Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board

The bill creates the direct care workforce stabilization board (board) in the department of labor and employment (department) to review the direct care industry, which is the industry of workers who provide home-based or community-based direct care to individuals who require assistance in accomplishing activities of daily living. The bill directs the board, at least once every 2 years, to review the direct care industry and develop recommendations for:

• Minimum employment standards for direct care workers based on information gathered through an investigation of the direct care industry market in relation to the Colorado labor market; and
• Improving state communications with direct care workers about their rights and the obligations of direct care employers.

The board must conduct public hearings to engage direct care workers, direct care employers, and direct care consumers in the development of the standards and recommendations for improved communications. The executive director of the department may direct the board to review minimum direct care employment standards more frequently.

The board must report any recommendations approved by at least 6 8 board members to the governor and specified committees of the general assembly by September 1, 2024, and at least every 2 years thereafter. Direct care employers are prohibited from retaliating against direct care workers for participating in board meetings and activities. The board is subject to a sunset review and repeal on September 1, 2029.For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the bill appropriates $81,912 from the general fund to the department of labor and employment for use by the executive director's office to implement the bill.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)