Bill > S0616

This bill mandates that assisted living facility administrators must obtain professional certification from a third-party credentialing entity, which the Department of Elderly Affairs will approve. These approved entities, which must be nonprofit organizations and meet standards set by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (a recognized body for credentialing standards), will develop and administer the certification program. This includes establishing the core competencies, or essential knowledge and skills, required for administrators, as well as setting standards for training, testing, and continuing education. The goal is to ensure administrators are competent in managing facilities and caring for residents, with certification serving as an alternative to state licensure for administrators. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2014, with a grandfather clause allowing for certification of existing administrators who meet certain criteria before October 1, 2014.