This bill directs the Office of Management and Budget to review the federal occupational classification system and consider creating a separate job category specifically for direct support professionals—workers who provide daily assistance to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The legislation aims to address the fact that these professionals are currently classified under broader categories like home health aides, despite performing distinct work that helps disabled individuals live independently in their communities. The bill highlights a significant workforce problem: direct support professionals experience a 39 percent national turnover rate, which destabilizes care for vulnerable populations. Creating a dedicated occupational code would help the federal government and states better track worker shortages and turnover in this critical field. The bill requires no new federal funding and only asks OMB to consider the change during its next scheduled revision of the classification system; if OMB declines, it must explain its decision to Congress.
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