Earlier this week the Health and Human Services (HHS) committee of the Maine Legislature held a public hearing on LD 1932 An Act to Support Essential Workers and Enhance Workforce Development. This important piece of legislation proposes, among other things, to raise the reimbursement rate for essential care and support workers (CNA, DSP, PSS, ISS, BHP, and others) to 140% of minimum wage and tie a wage increase of 125% of minimum wage to that reimbursement rate. 

 

A coalition group, which MHCA is part of, spent the last few months building support for the bill, gathering workers to testify, and educating law makers on the problems the bill aims to solve. Just before the public hearing on January 20, a large press conference was held during which Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau (D- Biddeford) and Representative Jennifer Poirier (R- Skowhegan), along with essential support workers spoke about the merits of the bill and the immediate need to pass this legislation. The public hearing had upwards of 30+ direct care speakers, including MHCA member Michael Lacasse, administrator with Schooner Estates, and more than 130 pieces of supportive testimony which you can read by following the testimony screen on this link.  

DHHS was the sole opposition to the bill.  The next step for LD 1932 is a yet-to-be-scheduled work session during which the HHS committee will banter the pros and cons of the bill. MHCA will keep you updated on this next step and the results.  

 

MHCA is grateful to Mr. Lacasse for the several hours he spent at the legislature, voicing his praise for the dedicated employees of Schooner Estates, and all essential care and support workers across Maine.  

Staff contact: ablack[at]mehca.org