Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act

Summary

Creates a federal "Domestic Workers Bill of Rights" that establishes minimum labor protections for people who work in private homes and family child care settings. It requires written work agreements, earned paid sick time, fair scheduling, meal/rest breaks, privacy protections, limits on pay deductions, and anti‑retaliation rules; it directs the Department of Labor to make model agreements, run outreach/enforcement, fund a national hotline and community grants, and set rules for payment intermediaries and Medicaid‑funded services. The bill also temporarily raises the federal Medicaid matching rate (FMAP) for certain Medicaid services provided by domestic employees for a 20‑quarter period and authorizes funds to implement the law.

Key Points

• Establishes a federal Domestic Workers Bill of Rights with minimum labor protections for people who work in private homes and family child care settings.
• Requires written work agreements and the Department of Labor must publish model agreement templates within 6 months.
• Guarantees earned paid sick time, fair scheduling, meal/rest breaks, limits on payroll deductions, privacy protections, and anti‑retaliation rules.
• Provides enforcement tools: private lawsuits, Department of Labor enforcement, civil penalties, and injunctive relief.
• Creates federal supports: an interagency Task Force, outreach and a website, a national hotline, and community grants to aid implementation.
• Directs rulemaking addressing pay intermediaries and Medicaid‑funded services delivered by domestic employees.
• Temporarily increases the Medicaid FMAP for qualifying services delivered by domestic employees for 20 fiscal quarters and conditions that funding on States maintaining service eligibility.
• Preserves stronger State and local protections and prevents employers from contracting away the new rights.
• Some protections phase in (model templates in 6 months; many worker protections take effect 2 years after enactment).
• Authorizes necessary funding and includes a severability clause to keep the rest of the law in effect if part is invalidated.

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