HR 8541
Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act
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Bill overview
The Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act aims to address a critical shortage of direct care professionals who provide essential care to older adults and people with disabilities. It proposes several measures, including increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for these professionals, expanding training and recruitment efforts, and improving worker support and protections. The bill seeks to stabilize the long-term care industry and ensure a sufficient workforce to meet growing demand for care services, ultimately benefiting both caregivers and those they support.
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Primary sponsor
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Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] Norton
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 8541
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To support the direct care professional workforce, and for other purposes.
.Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Congress finds the following:
The nearly 5,000,000 direct care professionals in the United States play a vital role in supporting the health, well-being, and independence of older individuals and people with disabilities.
The United States faces a growing crisis in its direct care professional workforce at the same time that demand for services is rising at unprecedented rates.
There will be an estimated 9,300,000 total direct care professional job openings from 2021 to 2031, including new jobs to support the growing number of people who need care and to fill the jobs of such professionals leaving the direct care professional workforce.
Workforce turnover and shortages have a direct impact on older individuals, people with disabilities, and their families who suffer because they cannot get the high-quality care that they need and deserve.
The median hourly wage for all direct care professionals in 2022 was only $15.43, with home care workers earning the least.
One in 8 direct care professionals live in poverty and three quarters earn less than the average living wage in their State.
Forty-six percent of direct care professionals rely on public assistance, such as Medicaid, food and nutrition assistance, or cash assistance.
Direct care professionals report high levels of burnout and professional fatigue from their physically and emotionally demanding work, lack of respect for the essential, skilled care they provide, and lasting trauma from battling the COVID–19 pandemic, all of which further drives high turnover.
The long-term care industry is struggling to hire and retain direct care professionals, with a national turnover rate between 77 to nearly 100 percent.
Ninety-two percent of nursing home respondents and nearly 70 percent of assisted living facilities surveyed report significant or severe workforce shortages.
More than half of nursing homes surveyed in 2022 reported that they limited new patient admissions due to staffing shortages.
A survey of State home and community-based services (referred to in this section as HCBS
) programs showed that every State reports a shortage of workers, and in 43 States, some HCBS providers have closed permanently.
The low-quality of direct care professional jobs reflects and perpetuates the racial and gender inequities faced by direct care professionals, who are disproportionately women, immigrants, and people of color.
Efforts to support the direct care professional workforce have focused on specific care settings, even though these issues are widespread across the long-term care landscape and direct care professionals across settings face similar challenges of low wages, few benefits, limited training and support, worker exploitation, and a lack of meaningful career ladders.
Stabilizing, growing, and supporting the direct care professional workforce across the continuum of long-term care is essential to ensuring a strong, qualified pipeline of workers, and improving the lives of direct care professionals and the older individuals, people with disabilities, and the families and communities that they support.
The purposes of this Act are as follows:
To increase the capacity of the direct care professional workforce to ensure that older individuals, people with disabilities, and their families receive the services they need in the settings of their choice as they deserve to live healthy, independent lives.
To increase compensation so that direct care professionals are paid a living wage and have access to essential job benefits, and so that direct care professional jobs are good jobs.
To ensure that direct care professionals are treated with respect, provided with a safe working environment, protected from exploitation, and fairly compensated for the skilled work they do.
To improve access to and quality of long-term care, including collecting meaningful and actionable data on the direct care professional workforce and the people they support.
To eliminate the race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and gender identity disparities that exist across the direct care professional workforce.
To strengthen the direct care professional workforce in order to support the 53,000,000 unpaid family caregivers who are often providing complex services and supports to their loved ones who are older individuals and people with disabilities in their homes, communities, and residential settings.
In this Act:
The term activities of daily living means basic, personal, everyday activities, including tasks such as eating, toileting, grooming, dressing, bathing, and transferring.
The term Aging and Disability Resource Center has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
The term apprenticeship program means an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act
; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), including any requirement, standard, or rule promulgated under such Act.
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
the Committee on Finance of the Senate;
the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate;
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives.
The term area agency on aging has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
The term assisted living facility means an adult care facility that—
is a residential care setting licensed and regulated by the State in which the facility is located (or, if there is no State law providing for such licensing and regulation by the State, by the municipality or other political subdivision in which the facility is located);
makes available to residents supportive services to assist the residents in carrying out activities of daily living;
provides 24-hour on-site monitoring, personal care planning, food services, and personal care; and
provides dwelling units for residents, each of which may contain a full kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, and which includes common rooms and other facilities appropriate for the provision of supportive services to the residents of the facility.
The term certified nursing assistant means a nurse aide who has completed a State-approved training and competency evaluation program.
Except as provided in section 331, the term commerce has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203).
The term community or technical college means a public institution of higher education at which the highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an associate’s degree, including Tribal Colleges or Universities receiving grants under section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c) that offer a 2-year program for completion of such degree and State public institutions of higher education that offer such a 2-year program.
The term developmental disability has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002).
The term direct care professional means—
a personal or home care aide;
a home and community-based services worker;
a direct support professional;
a certified nursing assistant;
a nurse aide or nursing assistant;
a respite care provider;
a paid family caregiver;
a home health aide;
a private duty nurse; or
any other individual providing relevant services (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services) for compensation, in the course of the profession of such individual, at a long-term care setting to a resident of such setting.
The term direct care professional manager means a person who is a manager, or supervisory staff, with coaching, training, managerial, supervisory, or other oversight responsibilities of direct care professionals.
The term direct care professional workforce means the broad workforce of direct care professionals across all long-term care settings.
The term disability, except as provided in paragraph (10), has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).
The term domestic partner, with respect to an individual, means another individual with whom the individual is in a committed relationship.
The term committed relationship for purposes of subparagraph (A)—
means a relationship between 2 individuals, each at least 18 years of age, in which both individuals share responsibility for a significant measure of each other’s common welfare; and
includes any such relationship between 2 individuals, including individuals of the same sex, that is granted legal recognition by a State or political subdivision of a State as a marriage or analogous relationship, including a civil union or domestic partnership.
The term employ has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203).
Except as provided in section 331, the terms employee and employer have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of such Act.
The term home and community-based services means any of the following (whether provided on a fee-for-service, risk, or other basis):
Home health care services authorized under paragraph (7) of section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)).
Personal care services authorized under paragraph (24) of such section.
PACE services authorized under paragraph (26) of such section.
Home and community-based services authorized under subsections (b), (c), (i), (j), and (k) of section 1915 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396n), such services authorized under a waiver under section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315), and such services provided through coverage authorized under section 1937 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396u–7).
Case management services authorized under section 1905(a)(19) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)(19)) and section 1915(g) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396n(g)).
Rehabilitative services, including those related to behavioral health, described in section 1905(a)(13) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)(13)).
Such other services specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The term home and community-based services setting means a setting where home and community-based services authorized under State options described in subsection (c) or (i) of section 1915 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396n) or, as relevant, demonstration projects authorized under section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315), are provided to individuals enrolled for medical assistance under a State plan under title XIX (or under a waiver of such a plan).
The term home and community-based services worker—
means an individual who provides home and community-based services for compensation; and
may include individuals described in subparagraph (A) who are physical therapists, occupational therapists, or speech or language therapists.
The terms Indian Tribe and Tribal organization have the meanings given such terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
The term institution of higher education means—
an institution of higher education defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); or
an institution of higher education defined in section 102(a)(1)(B) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(1)(B)).
The term instrumental activities of daily living means tasks that are not necessary for fundamental functioning, but allow an individual to live independently in a community of daily living. Such tasks include—
housekeeping and room cleaning;
meal preparation;
taking medications;
laundry;
transportation;
shopping for groceries, clothing, or other items;
managing communications, such as using the telephone;
managing finances;
writing letters; and
obtaining appointments.
The term local educational agency has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
The term long-term care services means any services provided by a direct care professional in a long-term care setting.
The term long-term care setting means—
a nursing home;
a home and community-based services setting;
an assisted living facility;
an intermediate care facility;
a State home, as defined in section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code;
a Tribal nursing home operated pursuant to an Indian health program (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603));
a private home;
a respite setting; or
any other setting in which an individual provides relevant services (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services), in the course of the profession of such individual, to a resident of such setting.
The term Medicaid program means, with respect to a State, the State program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (including any waiver or demonstration under such title or under section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315) relating to such title).
The term nurse aide has the meaning given such term in section 1919(b)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r(b)(5)).
The term nursing assistant means an individual who provides or assists with the basic care or support of a patient under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff, which may include performing duties such as—
monitoring of the health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients or residents in a health facility or nursing home; and
medication administration and other health-related tasks of patients in a health facility or nursing home.
The term nursing home means—
a nursing facility as defined in section 1919(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r(a)); or
a skilled nursing facility as defined in section 1819(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(a)).
The term older individual has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
The term personal or home care aide means an individual who helps older individuals and people with serious illness, physical disability, cognitive impairment (including Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, a developmental disability, or another disability involving a mental impairment) to live in their own home or a residential care facility (such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, or any other facility the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines appropriate that is not described in subparagraph (B)(i)) by providing personal care services for compensation.
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term personal care services means assistance or services—
provided to an individual who is not an inpatient or resident of a hospital or institution for mental disease; and
that enable the recipient to accomplish activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living.
The term secondary school has the meaning given such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
The term self-directed care professional (also known as an independent provider
)—
The term State, except as otherwise provided in this Act, has the meaning given such term for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
The term State educational agency has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
The term urban Indian organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).
The terms career pathway, career planning, in-demand industry sector or occupation, individual with a barrier to employment, local board, on-the-job training, recognized postsecondary credential, region, and State board have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
The term work-based learning has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d) is amended—
in subsection (b), by striking and (ii)
and inserting (ii), and (kk)
; and
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (ff), in the case of a State that satisfies the conditions described in paragraph (2), for each fiscal quarter during the period of fiscal years 2026 through 2035, the Federal medical assistance percentage otherwise determined for such State under such subsection (b) or (ff) shall, after the application of any other increase to the Federal medical assistance percentage for the State and quarter applicable under any other provision of law, be increased by 10 percentage points (but not to exceed 95 percent) with respect to amounts expended by the State for medical assistance for long-term care services that are provided by direct care professionals during such quarter.
As a condition for receipt of the increase under paragraph (1) to the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a State, the State shall submit to the Secretary, at such time and in such manner as specified by the Secretary, an application that includes, in addition to such other information as the Secretary shall require—
a description of which activities described in paragraph (4) that a State plans to implement and a description of how it plans to implement such activities;
assurances that all Federal funds attributable to the increase under paragraph (1) will be—
expended by the State in accordance with this subsection not later than September 30, 2037; and
used—
to implement the activities described in paragraph (4);
to supplement, and not supplant, the level of State funds expended for long-term care services provided by direct care professionals under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan) as of the date of enactment of this subsection; and
to increase reimbursement rates for long-term care services provided by direct care professionals under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan) to a level that will support recruitment and retention of a sufficient workforce to provide such services under the State plan (or waiver);
assurances that the State will conduct adequate oversight and ensure the validity of such data as may be required by the Secretary.
Not later than 90 days after the date of submission of an application of a State under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall certify if the application is complete. Upon certification that an application of a State is complete, the application shall be deemed to be approved for purposes of this section.
A State shall work with community partners such as Area Agencies on Aging, centers for independent living, as described in part C of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, nonprofit long-term care services providers, and other entities to implement some or all of the purposes described in subparagraph (B).
The purposes described in this paragraph, with respect to a State, are the following:
To increase rates for service provider agencies that employ direct care professionals (including independent providers in a self-directed or consumer-directed model) to provide long-term care services under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan), provided that any service provider agency or individual that receives payment under such an increased rate increases the compensation it pay its direct care professionals.
To provide paid sick leave, paid family leave, and paid medical leave for direct care professionals.
To provide hazard pay, overtime pay, and shift differential pay for direct care professionals.
To improve stability of direct care professional jobs, including consistent hours, scheduling, pay, and benefit eligibility.
To provide home and community-based services to individuals who are on waiting lists for programs approved under sections 1115 or 1915.
To purchase emergency supplies and equipment, which may include items not typically covered under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan), such as personal protective equipment, necessary to enhance access to services and to protect the health and well-being of direct care professionals.
To pay for the travel of direct care professionals to conduct their job responsibilities.
To recruit new direct care professionals.
To pay for training for direct care professionals, including apprenticeship programs.
To pay for assistive technologies, staffing, and training to facilitate eligible individuals’ communication, and other costs incurred in order to facilitate community integration and ensure an individual’s person-centered service plan is fully implemented.
To prepare information and public health and educational materials in accessible formats (including formats accessible to people with low literacy or intellectual disabilities about prevention, treatment, recovery, and other aspects of communicable diseases and threats to the health of individuals who are enrolled for medical assistance under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan)), their families, and the general community served by agencies described in clause (i).
To protect the health and safety of direct care professionals during public health emergencies and natural disasters.
To pay for interpreters to assist in providing long-term care services to individuals under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan) and to inform the general public about communicable diseases and other public health threats.
To pay for other expenses deemed appropriate by the Secretary to enhance, expand, or strengthen long-term care services under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan).
Not later than December 31, 2028, and every 2 years thereafter until December 31, 2040, any State with respect to which an application is approved by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (3) shall submit a report to the Secretary that contains the following information:
Activities and programs that were funded using Federal funds attributable to the increase to the Federal medical assistance percentage of the State under paragraph (1).
The number of individuals enrolled under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan) who were served by such activities and programs.
A detailed accounting of all spending of funds attributable to the increase to the Federal medical assistance percentage of the State under paragraph (1) by the State and by any providers with whom the State entered into contracts or agreements to fulfill the requirements of this subsection.
Chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
), shall not apply to the provisions of this subsection.
If the Secretary determines that a State with respect to which an application is approved pursuant to paragraph (3) has failed to comply with the requirements of this subsection (including the requirement that all Federal funds attributable to the increase to the Federal medical assistance percentage of the State under paragraph (1) be spent in accordance with paragraph (4)) for any quarter during the period of fiscal years described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may reduce the number of percentage points by which the Federal medical assistance percentage for the State and quarter would otherwise be increased under paragraph (1) for such quarter.
The Secretary shall impose reductions under this paragraph based on the degree to which a State has failed to comply with the requirements of this subsection.
Not later than 2028 and annually until 2037, the Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, shall evaluate the implementation and outcomes of this subsection on the availability of staff to cover shifts in all long-term care settings serving, worker credentials and skills, and worker compensation through a contract with an external evaluator who has experience with evaluation related to people with disabilities and older individuals.
In this subsection:
The term direct care professional has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act.
The term home and community-based services means any of the following:
Home health care services authorized under paragraph (7) of subsection (a).
Personal care services authorized under paragraph (24) of such subsection.
PACE services authorized under paragraph (26) of such subsection.
Home and community-based services authorized under subsections (b), (c), (i), (j), and (k) of section 1915, such services authorized under a waiver under section 1115, and such services through coverage authorized under section 1937.
Case management services authorized under subsection (a)(19) of this section and section 1915(g).
Rehabilitative services, including those related to behavioral health, described in subsection (a)(13) of this section.
Such other services specified by the Secretary.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary
) shall award grants to States for the purpose of supporting and strengthening services provided by direct care professionals across direct care settings and improving recruitment, compensation, and retention of the direct care professional workforce.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, each State that seeks to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application, in such form and manner as the Secretary shall require, to the Secretary that includes—
information on how the State will use grant funds to improve long-term care services and the recruitment, compensation, and retention of direct care professionals in a manner that maximizes the independence of people with disabilities and older individuals, limits unnecessary institutionalization, and supports people living in residential settings;
specifies the proportion of grant funds that the State plans to spend on activities to support long-term professional care workers in nursing homes, home health settings, and home and community-based services settings, respectively;
a plan for sustaining the work at the conclusion of the grant period; and
such other information as the Secretary shall require.
the number of individuals who are enrolled for medical assistance under the Medicaid program of the State involved (as determined by the Secretary using the most recent data available as of the date of enactment of this Act); bears to
the total number of individuals who are enrolled for medical assistance under the Medicaid programs of all States that submit to the Secretary an application that meets the requirements of subsection (b).
A State that receives a grant under this section shall use the funds of such grant in accordance with the requirements of this subsection.
A State shall use funds from a grant awarded under this section to supplement, and not supplant, the level of State funds expended for services in long-term care settings through programs in effect as of January 1, 2026.
The State shall use funds from a grant awarded under this section to implement and evaluate, or supplement the implementation of, activities (which shall include the activities described in paragraph (4)) to enhance, expand, or strengthen long-term care services and to improve compensation to the workforce that provides such services.
The State strengthens and expands the direct care professional workforce that provides services across long-term care settings by—
adopting a salary review process to ensure that the rates payable for long-term care services under the State Medicaid program are sufficient to ensure access to such services under such program;
updating, developing, and adopting qualification standards and training opportunities for the continuum of direct care professionals, including programs for independent direct care professionals and agency direct care professionals, as well as unique programs.
In carrying out subparagraph (A)(i), the State shall—
update payment rates under the State Medicaid program for long-term care services, including home and community-based services, nursing home services, skilled nursing facility services, and intermediate care facility services at least every 2 years through a transparent process involving meaningful input from stakeholders, in which the majority of stakeholders are recipients of such services, families, direct care professionals, family caregivers, chosen representatives of direct care workers, aging, disability, and workforce advocates, long-term care providers, and may also include health plans; and
ensure that, with respect to any increases in the payment rates under the State Medicaid program for long-term care services—
such payment rate increases are incorporated into payment rates for such services provided under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) by a managed care entity (as defined in section 1932(a)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396u–2(a)(1)(B)) or a prepaid inpatient health plan or prepaid ambulatory health plan, as defined in section 438.2 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)), under a contract with the State;
such payment rate increases are appropriately distributed across settings, populations, and services so as to promote independence of people with disabilities and older individuals, not result in increased institutionalization, and assists in the facilitation of rebalancing the Medicaid program towards the least restrictive settings appropriate for individuals receiving services; and
such payment rate increases are prioritized toward home and community-based service workers in States that have a waiting list for home and community based services and have been determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service to have inadequate capacity for such services.
There is appropriated to the Secretary for awarding grants under this section an amount equal to $100,000,000,000.
The Secretary shall evaluate the implementation and outcomes of this title on State Medicaid program waiting lists for home and community-based services through a contract with an external evaluator who has experience with evaluation related to people with disabilities and older individuals.
Section 1924(h)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r–5(h)(1)(A)) is amended by striking is described in section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(VI)
and inserting the following: is eligible for medical assistance for home and community-based services provided under subsection (c), (d), or (i) of section 1915, under a waiver approved under section 1115, or who is eligible for such medical assistance by reason of being determined eligible under section 1902(a)(10)(C) or by reason of section 1902(f) or otherwise on the basis of a reduction of income based on costs incurred for medical or other remedial care, or who is eligible for medical assistance for home and community-based attendant services and supports under section 1915(k)
.
Section 2404 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r–5 note) is amended by striking September 30, 2027
and inserting the date of enactment of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act
.
Subsection (h)(1) of section 6071 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 1396a note) is amended—
in subparagraph (K), by striking ; and
and inserting a semicolon;
in subparagraph (L), by striking through 2027.
and inserting through 2026; and
; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
$500,000,000 for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2026.
Subsection (e)(2) of section 6071 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 1396a note) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: Any portion of a State grant award for a fiscal year under this section that is unexpended by the State at the end of the fourth succeeding fiscal year shall be rescinded by the Secretary and added to the appropriation for the fifth succeeding fiscal year for grants under this section.
.
