Permits home health care services agencies to employ certified nurse aides as homemaker-home health aides.

This bill (S 590) allows licensed home health care agencies in New Jersey to employ certified nurse aides as homemaker-home health aides, which is currently prohibited under state law. It directly affects home health care agencies (which can only hire certified homemaker-home health aides today) and certified nurse aides (who are currently restricted from these roles in home care settings). The key provision removes the existing legal barrier, enabling these agencies to hire nurse aides for homemaker-home health aide duties. The bill requires the New Jersey Board of Nursing to create implementing rules and takes effect 90 days after enactment. This changes current practice, where only homemaker-home health aides may be employed by home health agencies, while long-term care facilities can hire both.