DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES __________ __________

TOTAL $3,000,000 $3,000,000

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill exempts an individual who contracts with a home health care worker to provide health care services to that individual from the employment laws, such as minimum wage, hours and unemployment insurance provisions and from the workers' compensation provisions. This exemption only applies, if the worker contracts directly with the patient or the patient's family. A home health care worker who is contracted with using an agency is considered the employee of that agency.

This bill also appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Fund for fiscal years 1999-00 and 2000-01 to the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Elder and Adult Services for the purpose of eliminating waiting lists of elderly and disabled individuals now requiring home-based care services, homemaker services, Alzheimer respite and Alzheimer adult day care services. These services allow these individuals to remain in their homes and avoid inappropriate and expensive institutional services.