This bill establishes a state minimum hourly wage specifically for direct care professionals in Iowa. It amends existing law to set the minimum wage for these workers at $20.00 per hour, effective July 1, 2025. For direct care professionals who have not completed 90 days of employment, the minimum wage will be set at $19.10 per hour. The bill also clarifies the definition of direct care professionals, which includes roles such as direct support professionals, home health aides, and certified nurse aides.

Additionally, the bill makes several amendments to existing sections of the Iowa Code. It updates the reference date for the federal Fair Labor Standards Act from January 1, 2007, to July 1, 2025, and clarifies that a franchisor is not considered an employer of a franchisee unless certain conditions are met. The bill also specifies that independent contractors are not included in the definition of employees for the purposes of this section and mandates that the director of the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing adopt rules to implement and administer the new provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 91D.1