Home care aides.

Senator Limón's home care aide legislation adds dementia care training requirements to California's Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act, mandating that home care organizations incorporate this specialized instruction into their annual staff development programs beginning January 1, 2027.

The bill maintains existing training requirements while introducing the new dementia care component. Currently, home care aides must complete five hours of entry-level training before client contact, consisting of two hours of orientation and three hours of safety instruction. They also undergo five hours of annual training covering client rights, daily care, abuse prevention, hygiene assistance, and transportation safety. Under the new provisions, organizations must ensure aides receive additional instruction on serving clients with dementia as part of their yearly training.

The legislation establishes a phased implementation approach, preserving current standards until January 1, 2027, when the enhanced requirements take effect. Home care organizations that fail to provide the mandated dementia care training would face misdemeanor penalties under the act's enforcement provisions. The bill specifies that local agencies will not receive state reimbursement for any costs associated with enforcing these new requirements, as they stem from changes to criminal statutes.