In this chapter:
The term eligible entity means an entity—
that is—
a State;
a labor organization, joint labor-management organization, or employer of direct care professionals;
a nonprofit entity with experience in aging, disability, or supporting the rights and interests of, the training of, or educating direct care professionals;
an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Urban Indian organization;
a community or technical college or other institution of higher education; or
a consortium of entities listed in any of clauses (i) through (v);
that agrees, as applicable with respect to the type of grant the entity is seeking under this chapter and the activities supported through such grant, to include as advisors and trainers in such activities—
older individuals;
people with disabilities;
direct care professionals; and
family members of such individuals, persons, or professionals; and
that agrees to consult with the State Medicaid agency of the State (or each State) served by the grant on the grant activities, to the extent that such agency (or each such agency) is not the eligible entity.
The term project participant means an individual participating in a project or activity assisted with a grant under this chapter, including (as applicable for the category of the grant) a direct care professional or an individual training to be such a professional.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The term supportive services means services that are necessary to enable an individual to participate in activities assisted with a grant under this chapter, such as transportation, child care, dependent care, housing, workplace accommodations, employee benefits such as paid sick leave and child care, workplace health and safety protections, wages and overtime pay, and needs-related payments.
Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Education, shall award grants described in paragraph (2) to eligible entities. A grant awarded under this section may be in more than 1 category described in such paragraph.
The categories of grants described in this paragraph are each of the following:
Grants to eligible entities to create and carry out projects for the purposes of recruiting, retaining, or providing advancement opportunities for direct care professionals who are not described in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D), including through education or training programs for such professionals or individuals seeking to become such professionals.
Grants to eligible entities to create and carry out projects for the purposes of recruiting, retaining, or providing advancement opportunities for direct care professional managers, including through education or training programs for such managers or individuals seeking to become such managers.
Grants to eligible entities to create and carry out projects for the purposes of recruiting, retaining, or providing advancement opportunities for self-directed care professionals, including through education or training programs for such professionals or individuals seeking to become such professionals.
Grants to eligible entities to create and carry out projects to recruit, retain, or provide advancement opportunities for home and community-based services workers providing services and supports to older individuals, or people with disabilities, who are eligible for coverage under a State Medicaid program.
Not less than 30 percent of projects assisted with grants under this chapter shall be projects to provide career pathways that offer opportunities for professional development and advancement opportunities to direct care professionals.
An eligible entity that carries out activities described in subsection (a)(2) prior to receipt of a grant under this chapter may use such grant to continue carrying out such activities, and, in using such grant to continue such activities, shall be treated as an eligible entity carrying out a project through a grant under this chapter.
An eligible entity seeking a grant under this chapter shall submit to the Secretary a project plan for each project to be developed and carried out (including for activities to be continued as described in section 202(b)) with the grant. Such project plan shall be submitted at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
A project plan submitted by an eligible entity under subsection (a) shall include a description of information determined relevant by the Secretary for purposes of the category of the grant and the activities to be carried out through the grant. Such information may include (as applicable) the following:
Demographic information regarding the population in the State, city or municipality, or region to be served by the project, including a description of the populations likely to need services provided by direct care professionals, such as people with disabilities and older individuals.
Projections of unmet need for services provided by direct care professionals based on enrollment waiting lists under home and community-based waivers under section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315) or section 1915(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396n(c)) and other relevant data to the extent practicable and feasible, such as direct care professional workforce vacancy rates and crude separation rates and the number of direct care professionals, including such professionals who are managers or supervisors, in the State or region to be served by the project.
An advisory committee to advise the eligible entity on activities to be carried out through the grant. Such advisory committee—
shall include—
older individuals and people with disabilities receiving services from the direct care professionals targeted by the project;
organizations representing the rights and interests of people receiving services by the direct care professionals targeted by the project;
individuals who are direct care professionals targeted by the project and organizations representing the rights and interests of such direct care professionals;
as applicable, employers of individuals described in clause (iii) and labor organizations representing such individuals;
representatives of the State Medicaid agency, the State agency defined in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002), the State developmental disabilities office, and the State mental health agency, in the State (or each State) to be served by the project;
parents or caregivers of children with disabilities or chronic conditions; and
representatives reflecting diverse racial, cultural, ethnic, geographic, socioeconomic, and gender identity and sexual orientation perspectives; and
may include any other individuals or entities listed in paragraph (12).
Current or projected job openings for, or relevant labor market information related to, the direct care professionals targeted by the project in the State or region to be served by the project, and the geographic scope of the workforce to be served by the project.
Specific efforts and strategies that the project will undertake to reduce barriers to recruitment, retention, or advancement of the direct care professionals targeted by the project, including an assurance that such efforts will include—
an assessment of the wages or other compensation or benefits necessary to recruit and retain the direct care professionals targeted by the project;
a description of the project’s projected compensation or benefits for the direct care professionals targeted by the project at the State or local level, including a comparison of such projected compensation or benefits to regional and national compensation or benefits and a description of how wages and benefits received by project participants will be impacted by the participation in and completion of the project; and
a description of the projected impact of workplace safety issues on the recruitment and retention of direct care professionals targeted by the project, including the availability of personal protective equipment.
In the case of a project offering an education or training program for direct care professionals, a description of such program (including how the core competencies identified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be incorporated, curricula, models, and standards used under the program, and any associated recognized postsecondary credentials for which the program provides preparation, as applicable), which shall include an assurance that such program will provide to each project participant in such program—
relevant training regarding the rights of recipients of long-term care services, including their rights to—
receive services in integrated settings that provide access to the broader community;
exercise self-determination;
be free from all forms of abuse, neglect, or exploitation; and
person-centered planning and practices, including participation in planning activities;
relevant training to ensure that each project participant has the necessary skills to recognize abuse and understand their obligations with regard to reporting and responding to abuse appropriately in accordance with relevant Federal and State law;
relevant training regarding the provision of culturally competent and disability competent supports to recipients of services provided by the direct care professionals targeted by the project;
an apprenticeship program, work-based learning, or on-the-job training opportunities;
supervision or mentoring; and
for any on-the-job training portion of the program, a progressively increasing, clearly defined schedule of wages to be paid to each such participant that—
is consistent with skill gains or attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential received as a result of participation in or completion of such program;
ensures the entry wage is not less than the greater of—
the minimum wage required under section 6(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)); or
the applicable minimum wage required by other applicable Federal or State law, or a collective bargaining agreement; and
does not use a certificate under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 214(c)).
Any other innovative models or processes the eligible entity will implement to support the retention and career advancement of the direct care professionals targeted by the project.
The supportive services and benefits to be provided to the project participants in order to support the employment, retention, or career advancement of the direct care professionals targeted by the project.
How the eligible entity will make use of career planning to support the identification of advancement opportunities and career pathways for the direct care professionals in the State or region to be served by the project.
How the eligible entity will collect and submit to the Secretary direct care professional workforce data and outcomes of the project.
How the project—
will—
provide adequate and safe equipment and facilities for training and supervision, including a safe work environment free from discrimination, which may include the provision of personal protective equipment and other necessary equipment to prevent the spread of infectious disease among the direct care professionals targeted by the project and recipients of services provided by such professionals;
incorporate remote training and education opportunities or technology-supported opportunities;
for training and education curricula, incorporate evidence-supported practices for adult learners and universal design for learning and ensure recipients of services provided by the direct care professionals targeted by the project participate in the development and implementation of such training and education curricula;
use outreach, recruitment, and retention strategies designed to reach and retain a diverse workforce;
incorporate methods to monitor satisfaction with project activities for project participants and individuals receiving services from such participants; and
incorporate core competencies identified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and
may incorporate continuing education programs and specialty training, with a specific focus on—
trauma-informed care;
behavioral health;
developmental disabilities or other disabilities involving mental impairment;
co-occurring behavioral health conditions and a disability described in clause (iii);
Alzheimer’s and dementia care;
infection prevention and control measures;
chronic disease management;
age-related conditions; and
the use of supportive or assistive technology.
How the eligible entity will consult throughout the implementation of the project, or coordinate the project with, each of the following:
Older individuals and people with disabilities.
The State Medicaid agency, the State agency defined in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002), and the State developmental disabilities office for the State (or each State) to be served by the project.
The local board and State board for each region, or State, to be served by the project.
In the case of a project that carries out an education or training program, a nonprofit organization with demonstrated experience in the development or delivery of curricula or coursework.
A nonprofit organization, including a labor organization, that fosters the professional development and collective engagement of the direct care professionals targeted by the project.
Organizations representing the rights and interests of people receiving services by the direct care professionals targeted by the project.
Area agencies on aging.
Centers for independent living, as described in part C of chapter I of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796f et seq.).
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (as such term is used in subtitle B of title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15021 et seq.)) for the State (or each State) to be served by the project.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers.
A nonprofit State provider association that represents providers who employ the direct care professionals targeted by the project, where such associations exist.
An entity that employs the direct care professionals targeted by the project.
University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service supported under subtitle D of title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15061 et seq.).
The State protection and advocacy system described in section 143 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15043) of the State (or each State) to be served by the project.
Direct care professionals, and direct care professional workforce organizations, representing underserved communities, including communities of color.
Individuals employed or working as the direct care professionals targeted by the project.
Representatives of such professionals.
Individuals receiving services from such professionals.
The families of such professionals.
The families of individuals receiving services from such professionals.
Individuals receiving education or training to become such professionals.
Outreach efforts to individuals for participation in such project, including targeted outreach efforts to—
individuals who are recipients of assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or individuals who are eligible for such assistance; and
In selecting eligible entities to receive a grant under this chapter, the Secretary shall ensure—
equitable geographic and demographic diversity, including by selecting recipients serving rural areas and selecting recipients serving urban areas; and
that selected eligible entities will serve areas where the occupation of direct care professional, or a related occupation, is an in-demand industry sector or occupation.
Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this chapter shall use the funds of such grant to carry out at least 1 project described in section 202(a)(2).
Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this chapter shall not use more than 5 percent of the funds of such grant for costs associated with the administration of activities under this chapter.
Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this chapter shall use not less than 5 percent of the funds of such grant to provide direct financial benefits or supportive services to direct care professionals to support the financial needs of such participants during the duration of the project activities.
An eligible entity receiving a grant under this chapter shall use such grant only to supplement, and not supplant, the amount of funds that, in the absence of such grant, would be available to address the recruitment, training and education, retention, and advancement of direct care professionals, in the State or region served by the eligible entity.
There are authorized to be appropriated for grants under section 202, $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
In this section:
The term domestic services—
means services—
of a household nature;
provided in interstate commerce; and
performed by an individual in or about a private home (permanent or temporary); and
includes services performed by individuals such as companions, housekeepers, nurses, home health aides, or personal or home care aides.
The term domestic worker—
means, except as provided in subparagraph (B), an individual, including an employee, who is compensated directly or indirectly for the performance of domestic services; and
does not include—
an individual who is a family member, friend, neighbor, or parent of a child and who provides child care for the child in the child’s home; and
any employee described in section 13(a)(15) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 213(a)(15)).
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The terms supportive services, training services, and workforce investment activities have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
Every 3 years, the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, make grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities to carry out the activities described in subsection (d). The Secretary shall make the grants, or enter into the contracts, for periods of 4 years.
To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a contract under this section, an entity—
shall be—
a nonprofit organization that is described in paragraph (3), (5), or (6) of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code;
an organization with a board of directors, at least one-half of the members of which is comprised of—
domestic workers; or
representatives of an organization of such workers, including such workers who are direct care professionals, which organization is independent from all businesses, organizations, corporations, or individuals that would pursue any financial interest in conflict with that of the workers;
an organization that is independent as described in subclause (II)(bb); and
an organization that has expertise in domestic work and the workforce of domestic workers, including such workers who are direct care professionals;
an eligible provider of training services listed pursuant to section 122(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3152(d)); or
an entity that carries out an apprenticeship program.
To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a contract under this section, an entity described in paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary of Labor a plan that describes a 4-year strategy for meeting the needs of domestic workers, including such workers who are direct care professionals, in the area to be served by such entity.
Such plan shall—
describe the domestic worker population, which shall include domestic workers who provide long-term care services, to be served and identify the needs of such population to be served for workforce investment activities and related assistance, which may include employment and supportive services;
identify the manner in which career pathways to be provided will strengthen the ability of the domestic workers to be served to obtain or retain employment and to improve wages or working conditions, including improved employment standards and opportunities in the field of domestic work;
specifically address how the funding provided through the grant or contract for services under this section to domestic workers will improve wages and skills for domestic workers in a way that helps meet the need to recruit workers for and retain workers in in-demand occupations or careers; and
provide an assurance that the workforce investment activities and related assistance carried out under this section will include relevant training for domestic workers who are direct care professionals, including—
training regarding the rights of recipients of long-term care services, including the rights of such recipients to—
receive services in integrated settings that provide access to the broader community;
exercise self-determination;
be free from all forms of abuse, neglect, or exploitation; and
receive person-centered planning and practices, including through the participation of such recipients in planning activities;
training to ensure that each participant of such training has the necessary skills to recognize abuse and understand their obligations with regard to reporting and responding to abuse appropriately in accordance with relevant Federal and State law; and
training regarding the provision of culturally competent and disability-competent supports to recipients of long-term care services.
The grants and contracts under this subsection shall be awarded by the Secretary using full and open competitive procedures and shall be administered by the Secretary.
Funds made available under this section shall be used to carry out workforce investment activities and provide related assistance for domestic workers, including such workers who are direct care professionals, which may include—
outreach, employment, training services, educational assistance, digital literacy assistance, English language and literacy instruction, worker safety training, supportive services, school dropout prevention and recovery activities, individual career services, and career pathways;
follow-up services for those individuals placed in employment;
development or education as needed by domestic workers, including domestic workers who are direct care professionals;
customized career and technical education in occupations that will lead to higher wages, enhanced benefits, and long-term employment in domestic work or another area; and
the creation or maintenance of employment and training-related placement services, including digital placement services.
From the funds appropriated and made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall reserve not more than 1 percent for discretionary purposes related to carrying out this section, such as providing technical assistance to eligible entities.
Each eligible entity shall prepare performance reports to report on outcomes achieved by the programs of workforce investment activities and related assistance carried out under this section. The performance report for an eligible entity shall include, with respect to each such program (referred to in this subsection as a program of study
) of such entity—
information specifying the levels of performance achieved with respect to the primary indicators of performance described in subclauses (I) through (V) of section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)(i)) with respect to all individuals engaging in the program of study;
the total number of individuals exiting from the program of study;
the total number of participants who received training services through the program;
the total number of participants who exited from training services, disaggregated by the type of entity that provided the training services, during the most recent program year and the 3 preceding program years;
the average cost per participant for the participants who received training services, disaggregated by the type of entity that provided the training services, during the most recent program year and the 3 preceding program years; and
information on indicators specified by the Secretary concerning the impact of the training services on the wages, skills, recruitment, and retention of participants.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Section 2008 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397g) is amended—
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
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 direct care professional, including as a personal or home care aide, home health aide, or nursing aide or assistant.
In this subsection:
The term eligible entity has the meaning given such term in subsection (a).
The term eligible individual means an individual—
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
who is employed as a direct care professional who—
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
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.
The term direct care professional has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act.
The Secretary shall ensure that not less than half of the demonstration projects supported by grants awarded under this subsection support—
eligible individuals in rural areas (as defined in section 2007(f)(5));
eligible individuals in underserved urban areas (including urban health professional shortage areas (as defined in section 332 of the Public Health Service Act);
eligible individuals who are women, who are from communities of color, or who belong to other underserved and diverse populations such as Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, or Alaska Native communities; and
eligible individuals with disabilities.
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.
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.
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 direct care professionals, 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.
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—
the result of the evaluation conducted under clause (ii);
recommendations for best practices; and
such recommendations for legislation or administrative actions as the Secretary deems appropriate.
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 and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and make publicly available, a report on the activities and results of such projects. Such report shall describe—
the number and geographic distribution of the grants awarded under this subsection;
the participation of underrepresented and economically disadvantaged participants in demonstration projects conducted under this subsection; and
recommendations for program revisions to achieve the desired program outcome.
Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Section 1834 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
In the case of long-term care services furnished on or after October 1, 2026, by a direct care professional who has successfully completed education or training under a 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 to be paid to the direct care professional.
Effective October 1, 2026, title XX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397–1397n–13) is amended by adding at the end the following:
An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary an application for the grant, that includes the following:
A description of how the applicant will use a career pathways approach to train eligible individuals for health professions, including direct care professionals, that will put eligible individuals on a career path to an occupation that pays well, under the project.
A description of the adult basic education and literacy activities, work readiness activities, training activities, and case management, career coaching, and mentoring support services that the applicant will use to assist eligible individuals to gain work experience, connection to employers, and job placement, and a description of the plan for recruiting, hiring, and training staff to provide the case management, mentoring, and career coaching services, under the project directly or through local governmental, apprenticeship, educational, or charitable institutions.
A demonstration that the applicant has experience working with low-income populations, or a description of the plan of the applicant to work with a partner organization that has the experience.
A plan for providing post-employment support and ongoing training as part of a career pathway under the project.
A description of the support services that the applicant will provide under the project, including a plan for how child care and transportation support services will be guaranteed and, if the applicant will provide a cash stipend or wage supplement, how the stipend or supplement would be calculated and distributed.
A certification by the applicant that the project development included—
consultation or commitment to consult with a local workforce development board;
consideration of registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship models;
consideration of career pathway programs in the State in which the project is to be conducted; and
a review of the State plan under section 102 or 103 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
A description of the availability and relevance of recent labor market information and other pertinent evidence of in-demand jobs or worker shortages.
A certification that the applicant will directly provide or contract for the training services described in the application.
A commitment by the applicant that, if the grant is made to the applicant, the applicant will—
during the planning period for the project, provide the Secretary with any information needed by the Secretary to establish adequate data reporting and administrative structure for the project;
hire a person to direct the project not later than the end of the planning period applicable to the project;
accept all technical assistance offered by the Secretary with respect to the grant;
participate in peer technical assistance conferences as are regularly scheduled by the Secretary; and
provide all data required by the Secretary under subsection (g).
In considering applications for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall require qualified applicants to have at least 1 of the following application elements:
Applications submitted by applicants to whom a grant was made under this section or any predecessor to this section.
Applications submitted by applicants who have business and community partners in each of the following categories:
State and local government agencies and social service providers, including a State or local entity that administers a State program funded under part A of this title.
Institutions of higher education, apprenticeship programs, and local workforce development boards.
Health care employers, home and community-based services agencies, health care industry or sector partnerships, labor unions, and labor-management partnerships.
Applications that include opportunities for mentoring or peer support, and make career coaching available, as part of the case management plan.
Applications which describe a project that will serve a rural area in which—
the community in which the individuals to be enrolled in the project reside is located;
the project will be conducted; or
an employer partnership that has committed to hiring individuals who successfully complete all activities under the project is located.
Applications that include a commitment to providing project participants with a cash stipend or wage supplement.
Applications submitted by applicants who are serving or situated in communities of color and other underserved communities.
Applications which have an emergency cash fund to assist project participants financially in emergency situations.
The Secretary shall make a grant in accordance with this paragraph to an eligible entity whose application for the grant is approved by the Secretary, to conduct a project designed to train low-income individuals for allied health professions, health information technology, physician assistants, nursing assistants, licensed practical/vocational nurse, registered nurse, advanced practice nurse, direct care professionals, and other professions considered part of a health care career pathway model.
For each grant cycle, the Secretary shall award a grant under this paragraph to at least 2 eligible entities in each State that is not a territory, to the extent there are a sufficient number of applications that have a high likelihood of success and that are submitted by the entities that meet the requirements applicable with respect to such a grant. If, for a grant cycle, there are fewer than 2 such eligible entities in a State that have submitted applications with a high likelihood of success, the Secretary shall identify qualified eligible applicants located elsewhere, that are otherwise approved but un-funded, and issue a Substitution of Grant and tailored technical assistance. In the preceding sentence, the term issue a Substitution of Grant means, in a case in which an approved grantee does not complete its full project period, or in which there are fewer than 2 qualified grantees per State with a high likelihood of success, substitute an applicant located in another State that was approved but un-funded during the competition for the award for the award recipient.
