Bill Text: NY S01359 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Directs the commissioner of labor and the commissioner of health to conduct a labor market study of the home care and hospice workforce; and establishes a temporary labor task force for home care and hospice services and occupations to examine and make recommendations regarding competitive labor market factors, reimbursement, programs and other state policy actions necessary to support recruitment and retention of the home care and hospice workforce in the broader, competitive health labor market.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - REFERRED TO HEALTH [S01359 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-S01359-Introduced.html


                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          1359
                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions
                    IN SENATE
                                    January 14, 2019
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  Sen.  SERINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
        AN ACT directing the commissioner of labor to  conduct  a  labor  market
          study  and establishing a temporary labor task force for home care and
          hospice services and occupations in New York State; and providing  for
          the repeal of certain provisions upon the expiration thereof
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. The commissioner of labor and the  commissioner  of  health
     2  shall  jointly  undertake a market study to examine and make recommenda-
     3  tions  regarding  competitive  labor  market   factors,   reimbursement,
     4  programs and other state policy actions necessary to support recruitment
     5  and  retention  of  the  home care and hospice workforce in the broader,
     6  competitive health labor market.
     7    Such study shall examine differentials in compensation,  benefits  and
     8  other employment factors in home care and hospice in comparison to other
     9  health care and employment markets which compete for the same workforce,
    10  including  but  not limited to hospitals and nursing facilities, and for
    11  comparable disciplines  which  include  direct  care  aides,  registered
    12  professional  nurses,  licensed  practical  nurses, physical therapists,
    13  occupational therapists, speech pathologists,  social  workers,  respir-
    14  atory therapists, audiologists and other health care practitioners which
    15  the  commissioner  of  labor  in  consultation  with the commissioner of
    16  health shall determine.
    17    In conducting such study and preparing  recommendations,  the  commis-
    18  sioners  shall  seek  the input of representatives of the aforementioned
    19  providers and health care personnel, managed care plans, statewide asso-
    20  ciations representative of  providers  and  workforce,  the  center  for
    21  health  workforce  studies  of the state university of New York, and the
    22  New York state area health education centers program.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07008-01-9

        S. 1359                             2
     1    On or before November 1, 2019, the commissioner of labor shall  report
     2  jointly  with the commissioner of health to the governor and legislature
     3  on  the  results  of  such  study,  together  with  recommendations  for
     4  reimbursement,  programs  and  policy modifications to support home care
     5  and  hospice  competitive  positions  for recruitment and retention of a
     6  direct care health labor workforce in the broader  health  labor  market
     7  capable of meeting community need.
     8    §  2.  The commissioner of labor, in consultation with the director of
     9  the office for aging and the  commissioners  of  health,  education  and
    10  mental  health,  or  their  agency designees, shall form a task force to
    11  establish and implement a statewide home  care  and  hospice  workforce,
    12  labor development and marketing program to encourage occupational inter-
    13  est  and  participation  in these essential fields to meet the community
    14  need for these vital services.
    15    The task force shall examine the spectrum  of  possible  entry  points
    16  into  the  home  care  and  hospice fields, including but not limited to
    17  entry points in secondary schools, occupational  schools  and  programs,
    18  community  colleges,  four  year colleges and universities, professional
    19  schools of nursing, social work and other health care  disciplines,  and
    20  retiree venues.
    21    The  task  force  shall  develop  and  implement,  with jurisdictional
    22  contributions from each state agency member, a comprehensive  plan  that
    23  provides  information  about  entry,  practice,  career development, and
    24  occupational need and value in home care and hospice.   Such plan  shall
    25  also  assist educational settings and providers with informational mate-
    26  rials and resources to further this goal, including but not limited  to:
    27  written  and  multimedia  material,  web based resources, public service
    28  announcements, home care/hospice emphasis at local job fairs,  billboard
    29  and  other  community advertisement, engagement of area health education
    30  centers, support  for  provider  recruitment  and  training,  state  and
    31  regional conferencing, and other means.
    32    The  task  force  shall be co-chaired by the commissioner of labor and
    33  the director of the state office for aging, or their  agency  designees.
    34  The  task  force  shall convene not later than sixty days after this act
    35  shall have become law, and shall meet no less frequently than bi-monthly
    36  for the first year. The task force shall submit an interim report to the
    37  governor and legislature on its activities and recommendations not later
    38  than six months after it convenes. In conducting  the  task  force,  the
    39  co-chairs shall seek the input of representatives of home care, hospice,
    40  managed  care  plans,  area  health  education  centers, and direct care
    41  disciplines.
    42    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that section two
    43  of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed on and after January 31,
    44  2022.
feedback