State Sen. Louis DiPalma is calling for increased hourly wages for people who work with Rhode Islanders with developmental disabilities. DiPalma says their wages have not kept pace with the average increase in the minimum wage.
DiPalma wants these caregivers to earn $15 dollars an hour within five years, an increase of more than $3 dollars an hour. DiPalma says low wages fuel high turnover among workers who care for people with developmental disabilities. But providing quality care requires investing in these workers. And he says that would also help the state comply with a federal judge’s order to improve the way people with developmental disabilities are treated.
DiPalma is calling on Governor Gina Raimondo to include $4 to $5 million dollars to fund his proposal in the next state budget. And he plans to submit legislation that would govern the workers’ pay increases over time.
