HF 2383 (LSB 5825YH (4) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2383

BY  MADISON

A BILL FOR

An Act  relating to training for health care facility inspectors, and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 135C.35, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  4.  The department, in consultation with the board of nursing, shall establish continuing education requirements that allow a person to maintain dual certification as a certified nurse aide and an inspector under this chapter.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  135C.35D  Health care facility inspector incentive grant program.
   1.  The department shall establish a health care facility inspector incentive grant program to provide funding for certified nurse aides to obtain necessary training to qualify as inspectors under this chapter.
   2.  Under the program, the department shall award grants of up to two thousand dollars to qualified applicants, with grant amounts based on an applicant’s number of years of employment as a certified nurse aide and the amount of training necessary for the applicant to qualify as an inspector under this chapter.
   3.  The department shall establish eligibility requirements, award criteria, and application and other necessary procedures for the program.
   4.  a.  A health care facility inspector incentive grant program fund is established in the state treasury under the control of the department. The fund shall consist of moneys appropriated to the fund by the general assembly, which may include penalties collected by the department under this chapter. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department to award grants under this section.
   b.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated for subsequent fiscal years. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
   5.  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
    Sec. 3.  Section 260C.14, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  27.  a.  Establish a certificate program for long-term care quality and inspection support. The program must consist of at least thirty but no more than forty contact hours and include but not be limited to the subjects of inspection processes, abuse and neglect prevention control, and incident reporting. The certificate must be structured to supplement the community college’s certified nursing assistant training program. The board shall pursue partnerships with nursing homes and other care facilities to include practical training in the program.
   b.  The board shall pursue relevant state and federal grants and other funding opportunities, including but not limited to the Medicaid quality incentive program, to establish and expand the program.
    Sec. 4.  IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT.  The moneys generated as a result of the enactment of this Act are intended to cover the costs of any state mandate included in this Act and this specification of state funding shall be deemed to meet all the state funding-related requirements of section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act by, and enforcement of this Act against, all affected political subdivisions.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to training for health care facility inspectors.
   The bill requires the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing (department), in consultation with the board of nursing, to establish continuing education requirements that allow a person to maintain dual certification as a certified nurse aide and a health care facility inspector.
   The bill requires the department to establish a health care facility inspector incentive grant program to provide funding for certified nurse aides to obtain necessary training to qualify as health care facility inspectors.
   The bill provides that a grant shall be up to $2,000 with grant amounts based on an applicant’s number of years of employment as a certified nurse aide and the amount of training necessary for the applicant to qualify as an inspector. The bill requires the department to establish eligibility requirements, award criteria, and application and other necessary procedures for the program.
   The bill establishes a health care facility inspector incentive grant program fund to support the program. 
   The bill requires the board of directors of each community college to establish a certificate program for long-term care quality and inspection support. The bill specifies the content and structure of the program. The bill directs the board to pursue relevant state and federal grants and other funding opportunities to establish and expand the program.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill provides that moneys generated in the bill are intended to cover the costs of any state mandate included in the bill. The inclusion of this specification of state funding is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.