Health-Care and Community Residence Facility, Hospice, and Home Care License Act of 1983 Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2001
PR 14-57

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A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to authorize the Mayor to promulgate guidelines requiring that persons employed by a group home for mentally retarded persons to provide direct care be paid the prevailing wage as determined by the United States Department of Labor, or any successor agency, plus $2.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the "Health-Care and Community Residence Facility, Hospice, and Home Care Licensure Act of 1983 Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2001".

Sec-2. (a) There exists an immediate crisis regarding the underpaid workforce in group homes for mentally retarded persons that has an adverse impact on the quality of services provided to persons with mental retardation. In these group homes, many employees who provide direct care to persons with mental retardation are underpaid. Their salary does not adequately compensate those employees who are entrusted with the responsibility of identifying and addressing serious medical and rehabilitative needs of citizens who are often voiceless in their care.

(b) This legislation will authorize the Mayor to promulgate guidelines requiring that persons who provide direct care services in group homes for mentally retarded persons be paid the prevailing wage as determined by the United States Department of Labor, or any successor agency, plus $2. These guidelines will ensure that persons employed by a group home for mentally retarded persons to provide direct care services be paid an adequate salary. The increased wage for these employees will ensure that the health and safety of some of our most vulnerable citizens are protected.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances stated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the "Health-Care and Community Residence Facility, Hospice, and Home Care Licensure Act of 1983 Emergency Amendment Act of 2001" be adopted after a single reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.