The Direct Care Worker Amendment Act of 2023 (B25-0565) was Introduced by Councilmember Christina Henderson, Chair of the Committee on Health on November 6, 2023. There are seven Co-Sponsors, Councilmembers Charles Allen, Brianne K. Nadeau, Matthew Frumin, Janeese Lewis George, Zachary Parker, Brooke Pinto, and Trayon White, Sr. The bill sets out to accomplish the following:
- Establish a new minimum wage that is not less than 120% of the District Living Wage for all direct care workers.
- Require DC Health to establish a new universal credential for direct care workers that combines home health aide and certified nursing assistant competencies.
- Lowers the age of certification for direct care workers to 16 (except that a certified direct care worker could not work in a home care setting until they turned 18).
- Allow qualified entities to evaluate direct care worker competency.
- Allow Maryland and Virginia home health aides and CNAs to work in DC
- Requires the Mayor to review and eliminate barriers to the development and support of on-the-job training programs and registered apprenticeship programs.
Read the text of the bill and the Statement of Introduction HERE.
View the Coalition’s presentation about the bill HERE.