Breaking News - Action Needed:
Great news: both the House and Senate have passed their Health and Human Service Omnibus Bills with a Competitive Workforce Factor to begin to address Direct Service Provider (DSP) wages. Thank you for contacting your representatives - our collective voices are being heard! Conference Committees have been announced and
we are entering the critical stage
of the session where negotiations are taking place about which provisions will be included in the Health and Human Services Omnibus bill. Your action is critical in pushing the Competitive Workforce Factor across the finish line.
How to Take Action:
- Who: Your State Senator and State Representative. To find out who represents you, click here.
- When: Now (the deadline for conference committees to finish their work is May 13th)
- What: The Conference Committee is made up of five Representatives and five Senators who must agree on a final proposal. These 10 legislators need to hear from all the other Representatives and Senators about the importance of strengthening disability services.
Suggested Legislator Email:
A Competitive Workforce Factor for Disability Services is a Priority for Me
I am asking you, my legislator, to speak to Health and Human Services Omnibus bill Conference Committee members about the importance of the Disability Services Competitive Workforce Factor included in the House and Senate HHS Omnibus bills.
Current data shows wages for disability services Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) fall 17% behind wages of jobs with similar training and education requirements. The healthcare workforce situation is bleak, with very high rates of vacancies, turnover, and overtime. The Competitive Workforce Factor is an important step in bridging the wage gap and the workforce crisis.
Optional: Insert a brief personal message here of value of increased wages for DSPs in beginning to address workforce crisis in disability services.
Thank you for all the work you do as my legislator, and for prioritizing disability services in the final Health and Human Services Omnibus bill.
Please Note: The Conference Committee includes the following legislators. If your legislator is on the Conference Committee, please use the alternative message below.
House:
- Rep. Tina Liebling (26A)
- Rep. Rena Moran (65A)
- Rep. Jennifer Schultz (07A)
- Rep. Laurie Halverson (51B)
- Rep. Rod Hamilton (22B)
Senate:
- Sen. Michelle Benson (31)
- Sen. Jim Abeler (35)
- Sen. Scott Jensen (47)
- Sen. Paul Utke (02)
- Sen. John Marty (66)
Suggested Conference Committee Member Email:
A Competitive Workforce Factor for Disability Services is a Priority for Me
I am asking you,
my Legislator and a member of the Health and Human Services Omnibus bill Conference Committee, to please make funding the Disability Services Competitive Workforce Factor, which is included in the House and Senate HHS Omnibus bills, a priority.
Current data shows wages for disability services Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) fall 17% behind wages of jobs with similar training and education requirements. The healthcare workforce situation is bleak, with very high rates of vacancies, turnover, and overtime. The Competitive Workforce Factor is an important step in bridging the wage gap and the workforce crisis.
Optional: Insert a brief personal message here of value of increased wages for DSPs in beginning to address workforce crisis in disability services.
Thank you for all the work you do as my legislator, and for prioritizing disability services in the final Health and Human Services Omnibus bill.
Sincerely,
(Please insert your name and address here)
