Bill > S1502

This bill aims to reform the personal care attendant (PCA) system in Massachusetts. It makes several key changes: 1. Requires the PCA Quality Home Care Workforce Council to meet at least three times a year to review developments and address any issues or concerns. The council must also submit a report to the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services for publication. 2. Expands the responsibilities of the council to include directly connecting consumers with PCAs, maintaining an updated referral directory, and providing prompt referrals to consumers for routine, emergency, and respite care. 3. Designates PCAs as public employees solely for the purposes of collective bargaining under Chapter 150E and certain provisions related to union dues and fees. However, PCAs are not considered public employees for any other purpose. 4. Prohibits PCAs from engaging in strikes or work stoppages and establishes a statewide bargaining unit for PCAs. 5. Requires the council to develop and maintain a PCA pool to replace absent or unavailable PCAs, and the council is responsible for ensuring constant coverage for consumers. 6. Authorizes the council to establish regulations for a paid PCA surrogate program, which would allow for reimbursement of surrogate services to assist members who are unable to perform certain PCA management tasks.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S1502