Bill advances to update CNA training

On April 30, the Alaska House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 244, a landmark bill sponsored by Wasilla Representative Jubilee Underwood. With a 39-0 vote, the legislation modernizes training for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) by requiring more extensive Alzheimer’s and dementia education as a prerequisite for CNA licensing.

This change addresses an urgent need, as an estimated 12,000 Alaskans are currently living with dementia.

“HB 244 seeks to ensure that those on the front lines of caregiving are equipped with the specific skills necessary to support patients who may no longer understand the world around them or possess the ability to speak for themselves,” Rep. Underwood said. “The training provided by HB 244 will help CNAs manage challenging behaviors, including instances where patients may be frightened or combative, without becoming flustered.”

HB 244 updates regulatory requirements to reflect the current medical reality of Alaska’s aging population and implements a more ethical approach to the daily management of memory care patients.

The bill now moves to the Alaska Senate.