SSB 3141 (LSB 6063XC (1) 91)

SENATE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON WARME)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to certified medication aides.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 135C.34, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   135C.34  Medication aide —— certification.
   1.  The department of inspections, appeals, and licensing, in cooperation with other appropriate agencies, shall establish a procedure to allow a person who is certified as a medication aide in another state to become certified in this state upon completion and passage of both the certified nurse aide and certified medication aide challenge examinations, without additional requirements for certification, including but not limited to, required employment in this state prior to certification.
   2.  a.  The department shall establish a medication aide certification registry on the department’s internet site. The medication aide certification registry shall allow a person offering a department-approved medication aide certification examination to upload proof that an individual successfully completed the medication aide certification examination.
   b.  The department shall not charge a fee for a person to upload proof that an individual successfully completed a medication aide certification examination.
   3.  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  135C.34A  Medication aides —— rules.
   1.  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A governing properly trained persons charged with the responsibility of administering nonparenteral medications at nursing facilities that include all of the following:
   a.  A rule authorizing a department-approved medication aide challenge examination to be administered by an area community college shall also authorize other department-approved competency evaluation programs to administer a department-approved medication aide challenge examination.
   b.  A rule which states that before a nursing student may take a department-approved medication aide challenge examination in place of taking a medication aide course, the individual must provide to the community college a specified written statement, shall also state that other department-approved competency evaluation programs can receive the statement.
   c.  Any rules necessary to ensure consistency in all provisions relating to certified medication aide training and qualifications.
   2.  The department of inspections, appeals, and licensing shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A governing properly trained persons charged with the responsibility of administering nonparenteral medications at intermediate care facilities for persons with mental illness that include all of the following:
   a.  A rule authorizing a department-approved medication aide challenge examination to be administered by an area community college shall also authorize other department-approved competency evaluation programs to administer a department-approved medication aide challenge examination.
   b.  A rule which states that before a nursing student or a graduate nurse may take a department-approved medication aide challenge examination in place of taking a medication aide course, the individual must provide to the community college a specified written statement, shall also state that other department-approved competency evaluation programs can receive the statement.
   c.  Any rules necessary to ensure consistency in all provisions relating to certified medication aide training and qualifications.
    Sec. 3.  ADMINISTRATIVE RULES.
   1.  Rescission of administrative rules.
   a.  The following Iowa administrative rules are rescinded as of July 1, 2026:
   (1)  481 Iowa administrative code, rule 58.21, subrule 6, paragraph “c”.
   (2)  481 Iowa administrative code, rule 58.21, subrule 6, paragraph “d”, subparagraph (4).
   (3)  481 Iowa administrative code, rule 58.21, subrule 6, paragraph “e”, unnumbered paragraph 2.
   (4)  481 Iowa administrative code, rule 65.17, subrule 1, paragraph “c”.
   (5)  481 Iowa administrative code, rule 65.17, subrule 1, paragraph “d”, subparagraph (4).
   b.  As soon as practicable after July 1, 2026, the Iowa administrative code editor shall remove the language of the Iowa administrative rules referenced in paragraph “a” from the Iowa administrative code.
   2.  Conforming changes to rules. The department of inspections, appeals, and licensing may engage in rulemaking pursuant to chapter 17A to make any conforming changes to rules necessary to implement this Act.
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 certified medication aides (medication aides).
   The bill requires the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing (DIAL) to establish a medication aide certification registry (registry) on DIAL’s internet site. The registry shall allow a person offering a DIAL-approved medication aide certification examination (examination) to upload proof that an individual successfully completed the examination. The bill prohibits DIAL from charging a fee for a person to upload proof that an individual successfully completed an examination.
   Under current law, a medication aide includes certain persons responsible for administering nonparenteral medications at nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for persons with mental illness. The bill requires DIAL to adopt rules that include specified provisions relating to qualifications of medication aides. The specified provisions relate to procedures for DIAL-approved medication aide courses and DIAL-approved medication aide challenge examinations. The bill also requires DIAL to adopt any rules necessary to ensure consistency in all provisions relating to medication aide training and qualifications at such facilities.
   The bill rescinds specified DIAL rules relating to DIAL-approved medication aide courses and DIAL-approved medication aide challenge examinations for medication aides at such care facilities.
   The bill authorizes DIAL to engage in rulemaking to make any conforming changes to rules necessary to implement the bill.