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Bill would align training for family caregivers paid under WA Cares and other pathways
Summary
House Bill 1142 would align training and certification exemptions so family members who are paid to provide in‑home long‑term care have consistent basic training requirements across WA Cares and other employer pathways, DSHS and sponsors said Jan. 22.
House Bill 1142 would align training requirements and certification exemptions for long‑term care workers who provide in‑home care for family members, witnesses told the Jan. 22 House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee.
Saranda Ross, counsel to the committee, summarized the bill in the staff briefing: “Turning to House Bill 1142, this bill aligns training requirements and certification exemptions for long term care workers providing in home care for family members, regardless of whether such care is provided by an individual provider through the consumer direct care network, through a home care agency and paid for by WA Cares, or through the WA Cares third option, which is to be defined in rule by the Department of Social and Health Services.”
Representative Nicole Macri, prime sponsor, told the committee the measure seeks a narrow harmonization rather than an expansion of WA Cares benefits. She said the bill “doesn't expand the WA Cares program” and “does not change any of the training requirements for family caregivers who are currently being paid under the Medicaid program.” Instead, it would create parity among the new WA Cares payment pathways so a family caregiver’s required training does not depend on the employer type.
Bea Rector, assistant secretary at the Department of Social and Health Services’ Aging and Long Term Support Administration, testified that the change would ensure parity across employer types and smoother transitions if a paid family member changes employer type or funding source. Rector said the bill would place spouses paid through the VA program into the new WA Cares spouse training category starting July 1, 2026, and reiterated that ‘‘there are no fiscal impacts to this proposed change.’’
Several witnesses raised implementation and timing concerns. Yuki Hayashi of SEIU 775 Benefits Group asked that the training change for VA spouse and domestic partner caregivers not take effect until relevant curricula are available and proposed an effective date of July 1, 2026 for that portion. Hayashi said the spouse curriculum “does not currently exist, and it is under development to align with the WA Cares launch date of July 1, 2026.”
Committee members asked about modality and language access for training. Rector said training is delivered in multiple modalities (in‑person, hybrid, and fully online) and that Spanish‑language training is available statewide; she said WA Cares would pay for the spouse training under the program’s design and that employers commonly cover training costs while employees complete required hours.
No formal committee vote was recorded at the hearing. Sponsors and agency staff said they are working on technical amendments and coordinating rulemaking and implementation timelines with DSHS and stakeholder groups.
