Dear Advocates,
Welcome to the 193rd Legislative Session! We need your active participation in advocacy right away!
The Arc has prioritized three NEW bills related to the workforce shortage crisis, each addressing critical issues. These top priorities address workforce rates increases for front line workers in DDS and MassHealth, free community college for DSPs, and allowing parents and guardians to be paid PCA and AFC providers.
Please take a few minutes to use this alert to write to your Representative and Senator and ask them to COSPONSOR these three important bills.
Summaries of the bills are included below. If your Representative or Senator is one of our bills’ sponsors, please take time to thank them as well.
All of the bills on our platform need cosponsorship support, but since these are new files, we need to build support quickly.
Please reach out to Maura Sullivan at sullivan@arcmass.org with any questions.
Workforce Priorities
Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDS) and MassHealth Workforce Rate Increase
An Act relative to rates for workers providing supports and services for individuals with disabilities
HD3286 SD2086
Representatives Sean Garballey and Simon Cataldo, Senator Barry Finegold
This bill addresses the severe workforce shortage for direct support staff, program managers, and clinicians such as nurses. It requires a minimum salary benchmark of the 75th percentile based on our state’s bureau of labor statistics, which should put DSP benchmark pay in the $20 per hour range. The bill includes all DDS services covered by the Chapter 257 rate process, and the Day Habilitation program which is covered by the MassHealth rate process.
Community College for Direct Support Professionals
An Act establishing a fund to further educational opportunities for caregivers to adults with disabilities
HD3173 SD2348
Representative Dave Rogers, Senator Mike Barrett
This bill creates a pilot to provide free community college to direct support staff with two years of service.
An Act Relative to Family Members Serving as Caregivers
An Act relative to family members serving as caregivers
HD2455 SD1170
Representative James O’Day, Senator Joan Lovely
This bill allows guardians, caregivers, and others with legal standing to be paid for providing AFC and PCA services.
