Minnesota Legislature
SF 807
as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/28/2017 10:31am
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying certain parental contribution amounts for
certain services for children with disabilities; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016,
section 252.27, subdivision 2a.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 252.27, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
Subd. 2a.
Contribution amount.
(a) The natural or adoptive parents of a minor child,
including a child determined eligible for medical assistance without consideration of parental
income, must contribute to the cost of services used by making monthly payments on a
sliding scale based on income, unless the child is married or has been married, parental
rights have been terminated, or the child's adoption is subsidized according to chapter 259A
or through title IV-E of the Social Security Act. The parental contribution is a partial or full
payment for medical services provided for diagnostic, therapeutic, curing, treating, mitigating,
rehabilitation, maintenance, and personal care services as defined in United States Code,
title 26, section 213, needed by the child with a chronic illness or disability.
(b) For households with adjusted gross income equal to or greater than 275 percent of
federal poverty guidelines, the parental contribution shall be computed by applying the
following schedule of rates to the adjusted gross income of the natural or adoptive parents:
(1) if the adjusted gross income is equal to or greater than 275 percent of federal poverty
guidelines and less than or equal to 545 percent of federal poverty guidelines, the parental
contribution shall be determined using a sliding fee scale established by the commissioner
of human services which begins at deleted text begin 2.23deleted text end new text begin 1.115new text end percent of adjusted gross income at 275
percent of federal poverty guidelines and increases to deleted text begin 6.08deleted text end new text begin 3.04new text end percent of adjusted gross
income for those with adjusted gross income up to 545 percent of federal poverty guidelines;
(2) if the adjusted gross income is greater than 545 percent of federal poverty guidelines
and less than 675 percent of federal poverty guidelines, the parental contribution shall be
deleted text begin 6.08deleted text end new text begin 3.04new text end percent of adjusted gross income;
(3) if the adjusted gross income is equal to or greater than 675 percent of federal poverty
guidelines and less than 975 percent of federal poverty guidelines, the parental contribution
shall be determined using a sliding fee scale established by the commissioner of human
services which begins at deleted text begin 6.08deleted text end new text begin 3.04new text end percent of adjusted gross income at 675 percent of federal
poverty guidelines and increases to deleted text begin 8.1deleted text end new text begin 4.05new text end percent of adjusted gross income for those with
adjusted gross income up to 975 percent of federal poverty guidelines; and
(4) if the adjusted gross income is equal to or greater than 975 percent of federal poverty
guidelines, the parental contribution shall be deleted text begin 10.13deleted text end new text begin 5.065new text end percent of adjusted gross income.
If the child lives with the parent, the annual adjusted gross income is reduced by $2,400
prior to calculating the parental contribution. If the child resides in an institution specified
in section 256B.35, the parent is responsible for the personal needs allowance specified
under that section in addition to the parental contribution determined under this section.
The parental contribution is reduced by any amount required to be paid directly to the child
pursuant to a court order, but only if actually paid.
(c) The household size to be used in determining the amount of contribution under
paragraph (b) includes natural and adoptive parents and their dependents, including the
child receiving services. Adjustments in the contribution amount due to annual changes in
the federal poverty guidelines shall be implemented on the first day of July following
publication of the changes.
(d) For purposes of paragraph (b), "income" means the adjusted gross income of the
natural or adoptive parents determined according to the previous year's federal tax form,
except, effective retroactive to July 1, 2003, taxable capital gains to the extent the funds
have been used to purchase a home shall not be counted as income.
(e) The contribution shall be explained in writing to the parents at the time eligibility
for services is being determined. The contribution shall be made on a monthly basis effective
with the first month in which the child receives services. Annually upon redetermination
or at termination of eligibility, if the contribution exceeded the cost of services provided,
the local agency or the state shall reimburse that excess amount to the parents, either by
direct reimbursement if the parent is no longer required to pay a contribution, or by a
reduction in or waiver of parental fees until the excess amount is exhausted. All
reimbursements must include a notice that the amount reimbursed may be taxable income
if the parent paid for the parent's fees through an employer's health care flexible spending
account under the Internal Revenue Code, section 125, and that the parent is responsible
for paying the taxes owed on the amount reimbursed.
(f) The monthly contribution amount must be reviewed at least every 12 months; when
there is a change in household size; and when there is a loss of or gain in income from one
month to another in excess of ten percent. The local agency shall mail a written notice 30
days in advance of the effective date of a change in the contribution amount. A decrease in
the contribution amount is effective in the month that the parent verifies a reduction in
income or change in household size.
(g) Parents of a minor child who do not live with each other shall each pay the
contribution required under paragraph (a). An amount equal to the annual court-ordered
child support payment actually paid on behalf of the child receiving services shall be deducted
from the adjusted gross income of the parent making the payment prior to calculating the
parental contribution under paragraph (b).
(h) The contribution under paragraph (b) shall be increased by an additional five percent
if the local agency determines that insurance coverage is available but not obtained for the
child. For purposes of this section, "available" means the insurance is a benefit of employment
for a family member at an annual cost of no more than five percent of the family's annual
income. For purposes of this section, "insurance" means health and accident insurance
coverage, enrollment in a nonprofit health service plan, health maintenance organization,
self-insured plan, or preferred provider organization.
Parents who have more than one child receiving services shall not be required to pay
more than the amount for the child with the highest expenditures. There shall be no resource
contribution from the parents. The parent shall not be required to pay a contribution in
excess of the cost of the services provided to the child, not counting payments made to
school districts for education-related services. Notice of an increase in fee payment must
be given at least 30 days before the increased fee is due.
(i) The contribution under paragraph (b) shall be reduced by $300 per fiscal year if, in
the 12 months prior to July 1:
(1) the parent applied for insurance for the child;
(2) the insurer denied insurance;
(3) the parents submitted a complaint or appeal, in writing to the insurer, submitted a
complaint or appeal, in writing, to the commissioner of health or the commissioner of
commerce, or litigated the complaint or appeal; and
(4) as a result of the dispute, the insurer reversed its decision and granted insurance.
For purposes of this section, "insurance" has the meaning given in paragraph (h).
A parent who has requested a reduction in the contribution amount under this paragraph
shall submit proof in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner or county agency,
including, but not limited to, the insurer's denial of insurance, the written letter or complaint
of the parents, court documents, and the written response of the insurer approving insurance.
The determinations of the commissioner or county agency under this paragraph are not rules
subject to chapter 14.