The Quality Self-Directed Supports Act of 2026 aims to enhance the self-directed personal care services for developmentally disabled adults in Rhode Island by incorporating collective bargaining rights for self-directed direct support professionals. The legislation seeks to improve access to services, education, and training opportunities, as well as to bolster recruitment and retention efforts for these professionals.

Key provisions of the act include:

1. Establishing a framework for collective bargaining, allowing self-directed direct support professionals to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions through a certified provider representative.
2. Ensuring that the state sets wage ranges for self-directed direct support professionals, while allowing participants to choose their wages within that range.
3. Maintaining the authority of the director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals to oversee the self-directed supports program, including the ability to adopt rules and regulations.
4. Preserving the rights of participants and their representatives to select, direct, and terminate the services of self-directed direct support professionals.
5. Outlining the obligations of the director of the department of administration to negotiate in good faith with provider representatives and to resolve any negotiation impasses.
6. Prohibiting self-directed direct support professionals from engaging in strikes or other collective cessation of services.
7. Ensuring that the state action exemption to antitrust laws applies to the activities of self-directed direct support professionals and their provider representatives.

Overall, the act establishes a more robust framework for self-directed personal care services, prioritizing the rights and services of developmentally disabled adults while enhancing the workforce supporting them.