Resolve, To Expand the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants

Sec. 1. Improve and expand registry. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services, referred to in this section as "the department," shall review all state and federal criteria applicable to the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants, referred to in this section as "the registry," established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 1812-G, and develop a plan to improve and expand the registry to include unlicensed assistive personnel. In developing the plan, the department shall:

1. Require that every nursing assistant listed in the registry is recertified every 2 years and that background checks are conducted every 2 years;

2. Implement measures designed to expand and enhance Internet access to the registry to better meet the needs of the public, employers and direct care and support agencies;

3. Convene a working group to explore methods of increasing efficiency and reducing duplication of effort, including methods to encourage disclosure of the results of background checks that have been conducted by the registry and privately by prospective employers. The department shall invite the participation of representatives of the registry, direct care and support agencies and employers;

4. Consider expanding the information included in the registry. In assessing the information to be included, the department shall consider including general education about the field of work and general information on direct care and support jobs and responsibilities, including information on the differences between jobs requiring certification, licensure and registration;

5. Provide information on job opportunities, including providing a link to career center websites for information about direct care employment opportunities;

6. Provide information about job training opportunities and continuing education opportunities;

7. Provide a resource guide for consumers to assist in understanding the different categories of workers, types of home care agencies and the state-funded programs that cover direct care services;

8. Provide links to organizations working to address the direct care worker shortage and to improve the working conditions for direct care workers; and

9. Provide information about how to conduct a hiring process that helps to achieve quality care; and be it further

Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a report of its findings under section 1, together with its recommendations, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services no later than December 1, 2007.

summary

This bill requires that the Department of Health and Human Services develop a plan to improve and expand the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 1812-G to include unlicensed assistive personnel, and present the plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services no later than December 1, 2007.