BILL NUMBER:S6622

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to
establishing the direct support professional credential pilot program

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the bill is to establish a credential pilot program for
the developmental disabilities sector direct support professionals to
promote workforce recruitment and retention efforts and enhance
competency in the field.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill creates the direct support professional
credential pilot program. The pilot, to be administered by the New
York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD),
will assess how a state recognized accredited credential program will
foster a direct support workforce that demonstrates competency of
complex skills and ethical decision making which yields a healthy and
safe service delivery system.

Section 2 of the bill establishes the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

              

The main purpose of a credentialing program is to provide recognition
for the competence and skills of the individual meeting the
professional requirements of the program. Individuals who obtain a
specific credential have received training in their field of
expertise, thereby representing their trade with high quality and
holding to a higher standard as a professional.

A recognized direct support professional credential in New York States
developmental disabilities field highlights the value of direct
support, fosters the importance of the profession and continues to
acknowledge the importance of a well trained front line workforce.
Individuals who have received the training have demonstrated,
firsthand, skills, competency and proficiency in carrying out their
responsibilities as a direct support professional.

Clarence Sundram, former Special Advisor to Governor Cuomo on
Vulnerable Persons, highlights the importance of "a strong, well
trained and committed direct support staff as one of "Four Pillars to
the Safety Net" introduced in the April 2011 report "The Measure of a
Society:  Protection of Vulnerable Persons in Residential Facilities
Against Abuse & Neglect". The first of the "Four Pillars" recognizes
that the founda- tion of a strong, well trained and committed direct
support staff is a "dependable, competent and caring core of direct
support staff (page 49). The report recommends that "each state agency
adopt a Direct Support Professional eredentialing program that
certifies competency and professional ethical conduct" (page 71). The
report further states "The credentialing program should be reinforced
through compensation incentives and career pathways based on
achievement.  Recognizing that this effort cannot be accomplished
immediately and will likely have cost implications, each state agency
should develop a plan to accomplish this objective over the next two


years working with the voluntary sector as well as the state labor
unions and the Department of Civil Service" (page 72).

The establishment of a direct support professional credential pilot
program will afford direct support professionals in the developmental
disabilities sector the opportunity to obtain a credential in their
field of expertise, enhance the skills and competencies of certain
individuals and assess how the credential 1) promotes workforce
recruitment efforts 2) advances the health and safety of the
developmental disabilities service deliwty system 3) enhances
retention of skilled and passionately committed individuals in the
field.

OPWDD shall produce a report detailing the prottress of the pilot
program related to the rate ofrecruitment and retention of direct
support professionals participating in the pilot, the projected number
of direct support professionals to be credentialed through the pilot,
and how quality of supports and services to individuals with
developmental disabilities have been enhanced, measurably.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.5102 - 2013

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect one hundred and eighty days after it shall
become law.