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5 | 5 | | 2025 -- H 5228 |
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6 | 6 | | ======== |
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7 | 7 | | LC000762 |
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8 | 8 | | ======== |
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9 | 9 | | S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D |
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10 | 10 | | IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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11 | 11 | | JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 |
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12 | 12 | | ____________ |
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13 | 13 | | |
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14 | 14 | | A N A C T |
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15 | 15 | | RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABI LITIES AND |
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16 | 16 | | HOSPITALS – QUALITY SELF-DIRECTED SUPPORTS ACT OF 2025 |
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17 | 17 | | Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Edwards, Craven, McNamara, Solomon, |
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18 | 18 | | Kazarian, Slater, Diaz, Potter, and Casey |
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19 | 19 | | Date Introduced: January 29, 2025 |
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20 | 20 | | Referred To: House Labor |
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21 | 21 | | |
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22 | 22 | | |
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23 | 23 | | It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
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24 | 24 | | SECTION 1. Legislative findings. 1 |
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25 | 25 | | (1) The State of Rhode Island is committed to closing the gap between the demand for 2 |
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26 | 26 | | personal care services for developmentally disabled adults and the supply of trained workers willing 3 |
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27 | 27 | | to provide this personal care. 4 |
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28 | 28 | | (2) The purpose of this chapter is to further the state’s goal of meeting the demand for 5 |
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29 | 29 | | personal care services by investing in self-directed personal care jobs. By raising wages and 6 |
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30 | 30 | | benefits for self-directed direct support professionals, the State of Rhode Island will ensure that 7 |
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31 | 31 | | more developmentally disabled adults can self-direct the care they need and want. In addition, by 8 |
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32 | 32 | | incorporating collective bargaining rights into the self-directed supports program, this chapter will 9 |
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33 | 33 | | enhance service access, increase the availability of education and training options, and improve the 10 |
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34 | 34 | | recruitment and retention of the people selected by participants as direct support professionals. 11 |
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35 | 35 | | (3) This chapter does not alter or limit the director’s authority to administer the self-12 |
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36 | 36 | | directed supports program, enforce existing rules, regulations and procedures or adopt amended 13 |
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37 | 37 | | rules, regulations and procedures for operating the program, determine a participant’s Medicaid 14 |
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38 | 38 | | eligibility and appropriateness for self-directed personal care services, or assess the scope, amount 15 |
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39 | 39 | | and duration of services authorized to meet a participant’s needs, except as specifically set forth in 16 |
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40 | 40 | | this chapter. 17 |
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41 | 41 | | (4) This chapter does not alter or limit the rights of participants and their representatives to 18 |
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42 | 42 | | |
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43 | 43 | | |
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44 | 44 | | LC000762 - Page 2 of 11 |
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45 | 45 | | select, direct, and terminate the services of self-directed direct support professionals or to determine 1 |
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46 | 46 | | the wages of self-directed direct support professionals within a range set by the director. 2 |
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47 | 47 | | SECTION 2. Title 40.1 of the General Laws entitled "BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, 3 |
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48 | 48 | | DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS" is hereby amended by adding thereto 4 |
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49 | 49 | | the following chapter: 5 |
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50 | 50 | | CHAPTER 22.2 6 |
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51 | 51 | | QUALITY SELF-DIRECTED SUPPORTS ACT OF 2025 7 |
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52 | 52 | | 40.1-22.2-1. Short title. 8 |
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53 | 53 | | This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Quality Self-Directed Supports Act 9 |
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54 | 54 | | of 2025”. 10 |
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55 | 55 | | 40.1-22.2-2. Definitions. 11 |
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56 | 56 | | For the purposes of this chapter: 12 |
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57 | 57 | | (1) “Department” means the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental 13 |
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58 | 58 | | disabilities and hospitals. 14 |
