HB1342: Direct support professionals.

Legislative Summary

Direct support professionals. Requires the division of disability and rehabilitative services (division) to establish and maintain a direct support professional registry and to make the registry available to authorized division personnel and authorized service providers. Requires a direct support professional to register with the division in order to provide direct support services. Requires the division to adopt rules to implement the registry, including establishing definitions and levels for substantiated abuse, neglect, and exploitation, the highest of which is the minimum the division must report to the registry. Requires the division to consult with stakeholders and establish a tiered training certification program for direct support professionals. Requires the division to issue a request for proposals before January 1, 2024, to operate the training program. Requires the division to make every effort to contract with a vendor for the training program not later than January 1, 2025. Requires a selected vendor to begin operating the training program before July 1, 2025. Requires the division to first use any funds available from the federal American Rescue Plan Act in developing the registry before using other available funds. Allows the division to use any federal dollars available for the registry and training. Requires the division to apply to the federal government for approval of Medicaid reimbursement for services provided by a direct support professional.