OLYMPIA – Rep. Emily Alvarado’s (D- West Seattle) HB 1694 passed the House this week. The bill addresses a growing workforce shortage in an essential industry.
“Homecare workers provide essential services that help keep seniors and people with disabilities healthy and in their homes,” said Alvarado. “Washington needs roughly 70,000 new home care workers to meet our needs. This bill makes fixes that help to recruit and retain workers.”
The bill also makes it easier for workers who left the workforce to be rehired by long term care services and expands opportunities for caregivers who are family members, reduces wait times on eligibility for taking required exams, and increases the number of testing sites. In addition to these fixes, it pilots a new project to pay spouses of people with complex medical needs for providing care.
“The bottom line is this workforce shortage is eliminating choice,” said Alvarado. “And when choice is eliminated it’s the most vulnerable who suffer. That’s why it’s imperative that we take these steps and strengthen our home care workforce.”
The bill passed with a vote of 96 to 0 and now moves on to the Senate for consideration.