Labor & Employment

H 4706 establishes a licensing system for home care agencies in Massachusetts, requiring them to obtain and maintain a license from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. It mandates background checks for all home care workers (including criminal history, federal exclusion lists, and driving records for drivers), sets minimum standards for consumer service plans and contracts, and requires agencies to carry workers' compensation and liability insurance. The bill also mandates annual training for workers on topics like abuse reporting, dementia care, safety, and privacy. This directly affects home care agencies, home care workers, and the thousands of Massachusetts residents receiving home care services in their homes.