The Secretary shall award a grant under this paragraph to at least 10 eligible entities that are an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal college or university, to the extent there are a sufficient number of applications submitted by the entities that meet the requirements applicable with respect to such a grant.
The Secretary shall award a grant under this paragraph to at least 2 eligible entities that are located in a territory, to the extent there are a sufficient number of applications submitted by the entities that meet the requirements applicable with respect to such a grant.
The grant cycle under this section shall be not less than 5 years, with a planning period of not more than the first 12 months of the grant cycle. During the planning period, the amount of the grant shall be in such lesser amount as the Secretary determines appropriate.
An entity to which a grant is made under this section shall use the grant in accordance with the approved application for the grant.
A project for which a grant is made under this section shall include the following:
An assessment for adult basic skill competency, and provision of adult basic skills education if necessary for eligible individuals to enroll in the project and go on to enter and complete post-secondary training, through means including the following:
Establishing a network of partners that offer pre-training activities for project participants who need to improve basic academic skills or English language proficiency before entering a health occupational training career pathway program.
Offering resources to enable project participants to continue advancing adult basic skill proficiency while enrolled in a career pathway program.
Embedding adult basic skill maintenance as part of ongoing post-graduation career coaching and mentoring.
A guarantee that child care and transportation are available and affordable support services for project participants through means such as the following:
Referral to, and assistance with, enrollment in a subsidized child care program.
Direct payment to a child care provider if a slot in a subsidized child care program is not available or reasonably accessible.
Payment of co-payments or associated fees for child care and transportation.
Case management plans that include career coaching (with the option to offer appropriate peer support and mentoring opportunities to help develop soft skills and social capital), which may be offered on an ongoing basis before, during, and after initial training as part of a career pathway model.
A plan to provide project participants with transportation through means such as the following:
Referral to, and assistance with enrollment in, a subsidized transportation program.
If a subsidized transportation program is not reasonably available, direct payments to subsidize transportation costs.
For purposes of this paragraph, the term transportation includes public transit, or gasoline for a personal vehicle if public transit is not reasonably accessible or available.
The goods and services provided under a project for which a grant is made under this section may include the following:
A cash stipend.
A reserve fund for financial assistance to project participants in emergency situations.
Tuition, certification exam fees, and training materials such as books, software, uniforms, shoes, connection to the internet, hair nets, and personal protective equipment.
In-kind resource donations such as interview clothing and conference attendance fees.
Assistance with accessing and completing high school equivalency or adult basic education courses as necessary to achieve success in the project and make progress toward career goals.
Other support services as deemed necessary for family well-being, success in the project, and progress toward career goals.
The number of hours of training provided to an eligible individual under a project for which a grant is made under this section, for a recognized postsecondary credential (including an industry-recognized credential, and a certificate awarded by a local workforce development board), which is awarded in recognition of attainment of measurable technical or occupational skills necessary to gain employment or advance within an occupation, shall be—
not less than the number of hours of training required for certification in that level of skill by the State in which the project is conducted; or
if there is no such requirement, such number of hours of training as the Secretary finds is necessary to achieve that skill level.
In the case of a project for which a grant is made under this section that is conducted in a State that has a program funded under part A of title IV, at least 10 percent of the eligible individuals to whom support is provided under the project shall meet the income eligibility requirements under that State program, without regard to whether the individuals receive benefits or services directly under that State program.
An entity to which a grant is made under this section shall not use the grant to provide support to a person who is not an eligible individual.
An entity to which a grant is made under this section shall not use the grant for purposes of entertainment, except that case management and career coaching services may include celebrations of specific career-based milestones such as completing a semester, graduation, or job placement.
The Secretary shall provide technical assistance—
to assist eligible entities in applying for grants under this section;
that is tailored to meet the needs of grantees at each stage of the administration of projects for which grants are made under this section;
that is tailored to meet the specific needs of Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal colleges and universities;
that is tailored to meet the specific needs of the territories;
that is tailored to meet the specific needs of applicants, eligible entities, and grantees, in carrying out dedicated career pathway projects pursuant to subsection (h); and
to facilitate the exchange of information among eligible entities regarding best practices and promising practices used in the projects.
The Secretary shall continue to hold peer technical assistance conferences for entities to which a grant is made under this section or was made under the immediate predecessor of this section. The preceding sentence shall not be interpreted to require any such conference to be held in person.
The Secretary shall, by grant, contract, or interagency agreement, conduct rigorous and well-designed evaluations of the dedicated career pathway projects carried out pursuant to subsection (h).
In the case of a project of the type described in subsection (i), the evaluation shall include identification of successful activities for creating opportunities for developing and sustaining, particularly with respect to low-income individuals with arrest or conviction records, a health professions workforce that has accessible entry points, that meets high standards for education, training, certification, and professional development, and that provides increased wages and affordable benefits, including health care coverage, that are responsive to the needs of the workforce.
As a condition of funding, an eligible entity awarded a grant to conduct a project under this section shall submit interim reports to the Secretary on the activities carried out under the project, and, on the conclusion of the project, a final report on the activities.
The Secretary shall award grants in accordance with this subsection to eligible entities to conduct career pathway projects for the purpose of providing education and training for eligible individuals with arrest or conviction records to enter and follow a career pathway in the health professions through occupations that are expected to experience a labor shortage or be in high demand.
A grant awarded under this subsection shall have the same grant cycle as is provided in subsection (c)(2), and as a condition of funding the grantee shall comply with all data reporting requirements associated with the grant cycle.
An entity seeking a grant under this subsection for a project shall submit to the Secretary an application for the grant, that includes the following:
A demonstration that the State in which the project is to be conducted has in effect policies or laws that permit certain allied health and behavioral health care credentials to be awarded to people with certain arrest or conviction records (which policies or laws shall include appeals processes and other opportunities to demonstrate rehabilitation to obtain licensure and approval to work in the proposed health careers), and a plan described in the application which will use a legally permitted career pathway to train people with such a record to be trained and employed in such a career.
A discussion of how the project or future strategic hiring decisions will demonstrate the experience and expertise of the project in working with job seekers who have arrest or conviction records or employers with experience working with people with arrest or conviction records.
A demonstration that the applicant has experience working with low-income populations, or a description of the plan of the applicant to work with a partner that has the experience.
An identification of promising innovations or best practices that can be used to provide the training.
A proof of concept or demonstration that the applicant has done sufficient research on workforce shortage or in-demand jobs for which people with certain types of criminal records can be hired.
A plan for recruiting students who are eligible individuals into the project.
A plan for providing post-employment support and ongoing training as part of a career pathway under the project.
A recipient of a grant under this subsection for a project shall provide—
access to legal assistance for project participants for the purpose of addressing arrest or conviction records and associated workforce barriers;
assistance with programs and activities deemed necessary to address arrest or conviction records as an employment barrier; and
required supportive services described in subsection (d)(2)(A) to participants who need the services, and may expend funds on eligible supportive services described in subsection (d)(2)(B).
In this section:
The term allied health profession has the meaning given in section 799B(5) of the Public Health Service Act.
The term career pathway has the meaning given that term in section 3(7) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
The term direct care professional has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act.
The term eligible entity means any of the following entities that demonstrates in an application submitted under this section that the entity has the capacity to fully develop and administer the project described in the application:
A local workforce development board established under section 107 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
A State or territory, a political subdivision of a State or territory, or an agency of a State, territory, or such a political subdivision, including a State or local entity that administers a State program funded under part A of this title.
An Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal college or university.
An institution of higher education (as defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965).
A hospital (as defined in section 1861(e)).
A high-quality skilled nursing facility.
A Federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa)(4)).
A nonprofit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, a labor organization, or an entity with shared labor-management oversight, that has a demonstrated history of providing health profession training to eligible individuals.
An opioid treatment program (as defined in section 1861(jjj)(2)), and other comprehensive addiction care providers.
A home and community-based services provider agency.
The term eligible individual means an individual whose family income does not exceed 200 percent of the Federal poverty level and has not been charged with or convicted of a violent crime or financial fraud (as determined by the Secretary).
The term Federal poverty level means the poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, including any revision required by such section applicable to a family of the size involved).
The terms Indian tribe and tribal organization have the meaning given the terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 or 102(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
The term territory means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
The term tribal college or university has the meaning given the term in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, shall evaluate the implementation and outcomes of this section on the adoption of paid leave by long-term care services providers and the recruitment and retention of direct care professionals through a contract with an external evaluator who has experience with evaluation of labor practices and people with disabilities and older individuals.
In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary—
$318,750,000 for grants under subsection (c)(1)(A) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030;
$17,000,000 for grants under subsection (c)(1)(B) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030;
$21,250,000 for grants under subsection (c)(1)(C) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030;
$25,500,000 for projects conducted under subsection (h) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030;
$25,500,000, plus all amounts referred to in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection that remain unused after all grant awards are made for the fiscal year, for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, for the provision of technical assistance and administration; and
$17,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for studying the effects of the projects for which a grant is made under this section, and for administration, for the purpose of supporting the rigorous evaluation of the projects, and supporting the continued study of the short-, medium-, and long-term effects of all such projects, including the effectiveness of new or added elements of the projects.
Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amended—
by redesignating part G (42 U.S.C. 295j et seq.) as part H; and
by inserting after part F (42 U.S.C. 295h et seq.) the following new part:
The Secretary may award grants and contracts to eligible entities to increase educational opportunities in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, and direct care professionals for eligible individuals by—
providing student scholarships or stipends, including for—
completion of an accelerated degree program;
completion of an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree program; and
entry by a diploma or associate’s degree practitioner into a bridge or degree completion program;
providing assistance for completion of prerequisite courses or other preparation necessary for acceptance for enrollment in the eligible entity;
carrying out activities to increase the retention of students in 1 or more programs in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, and direct care professionals; and
building or strengthening career pipeline programs, including those for high school students, older workers and retirees, veterans, and other displaced workers.
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of national organizations representing the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, and direct care professionals, including the American Physical Therapy Association, the American Occupational Therapy Association, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Association for Respiratory Care, the American Academy of Audiology, the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, and the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals.
The Secretary may require recipients of awards under this section to report to the Secretary concerning the annual admission, retention, and graduation rates for eligible individuals in programs of the recipient leading to a degree in any of the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, and direct care professionals.
If any of the rates reported by a recipient under paragraph (1) fall below the average for such recipient over the 2 years preceding the year covered by the report, the recipient shall provide the Secretary with plans for immediately improving such rates.
A recipient described in paragraph (2) shall be ineligible for continued funding under this section if the plan of the recipient fails to improve the rates within the 1-year period beginning on the date such plan is implemented.
In accordance with paragraph (2), the Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, shall evaluate the implementation and outcomes of this section on the recruitment and retention in long-term care settings of certified nursing assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, respiratory therapists, direct support professionals, and any other direct care professionals determined by the Secretary.
The Secretary shall conduct the evaluation under paragraph (1) through a contract with an external evaluator who has experience with evaluation related to people with disabilities and older individuals.
In this section:
The terms direct care professional and disability have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act.
The term eligible entity means an education program that—
is accredited by—
the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology or the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education;
the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education;
the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education;
the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care; or
the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals Certification Program; and
is carrying out a program for recruiting and retaining students underrepresented in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, and direct care professionals (including racial or ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, or students from disadvantaged backgrounds).
The term eligible individual means an individual who—
is a member of a class of persons who are underrepresented in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, and direct care professionals, including—
individuals who are racial or ethnic minorities; or
individuals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds;
has a financial need for a scholarship or stipend; and
is enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) at a physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, or direct care professionals program as a full-time student at an eligible entity.
The term individualized education program has the meaning given such term in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The term long-term care setting has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act.
The term older individual has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary
) shall award a grant, on a competitive basis, to an eligible partnership described in subsection (b) to create a national technical assistance center (referred to in this section as the Center
) for supporting direct care professional workforce creation, training and education, recruitment, retention, and advancement, including through the activities under subsection (c).
The Center shall carry out activities under this section in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Administrator of the Administration for Community Living, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the heads of other entities as necessary.
An eligible partnership described in this subsection is a partnership of 3 or more of the following:
An institution of higher education.
A disability-led organization.
An organization focusing on older individuals.
An organization focusing on direct care professionals.
An organization that represents service provider agencies that employ direct care professionals.
An organization, including a labor organization, that fosters professional development.
A University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service supported under subtitle D of title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15061 et seq.).
An agency implementing a State protection and advocacy system described in section 143 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15043).
A State Council on Developmental Disabilities (as such term is used in subtitle B of title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15021 et seq.)).
An organization representing a center for independent living, as described in part C of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796f et seq.).
An organization representing veterans.
An organization representing parents or caregivers of children with disabilities or chronic conditions.
Any other entity the Secretary designates as important to improving the direct care professional workforce.
To be eligible for a grant under this section, an eligible partnership described in paragraph (1) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
The Center may—
develop recommendations for training and education curricula for direct care professionals, which such recommendations may include recommendations for curricula for higher education, postsecondary credentials, and programs with community and technical colleges;
develop learning and dissemination strategies to—
engage States and other entities in activities supported under this section and best practices for supporting the direct care professional workforce; and
distribute findings from activities supported by the grant under this section;
explore the national data gaps, workforce shortage areas, and data collection strategies for direct care professionals and make recommendations to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget for an occupation category in the Standard Occupational Classification system for direct care professionals as a healthcare support occupation; and
recommend career development and advancement opportunities for direct care professionals, which may include occupational frameworks, national standards, recruitment campaigns, pre-apprenticeship and on-the-job training opportunities, apprenticeship programs, career pathways, specializations or certifications, educational information about career opportunities in long-term care settings, or other activities.
The Secretary shall convene an advisory council to provide recommendations to the Center with respect to the duties of the Center under this section and may engage individuals described in paragraph (2) for service on the advisory council.
The individuals described in this paragraph include—
older individuals and people with disabilities;
organizations representing the rights and interests of people receiving services from direct care professionals;
individuals who are direct care professionals and organizations representing the rights and interests of direct care professionals;
as applicable, employers of individuals described in subparagraph (C) and labor organizations representing such individuals;
representatives of State Medicaid agencies, State agencies defined in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002), State developmental disabilities offices, and State mental health agencies;
representatives reflecting diverse racial, cultural, ethnic, geographic, socioeconomic, and gender identity and sexual orientation perspectives;
representatives of local boards and State boards;
a nonprofit organization with demonstrated experience in the development or delivery of curricula or coursework;
a nonprofit organization, including a labor organization, that fosters the professional development and collective engagement of direct care professionals;
area agencies on aging;
centers for independent living, as described in part C of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796f et seq.);
representatives of State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (as such term is used in subtitle B of title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15021 et seq.));
representatives of Aging and Disability Resource Centers;
representatives of nonprofit State provider associations that represents providers who employ direct care professionals;
representatives of entities that employ direct care professionals;
representatives of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service supported under subtitle D of title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15061 et seq.);
representatives of State protection and advocacy systems described in section 143 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15043); and
representatives of direct care professional organizations representing underserved communities, including communities of color.
There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, a report that contains an assessment of the programs and activities of the Department of Health and Human Services related to enhancing the direct care professional workforce, including the extent to which programs and activities authorized under titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 296 et seq.) address—
increasing nursing faculty who are trained in geriatric nursing;
increasing individuals preparing for careers in or advanced degrees in geriatric nursing or long-term care;
increasing direct care professionals;
the extent to which the Department coordinates with other Federal departments regarding programs designed to improve the direct care professional workforce; and
recommendations for best practices.
Section 865 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 298) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking the elderly
and inserting older individuals
;
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (1), by striking the elderly
and inserting older individuals
;
in paragraph (2), by striking treatment
and all that follows and inserting health care needs of older individuals;
; and
in paragraph (5), by striking the elderly population
and inserting older individuals
;
Eligible Entityand inserting
Definitions;
For purposes of this section, the termand inserting “For purposes of this section:
by adding at the end the following:
The term older individual has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965.
in subsection (e), by striking years
and all that follows and inserting years 2026 through 2030.
.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress that—
identifies the extent of vacancies at employers that employ direct care professionals at the State and local levels within the direct care professional workforce, including with respect to vacancies of direct care professionals;
review existing apprenticeship programs in the direct care professional workforce;
provide recommendations on the design of apprenticeship programs in the direct care professional workforce, including about potential funding opportunities, potential apprenticeship program sponsors, and a national competency-based occupational framework; and
identify opportunities for coordination with other State and local entities, including State educational agencies, local educational agencies, career and technical education programs, institutions of higher education, State agencies with responsibility for administering a State Medicaid program, and labor management organizations, to create apprenticeship programs and other ways to incorporate associate and bachelor’s degrees in apprenticeship programs.
Part D of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
In this section:
The terms career and technical education, career guidance and academic counseling, and program of study have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.
The terms elementary school, local educational agency, and secondary school have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
The terms direct care professional and direct care professional workforce have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act.
The terms career pathway, industry or sector partnership, and local board have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration and in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to develop career exploration programs aligned to career and technical education programs of study to bring awareness to elementary school and secondary school students in underserved rural communities about health care professions careers and provide children and youth underserved rural community health care experiences related to such careers.
Each grant awarded under this section shall be in an amount that is not more than $250,000 per year.
Each grant awarded under this section shall be for a period not to exceed 5 years.
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall meet the following requirements:
Be a consortium consisting of a local educational agency and at least 2 of the following:
An institution of higher education that provides a recognized postsecondary credential in health care.
A health care practice, facility, or provider organization.
A State, Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, or a local governmental entity.
A local board.
An industry or sector partnership.
A nonprofit organization representing the interests of underserved rural communities and rural health care.
An area health education center.
A rural health clinic.
Any other entity as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
Submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information that the Secretary may require, including a plan for the long-term tracking of participants supported by the grant under this section.
In order to ensure the institutional commitment of an entity to a program supported by a grant under this section, to be eligible to receive such a grant, the Secretary may require the entity seeking such grant to agree to make available (directly or through contributions from State, county or municipal governments, or the public or private sector) recurring non-Federal contributions in cash or in kind (including plant, equipment, or services) towards the costs of operating the program in an amount that is equal to not less than 50 percent of the total costs of operating such program.
In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that—
include in its consortium—
an entity that has demonstrated alignment with a State plan or local application developed under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006;
a high-need local educational agency, as defined in section 200 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, or a local educational agency eligible to receive assistance under part B of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;
an institution of higher education at which at least 30 percent of the enrolled students are Federal Pell Grant recipients;
a minority-serving institution of higher education described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965; or
a local educational agency that serves the greatest number of students; and
provide a plan to sustain the program funded under the grant beyond the period of the grant.
An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to establish, improve, or expand an underserved rural community training program for elementary school students and secondary school students that meets the following requirements:
Carrying out program planning, including—
development and support of a coordinating body to organize, administer, and oversee the activities of the consortium;
conducting a needs analysis using data, including community demographics, workforce estimates, and capacity of training programs to direct work of the consortium; and
developing a regional articulation plan that benefits students with respect to reducing barriers to program entry, reducing time to graduation, and lower cost training options.
