CO HB1328

Increases the minimum hourly wage for direct care workers providing Medicaid-reimbursed personal care, homemaker, and in-home support services from $12.41 to $17 per hour effective July 1, 2025, with an encouraged goal of $25 per hour by January 1, 2028

Requires the Department of Labor and Employment to establish a free "Know Your Rights" training for direct care workers by January 1, 2026, covering wages, overtime, sick leave, civil rights, and complaint procedures

Creates a direct care worker website and communication platform by July 1, 2026 to facilitate employment matching, provide training resources, and enable regular communication with workers who opt in

Directs the Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board to investigate health-care benefits for direct care workers, including costs, funding options, and whether Medicaid reimbursement can contribute to benefit costs

Appropriates $120,105 in general funds to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing and $168,459 to the Department of Labor and Employment for FY 2025-26 implementation, with an anticipated $220,424 in additional federal funds