1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; requiring the commissioner of
1.3 	health to review and update the curriculum for
1.4 	training nursing assistants and home health aides.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. NURSING ASSISTANT; HOME HEALTH AIDE
1.7 	CURRICULUM.
 1.8 	(a) The commissioner of health, in consultation with
1.9 	long-term care consumers, advocates, unions, and trade
1.10 	associations, shall review the content of the current curriculum
1.11 	for training nursing assistants and home health aides.
1.12 	(b) The review must identify how changes in the current
1.13 	training can improve students' caregiving skills, job
1.14 	satisfaction, and motivation to work in long-term care settings.
1.15 	Topics shall include, but not be limited to, working with
1.16 	challenging behaviors and terminal illnesses; improving
1.17 	communications with residents, families, and other employees;
1.18 	and understanding techniques for stress management and how
1.19 	stress in personal life can impact performance in the work
1.20 	setting.  The review must also assess how the curriculum can be
1.21 	improved to address more effectively the issues of cultural
1.22 	diversity among employees and cultural issues in employees'
1.23 	relationships with residents and clients.
1.24 	(c) By January 1, 2006, the commissioner of health shall
1.25 	submit the recommendations for updating the curriculum to the
2.1 	chairs of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over
2.2 	health care policy.  The recommendations shall include
2.3 	implementation timelines and cost estimates for curriculum
2.4 	development and implementation.