Bill > H0865

This bill requires assisted living facility administrators to obtain professional certification from a third-party credentialing entity approved by the department, which is the Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA). These third-party entities, which must be nonprofit organizations accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), will develop and administer certification programs based on core competency requirements. The bill establishes standards for these entities to meet for department approval and mandates that administrators be certified by July 1, 2014, with failure to comply resulting in a fine. It also includes a grandfather clause for existing administrators who meet certain criteria by October 1, 2014, and exempts administrators already licensed under another part of state law. Additionally, the bill removes the state's responsibility for determining the need for additional training and education for administrators, repeals provisions related to competency tests and trainer qualifications, and revises training requirements for staff working with residents who have Alzheimer's disease or related disorders.