Wisconsin Senate Bill SB884

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/5/24
• Refer: 1/5/24
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Fall prevention and recovery training, CPR and first aid certification, a duty to provide aid in certain residential facilities and hospices, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

Impact

The bill imposes a duty on these facilities to have trained staff consistently present to provide immediate aid in case of emergencies. Specifically, each facility must have an employee who is certified in CPR, first aid, and fall prevention on-site at all times when residents are present. Moreover, these facilities are mandated to provide ongoing training to their employees and immediate training to new residents upon their admission.

Summary

Senate Bill 884 mandates the Department of Health Services to develop fall prevention and recovery training programs for employees and residents of various care facilities including residential care apartment complexes, community-based residential facilities, nursing homes, and hospices. This bill seeks to ensure that staff are adequately trained to prevent falls, recover residents post-fall, and respond during medical emergencies by administering CPR or first aid as necessary.

Contention

While proponents argue that this law will enhance resident safety and care quality in assisted living environments, critics express concerns about the potential strain it may place on smaller facilities. They fear that the financial and operational burdens of meeting these training and staffing requirements could overwhelm facilities, or lead to closures, thus limiting options for care in certain regions. Additionally, the issue of liability exemption for caregivers under certain conditions is a point of legal debate, raising questions about the adequacy of protections for both staff and residents.