Assembly Bill A10409

Vetoed By Governor
2015-2016 Legislative Session

Relates to a study on the recruitment and retention of direct support professionals working with people with developmental disabilities

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Archive: Last Bill Status - Vetoed by Governor


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Vetoed By Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2015-A10409 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S7677
Law Section:
Health

2015-A10409 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Directs the commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities to study and report on the recruitment and retention of direct support professionals working with people with developmental disabilities by November 1, 2016.

2015-A10409 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  10409

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 25, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Mental Health

AN ACT to direct the commissioner of the office for people with develop-
  mental disabilities  to  study  and  report  on  the  recruitment  and
  retention  of  direct  support  professionals working with people with
  developmental disabilities

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Legislative  findings.  The Legislature hereby finds that
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are the lynchpin of  the  system  of
supports for people with developmental disabilities. These dedicated and
skilled direct support professionals allow more than 100,000 New Yorkers
to lead safe, fulfilling lives.  More than 90% of all funding to support
the  salaries  of these highly trained professionals comes from Medicaid
or other state funds.
  The Legislature further finds the current  funding  for  these  highly
trained  professionals  is  insufficient to pay a fair wage for the work
these skilled professionals do, leaving these dedicated workers in short
supply.  Recent surveys by voluntary  agencies  employing  these  valued
professionals  indicate  a  high  and increasing statewide vacancy rate,
high and increasing  staff  turnover  rates  and  increasing  difficulty
recruiting and retaining these valuable employees.
  The  Legislature  further  finds  that  women  and  minorities are the
cornerstone of the direct support professional  workforce  in  New  York
State.  According to recent surveys, 73 percent of direct care staff are
women and 56.5 percent are either African-American, black or of Hispanic
and Latino origin. It is critically important  that  these  skilled  and
dedicated professionals receive the fair wage they deserve, for the work
they do.
  The  Legislature further finds that in his April 2012 Report to Gover-
nor Cuomo, Clarence Sundram, the Governor's Special Advisor  on  Vulner-
able  Persons,  found  that "a strong, well trained and committed direct
support staff" is essential to safeguard and care for  vulnerable  indi-
viduals.  In order to attract and retain such a workforce, and to ensure

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

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