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Minutes for SB453 - Committee on Health and Human Services
Short Title
Requiring adult care home certified aides who take training courses to demonstrate certain skills to successfully complete such training courses and requiring licensed nurses to teach and evaluate such training courses.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 8, 2022
Kelly Sommers, Director, Kansas State Nurses Association (KSNA), provided testimony in opposition of SB453 (Attachment 15). KSNA feels that the "Certified Aide" position is a dangerous policy to the health and well-being of Kansas seniors. Under the bill this position would be allowed to perform the same skilled care as a 90-hour trained CNA. Under KDADS, a position already exists, the Nurse Aide Trainee. The difference is that the Nurse Aide Trainee is in the process of obtaining the 90 hour CNAII position. KSNA has two main issues with this new position, salary and poor communication between administration and direct care staff. Per the Kansas Nurse Practice Act, an RN must directly supervise the LPN instructor. The RN cannot sign that the Certified Aide has met the educational requirements if they are not present during the education process. KSNA asked that the current process of a Nurse Aide Trainee be kept in place.
Ms. Sommers responded to questions from the committee.
Mitzi McFatrich, Interim Executive Director, Kansas Advocates for Better Care (KABC), provided testimony in opposition of SB453 (Attachment 16). The bill will create a new level of certified aide that will be allowed to provide hands-on care after receiving half of the current number of hours required in Kansas regulations. Ms.McFatrich provided options to address the workforce issue. Possible amendments to the bill were also provided to the committee.
Vicki Gieber, Private Citizen, provided testimony in opposition to SB453 (Attachment 17). Ms Gieber provided a personal story pertaining the the abusive care her mother received from a CNA in a nursing home. Proper handling of residents is necessary to provide safe conditions. A list of concerns regarding SB453 were presented.
The Following provided opponent written only testimony:
Camille Russell, State Long Term Care Ombudsman (Attachment 18)
Jennifer Terrien, Private Citizen (Attachment 19)
Valerie Giedinghagen, Private Citizen (Attachment 20)
Dustin Baker, Private Citizen (Attachment 21)
Judy Bellome, AARP Kansas Volunteer State President (Attachment 22)
