Establishment of In-home Care Registry

(a) There is continued within the Bureau of Senior Services an in-home care worker registry which is to be maintained by the bureau. The purpose of the registry is to provide the public a list of in-home care workers, along with their qualifications, who voluntarily agree to be included and who have obtained a criminal background check. (b) "In-home care worker" means an unlicensed person who provides personal care or other services and supports to persons with disabilities or to the elderly in order to enhance their well-being and which involves face-to-face direct contact with the person. Functions performed may include, but are not limited to, assistance and training in activities of daily living, personal care services, and job-related supports. (c) The bureau shall propose rules for legislative approval during the 2014 legislative session in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to establish the following: (1) The registry of in-home care workers; (2) The requirements for inclusion on the registry as an "in-home care worker", including educational attainment; (3) A fee schedule: Provided, That the Commissioner of the Bureau of Senior Services shall waive the initial registration fee for the first sixty days the registration is active; (4) Requiring an applicant to obtain a state or federal criminal background check, as determined in legislative rule by the bureau; (5) How a person obtains information from the registry; and (6) Any other requirement necessary to implement the provisions of this section.