BILL NUMBER: S383
SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a
credentialing pilot program for direct support professionals
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To promote the direct support professional position in the intellectual
and developmental disabilities (I/DD) field with a focus on creating
career opportunities within the profession.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The bill authorizes the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disa-
bilities (OPWDD) to implement a professional credential pilot program
for direct support professionals in the VDD field.
The pilot will build on the use of existing core competencies, skills
building, and other educational resources. Comprehensive training may
include online classwork, mentorships, and other educational components.
An Advisory Council for direct support professional credentialing will
be established to advise, oversee, and assist with the implementation of
the pilot. The Commissioner of OPWDD shall chair the council. Represen-
tatives of the Regional Centers for Workforce Transformation and indi-
viduals who served on the direct support professional credential techni-
cal report advisory group will also serve as members of the
credentialing Advisory Council. The Advisory Council shall meet at least
four times a year.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In 2015, the New York State Legislature and Governor Cuomo charged OPWDD
to provide recommendations for the design and implementation of a Direct
Support Professional credential program. OPWDD engaged in a comprehen-
sive project to research and review the efficacy of establishing a
statewide direct support professional credential. Structured focus
groups of stakeholders, distribution of a statewide survey, and research
and analysis to gather input on the utility, design, and implementation
were key facets of the project which produced a technical report with
recommendations to implement the credentialing program.
According to the report, "well-designed credentialing programs provide
targeted educational opportunities that help people master increasingly
specialized or rapidly changing content areas in professions without
necessarily investing in a longer-term degree program." Credentialing
also improves the quality outcomes and affordability of long-term
supports and services. At a time when the human services sector is
facing workforce shortages, credentialing is an important tool to
attract applicants into the direct support professional field, create a
necessary bridge to a higher educational opportunity, increase wages for
the lower paid workforce, and has the potential to decrease turnover and
vacancy rates.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: S4346 Reported and committed to Finance.
2023: S1575 Reported and committed to Finance.
2024: S1575 Referred to Disabilities.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become law provided that, effective immediately, the addi-
tion, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to
be made and completed on or before such effective date.