BILL NUMBER: S4837

SPONSOR: FAHY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act relating to establishing a direct support wage enhancement to
employees that provide direct care support or any other form of treat-
ment, to individuals with developmental disabilities

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to provide a direct support wage enhancement
to employees that provide direct care support, or any other form of
treatment, to individuals with developmental disabilities.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill would establish the direct support wage enhance-
ment for providers licensed, funded, approved and/or certified by the
Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).  Such provid-
ers would be eligible to receive supplemental funding to enhance wages
of employees that provide direct care support, or any other form of
              

treatment, to individuals with developmental disabilities whose income
is less than $125,000. Additionally, this section would direct OPWDD and
the Division of the Budget to establish a list of eligible employee
titles for such wage enhancement. Furthermore, this section would
require OPWDD to develop a form to be used by providers to indicate the
number of eligible employees to determine appropriate supplemental fund-
ing by provider agency, direct OPWDD to distribute the direct support
wage enhancement allocation to the eligible providers in the amount of
$4,000 per eligible employee, and require that such direct support wage
enhancement be used to enhance base wages and benefits of eligible
employees.

Section 2 of this bill provides that the effective date shall take
effect April 1, 2024.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Currently, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and other similarly situ-
ated staff provide essential life supporting services to individuals
with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).  Often, these
highly skilled and competent workers receive low wages, wages that are
not reflective of the vital role that they serve. DSPs take on numerous
critical responsibilities to uplift the safety, productivity, and
wellbeing of the entire I/DD community.  DSPs are responsible for
providing important practical and administrative support such as first
aid and CPR, administering medication, meal preparation or transport
facilitation, as well as, attending to the comprehensive social,
emotional, and psychological needs of individuals with I/DD. DSPs are
required to be well trained, skilled, and constantly prepared for all
the essential life-support services their profession demands. DSPs are
integral pillars of support for the State's I/DD community and are
crucial in ensuring that over 130,000 State residents with I/DD can live
their highest quality of life.

Permanent investment in this workforce is essential to recruit and
retain staff to and to ensure the viability of the service delivery
system. The average starting wage for DSPs Statewide is approximately
$16.07 per hour. At $4,000 per eligible employee, this wage enhancement
would increase wages by approximately $2.19 per hour, an increase to
$18.26 per hour. In light of recent minimum wage increases in other
industries this investment might seem paltry, or lacking; however, this
increase would provide a much needed respite for DSPs and similarly
situated staff. Ideally, this wage enhancement would establish a floor,
not a ceiling, and spur on future wage increases for those who work for
the I/DD community. By establishing the direct support wage enhancement
this bill would provide greater financial stability to the DSP workforce
and increase retention of such workforce.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-2024: S4127A/A5268A

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect April 1, 2024.