"There is enough money to do what is right, and what is right is to take care of those people who are at the lowest end of the pay scales and, in essence, (do) the hard, dirty work", said Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno
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Read the full text of the Quality Care Act here
Quality Care NY believes that children and adults with developmental disabilities deserve the highest quality of care and services that New York can provide. We know that the quality of care and services begins with making sure the people who provide that care and service, direct care workers, are treated with fairness and respect. It is for that reason we are pleased to announce that a landmark piece of legislation, The Quality Care Act was passed overwhelmingly, by both the NYS Assembly and NYS Senate, Democrats and Republications alike, and is waiting the Governor's signature.
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Copyright 2006 American City Business Journals
June 2, 2006
The Civil Service Employees Association is pushing for action on a bill pending in the New York state legislature to provide improved pay for the frontline employees of not-for-profit providers of developmental disabilities services.
The Quality Care Act (S. 6629; A.9822) would provide $25 million to directly benefit these workers.
CSEA does not represent workers at the non-profit agencies, but does represent employees of the State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, which oversees these providers. The union is concerned about the high turnover rate - about 40 percent - among front-line employees at the non-profits.
"Front-line workers in not-for-profit agencies deserve better pay and benefits, adequate training and decent working conditions," said Danny Donohue, president of CSEA. "It will help them do a better job."
Copyright 2006 The Post-Standard
February 3, 2006
By Robert McClendon Contributing writer
The Civil Service Employees Association and several local politicians held a news conference Thursday to announce support for the Quality Care Act.
The proposed law, soon to be introduced to the state Legislature, would require nonprofit agencies providing care for the developmentally disabled - and receiving at least 50percent of their operating funds in public money - to better account for their spending priorities and provide baseline standards for employee pay and benefits.
Danny Donohue, president of the CSEA, said 40percent of caregivers working for nonprofits leave their job each year, many due to low pay and benefits, and the turnover rate prevents the continued administration of quality care.
Assemblyman William Magnarelli and Assemblywoman Joan K. Christensen, both Democrats from Syracuse, attended the news conference - one of six by CSEA across the state - along with supporters from the Syracuse Labor Council, the Central New York Labor-Religion Coalition and several CSEA activists. Assemblyman Jeff Brown, R-Manlius, and state Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, wrote letters of support.