A. “State certified hospice attendant” means a former inmate of a Louisiana state prison with a hospice provider license issued by the Louisiana Department of Health who shall be eligible to be employed as a nonlicensed person by a provider licensed to provide hospice services pursuant to this Part if the following provisions are satisfied:

            (1) He shall not have been convicted of a sex offense as defined by La. Rev. Stat. 15:541.

            (2) While incarcerated, he shall have successfully completed the training required by Subsection B of this Section.

            (3) He shall hold a certification issued by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

            (4) He shall submit notice of his certification to the Louisiana Department of Health in a manner prescribed by the department.

            (5) There are no federal restrictions or prohibitions against the person providing hospice services.

            B. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, by a division of the department that has secured hospice provider licensure pursuant to this Part, shall have the authority to provide state certified hospice attendant training to an eligible inmate in state custody under the supervision and direction of a licensed physician or registered nurse. The training shall include a minimum of:

            (1) Forty hours of classroom training, which shall include sixteen hours of skills training.

            (2) Four hours of orientation to the clinical training site.

            (3) Forty hours of clinical training, which shall include hands-on patient or resident care.

            C. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections and the Louisiana Department of Health shall jointly approve a program curriculum for training state certified hospice attendants, which shall include the time allotted for each unit or subject and the time allotted to skills instruction including but not limited to:

            (1) At least sixteen hours in the following areas, prior to any direct contact with a patient or resident:

            (a) Communication and interpersonal skills.

            (b) Infection control.

            (c) Safety and emergency procedures.

            (d) Promoting patient or resident independence.

            (e) Respecting patient or resident rights.

            (2) At least sixteen hours of supervised skills practical training prior to clinical instruction.

            (3) Basic caregiving skills.

            (4) Personal care skills.

            (5) Mental health and social service needs.

            (6) Care of residents with intellectual disabilities or other cognitive impairments.

            (7) Basic restorative services.

            (8) Residents’ rights.

            D. Upon successful completion of the training program provided for in Subsection B of this Section, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall issue a certificate of completion to the inmate. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to provide for the issuance of the certificate of completion which shall include the ability to earn the certificate prior to release and any conditions that may be required to maintain certification in good standing until release.

            E. The Louisiana Department of Health shall establish a state certified hospice attendant registry for the purpose of maintaining an eligibility roster of individuals who have complied with the provisions of this Section to be employed as a state certified hospice attendant. Access to the registry shall be limited to an inquiry for a specific state certified hospice attendant. The Louisiana Department of Health shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the maintenance of the registry which shall include but not be limited to the form or format in which a certified hospice attendant shall provide and update his information.

            F. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, in consultation with the Louisiana Department of Health, shall publish rules and regulations to implement the curriculum established pursuant to Subsection C of this Section and shall provide for minimum continuing education or training requirements to maintain state certification in good standing.

            G. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to establish a right to employment with any licensed hospice provider. However, upon employment the hospice provider shall disclose to its employees, patients, and patients’ immediate family members that the state certified hospice attendant has successfully completed all state certification training and registry requirements for employment, including successful completion and release from a sentence served at a state prison.

            Acts 2019, No. 229, §1.