MADISON – Today, Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) and Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) introduced two bills to expand access to nurse aide training and address the nursing shortage. For years Wisconsin has experienced a nursing shortage, which has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As Wisconsin’s aging population is rapidly increasing, this legislation is critical to ensure nurses are available to respond to the demand for qualified caregivers.
“Nurse aides provide an invaluable service to our community and their work often goes unappreciated. I’m introducing this legislation to support Wisconsinites interested in pursuing a career in this selfless line of work. I’m hopeful these bills will help more dedicated individuals gain the skills to be nurse aides and help address the shortage in our state,” said Sen. Smith.
LRB-5730 makes grants available to technical college district boards in areas with nurse aide shortages to expand access to nurse aide training. LRB-5729 creates a refundable individual income tax credit up to $1,500 for instructional costs and required materials for individuals becoming a certified nursing assistant.
“Wisconsin faces a significant shortage of nursing assistants, creating an urgent need to attract people to the profession. CNAs care for us and our loved ones when we are at our most vulnerable, making access to quality training crucial. The CNA Workforce Act will make training more available and offset costs for those who pursue a career providing care in our state,” said Rep. Subeck.