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59 | 59 | | (2) “Developmental disability organizations” or “DDOs” means an organization licensed 15 |
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60 | 60 | | by the department to provide services to adults with disabilities. 16 |
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61 | 61 | | (3) “Director” means the director of the department of behavioral healthcare, 17 |
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62 | 62 | | developmental disabilities and hospitals or the director’s designees. 18 |
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63 | 63 | | (4) “Fiscal intermediary” means a third-party organization operating in accordance with 19 |
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64 | 64 | | applicable federal and state requirements under contract with the state that is responsible for 20 |
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65 | 65 | | performing payroll and other employment-related functions on behalf of a participant as set forth 21 |
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66 | 66 | | in the implementing regulations for the self-directed supports program. 22 |
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67 | 67 | | (5) “Participant” means an adult who has a developmental disability as defined by § 40.1-23 |
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68 | 68 | | 21-4.3(1) and has been determined by the state to be eligible for Medicaid-funded long-term 24 |
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69 | 69 | | services and supports under the Medicaid state plan and/or the RI section 1115 waiver 25 |
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70 | 70 | | demonstration and/or Medicaid authorities created in the future. 26 |
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71 | 71 | | (6) “Participant’s representative” means a participant’s legal guardian or a person who has 27 |
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72 | 72 | | been designated by the participant or otherwise has the authority and responsibility to act on behalf 28 |
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73 | 73 | | of a participant with respect to the provision of self-directed services, including the developmental 29 |
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74 | 74 | | services subject to this chapter. 30 |
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75 | 75 | | (7) “Provider representative” means a provider organization that is certified as the 31 |
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76 | 76 | | exclusive negotiating representative of self-directed direct support professionals as provided in § 32 |
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77 | 77 | | 40.1-22.3-7. 33 |
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78 | 78 | | (8) “Secretary” means the secretary of the executive office of health and human services 34 |
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79 | 79 | | |
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80 | 80 | | |
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81 | 81 | | LC000762 - Page 3 of 11 |
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82 | 82 | | (EOHHS). 1 |
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83 | 83 | | (9) “Self-directed direct support professional” means an individual selected by and working 2 |
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84 | 84 | | under the direction of a self-directed supports participant or the participant’s duly authorized 3 |
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85 | 85 | | representative to provide self-directed personal care services to the participant in accordance with 4 |
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86 | 86 | | a person-centered plan and the implementing regulations promulgated for the program by the 5 |
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87 | 87 | | director. Self-directed direct support professional does not mean or include an employee of a DDO, 6 |
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88 | 88 | | subject to the DDO’s direction and control commensurate with DDO employee status. 7 |
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89 | 89 | | (10) “Self-directed personal care services” means home and community-based personal 8 |
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90 | 90 | | care and in-home support services a participant is authorized to self-direct to meet their daily living 9 |
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91 | 91 | | needs, function adequately at home, safely access the community, or other nonprofessional services 10 |
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92 | 92 | | under the self-directed supports program or any similar program that may provide similar services 11 |
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93 | 93 | | in the future under the Medicaid state plan, section 1115 demonstration waiver, or future Medicaid 12 |
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94 | 94 | | authorities promulgated by the secretary or director. 13 |
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95 | 95 | | 40.1-22.2-3. Scope of coverage. 14 |
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96 | 96 | | Self-directed direct support professionals may provide all self-directed personal care 15 |
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97 | 97 | | services to the extent the applicable federal and state laws and rules and regulations allow. 16 |
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98 | 98 | | 40.1-22.2-4. Use of employee workforce. 17 |
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99 | 99 | | (a) The state’s ability to afford participants and participants’ representatives who choose 18 |
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100 | 100 | | not to employ a self-directed direct support professional, or are unable to do so, the option of 19 |
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101 | 101 | | receiving personal care services through the employees of provider agencies, rather than through a 20 |
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102 | 102 | | self-directed direct support professional, shall not be restricted. 21 |
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103 | 103 | | (b) Nothing in this chapter shall restrict the state’s ability to afford self-directed supports 22 |
