Bill > S1325

This bill aims to reform the personal care attendant (PCA) system in Massachusetts. The key provisions are: 1. The PCA Quality Home Care Workforce Council must meet at least three times per year to review developments, address concerns, and resolve issues within their purview, submitting a minutes report to the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. 2. The Council is tasked with directly assisting consumers in finding and connecting with PCAs, maintaining an updated referral directory of PCAs, and providing prompt referrals for routine, emergency, and respite care. 3. The Council is responsible for the training, direction, and supervision of PCAs, while consumers retain the right to select, hire, and terminate their PCAs, with the option to transfer this right to the Council. 4. The bill establishes a "PCA pool" to provide replacement PCAs when the primary or regular PCA is absent or unable to work, requiring PCAs to notify the Council 24 hours prior to any anticipated absence. 5. The bill grants PCAs the status of public employees for the purpose of collective bargaining and certain benefits, but not for other purposes. 6. The bill also directs the Council to establish and implement a paid PCA surrogate program, allowing for the reimbursement of certain PCA management tasks performed by the member's personal care agency employees or contractors, excluding legal guardians, family members, or fiscal intermediaries.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S1325