House committee substitute deletes all contents of the 3rd edition and replaces it with the following.

Contains whereas clauses.  Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)’s Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) and Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) to jointly study the array of services available to older adults who live independently but need services to support and maintain their independence. Requires the study to examine the provision of the following paid services by a provider: (1) in-home companion, sitter, and respite care services; (2) meal preparation, cleaning, organizing, pet care, and other home management services; (3) shopping and pick-up/drop-off of items such as library materials, mail, and donations; and (4) transportation to and from medical appointments, social events, and community activities. Directs DHSR and DAAS to seek input from listed stakeholders in conducting the study. 

Requires DHHS to make recommendations consistent with the General Assembly’s findings in GS 143B-181.3 and GS 143B-181.1A pertaining to the needs of older adults. Requires DHHS to examine current statutes and rules pertaining to existing and new emerging support services to independent older adults and determine: (1) whether any changes are necessary to current statutes and rules to safely allow the provision of services described above; (2) whether those service providers should be licensed or regulated by the State; and (3) whether any limitations, background checks, or safeguards are necessary for the provision of those services.  Requires DHSR and DAAS to submit a report on the study’s findings, including any necessary legislative action to the specified NCGA committee no later than September 1, 2024. Prevents DHHS from pursuing changes to the statutes and rules examined under the act until after the General Assembly has received the report required by the act.

Makes conforming changes to the act’s long and short titles.

Senate committee substitute deletes all contents of the 1st edition and replaces it with the following.  Makes conforming changes to the act’s short and long titles. Amends GS 131E-136 (the definitions provision of the Home Care Agency Licensure Act) to enact definition of home assistance services, which means the following services that are not home care services:(1) in-home companion, sitter, and respite care services provided to an individual; (2) homemaker services provided in combination with in-home companion, sitter, respite, or other home assistance services; and (3) non-hands-on services, as defined in the section of the State administrative code pertaining to respite services. Specifies that providers of home assistance services are not required to hold a license under the Home Care Agency Licensure Act.  

Clarifies that the definition of home care services set forth in the Home Care Licensure Act (GS 131E-136) does not include home assistance services. Amends the definition of home care services to include in-home companion, sitter, and respite care services provided to an individual in conjunction with other home care services. 

Requires home assistance service providers to (1) maintain liability insurance; (2) inform new clients that they are not licensed by the State and that they do not provide hands-on care or health care; (3) conduct criminal background checks for contracts and employers with the following requirements: (i) a criminal background check must be performed in each state where the employee resided during the past five years; (ii) prohibit employment of an individual or contractor who was convicted of a violent crime or a financial crime; (iii) prohibit employment of an individual listed on a sex registry. 

Further specifies that home assistance services include but are not limited to: (1) certain home-based services like meal preparation, cleaning and organizing, caring for pets, and other home management services; (2) community-based services like grocery shopping, retail shopping, and pick-up/drop-off of certain items; (3) transportation-based services like travel to/from medical appointments, social events, and community activities.  

Bars home assistance providers from submitting any claims for reimbursement to private or publicly funded insurance plans for services rendered to or on behalf of a State resident.