Sponsor Statement for SB 152

Certified Nurse Aides

I sponsored SB 152 at the request of the Alaska Nurses Association.

Although certification of nurse aides has been administered by the Department of Commerce, Division of Occupational Licensing, there is no provision for revocation of certificates for inappropriate behavior.

In response to changes in federal law, SB 152 allows for the creation of a certified nurse aide registry to include the information required when a nurse aide is found to have committed abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property in connection with their employment as a nurse aide.

SB 152 provides a mechanism for the Department of Health and Social Services to alert the Board of Nursing to inappropriate behavior by a certified nurse aide, when that behavior occurs in a state-licensed facility.

This legislation protects the health, safety and welfare of a vulnerable population served by certified nurse aides, as well as ensuring competency in the performance of nurse aide duties.