AB-346 • 2026

In-home supportive services: licensed health care professional certification.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Nguyen
Last action: 2025-08-29
Official status: In committee: Held under submission.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or the availability of licensed health care professionals to meet demand.

In-Home Supportive Services: Health Professional Certification

This law specifies that only licensed health care professionals who diagnose or treat physical and mental impairments can certify a person's need for in-home supportive services.

What This Bill Does

Defines 'licensed health care professional' as someone certified to diagnose or provide treatment for physical or mental conditions causing functional limitations in California.
Requires applicants and recipients of in-home supportive services to get certification from a licensed health care professional stating they cannot perform daily activities independently without help.

Who It Names or Affects

People who need in-home supportive services due to age, blindness, or disability.
Licensed health care professionals in California.

Terms To Know

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS): Services provided by the county to help people stay at home instead of going into a nursing home or other facility.
Licensed Health Care Professional: A doctor, nurse, or other health care provider who is certified in California and can diagnose or provide treatment for physical or mental conditions that affect daily living.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the new requirements will be enforced.
It is unclear if there are enough licensed professionals to meet the demand for certifications under these new rules.

Bill History

2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
In committee: Held under submission.
2025-07-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-09 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 2003.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 23).
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-02-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
2025-01-30 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 1.
2025-01-29 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 346, as amended, Nguyen.
In-home supportive services: licensed health care professional certification.
Existing law provides for the county-administered In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, under which qualified aged, blind, and disabled persons are provided with specified services in order to permit them to remain in their own homes and avoid institutionalization. Existing law defines supportive services for purposes of the IHSS program to include those necessary paramedical services that are ordered by a licensed health care professional, which persons could provide for themselves, but for their functional limitations. Existing law requires an applicant for, or recipient of, in-home supportive services, as a condition of receiving these services, to obtain a certification from a licensed health care professional declaring that the applicant or recipient is unable to perform some activities of daily living independently, and that without services to assist the applicant or
recipient with activities of daily living, the applicant or recipient is at risk of placement in out-of-home care, and defines a licensed health care professional for this purpose to mean an individual licensed in California by the appropriate California regulatory agency, acting within the scope of their license or certificate as defined in the Business and Professions Code.
This bill would
use the above-described definition of “licensed health care professional” for purposes of the provisions relating to paramedical services, and would, for purposes of the certification requirement,
add to the
above-described
definition of “licensed health care professional” that the licensed individual has primary responsibilities to diagnose or provide treatment and
care for physical or mental impairments that cause or contribute to an individual’s functional
limitations, and would use the same definition of “licensed health care professional” for purposes of the provisions relating to paramedical services.
limitations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF