Posted on June 12, 2019
Asks Governor to Veto Detrimental Budget Provision
HARTFORD- State Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco (R-80) stood with representatives of the Coalition to Make Homecare Better to call on Gov. Ned Lamont to correct a budget provision in the state budget that would endanger the homecare industry.
“We don’t need the heavy hand of government getting in the way of a working successful home care model. The current model protects the client and the workers. The governor needs to veto this provision that could put clients in danger,” said, Rep. Mastrofrancesco. “Let’s stop making it harder to do business in Connecticut.”
According to John Richards of FirstLight Home Care of Western Connecticut, “By banning non-solicitation clause in employee contracts – something no other state in the union does – section 305 threatens the agency model for home care. Most agencies allow caregivers to work for other companies simultaneously, and to have private clients on the side if they choose. We only ask that our employees not solicit the clients we have matched them with, either to take them to another agency or to convert them into private clients. Without the protection home care agencies in short order could become merely referral agencies.”
Ann Wilson, Companions & Homemakers in Farmington said, “We believe this ill-considered policy change was buried in the budget because it couldn’t survive the scrutiny on its merits. The legislation is dangerous for our clients and for our industry it will push agency employers into adopting the registry model. We are counting on the governor to fix this error.”