Registered home care aides: disclosure of contact information.
The bill represents a significant shift in how contact information for home care aides is handled, transitioning from being confidential to being partially accessible to labor organizations. This is seen as a means to enhance the support and representation for home care aides in dealing with their employers. The labor organizations are strictly prohibited from using or disclosing this contact information for purposes outside of labor representation activities, thus aiming to protect the personal data of the aides while still providing them with additional support.
Assembly Bill No. 1513, introduced by Assembly Member Kalra, amends Section 1796.29 of the Health and Safety Code to modify the disclosure of contact information for registered home care aides. The existing law establishes the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act, which regulates home care organizations and the registration of home care aides. One key feature of AB 1513 is that starting September 1, 2018, the department will share registered home care aides' names and contact numbers with labor organizations, enabling such organizations to assist in labor-related matters like grievances and contract negotiations.
Discussion around AB 1513 has generally favored empowering labor organizations to better serve home care aides, with proponents highlighting the need for greater representation in the sector. However, there are concerns regarding the privacy rights of the aides; critics worry that making personal information available, even through regulated channels, could potentially expose aides to unwanted solicitations or breaches of confidentiality. This tension between the need for labor organization support and safeguarding personal privacy rights reflects the polarized sentiment regarding the bill.
Notably, the bill articulates a clear mechanism for registered aides to opt-out of having their information disclosed, thus addressing some privacy concerns. However, debates in legislative discussions indicated a significant divide among stakeholders about the balance between providing necessary support for labor representation and protecting individual privacy rights. Critics of the measure have expressed that expanding disclosure could erode trust in the regulatory framework and the Department of Social Services' obligations to maintain confidentiality.