Government Administration and Elections Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-1075
AN ACT CONCERNING PAYROLL SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR THE
Title: EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS.
Vote Date: 3/30/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 3/24/2021
File No.: 493
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
The Government Administration and Elections Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill would establish new parameters for responders to a request for proposals to
demonstrate their ability to provide payroll services for personal care assistants (PCA). The
responders would be assessed in terms of their communication with PCAs regarding
payment discrepancies, confirmations or any changes in their status. In addition, the bill
would mandate that responders demonstrate a timely method for disbursing payments to
PCAs in the event of a pay discrepancy. The bill would also expand the use of an electronic
scheduling, tracking and billing system to help with reviewing a PCAs timesheet.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
None expressed.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Carol Blackburn, Personal Care Assistant, SEIU District 1199: Ms. Blackburn described
her experiences as a PCA for her mother over the past year. In her testimony, Ms. Blackburn
expressed the need for a company that can effectively fulfil the needs of payroll. Ms.
Blackburn contends that the current payroll company, Allied, is not meeting the needs of
PCAs in terms of payroll. She described backlogs, issues with time sheets and trouble with
getting two week emergency pay and sick leave during the pandemic. Ms. Blackburn asked
the committee to hold Allied accountable.
Louise Consiglio, Consumer-Employer, SEIU District 1199 New England: Ms. Consiglio
has been a consumer employer since 2017, and her daughter is her PCA. Ms. Consiglio
described various problems that she has encountered with Allied Payroll Services over the
years. Problems include issues with timesheets, minimal telephone support and excessive
time recording practices.
Daniel Delmonaco, Personal Care Assistant, SEIU District 1199 New England: Ms.
Delmonaco is a PCA for her mother, Louise Consiglio. Over the last four years in which Ms.
Delmonaco and her mother have been using Allied, she has documented over fifty three
instances where her pay has been late or incorrect. Ms. Delmonaco described the financial
strain and the overall inconvenience this has caused for her and her mother. Ms. Delmonaco
expressed feeling undervalued and treated like second-class caregivers by Allied.
Donald James, Consumer-Employer, SEIU District 1199 New England: Mr. James
employs 3 individuals to help him with his daily activities that he cannot complete due to his
disability. Despite always turning in timesheets well ahead of the deadline, Mr. James said
that his employees have experienced 6 unpaid pay periods. Mr. James works hard to create
a stress-free environment, but Allied delayed payments have resulted in an undue financial
burden on his employees. Mr. James said that when employees are not paid, the work
environment becomes hostile and creates a lot of personal anxiety.
Katherine Jones-Newton, Consumer-Employer, SEIU District 1199 New England: Ms.
Jones-Newton has been with Allied for the last 8 years. She has described the problems with
Allied as progressively getting worse. Ms. Jones-Newton described the effort and time she
puts into finding PCAs, training them and building mutual trust. If PCAs cannot pay their bills
and support their families, Ms. Jones-Newton contends that PCAs cannot be secure,
comfortable and happy, which ultimately might prompt them to leave and find another job.
Anthony Ligon, Personal Care Attendant, SEIU District 1199 New England: Mr. Ligon
emphasized the importance of in-home caregivers in terms of helping consumer-employers
progress in life. He described various problems that he has experienced over the years with
Allied. These problems have put him into financially precarious situations and made him feel
undervalued by Allied.
Deirdre Murch, Vice President, SEIU District 1199 New England: Ms. Murch went over
the basic tenets of the Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver program, which is
administered by the Department of Social Services and two fiscal intermediaries who are
responsible for payroll. In regards to Allied Community Resources, one of the fiscal
intermediaries, Ms. Murch says that SEIU District 1199 has received thousands of complaints
from PCAs and consumer-employers regarding payment issues. Ms. Murch went on to
describe the issues with Allied in great detail, stating that PCAs dont just work paycheck to
paycheck, but instead work a paycheck or two behind. Payment issues with Allied have
caused much financial hardship on many of the PCAs, who are 90% women and 65% Black
and Brown. Ms. Murch implored the committee to pass the bill and help end the payroll
issues experienced with Allied.
Gregory Myers, Personal Care Attendant, SEIU District 1199 New England: Mr. Meyers
expressed the struggles that he has faced in dealing with Allied. At one point, Mr. Meyers
contends that he went three weeks without pay, meaning that Allied owed him 255 hours'
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worth of pay. Mr. Meyers described the financial, mental and physical struggles that this
situation has put him through. For instance, Mr. Meyer had to go two days without eating
because he had no money, despite the fact that Allied owed him hundreds of dollars for work.
Sharon Thorstenson, Consumer-Employer, SEIU District 1199 New England: Ms.
Thorstenson added to the dialogue regarding Allieds shortcomings. Due to the frustrations
that PCAs go through with Allied, Ms. Thorstenson said that three of her PCAs quit, which
meant that she had to go without care and look for new PCAs. Ms. Thorstenson described
the stress that this situation has created for her. The problems with Allied have robbed Ms.
Thorstenson of the opportunity to focus on her health.
Lynne Zimmer, Consumer-Employer, SEIU District 1199 New England: Ms. Zimmer
explained the struggle in terms of getting PCAs applications processed by Allied. Delaying
applications denies the consumer-employer from getting the care that they need. She
emphasized the need for PCAs to receive their paychecks in a timely manner. Ms. Zimmer
recommended that the Connecticut Department of Social Services fire Allied and hire a
payroll company that is receptive to the needs of both consumer-employers and PCAs.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
Mary Caruso: Ms. Caruso is the mother of two children that live with physical disabilities.
She believes that the voice of the consumer employer is being left out of the dialogue
between PCAs and payroll service providers. Ms. Caruso feels that ignoring the voice of the
consumer provider denies consumer providers the sense of self-direction that many cherish.
Kathleen Flaherty, Executive Director, CT Legal Rights Project: Ms. Flaherty has been a
member of the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Workforce Council since 2017. Ms. Flaherty
contends that these bills are unnecessary and may create unfavorable unintended
consequences. In her testimony, she emphasized the self-direction of the consumer-
employers in this program, finding that the current bill undermines that concept. In regards to
the timesheet issues and lack of timely pay, Ms. Flaherty described an existing process for
resolving these types of disputes. Ultimately, Flaherty expressed concern that no payroll
company would be willing to serve as the fiscal intermediary for the program because of the
unrealistic nature of this bills requirements. She suggested that the committee establish a
working group to find a better solution to this issue.
Reported by: Trevor Hoffman Date: 3-30-21
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