The Quality Self-Directed Supports Act of 2025 aims to enhance the ability of developmentally disabled adults in Rhode Island to self-direct their care by incorporating collective bargaining rights into the self-directed supports program. The act seeks to improve access to services, increase the availability of education and training options, and enhance the recruitment and retention of direct support professionals selected by participants.

The legislation maintains the authority of the director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals to administer the self-directed supports program and enforce existing rules and regulations. It also ensures that participants and their representatives retain the rights to select, direct, and terminate the services of self-directed direct support professionals and to determine their wages within a range set by the director.

The act establishes definitions for key terms related to self-directed services and outlines the responsibilities of the department, including setting wage ranges for self-directed direct support professionals, which will be subject to collective bargaining. It includes provisions for good faith negotiations, the certification and decertification of provider organizations, and prohibits strikes by support professionals.

Importantly, the act affirms the rights of families to choose, direct, and terminate their support professionals and clarifies that collective bargaining agreements will not result in a reduction of Medicaid funding or service levels. The act is set to take effect upon passage.