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

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

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

personal care assistants (PCAs), 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, and to $10.10 in 2017, for a 36 percent increase in five

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

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

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

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

compensate a portion of 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; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly 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, 2019; 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 General Assembly 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 General Assembly hereby respectfully requests the Office of

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

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

this resolution; 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

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and Human Services.

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LC000241

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