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104 | 104 | | participants with the freedom of choice guaranteed under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 23 |
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105 | 105 | | U.S.C. § 1396 et seq., to enter into service delivery agreements with any authorized Medicaid 24 |
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106 | 106 | | provider. 25 |
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107 | 107 | | 40.1-22.2-5. Duties of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental 26 |
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108 | 108 | | disabilities and hospitals. 27 |
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109 | 109 | | (a) Notwithstanding the state’s obligations to meet and negotiate under chapter 7 of title 28 28 |
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110 | 110 | | (“labor relations act”), nothing in this chapter shall be construed to make self-directed direct support 29 |
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111 | 111 | | professionals employees of the state for any purpose, including for the purposes of eligibility for 30 |
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112 | 112 | | the state employee pension program or state employee health benefits. 31 |
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113 | 113 | | (b) The director has authority over the terms and conditions of self-directed direct support 32 |
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114 | 114 | | professionals’ employment, including compensation as required under § 40.1-22.2-6, payment, 33 |
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115 | 115 | | benefit terms, provider qualification standards, other appropriate terms and conditions for the 34 |
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116 | 116 | | |
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117 | 117 | | |
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118 | 118 | | LC000762 - Page 4 of 11 |
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119 | 119 | | workforce of self-directed direct support professionals without infringing on participants’ or 1 |
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120 | 120 | | participant representatives’ rights and responsibilities to hire, direct, supervise, and/or terminate 2 |
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121 | 121 | | the employment of their self-directed direct support professionals, and orientation, training, and the 3 |
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122 | 122 | | operation of a registry as required under § 40.1-22.2-7. 4 |
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123 | 123 | | (c) The director’s authority in subsection (b) of this section only applies to self-directed 5 |
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124 | 124 | | personal care services and is subject to the state’s obligation to meet and negotiate with a provider 6 |
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125 | 125 | | representative pursuant to § 40.1-22.3-3. 7 |
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126 | 126 | | 40.1-22.2-6. Wage ranges. 8 |
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127 | 127 | | (a) The state shall set wage ranges for all self-directed direct support professionals. All 9 |
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128 | 128 | | self-directed personal care services performed by self-directed direct support professionals shall be 10 |
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129 | 129 | | compensated at a wage that is within the range set by the director for the services; provided, 11 |
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130 | 130 | | however, the participant may choose what wage to pay within the applicable range. 12 |
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131 | 131 | | (b) The wage range shall be the subject of collective bargaining as provided in this chapter. 13 |
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132 | 132 | | However, such collective bargaining shall be related solely to self-directed personal care services. 14 |
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133 | 133 | | All other self-directed services available to self-directed supports participants other than personal 15 |
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134 | 134 | | care and in-home support services are excluded from collective bargaining. 16 |
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135 | 135 | | (c) The provisions of this section shall take effect upon the certification of a provider 17 |
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136 | 136 | | representative as provided in § 40.1-22.3-13. 18 |
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137 | 137 | | 40.1-22.2-7. Other duties of the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental 19 |
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138 | 138 | | disabilities and hospitals. 20 |
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139 | 139 | | (a) The director shall determine by rule or regulation that self-directed direct support 21 |
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140 | 140 | | professionals selected by self-directed supports participants are required to complete an orientation, 22 |
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141 | 141 | | pursuant to the director’s authority under § 40.1-21-12. The director shall determine by rule or 23 |
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142 | 142 | | regulation the specific types of education, experience, or training that shall be required for a self-24 |
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143 | 143 | | directed direct support professional to be included on a registry of persons qualified to be self-25 |
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144 | 144 | | directed direct support professionals. The provisions of this section shall be collectively bargained 26 |
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145 | 145 | | with the provider representative. 27 |
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146 | 146 | | (1) Representatives of the provider representative shall be permitted to attend and present 28 |
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147 | 147 | | information about the provider representative at educational and training programs presented by 29 |
