Bill > H2104

This bill aims to modernize wage rates for direct care workers in human services by establishing new standards for compensation and rate-setting. The legislation defines different categories of direct care staff, including "Direct Care Staff" (workers who support individuals in service settings) and "Other Direct Care Staff" (workers with supervisory roles or advanced credentials). The bill requires the executive office of health and human services to set wage rates for these workers at a minimum of the 75th percentile of comparable positions according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, ensuring competitive compensation. It mandates that salary increases for front-line supervisors and other direct care professionals should be proportional, while excluding executive staff from these increases. The bill also requires state agencies to submit job lists and request wage rate determinations before awarding human services contracts, and mandates that wage rate calculations include comprehensive fringe benefit considerations like payroll taxes, health insurance, retirement contributions, and other mandated costs. Furthermore, the legislation ensures that implementing these wage standards will not result in reductions or non-payments for existing social service programs, and establishes a planning process beginning July 1, 2025, to justify the use of the 75th percentile benchmark for wage rates.

Health and Social Services, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2104