HF 952

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/02/2017 09:05pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing hearing loss training requirements for housing with
services establishments; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 144D.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [144D.061] TRAINING IN HEARING LOSS CARE REQUIRED.
new text end

new text begin (a) Housing with services establishments that provide assisted living services under
chapter 144G must meet the following training requirements:
new text end

new text begin (1) supervisors of direct care staff must have at least two hours of initial training on
topics specified under paragraph (b) within 120 working hours of the employment start date
and must have at least two hours of training on topics related to age-related hearing loss
care for each 12 months of employment thereafter;
new text end

new text begin (2) direct care employees must have completed at least two hours of initial training on
topics specified under paragraph (b) within 160 working hours of the employment start
date. Until this initial training is complete, an employee must not provide direct care unless
there is another employee on site who has completed the initial two hours of training on
topics related to age-related hearing loss care and who can act as a resource and assist if
issues arise. A trainer of the requirements under paragraph (b) or supervisor meeting the
requirements under paragraph (a), clause (1), must be available for consultation with the
new employee until the training requirement is complete. Direct care employees must have
at least one hour of training on topics related to age-related hearing loss care for each 12
months of employment thereafter;
new text end

new text begin (3) staff who do not provide direct care, including maintenance, housekeeping, and food
service staff, must have at least one hour of initial training on topics specified under paragraph
(b) within 160 working hours of the employment start date and must have at least 30 minutes
of training on topics related to age-related hearing loss care for each 12 months of
employment thereafter; and
new text end

new text begin (4) new employees may satisfy the initial training requirements by producing written
proof of previously completed required training within the past 18 months.
new text end

new text begin (b) Areas of required training include:
new text end

new text begin (1) an explanation of age-related hearing loss and how it manifests itself, its prevalence,
and challenges it poses to communication;
new text end

new text begin (2) health impacts related to untreated age-related hearing loss, such as increased
incidence of dementia, falls, hospitalizations, isolation, and depression; and
new text end

new text begin (3) information about strategies and technology that can enhance communication and
involvement, including communication strategies, assistive listening devices, hearing aids,
visual and tactile alerting devices, communication access in real time, and closed captions.
new text end