2017 -- S 0998

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LC002972

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE,

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO INCREASE CERTAIN DIRECT AND HOME CARE

WORKER WAGES

     Introduced By: Senator Louis P. DiPalma

     Date Introduced: June 29, 2017

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, An estimated 4,400 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

are supported by the state in community-based settings; direct service professionals (DSPs) and

job coaches, are trained staff that are engaged in activities of daily living and

community/employment support; these employees earn wages that place them and their families

below the poverty level; and

     WHEREAS, The average DSP wage in Rhode Island is approximately $11 per hour,

which is below the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty threshold for a

family of 4; this workforce is often compelled to work many overtime hours or maintain a second

job to support their families; many have to rely on public benefits such as Medicaid and food

stamps, creating additional expenditures for state government; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island has increased the minimum wage for the general workforce

from $7.40 in 2012 to $9.60 in 2016, for a 30 percent increase in five years. During the

corresponding period, direct support professionals (DSP) and personal care attendants (PCA)

have seen their combined average wages move from $10.65 to $10.82, or increase by 1.6 percent

over 5 years. Our neighboring states of Massachusetts and Connecticut saw increases in the

minimum wage of 20 percent (to $10 in 2016) and 16 percent (to $9.60 in 2016) respectively.

Over the same 5-year period, these 2 states increased their DSP/PCA wage by 7 percent (to

$13.02) and 8 percent (to $12.19) respectively, compared with Rhode Island's $10.82 per hour

wage. And, Massachusetts has committed to compensate their DPSs with a $15.00/hour wage by

2018; and

      WHEREAS, The lack of adequate wages for DSP employees who perform the

challenging work of supporting persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities results in

high employee turnover, estimated at 33 percent in Rhode Island; higher wages are proven to

reduce staff turnover, improving stability and quality of services while reducing employer

training costs; and

     WHEREAS, Rising wages in several other sectors now mean, despite strenuous efforts to

recruit new DSP workers and job coaches, agencies are experiencing staff vacancy rates of up to

25 percent; excessive vacancies force employers to rely more on overtime, leading to staff

burnout and driving up costs; this growing hiring crisis impedes the ability of community

agencies to implement the state's obligations under the 2014 US Department of Justice

Disabilities Act RI Settlement Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, as the state's Medicaid program seeks to assist more

beneficiaries requiring long-term services and supports in home and community-based settings,

the demand for home care workers has increased, and wages for these workers has not kept pace

with neighboring states, leading to high turnover and vacancy rates in the state's home care

industry; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully urges the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities

and Hospitals to increase the base-payment rates for licensed developmental disability

organizations, an amount to be determined by the appropriations process, for the purpose of

raising wages for direct support professionals and job coaches that is implemented: (1) By

October 1, 2017; and (2) In a manner that meets specifications related to implementation and

reporting approved by the Director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental

Disabilities and Hospitals and the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby further urges the Department of Behavioral

Healthcare, Development Disabilities and Hospitals to implement said increase in the base-

payment rates for licensed developmental disability organizations in a manner that results in

direct support professionals and job coaches earning a base wage of not less than $15 per hour by

fiscal year 2022. The rate shall be adjusted annually by a percentage increase equal to the

Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) or a successor

index as calculated for the northeast region by the US Department of Labor; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests the Office of Internal Audit

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within the Office of Management and Budget to conduct a vender compliance audit review after

the implementation of the increase in base-rate payments in accordance with this resolution; and

be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests the Executive Office of

Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to institute a one-time increase in the base-payment rates

for home-care service providers to promote increased access to and an adequate supply of highly

trained home health care professionals, in amount to be determined by the appropriations process,

for the purpose of raising wages for personal care attendants and home health aides to be

implemented by such providers: (1) By October 1, 2017; and (2) In a manner that meets

specifications related to implementation and reporting approved by the secretary; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby further requests the EOHHS to implement said

increase in the base-payment rates for home-care service providers in a manner that results in

personal care attendants and home health aides earning a base wage of not less than $15 per hour

by fiscal year 2022. The rate shall be adjusted annually by a percentage increase equal to the

Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) or a successor

index as calculated for the northeast region by the US Department of Labor; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the

Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, the Office of

Internal Audit within the Office of Management and Budget, and the Executive Office of Health

and Human Services.

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LC002972

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