Carrying out age-appropriate education activities and promotion of the program that align with section 135(b)(1) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, including—
engaging students in underserved rural communities in elementary school for exposure to health career workforce opportunities, and including direct care professionals in educational opportunities as practicable;
exposing secondary school students in underserved rural communities to health career workforce opportunities available in their communities, including by providing career guidance and academic counseling on such opportunities;
developing strategies to address resiliency and mental health among elementary school and secondary school students in underserved rural communities interested in health care professions careers in such communities;
providing age-appropriate mentoring, academic enrichment, or support for elementary school and secondary school students in underserved rural communities, carried out by health care professionals or peers;
enrolling secondary school students (including those in underserved rural communities) in health care career and technical education programs of study or career pathways in underserved rural communities;
developing and enrolling of secondary school students in pre- and youth-apprenticeships or summer programs that provide clinical or other health care professions focused experiences in underserved rural communities;
providing financial supplemental support for student transportation to, and housing at, the program site, as appropriate; and
such other activities as the Secretary determines appropriate.
Each such program shall be carried out for a term of not less than 5 years.
The Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall, directly or indirectly, provide technical assistance to grant recipients for purposes of carrying out the programs described in subsection (e).
An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit an annual report to the Secretary on the progress of the program supported by such grant, based on criteria the Secretary determines appropriate, including the program selection of students who participated in the program.
Each report required under subparagraph (A) shall include any data requested by the Secretary, which may include, as appropriate, the number of participants and the demographics of such participants served by the program supported by the grant, including the number of participants who enrolled in the program and withdrew prior to completion of the program.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter until all programs supported through a grant under this section are completed, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that includes the progress of each program supported by a grant under this section and the challenges experienced by grantees with respect to such programs.
Not later than September 30, 2031, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall submit a report to Congress on the lessons learned through the programs supported by grants under this section and that based on such lessons identifies best practices for career exploration programs with a focus on underserved rural communities and the direct care professional workforce.
The Secretary shall, by regulation, define the term underserved rural community for purposes of this section.
Any eligible entity receiving funds under this section shall use such funds to supplement, not supplant, any other Federal, State, and local funds that would otherwise be expended by such entity to carry out the activities described in this section.
The Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, shall evaluate the implementation and outcomes of this section on the recruitment of secondary school students residing in underserved rural communities entering professions of direct care professionals.
The Secretary shall conduct the evaluation under paragraph (1) through a contract with an external evaluator who has experience with evaluation related to workforce development and people with disabilities and older individuals.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary
), in coordination with the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall—
not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, develop a research-based tool for assessing direct care professional well-being, as described in subsection (b); and
not less frequently than biennially, collect data on worker well-being using the tool developed pursuant to paragraph (1) and make such data publicly available as described in subsection (c).
The tool for the assessment of direct care professional well-being developed under subsection (a)(1) shall—
include the use of an anonymous, validated survey of direct care professionals;
at a minimum, assess and include the views of such professionals on—
workplace policies and culture, including meaningful engagement of such professionals;
workplace physical environment and safety;
circumstances outside of work for such professionals; and
the physical and mental health status of such professionals; and
be developed with input from direct care professionals, older individuals, people with disabilities, and family members of older individuals and people with disabilities.
The Secretary shall—
make available, through a publicly available data repository, aggregated and de-identified data collected by the assessment of direct care professional well-being under subsection (a);
make the assessment tool developed under subsection (a)(1) publicly available in a format that allows employers, researchers, and other entities to voluntarily use and administer such assessment for purposes of using information collected by the assessment to improve the well-being of direct care professionals; and
conduct outreach to employers, researchers, and other relevant entities to increase awareness of the availability of the tool for the assessment of the well-being of direct care professionals.
In developing the assessment tool under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall minimize the burden of the data collection process on direct care professionals.
The Secretary shall ensure that the assessment tool developed under subsection (a)(1), the process of data collection under subsection (a), and the publicly available data under subsection (c)(1), do not involve the collection or disclosure of any individually identifiable information regarding the direct care professionals who are being assessed.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to require that the assessment tool developed under subsection (a)(1) or the data collected through such tool be used for purposes of quality measurement or payment systems under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) or a State Medicaid program.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall—
submit to Congress a report on the findings of the assessment under subsection (a), including any recommendations to address direct care professional well-being; and
make such report publicly available on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For purposes of this section, the term well-being, with respect to a direct care professional, means the quality of life with respect to the health and work-related environment of such professional as related to organizational and psychosocial factors.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish the National Direct Care Professional Training Standards Commission (referred to in this section as the Commission
) to advise the Secretary on—
developing national direct care professional training standards described in paragraph (2) to recommend to States to implement; and
providing support for States in implementing such standards.
The standards under this subsection shall be—
competency-based;
industry-recognized; and
portable across settings and States.
The Commission shall include representatives from the following:
An organization representing older individuals.
An organization led by people with disabilities.
An organization representing the rights and interests of people receiving services from direct care professionals.
An organization (other than a labor organization) representing direct care professionals.
Labor organizations representing direct care professionals.
An organization representing State Medicaid agencies, State agencies defined in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002), State developmental disabilities offices, and State mental health agencies.
An organization representing local boards and State boards.
An organization representing area agencies on aging.
An organization representing centers for independent living, as described in part C of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796f et seq.).
An organization representing State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (as such term is used in subtitle B of title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15021 et seq.)).
An organization representing Aging and Disability Resource Centers.
An organization representing nonprofit State provider associations.
An organization representing entities that employ direct care professionals.
An organization representing University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service supported under subtitle D of title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15061 et seq.).
An organization representing State protection and advocacy systems described in section 143 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15043).
Representatives of direct care professional organizations representing underserved communities, including communities of color.
Representatives reflecting diverse racial, cultural, ethnic, geographic, socioeconomic, and gender identity and sexual orientation perspectives.
A member of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.
A vacancy in the Commission—
shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
Not later than 180 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold the first meeting of the Commission.
The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
The Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the Commission.
The Commission shall conduct a thorough study of all matters relating to direct care professional training standards.
The Commission shall develop recommendations on—
national training standards for direct care professionals that meet the requirements under subsection (a)(2); and
methods for supporting States in implementing such standards.
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress a report that contains a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with the recommendations of the Commission for such legislation and administrative actions as the Commission considers appropriate.
The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out this section.
The Commission may secure directly from a Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this section.
On request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of the department or agency shall furnish the information to the Commission.
The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.
A member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission.
A member of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.
The Chairperson of the Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties, except that the employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission.
The Chairperson of the Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title.
A Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
The Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title.
The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits the report required under subsection (b)(3).
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $500,000 for fiscal year 2026, to remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary
) shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to establish or enhance evidence-based or evidence-informed programs dedicated to improving mental health and resiliency for direct care professionals.
To be eligible to receive an award under this subsection, an entity shall be—
a State;
a labor organization, joint labor management organization, or employer of direct care professionals;
a nonprofit entity with experience in aging, disability, or supporting the rights and interests of, the training of, or educating direct care professionals; or
an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Urban Indian organization.
A recipient of an award under this subsection shall use funds received through the award to implement and evaluate a new program or enhance an existing program to promote mental health among direct care professionals, which may include—
improving awareness among direct care professionals about risk factors for, and signs of, suicide and mental health or substance use disorders, in accordance with evidence-based or evidence-informed practices;
establishing new, or enhancing existing, evidence-based or evidence-informed programs for preventing suicide and improving mental health and resiliency among direct care professionals;
establishing new, or enhancing existing, peer-support programs for direct care professionals; or
providing—
mental health care;
follow-up services or care by a licensed or certified mental health professional (including by means of telehealth); or
a referral for such services or care by such a professional, as appropriate.
In awarding grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity in—
a rural area; or
an area where the number of direct care professional vacancies, in the year of the application, is greater than 30 percent of the total number of direct care professional positions in the area.
The Secretary may establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to support the inclusion, in direct care professional preparation programs and in training, continuing education, or professional development programs for direct care professionals, of evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies—
to address mental and substance use disorders of direct care professionals; and
to improve mental health and resiliency among direct care professionals.
To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall be—
an institution of higher education;
a State or local government;
an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization;
a public or private nonprofit entity determined appropriate by the Secretary; or
a consortia of entities described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (D), including such entities promoting multidisciplinary approaches.
A grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded under subsection (a) or (b) shall be for a period of 3 years.
An entity seeking an award under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.
An entity receiving an award under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit to the Secretary an annual report evaluating the activities supported by the award.
To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—
identify evidence-based or evidence-informed best practices—
for preventing suicide and improving mental health and resiliency among direct care professionals; and
for training direct care professionals in appropriate strategies to promote their mental health; and
disseminate those best practices to the appropriate committees of Congress.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary
), in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including medical professional associations, shall establish a national evidence-based or evidence-informed education and awareness initiative—
with the goal of preventing suicide, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders of direct care professionals, to—
encourage direct care professionals to seek support and care for their mental health or substance use concerns;
help such professionals identify risk factors associated with suicide and mental health conditions; and
help such professionals learn how best to respond to such risk factors; and
to address stigma associated with seeking mental health and substance use disorder services.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress an update on the activities and outcomes of the initiative under subsection (a), including a description of quantitative and qualitative metrics used to evaluate such activities and outcomes.
Section 2041 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397m) is amended to read as follows:
Each State shall be entitled to receive from the Secretary for each fiscal year specified in subsection (e) a grant in an amount equal to the amount allotted to the State under subparagraph (B).
Subject to clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) the amount allotted to a State under this subparagraph for a fiscal year shall be equal to the product of—
the available amount for the fiscal year; and
the ratio of—
the number of State residents who have attained 60 years of age or are under a disability (as defined in section 216(i)(1)), as determined by the Secretary using the most recent version of the American Community Survey published by the Bureau of the Census or a successor data set; divided by
the total number of such residents of all States.
The amount allotted to a State under this subparagraph for a fiscal year shall be not less than 0.25 percent of the available amount for the fiscal year.
Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary shall proportionately increase or decrease the amounts allotted under this subparagraph for a fiscal year as necessary to ensure that the available amount for the fiscal year is allotted among the States.
The Secretary shall make the determination referred to in clause (i)(II)(aa) every 5 years.
Subject to clause (ii), the amount allotted to a State under this subparagraph, on the basis of such a determination, for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2030 shall be—
not less than 90 percent of the amount of the grant made to the State under this subparagraph for the preceding fiscal year; and
not more than 110 percent of the amount referred to in item (aa).
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall make grants in accordance with this section to Indian tribes and tribal organizations who operate at least 1 eligible setting.
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall devise a formula for distributing among Indian tribes and tribal organizations the amount required to be reserved by subsection (e) for each fiscal year.
A State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to which an amount is paid under this section may use the amount to make sub-grants to local organizations, including community organizations, local non-profits, elder rights and justice groups, and workforce development boards for any purpose described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b).
A State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to which an amount is paid under this section shall use the amount to—
provide wage subsidies to eligible individuals;
provide student loan repayment or tuition assistance to eligible individuals for a degree or certification in a field relevant to their position referred to in subsection (f)(2)(A);
guarantee affordable and accessible child care for eligible individuals, including help with referrals, co-pays, or other direct assistance; and
provide assistance where necessary with obtaining appropriate transportation, including public transportation if available, or gas money if public transportation is unavailable or impractical based on work hours or location.
A State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to which an amount is paid under this section may use the amount to—
establish a reserve fund for financial assistance to eligible individuals in emergency situations;
provide in-kind resource donations, such as interview clothing and conference attendance fees;
provide assistance with programs and activities, including legal assistance, deemed necessary to address arrest or conviction records that are an employment barrier;
support employers operating an eligible setting in the State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization in providing employees with not less than 2 weeks of paid leave per year; or
provide other support services the Secretary deems necessary to allow for successful recruitment and retention of workers.
A State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to which an amount is paid under this section may provide the amount to only an eligible individual or a partner organization serving an eligible individual.
A State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to which an amount is paid under this section shall not use the amount to supplant the expenditure of any State or tribal funds for recruiting or retaining employees in an eligible setting.
A State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization shall remit to the Secretary for reallotment under this section any amount paid under this section for a fiscal year that is not obligated within 2 years after the end of the fiscal year.
A State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to which a grant is made under this section shall reserve not more than 10 percent of the grant to—
administer subgrants in accordance with this section;
provide technical assistance and support for applying for and accessing such a subgrant opportunity;
publicize the availability of the subgrants;
carry out activities to increase the supply of eligible individuals; and
provide technical assistance to help subgrantees find and train individuals to provide the services for which they are contracted.
Not less frequently than annually, each State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to which a grant has been made under this section shall transmit to the Secretary a written report describing the activities undertaken by the State pursuant to this section during the period covered by the report, which shall include—
the total amount expended in the State for each type of use described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b);
the total number of non-State organizations in the State to which grant funds were provided, and the amount so provided to each such organization;
the change in the number of individuals working in each job category described in subsection (f)(2)(A) in an eligible setting in the State;
the average duration of employment for each such job category;
the average annual wage of workers in each job category described in subsection (f)(2)(A) in an eligible setting in the State;
the average amount of paid time off to which a worker in each job category described in subsection (f)(2)(A) in an eligible setting in the State is entitled by their contract; and
such other data elements as the Secretary deems relevant.
Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this section, and every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives a written report outlining how the grant recipients have used the grants made under this section during the period covered by the report, which shall include—
the total amount expended by each State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization for each type of use described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b);
the total number of non-State or non-tribal organizations in each State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to which grant funds were provided, and the amount so provided to each such non-State or non-tribal organization;
the change in the number of individuals working in each job category described in subsection (f)(2)(A) in an eligible setting;
the average duration of employment for each such job category, by State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization;
the average annual wage of workers in each job category described in subsection (f)(2)(A) in an eligible setting;
the average amount of paid time off to which a worker in each job category described in subsection (f)(2)(A) in an eligible setting is entitled by their contract; and
such other data elements as the Secretary deems relevant.
Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary $400,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section, of which 2 percent shall be reserved for grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
In this section:
The term available amount means, with respect to a fiscal year, the amount specified in subsection (e) that remains after the reservation required by such subsection for the fiscal year, plus all amounts remitted to the Secretary under subsection (b)(5) that have not been reallotted under subsection (a)(1)(B)(iii).
The term eligible individual means an individual who—
is a qualified home health aide, as defined in section 484.80(a) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations;
is a nurse aide approved by the State as meeting the requirements of sections 483.150 through 483.154 of such title, and is listed in good standing on the State nurse aide registry;
is a personal care aide approved by the State, and furnishes personal care services, as defined in section 440.167 of such title;
is a qualified hospice aide, as defined in section 418.76 of such title;
is a licensed practical nurse or a licensed or certified social worker;
is receiving training to be certified or licensed as such an aide, nurse, or social worker; or
is any other direct care professional; and
provides (or, in the case of a trainee, intends to provide) services as such an aide, nurse, or social worker in an eligible setting.
The term eligible setting means—
a skilled nursing facility, as defined in section 1819;
a nursing facility, as defined in section 1919;
a home health agency, as defined in section 1891;
a setting approved to deliver home or community-based services authorized under State options described in subsection (c) or (i) of section 1915 or, as relevant, demonstration projects authorized under section 1115;
a hospice, as defined in section 1814;
another long-term care setting; or
a tribal assisted living facility.
The term tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 36 the following new section:
In the case of an individual who is a health care professional described in subsection (b) with respect to the taxable year, there shall be allowed a credit of $5,000 against the tax imposed by this subtitle for such taxable year.
A health care professional described in this subsection, with respect to any taxable year, is any individual who, at any time during such taxable year, is—
a practitioner, as defined in section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C)), providing services for compensation as such practitioner in a long-term care setting,
a certified nursing assistant providing services for compensation as such assistant in a long-term care setting,
a licensed practical nurse, or registered professional nurse, providing services for compensation as such a nurse in a long-term care setting,
a home health aide providing services for compensation as such aide in a long-term care setting,
a personal or home care aide providing services for compensation as such aide in a long-term care setting, or
a direct care professional, who is not otherwise described in any of paragraphs (1) through (5), providing services for compensation as such professional in a long-term care setting.
For purposes of this section, the terms direct care professional, long-term care setting, and personal or home care aide have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act.
Section 6211(b)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting , 36A
after 36
.
The table of section for subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 such Code is amended by amending by inserting after the item relating to section 36 the following new item:
The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary
), in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the heads of other entities as necessary, shall establish a national technical assistance center to—
address inequities and disparities facing the direct care professional workforce; and
ensure that long-term care settings are meeting the unique demographic, cultural, and linguistic needs of the community in which such settings are situated and the community of workers within such settings.
The Center may—
maintain a centralized online hub of equity-focused direct care professional workforce resources;
conduct studies and develop trainings and resources on the inequities facing direct care professionals and enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility among long-term care settings;
develop equity-specific tools and resources to support State and local governments in building an equitable direct care professional workforce;
design and inform interventions in the direct care professional workforce that reduce disparities and promote equity within the direct care professional workforce;
convene experts in the direct care professional workforce, including direct care professionals, to develop equity-based resources; and
collaborate with organizations representing people with disabilities, older individuals, people of color, women, immigrants, and LGBT communities, and others as determined by the Secretary.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress an update on the activities and outcomes of the initiative under subsection (a).
To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
In this subtitle:
The term the Administrator means the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor.
The term community partner means any stakeholder with a commitment to enforcing wage and hour laws and preventing abuses of such laws, including any—
State department of labor;
attorney general of a State or other similar authorized official of a political subdivision thereof;
law enforcement agency;
consulate;
employee or advocate of employees, including a labor organization, community- and faith-based organization, business association, disability organization, older individual organization, or nonprofit legal aid organization;
academic institution that plans, coordinates, and implements programs and activities to prevent wage and hour violations and recover unpaid wages, damages, and penalties; or
any municipal agency responsible for the enforcement of local wage and hour laws.
The term community partnership means a partnership between—
a working group consisting of community partners; and
the Department of Labor.
The term covered employee means a direct care professional working in a long-term care setting.
The term covered employer means an employer who employs covered employees to work in or provide services in a long-term care setting.
The term eligible entity means an entity that is any of the following:
A nonprofit organization, including such an organization that is a community-based organization, faith-based organization, disability organization, older individuals organization, or labor organization, that provides services and support to employees, including assisting such employees in recovering unpaid wages.
An employer.
A business association.
An institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
A partnership between any of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.
The term strategic enforcement means the process by which the Secretary—
targets highly noncompliant industries, as identified by the Secretary, using industry-specific structures to influence, and ultimately reform, networks of interconnected employers;
analyzes regulatory regimes under which specific industries operate; and
modifies the enforcement approach of such regulatory regimes in order to ensure the greatest impact.
The term wage and hour law means any Federal law enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, including any provision of this Act enforced by such division.
The term wage and hour violation refers to any violation of a Federal law enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, including any provision of this Act enforced by such division.
The Secretary, acting through the Administrator, shall provide grants to eligible entities to assist such entities in enhancing the enforcement of wage and hour laws, in accordance with this section and consistent with the purposes of this Act.
A grant provided under this section shall be designed to—
support an eligible entity in establishing and supporting the activities described in subsection (c)(1); and
develop community partnerships to expand and improve cooperative efforts between enforcement agencies and members of the community to—
prevent and reduce wage and hour violations; and
assist covered employees in recovering back pay for any such violations.
The grants described in this section shall assist eligible entities in establishing and supporting activities that include—
disseminating information and conducting outreach and training to educate covered employees about their rights under wage and hour laws;
conducting educational training for covered employers about their obligations under wage and hour laws;
conducting orientations and trainings jointly with officials of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor;
providing assistance to covered employees in filing claims of wage and hour violations;
assisting enforcement agencies in conducting investigations, including in the collection of evidence and recovering back pay;
monitoring compliance with wage and hour laws;
performing joint visitations to worksites that violate wage and hour laws with officials from the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor;
establishing networks for education, communication, and participation in the workplace and community;
evaluating the effectiveness of programs designed to prevent wage and hour violations and enforce wage and hour laws;
recruiting and hiring of staff and volunteers;
production and dissemination of outreach and training materials;
creation of a phone, short message service, web, or other technology-based communication for reporting covered employee emergencies, wage theft, or labor violations, seeking emergency services, or seeking support or guidance in lieu of emergency services; and
any other activities as the Secretary may reasonably prescribe through notice and comment rulemaking.
