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Committee considers extending CARES protections and stipend eligibility to nursing assistants
Summary
House Bill 23 40 would extend confidentiality protections and stipend eligibility under the CARES substance‑use monitoring program to nursing assistants; sponsor described personal experience with the program and DOH and Board of Nursing witnesses supported the change and cited stipend funding levels.
Olympia — The committee considered House Bill 23 40 on Jan. 27 to apply two prior 2023 provisions—confidentiality for monitoring program participants and a stipend program—to nursing assistants.
Staff explained the bill extends to nursing assistants the CARES (Compassion, Accountability, Recovery, Empowerment, and Safety) program protections previously available to nurses, including a prohibition on posting enforcement actions when the licensee substantially complied and eligibility for a stipend to defray program costs.
The bill’s sponsor said the proposal is a straightforward extension of existing law: nursing assistants were moved under the Board of Nursing and should have access to the monitoring and stipend program. "I did the program myself for 5 and a half years, and graduated so I could keep my RN license," the sponsor said, urging support.
Anthony Partridge of the Board of Nursing said the bill would improve affordability and reduce stigma by limiting public posting for nursing assistants who complete or substantially comply with the program. He told the committee the stipend is currently funded from the general fund at about $25,000 per year.
Committee members asked where the stipend money comes from; Partridge said the program is GFS funded and the amount is roughly $25,000. Public testimony closed and no vote was recorded during the session.
