Senate Sponsors: WALSH,T. Short description: DHS-CARE WORKERS-WAGE INCREASE Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Community Services Act. Provides that the annual appropriation to the Department of Human Services to fund community services for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill shall include a percentage increase for the wages of direct care workers that is equivalent to the Employment Cost Index for Health Service Occupations, which increase shall be in addition to any increase attributable to other factors, including cost of doing business increases for community services. Provides that the increases in wages that are based on the Employment Cost Index for direct care workers in community settings shall be applied to appropriations to the Department beginning July 1, 1998 for the State fiscal year 1999 and ending June 30, 2001 for the State fiscal year 2001. Provides that the Department shall receive certification from the provider agency that any increase appropriated pursuant to this amendatory Act of 1998 shall be utilized in its entirety to provide wage increases to direct care workers. Effective immediately. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: 99-01-12 Location: Senate Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 0 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status