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may not use the grant funds for any purpose reasonably prohibited by the Secretary through notice and comment rulemaking.
Each grant made under this section shall be available for expenditure for a period that is not to exceed 3 years.
An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application for such grant to the Secretary in accordance with this subsection.
In the case of an eligible entity that is a partnership described in section 301(4)(E), the eligible entity may submit a joint application that designates a single entity as the lead entity for purposes of receiving and disbursing funds.
An application under this subsection shall include—
a description of a plan for the program that the eligible entity proposes to carry out with a grant under this section, including a long-term strategy and detailed implementation plan that reflects expected participation of, and partnership with, community partners;
information on the prevalence of wage and hour violations in each community or State of the eligible entity;
information on any industry or geographic area targeted by the plan for such program;
information on the type of outreach and relationship building that will be conducted under such program;
information on the training and education that will be provided to covered employees and covered employers under such program; and
the method by which the eligible entity will measure results of such program.
In accordance with this subsection, the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, select grant recipients from among eligible entities that have submitted an application under subsection (e).
In selecting grant recipients under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that—
serve covered employees in the long-term care industry or geographic area that is most highly at risk for noncompliance with wage and hour violations, as identified by the Secretary; and
demonstrate past and ongoing work to prevent wage and hour violations or to recover unpaid wages.
In selecting grant recipients under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall also consider—
the prevalence of ongoing community support for each eligible entity, including financial and other contributions; and
the eligible entity’s past and ongoing partnerships with other organizations.
Not later than 60 days after receiving a grant under this section, the grant recipient shall negotiate and finalize with the Secretary a memorandum of understanding that sets forth specific goals, objectives, strategies, and activities that will be carried out under the grant by such recipient through a community partnership.
A representative of the grant recipient (or, in the case of a grant recipient that is an eligible entity described in section 301(4)(E), a representative of each entity that composes the grant recipient) and the Secretary shall sign the memorandum of understanding under this subsection.
The memorandum of understanding under this subsection shall be reviewed and revised by the grant recipient and the Secretary each year of the duration of the grant.
Each grant recipient under this section shall develop procedures for reporting, monitoring, measuring, and evaluating the activities of each program or project funded under this section.
The procedures required under paragraph (1) shall be in accordance with guidelines established by the Secretary.
If the Secretary determines that a recipient of a grant under this section is not in compliance with the terms and requirements of the memorandum of understanding under subsection (g), the Secretary may revoke or suspend (in whole or in part) the funding of the grant.
In addition to the Wage and Hour Division, the Secretary (acting through the Administrator) may use any division or agency of the Department of Labor in carrying out this subtitle.
The Secretary may consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the Administrator for Community Living) to carry out this subtitle.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, shall evaluate the implementation and outcomes of this section on the occurrence of wage and hour violations through a contract with an external evaluator who has experience with evaluation of labor regulations and long-term care services.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain available until expended.
In this subtitle—
the terms enterprise, enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, and person have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203); and
the term regular rate has the meaning given such term in section 7(e) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 207(e)).
In this subtitle:
The term child—
means an individual who is under 18 years of age; and
includes an individual described in subparagraph (A) who is—
a biological, foster, or adopted child;
a stepchild;
a child of a domestic partner;
a legal ward; or
a child of a person standing in loco parentis.
The term covered entity—
means any person or agency who provides compensation directly or indirectly to a direct care professional for the performance of long-term care services; and
includes—
a person acting directly or indirectly in the interest of the entity in relation to a direct care professional;
an employer of a direct care professional; and
an agency that contracts with an agency to provide direct care professionals.
The term Medicaid HCBS-eligible older individual means an individual who—
is 60 years of age or older; and
is eligible for and enrolled for medical assistance for any of the following services (whether provided on a fee-for-service, risk, or other basis) under a State Medicaid program, and includes an individual who becomes eligible for medical assistance under a State Medicaid program when removed from a waiting list:
Home health care services authorized under paragraph (7) of section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)).
Personal care services authorized under paragraph (24) of such section.
PACE services authorized under paragraph (26) of such section.
Home and community-based services authorized under subsections (b), (c), (i), (j), and (k) of section 1915 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396n), such services authorized under a waiver under section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315), and such services provided through coverage authorized under section 1937 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396u–7).
Case management services authorized under section 1905(a)(19) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)(19)) and section 1915(g) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396n(g)).
Rehabilitative services, including those related to behavioral health, described in section 1905(a)(13) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)(13)).
Such other services specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The term on-call shift means any time a covered entity expects a direct care professional to—
be available to work; and
wait to contact, or be contacted by, the covered entity, or a designee of the entity, to determine whether the direct care professional shall report to work during such time.
The term parent, with respect to a direct care professional, means—
a biological, foster, or adoptive parent of a direct care professional;
a stepparent of a direct care professional;
parent-in-law of a direct care professional;
parent of a domestic partner of a direct care professional; or
a legal guardian or other person who stood in loco parentis to the direct care professional when the worker was a child.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.
The term shared living arrangement means a living arrangement involving—
not more than 2 individuals who are a person with a disability or a Medicaid HCBS-eligible older individual, except if 1 or more of the individuals are related to each other (by blood or a close association that is equivalent to a family relationship);
an individual providing services for compensation and living in the private home of the recipient of such services;
an individual receiving funding through a State Medicaid program or another publicly funded program;
a stipend or room and board as the primary form of payment for the individual providing such services; and
the individual receiving such services having the final decision regarding who is the provider of such services living with the individual, through a consumer-driven matching process that includes relationship building, person-centered planning as defined by the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and an assessment of individual compatibility.
The term spouse has the meaning given such term by the marriage laws of the State in which the marriage was celebrated.
In this section, the term covered direct care professional means any direct care professional to whom the covered entity expects to provide compensation for the performance of long-term care services by the covered direct care professional for not less than 8 hours per week.
Each covered entity shall provide a written agreement in accordance with this section to each covered direct care professional who is provided compensation, directly or indirectly, by the covered entity for the performance of long-term care services.
A written agreement required under this section shall—
be signed and dated by the covered direct care professional and the covered entity;
be written in a language easily and fully understood by the covered direct care professional and the covered entity, which may be in multiple languages if the covered direct care professional and the entity do not easily and fully understand the same language; and
include the contents described in subsection (d).
A copy of the written agreement required under this section shall be provided to the covered direct care professional not later than 5 calendar days after the date on which the covered direct care professional is hired by the covered entity.
The contents described in this subsection shall include each of the following:
The full name, address, and contact information of the covered entity, including, as appropriate, any doing business as
name of the entity and the name of each individual of the entity who will be doing business with the covered direct care professional.
The address for the location where the covered direct care professional will be providing long-term care services for the covered entity.
All responsibilities to be performed by the covered direct care professional for the covered entity, and the regularity in which such responsibilities are to be performed.
The regular rate of pay of the covered direct care professional for any work week, including any overtime compensation due.
The day of the week when the covered direct care professional will be paid.
The required working hours for any work week, including—
the time of day and day of week the work of the covered direct care professional begins;
meal and rest breaks described in section 316;
time off;
the work schedule of the covered direct care professional at the time of hire, including—
the time of day and the days of the week the covered direct care professional will be expected to work each week for the covered entity; or
if the time of day or the days of the week that the covered direct care professional will be expected to work for the covered entity will vary from week to week, information regarding a good faith estimate of the days and hours for which the covered direct care professional will be expected to work for the entity each week, including, at minimum—
the average number of hours the covered direct care professional will be expected to work for the entity each week during a typical 90-day period;
whether the covered direct care professional can expect to work any on-call shifts for the entity;
a subset of days the covered direct care professional can typically expect to work (or to be scheduled as off from work) for the entity; and
the amount of notice that the entity will provide to the covered direct care professional in advance of scheduled work hours (as defined in section 313(a)), which shall not be less than 72 hours before such scheduled work hours are to begin (except during a period described in subparagraph (A) of section 313(e)(1), in a case described in subparagraph (B) of such section, or in the case of a shared living arrangement), and the manner in which such notice shall be provided;
the reporting time pay policy described in section 313(c); and
the right to request and receive a change to scheduled work hours due to personal events as described in section 314.
If applicable, any policies of the covered entity with respect to the covered direct care professional for paying for or providing reimbursement for—
health insurance;
transportation, meals, or lodging; and
any fees or costs associated with the long-term care services provided by the covered direct care professional for the entity.
If applicable, any policies of the covered entity with respect to the covered direct care professional for—
annual or other pay increases;
severance pay; and
providing materials or equipment related to the performance of long-term care services by the covered direct care professional, including (if applicable) any cleaning supplies provided by the entity.
Information about policies, procedures, and equipment related to safety and emergencies.
The policy of the covered entity pertaining to notice of termination of the covered direct care professional by the entity.
In the case of a covered direct care professional who resides in the household of the person for whom the covered direct care professional provides long-term care services—
the circumstances under which the covered entity may enter the designated living space of the covered direct care professional;
the circumstances under which the covered direct care professional, in a shared living arrangement, may enter the designated living space of the covered entity; and
a description of certain circumstances the covered entity determines as cause for—
immediate termination of the covered direct care professional; and
removal of the covered direct care professional from the household of the person for whom the covered direct care professional provides long-term care services not later than 48 hours after notice of the termination.
Any additional benefits afforded to the covered direct care professional by the covered entity.
The process for the covered direct care professional to raise or address grievances with respect to, or breaches of, the written agreement.
The process used by the covered entity to change any policy described in subparagraphs (A) through (M), including addressing additional compensation if responsibilities are added to those described in subparagraph (C), after the date on which the written agreement is provided to the covered direct care professional.
A written agreement required under this section may not—
contain—
a mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreement for claims made by a covered direct care professional against a covered entity regarding the legal rights of the covered direct care professional; or
be construed to waive the rights or protections of a covered direct care professional under Federal, State, or local law.
A covered entity shall provide a written agreement required under this section—
to each covered direct care professional hired after the date of enactment of this Act, prior to the first day the covered direct care professional performs long-term care services for the entity; and
to each covered direct care professional hired on or prior to the date of enactment of this Act, 90 days after such date of enactment.
Not later than 30 calendar days after the date on which a covered entity makes a change to a written agreement provided to a covered direct care professional under this section, the entity shall provide the covered direct care professional with an updated agreement in accordance with this section.
A covered entity that is required to provide a written agreement under this section to a covered direct care professional shall retain such agreement for a period of not less than 3 years from the date on which the covered direct care professional is no longer working for the entity.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and make available templates for model written agreements under this section.
A model written agreement required under paragraph (1) shall—
be available in multiple languages commonly understood by covered direct care professionals, including all languages in which the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, translates the basic information fact sheet published by the Administrator; and
not include any agreement described in subsection (d)(2)(A).
In this section:
The term covered direct care professional has the meaning given the term in section 312(a).
The term scheduled work hours means the hours on a specified day during which a direct care professional is, through a written agreement or schedule, required by a covered entity to perform long-term care services for the entity and for which the direct care professional will receive compensation for such services.
In the case of a covered direct care professional, the covered entity shall provide the covered direct care professional notice of the scheduled work hours of such covered direct care professional through—
a written agreement described in subclause (I) of section 312(d)(1)(F)(iv) regarding a schedule of the time of day and the days of the week the covered direct care professional is expected to work for the covered entity each week; or
a schedule agreed upon by the covered entity and the covered direct care professional provided in the amount of time specified in accordance with a written agreement described in subclause (II) of such section, regarding a good faith estimate of the time of day and the days of the week that the covered direct care professional is expected to work for the entity.
A covered entity shall—
communicate in writing (which may be in an electronic form) any change to the scheduled work hours of a direct care professional, including any on-call shifts, not less than 72 hours before the direct care professional is scheduled to begin work; and
pay a direct care professional—
the regular rate of pay of the direct care professional for any scheduled work hours the direct care professional does not work due to the covered entity canceling or reducing the scheduled work hours of the direct care professional after the direct care professional arrives to work for the scheduled work hours; or
at a rate of 1/2 of the regular rate of pay of the direct care professional for any scheduled work hours the direct care professional does not work due to the covered entity canceling or reducing the scheduled work hours of the direct care professional at a time that is less than 72 hours prior to the commencement of such scheduled work hours, unless the entity—
is an individual with a disability relying on the direct care professional for disability supports and services (or an entity supporting an individual with a disability); and
requests the direct care professional to consent to work alternative, equivalent scheduled work hours within a 7-day period and the direct care professional consents to work such alternative, equivalent hours.
In the case of a covered direct care professional, if a covered entity wishes to include work hours in the scheduled work hours of such covered direct care professional that are identified as hours in which the covered direct care professional can typically expect to be scheduled as off from work in accordance with the written agreement under section 312(d)(1)(F)(iv)(I) or are identified as hours outside of the good faith estimate under section 312(d)(1)(F)(iv)(II)(cc), the hiring entity shall obtain the written consent of the worker to work such hours prior to the commencement of such work.
The consent required under paragraph (1) may be transmitted electronically to the covered entity.
Notwithstanding any provision in this section, the requirements under subsection (c) shall not apply—
during any period in which the operations of the covered entity cannot begin or continue due to—
a fire, flood, or other natural disaster;
a major disaster or emergency declared by the President under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191) or a state of emergency declared by a Governor of a State or chief official of a unit of local government; or
a severe weather condition that poses a threat to worker safety; or
in a case in which—
the direct care professional voluntarily requested in writing a change to the scheduled work hours of the direct care professional; or
the covered entity changes the scheduled work hours of a direct care professional due to—
a medical emergency requiring emergency medical treatment or hospitalization;
the risk of contagion or a quarantine requirement related to a public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); or
Notwithstanding any provision in this section, the requirements under this section shall not apply to a shared living arrangement.
This section shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
In this section:
The term covered direct care professional has the meaning given the term in section 312(a).
The term domestic violence has the meaning given the term in section 331.
The term personal event, with respect to a covered direct care professional, means—
an event resulting in the need of the covered direct care professional to serve as a caregiver for an individual related to the covered direct care professional by blood or affinity or whose close association with the covered direct care professional is the equivalent of a family relationship;
an event resulting from the obligation of a covered direct care professional to attend a legal proceeding or hearing for subsistence benefits, including benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) or under a State program for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), to which the covered direct care professional, or an individual related to the covered direct care professional as described in subparagraph (A), is a party or witness; or
any circumstance that would constitute a basis for permissible use of safe time, or family, medical, or sick leave, as determined based on the policy of the covered entity.
The term safe time, with respect to a covered direct care professional, means an absence from work of the covered direct care professional resulting from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the absence is to—
seek medical attention for the covered direct care professional or a child, parent, spouse, or domestic partner of the covered direct care professional, or any other individual related to the covered direct care professional by blood or affinity whose close association with the covered direct care professional is the equivalent of a family relationship, in order to recover from physical or psychological injury or disability caused by domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
obtain, or assist a child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, or other individual described in subparagraph (A) in obtaining, services from a victim services organization;
obtain, or assist a child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, or other individual described in subparagraph (A) in obtaining, psychological or other counseling;
seek relocation for the covered direct care professional or a child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, or other individual described in subparagraph (A); or
take legal action, including preparing for or participating in any civil or criminal legal proceeding related to or resulting from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, of the covered direct care professional or a child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, or other individual described in subparagraph (A).
The term scheduled work hours has the meaning given such term in section 313(a), except that references in such section to the term direct care professional shall be deemed to be a reference to the term covered direct care professional.
The terms sexual assault and stalking have the meanings given such terms in section 331.
The term temporary change, with respect to a change in the scheduled work hours of a covered direct care professional, means a limited alteration in the hours or dates that, or locations where, a covered direct care professional is scheduled to work, including through using paid time off, trading or shifting work hours, or using short-term unpaid leave.
In accordance with this subsection, for each calendar year, a covered entity shall, upon request of a covered direct care professional, grant to the covered direct care professional not less than—
2 requests for a temporary change, covering not more than 1 business day per request, to the scheduled work hours of the covered direct care professional due to a personal event; or
1 request for a temporary change, covering not more than 2 business days, to the scheduled work hours of the covered direct care professional due to a personal event.
A covered direct care professional who requests a temporary change to the scheduled work hours of the covered direct care professional due to a personal event under this subsection shall—
notify the covered entity, or direct supervisor, of such covered direct care professional, as soon as the covered direct care professional becomes aware of the need for the temporary change and inform the entity or supervisor that the change is due to a personal event;
make a proposal for the temporary change to the scheduled work hours of the covered direct care professional, unless the covered direct care professional seeks leave without pay; and
subject to subparagraph (B), not be required to initially submit the request in writing.
A covered direct care professional that requests a temporary change to the scheduled work hours of the covered direct care professional under this subsection and does not initially submit a request for such change in writing shall, as soon as practicable and not later than 2 business days after date on which the covered direct care professional returns to work following the conclusion of the temporary change to the scheduled work hours, submit a written record of such request indicating—
the date for which the change was requested; and
that the request was made due to a personal event.
A covered entity may require that a record under this subparagraph be submitted in electronic form if covered direct care professionals of the entity commonly use an electronic form to request and manage leave and schedule changes.
A covered entity who receives a request under subsection (b) for a temporary change to the scheduled work hours of a covered direct care professional due to a personal event shall respond as soon as practicable. Such entity shall not be initially required to respond to such request in writing. If such entity does not initially respond to the requested schedule change in writing, the entity shall, as soon as practicable and not later than 1 week after the requested schedule change, provide the direct care professional with a written record of the response to the requested schedule change.
This section shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
A covered entity shall not—
monitor or record a direct care professional while such direct care professional is—
using restroom or bathing facilities;
in the private living quarters of the direct care professional; or
engaging in any activities associated with the dressing, undressing, or changing of clothes of the direct care professional;
subject to subsection (b), restrict or interfere with, or monitor, the private communications of such direct care professional; or
take possession of any documents or other personal effects of such direct care professional.
A covered entity may—
establish reasonable restrictions on the private communications of a direct care professional while such direct care professional is performing work for the entity.
This section shall not preclude liability under any other law.
In this section, the term private communications means any communication through telephone or internet services, including sending and receiving communications by text message, social media, electronic mail, and telephone, with an entity or individual other than the covered entity.
Except as provided in subsection (c), a covered entity shall not require a direct care professional to work more than 5 hours for such hiring entity without an uninterrupted meal break of not less than 30 minutes. The number of hours worked by a direct care professional for purposes of this paragraph shall be calculated without regard to any rest break the direct care professional takes and to which the direct care professional has a right under subsection (b).
A covered entity shall pay a direct care professional for a meal break under paragraph (1) at the regular rate of pay of the direct care professional, unless the direct care professional is relieved of all duty for not less than 30 minutes during the meal break and is permitted to leave the work site during such break.
Except as provided in subsection (c), for any paid meal break required under paragraph (2), a covered entity—
shall provide a reasonable opportunity for a direct care professional to take such break for a period of uninterrupted time that is not less than 30 minutes; and
shall not impede or discourage a direct care professional from taking such meal break.
Except as provided in subsection (c), for every 4 hours of work that a direct care professional is scheduled to perform for a covered entity, the entity shall allow the direct care professional a rest break of not less than 10 uninterrupted minutes in which the direct care professional is relieved of all duties related to providing long-term care services to the entity. The entity shall allow such rest break to occur during the first 3 hours of consecutive work performed by the direct care professional for the entity.
A covered entity shall pay a direct care professional for the times spent by the direct care professional for a rest break under paragraph (1) at the regular rate of pay of the direct care professional. The hiring entity shall not impede or discourage a direct care professional from taking such break.
