Sign Up to Receive PHI Alerts

California Enacts Stricter Standards for Home Care Agencies

October 16, 2013

Private home care agencies in California will face stricter licensing and regulatory requirements beginning in 2016.

The strengthened requirements are the results of the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act, which California Governor Jerry Brown (D) signed into law on October 13.

As a result of the law, private home care agencies that provide nonmedical home care will have to:

  • conduct background checks on workers,
  • provide five hours of training for aides, and
  • maintain an online registry of licensed home care aides.

Home care aides will need to obtain a license from the California Department of Social Services before they can be hired to provide care.

Brown vetoed a similar bill in 2012. A modified version passed through the California legislature earlier this year.

— by Matthew Ozga

Caring for the Future

Our new policy report takes an extensive look at today's direct care workforce—in five installments.

Workforce Data Center

From wages to employment statistics, find the latest data on the direct care workforce.