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Information for the Boulder Public Hearing

 Upcoming Public Hearing: Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board

• Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024

• Time: 11:00am-1:00pm

• Public Hearing Zoom Link 
• Location for in-person testimony: Residence Inn Boulder Canyon Boulevard/ Boulder Marriott 2660 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder, CO 80302
• Open to the public

CCWU Lobbying again!

 Yesterday, March 5th, CCWU was back at the Capitol again to lobby for a raise for direct care workers and a guarantee that the raise makes it to the care workers pockets.

Representative Bird spoke with CCWU advocates about the raise request. She was adment about expressing that the state budget is limited and that they will do what they can. Adding, “Keep showing up, it makes a

As a member of the Joint Budget Committee they are often have the difficulty of steering funding from one program to another. There’s never enough money to go around.

Direct Care Worker legislative Updates

CCWU LOBBY DAY

Colorado Care Workers Unite

26 FEBRUARY 2024 / 8:00 to Noon STATE CAPITOL

Attendees 

SEI Local 105, CCWU & Jenn Ochs MWCO’23

Next CCWU lobby day is Tuesday, 3/5

Agenda

Raise increase for direct care workers

1. No bill # yet

2. In November, Governor Polis put a wage increase for direct care workers in the 2024-2025 proposed budget.  Members of the Joint Budget Committee believe that this increase should match the Denver minimum wage along the front range specifically and workers in those areas should be brought up to $18.29. We are backing that because we also believe care workers need a substantial wage increase *in order to feel some economic relief and show up ready to care for their clients. We believe this will help bring workers back into the industry and retain the ones that may have to leave to higher paying jobs so they can afford rent and food. This is peak budget season and lots of competing priorities are out there concerning our state budget. That is why we are showing up every other Tuesday and next week we will begin advocating via phone and email into the JBC to push for this increase. The final passage of the state budget should happen in mid-April

Other Bills

1. Worker Freedom Act HB 24 -1260 vote NO to captive audiences

2. Sponsors;: Majority Leader Monica Duran, Representative Tim Hernandez, Senator Jessie Danielson

3. Tentative read date

4. Bill Description: CO employers can require employees to attend meetings where they are forced to listen to the employer’s political or religious beliefs. When attending these meetings,  workers understandably fear that their jobs are at risk if they don’t adopt the employer's viewpoint.

Captive audiences meetings are an affront to worker freedom and no employee should be retaliated against for not attending or participating.

1. HB 24 -1066 Prevent Workplace Violence in Health-Care Settings

2. Sponsors:Rep Eliza Hamrick,  Rep Lorena Garcia, Senator Dafna Michealson Jenet & Senator Julie Gonzales

3. Introduced 1/10/24

4. The bill enacts the "Violence Prevention in Health-care Settings Act", applicable to hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, nursing care facilities, assisted living residences, and federally qualified health centers, and the "Violence Prevention in Behavioral Health Settings Act", applicable to comprehensive community behavioral health providers. Both acts require each of these facility types to:

• Establish a workplace violence prevention committee to document and review workplace violence incidents at the facility and develop and regularly review a workplace violence prevention plan (plan) for the facility;

• Adopt, implement, enforce, and update the plan;

• Provide training on the plan and on workplace violence prevention;

• Submit biannual workplace violence incident reports to the department of public health and environment or the behavioral health administration, as applicable; and

• If a workplace violence incident occurs, offer post-incident services to affected staff

• 
  

People Power will make anything possible!

Direct Care Spotlight

 

Direct Care Careers Center

 DirectCareCareers.com

Direct Care Workers change lives! As a direct care worker, you make the difference in the lives of people who need your help. Whether you are looking for a new career or want to advance your skills, DirectCareCareers.com has everything you need to succeed in direct care, from resources to job matching. 

Direct Care Worker Public Awareness Campaign

📣 Direct Care Spotlight ⭐

Direct Care Workers come from diverse backgrounds to care for older adults and people with disabilities. They are trained professionals who ensure the well-being and safety of those under their care. Their dedication is unwavering, and they work tirelessly to enhance the quality of life for their members, all while treating them with utmost respect and dignity.