AB 1709 (Jones-Sawyer), the LeadingAge California sponsored bill to improve nursing homes’ ability to attract and train new staff was heard in its first policy committee hearing yesterday.
The bill passed unanimously in the Assembly Health Committee (15-0) and was amended by the committee to narrow the bill’s focus to:
- require that the CNA and Nursing Home Administrator exams be updated every 10 years,
- allow for a corporate preceptor model for AITs and
- eliminates the CEU requirements for the first 2 years following successfully passing the NHA exam.
The proposal to lower the CNA training hours to be in line with other nursing professionals was struck from the bill. The bill was opposed by the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform and the California Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. AB 1709 will be heard next in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
