The bill aims to enhance the training and testing processes for home care aides by amending existing laws and introducing new provisions. A new section is added to chapter 18.88B RCW, mandating the Department of Social and Health Services to collaborate with stakeholders to develop a plan for integrating testing into the home care aide training process. This plan will prioritize community and facility-based training programs that are already equipped to provide testing. Additionally, the bill amends RCW 18.88B.021 to clarify that long-term care workers must be certified as home care aides according to rules established by the department, rather than a fixed timeline after hire.

Further amendments to RCW 18.88B.031 outline the requirements for certification, including the successful completion of training and a certification examination that evaluates both skills and knowledge. The bill specifies that testing will be available at local training or testing sites and may include remote testing options to reduce travel time for applicants. It also establishes that home care aide testing must be available in qualified training programs by July 1, 2028, and introduces the concept of a "training partnership affiliate" to facilitate testing for individual providers represented by an exclusive bargaining representative. The department is tasked with adopting rules to implement these changes effectively.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 18.88B.021, 18.88B.031
Substitute Bill: 18.88B.021, 18.88B.031