[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5175 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5175
To amend subtitle A of title XX of the Social Security Act to authorize
direct support worker career advancement demonstration projects, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 25, 2024
Mr. King (for himself and Mr. Casey) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend subtitle A of title XX of the Social Security Act to authorize
direct support worker career advancement demonstration projects, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Career Advancement for Direct
Support Aid Workers Act'' or the ``CADSAW Act''.
SEC. 2. DIRECT SUPPORT WORKER CAREER ADVANCEMENT DEMONSTRATION
PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--Section 2008 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1397g) is amended--
(1) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Direct Support Worker Career Advancement Demonstration
Projects.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of Labor, shall award, from the amount appropriated
under paragraph (4), grants to eligible entities to conduct
demonstration projects that are designed to provide eligible
individuals with opportunities for education, training, and
career advancement as a personal or home care aide, home health
aide, or nursing assistant.
``(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity'
has the meaning given such term in subsection (a).
``(B) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible
individual' means an individual--
``(i) whose income does not exceed 200
percent of the poverty line (as defined in
section 2110(c)(5)) applicable to a family of
the size involved; and
``(ii) who is employed as a personal or
home care aide who--
``(I) has at least 30 percent
patient volume (as estimated in
accordance with a methodology
established by the Secretary)
attributable to individuals who are
receiving medical assistance under
title XIX; or
``(II) is employed by an agency
that is a provider of personal or home
care services that has at least 30
percent of the agency's patient volume
(as so estimated) attributable to such
individuals.
``(C) Personal or home care aide.--The term
`personal or home care aide' has the meaning given such
term in subsection (b).
``(3) Requirements.--
``(A) Prioritization of projects that support rural
areas, underserved areas, and women and black and
latinx individuals.--The Secretary shall ensure that
not less than half of the demonstration projects
supported by grants awarded under this subsection
support--
``(i) eligible individuals in rural areas
(as defined in section 2007(f)(5));
``(ii) eligible individuals in underserved
urban areas (including urban health
professional shortage areas (as defined in
section 332 of the Public Health Service Act);
or
``(iii) eligible individuals who are women,
who are Black or Latinx individuals, or who
belong to other underserved and diverse
populations such as Asian, Pacific Islander,
Native American, or Alaska Native communities.
``(B) Amount of grant.--In no case shall the
Secretary award an eligible entity a grant to conduct a
demonstration project under this subsection in an
amount that exceeds $750,000 for each year that the
entity conducts such project.
``(C) Reports.--
``(i) Interim reports.--An eligible entity
awarded a grant to conduct a demonstration
project under this subsection shall submit
interim reports to the Secretary on the
activities carried out under the project and a
final report on such activities upon the
conclusion of the entities' participation in
the project.
``(ii) Evaluation.--The Administrator of
the Health Resources and Services
Administration shall evaluate the demonstration
projects conducted under this subsection. Such
evaluation shall include identification of
successful activities for creating
opportunities for developing and sustaining,
particularly with respect to low-income
individuals and long-term workers, a health or
human services professions workforce that has
accessible opportunities for career
advancement, that meets high standards for
education, training, certification, and
professional development, that provides
increased wages and affordable benefits,
including health care coverage, that are
responsive to the workforce's needs, and that
is responsive to the needs of diverse racial
and ethnic communities.
``(iii) Report to congress.--Not later than
1 year after the demonstration projects
conducted under this subsection conclude, the
Secretary shall submit a final report to
Congress on such demonstration projects that
includes--
``(I) the result of the evaluation
conducted under clause (ii); and
``(II) such recommendations for
legislation or administrative actions
as the Secretary deems appropriate.
``(iv) Additional report.--Not later than 1
year after the demonstration projects conducted
under this subsection conclude, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate
and the Committee on Education and the
Workforce of the House of Representatives and
make publicly available, a report on the
activities and results of such projects. Such
report shall describe--
``(I) the number and geographic
distribution of the grants awarded
under this subsection;
``(II) the participation of
underrepresented and economically
disadvantaged participants in
demonstration projects conducted under
this subsection; and
``(III) recommendations for program
revisions to achieve the desired
program outcome.
``(4) Appropriation.--Out of any funds in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary
to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025, 2026, and 2027.''.
(b) Incentive Payments for Home Health Services Furnished by Home
Health Aides Who Complete Certain Training.--Section 1834 of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``(aa) Incentive Payments for Home Health Services Furnished by
Home Health Aides Who Complete Certain Training.--In the case of home
health services furnished on or after October 1, 2025, by a home health
aide who has successfully completed education or training under a
Direct Support Worker Career Advancement demonstration project under
section 2008(e), in addition to the amount of payment that would
otherwise be made for such services under this part, there also shall
be paid an amount equal to 25 percent of the payment amount for the
service under this part.''.
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