County committee advances bill to index minimum wage, includes wage supplement for direct support professionals

The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee voted to move CB 5-2025 favorably out of committee, advancing legislation that would index the Prince George's County minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index and establish a county wage supplement aimed at direct support professionals.

The bill would require the director of finance to set the county minimum-wage rate on March 1 of each year based on the immediately preceding 12 months of CPI data, with an offset mechanism intended to ensure the county can fund a direct support professional wage supplement. The sponsor, Council member Danoga, said the intent is "to ensure that the wages for direct support professionals are commensurate with the professional positions that they occupy and to ensure that the county is financially capable of funding the direct support professional wage supplement." The committee vote was 5-0.

Why it matters: Direct support professionals provide hands-on assistance to residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, help people live and work in the community and, according to multiple public witnesses, face high turnover linked to low pay. Advocates told the committee that raising DSP compensation is needed to avoid disruptions in care and to retain trained staff.

Details and fiscal questions: Committee staff explained the bill’s indexing formula and described a county allocation intended to fund the DSP supplement. At the meeting, a staff member cited a line in the executive’s budget book showing $4,400,000 currently identified under the budget section referenced by committee members; the sponsor and members asked for additional detail and analysis of whether that amount would be sufficient over time. County Executive liaison Sakenda Skinner told the committee the administration supports the legislation and that finance would supply requested forecasting before introduction.

Several council members urged adding a “safety valve” or review mechanism to allow the council to adjust the supplement if county revenues do not track CPI in future years. Council member Harrison requested an explicit clause permitting council review or resolution to modify the supplement if revenue constraints require it; sponsor Danoga and other members agreed to work with finance and the executive’s office to draft such language before introduction.

Public testimony: Ten witnesses representing providers, DSP workers and family members told the committee that low wages threaten continuity of care. - Chris Collins, who said he grew up in the county and uses DSP services, said frequent staff turnover reduced the supports he receives. - Alberta McCoy described her adult daughter’s reliance on DSPs and urged support to prevent service disruptions. - Petronella Charles, a nine-year DSP, described supporting a man with complex medical needs and asked the council, “Please do not forget the DSPs and the minimum wage bill.” - Other DSPs and provider representatives described long hours, out-of-pocket costs for community activities, and the emotional burden of the work, and urged the county to include DSP wages when the minimum wage rises.

Next steps: Committee members moved and seconded a motion to move the bill favorably with the understanding that staff and the executive branch will collaborate on language for a safety valve and supply budget forecast information before council introduction. The committee clerk recorded a unanimous favorable committee vote.

The committee record shows the sponsor and council members will continue negotiations with finance and the county executive’s office on affordability language and implementation timing ahead of the bill’s introduction and subsequent council consideration.