An Act Allowing Trained Assisted Living Aides To Administer Medication To Assisted Living Residents.
Summary
HB05299 authorizes a new category of “trained assisted living aide” to administer medication to assisted living residents, so long as the aide is employed by an assisted living services agency and has completed training established by Department of Public Health regulations. The bill defines medication administration broadly as the direct application or provision of medication by means other than injection, and it allows a registered nurse employed by the agency to delegate that task to a trained aide.
The bill also creates liability and disciplinary protections for nurses who make such delegations in good faith. A nurse would be immune from civil liability for injuries or financial losses caused by the aide’s acts or omissions in administering medication, except where the nurse’s own conduct amounts to gross negligence or wilful or wanton misconduct. The bill further bars the State Board of Examiners for Nursing from disciplining a nurse solely for making a delegation that complies with the new law and regulations. The Department of Public Health must adopt implementing regulations, and the act takes effect October 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill would amend Connecticut law governing nursing practice and assisted living services by creating an express statutory exception to the general rules in chapter 378 that limit medication administration and delegation. It would expand the role of assisted living aides, subject to training and regulatory standards, and shift some medication-administration responsibilities from registered nurses to trained aides in assisted living settings. It also affects potential civil liability exposure for nurses and could alter staffing and care-delivery practices for assisted living services agencies and residents receiving those services.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests generally favorable sentiment in the Aging Committee, where the substitute bill received a unanimous 14-0 joint favorable vote. However, the bill did not receive the same level of support in the Public Health Committee, where it failed on a 12-17 vote. With no transcript excerpts provided, the record indicates support in one committee and significant resistance in another, likely reflecting differing views on safety, scope of practice, and regulatory oversight.
Contention
The main points of contention appear to be whether assisted living aides should be permitted to administer medication at all, and whether the delegation authority should be broad enough to include liability protection for nurses. Supporters likely view the bill as a practical staffing and access-to-care measure for assisted living facilities, while opponents likely worry about patient safety, training adequacy, and the expansion of non-nurse medication administration. The split committee votes suggest disagreement over balancing resident care needs against professional licensing and public health concerns.
An Act Allowing Certain Nurse's Aides And Assisted Living Aides To Administer Medication To Nursing Home Residents And Assisted Living Services Agency Clients.