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Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act

USA117th CongressS-2569| Senate 
| Updated: 7/29/2021
Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Democratic Senator

New York

Cosponsors (15)
Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act This bill provides rights and protections for domestic workers (e.g., housekeepers, nannies, caretakers, personal assistants, and chauffeurs), including pay and leave rights, and health and safety protections. Specifically, the bill repeals the exemption of domestic live-in employees from certain minimum wage and maximum hour requirements. Employers must provide written notice of termination and provide at least 30 days of lodging and two weeks of severance pay to terminated live-in employees. Live-in employees also must be provided with reasonable access to telephone and internet service during their employment. The bill requires employers to provide domestic workers with a written agreement covering wages, sick leave, benefits, and other matters. Further, domestic workers may request and be granted changes to work schedules due to personal events. The bill also provides domestic workers with certain privacy rights, extends to domestic workers protections against discrimination in employment, and increases the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for certain Medicaid-funded medical services provided by domestic workers. The Department of Labor must (1) award grants for a domestic worker national hotline for reporting emergencies, training on hazards facing domestic workers, and workforce investment activities for domestic workers; and (2) establish a Domestic Worker Wage and Standards Board to investigate standards in the domestic workers industry. Labor must publish online a document that describes the rights and protections for domestic workers under this bill.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2112
Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act
Jul 29, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Jul 29, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jul 30, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-4826
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2112
    Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act


  • July 29, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 29, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • July 30, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-4826
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 117-4826: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act
Administrative remediesAdvisory bodiesAlternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitrationAssault and harassment offensesChild care and developmentChild healthCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCrime victimsCriminal justice information and recordsDisability and paralysisDisability assistanceDomestic violence and child abuseEmergency communications systemsEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployee hiringEmployee leaveEmployment and training programsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEnvironmental healthFood assistance and reliefForeign laborForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth information and medical recordsHome and outpatient careHousing supply and affordabilityImmigration status and proceduresInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLabor standardsLawyers and legal servicesMedicaidMedicareMental healthPersonnel recordsPoverty and welfare assistanceProduct safety and qualityRight of privacySex offensesSocial security and elderly assistanceState and local financeTelephone and wireless communicationTransportation costsUnemploymentVisas and passportsWages and earningsWomen's employmentWomen's healthWorker safety and health

Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act

USA117th CongressS-2569| Senate 
| Updated: 7/29/2021
Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act This bill provides rights and protections for domestic workers (e.g., housekeepers, nannies, caretakers, personal assistants, and chauffeurs), including pay and leave rights, and health and safety protections. Specifically, the bill repeals the exemption of domestic live-in employees from certain minimum wage and maximum hour requirements. Employers must provide written notice of termination and provide at least 30 days of lodging and two weeks of severance pay to terminated live-in employees. Live-in employees also must be provided with reasonable access to telephone and internet service during their employment. The bill requires employers to provide domestic workers with a written agreement covering wages, sick leave, benefits, and other matters. Further, domestic workers may request and be granted changes to work schedules due to personal events. The bill also provides domestic workers with certain privacy rights, extends to domestic workers protections against discrimination in employment, and increases the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for certain Medicaid-funded medical services provided by domestic workers. The Department of Labor must (1) award grants for a domestic worker national hotline for reporting emergencies, training on hazards facing domestic workers, and workforce investment activities for domestic workers; and (2) establish a Domestic Worker Wage and Standards Board to investigate standards in the domestic workers industry. Labor must publish online a document that describes the rights and protections for domestic workers under this bill.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2112
Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act
Jul 29, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Jul 29, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jul 30, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-4826
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2112
    Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act


  • July 29, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 29, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • July 30, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-4826
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Democratic Senator

New York

Cosponsors (15)
Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 117-4826: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative remediesAdvisory bodiesAlternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitrationAssault and harassment offensesChild care and developmentChild healthCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCrime victimsCriminal justice information and recordsDisability and paralysisDisability assistanceDomestic violence and child abuseEmergency communications systemsEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployee hiringEmployee leaveEmployment and training programsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEnvironmental healthFood assistance and reliefForeign laborForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth information and medical recordsHome and outpatient careHousing supply and affordabilityImmigration status and proceduresInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLabor standardsLawyers and legal servicesMedicaidMedicareMental healthPersonnel recordsPoverty and welfare assistanceProduct safety and qualityRight of privacySex offensesSocial security and elderly assistanceState and local financeTelephone and wireless communicationTransportation costsUnemploymentVisas and passportsWages and earningsWomen's employmentWomen's healthWorker safety and health