Connecticut homemaker-companion agencies should take note: a significant new regulatory compliance obligation may be on the horizon. Raised Bill No. 5143, currently under consideration in the Connecticut legislature, would require homemaker-companion agencies to provide paid training to all employees beginning in 2027. If enacted, the bill would mandate that agencies deliver at least 10 hours of paid initial training to new employees within 90 days of their start date, and annual training thereafter. A similar measure was introduced during the 2025 legislative session, signaling the legislature's sustained focus on this issue.
The required training aims to enhance the safety of patient care and must cover at least six areas: CPR and first aid, communication, maintenance of a clean and safe environment, identification and reporting of abuse or neglect, identification and reporting of changes in the client’s service needs, and differentiation between medical and nonmedical care. Employees who will care for patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia must also be trained in the care for such patients. In addition to the initial training, homemaker-companion agencies would be required to provide at least 10 hours of paid training to employees every year. Each employee must receive training in all of the above categories at least every two years.
The bill assigns implementation responsibilities to key state agencies. Specifically, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, in consultation with the Commissioners of Public Health, Social Services, Developmental Services, and Mental Health and Addiction Services, would be required to develop and publish a list of approved training programs by December 31, 2026. Agencies should monitor these developments closely to ensure timely compliance.
In addition to training mandates, the proposed legislation includes detailed record-keeping and reporting requirements. Homemaker-companion agencies would be obligated to maintain comprehensive training records and submit compliance reports to the Department of Consumer Protection, which serves as the primary regulatory authority for these agencies in Connecticut. Navigating these administrative obligations will require careful attention to detail and proactive compliance planning.
The bill is part of a trend to increase regulation of homemaker-companion agencies in Connecticut. In 2023, the legislature passed Public Act 23-48 which, among other provisions, required the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to develop a plan to transfer the responsibility for regulation and supervision of these agencies to the Department of Public Health. This plan was issued on December 30, 2024, but did not advocate for transition to Department of Public Health oversight due to a variety of factors.
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