00                            SENATE BILL NO. 235                                                                         
01 "An Act relating to certified nurse aide training; and providing for an effective date."                                
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. AS 08.68.331 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                           
04            (c)  Regulations adopted under (a)(1) of this section establishing standards for                             
05       a certified nurse aide training program must require that the program                                             
06                 (1)  be conducted in a manner to ensure that clients receive safe and                                   
07       competent care; and                                                                                               
08                 (2)  train a certified nurse aide to                                                                    
09                      (A)  form a relationship, communicate, and interact competently                                    
10            with a client;                                                                                               
11                      (B)  demonstrate sensitivity to the emotional, social, and mental                                  
12            health needs of a client through skillful and directed interactions;                                         
13                      (C)  assist a client in reaching and maintaining independence;                                     
14                      (D)  support and promote the rights of a client;                                                   
15                      (E)  demonstrate the skills of observing and monitoring during                                     

01            caregiving, as well as reporting those observations to enable the assessment of                              
02            the health, physical condition, and well-being of a client;                                                  
03                      (F)  demonstrate knowledge of the abilities and care needs of a                                    
04            client;                                                                                                      
05                      (G)  use a problem-solving approach when providing care;                                           
06                      (H)  use techniques that ensure and preserve the respect, values,                                  
07            choices, and dignity of a client;                                                                            
08                      (I)  demonstrate knowledge of client assessment and care                                           
09            planning best practices;                                                                                     
10 (J)  use effective communication skills, including while                                                                
11 communicating with a client with psychosocial needs or Alzheimer's disease,                                             
12 dementia, mental illness, intellectual disability, or other cognitive disabilities                                      
13            or impairments;                                                                                              
14 (K)  provide care to a client who is cognitively impaired or has                                                        
15            a decline in cognitive function related to dementia; and                                                     
16 (L)  demonstrate basic knowledge of Alzheimer's disease,                                                                
17 dementia, dementia-related behaviors, and the activities of daily living; in this                                       
18 subparagraph, "activities of daily living" means eating, dressing, grooming,                                            
19            bathing, and toileting.                                                                                      
20    * Sec. 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2025.