Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3211
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-20T11:03:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to recognize the critical role of direct support professionals (DSPs)—workers who assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in daily living, independence, and community participation—by directing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to consider adding a separate occupational code for them in the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. The SOC is a statistical tool used by government agencies to categorize jobs for data collection and analysis on employment trends.
Key Provisions
- Findings Section: Outlines the essential services provided by DSPs, such as helping with daily activities (e.g., bathing, meal preparation), promoting independence (e.g., coaching communication or job participation), and supporting community involvement. It notes challenges like a 39% national turnover rate, which disrupts care, and argues that a dedicated SOC code would improve data on shortages and turnover.
- Revision of SOC System (Section 3): Requires the OMB Director to evaluate adding a distinct code for DSPs as a "healthcare support occupation" during the next SOC update after the bill's enactment. DSP work is distinguished from roles like home health aides or personal care aides.
- Report to Congress (Section 4): If OMB decides against creating the code, it must submit a report to specified congressional committees within 30 days of the SOC revision, explaining the rationale.
- Funding (Section 5): No new federal funds are authorized for implementation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces no direct mandates for changing laws but requires OMB to actively consider revising the SOC system, which is currently maintained for statistical purposes only and classifies occupations based on tasks, skills, education, and training. If adopted, it would create a new, discrete category for DSPs, addressing what the bill describes as an "inaccurate representation" in the existing system. This is the first such targeted consideration for DSPs, potentially aligning the SOC more closely with other job classification frameworks.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: OMB and federal statistical agencies (e.g., Bureau of Labor Statistics) could gain better data for tracking DSP labor shortages and turnover, informing workforce policies without additional costs. States might use improved data to address hiring challenges in home- and community-based services.
- On Citizens: Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities could benefit from more stable care if better data leads to targeted recruitment and retention efforts, reducing service disruptions and supporting independent living goals.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic statistical classification and workforce issues.
- Broader Effects: High turnover (noted at 39%) could decrease with enhanced recognition, potentially stabilizing the care workforce and reducing instability for service recipients.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Direct Support Professionals: Gain potential formal recognition, which could highlight their unique role and aid in addressing shortages.
- Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Primary beneficiaries through more reliable support services.
- Service Providers: Home- and community-based service organizations facing hiring difficulties could see improved data-driven solutions.
- Government Entities: OMB, congressional committees (e.g., Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in the Senate, Education and Workforce in the House), and state agencies involved in disability services.
- Bipartisan Sponsors: Introduced by Senators Hassan, Collins, Murkowski, Gillibrand, King, Shaheen, and Van Hollen, indicating support from both parties.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill operates within existing OMB authority over the SOC, a non-regulatory statistical system, so it avoids creating enforceable rights or obligations. The reporting requirement ensures congressional oversight without mandating action.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues, as it involves administrative data collection, which falls under Congress's spending and commerce powers; it does not infringe on individual rights or federalism principles.
- Political: Emphasizes bipartisan recognition of an "overlooked" essential workforce, potentially paving the way for future policies on disability support funding or training. By requiring no new funds, it promotes fiscal restraint while addressing a public health and labor gap, which could influence debates on healthcare workforce shortages.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Cosponsors (10)
Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2025-11-19: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act — issued 2025-11-19 — PDF (5 pages)