Senate committee hears bill to require dementia training for certified nursing assistants

Senate Labor and Commerce Committee members heard personal testimony and policy arguments on Senate Bill 103 on April 23, a measure that would add dementia- and behavior-focused training to certified nursing assistant (CNA) programs in Alaska and take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, said the change is needed as Alaska’s population ages and CNAs are increasingly relied upon to provide both physical and emotional care. "Enhancing trainers training standards is the least that we can do for our aging population in Alaska," she said. Deirdre Goins, staff to the senator, told the committee that Section 1 "adds a new section to Alaska statute 8 68 3 31" and listed required program competencies; Section 2 sets the effective date as 01/01/2026.

Supporters described gaps between existing CNA instruction and the skills needed to manage dementia-related behaviors. Maureen Townsend, a former CNA trainee who did clinical work in a dementia wing, said, "I was not prepared for working with a dementia patient," and described episodes of violent or hysterical behavior she and other CNAs encountered. Michelle Cassano, who testified about her late husband’s care experience, said inadequate staff training led to repeated, costly emergency-room transports: "He didn't need emergency care," she said, adding that an emergency visit cost "close to $14,000 per visit" in her experience.

Kaye Papacristo, outreach director at Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska, urged the committee to move the bill forward, calling SB 103 "a simple, cost effective, and meaningful step in the right direction." Testimony from multiple speakers emphasized that dementia-specific, person-centered training can reduce unnecessary hospital transports, improve patient dignity and safety, and support CNAs who otherwise may leave the profession.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about current training lengths and what the bill would add; witnesses said existing programs cover basic care tasks (personal care, mobility, feeding) but frequently do not address recognizing or de-escalating dementia-related behaviors. The bill text as presented to the committee would require programs to train CNAs to form relationships with clients, recognize and respond to cognitive decline and dementia-related behaviors, use effective communication and problem-solving approaches, and report observations to enable assessment by health-care providers.

With no recorded vote, the committee "set this bill, Senate Bill 103, aside for further consideration," according to Chair Merrick. No formal amendments or referrals were recorded during the hearing.

The bill’s supporters urged the committee to consider the effective-date window in Section 2 — Jan. 1, 2026 — as allowing time for the relevant licensing or regulatory division to update curricula and implement the new requirements.