In this subsection, the term on-duty, with respect to a meal break under subsection (a) or a rest break under subsection (b), means such a break in which the direct care professional—
is not relieved of all duties of the direct care professional for the covered entity; and
may, to the extent possible given the duties of the direct care professional for the covered entity, engage in personal activities, such as resting, eating a meal, drinking a beverage, making a personal telephone call, or making other personal choices.
In a case described in paragraph (1), the direct care professional may still take an on-duty meal or rest break under subsection (a) or (b), respectively, if—
the nature of the work prevents a direct care professional from being relieved of all duties required of the direct care professional for the covered entity;
the direct care professional and the covered entity agree to such an on-duty meal or rest break in a written agreement described in clause (ii); and
shall be voluntary and not a condition of hire, continued employment, scheduling, or assignment;
A direct care professional may revoke an agreement under clause (i) at any time without prior notice to the covered entity.
The requirements under this section shall not apply in the case of a shared living arrangement.
It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of, or the attempt to exercise, any right provided under this subtitle, including—
discharging or in any manner discriminating against (including retaliating against) any direct care professional for—
exercising, or attempting to exercise, any right provided under this subtitle; or
engaging in concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or mutual aid or protection, regardless of whether such activities are with direct care professionals of different employers or direct care professionals at different worksites; and
discriminating against any direct care professional by using the exercise of a right provided under this subtitle as a negative factor in an employment action, such as an action involving hiring, promotion, or changing work hours or number of shifts, or a disciplinary action.
It shall be unlawful for any covered entity to discharge, demote, suspend, reduce the work hours of, take any other adverse employment action against, threaten to take an adverse employment action against, or in any other manner discriminate against a direct care professional with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because the direct care professional (or any person acting pursuant to the request of the direct care professional), whether at the initiative of the direct care professional or in the ordinary course of the direct care professional’s duties—
opposes any practice made unlawful under this subtitle;
asserts any claim or right under this subtitle;
assists a direct care professional in asserting such claim or right;
informs any direct care professional about this subtitle;
requests a change to the written agreement described in section 312;
requests a change in scheduled work hours described in section 314, or any other schedule change, without regard to the eligibility of such direct care professional to receive any such change;
files an action, or institutes or causes to be instituted any proceeding, under or related to this subtitle;
gives, or is about to give, any information in connection with any inquiry or proceeding relating to any right provided under this subtitle; or
testifies, or is about to testify, in any inquiry or proceeding relating to any right provided under this subtitle; and
engages in concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or mutual aid or protection, regardless of whether such activities are with direct care professionals of different employers or direct care professionals at different worksites.
For purposes of subsections (a) and (b), discrimination with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment occurs if a person undertakes any of the following activities (unless such activity is legal conduct undertaken at the express and specific direction or request of the Federal Government):
Reporting, or threatening to report, the citizenship or immigration status of a direct care professional, or the suspected citizenship or immigration status of a family member of such an individual, to a Federal, State, or local agency.
Requesting more or different documents than those required under section 274A(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(b)), or refusing to honor documents that on their face appear to be genuine.
Using the Federal E–Verify system to check employment status in a manner not required under section 274A(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(b)) or any memorandum governing use of the E–Verify system.
Filing, or threatening to file, a false police report relating to the immigration status of a direct care professional, or a family member of a direct care professional.
Contacting, or threatening to contact, immigration authorities relating to the immigration status of a direct care professional, or a family member of a direct care professional.
For the purposes of subsections (a) and (b), proof that a person discharged an individual, or discriminated against an individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, within 90 days of the individual involved asserting any claim or right under this subtitle, or assisting any other individual in asserting such a claim or right, shall raise a presumption that the discharge or discrimination was in retaliation as prohibited under subsection (a) or (b), as the case may be.
The presumption under paragraph (1) may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence that such discharge or discrimination was taken for another permissible reason.
In this subsection—
the term covered entity means a covered entity described in subsection (e)(1)(A); and
the term direct care professional means a direct care professional described in subsection (e)(4)(A).
To ensure compliance with the provisions of this subtitle, or any regulation or order issued under this subtitle, the Secretary shall have the investigative authority provided under section 11(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 211(a)), with respect to covered entities, direct care professionals, and other individuals affected.
A covered entity shall make, keep, and preserve records pertaining to compliance with this subtitle in accordance with section 11(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 211(c)) and in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
The Secretary shall not require under this paragraph a covered entity to submit to the Secretary any books or records more than once during any 12-month period, unless the Secretary—
has reasonable cause to believe there may exist a violation of this subtitle, including any regulation or order issued under this subtitle; or
is investigating a charge under paragraph (4).
For the purposes of any investigation under this paragraph, the Secretary shall have the subpoena authority provided under section 9 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 209).
An action to recover the damages or equitable relief prescribed in subparagraph (B) may be maintained against a covered entity by one or more direct care professionals, or a representative for and on behalf of the direct care professionals and any other direct care professionals that may be similarly situated.
A covered entity that violates this subtitle shall be liable to a direct care professional aggrieved by the violation, except as provided in subparagraphs (C) and (D), for—
damages equal to—
the amount of—
any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation denied or lost by reason of the violation; or
in a case in which wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation have not been denied or lost, any actual monetary losses sustained, or the costs reasonably related to damage to or loss of property, or any other injury to the person, reputation, character, or feelings, sustained by a direct care professional as a direct result of the violation, or any injury to another person sustained as a direct result of the violation, by the covered entity;
the interest on the amount described in subclause (I) calculated at the prevailing rate;
an additional amount as liquidated damages; and
such other legal relief as may be appropriate;
such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion; and
a reasonable attorney’s fee, reasonable expert witness fees, and other costs of the action.
In the case of a violation of section 316, the covered entity involved shall be liable under subparagraph (B)—
for the amount of damages described in subclauses (I), (II), and (III) of subparagraph (B)(i); and
under subparagraph (B)(i)(IV), for each such violation, for an amount equal to 1 hour of pay at the direct care professional’s regular rate of compensation (but not more than 2 hours of such pay for each workday for which the covered entity is in violation of such section).
In the case of a violation of section 312, the covered entity involved shall be liable, under subparagraph (B)(i)(I), for an amount equal to $5,000.
An action under this paragraph may be maintained in any Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction.
Subject to clause (ii), and subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (3), the Secretary shall receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints of violations of this subtitle in the same manner that the Secretary receives, investigates, and attempts to resolve complaints of violations of sections 6, 7, and 15(a)(3) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206, 207, and 215(a)(3)), including the Secretary’s authority to supervise payment of wages and compensation under section 16(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(c)).
The Secretary may assess a civil penalty against a covered entity that violates any section of this subtitle—
of not more than $15,000 for any first violation of any such section by such covered entity; and
of not more than $25,000 for any subsequent violation of any such section by such covered entity.
Any aggrieved direct care professional who takes exception to an order issued by the Secretary under subparagraph (A) may request review of and a decision regarding such order by an administrative law judge. In reviewing the order, the administrative law judge may hold an administrative hearing concerning the order, in accordance with the requirements of sections 554, 556, and 557 of title 5, United States Code. Such hearing shall be conducted expeditiously. If no aggrieved direct care professional requests such review within 60 days after the order is issued under subparagraph (A), the order shall be considered to be a final order that is not subject to judicial review.
The Secretary may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover amounts described in paragraph (3)(B) on behalf of a direct care professional aggrieved by a violation of this subtitle.
Any sums recovered by the Secretary under subparagraph (C) shall be held in a special deposit account and shall be paid, on order of the Secretary, directly to each direct care professional aggrieved by the violation for which the action was brought. Any such sums not paid to a direct care professional because of inability to do so within a period of 3 years shall be deposited into the Treasury of the United States as a miscellaneous receipt.
Any sums recovered by the Secretary under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury of the United States as a miscellaneous receipt.
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an action may be brought under paragraph (3), (4), or (6) not later than 2 years after the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which the action is brought.
In the case of an action brought for a willful violation of this subtitle, such action may be brought not later than 3 years after the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which such action is brought.
An action shall be considered commenced under paragraph (3), (4), or (6) for the purposes of this paragraph on the date on which the complaint is filed under such paragraph (3), (4), or (6).
The district courts of the United States together with the District Court of the Virgin Islands and the District Court of Guam shall have jurisdiction, for cause shown, in an action brought by a direct care professional or the Secretary—
to restrain violations of this subtitle, including the withholding of a written agreement from a direct care professional as required under section 312, or of any withholding of payment of wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation, plus interest, found by the court to be due to a direct care professional under this subtitle; or
to award such other equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion, for a violation of this subtitle.
The Solicitor of Labor may appear for and represent the Secretary on any litigation brought under paragraph (4) or (6).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, in the case of the Government Accountability Office and the Library of Congress, the authority of the Secretary of Labor under this subsection shall be exercised respectively by the Comptroller General of the United States and the Librarian of Congress.
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) to the Board (as defined in section 101 of that Act (2 U.S.C. 1301)), or any person, alleging a violation of section 202(a)(1) of that Act (2 U.S.C. 1312(a)(1)) shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to that Board, or any person, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this subtitle against a direct care professional described in subsection (e)(4)(B).
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in chapter 5 of title 3, United States Code, to the President, the Merit Systems Protection Board, or any person, alleging a violation of section 412(a)(1) of that title, shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the President, that Board, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this subtitle against a direct care professional described in subsection (e)(4)(C).
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in title 5, United States Code, to an employing agency, provided in chapter 12 of that title to the Merit Systems Protection Board, or provided in that title to any person, alleging a violation of chapter 63 of that title, shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to that agency, that Board, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this subtitle against a direct care professional described in subsection (e)(4)(D).
In section 317 and this section, except as otherwise provided in this subsection:
Notwithstanding section 311, the term covered entity means a covered entity—
as defined in section 311(b) except that a reference in that section to a person or an employer shall be considered to be a reference to an employer described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A), and subparagraph (B), of paragraph (2);
as defined in section 311(b) except that a reference in that section to a person or an employer shall be considered to be a reference to an employer described in subparagraphs (A)(iii) and (B) of paragraph (2);
as defined in section 311(b) except that a reference in that section to a person or an employer shall be considered to be a reference to an employer described in subparagraphs (A)(iv) and (B) of paragraph (2); and
as defined in section 311(b) except that a reference in that section to a person or an employer shall be considered to be a reference to an employer described in subparagraphs (A)(v) and (B) of paragraph (2).
Notwithstanding section 311, for purposes of paragraph (1), the term employer means a person who is—
any person who is not covered under another clause of this subparagraph;
an entity employing a State employee described in section 304(a) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991;
an employing office, as defined in section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995;
an employing office, as defined in section 411(c) of title 3, United States Code; or
an employing agency covered under subchapter V of chapter 63 of title 5, United States Code; and
engaged in commerce or the production of goods for commerce or is an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce.
Notwithstanding section 3, the term employment includes work as a direct care professional.
Notwithstanding section 3, the term direct care professional means—
direct care professional (as defined in such section) who is compensated for the performance of long-term care services by an entity described in paragraph (1)(B);
Nothing in this subtitle shall—
supersede a provision in a collective bargaining agreement;
be construed to diminish the obligation of a covered entity to comply with any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or employment benefit program or plan that provides greater rights or benefits to direct care professionals than the rights established under this subtitle; or
be construed to discourage or prevent a covered entity from adopting a contract, collective bargaining agreement, or employment benefit program or plan that provides greater rights or benefits to direct care professionals than the rights established under this subtitle.
Nothing in this subtitle shall—
affect the obligation of a covered entity to provide a reasonable accommodation in the form of a change to the work schedule of a direct care professional required under any other law, or to otherwise comply with any other law;
preempt, limit, or otherwise affect the applicability of any State or local law that provides comparable or superior benefits for direct care professionals to the requirements under this subtitle; or
diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of any direct care professional under any Federal or State law or under any collective bargaining agreement.
The rights and remedies in this subtitle may not be waived by a direct care professional through any agreement, policy, or form, or as a condition of employment.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall issue an interim final standard on workplace violence prevention—
to require certain employers in the health care and social service sectors, and certain employers in sectors that conduct activities similar to the activities in the health care and social service sectors, to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan and carry out other activities or requirements described in section 323 to protect health care workers, social service workers, and other personnel from workplace violence;
that shall, at a minimum, be based on the Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor in 2015 and adhere to the requirements of this subtitle; and
that provides for a period determined appropriate by the Secretary, not to exceed 1 year, during which the Secretary shall prioritize technical assistance and advice consistent with section 21(d) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 670(d)) to employers subject to the standard with respect to compliance with the standard.
The following provisions of law and Executive orders shall not apply to the issuance of the interim final standard under this subsection:
The requirements applicable to occupational safety and health standards under section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655(b)).
The requirements of chapters 5 and 6 of title 5, United States Code.
Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Paperwork Reduction Act
).
Executive Order No. 12866 (58 Fed. Reg. 51735; relating to regulatory planning and review), as amended.
Notwithstanding paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary shall, prior to issuing the interim final standard under this subsection, provide notice in the Federal Register of the interim final standard and a 30-day period for public comment.
The interim final standard shall—
take effect on a date that is not later than 30 days after issuance, except that such interim final standard may include a reasonable phase-in period for the implementation of required engineering controls that take effect after such date;
be enforced in the same manner and to the same extent as any standard promulgated under section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655(b)); and
be in effect until the final standard described in subsection (b) becomes effective and enforceable.
If an interim final standard described in paragraph (1) is not issued not later than 1 year of the date of enactment of this Act, the provisions of section 323 shall be in effect and enforced in the same manner and to the same extent as any standard promulgated under section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655(b)) until such provisions are superseded in whole by an interim final standard issued by the Secretary that meets the requirements of paragraph (1).
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall, pursuant to section 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655), promulgate a proposed standard on workplace violence prevention—
for the purposes described in subsection (a)(1)(A); and
that shall include, at a minimum, requirements contained in the interim final standard required under subsection (a).
Not later than 42 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a final standard on such proposed standard that shall—
provide no less protection than any workplace violence standard adopted by a State plan that has been approved by the Secretary under section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 667), provided the Secretary finds that the final standard is feasible on the basis of the best available evidence; and
be effective and enforceable in the same manner and to the same extent as any standard promulgated under section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655(b)).
In this subtitle:
The term covered facility means the following:
Any hospital, including any specialty hospital, in-patient or outpatient setting, or clinic operating within a hospital license, or any setting that provides outpatient services.
Any residential treatment facility, including any nursing home, skilled nursing facility, hospice facility, Alzheimer’s and dementia care facility, or other long-term care facility.
Any nonresidential treatment or service setting.
Any medical treatment or social service setting or clinic at a correctional or detention facility.
Any community care setting, including a community-based residential facility, group home, and mental health clinic.
Any psychiatric treatment facility.
Any drug abuse or substance use disorder treatment center.
Any independent freestanding emergency center.
Any assisted living facility.
Any facility described in clauses (i) through (ix) operated by a Federal Government agency and required to comply with occupational safety and health standards pursuant to part 1960 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (as such part is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
Any other facility the Secretary determines should be covered under the standards promulgated under section 321.
The term covered facility does not include an office of a physician, dentist, podiatrist, or any other health practitioner that is not physically located within a covered facility described in clauses (i) through (xi) of subparagraph (A).
The term covered service means the following services and operations:
Any services and operations provided in any field work setting, including home health care, home-based hospice, and home-based social work.
Any emergency services and transport, including such services provided by firefighters and emergency responders.
Any services described in clauses (i) and (ii) performed by a Federal Government agency and required to comply with occupational safety and health standards pursuant to part 1960 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (as such part is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
Any other services and operations the Secretary determines should be covered under the standards promulgated under section 321.
The term covered service does not include child day care services.
The term covered employer includes a person (including a contractor, a subcontractor, a temporary service firm, or an employee leasing entity) that employs an individual to work at a covered facility or to perform covered services.
The term covered employer does not include an individual who privately employs, in the individual’s residence, a person to perform covered services for the individual or a family member of the individual or an individual who receives home and community-based services through a self-directed or participant-directed Medicaid waiver.
The term covered employee includes an individual employed by a covered employer to work at a covered facility or to perform covered services.
Each standard described in section 321 shall include, at a minimum, the following:
Not later than 6 months after the date of promulgation of the interim final standard under section 321(a), or 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act in a case described in section 321(a)(5), a covered employer shall develop, implement, and maintain an effective written workplace violence prevention plan (in this section referred to as the Plan
) for covered employees at each covered facility and for covered employees performing a covered service on behalf of such employer, which meets the following:
Each Plan—
shall be developed and implemented with the meaningful participation of direct care professionals, other employees, and employee representatives, for all aspects of the Plan;
shall be tailored and specific to conditions and hazards for the covered facility or the covered service, including patient-specific risk factors and risk factors specific to each work area or unit;
shall be suitable for the size, complexity, and type of operations at the covered facility or for the covered service, and remain in effect at all times; and
may be in consultation with stakeholders or experts who specialize in workplace violence prevention, emergency response, or other related areas of expertise for all relevant aspects of the Plan.
Each Plan shall include procedures and methods for the following:
Identification of the individual (including the individual’s role with respect to the covered employer) responsible for implementation of the Plan.
With respect to each work area and unit at the covered facility or while covered employees are performing the covered service, risk assessment and identification of workplace violence risks and hazards to employees exposed to such risks and hazards (including environmental risk factors and patient-specific risk factors), and protective factors associated with violence, which shall be—
informed by past violent incidents specific to such covered facility or such covered service; and
conducted with, at a minimum—
direct care professionals;
where applicable, the representatives of such workers; and
the employer.
Hazard prevention, engineering controls, or work practice controls to correct hazards, in a timely manner, applying industrial hygiene principles of the hierarchy of controls, which—
may include security and alarm systems, adequate exit routes, monitoring systems, barrier protection, established areas for patients and clients, lighting, entry procedures, staffing and working in teams, and systems to identify and flag clients with a history of violence; and
shall ensure that employers correct, in a timely manner, hazards identified in any violent incident investigation described in paragraph (2) and any annual report described in paragraph (5).
Reporting, incident response, and post-incident investigation procedures, including procedures—
for employees to report workplace violence risks, hazards, and incidents;
for employers to respond to reports of workplace violence;
for employers to perform a post-incident investigation and debriefing of all reports of workplace violence with the participation of employees and their representatives;
to provide medical care or first aid to affected employees; and
to provide employees with information about available trauma and related counseling.
Procedures for emergency response, including procedures for threats of mass casualties and procedures for incidents involving a firearm or a dangerous weapon.
Procedures for communicating with and training the covered employees on workplace violence hazards, threats, and work practice controls, the employer’s plan, and procedures for confronting, responding to, and reporting workplace violence threats, incidents, and concerns, and employee rights.
Procedures for—
ensuring the coordination of risk assessment efforts, Plan development, and implementation of the Plan with other employers who have employees who work at the covered facility or who are performing the covered service; and
determining which covered employer or covered employers shall be responsible for implementing and complying with the provisions of the standard applicable to the working conditions over which such employers have control.
Procedures for conducting the annual evaluation under paragraph (6).
Each Plan shall be made available at all times to the covered employees who are covered under such Plan.
As soon as practicable after a workplace violence incident, risk, or hazard of which a covered employer has knowledge, the employer shall conduct an investigation of such incident, risk, or hazard under which the employer shall—
review the circumstances of the incident, risk, or hazard, and whether any controls or measures implemented pursuant to the Plan of the employer were effective; and
solicit input from involved employees, their representatives, and supervisors about the cause of the incident, risk, or hazard, and whether further corrective measures (including system-level factors) could have prevented the incident, risk, or hazard.
A covered employer shall document the findings, recommendations, and corrective measures taken for each investigation conducted under this paragraph.
