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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1909 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1408
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Paul W. Mark
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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.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
Hampshire
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
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1909 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1408
By Mr. Mark, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1408) of Paul W. Mark, Vanna
Howard, Jack Patrick Lewis, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and other members of the General Court for
legislation to strengthen the direct care and dementia workforce. Public Health.
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:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended in
2Section 25N (a) (2) by inserting after the words “obstetrics/gynecology” in lines 7-8, the
3following words:- “, geriatrics, geriatric psychiatry, neurology, neuropsychology”.
4 SECTION 2. Said Chapter 111 is further amended by inserting after section 2J the
5following two sections:-
6 Section 2K. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) pilot program
7 (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of
8health and human services, in conjunction with the executive office of labor and workforce
9development, shall establish and implement a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) pilot program.
10The executive office of health and human services shall establish partnerships with employers
11who are seeking individuals with CNA certification. The pilot program shall offer free CNA
12training and testing to up to 1000 individuals in at least three geographically diverse areas of the 2 of 3
13state experiencing high levels of direct care workforce shortages. Upon pilot participants’
14completion of training and testing, the executive office of health and human services shall
15connect pilot participants with partner employers.
16 (b) The executive office of health and human services shall coordinate a public awareness
17campaign that encourages enrollment in the pilot program and a career in the direct care
18workforce.
19 (c) If a graduate of the pilot program is employed by a long term care facility or with a
20home and community based services provider for at least 12 months, as certified by the
21employer, the executive office of health and human services shall pay the graduate an additional
22$1000.00.
23 (d) The pilot program shall begin within one year of passage of this act.
24 (e) No later than 2 years after implementation of the pilot program, the executive office
25of health and human services shall report on the results of the pilot program and offer findings
26and recommendations for subsequent state action related to the pilot program to the Governor,
27Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senate President, house and senate committees on
28ways and means, the joint committee on labor and workforce development, the joint committee
29on elder affairs, the joint committee on health care financing and the Massachusetts Advisory
30Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias.
31 Section 2L. Nursing Career Pathway
32 Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health
33and human services, in conjunction with the executive office of labor and workforce 3 of 3
34development, shall establish and implement a home health aide to certified nursing assistant to
35licensed practical nurse (HHA-CNA-LPN) career pathway. The plan for the pathway programs
36must include programs in at least three geographically diverse areas of the state experiencing
37high levels of direct care workforce shortages for corresponding health professions and
38incorporate the participation of local MassHire Workforce Boards for implementation.
39 The HHA-CNA-LPN career pathway program shall begin within one year of passage of
40this act.
41 No later than 2 years after implementation of the career pathway program, the executive
42office of health and human services shall report on the results of the program and offer findings
43and recommendations for subsequent state action related to the career pathway program to the
44house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on labor and workforce
45development, the joint committee on elder affairs and the joint committee on health care
46financing.