Requires home health aides and nurse's aides to receive training in working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals as part of the education and training for certification; directs the commissioner of health to develop curriculum in accordance with specified information.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7589
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 10, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Health
AN ACT relating to requiring home health aides and nurse's aides to
receive training in working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgen-
der individuals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The commissioner of health, in consultation with the
2 commissioner of education, shall develop a training program unit which
3 focuses on working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender popu-
4 lations, as part of the state approved education or training programs
5 required for certification of home health aides, personal care aides,
6 personal care staff, and certified nurse's aides.
7 § 2. The training program unit required by this act should include the
8 following components and information:
9 (a) an explanation of the terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgen-
10 der (LGBT);
11 (b) an understanding of why LGBT individuals may hide their identity;
12 (c) incorporate LGBT concerns into person-directed care, so that each
13 individual can make the best decisions for their own situation;
14 (d) specific information designed for staff working in nursing care or
15 other residential care settings;
16 (e) unique needs of LGBT individuals, including older adults;
17 (f) an overview of the various rights and protections extended to LGBT
18 individuals;
19 (g) best practices for creating communities welcoming to LGBT individ-
20 uals including older adults, their loved ones, and their caregivers;
21 (h) practical tips from experts about how to ask questions related to
22 sexual orientation and gender identity and understand why these ques-
23 tions are important for all service organizations;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11270-01-9
A. 7589 2
1 (i) teach the nuances of asking questions related to sexual orien-
2 tation and gender identity to LGBT individuals, including older adults;
3 (j) how to respectfully respond to questions and concerns that arise
4 in conversations relating to sexual orientation and gender identity; and
5 (k) best practices for providing transgender affirming care.
6 § 3. The training unit required by this act shall be developed within
7 six months of the effective date of this act and shall be required for
8 all certifications and re-certifications of home health aides, personal
9 care aides, personal care staff, and certified nurse's aides issued on
10 and after such six month date.
11 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
