The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld Gov. Tom Wolf’s executive order concerning home care workers for elderly and disabled individuals.
On Tuesday, the high court ruled that Wolf “did not exceed his constitutional powers” by issuing the order.
In the opinion for the majority, Justice Debra Todd wrote that the purpose of the executive order is to improve the quality of home care for elderly and disabled people and the working conditions of direct-care workers (DCWs).
To accomplish that goal, the governor directed the establishment of an advisory group and a process for DCWs to choose a representative. Periodically, executive branch officials will then meet and confer with these representatives regarding home care policy issues.
Wolf’s Order Facilitates Communication Process Regarding Home Care Policy
“Critically, the entire process set forth in the order is voluntary, non-binding, nonexclusive and unenforceable,” Todd wrote.
In other words, the executive order does not require DCWs to join or support a representative organization. It does not force the DCW representative or the Secretary of the state’s Department of Human Services to take any specific action.
