103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1431

 

Introduced 2/7/2023, by Sen. Ram Villivalam

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
305 ILCS 5/5-47 new

    Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a Certified Nursing Assistant Workforce Pipeline Program to recruit, support, and train individuals to work as certified nursing assistants at nursing facilities, with a focus on facilities in disadvantaged communities, those serving residents of color, and high-Medicaid facilities. Requires the program to be administered by a labor-management organization acting on behalf of a partnership between nursing facilities and a labor organization representing nursing home workers. Provides that the labor-management organization must demonstrate the ability to recruit, support, train, and place individuals in a career in healthcare with a specific focus on addressing the staff shortages at nursing facilities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides that the program must utilize a hybrid model of in-person and online instruction for both the lecture and simulation lab component of the nursing assistant curriculum. Requires program training and instruction to meet State and federal education regulations and to provide a pathway for participants to receive certification as nursing assistants. Provides that to ensure financial hardship is not a barrier to successful completion of the program, supportive services may be offered to program participants, including, but not limited to, monetary grants; childcare and transportation stipends; loaned computers, Internet access hotspots, and other digital supports; and academic coaching and counseling. Provides that the program may also provide wage supplements to program graduates. Provides that funds available through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 may be used to fund the program in accordance with the permitted purposes under the American Recovery Plan Act and all related federal guidance. Grants the Department rulemaking authority.


LRB103 25658 KTG 52007 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1431LRB103 25658 KTG 52007 b

1    AN ACT concerning public aid.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
5adding Section 5-47 as follows:
 
6    (305 ILCS 5/5-47 new)
7    Sec. 5-47. Certified Nursing Assistant Workforce Pipeline
8Program. The Department shall establish a Certified Nursing
9Assistant Workforce Pipeline Program to recruit, support, and
10train individuals to work as certified nursing assistants at
11nursing facilities, with a focus on facilities in
12disadvantaged communities, those serving residents of color,
13and high-Medicaid facilities. The program shall be
14administered by a labor-management organization acting on
15behalf of a partnership between nursing facilities and a labor
16organization representing nursing home workers. The
17labor-management organization must demonstrate the ability to
18recruit, support, train, and place individuals in a career in
19healthcare with a specific focus on addressing the staff
20shortages at nursing facilities in the wake of the COVID-19
21pandemic. The program must utilize a hybrid model of in-person
22and online instruction for both the lecture and simulation lab
23component of the nursing assistant curriculum. Program

 

 

SB1431- 2 -LRB103 25658 KTG 52007 b

1training and instruction must meet State and federal education
2regulations and must provide a pathway for participants to
3receive certification as nursing assistants.
4    To ensure financial hardship is not a barrier to
5successful completion of the program, supportive services may
6be offered to program participants, including, but not limited
7to, monetary grants; childcare and transportation stipends;
8loaned computers, Internet access hotspots, and other digital
9supports; and academic coaching and counseling. The program
10may also provide wage supplements to graduates of the program
11with payments beginning 6 months after a graduate obtains
12employment at a qualifying nursing facility and continuing for
13up to one year following receipt of the first payment or until
14the graduate is no longer employed at a qualifying nursing
15facility, whichever comes first.
16    Funds available through the Coronavirus Local Fiscal
17Recovery Fund pursuant to Section 9901 of the federal American
18Rescue Plan Act of 2021 may be used to fund the program in
19accordance with the permitted purposes under Section 9901 of
20the American Recovery Plan Act and all related federal
21guidance.
22    The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement
23the provisions of this Section.