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148 | 148 | | the John E. Fogarty Institute of Rhode Island pursuant to § 40.1-21-6. The John E. Fogarty Institute 30 |
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149 | 149 | | of Rhode Island shall provide the provider representative with a schedule of educational and 31 |
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150 | 150 | | training programs at least two (2) weeks in advance. The provider representative shall be authorized 32 |
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151 | 151 | | to provide self-directed direct support professionals with access to more training or education than 33 |
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152 | 152 | | is minimally required by the director. Nothing in this chapter prohibits a self-directed supports 34 |
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153 | 153 | | |
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154 | 154 | | |
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155 | 155 | | LC000762 - Page 5 of 11 |
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156 | 156 | | participant from requiring a self-directed direct support professional to complete more training or 1 |
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157 | 157 | | education than is minimally required by the director. 2 |
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158 | 158 | | (b) The director shall maintain, either directly or through a contracted vendor, a registry 3 |
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159 | 159 | | for self-directed direct support professionals pursuant to the authority provided under § 40.1-21-12 4 |
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160 | 160 | | and shall collaborate with the provider representative to maintain this registry. This registry shall 5 |
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161 | 161 | | be consolidated with the registry established for the personal choice program pursuant to § 40-8.15-6 |
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162 | 162 | | 15. 7 |
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163 | 163 | | (c) The provisions of this section shall take effect upon the certification of a provider 8 |
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164 | 164 | | representative as provided in § 40.1-22.3-13. 9 |
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165 | 165 | | 40.1-22.2-8. Authority of the department of administration. 10 |
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166 | 166 | | In accordance with chapter 22.3 of this title, the director of the department of 11 |
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167 | 167 | | administration shall have the authority to: 12 |
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168 | 168 | | (1) In coordination with the director, meet and negotiate with any provider representative 13 |
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169 | 169 | | chosen pursuant to § 40.1-22.3-2(a); 14 |
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170 | 170 | | (2) In coordination with the director, negotiate over any of the topics in § 40.1-22.3-2(a) 15 |
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171 | 171 | | and any other appropriate matters governing the workforce of self-directed direct support 16 |
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172 | 172 | | professionals without infringing on participants’ or their responsible parties’ rights and 17 |
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173 | 173 | | responsibilities to hire, direct, supervise, or terminate the employment of their self-directed direct 18 |
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174 | 174 | | support professionals; and 19 |
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175 | 175 | | (3) In coordination with the director, execute a collective bargaining agreement, subject to 20 |
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176 | 176 | | any approval required under § 40.1-22.3-5. 21 |
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177 | 177 | | 40.1-22.2-9. Severability. 22 |
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178 | 178 | | Should any part of this chapter be declared invalid or unenforceable, or the enforcement or 23 |
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179 | 179 | | compliance with it is suspended, restrained, or barred, either by the state or by the final judgment 24 |
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180 | 180 | | of a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this chapter shall remain in full force and 25 |
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181 | 181 | | effect. 26 |
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182 | 182 | | SECTION 3. Title 40.1 of the General Laws entitled "BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, 27 |
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183 | 183 | | DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS" is hereby amended by adding thereto 28 |
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184 | 184 | | the following chapter: 29 |
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185 | 185 | | CHAPTER 22.3 30 |
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186 | 186 | | SELF-DIRECTED DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS 31 |
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187 | 187 | | 40.1-22.3-1. Definitions. 32 |
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188 | 188 | | For the purposes of this chapter: 33 |
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189 | 189 | | (1) “Department” means the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental 34 |
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190 | 190 | | |
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191 | 191 | | |
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192 | 192 | | LC000762 - Page 6 of 11 |
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193 | 193 | | disabilities and hospitals. 1 |
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194 | 194 | | (2) “Developmental disability organizations” or “DDOs” means an organization licensed 2 |
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195 | 195 | | by the department to provide services to adults with disabilities. 3 |
