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ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1356

assisted living; caregivers; training

Purpose

            Modifies specified assisted living facility caregiver training and testing requirements.

Background

The Board of Examiners of Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers (NCIA) licenses and regulates administrators and managers of nursing care institutions and assisted living facilities. NCIA responsibilities include: 1) investigating complaints; 2) overseeing the general application of the laws governing the practice of nursing care institution administrators and assisted living facility managers; 3) updating and developing rules that regulate administrators and managers; 4) ensuring qualifications are met prior to issuing a license or certificate to an administrator or manager; 5) ensuring requirements are met for the renewal of an administrator's license or manager's certificate; 6) approving and regulating assisted living facility manager and caregiver training programs; and 7) approving continuing education courses to ensure quality and useful education is being taught.

            Currently, an assisted living facility training program must include training for an assisted living facility manager certification and training by the Department of Health Services for assisted living facility caregivers (A.R.S. §§ 36-446; 36-446.02; and 36-446.03).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.              

Provisions

1. Requires an assisted living facility caregiver to complete 62 hours of on-the-job training under the direct supervision of a licensed physician, registered nurse practitioner, licensed pharmacist or a licensed physician assistant, before working in an assisted living facility without direct supervision.

2. Requires an assisted living facility caregiver to pass the required NCIA examination with at least a 75 percent.

3. Defines direct supervision.

4. Makes technical and conforming changes.

5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

February 11, 2019

CRS/AG/kja