workforce.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 634        FILED ON: 1/14/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2245

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act to strengthen the direct care and dementia workforce.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended in Section 25N (a) (2) by inserting after the words “obstetrics/gynecology” in lines 7-8, the following words:-

“, geriatrics, geriatric psychiatry, neurology, neuropsychology”.

SECTION 2. Said Chapter 111 is further amended by inserting after section 2J the following two sections:-

Section 2K. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) pilot program

(a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services, in conjunction with the executive office of labor and workforce development, shall establish and implement a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) pilot program. The executive office of health and human services shall establish partnerships with employers who are seeking individuals with CNA certification. The pilot program shall offer free CNA training and testing to up to 1000 individuals in at least three geographically diverse areas of the state experiencing high levels of direct care workforce shortages. Upon pilot participants’ completion of training and testing, the executive office of health and human services shall connect pilot participants with partner employers.

(b) The executive office of health and human services shall coordinate a public awareness campaign that encourages enrollment in the pilot program and a career in the direct care workforce.

(c) If a graduate of the pilot program is employed by a long term care facility or with a home and community based services provider for at least 12 months, as certified by the employer, the executive office of health and human services shall pay the graduate an additional $1000.00.

(d) The pilot program shall begin within one year of passage of this act.

(e)  No later than 2 years after implementation of the pilot program, the executive office of health and human services shall report on the results of the pilot program and offer findings and recommendations for subsequent state action related to the pilot program to the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senate President, house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on labor and workforce development, the joint committee on elder affairs, the joint committee on health care financing and the Massachusetts Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias.

Section 2L. Nursing Career Pathway

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services, in conjunction with the executive office of labor and workforce development, shall establish and implement a home health aide to certified nursing assistant to licensed practical nurse (HHA-CNA-LPN) career pathway. The plan for the pathway programs must include programs in at least three geographically diverse areas of the state experiencing high levels of direct care workforce shortages for corresponding health professions and incorporate the participation of local MassHire Workforce Boards for implementation.

The HHA-CNA-LPN career pathway program shall begin within one year of passage of this act.

No later than 2 years after implementation of the career pathway program, the executive office of health and human services shall report on the results of the program and offer findings and recommendations for subsequent state action related to the career pathway program to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on labor and workforce development, the joint committee on elder affairs and the joint committee on health care financing.