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Pennsylvania State Senate
12/26/2024 11:43 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20250&chamber=S&cosponId=43545
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2025 - 2026 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 2, 2024 12:51 PM
From: Senator David G. Argall and Sen. Michele Brooks
To: All Senate members
Subject: Addressing Pennsylvania's Long-Term Care Workforce Crisis
 
We will re-introduce legislation to help break down the barriers of entry into the health care workforce in Pennsylvania.  

Pennsylvania’s population continues to age – in fact, Pennsylvania’s population age 65 and older is expected to nearly double by 2040. Many nursing facilities have reported that direct care positions continue to remain vacant and that beds continue to be taken off-line because there is no one to staff them.

From December 2019 to December 2022, the US Department of Labor reported that nursing and resident care facilities in Pennsylvania lost 14% of their workforce. Meanwhile, these same facilities are required to implement mandated staffing requirements that are both unfunded and unattainable given the current workforce shortages.

Please join us in support of these three pieces of legislation which will assist this important workforce. 



Document #1

Description: The first bill addresses the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Training Program to enhance the availability of training courses across the state.

This legislation will also allow student nurses and graduate nurses to immediately take the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) exam upon completion of relevant coursework within their nursing program.

This bill passed the Senate last session with a bipartisan vote of 42 to 8. 
 

Document #2

Description: The second bill provides skills competency examination opportunities to individuals seeking employment as a direct caregiver in lieu of successfully obtaining a high school diploma or GED equivalency. 
 

Document #3

Description: The third bill allows high school juniors and seniors to earn up to two credits toward their graduation requirement for employment in a congregate health care setting (nursing facility, personal care home, assisted living residence, or hospital).
 
This bill passed the Senate last session with bipartisan approval.