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196 | 196 | | (3) “Director” means the director of the department of behavioral healthcare, 4 |
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197 | 197 | | developmental disabilities and hospitals or the director’s designees. 5 |
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198 | 198 | | (4) “Fiscal intermediary” means a third-party organization operating in accordance with 6 |
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199 | 199 | | applicable federal and state requirements under contract with the state that is responsible for 7 |
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200 | 200 | | performing payroll and other employment-related functions on behalf of a participant as set forth 8 |
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201 | 201 | | in the implementing regulations for the self-directed supports program. 9 |
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202 | 202 | | (5) “Participant” means an adult who has a developmental disability as defined by § 40.1-10 |
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203 | 203 | | 21-4.3(1) and has been determined by the state to be eligible for Medicaid-funded long-term 11 |
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204 | 204 | | services and supports under the Medicaid state plan and/or the RI section 1115 waiver 12 |
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205 | 205 | | demonstration and/or Medicaid authorities created in the future. 13 |
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206 | 206 | | (6) “Participant’s representative” means a participant’s legal guardian or a person who has 14 |
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207 | 207 | | been designated by the participant or otherwise has the authority and responsibility to act on behalf 15 |
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208 | 208 | | of a participant with respect to the provision of self-directed services, including the developmental 16 |
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209 | 209 | | services subject to this chapter. 17 |
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210 | 210 | | (7) “Provider representative” means a provider organization that is certified as the 18 |
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211 | 211 | | exclusive negotiating representative of self-directed direct support professionals as provided in § 19 |
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212 | 212 | | 40.1-22.3-7. 20 |
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213 | 213 | | (8) “Secretary” means the secretary of the executive office of health and human services 21 |
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214 | 214 | | (EOHHS). 22 |
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215 | 215 | | (9) “Self-directed direct support professional” means an individual selected by and working 23 |
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216 | 216 | | under the direction of a self-directed supports participant or the participant’s duly authorized 24 |
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217 | 217 | | representative to provide self-directed personal care services to the participant in accordance with 25 |
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218 | 218 | | a person-centered plan and the implementing regulations promulgated for the program by the 26 |
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219 | 219 | | director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals. Self-directed direct 27 |
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220 | 220 | | support professional does not mean or include an employee of a DDO, subject to the DDO’s 28 |
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221 | 221 | | direction and control commensurate with DDO employee status. 29 |
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222 | 222 | | (10) “Self-directed personal care services” means home and community-based personal 30 |
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223 | 223 | | care and in-home support services a participant is authorized to self-direct to meet their daily living 31 |
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224 | 224 | | needs, function adequately at home, safely access the community, or other nonprofessional services 32 |
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225 | 225 | | under the self-directed supports program or any similar program that may provide similar services 33 |
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226 | 226 | | in the future under the Medicaid state plan, section 1115 demonstration waiver, or future Medicaid 34 |
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227 | 227 | | |
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228 | 228 | | |
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229 | 229 | | LC000762 - Page 7 of 11 |
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230 | 230 | | authorities promulgated by the secretary or director. 1 |
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231 | 231 | | 40.1-22.3-2. Right of self-directed support professionals to choose provider 2 |
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232 | 232 | | representative -- Subject of negotiation. 3 |
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233 | 233 | | (a) Self-directed direct support professionals may, in accordance with the procedures set 4 |
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234 | 234 | | forth in § 40.1-22.3-7, choose a provider organization to be their provider representative and to 5 |
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235 | 235 | | negotiate with the state, over the terms and conditions of self-directed direct support professionals’ 6 |
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236 | 236 | | participation in providing direct-support services including, but not limited to: 7 |
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237 | 237 | | (1) Training and professional development opportunities; 8 |
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238 | 238 | | (2) Improving the recruitment and retention of qualified self-directed direct support 9 |
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239 | 239 | | professionals; 10 |
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240 | 240 | | (3) Reimbursement rates, wages, and other economic matters; 11 |
