Brabenec, DeStefano, Durso, Lemondes, McDonough, Miller, Morinello, Tague, Giglio JA
MLTSPNSR
Directs the department of labor and the office for people with developmental disabilities to study and report on the wages earned by those who help, assist, support, and/or work with the developmentally disabled.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2471
SPONSOR: Angelino TITLE OF BILL:
An act requiring the department of labor and the office for people with
developmental disabilities to conduct a study and report on the wages
earned by aides to the developmentally disabled
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Relates to authorizing a study on the wages earned by aides to the
developmentally disabled.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. The commissioner of the department of labor, in consultation
with the commissioner of the office for people with developmental disa-
bilities, hereinafter the "commissioners," and any other department,
division, board, bureau, commission, agency or public authority of the
state or any political subdivision thereof deemed necessary by the
commissioners shall prepare a comprehensive study and report on the
wages earned by individuals who help, support, assist, and/or work with
the developmentally disabled, hereinafter referred to as "aides". Such
study shall include, but not be limited to the following information
about each aide: hourly wage earned, approximate yearly salary earned,
highest level of education completed, certifications held, experience,
and geographic location.
Section 2. The commissioners shall publish such report to the governor,
the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the
minority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the assembly, and
the chairs of the senate and assembly mental health and labor committees
no later than December 31, 2023.
Section 3. Upon receiving the report and recommendation, the governor
and legislature shall determine and publish an appropriate base wage for
aides to the developmentally disabled no later than March 31, 2024. This
base wage shall be funded through reimbursements from Medicaid and any
other funds as determined by the director of the division of the budget.
JUSTIFICATION:
More and more we have become dependent on not-for-profits around the
state to care for the mentally ill, developmentally disabled in communi-
ty homes, workshops and daycare facilities. The responsibilities of
aides caring for such individuals include but are not limited to bath-
ing, feeding, lifting, and constant around the clock care. Most aides
are hired at minimum wage with little opportunity to progress upward.
The current turnover/vacancy rate is 24% in some areas. Such dedication
and skills should be accurately paid for what they are worth. This
legislation would address this issue by conducting a study and report on
such wages earned by aides to the developmentally disabled.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2471
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 26, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ANGELINO, BRABENEC, DeSTEFANO, DURSO, LEMONDES,
McDONOUGH, MILLER, MORINELLO, TAGUE -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Labor
AN ACT requiring the department of labor and the office for people with
developmental disabilities to conduct a study and report on the wages
earned by aides to the developmentally disabled
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The commissioner of the department of labor, in consulta-
2 tion with the commissioner of the office for people with developmental
3 disabilities, hereinafter the "commissioners," and any other department,
4 division, board, bureau, commission, agency or public authority of the
5 state or any political subdivision thereof deemed necessary by the
6 commissioners shall prepare a comprehensive study and report on the
7 wages earned by individuals who help, support, assist, and/or work with
8 the developmentally disabled, hereinafter referred to as "aides". Such
9 study shall include, but not be limited to the following information
10 about each aide: hourly wage earned, approximate yearly salary earned,
11 highest level of education completed, certifications held, experience,
12 and geographic location.
13 § 2. The commissioners shall publish such report to the governor, the
14 temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the
15 minority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the assembly, and
16 the chairs of the senate and assembly mental health and labor committees
17 no later than December 31, 2023.
18 § 3. Upon receiving the report and recommendation, the governor and
19 legislature shall determine and publish an appropriate base wage for
20 aides to the developmentally disabled no later than March 31, 2024.
21 This base wage shall be funded through reimbursements from Medicaid and
22 any other funds as determined by the director of the division of the
23 budget.
24 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06460-01-3
