Direct Care Job Quality Improvement Act (2011)

This bill would eliminate the companionship exemption in the Fair Labor Standards Act for direct care workers that exempts home care workers from receiving a guaranteed minimum wage and overtime. The bill would also improve federal and state data collection and establish grant programs for state to improve data collection and recruitment, retention, and training of workers. Note: On 12/15/11, President Obama announced that the Department of Labor was announcing a notice of proposed rule-making that would extend minimum wage and overtime protections for direct care workers.

Bill Number HR 2341/S 1273

Sponsor Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Senator Casey (D-PA)

Date of Introduction 6/23/2011

Latest Activity 6/23/2011 Senate version was referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Committee on Education and the Workforce. 9/8/2011 House version referred to House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

More Info http://thomas.loc.gov/

Application of the Fair Labor Standards Act to Domestic Service (proposed rule making)

Topic: Direct Care Workforce