2019 -- S 0059

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LC000241

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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J O I N T   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 WORKER WAGES

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Conley, Seveney, Coyne, and Paolino

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Finance

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

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

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personal care assistants (PCAs), and job coaches, are trained staff that are engaged in activities of

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daily living and community/employment support; these employees earn wages that place them

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and their families below the poverty level; and

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

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

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

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

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stamps, creating additional expenditures for state government; and

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

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from $7.40 in 2012 to $9.60 in 2016, and to $10.10 in 2017, for a 36 percent increase in five

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years. During the corresponding period, direct support professionals (DSPs) have seen their

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combined average wages move from $10.65 to $10.82, or increase by 1.6 percent over 5 years.

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Our neighboring states of Massachusetts and Connecticut saw increases in the minimum wage of

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37.5 percent (to $11 in 2017) and 22 percent (to $10.10 in 2017) respectively. Over the same 5-

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year period, these 2 states increased their DSP/PCA wage to $14.56 and $12.19 respectively,

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compared with Rhode Island's $10.82 per hour wage. And, Massachusetts has committed to

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compensate a portion of their DPSs with a $15.00/hour wage by 2018; and

 

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

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

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

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

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training costs; and

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

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

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

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

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

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Disabilities Act RI Settlement Agreement; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

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Plantations hereby respectfully urges the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental

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

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

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

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By October 1, 2019; and (2) In a manner that meets specifications related to implementation and

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

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

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     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby further urges the Department of

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

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

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

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

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

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

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     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby respectfully requests the Office of

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Internal Audit within the Office of Management and Budget to conduct a vendor compliance

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audit review after the implementation of the increase in base-rate payments in accordance with

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this resolution; and be it further

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

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

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

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

 

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and Human Services.

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LC000241

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