Representative Zalesnikar presented House File 105 seeking workforce funding through the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to create a career pathway for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) at Aspirus Lakeview Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital in Two Harbors. The committee heard detailed testimony about staffing shortages and regional impacts and laid the bill over for future consideration.

Craig Ruberg, identified as president of Aspirus Lakeview (appearing by Zoom), told the committee the hospital is the only hospital serving Lake County and adjacent areas, and it faces a persistent shortage of CNAs. Ruberg said the shortage affects patient admissions, emergency care and post-acute placements because skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities also rely on CNAs. He described a regional staffing bottleneck that can prevent discharges from hospitals when downstream facilities cannot accept residents for lack of staff.

Ruberg described a proposed program to train 12 CNAs on-site at Lakeview, covering training costs for instructors, testing and supplies and then hiring graduates into hospital and regional positions. He said the hospital previously ran similar programs in partnership with Lake Superior College and Mesabi Range College, but that many potential trainees cannot afford tuition, transportation or to quit existing jobs for training. Ruberg said Lakeview's average CNA wage is about $24 per hour and said the hospital has run an annual turnover rate under 7% while the industry average exceeds 20%.

Members asked whether the program would be a one-time cohort or an ongoing model and whether curriculum exists elsewhere. Representatives indicated the funding proposed is a one-time initial cycle to train 12 CNAs and the hospital indicated it would share any successful model across a regional hospital coalition and statewide networks. Members discussed overlap with education and health policy and the role of community colleges and high-school pathways; Representative Zalesnikar said the proposal is a pilot and that the hospital would report outcomes.

Representative Zalesnikar moved to lay the bill over; the committee laid House File 105 over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill. No vote on final funding was taken in committee.