AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AN INCUMBENT HEALTH CARE WORKER CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT (CNA) CERTIFICATION PILOT PROGRAM
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. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services shall establish and implement an Incumbent Health Care Worker Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certification Pilot Program. The pilot program shall offer paid training for incumbent health care workers with limited access to state-approved CNA certification training. The pilot program shall provide flexibility to individuals who may have a difficult time attending day or evening classes while fulfilling their current work responsibilities.
“(b) There is hereby established an Incumbent Health Care Worker CNA Certification Pilot Program Advisory Committee. The secretary of health and human services, or a designee, shall appoint such advisory committee to represent significant constituencies and stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development, representatives from community-based organizations and nonprofit service providers, a representative from the Commonwealth Corporation Foundation, the SEIU 1199 Training and Upgrading Fund, the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, Inc., the Massachusetts Hospital and Health Systems Association, and other such stakeholders as the secretary of health and human services shall deem necessary. The advisory committee shall advise on matters and policies affecting the Incumbent Health Care Worker CNA Certification Pilot Program. The advisory committee shall supply constituent-focused labor market information, review general programmatic parameters and guidelines and assist with the identification of any issues and barriers to the pilot program’s efficiency and effectiveness. The advisory committee shall meet from time to time, but not less frequently than bi-monthly.
“(c) Not later than 6 months and 1 year, respectively, 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 house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on labor and workforce development and the joint committee on health care financing.
SECTION 2. Section 1 shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
Approved, August 3, 2022.