Budget Amendment ID: FY2024-S3-571

EHS 571

Long-Term Care Career Ladders

Messrs. Montigny, Tarr and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2E, by inserting after item 1595-1070 the following item:- 

“1595-1071    For an operating transfer to the Long-Term Care Career Ladder Fund, established in section 35TTT of chapter 10 of the General Laws………………….$10,000,000”; and

by inserting after section ___ the following section:-

“SECTION ___.  Chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after section 35SSS the following section:-

Section 35TTT.  There shall be established on the books and records of the commonwealth a non-budgeted special revenue fund known as a long-term care career ladder fund to be expended, without further appropriation, by the secretary of health and human services to advance career ladders in long-term care in accordance with section 410 of chapter 159 of the acts of 2000.  The secretary may use the funds to pay for: (i) grants provided by the Commonwealth Corporation for certified nurses’ aides, home health aides, homemakers and other entry-level long-term care workers; (ii) costs for tuition, books, and fees related to the cost of education and training for said long-term care workers; (iii) costs related to becoming licensed, including, but not limited to, testing costs, study courses, testing fees, and licensing fees; (iv) stipends for participants who participate in the career ladder program; and (v) up to 4 per cent of the amount of the grant program for administrative costs.

The fund shall be credited with: (i) appropriations or other money authorized or transferred by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (ii) funds from public and private sources, including, but not limited to gifts, grants, donations, and payments from employers and program participants participating in the program; (iii) federal funds; and (iv) any interest earned on such money.  Amounts credited to the fund shall not be subject to further appropriation and money remaining in the fund at the close of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund. The secretary shall report annually, not later than January 1, on the fund's activity to the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on elder affairs and the house and senate committees on ways and means. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (1) revenue received by the fund; and (2) expenditures from the fund, including the recipient, date and reason for the expenditure.”.