The bill would create a commission to study how to strengthen and maintain Maine’s direct care workforce.

The bill was the subject of a public hearing on Tuesday and will now move on to a work session and possible votes in the House and Senate. A representative for the Maine Council on Aging testified in support of the bill on Tuesday and cited a need to incentivize workers to consider direct care careers.

State Democratic leaders say the push for better direct care is part of a bipartisan effort between Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves and Republican Sen. David Burns.