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241 | 241 | | (4) Benefits; 12 |
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242 | 242 | | (5) Payment procedures; 13 |
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243 | 243 | | (6) Provider qualification standards; and 14 |
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244 | 244 | | (7) A grievance resolution process. 15 |
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245 | 245 | | (b) Nothing in this chapter or in chapter 22.2 of this title shall interfere with the regulatory 16 |
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246 | 246 | | authority of the department of health (DOH) over self-directed direct support professionals 17 |
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247 | 247 | | licensing. Self-directed direct support professional licensing shall be excluded from and not subject 18 |
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248 | 248 | | to the negotiation process recognized and described in this section. 19 |
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249 | 249 | | (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, self-directed direct support professionals 20 |
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250 | 250 | | shall operate in conformance with the relevant sections of the general laws applicable thereto and 21 |
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251 | 251 | | regulations promulgated by the state. 22 |
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252 | 252 | | 40.1-22.3-3. Good faith negotiations. 23 |
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253 | 253 | | It shall be the obligation of the director of the department of administration, or designee, 24 |
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254 | 254 | | to meet and negotiate in good faith with the provider representative within thirty (30) days after 25 |
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255 | 255 | | receipt of written notice from the provider representative of the request for a meeting for bargaining 26 |
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256 | 256 | | purposes. This obligation shall include the duty to cause any agreement resulting from the 27 |
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257 | 257 | | negotiations to be reduced to a written contract. 28 |
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258 | 258 | | 40.1-22.3-4. Unresolved issues - Impasses procedures. 29 |
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259 | 259 | | In the event that the provider representative and the director, or designee, are unable to 30 |
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260 | 260 | | reach an agreement on a contract, or reach an impasse in negotiations, the procedures of §§ 36-11-31 |
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261 | 261 | | 7.1 through 36-11-11 shall be followed. 32 |
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262 | 262 | | 40.1-22.3-5. Economic aspects of contract subject to legislative appropriation. 33 |
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263 | 263 | | Any aspects of a contract requiring appropriation by the federal government, the general 34 |
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264 | 264 | | |
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265 | 265 | | |
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266 | 266 | | LC000762 - Page 8 of 11 |
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267 | 267 | | assembly, or revisions to statutes and regulations shall be subject to passage of those appropriations 1 |
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268 | 268 | | and any necessary statutory and regulatory revisions. 2 |
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269 | 269 | | 40.1-22.3-6. Duty to represent all self-directed direct support professionals fairly – 3 |
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270 | 270 | | Deduction of membership dues and other voluntary deductions. 4 |
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271 | 271 | | (a) A provider organization certified as the provider representative shall represent all self-5 |
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272 | 272 | | directed direct support professionals in the state fairly and without discrimination, without regard 6 |
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273 | 273 | | to whether or not the self-directed direct support professional is a member of the provider 7 |
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274 | 274 | | organization. 8 |
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275 | 275 | | (b) Each self-directed direct support professional may choose whether to be a member of 9 |
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276 | 276 | | the provider organization. The state, or its designee, shall deduct from payments to self-directed 10 |
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277 | 277 | | direct support professionals membership dues for self-directed direct support professionals who 11 |
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278 | 278 | | elect to become members and authorize the deduction of membership dues, and any other voluntary 12 |
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279 | 279 | | deductions authorized by self-directed direct support professionals. 13 |
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280 | 280 | | 40.1-22.3-7. Certification and decertification of provider organization. 14 |
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281 | 281 | | (a) Petitions to certify a provider organization to serve as the provider representative of 15 |
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282 | 282 | | self-directed direct support professionals; petitions to intervene in such an election; and any other 16 |
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283 | 283 | | petitions for investigation of controversies as to representation may be filed with and acted upon 17 |
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284 | 284 | | by the labor relations board in accordance with the provisions of chapter 7 of title 28 (“labor 18 |
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285 | 285 | | relations act”) and the board’s rules and regulations; provided that, any valid petition as to whether 19 |
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286 | 286 | | self-directed direct support professionals wish to certify or decertify a provider representative shall 20 |