With respect to the covered employees covered under a Plan of a covered employer, the employer shall provide training and education to such employees who may be exposed to workplace violence hazards and risks, which meet the following requirements:
Annual training and education shall include information on the Plan, including identified workplace violence hazards, work practice control measures, reporting procedures, recordkeeping requirements, response procedures, anti-retaliation policies, and employee rights.
Additional hazard recognition training shall be provided for supervisors and managers to ensure they—
can recognize high-risk situations; and
do not assign employees to situations that predictably compromise the safety of such employees.
Additional training shall be provided for each such covered employee whose job circumstances have changed, within a reasonable timeframe after such change.
Additional training shall be provided for each such covered employee whose job circumstances require working with victims of torture, trafficking, or domestic violence.
Applicable training shall be provided under this paragraph for each new covered employee prior to the employee’s job assignment.
All training shall provide such employees opportunities to ask questions, give feedback on training, and request additional instruction, clarification, or other follow-up.
All training shall be provided in-person and by an individual with knowledge of workplace violence prevention and of the Plan, except that any annual training described in subparagraph (A) provided to an employee after the first year such training is provided to such employee may be conducted by live video if in-person training is impracticable.
All training shall be appropriate in content and vocabulary to the language, educational level, and literacy of such covered employees.
Each covered employer shall—
maintain for not less than 5 years—
records related to each Plan of the employer, including workplace violence risk and hazard assessments, and identification, evaluation, correction, and training procedures;
a violent incident log described in subparagraph (B) for recording all workplace violence incidents; and
records of all incident investigations as required under paragraph (2)(B); and
make such records and logs available, upon request, to covered employees and their representatives for examination and copying in accordance with section 1910.1020 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (as such section is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act), and in a manner consistent with HIPAA privacy regulations (defined in section 1180(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–9(b)(3))) and part 2 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (as such part is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act); and
ensure that any such records and logs that may be copied, transmitted electronically, or otherwise removed from the employer’s control for purposes of this clause omit any element of personal identifying information sufficient to allow identification of any patient, resident, client, or other individual alleged to have committed a violent incident (including the individual’s name, address, electronic mail address, telephone number, or social security number, or other information that, alone or in combination with other publicly available information, reveals such individual’s identity).
Each violent incident log shall—
be maintained by a covered employer for each covered facility controlled by the employer and for each covered service being performed by a covered employee on behalf of such employer;
be based on a template developed by the Secretary not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act;
include, at a minimum, a description of—
the violent incident (including environmental risk factors present at the time of the incident);
the date, time, and location of the incident, and the names and job titles of involved employees;
the nature and extent of injuries to covered employees;
a classification of the perpetrator who committed the violence, including whether the perpetrator was—
a patient, client, resident, or customer of a covered employer;
a family or friend of a patient, client, resident, or customer of a covered employer;
a stranger;
a coworker, supervisor, or manager of a covered employee;
a partner, spouse, parent, or relative of a covered employee; or
any other appropriate classification;
the type of violent incident (such as type 1 violence, type 2 violence, type 3 violence, or type 4 violence); and
how the incident was abated;
not later than 7 days after the employer learns of such incident, contain a record of each violent incident, which is updated to ensure completeness of such record;
be maintained for not less than 5 years; and
in the case of a violent incident involving a privacy concern case, protect the identity of employees in a manner consistent with section 1904.29(b) of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (as such section is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
Each covered employer shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an annual summary of each violent incident log for the preceding calendar year that shall—
with respect to each covered facility, and each covered service, for which such a log has been maintained, include—
the total number of violent incidents;
the number of recordable injuries related to such incidents; and
the total number of hours worked by the covered employees for such preceding year;
be completed on a form provided by the Secretary;
be posted for 90 days beginning February 1 of each year in a manner consistent with the requirements of part 1904 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (as such part is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act), relating to the posting of summaries of injury and illness logs;
be located in a conspicuous place or places where notices to employees are customarily posted; and
not be altered, defaced, or covered by other material.
Not later than 1 year after the promulgation of the interim final standard under section 321(a), or 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act in a case described in section 321(a)(5), the Secretary shall make available a platform for the electronic submission of annual summaries required under this subparagraph.
Not later than February 15 of each year, each covered employer shall report to the Secretary, on a form provided by the Secretary, the frequency, quantity, and severity of workplace violence, and any incident response and post-incident investigation (including abatement measures) for the incidents set forth in the annual summary of the violent incident log described in paragraph (4)(C).
Not later than 180 days after February 15 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a summary of the reports received under subparagraph (A). The contents of the summary of the Secretary to Congress shall not disclose any confidential information.
Each covered employer shall conduct an annual written evaluation, conducted with the full, active participation of covered employees and employee representatives, of—
the implementation and effectiveness of the Plan, including a review of the violent incident log; and
compliance with training required by each standard described in section 321, and specified in the Plan.
Each covered employer shall incorporate changes to the Plan, in a manner consistent with paragraph (1)(A)(i) and based on findings from the most recent annual evaluation conducted under paragraph (6), as appropriate.
Each covered employer shall adopt a policy prohibiting any person (including an agent of the employer) from the discrimination or retaliation described in subparagraph (B).
No covered employer shall discriminate or retaliate against any employee for—
reporting a workplace violence incident, threat, or concern to, or seeking assistance or intervention with respect to such incident, threat, or concern from, the employer, law enforcement, local emergency services, or a local, State, or Federal Government agency; or
exercising any other rights under this section.
This paragraph shall be enforced in the same manner and to the same extent as any standard promulgated under section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655(b)).
Notwithstanding section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 667)—
nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to curtail or limit authority of the Secretary under any other provision of the law;
the rights, privileges, or remedies of covered employees shall be in addition to the rights, privileges, or remedies provided under any Federal or State law, or any collective bargaining agreement;
nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to limit or prevent health care workers, social service workers, and other personnel from reporting violent incidents to appropriate law enforcement; and
nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit or diminish any protections in relevant Federal, State, or local law related to—
domestic violence;
stalking;
dating violence; or
sexual assault.
In this subtitle:
The term alarm means a mechanical, electrical, or electronic device that does not rely upon an employee’s vocalization in order to alert others.
The term dangerous weapon means an instrument capable of inflicting death or serious bodily injury, without regard to whether such instrument was designed for that purpose.
The term engineering controls means an aspect of the built space or a device that removes a hazard from the workplace or creates a barrier between a covered employee and the hazard.
For purposes of reducing workplace violence hazards, the term engineering controls includes electronic access controls to employee occupied areas, weapon detectors (installed or handheld), enclosed workstations with shatter-resistant glass, deep service counters, separate rooms or areas for high-risk patients, locks on doors, removing access to or securing items that could be used as weapons, furniture affixed to the floor, opaque glass in patient rooms (which protects privacy, but allows the health care provider to see where the patient is before entering the room), closed-circuit television monitoring and video recording, sight-aids, and personal alarm devices.
The term environmental risk factors means factors in the covered facility or area in which a covered service is performed that may contribute to the likelihood or severity of a workplace violence incident.
Environmental risk factors may be associated with the specific task being performed or the work area, such as working in an isolated area, poor illumination or blocked visibility, and lack of physical barriers between individuals and persons at risk of committing workplace violence.
The term patient-specific risk factors means factors specific to a patient that may increase the likelihood or severity of a workplace violence incident, including—
a patient’s treatment and medication status, and history of violence and use of drugs or alcohol; and
any conditions or disease processes of the patient that may cause the patient to experience confusion or disorientation, be nonresponsive to instruction, behave unpredictably, or engage in disruptive, threatening, or violent behavior.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.
The term threat of violence means a statement or conduct that—
causes an individual to fear for such individual’s safety because there is a reasonable possibility the individual might be physically injured; and
serves no legitimate purpose.
The term type 1 violence—
means workplace violence directed at a covered employee at a covered facility or while performing a covered service by an individual who has no legitimate business at the covered facility or with respect to such covered service; and
includes violent acts by any individual who enters the covered facility or worksite where a covered service is being performed with the intent to commit a crime.
The term type 2 violence means workplace violence directed at a covered employee by customers, clients, patients, students, inmates, or any individual for whom a covered facility provides services or for whom the employee performs covered services.
The term type 3 violence means workplace violence directed at a covered employee by a present or former employee, supervisor, or manager.
The term type 4 violence means workplace violence directed at a covered employee by an individual who is not an employee, but has or is known to have had a personal relationship with such employee, or with a customer, client, patient, student, inmate, or any individual for whom a covered facility provides services or for whom the employee performs covered services.
The term work practice controls means procedures and rules that are used to effectively reduce workplace violence hazards.
The term work practice controls includes—
assigning and placing sufficient numbers of staff to reduce patient-specific type 2 violence hazards;
provision of dedicated and available safety personnel such as security guards;
employee training on workplace violence prevention methods and techniques to de-escalate and minimize violent behavior; and
employee training on procedures for response in the event of a workplace violence incident and for post-incident response.
The term workplace violence means any act of violence or threat of violence, without regard to intent, that occurs at a covered facility or while a covered employee performs a covered service.
The term workplace violence does not include lawful acts of self-defense or lawful acts of defense of others.
The term workplace violence includes—
the threat or use of physical force against a covered employee that results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, psychological trauma, or stress, without regard to whether the covered employee sustains an injury, psychological trauma, or stress; and
an incident involving the threat or use of a firearm or a dangerous weapon, including the use of common objects as weapons, without regard to whether the employee sustains an injury, psychological trauma, or stress.
Section 1866 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc) is amended—
in subsection (a)(1)—
in subparagraph (X), by striking and
at the end;
in subparagraph (Y), by striking the period at the end and inserting , and
; and
by inserting after subparagraph (Y) the following new subparagraph:
in the case of hospitals that are not otherwise subject to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (or a State occupational safety and health plan that is approved under section 18(b) of such Act) and skilled nursing facilities that are not otherwise subject to such Act (or such a State occupational safety and health plan), to comply with the Workplace Violence Prevention Standard (as promulgated under section 321 of the
Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act
).in subsection (b)(4)—
in subparagraph (A), by inserting and a hospital or skilled nursing facility that fails to comply with the requirement of subsection (a)(1)(Z) (relating to the Workplace Violence Prevention Standard)
after Bloodborne Pathogens standard)
; and
in subparagraph (B)—
by striking (a)(1)(U)
and inserting (a)(1)(V)
; and
by inserting (or, in the case of a failure to comply with the requirement of subsection (a)(1)(Z), for a violation of the Workplace Violence Prevention standard referred to in such subsection by a hospital or skilled nursing facility, as applicable, that is subject to the provisions of such Act)
before the period at the end.
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date of issuance of the interim final standard on workplace violence prevention required under section 321.
In this subtitle:
The term child means a biological, foster, or adopted child, a stepchild, a child of a domestic partner, a legal ward, or a child of a person standing in loco parentis.
The terms commerce and industry or activity affecting commerce mean any activity, business, or industry in commerce or in which a labor dispute would hinder or obstruct commerce or the free flow of commerce, and include commerce
and any industry affecting commerce
, as defined in paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 501 of the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947 (29 U.S.C. 142 (1) and (3)).
The term covered direct care professional means an employee who is employed as a direct care professional by an employer.
The term domestic violence has the meaning given the term in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)), except that the reference in such section to the term jurisdiction receiving grant funding shall be deemed to mean the jurisdiction in which the victim lives or the jurisdiction in which the employer involved is located. Such term also includes dating violence, as that term is defined in such section.
The term employee means an individual who is an employee, as defined in section 3(e) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(e)), except that a reference in such section to an employer shall be considered to be a reference to an employer described in paragraph (6).
The term employer—
means a person who is engaged in commerce or in any industry or activity affecting commerce who employs 1 or more employees;
includes—
any person who acts, directly or indirectly, in the interest of an employer to any of the employees of such employer; and
any successor in interest of such an employer; and
does not include any public agency.
For purposes of this subparagraph:
The term employee has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203).
The term person has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203).
The term public agency has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203).
Any reference in this paragraph to an employer shall include a reference to any predecessor of such employer.
The term employment benefits means all benefits provided or made available to employees by an employer, including group life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, sick leave, annual leave, educational benefits, and pensions, regardless of whether such benefits are provided by a practice or written policy of an employer or through an employee benefit plan
, as defined in section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(3)).
The term health care provider means a provider who—
is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy who is authorized to practice medicine or surgery (as appropriate) by the State in which the doctor practices; or
is any other person determined by the Secretary to be capable of providing health care services; and
is not employed by an employer for whom the provider issues certification under this subtitle.
The term paid sick time means an increment of compensated leave that—
can be—
earned by an employee for use during an absence from employment for a reason described in any paragraph of section 332(b); or
provided by an employer during a public health emergency for use during an absence from employment for a reason described in any paragraph of section 332(b); and
is compensated at a rate that is not less than the greatest of—
the employee’s regular rate of pay;
the wage rate described in section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)); or
the minimum wage rate provided for in the applicable State or local law for the State or locality in which the employee is employed.
The term parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent of an employee, a stepparent of an employee, parent-in-law, parent of a domestic partner, or a legal guardian or other person who stood in loco parentis to an employee when the employee was a child.
The term public health emergency means a public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for a jurisdiction, or by a State public health official with authority to declare such an emergency for the State or jurisdiction within the State.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.
The term sexual assault has the meaning given the term in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)).
The term spouse, with respect to an employee, has the meaning given such term by the marriage laws of the State in which the marriage was celebrated.
The term stalking has the meaning given the term in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)).
The term victim services organization means a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that provides assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking or advocates for such victims, including a rape crisis center, an organization carrying out a domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking prevention or treatment program, an organization operating a shelter or providing counseling services, or a legal services organization or other organization providing assistance through the legal process.
Subject to subsection (c), an employer shall provide each covered direct care professional employed by the employer not less than 1 hour of earned paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, to be used as described in subsection (b). An employer shall not be required to permit a covered direct care professional to earn, under this subsection, more than 56 hours of paid sick time in a year, unless the employer chooses to set a higher limit.
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), for purposes of this subsection, a covered direct care professional who is exempt from overtime requirements under section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 213(a)(1)) shall be deemed to work 40 hours in each workweek.
If the normal workweek of such a covered direct care professional is less than 40 hours, the covered direct care professional shall earn paid sick time under this subsection based upon that normal workweek.
Except as provided in subparagraph (B) and the second sentence of paragraph (8), covered direct care professionals shall begin to earn paid sick time under this section at the commencement of their employment. Except as provided in such subparagraph and such sentence, a covered direct care professional shall be entitled to use the earned paid sick time beginning on the 60th calendar day following commencement of the covered direct care professional’s employment. After that 60th calendar day, the covered direct care professional may use the paid sick time as the time is earned. An employer may, at the discretion of the employer, loan paid sick time to a covered direct care professional for use by such covered direct care professional in advance of the covered direct care professional earning such sick time as provided in this section and may permit use before the 60th day of employment.
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to additional paid sick time provided under subsection (c). In the event of a public health emergency, a covered direct care professional may immediately use the additional or accrued paid sick time described in subsection (c), regardless of how long the covered direct care professional has been employed by an employer.
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), paid sick time earned under this section shall carry over from 1 year to the next.
Except as provided in subsection (c), this subtitle shall not be construed to require an employer to permit a covered direct care professional to earn more than 56 hours of earned paid sick time at a given time.
Any employer with a paid leave policy who makes available an amount of paid leave that is sufficient to meet the requirements of this section and that may be used for the same purposes and under the same conditions as the purposes and conditions described in this section shall not be required to permit a covered direct care professional to earn additional paid sick time under this section.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring financial or other reimbursement to a covered direct care professional from an employer upon the covered direct care professional’s termination, resignation, retirement, or other separation from employment for earned paid sick time that has not been used.
If a covered direct care professional is separated from employment with an employer and is rehired, within 12 months after that separation, by the same employer, the employer shall reinstate the covered direct care professional’s previously earned paid sick time. The covered direct care professional shall be entitled to use the earned paid sick time and earn additional paid sick time at the recommencement of employment with the employer.
An employer may not require, as a condition of providing paid sick time under this subtitle, that the covered direct care professional involved search for or find a replacement to cover the hours during which the covered direct care professional is using paid sick time.
Paid sick time earned under this section may be used by a covered direct care professional for any of the following:
An absence resulting from a physical or mental illness, injury, or medical condition of the covered direct care professional.
An absence resulting from obtaining professional medical diagnosis or care, or preventive medical care, for the covered direct care professional.
An absence resulting from the closure of a covered direct care professional’s place of employment by order of a Federal or State public official with jurisdiction, or at the employer’s discretion, due to a public health emergency.
An absence because a Federal or State public official with jurisdiction or a health care provider has determined that the covered direct care professional’s presence in the community may jeopardize the health of others because of the covered direct care professional’s exposure to a communicable disease during a public health emergency, regardless of whether the covered direct care professional has actually contracted the communicable disease.
An absence for the purpose of caring for a child, a parent, a spouse, a domestic partner, or any other individual related by blood or affinity whose close association with the covered direct care professional is the equivalent of a family relationship—
who is a child, if the child’s school or place of care has been closed by order of a Federal or State public official with jurisdiction or at the discretion of the school or place of care due to a public health emergency, including if a school or entity operating the place of care is physically closed but is providing education or care to the child remotely; or
because a Federal or State public official with jurisdiction or a health care provider has determined that the presence in the community of the person receiving care may jeopardize the health of others because of the person’s exposure to a communicable disease during a public health emergency, regardless of whether the person has actually contracted the communicable disease.
An absence for the purpose of caring for a child, a parent, a spouse, a domestic partner, or any other individual related by blood or affinity whose close association with the covered direct care professional is the equivalent of a family relationship—
who has any of the conditions or needs for diagnosis or care described in paragraph (1) or (2);
who is a child, if the covered direct care professional is required to attend a school meeting or a meeting at a place where the child is receiving care necessitated by the child’s health condition or disability; or
who is otherwise in need of care.
An absence resulting from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the time is to—
seek medical attention for the covered direct care professional or the covered direct care professional’s child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, or an individual related to the covered direct care professional as described in paragraph (6), to recover from physical or psychological injury or disability caused by domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
obtain or assist a related person described in paragraph (6) in obtaining services from a victim services organization;
obtain or assist a related person described in paragraph (6) in obtaining psychological or other counseling;
seek relocation; or
take legal action, including preparing for or participating in any civil or criminal legal proceeding related to or resulting from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
On the date of a declaration of a public health emergency by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) or a major disaster or emergency declared by the President under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191), an employer in the jurisdiction involved shall provide each covered direct care professional of the employer in that jurisdiction with additional paid sick time, in addition to any amount of paid sick time accrued by the covered direct care professional under subsection (a) (including paid leave referred to in subsection (a)(4)).
In receiving additional paid sick time under paragraph (1), the covered direct care professional shall receive—
for a full-time salaried covered direct care professional, a specified amount of paid sick time that is sufficient to provide the covered direct care professional with 14 continuous days away from work without a reduction in pay; and
for a part-time or hourly covered direct care professional, a specified amount of paid sick time equal to the number of hours that the covered direct care professional was scheduled to work or, if not so scheduled, regularly works in a 14-day period.
The additional sick time and accrued sick time described in this subsection shall be available for immediate use by the covered direct care professional for the purposes described in any paragraph of subsection (b) beginning on the date a public health emergency is declared, regardless of how long the covered direct care professional has been employed by an employer.
During the public health emergency, a covered direct care professional may first use the additional sick time for those purposes. The covered direct care professional may then use the accrued sick time during the public health emergency, or retain the accrued sick time for use after the public health emergency. An employer may not require a covered direct care professional to use the accrued sick time, or any other paid leave provided by the employer to the covered direct care professional, before using the additional sick time.
