Bill > SB115

This bill modifies regulations for direct care staff in personal care homes and assisted living residences by allowing individuals without a high school diploma or GED to be employed if certain conditions are met. Specifically, the bill creates a skills competency examination as an alternative to traditional educational requirements for direct care staff, which will assess interpersonal communication, reading and writing skills, cultural awareness, and understanding of mental health needs. The bill provides a pathway for individuals educated in another country who are lawfully residing in the United States to qualify as direct care staff without needing a high school diploma or GED, and removes the requirement for facilities to obtain waivers when hiring such individuals. The Department of Human Services is authorized to create temporary regulations to implement these changes, with those temporary regulations expiring two years after publication. The bill also abrogates (cancels) existing regulations that conflict with the new provisions and will take effect 60 days after passage. These changes aim to address potential staffing challenges in care facilities by providing more flexible employment qualifications while ensuring staff competency through alternative assessment methods.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Labor and Employment

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=115