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Tribal advocates keep up legal pressure for fair political maps; 12-member jury sworn in for Trump's historic criminal trial; the importance of healthcare decision planning; and a debt dilemma: poll shows how many people wrestle with college costs.

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Civil rights activists say a court ruling could end the right to protest in three southern states, a federal judge lets January 6th lawsuits proceed against former President Trump, and police arrest dozens at a Columbia University Gaza protest.

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Rural Wyoming needs more vocational teachers to sustain its workforce pipeline, Ohio environmental advocates fear harm from a proposal to open 40-thousand forest acres to fracking and rural communities build bike trail systems to promote nature, boost the economy.

Advocates: NY 'Fair Pay for Home Care' a Win for Workers

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Friday, March 18, 2022   

The New York Senate and Assembly budget proposals each include funding the Fair Pay for Home Care Act, which advocates say is crucial to address a shortage of home health care workers.

The bill would raise the minimum wage for home-care workers as high as $22.50 an hour for certain regions of the state.

Sen. Rachel May, D-Syracuse, the bill's sponsor, said Medicaid reimbursement rates for home-care workers have been stagnant for years, leaving some with pay as low as $13.50 an hour. May argued higher pay will help keep people in the field, and also recognize them for the challenges they've faced during the pandemic.

"Home-care workers were kind of invisible in that whole process, and didn't get the acclaim and public support that other professions got," May pointed out. "We really want to make sure they understand we believe they deserve a living wage for doing what they do."

Opponents contended it is costly and does not address deeper problems in the state's home-care industry. Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget proposal does not include funding for the legislation. The budget will be negotiated by state Assembly and Senate leaders with Hochul, and must be finalized by April 1.

Allison Nickerson, executive director of the older adult advocacy group LiveOn NY, said as people age, they should have care options, which can be challenging when home health aides are not fairly compensated.

"We also need alternatives to nursing home care, because not everybody needs to be there, and home care is part of that continuum," Nickerson asserted. "It needs to be a system that's not exploiting people. That is what is happening. I mean that's what not paying people for the hours that they've worked - I mean, it all is an exploitative system."

Nickerson added nursing homes are a critical part of community care but may not be right for every older adult and also cost the state more money than home care. One report said 74% of New Yorkers who needed home health aides last year were unable to retain one.


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