Resolve, To Expand the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1714
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: PINGREE, EDMONDS, CAMPBELL, LEWIN, MILLER, PERRY, WALCOTT, WALKER, RA YE, WESTON

Legislative Document 
No. 1714 
H.P.1197 
House of Representatives, March 23, 2007 
Resolve, To Expand the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing 
Assistants 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative PINGREE of North Haven. 
Cosponsored by President EDMONDS of Cumberland and 
17/~1J?~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CAMPBELL of Newfield, LEWIN of Eliot, MILLER of Somerville, PERRY 
of Calais, WALCOTT of Lewiston, WALKER of Lincolnville, Senators: RA YE of 
Washington, WESTON of Waldo. 
Pnnted on Tel:ycled paper 
Sec. 1. Improve and expand registry. Resolved: That the Department of 
Health and Human Services, referred to in this section as "the department," shall review 
all state and federal criteria applicable to the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing 
Assistants, referred to in this section as "the registry," established in the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 22, section 1812-G, and develop a plan to improve and expand the registry 
to include unlicensed assistive personnel. In developing the plan, the department shall: 
1. Require that every nursing assistant listed in the registry is recertified every 2 
years and that background checks are conducted every 2 years; 
2. 
Implement measures designed to expand and enhance Internet access to the 
registry to better meet the needs of the public, employers and direct care and support 
agencies; 
3. 
Convene a working group to explore methods of increasing efficiency and 
reducing duplication of effort, including methods to encourage disclosure of the results of 
background checks that have been conducted by the registry and privately by prospective 
employers. The department shall invite the participation of representatives of the registry, 
direct care and support agencies and employers; 
4. Consider expanding the information included in the registry. In assessing the 
information to be included, the department shall consider including general education 
about the field of work and general information on direct care and support jobs and 
responsibilities, including information on the differences between jobs requiring 
certification, licensure and registration; 
5. Provide information on job opportunities, including providing a link to career 
center websites for information about direct care employment opportunities; 
6. Provide information about job training opportunities and continuing education 
opportunities; 
7. Provide a resource guide for consumers to assist in understanding the different 
categories of workers, types of home care agencies and the state-funded programs that 
cover direct care services; 
8. Provide links to organizations working to address the direct care worker shortage 
and to improve the working conditions for direct care workers; and 
9. Provide information about how to conduct a hiring process that helps to achieve 
quality care; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services 
shall submit a report of its findings under section 1, together with its recommendations, to 
the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services no later than December 1, 
2007. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires that the Department of Health and Human Services develop a plan 
to improve and expand the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants, established in 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 1812-G to include unlicensed assistive 
personnel, and present the plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
Services no later than December 1,2007.