This bill amends existing law to clarify the training requirements for staff at long-term care facilities regarding the care of LGBTQI seniors and seniors living with HIV. It mandates that each facility ensure that administrators and staff receive training biennially on topics such as preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status, and HIV status. The training must cover definitions of relevant terms, best communication practices, historical health and social challenges faced by these populations, strategies for creating a safe environment, and an overview of the provisions of P.L.2021, c. 33 (C.26:2H-12.101 et seq.).

Additionally, the bill specifies that only two employees—one from management and one from direct care staff—must receive in-person training from an expert entity within six months of the law's effective date. These designated employees will then be responsible for training the remaining staff using the materials provided by the training entity. The bill also requires facilities to maintain records of training completion and assumes the cost of the training. The previous requirement for the training entity to provide training to all staff has been removed, streamlining the process and focusing on designated trainers within each facility.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:2H-12.106