Bill > A10618

This bill amends the labor law to place limits on the maximum number of hours a home care aide can be required to work without their voluntary consent. Key provisions include: 1) Defining a "home care aide" as any licensed or unlicensed person whose primary responsibility is to provide in-home assistance with daily living activities, instrumental activities, health-related tasks, or companionship. 2) Prohibiting employers from assigning a home care aide to work more than 12 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period or a single shift exceeding 12 hours, except in cases of unforeseeable emergencies where all reasonable efforts to obtain proper staffing have been exhausted. 3) Requiring the home care aide's express, voluntary consent to work more than the maximum hours, and prohibiting retaliation against aides who refuse such assignments. 4) Allowing home care aides to bring civil lawsuits against employers who violate these provisions, and authorizing the labor commissioner to take enforcement action, including issuing sanctions and ordering remedies such as back pay and reinstatement.