A covered direct care professional may take the additional sick time on the schedule that meets the covered direct care professional’s needs, consistent with subsection (b), including taking the additional sick time intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule, and an employer may not require a covered direct care professional to take the additional sick time in a single period or on any other schedule specified by the employer.
A covered direct care professional shall make a reasonable effort to schedule a period of paid sick time under subsection (a) in a manner that does not unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.
Paid sick time shall be provided upon the oral or written request of a covered direct care professional. Such request shall—
include the expected duration of the period of such time; and
in a case in which the need for such period of time is foreseeable at least 7 days in advance of such period, be provided at least 7 days in advance of such period; and
otherwise, be provided as soon as practicable after the covered direct care professional is aware of the need for such period.
Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), an employer may require that a request for paid sick time under this section for a purpose described in paragraph (1), (2), or (6) of subsection (b) be supported by a certification issued by the health care provider of the covered direct care professional or of an individual described in subsection (b)(6), as appropriate, if the period of such time covers more than 3 consecutive workdays.
The covered direct care professional shall provide a copy of such certification to the employer in a timely manner, not later than 30 days after the first day of the period of time. The employer shall not delay the commencement of the period of time on the basis that the employer has not yet received the certification.
A certification provided under subparagraph (A) shall be sufficient if it states—
the date on which the period of time will be needed;
the probable duration of the period of time;
the appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care provider regarding the condition involved, subject to clause (ii); and
for purposes of paid sick time under subsection (b)(1), a statement that absence from work is medically necessary;
for purposes of such time under subsection (b)(2), the dates on which testing for a medical diagnosis or care is expected to be given and the duration of such testing or care; and
for purposes of such time under subsection (b)(6), in the case of time to care for someone who is not a child, a statement that care is needed for an individual described in such subsection, and an estimate of the amount of time that such care is needed for such individual.
In issuing a certification under subparagraph (A), a health care provider shall make reasonable efforts to limit the medical facts described in clause (i)(III) that are disclosed in the certification to the minimum necessary to establish a need for the covered direct care professional to use paid sick time.
No certification or other documentation may be required under this subtitle by an employer during any public health emergency.
Regulations prescribed under section 339 shall specify the manner in which a covered direct care professional who does not have health insurance shall provide a certification for purposes of this paragraph.
Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to require a health care provider to disclose information in violation of section 1177 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–6) or the regulations promulgated pursuant to section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note).
If an employer possesses health information about a covered direct care professional, a covered direct care professional’s child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, or an individual related to the covered direct care professional as described in subsection (b)(6), such information shall—
be maintained on a separate form and in a separate file from other personnel information;
be treated as a confidential medical record; and
not be disclosed except to the affected covered direct care professional or with the permission of the affected covered direct care professional.
An employer may require that a request for paid sick time under this section for a purpose described in subsection (b)(7) be supported by any one of the following:
A police report indicating that the covered direct care professional, or a member of the covered direct care professional’s family described in subsection (b)(7), was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
A court order protecting or separating the covered direct care professional or a member of the covered direct care professional’s family described in subsection (b)(7) from the perpetrator of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or other evidence from the court or prosecuting attorney that the covered direct care professional or a member of the covered direct care professional’s family described in subsection (b)(7) has appeared in court or is scheduled to appear in court in a proceeding related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Other documentation signed by a covered direct care professional or volunteer working for a victim services organization, an attorney, a police officer, a medical professional, a social worker, an antiviolence counselor, or a member of the clergy, affirming that the covered direct care professional or a member of the covered direct care professional’s family described in subsection (b)(7) is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
The requirements of paragraph (2) shall apply to certifications under this paragraph, except that—
subclauses (III) and (IV) of subparagraph (B)(i) and subparagraph (B)(ii) of such paragraph shall not apply;
the certification shall state the reason that the leave is required with the facts to be disclosed limited to the minimum necessary to establish a need for the covered direct care professional to be absent from work, and the covered direct care professional shall not be required to explain the details of the domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking involved; and
with respect to confidentiality under subparagraph (E) of such paragraph, any information provided to the employer under this paragraph shall be confidential, except to the extent that any disclosure of such information is—
requested or consented to in writing by the covered direct care professional; or
otherwise required by applicable Federal or State law.
An employer may not specify which of the forms of documentation described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A) is required to be provided in order to satisfy the requirement under such subparagraph.
Each employer shall notify each covered direct care professional employed by the employer and include in any employee handbook the information—
describing paid sick time available to covered direct care professionals under this subtitle;
pertaining to the filing of an action under this subtitle;
on the details of the notice requirement for a foreseeable period of time under section 332(e)(1)(B)(i); and
that describes—
the protections that a covered direct care professional has in exercising rights under this subtitle; and
how the covered direct care professional can contact the Secretary if any of the rights are violated.
Each employer shall post and keep posted a notice, to be prepared or approved in accordance with procedures specified in regulations prescribed under section 339, setting forth excerpts from, or summaries of, the pertinent provisions of this subtitle including the information described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a).
The notice described under subsection (b) shall be posted—
in conspicuous places on the premises of the employer, where notices to employees (including applicants) are customarily posted; or
in employee handbooks.
Any employer who willfully violates the posting requirements of this section shall be subject to a civil fine in an amount not to exceed $100 for each separate offense.
It shall be unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of, or the attempt to exercise, any right provided under this subtitle, including—
discharging or discriminating against (including retaliating against) any individual, including a job applicant, for exercising, or attempting to exercise, any right provided under this subtitle;
using the taking of paid sick time under this subtitle as a negative factor in an employment action, such as hiring, promotion, reducing hours or number of shifts, or a disciplinary action; or
counting the paid sick time under a no-fault attendance policy or any other absence-control policy.
It shall be unlawful for any employer to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against (including retaliating against) any individual, including a job applicant, for opposing any practice made unlawful by this subtitle.
It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against (including retaliating against) any individual, including a job applicant, because such individual—
has filed an action, or has instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding, under or related to this subtitle;
has given, or is about to give, any information in connection with any inquiry or proceeding relating to any right provided under this subtitle; or
has testified, or is about to testify, in any inquiry or proceeding relating to any right provided under this subtitle.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to state or imply that the scope of the activities prohibited by section 105 of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2615) is less than the scope of the activities prohibited by this section.
To ensure compliance with the provisions of this subtitle, or any regulation or order issued under this subtitle, the Secretary shall have, subject to paragraph (3), the investigative authority provided under section 11(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 211(a)), with respect to employers, covered direct care professionals, and other individuals affected by an employer.
An employer shall make, keep, and preserve records pertaining to compliance with this subtitle in accordance with section 11(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 211(c)) and in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
The Secretary shall not require, under the authority of this subsection, an employer to submit to the Secretary any books or records more than once during any 12-month period, unless the Secretary has reasonable cause to believe there may exist a violation of this subtitle or any regulation or order issued pursuant to this subtitle, or is investigating a charge pursuant to subsection (c).
For the purposes of any investigation provided for in this subsection, the Secretary shall have the subpoena authority provided for under section 9 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 209).
An action to recover the damages or equitable relief prescribed in paragraph (1) may be maintained against any employer in any Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction by a covered direct care professional or individual or a representative for and on behalf of—
the covered direct care professional or individual; or
the covered direct care professional or individual and others similarly situated.
Any employer who violates section 334 (including a violation relating to rights provided under section 332) shall be liable to any covered direct care professional or individual affected—
for damages equal to—
the amount of—
any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation denied or lost by reason of the violation; or
in a case in which wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation have not been denied or lost, any actual monetary losses sustained as a direct result of the violation up to a sum equal to 56 hours of wages or salary for the covered direct care professional or individual, or the specified period described in section 332(c)(3), or a combination of those hours and that period, as the case may be;
the interest on the amount described in clause (i) calculated at the prevailing rate; and
an additional amount as liquidated damages; and
for such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion.
The court in an action under this subsection shall, in addition to any judgment awarded to the plaintiff, allow a reasonable attorney’s fee, reasonable expert witness fees, and other costs of the action to be paid by the defendant.
The Secretary shall receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints of violations of section 334 (including a violation relating to rights provided under section 332) in the same manner that the Secretary receives, investigates, and attempts to resolve complaints of violations of sections 6 and 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206 and 207).
The Secretary may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover the damages described in subsection (b)(2)(A).
Any sums recovered by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (2) shall be held in a special deposit account and shall be paid, on order of the Secretary, directly to each covered direct care professional or individual affected. Any such sums not paid to a covered direct care professional or individual affected because of inability to do so within a period of 3 years shall be deposited into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.
Except as provided in paragraph (2), an action may be brought under subsection (b), (c), or (e) not later than 2 years after the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which the action is brought.
In the case of an action brought for a willful violation of section 334 (including a willful violation relating to rights provided under section 332), such action may be brought not later than 3 years after the last event constituting the alleged violation for which such action is brought.
In determining when an action is commenced under subsection (b), (c), or (e) for the purposes of this subsection, it shall be considered to be commenced on the date when the complaint is filed.
The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, for cause shown, in an action brought by the Secretary—
to restrain violations of section 334 (including a violation relating to rights provided under section 332), including the restraint of any withholding of payment of wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation, plus interest, found by the court to be due to covered direct care professionals or individuals eligible under this subtitle; or
to award such other equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion.
The Solicitor of Labor may appear for and represent the Secretary on any litigation brought under subsection (c) or (e).
The Secretary may conduct a public awareness campaign to educate and inform the public of the requirements for paid sick time required by this subtitle.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $20,000,000 to carry out such campaign.
Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to diminish the obligation of an employer to comply with any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or any employment benefit program or plan that provides greater paid sick leave or other leave rights to covered direct care professionals or individuals than the rights established under this subtitle.
The rights established for covered direct care professionals under this subtitle shall not be diminished by any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or any employment benefit program or plan.
Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed—
to discourage employers from adopting or retaining leave policies more generous than policies that comply with the requirements of this subtitle; or
to discourage or prevent an employer from adopting a contract, collective bargaining agreement, or employment benefit program or plan that provides greater right or benefits to covered direct care professionals than the rights established under this subtitle.
Subject to subsection (b), not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this subtitle.
The rights and responsibilities specified in this subtitle shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act and employers and other persons subject to those responsibilities shall comply immediately, without regard whether regulations have been prescribed under this section.
If a public health emergency was declared before and remains in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, for purposes of this subtitle, including section 332(c), the public health emergency shall be considered to have been declared on the date of enactment of this Act.
The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics shall—
collect data on—
the amount of paid and unpaid sick time available to covered direct care professionals by occupation and type of employment establishment; and
an estimate of the average sick time used by covered direct care professionals according to occupation and the type of covered direct care professional; and
annually report that data to the Comptroller General of the United States.
The Comptroller General of the United States shall—
conduct a study to evaluate the implementation of this subtitle—
that includes an estimation of the access of covered direct care professionals to paid sick time, the awareness of covered direct care professionals of rights under this Act, and the experiences of employers in complying with this subtitle; and
that takes into account access, awareness, and experiences of covered direct care professionals by race, ethnicity, gender, disability, occupation, and any other characteristic determined by the Secretary; and
not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, submit the report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives.
In this title:
The term Advisory Council means the National Direct Care Professional Compensation Advisory Council convened under section 403.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The term Strategy means the National Direct Care Professional Compensation Strategy set forth under section 402.
The Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall develop jointly with the Advisory Council and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and the State agencies responsible for carrying out direct care professional programs, and make publicly available on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a National Direct Care Professional Compensation Strategy.
The Strategy shall identify recommended actions that the Federal Government (under existing Federal programs), State and local governments, communities, health care providers, including direct care professionals and others, are taking, or may take, to provide direct care professionals a livable wage, including recommendations on—
how to calculate the fair cost of labor provided by direct care professionals;
how State Medicaid agencies, managed care organizations, and other public payers should establish policies and procedures to ensure the direct care professional workforce is compensated at the full cost of their labor;
how to set clear expectations for employers of direct care professionals with respect to compensation for such professionals; and
how to ensure additional training and certification is tied to increased compensation for such professionals.
The recommendations under paragraph (1) shall take into account—
the particular challenges of the direct care professional workforce, including—
the largely part-time nature of the work;
the mobile or transient nature of positions in the direct care professional workforce;
precarity due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and immigration status; and
any decrease in public benefits that direct care professionals may experience following an increase in wages; and
strategies for wage enhancement for direct care professionals.
The Secretary, in carrying out subsection (a), shall oversee the following:
Collecting and making publicly available information submitted by the Advisory Council under section 403(e) to the appropriate committees of Congress, and the State agencies responsible for carrying out direct care professional programs, including evidence-based or promising practices and innovative models (both domestic and foreign) regarding compensation for direct care professionals.
Coordinating and assessing existing Federal Government programs and activities to compensate direct care professionals while ensuring maximum effectiveness and avoiding unnecessary duplication.
Providing technical assistance, as appropriate, such as disseminating identified best practices and information sharing based on reports provided under section 403(e), to State or local efforts to compensate direct care professionals.
The Secretary shall—
not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, develop, publish, and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and the State agencies responsible for carrying out direct care professional programs, an initial Strategy incorporating the items addressed in the Advisory Council’s initial report under section 403(e) and other relevant information, including best practices, for compensating direct care professionals; and
biennially update, republish, and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress and the State agencies responsible for carrying out direct care professional programs the Strategy, taking into account the most recent annual report submitted under section 403(e)(1)—
to reflect new developments, challenges, opportunities, and solutions; and
to review progress based on recommendations for compensating direct care professionals in the Strategy and, based on the results of such review, recommend priority actions for improving the implementation of such recommendations, as appropriate.
The Secretary shall establish a process for public input to inform the development of, and updates to, the Strategy, including a process for the public to submit recommendations to the Advisory Council and an opportunity for public comment on the proposed Strategy.
Nothing in this title preempts any authority of a State or local government to compensate direct care professionals.
Nothing in this title shall be construed to permit the Secretary (through regulation, guidance, grant criteria, or otherwise) to—
mandate, direct, or control the allocation of State or local resources;
mandate the use of any of the best practices identified in the reports required under this title; or
otherwise expand the authority of the Secretary beyond that expressly provided to the Secretary in this title.
There is authorized to be appropriated for the advisory committee $100,000 for each of years 2026 through 2030.
The Secretary shall convene a National Direct Care Professional Compensation Advisory Council to advise and provide recommendations, including identified best practices, to the Secretary on compensating direct care professionals.
The members of the Advisory Council shall consist of—
the appointed members under paragraph (2); and
the Federal members under paragraph (3).
In addition to the Federal members under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall appoint not more than 15 voting members of the Advisory Council who are not representatives of Federal departments or agencies and who shall include at least 1 representative of each of the following:
Direct care professionals.
Older individuals eligible for long-term care services under a State Medicaid program.
People with disabilities.
Health care and social service providers.
Employers of direct care professionals.
State and local officials responsible for direct care professional policies in their jurisdictions.
Accreditation bodies responsible for accrediting direct care professionals.
Veterans who are older individuals or people with disabilities.
Organizations representing workers, including labor organizations.
As appropriate, other experts in direct care and advocacy organizations for the direct care professional workforce.
The Federal members of the Advisory Council, who shall be nonvoting members, shall consist of the following:
The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (or the Administrator’s designee).
The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living (or the Administrator’s designee who has experience in both aging and disability).
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (or the Secretary’s designee).
The Secretary of Labor (or the Secretary’s designee).
The Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (or the Administrator’s designee).
The heads of other Federal departments or agencies (or their designees), including relevant departments or agencies that oversee labor and workforce, economic, government financial policies, community service, and other impacted populations, as appointed by the Secretary or the Chair of the Advisory Council.
The Secretary shall ensure that the membership of the Advisory Council reflects the diversity of direct care professionals and individuals eligible for long-term care services under a State Medicaid program.
The Advisory Council shall meet quarterly during the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and at least 3 times during each year thereafter. Meetings of the Advisory Council shall be open to the public.
A member of the Advisory Council who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission.
A member of the Advisory Council who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.
A member of the Advisory Council who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be permitted expenses for child care during the period for which they are required to meet with the Advisory Council or travel to and from meetings of the Advisory Council.
A member of the Advisory Council who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be permitted expenses for technology necessary to participate in activities of the Advisory Council.
Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Advisory Council shall submit to the Secretary, the appropriate committees of Congress, and the State agencies responsible for carrying out direct care professional programs, and make publicly available on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report concerning the development, maintenance, and updating of the Strategy, including a description of the outcomes of the recommendations and any priorities included in the initial report pursuant to paragraph (2), as appropriate.
The Advisory Council’s initial report under paragraph (1) shall include—
an inventory and assessment of all federally funded efforts to compensate direct care professionals and the outcomes of such efforts, including analyses of the extent to which federally funded efforts are reaching direct care professionals and gaps in such efforts;
recommendations—
to improve and better coordinate Federal programs and activities to compensate direct care professionals, as well as opportunities to improve the coordination of such Federal programs and activities with State programs; and
to effectively deliver services based on the performance, mission, and purpose of a program while eliminating redundancies, avoiding unnecessary duplication and overlap, and ensuring the needs of direct care professionals are met;
the identification of challenges faced by direct care professionals, including financial, health, and other challenges, and existing approaches to address such challenges; and
an evaluation of how the status of the direct care professional workforce affects the Medicare program, the Medicaid program, and other Federal programs.
Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the Advisory Council.
The authority and obligations established by this title shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, shall evaluate the implementation and outcomes of this Act in the aggregate through a contract with an external evaluator who has experience in evaluating—
home and community-based services;
disability programs;
programs for older individuals;
nursing homes and intermediate care facilities; and
health care workforce programs, including direct care professional workforce programs.
The external evaluator shall document and evaluate the implementation and outcomes of this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, including outcomes based on—
the impact on workforce creation, training, education, recruitment, retention, professional development, and advancement of the direct care professional workforce, including direct care professionals from low-income families;
the economic effects, including the impact on compensation and benefits, on the direct care professional workforce;
the impact on working conditions, including scheduling flexibility and stability, for direct care professionals;
the impact of workforce investment activities, including supportive services, on recruitment, wages, benefits, and advancement of direct care professionals;
the impact on burnout, attrition, and stability of the direct care professional workforce;
the impact on vacancy rates and crude separation rates of the direct care professional workforce;
the economic effects on—
individuals enrolled for medical assistance under a State Medicaid program;
people with disabilities and older individuals receiving long-term care services, including home and community-based services; and
the families of any such individuals or persons described in subparagraph (A) or (B);
the impact on the capacity of States to ensure the delivery of long-term care services and on the costs to the Medicare and Medicaid programs;
the capacity of the direct care professional workforce to provide services for individuals needing long-term care services or changes in access, availability, and quality of long-term care services;
the impact on State waiting lists for home and community-based services;
the impact on mental health outcomes, including substance use disorders and suicidality, among direct care professionals;
promising practices identified by activities authorized or conducted pursuant to this Act, or the amendments made by this Act; and
any other factor as determined appropriate by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, shall contract with an independent external evaluator to track spending by States and providers of funding provided to States under sections 101 and 102 (including the amendments made by such sections). The evaluator shall—
collect spending data from each State receiving funds under such sections;
analyze the data to determine what percentage of funding under such sections was expended to improve wages and benefits of direct care professionals, disaggregated by subcategories of direct care professionals described in section 3(11);
beginning 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter through fiscal year 2040—
publish an annual report of State spending and the analyses conducted under paragraph (2); and
provide all such reports to the appropriate committees of Congress; and
share the data described in paragraph (1) with researchers to encourage further analysis.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—
disseminate the findings from the evaluations conducted under this section, and from any other evaluation conducted under this Act or an amendment made by this Act, to—
all State Medicaid agencies; and
the appropriate committees of Congress; and
make all such findings publicly available in an accessible electronic format and any other accessible format determined appropriate by the Secretary.