Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1408 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1909 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1408
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Paul W. Mark
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to strengthen the direct care and dementia workforce.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
16	16	Hampshire
17	17	Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/13/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex2/13/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden2/13/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/13/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/13/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth2/13/2023Susan Williams Gifford2nd Plymouth2/13/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester2/21/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/21/2023Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex2/21/2023Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex2/23/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/23/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex3/10/2023 1 of 3
18	18	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1909 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
19	19	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1408
20	20	By Mr. Mark, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1408) of Paul W. Mark, Vanna
21	21	Howard, Jack Patrick Lewis, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and other members of the General Court for
22	22	legislation to strengthen the direct care and dementia workforce. Public Health.
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
26	26	(2023-2024)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act to strengthen the direct care and dementia workforce.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended in
32	32	2Section 25N (a) (2) by inserting after the words “obstetrics/gynecology” in lines 7-8, the
33	33	3following words:- “, geriatrics, geriatric psychiatry, neurology, neuropsychology”.
34	34	4 SECTION 2. Said Chapter 111 is further amended by inserting after section 2J the
35	35	5following two sections:-
36	36	6 Section 2K. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) pilot program
37	37	7 (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of
38	38	8health and human services, in conjunction with the executive office of labor and workforce
39	39	9development, shall establish and implement a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) pilot program.
40	40	10The executive office of health and human services shall establish partnerships with employers
41	41	11who are seeking individuals with CNA certification. The pilot program shall offer free CNA
42	42	12training and testing to up to 1000 individuals in at least three geographically diverse areas of the 2 of 3
43	43	13state experiencing high levels of direct care workforce shortages. Upon pilot participants’
44	44	14completion of training and testing, the executive office of health and human services shall
45	45	15connect pilot participants with partner employers.
46	46	16 (b) The executive office of health and human services shall coordinate a public awareness
47	47	17campaign that encourages enrollment in the pilot program and a career in the direct care
48	48	18workforce.
49	49	19 (c) If a graduate of the pilot program is employed by a long term care facility or with a
50	50	20home and community based services provider for at least 12 months, as certified by the
51	51	21employer, the executive office of health and human services shall pay the graduate an additional
52	52	22$1000.00.
53	53	23 (d) The pilot program shall begin within one year of passage of this act.
54	54	24 (e) No later than 2 years after implementation of the pilot program, the executive office
55	55	25of health and human services shall report on the results of the pilot program and offer findings
56	56	26and recommendations for subsequent state action related to the pilot program to the Governor,
57	57	27Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senate President, house and senate committees on
58	58	28ways and means, the joint committee on labor and workforce development, the joint committee
59	59	29on elder affairs, the joint committee on health care financing and the Massachusetts Advisory
60	60	30Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias.
61	61	31 Section 2L. Nursing Career Pathway
62	62	32 Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health
63	63	33and human services, in conjunction with the executive office of labor and workforce 3 of 3
64	64	34development, shall establish and implement a home health aide to certified nursing assistant to
65	65	35licensed practical nurse (HHA-CNA-LPN) career pathway. The plan for the pathway programs
66	66	36must include programs in at least three geographically diverse areas of the state experiencing
67	67	37high levels of direct care workforce shortages for corresponding health professions and
68	68	38incorporate the participation of local MassHire Workforce Boards for implementation.
69	69	39 The HHA-CNA-LPN career pathway program shall begin within one year of passage of
70	70	40this act.
71	71	41 No later than 2 years after implementation of the career pathway program, the executive
72	72	42office of health and human services shall report on the results of the program and offer findings
73	73	43and recommendations for subsequent state action related to the career pathway program to the
74	74	44house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on labor and workforce
75	75	45development, the joint committee on elder affairs and the joint committee on health care
76	76	46financing.