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287 | 287 | | be resolved by a secret ballot election among self-directed direct support professionals. 21 |
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288 | 288 | | (b) The only appropriate unit shall consist of all self-directed direct support professionals 22 |
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289 | 289 | | in the state. 23 |
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290 | 290 | | (c) For purposes of this section, no self-directed direct support professional shall be deemed 24 |
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291 | 291 | | excluded from the bargaining unit under § 28–7–3(3)(ii) because they provide care to a family 25 |
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292 | 292 | | member or because they are in domestic service in a person’s home. 26 |
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293 | 293 | | (d) The cost of any certification election held under this section shall be split equally among 27 |
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294 | 294 | | all the provider organizations that appear on the ballot. 28 |
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295 | 295 | | 40.1-22.3-8. Unfair practices. 29 |
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296 | 296 | | It shall be unlawful for the state to perform any of the acts made unlawful under § 28–7–30 |
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297 | 297 | | 13. It shall be unlawful for the provider representative to perform any of the acts made unlawful 31 |
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298 | 298 | | under § 28–7–13.1. Any alleged violation of this provision may be filed with the labor relations 32 |
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299 | 299 | | board as an unfair labor practice and considered and ruled upon in accordance with chapter 7 of 33 |
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300 | 300 | | title 28 (“labor relations act”) and the board's rules and regulations. 34 |
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301 | 301 | | |
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302 | 302 | | |
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303 | 303 | | LC000762 - Page 9 of 11 |
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304 | 304 | | 40.1-22.3-9. Right of families to select, direct and terminate self-directed direct 1 |
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305 | 305 | | support professionals. 2 |
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306 | 306 | | Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to alter the rights of families to select, direct, and 3 |
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307 | 307 | | terminate the services of self-directed direct support professionals. 4 |
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308 | 308 | | 40.1-22.3-10. Strikes not authorized. 5 |
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309 | 309 | | Self-directed direct support professionals shall not engage in any strike or other collective 6 |
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310 | 310 | | cessation of the delivery of direct-support services. 7 |
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311 | 311 | | 40.1-22.3-11. State action exemption. 8 |
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312 | 312 | | The state action exemption to the application of state and federal antitrust laws is applicable 9 |
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313 | 313 | | to the activities of self-directed direct support professionals and their provider representative 10 |
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314 | 314 | | authorized under this chapter. 11 |
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315 | 315 | | 40.1-22.3-12. Implementation. 12 |
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316 | 316 | | (a) Within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this chapter, any provider organization 13 |
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317 | 317 | | that has previously been certified to serve as the provider representative of individual providers 14 |
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318 | 318 | | pursuant to § 40-8.15-7 shall be furnished by the director with contact information for every person 15 |
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319 | 319 | | providing self-directed personal care services under the self-directed supports program. The 16 |
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320 | 320 | | director shall provide any such provider organization with updated contact information every sixty 17 |
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321 | 321 | | (60) days thereafter. 18 |
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322 | 322 | | (b) The labor relations board shall hold an election to determine whether a provider 19 |
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323 | 323 | | organization shall be certified as the provider representative for the bargaining unit of self-directed 20 |
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324 | 324 | | direct support professionals upon a ten percent (10%) showing of interest. All persons who are 21 |
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325 | 325 | | providing self-directed services under the self-directed supports program shall be considered part 22 |
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326 | 326 | | of the bargaining unit for purposes of the showing of interest and shall be eligible to vote in the 23 |
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327 | 327 | | certification election. If a majority of those casting ballots vote to be represented by that provider 24 |
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328 | 328 | | organization, then the provider organization shall be certified as the provider representative to 25 |
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329 | 329 | | negotiate with the state over the terms and conditions of self-directed direct support professionals’ 26 |
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330 | 330 | | participation in providing self-directed personal care services for all self-directed direct support 27 |
