The bill seeks to enhance employment standards for long-term care individual providers in Washington State by amending existing laws and introducing new provisions. It affirms that all rights and remedies under state or local law for minimum wage enforcement apply to the rights established under the 2017 legislation. Individual providers, as defined under RCW 74.39A.240, are to be compensated according to minimum wage, overtime, and paid sick leave requirements, with exceptions for family or household members providing care. The bill also introduces definitions for terms such as "authorized hours," "client," and "consumer directed employer," clarifying the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in the care process. Additionally, it establishes that hours worked beyond the authorized care plan are not compensable for family or household members if the care plan is deemed reasonable.

Moreover, the bill outlines the criteria for the Department of Social and Health Services when contracting with consumer directed employers for Medicaid services, emphasizing consumer choice, self-direction, and maximizing consumer autonomy. It prioritizes vendors committed to recruiting a diverse workforce and ensuring high-quality training for individual providers. The bill clarifies that a consumer directed employer is not classified as a home care agency and does not require separate licensure, provided they operate under separate business units to avoid conflicts of interest. It details the transition process to the consumer directed employer model, ensuring the Department continues to administer the individual provider program until the transition is complete, and outlines funding adjustments for case management and social work services following the establishment of contracts with consumer directed employers.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 49.46.800, 74.39A.009, 74.39A.500