(a) The Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning the regulation of nurse’s aides. Such regulations shall require a training program for nurse’s aides of not less than one hundred hours. Not less than seventy-five of such hours shall include, but not be limited to, basic nursing skills, personal care skills, care of cognitively impaired residents, recognition of mental health and social service needs, basic restorative services and residents’ rights. Not less than twenty-five of such hours shall include, but not be limited to, specialized training in understanding and responding to challenging behaviors related to physical, psychiatric, psychosocial and cognitive disorders. On and after January 1, 2022, not less than two of such hours shall include (1) screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training offered or approved by the American Nurses Association, Connecticut Hospital Association, Connecticut Nurses Association or Connecticut League for Nursing, a specialty nursing society or equivalent organization in another jurisdiction, a hospital or other health care institution, a regionally accredited academic institution, or a state or local health department. The requirement described in subdivision (2) of this section may be satisfied by the completion of the evidence-based youth suicide prevention training program administered pursuant to § 17a-52a.

(b) Notwithstanding any change in training requirements the commissioner may establish, a person enrolled in a program prior to October 1, 2000, may complete such program in accordance with the requirements as they existed at the time of enrollment.