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331 | 331 | | professionals in the state. The provisions of this chapter shall otherwise apply. 28 |
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332 | 332 | | (c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to alter or limit the rights of participants and 29 |
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333 | 333 | | their representative to select, direct, and terminate the services of self-directed direct support 30 |
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334 | 334 | | professionals or to determine self-directed direct support professionals’ wages within a range set 31 |
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335 | 335 | | by the director, or to alter or limit the director’s authority to administer the self-directed supports 32 |
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336 | 336 | | program including to adopt rules and regulations and operate the program, to determine participant 33 |
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337 | 337 | | budgets, to determine eligibility, or to authorize services, except as specifically set forth in this 34 |
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338 | 338 | | |
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339 | 339 | | |
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340 | 340 | | LC000762 - Page 10 of 11 |
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341 | 341 | | chapter. 1 |
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342 | 342 | | (d) No provision of any agreement or award resulting from collective bargaining and 2 |
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343 | 343 | | negotiations under this chapter shall provide for a reduction in Medicaid federal financial 3 |
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344 | 344 | | participation under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq., nor shall any 4 |
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345 | 345 | | provision of any agreement or award provide for a reduction in the self-directed personal care 5 |
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346 | 346 | | services for eligible self-directed supports participants. Any provision in any agreement or award 6 |
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347 | 347 | | that would require an additional appropriation in order to maintain the levels of services provided 7 |
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348 | 348 | | by existing appropriations shall be subject to the annual budget process. 8 |
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349 | 349 | | 40.1-22.3-13. Severability. 9 |
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350 | 350 | | Should any part of this chapter be declared invalid or unenforceable, or the enforcement or 10 |
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351 | 351 | | compliance with it is suspended, restrained, or barred, either by the state or by the final judgment 11 |
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352 | 352 | | of a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this chapter shall remain in full force and 12 |
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353 | 353 | | effect. 13 |
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354 | 354 | | SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage. 14 |
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355 | 355 | | ======== |
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356 | 356 | | LC000762 |
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358 | 358 | | |
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359 | 359 | | |
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360 | 360 | | LC000762 - Page 11 of 11 |
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361 | 361 | | EXPLANATION |
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362 | 362 | | BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL |
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363 | 363 | | OF |
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364 | 364 | | A N A C T |
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365 | 365 | | RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVEL OPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND |
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366 | 366 | | HOSPITALS – QUALITY SELF-DIRECTED SUPPORTS ACT OF 2025 |
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367 | 367 | | *** |
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368 | 368 | | This act would ensure that more developmentally disabled adults can self-direct the care 1 |
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369 | 369 | | they need and want, by incorporating collective bargaining rights into the self-directed supports 2 |
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370 | 370 | | program to enhance service access, increase the availability of education and training options and 3 |
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371 | 371 | | improve the recruitment and retention of the individuals selected by participants as direct support 4 |
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372 | 372 | | professionals. This act does not alter or limit the authority of the director of behavioral healthcare, 5 |
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373 | 373 | | developmental disabilities and hospitals to administrator the self-directed supports program, 6 |
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374 | 374 | | enforce existing rules, regulations and procedures, or adopt amended rules, regulations and 7 |
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375 | 375 | | procedures for operating the program. This act further does not alter or limit the rights of 8 |
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376 | 376 | | participants and their representatives to select, direct and terminate the services of self-directed 9 |
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377 | 377 | | direct support professionals or to determine the wages of self-directed direct support professionals 10 |
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378 | 378 | | within the range set by the director. 11 |
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379 | 379 | | This act would take effect upon passage. 12 |
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381 | 381 | | LC000762 |
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