The bill implements recommendations made by the direct care
workforce stabilization board (board) by:
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Requiring the board to investigate health-care benefits for the direct care workforce;
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Requiring the department of labor and employment (department) to collaborate with the board and other entities to establish a comprehensive know your rights training for direct care workers;
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Requiring the department to ensure that the know your rights training is available to direct care workers, to allow worker organizations to participate in the training free of charge, and to report direct care worker training completion information to the board; and
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Requiring direct care employers to conduct and document direct care worker training attendance, distribute a notice of rights to direct care workers, and inform all employees about the direct care worker website and communication platform established by the department of health care policy and financing.
The bill also requires the director of the division of labor standards
and statistics (director) in the department to provide compliance assistance to direct care employers and investigate possible violations by the employers. The director is also required to enforce compliance with the requirements in the bill.
To implement the board's recommendations, the bill also requires
the department of health care policy and financing to:
•
Establish a website and communication platform for direct care workers;
•
In coordination with the board, develop a direct care worker-specific notice of rights for direct care employers;
•
Collaborate with direct care employers to inform direct care workers about the website and communication platform;
•
Allow specified entities access to the contact information of each direct care worker enrolled in the communication platform; and
•
Convene and administer an interested party advisory group pursuant to federal requirements.
The bill also establishes the direct care worker minimum wage at
$17 per hour beginning July 1, 2025, and encourages the state to set the minimum wage for direct care workers at $25 per hour by January 1, 2028.
