What's happening
This bill requires training on working with LGBT individuals for home health aides, nurse's aides, and related care staff.
Why it matters
Mandates in-depth, standardized training. on LGBT issues for all home health aides, personal care aides, and nurse’s aides—including both initial certification and re-certification—ensuring all staff have up-to-date knowledge and skills.
Addresses unique challenges faced by LGBT individuals, especially older adults. , including why some may conceal their identities and the specific rights and protections they hold, aiming to reduce discrimination and improve individualized care.
Promotes culturally competent, person-directed care. by teaching staff how to respectfully discuss sexual orientation and gender identity, and how to respond to related questions and concerns—helping to build trust and safety for LGBT clients in care settings.
Sets a clear timeline for implementation. , requiring the training program to be developed within six months, which accelerates the timeline for improving care standards and inclusivity in the state’s healthcare system.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Train Aides on LGBT Care
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Train Aides on LGBT Care
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6223
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 24, 2019
Introduced by Sens. RIVERA, HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT relating to requiring home health aides and nurse's aides to receive training in working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The commissioner of health, in consultation with the commissioner of education, shall develop a training program unit which focuses on working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations, as part of the state approved education or training programs required for certification of home health aides, personal care aides, personal care staff, and certified nurse's aides.
§ 2. The training program unit required by this act should include the following components and information:
(a) an explanation of the terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT);
(b) an understanding of why LGBT individuals may hide their identity;
(c) incorporate LGBT concerns into person-directed care, so that each individual can make the best decisions for their own situation;
(d) specific information designed for staff working in nursing care or other residential care settings;
(e) unique needs of LGBT individuals, including older adults;
(f) an overview of the various rights and protections extended to LGBT individuals;
(g) best practices for creating communities welcoming to LGBT individuals including older adults, their loved ones, and their caregivers;
(h) practical tips from experts about how to ask questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity and understand why these questions 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
S. 6223 2
(i) teach the nuances of asking questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity to LGBT individuals, including older adults;
(j) how to respectfully respond to questions and concerns that arise in conversations relating to sexual orientation and gender identity; and
(k) best practices for providing transgender affirming care.
§ 3. The training unit required by this act shall be developed within six months of the effective date of this act and shall be required for all certifications and re-certifications of home health aides, personal care aides, personal care staff, and certified nurse's aides issued on and after such six month date.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act relating to requiring home health aides and nurse's aides to receive training in working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals
Purpose
To require the Department of Health to add a "working with LGBT individ- uals" module to the Home Care Curriculum and the Nurse Aide Training Program to help ensure that LGBT individuals of all ages get better, more culturally competent care.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 requires that the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall develop a training program that focuses on working with LGBT individuals as part of the state approved education or training programs required for certification of home health aides, personal care aides, personal care staff, and certified nurse's aides.
Section 2 sets the requirements of the training program which include but are not limited to (1) an explanation of the terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, (2) a understanding of why LGBT individuals may hide their identity, (3) incorporate LGBT concerns into person-di- rected care, so that each individual can make the best decisions for their own situation, (4) specific information designed for staff working in nursing care or other residential care settings, (5) unique needs of LGBT individuals and older adults, (6) an overview of the various rights and protections extended to LGBT individuals, (7) best practices for creating communities welcoming to LGBT individuals including older adults, their loved ones, and their caregivers, (8) practical tips from experts about how to ask questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity and understand why these questions are important for all service organizations, (9) the nuances of asking questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity to LGBT individuals, (10) how to respectfully respond to questions and concerns that arise in these conversations, (11) best practices for providing transgender affirming care.
Sections 3 requires that the training unit be developed within six months of the effective date of this bill and shall be required for all certifications and re-certifications of home health aides, personal care aides, personal care staff, and certified nurse's aides.
Section 4 sets the effective date.
Justification
A visit to a health care facility can make someone uncomfortable for a variety of reasons. This is especially the case for many LGBT individ- uals who may have difficulty finding health care where they feel included and accepted. A 2017 CAP survey provided evidence that LGBT individuals experience discrimination in healthcare settings. Some people have reported being refused care because of their sexual orien- tation or gender identity. These issues extend beyond the patients them-
selves. Family members, partners and other loved ones have reported being refused recognition by healthcare providers.
In many other cases, staff who did not intend any harm can cause prob- lems from simple mistakes that occur due to lack of understanding or experience interacting with LGBT individuals. Many LGBT individuals have unique life experiences that require different practices. Under current law, there is no training that specifically addresses the needs of LGBT patients. The training that this bill requires would help bridge this gap between home health aides, personal care aides, personal care staff, and certified nurse's aides who want to provide adequate care and LGBT patients of all ages.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.