Ensures that more developmentally disabled adults can self-direct the care they need and want, by incorporating collective bargaining rights into the self-directed supports program.

Plain-English Summary: Quality Self-Directed Supports Act of 2026

This bill deals with how adults with developmental disabilities receive personal care services in Rhode Island. Currently, some individuals with developmental disabilities can participate in a "self-directed" program, meaning they get to choose their own caregivers and have more control over the support they receive in their daily lives. This bill aims to expand that program so more people can participate in it, giving a greater number of developmentally disabled adults the ability to make their own choices about their care.

A key feature of this bill is that it would bring collective bargaining rights into the self-directed supports program. This means that the personal care workers who are hired through this program — often called individual providers or home care workers — would have the legal right to organize and negotiate with the state as a group over things like wages, benefits, and working conditions. Collective bargaining is the same process used by labor unions in many other industries.

The bill affects two main groups of people: adults with developmental disabilities who use or want to use self-directed care services, and the workers who provide that care. Supporters of this type of legislation generally argue it can improve caregiver pay and stability, which may make it easier for disabled individuals to find and keep reliable help. The bill has been referred to the House Labor Committee, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken.