(1) The department of health shall ensure that all long-term care workers shall complete twelve hours of continuing education training in advanced training topics each year. This requirement applies beginning on July 1, 2011.

     (2) Completion of continuing education as required in this section is a prerequisite to maintaining home care aide certification under chapter 2, Laws of 2009.

     (3) Unless voluntarily certified as a home care aide under chapter 2, Laws of 2009, subsection (1) of this section does not apply to:

     (a) An individual provider caring only for his or her biological, step, or adoptive child; and

     (b) Before June 30, 2014, a person hired as an individual provider who provides twenty hours or less of care for one person in any calendar month.

     (4) Only training curriculum approved by the department may be used to fulfill the training requirements specified in this section. The department shall only approve training curriculum that:

     (a) Has been developed with input from consumer and worker representatives; and

     (b) Requires comprehensive instruction by qualified instructors.

     (5) Individual providers under RCW 74.39A.270 shall be compensated for training time required by this section.

     (6) The department of health shall adopt rules by August 1, 2010, to implement subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section.

     (7) The department shall adopt rules by August 1, 2010, to implement subsection (4) of this section.

[2009 c 580 § 12; 2009 c 2 § 9 (Initiative Measure No. 1029, approved November 4, 2008); 2007 c 361 § 4.]

NOTES:

     Intent -- Findings -- Construction -- Severability -- Short title -- 2009 c 2 (Initiative Measure No. 1029): See notes following RCW 18.88B.020.

     Construction -- Severability -- Captions not law -- Short title -- 2007 c 361: See notes following RCW 74.39A.009.