Virginia 2025 Regular Session

Virginia Senate Bill SB964 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	2025 SESSION
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3	3	INTRODUCED
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5	5	25102917D
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7	7	SENATE BILL NO. 964
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9	9	Offered January 8, 2025
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11	11	Prefiled January 6, 2025
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13	13	A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 10 of Title 32.1 an article numbered 5, consisting of sections numbered 32.1-331.18 through 32.1-331.22, and by adding in Chapter 4 of Title 40.1 an article numbered 6, consisting of sections numbered 40.1-77.1, 40.1-77.2, and 40.1-77.3, and to repeal 32.1-331.04 of the Code of Virginia, relating to collective bargaining; individual home care providers.
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17	17	PatronCarroll Foy
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21	21	Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
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25	25	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
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27	27	1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 10 of Title 32.1 an article numbered 5, consisting of sections numbered 32.1-331.18 through 32.1-331.22, and by adding in Chapter 4 of Title 40.1 an article numbered 6, consisting of sections numbered 40.1-77.1, 40.1-77.2, and 40.1-77.3, as follows:
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29	29	Article 5.
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31	31	Virginia Home Care Authority.
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33	33	32.1-331.18. Virginia Home Care Authority; creation.
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35	35	There is hereby created within the Department of Medical Assistance Services the Virginia Home Care Authority to ensure the effectiveness and quality of the services of home care programs in the Commonwealth.
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37	37	32.1-331.19. Definitions.
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39	39	As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
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41	41	"Authority" means the Virginia Home Care Authority established pursuant to this article.
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43	43	"Collective bargaining" has the same meaning as provided in 40.1-77.1.
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45	45	"Covered program" means a program to provide direct support services funded in whole or in part by the Commonwealth, including consumer-directed care services under the Commonwealth Coordinated Care program and state plan programs or waiver programs established pursuant to home and community-based service waivers authorized under 1115 or 1915(c) the federal Social Security Act.
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47	47	"Direct support services" means personal care services that assist participants with instrumental activities of daily living, including grooming, toileting, bathing, eating, dressing, monitoring health status and physical condition, and assisting with housekeeping activities, and other in-home, long-term services and supports provided to an elderly person or person with a disability to meet such person's daily living needs and ensure that such person may adequately function at home and have safe access to the community.
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49	49	"Exclusive bargaining representative" has the same meaning as provided in 40.1-77.1.
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51	51	"Individual provider" means an individual employed by a participant or the representative of a participant to provide direct support services to such participant.
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53	53	"Interested Parties Advisory Group" means the group convened by the Authority pursuant to 32.1-331.21.
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55	55	"Participant" means an individual who receives direct support services from an individual provider through a covered program.
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57	57	"Participant's representative" means a participant's legal guardian or an individual having the authority and responsibility to act on behalf of a participant with respect to the provision of direct support services through a covered program.
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59	59	32.1-331.20. Authority composition; membership; quorum.
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61	61	A. The Authority shall consist of five members to be appointed in accordance with the provisions of this section. The Director of the Department, or his designee, shall be a permanent member of the Authority and shall serve as chair. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall appoint two members representing the interests of participants and participant representatives and two members representing nonprofit organizations that advocate on behalf of elderly adults or people with disabilities.
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63	63	B. Except for the initial appointments specified by this subsection, appointees to the Authority by the Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall serve four-year terms. For the initial appointments to the Authority:
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65	65	1. One member representative who represents participants and participant representatives shall be appointed to a term expiring July 1, 2026.
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67	67	2. One member representative who represents a nonprofit organization shall be appointed to a term expiring July 1, 2027.
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69	69	3. One member representative who represents participants and participant representatives shall be appointed to a term expiring July 1, 2028.
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71	71	4. One member representative who represents a nonprofit organization shall be appointed to a term expiring July 1, 2029.
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73	73	C. If a vacancy occurs, a new Authority member shall be appointed or designated to serve the remainder of the unexpired term or, if the vacancy occurs as the result of the completion of a term, to serve a full term.
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75	75	D. Members of the Authority may serve successive terms.
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77	77	E. A majority of the members of the Authority shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. The Authority shall make its own policies and procedures and shall adopt bylaws not inconsistent with this article governing its operations. The Authority shall adopt bylaws consistent with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act ( 2.2-3700 et seq.), governing its procedures and the holding of meetings. The Authority shall meet at the call of the chair and as may be provided in the bylaws.
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79	79	32.1-331.21. Powers and duties of Authority.
