AlaskaState board would study home care pay and staffing
A state board would study home care pay, staffing, and rates, while agencies would face pay targets only if a federal condition is met by January 1, 2027.
What it does
A state board would study home care rates, worker pay and conditions, staffing, and access to care, then report findings and recommendations to state officials.
If the federal condition is met by January 1, 2027, agencies would have to use at least 70% of personal care funding for employee pay and benefits starting in 2027, rising to 80% in 2030.
The Department of Health would publish each agency's average and median hourly wages for workers providing covered home care services.
Argument forWorkers may receive a larger share of personal care funding as pay and benefits, with lower targets available to qualifying small providers or agencies facing extraordinary circumstances.
Argument againstAgencies may have less room to use personal care funding for other expenses as they meet pay and benefit targets, though some may qualify for an exemption.
More detail
A state board would advise on home care payment rates and study worker pay, conditions, staffing, and care access. The board's work covers Medicaid providers and workers delivering chore, respite, personal care, and habilitation services. The department must consider the board's recommendations when setting rates. If its rate differs significantly from the board's recommendation, the commissioner must notify the board and relevant legislative committee chairs. The board must hold its first meeting by October 1, 2027, and report every two years. The act generally takes effect July 1, 2027, except for the conditional payment rules.
Agencies would have to spend set minimum shares of department funding for personal care on employee pay and benefits. The rules apply to agencies providing home and community services, and to department funding they receive for personal care services. The Department of Health may grant an exemption for extraordinary circumstances or a small provider. Exempt agencies have lower targets. Personal protective equipment, required training, and travel costs do not count toward the required shares. These rules take effect only if federal approval, or a finding that approval is unnecessary, occurs by January 1, 2027. The rules take effect the day after federal approval or a finding that approval is unnecessary. Exempt agencies must meet 60% starting July 1, 2027, and 80% starting July 1, 2036.
The Department of Health would publish each agency's average and median hourly wages for covered care workers. The report covers workers providing chore, respite, personal care, or habilitation services. The department must publish the report each July 1, or within 30 days after receiving the board's every-two-year report.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 3(H) VETOED BY Governor Mike Dunleavy 6/24/26Latest
- Jun 10(H) 1:55 P.M. 6/8/26 Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- Jun 4(H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)
- May 19(S) VERSION: CSHB 96(L&C) AM
- Vote recorded (S) PASSED Y19 N1 #2794. Result: pass.Upper
- May 19(S) RETURN TO (H), TRANSMIT TO GOVERNOR NEXT
- May 19(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): YUNDT, CRONK, KAWASAKI, DUNBAR, OLSON, CLAMAN
- May 19(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- May 19(S) PASSED Y19 N1Major
- May 19(S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 96(L&C) AMMinor
- May 18(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/19 CALMinor
- May 18(S) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- May 18(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/18/2026
- May 16(S) FN2: (DOH)
- May 16(S) NR: KAUFMAN, MERRICK, KIEHL
- May 16(S) DP: OLSON, HOFFMAN, CRONK
- May 16(S) FIN RPT 3DP 3NR
- May 15(S) Minutes (SFIN)
- May 15(S) Moved CSHB 96(L&C) AM Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --
- May 15(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
- May 13(S) Scheduled but Not Heard
- May 13(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
- May 12(S) Minutes (SFIN)
- May 12(S) Heard & Held
- May 12(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
- Apr 28(S) FIN
- Apr 28(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- Apr 27(H) VERSION: CSHB 96(L&C) AM
- Vote recorded (H) PASSED Y35 N5 #2309. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 27(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)Passed Senate
- Apr 27(H) COSPONSOR(S): JOSEPHSON, EISCHEID, GRAY, STORY, FRIER
- Apr 27(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- Apr 27(H) PASSED Y35 N5Passed House
- Apr 27(H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 96(L&C) AMMinor
- Apr 27(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UCMinor
- Apr 27(H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UCMajor
- Apr 27(H) L&C CS ADOPTED UC
- Apr 27(H) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- Apr 24(H) HELD TO 4/27 CALENDAR
- Apr 24(H) MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR
- Apr 24(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/24/2026
- Apr 16(H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN, SCHRAGE
- Apr 16(H) FN2: (DOH)
- Apr 16(H) AM: ALLARD, TOMASZEWSKI
- Apr 16(H) NR: STAPP
- Apr 16(H) DP: BYNUM, MOORE, JIMMIE, GALVIN, HANNAN, JOSEPHSON, SCHRAGE, FOSTER
- Apr 16(H) FIN RPT CS(L&C) 8DP 1NR 2AM
- Apr 15(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- Apr 15(H) Moved CSHB 96(L&C) Out of Committee
- Apr 15(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- Apr 14(H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
- Apr 14(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- Mar 2(H) COSPONSOR(S): COSTELLO
- Feb 9(H) COSPONSOR(S): MINA
- Jan 28(H) Minutes (HL&C)
- Jan 28(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
- 2025
- May 17(H) COSPONSOR(S): BYNUM, RUFFRIDGE
- May 16(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 16(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 3:15 pm --
- May 16(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 16(H) COSPONSOR(S): JOHNSON
- Apr 25(H) FN1: (DOH)
- Apr 25(H) AM: COULOMBE, SADDLER
- Apr 25(H) NR: CARRICK, NELSON
- Apr 25(H) DP: BURKE, HALL, FIELDS
- Apr 25(H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 3DP 2NR 2AM
- Apr 23(H) Minutes (HL&C)
- Apr 23(H) Moved CSHB 96(L&C) Out of Committee -- Recessed to 3:15 pm --
- Apr 23(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 09:00 AM BARNES 124
- Apr 16(H) Minutes (HL&C)
- Apr 16(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 15 min. Following Session --
- Apr 16(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
- Apr 14(H) -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- MEETING CANCELED --
- Apr 14(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
- Apr 9(H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C
- Apr 9(H) FN1: (DOH)
- Apr 9(H) DP: PRAX, FIELDS, SCHWANKE, RUFFRIDGE, MEARS, MINA
- Apr 9(H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 6DP
- Apr 8(H) Minutes (HHSS)
- Apr 8(H) Moved CSHB 96(HSS) Out of Committee -- Delayed to 4:00 p.m. --
- Apr 8(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
- Mar 25(H) Minutes (HHSS)
- Mar 25(H) Heard & Held
- Mar 25(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
- Mar 10(H) COSPONSOR(S): HALL
- Mar 5(H) COSPONSOR(S): DIBERT
- Mar 3(H) COSPONSOR(S): JIMMIE
- Feb 28(H) COSPONSOR(S): KOPP
- Feb 21(H) COSPONSOR(S): FIELDS
- Feb 12(H) HSS, L&C
- Feb 12(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSIntroduced
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