The Quality Self-Directed Supports Act of 2026 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 legislation 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.

Key provisions of the act include:

- Establishing definitions for terms such as "self-directed direct support professional," "participant," and "provider representative."
- Allowing self-directed direct support professionals to provide all self-directed personal care services as permitted by applicable laws.
- Ensuring that participants and their representatives have the option to receive personal care services through provider agency employees if they choose not to employ a self-directed direct support professional.
- Clarifying that self-directed direct support professionals are not considered state employees for purposes of state employee benefits.
- Mandating that the state set wage ranges for self-directed direct support professionals, with participants having the authority to choose wages within that range.
- Requiring the director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals to establish training and orientation requirements for self-directed direct support professionals and to maintain a registry of qualified professionals.
- Outlining the rights of self-directed direct support professionals to choose a provider representative for collective bargaining purposes, including negotiations over wages, benefits, and working conditions.
- Prohibiting self-directed direct support professionals from engaging in strikes or collective cessation of services.
- Ensuring that the state action exemption to antitrust laws applies to the activities of self-directed direct support professionals and their provider representatives.

The act maintains the authority of the director to administer the self-directed supports program and does not alter the rights of participants to select, direct, and terminate their support professionals. The provisions of the act will take effect upon passage.