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81	81	The Authority shall have the following powers and duties:
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83	83	1. To establish and maintain a central registry of individual providers;
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85	85	2. To create a system to match participants who need direct support services with individual providers;
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87	87	3. To arrange for the provision of a paid training program to be available to all individual providers. Such training program shall be developed in consultation with participants and participants' representatives, individual providers, and any exclusive bargaining representative of independent providers. The Authority shall establish requirements for the provision of such training;
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89	89	4. To act as joint employer for individual providers by:
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91	91	a. Serving as the public employer of individual providers for purposes of collective bargaining pursuant to Article 6 ( 40.1-77.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 40.1;
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93	93	b. Ensuring that individual providers' payments, wages, and benefits are timely and accurately processed and that appropriate withholdings and tax deductions are made; and
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95	95	c. Maintaining personnel records for individual providers, including tracking their participation in orientations and trainings;
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97	97	5. To provide for a mandatory orientation program for individual providers related to employment in providing direct support services, which orientation program shall meet the following requirements:
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99	99	a. Attendance shall be limited to independent providers, participants, independent providers' employer of record, and an exclusive bargaining representative of independent providers;
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101	101	b. The orientation shall be conducted on paid time;
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103	103	c. An individual provider shall attend an initial orientation within 45 days after the date such individual provider begins to provide direct support services;
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105	105	d. An exclusive bargaining representative shall be permitted to attend each orientation, to distribute materials, to collect materials from attendees, and to deliver a presentation that is up to 30 minutes long during each orientation; and
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107	107	e. The Authority shall provide an attending exclusive bargaining representative a list of each individual provider registered for an orientation at least 24 hours before the orientation begins;
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109	109	6. Espouse, support, and work to preserve participant selection and self-direction of individual providers;
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111	111	7. To support individual providers through a variety of methods aimed at encouraging competence, achieving quality services for participants, and improving individual provider retention through improved job satisfaction;
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113	113	8. To serve as a communications hub for the individual provider workforce to share information relevant to individual providers;
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115	115	9. To maintain neutrality regarding individual providers' selection of an exclusive bargaining representative;
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117	117	10. To compile, update, and maintain a quarterly list of the names, home addresses, home telephone numbers, cell phone numbers, and email addresses, if known, of all individual providers paid to provide direct support services under a covered program during that quarter, and provide that list to individual providers' exclusive bargaining representative, if applicable, on a quarterly basis;
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119	119	11. To provide home care assistance to participants to ensure a continuation of direct support services in the event their individual provider is absent or no longer able to perform their responsibilities;
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121	121	12. To receive, investigate, and respond to complaints or concerns from participants, participants' representatives, individual providers, and individual providers' exclusive representative, regarding the provision of direct support services;
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123	123	13. To oversee the quality of direct support services and ensure direct support services are provided in conformance with all applicable requirements;
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125	125	14. To actively pursue and implement all available strategies to maximize federal Medicaid reimbursement for individual provider programs;
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127	127	15. To convene and support an Interested Parties Advisory Group, as described in 32.1-331.22, at least every two years and as often as the Authority deems necessary to meet its obligations in accordance with applicable requirements including federal Medicaid requirements;
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129	129	16. To collect statewide information and data related to the individual provider workforce, including individual provider pay, retention and turnover rates, individual provider job satisfaction, service gaps caused by individual provider shortages, and other relevant information, including relevant information requested by the Interested Parties Advisory Group;
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131	131	17. To enter into contracts and agreements, and contract for services of persons or entities, as appropriate to accomplish the purposes and provisions of this article;
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133	133	18. To employ, appoint, engage, and compensate employees to accomplish the purposes and provisions of this article; and
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135	135	19. Except as otherwise provided by law, to perform all other acts necessary or convenient to implement the purposes and provisions of this article.
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137	137	32.1-331.22. Interested Parties Advisory Group.
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139	139	The Interested Parties Advisory Group convened by the Authority pursuant to subdivision 15 of 32.1-331.21 shall include participants, individual providers, representatives of the Department, and the exclusive bargaining representative of individual providers. The Interested Parties Advisory Group shall make recommendations to the Authority concerning adequate payments and other workforce supports for individual providers.
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141	141	Article 6.
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143	143	Individual Home Care Providers.
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145	145	40.1-77.1. Definitions.
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147	147	As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
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149	149	"Collective bargaining" means to perform the mutual obligation of an employer by its representatives and the representatives of its employees to negotiate in good faith at reasonable times and places with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and the continuation, modification, or deletion of an existing provision of a collective bargaining agreement, with the intention of reaching an agreement, or to resolve questions arising under the agreement, and includes executing a written contract incorporating the terms of any agreement reached.
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151	151	"Covered program" has the same meaning as provided in 32.1-331.19.
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153	153	"Direct support services" has the same meaning as provided in 32.1-331.19.
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155	155	"Exclusive bargaining representative" means an individual or entity certified as the exclusive bargaining representative of a bargaining unit.
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157	157	"Individual provider" has the same meaning as provided in 32.1-331.19.
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159	159	"Participant" has the same meaning as provided in 32.1-331.19.
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161	161	"Participant's representative" has the same meaning as provided in 32.1-331.19.
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163	163	"Virginia Home Care Authority" or "the Authority" means the Virginia Home Care Authority established pursuant to 32.1-331.18.
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165	165	40.1-77.2. Participant rights.
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167	167	Participants or participants' representatives retain the rights to select, hire, direct, supervise, and terminate the services of any individual provider providing direct support services for the participant. Nothing in this article shall be construed to alter such rights. No provision of any agreement reached between any exclusive bargaining representative of individual providers and the Authority shall interfere with such rights.
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169	169	40.1-77.3. Collective bargaining by individual providers.
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171	171	A. Individual providers may select an exclusive bargaining representative and collectively bargain with the Virginia Home Care Authority. The scope of collective bargaining between individual providers and the Authority shall include wages, benefits, and all terms and conditions of employment that are within the Authority's control, but shall not extend to those rights reserved to participants and participants' representatives pursuant to 40.1-77.2.
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173	173	B. Any exclusive bargaining representative of individual providers shall be selected by and shall represent all individual providers in the Commonwealth, including individual providers who are related to a participant or participant's representative.
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175	175	2. That 32.1-331.04 of the Code of Virginia is repealed.
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177	177	3. That the provisions of this act shall not become effective unless legislation is enacted in the Commonwealth authorizing public employees to engage in collective bargaining, as defined by 40.1-77.1 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act. If such legislation is enacted, the Department of Labor and Industry shall certify to the Virginia Code Commission that such contingency has been met.