Bill > S1601

This bill proposes comprehensive reforms to the personal care attendant (PCA) system in Massachusetts, focusing on several key areas. The bill requires the PCA Quality Home Care Workforce Council to meet at least three times per year and submit minutes reports to the state. It mandates the creation of a referral directory for personal care attendants that will be updated every six months, with the council responsible for verifying attendants' qualifications. The bill establishes a new "personal care attendant pool" - an online registry designed to help replace attendants who are temporarily unavailable, ensuring continuous care for consumers. Personal care attendants will be considered public employees solely for specific collective bargaining and labor law purposes, but will not be eligible for state employee benefits. The bill also introduces a paid PCA surrogate program that allows certain agency employees to be reimbursed for performing management tasks for consumers who cannot manage their own care independently. Consumers retain the right to select, hire, and terminate their personal care attendants, with the option to transfer these rights to the council. Additionally, the bill sets up a statewide bargaining unit for personal care attendants and provides liability protections for council members and contractors. The overall aim is to improve the reliability, management, and support of personal care attendant services in Massachusetts.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1601