HF 2009

2nd Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/20/2012 05:27pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; changing human services legal provisions; modifying
provisions related to human services licensing, licensing data, and the Office
of Inspector General; amending the Human Services Background Studies
Act; modifying municipal license provisions; providing for program integrity
monitoring; requiring data sharing with the Department of Human Services;
requiring eligibility determinations; requiring a report; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2010, sections 13.46, subdivisions 2, 3, 4; 13.82, subdivision 1; 245A.04,
subdivisions 1, 7, 11, by adding subdivisions; 245A.05; 245A.07, subdivision
3; 245A.14, subdivision 11, by adding a subdivision; 245A.146, subdivisions 2,
3; 245A.18, subdivision 1; 245A.22, subdivision 2; 245A.66, subdivisions 2, 3;
245C.03, subdivision 1; 245C.04, subdivision 1; 245C.05, subdivisions 2, 4, 7,
by adding a subdivision; 245C.07; 245C.08, subdivision 1; 245C.14, subdivision
2; 245C.16, subdivision 1; 245C.17, subdivision 2; 245C.22, subdivision 5;
245C.23, subdivision 2; 245C.24, subdivision 2; 256.01, by adding subdivisions;
471.709; Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 256B.04, subdivision 21;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245A; repealing
Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0150, item E.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

ARTICLE 1

DATA PRACTICES

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 13.46, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

General.

(a) Unless the data is summary data or a statute specifically
provides a different classification, data on individuals collected, maintained, used, or
disseminated by the welfare system is private data on individuals, and shall not be
disclosed except:

(1) according to section 13.05;

(2) according to court order;

(3) according to a statute specifically authorizing access to the private data;

(4) to an agent of the welfare system new text begin and an investigator acting on behalf of a county,
the state, or the federal government new text end , including a law enforcement person deleted text begin , deleted text end new text begin or new text end attorney deleted text begin , or
investigator acting for it deleted text end in the investigation or prosecution of a criminal deleted text begin or deleted text end new text begin , new text end civil new text begin , or
administrative new text end proceeding relating to the administration of a program;

(5) to personnel of the welfare system who require the data to verify an individual's
identity; determine eligibility, amount of assistance, and the need to provide services to
an individual or family across programs; evaluate the effectiveness of programs; assess
parental contribution amounts; and investigate suspected fraud;

(6) to administer federal funds or programs;

(7) between personnel of the welfare system working in the same program;

(8) to the Department of Revenue to assess parental contribution amounts for
purposes of section 252.27, subdivision 2a, administer and evaluate tax refund or tax credit
programs and to identify individuals who may benefit from these programs. The following
information may be disclosed under this paragraph: an individual's and their dependent's
names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, income, addresses, and other data as
required, upon request by the Department of Revenue. Disclosures by the commissioner
of revenue to the commissioner of human services for the purposes described in this clause
are governed by section 270B.14, subdivision 1. Tax refund or tax credit programs include,
but are not limited to, the dependent care credit under section 290.067, the Minnesota
working family credit under section 290.0671, the property tax refund and rental credit
under section 290A.04, and the Minnesota education credit under section 290.0674;

(9) between the Department of Human Services, the Department of Employment
and Economic Development, and when applicable, the Department of Education, for
the following purposes:

(i) to monitor the eligibility of the data subject for unemployment benefits, for any
employment or training program administered, supervised, or certified by that agency;

(ii) to administer any rehabilitation program or child care assistance program,
whether alone or in conjunction with the welfare system;

(iii) to monitor and evaluate the Minnesota family investment program or the child
care assistance program by exchanging data on recipients and former recipients of food
support, cash assistance under chapter 256, 256D, 256J, or 256K, child care assistance
under chapter 119B, or medical programs under chapter 256B, 256D, or 256L; and

(iv) to analyze public assistance employment services and program utilization,
cost, effectiveness, and outcomes as implemented under the authority established in Title
II, Sections 201-204 of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of
1999. Health records governed by sections 144.291 to 144.298 and "protected health
information" as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 160.103, and
governed by Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, parts 160-164, including health care
claims utilization information, must not be exchanged under this clause;

(10) to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency if knowledge of
the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the individual or other
individuals or persons;

(11) data maintained by residential programs as defined in section 245A.02 may
be disclosed to the protection and advocacy system established in this state according
to Part C of Public Law 98-527 to protect the legal and human rights of persons with
developmental disabilities or other related conditions who live in residential facilities for
these persons if the protection and advocacy system receives a complaint by or on behalf
of that person and the person does not have a legal guardian or the state or a designee of
the state is the legal guardian of the person;

(12) to the county medical examiner or the county coroner for identifying or locating
relatives or friends of a deceased person;

(13) data on a child support obligor who makes payments to the public agency
may be disclosed to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to the extent necessary to
determine eligibility under section 136A.121, subdivision 2, clause (5);

(14) participant Social Security numbers and names collected by the telephone
assistance program may be disclosed to the Department of Revenue to conduct an
electronic data match with the property tax refund database to determine eligibility under
section 237.70, subdivision 4a;

(15) the current address of a Minnesota family investment program participant
may be disclosed to law enforcement officers who provide the name of the participant
and notify the agency that:

(i) the participant:

(A) is a fugitive felon fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after
conviction, for a crime or attempt to commit a crime that is a felony under the laws of the
jurisdiction from which the individual is fleeing; or

(B) is violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under state or federal law;

(ii) the location or apprehension of the felon is within the law enforcement officer's
official duties; and

(iii) the request is made in writing and in the proper exercise of those duties;

(16) the current address of a recipient of general assistance or general assistance
medical care may be disclosed to probation officers and corrections agents who are
supervising the recipient and to law enforcement officers who are investigating the
recipient in connection with a felony level offense;

(17) information obtained from food support applicant or recipient households may
be disclosed to local, state, or federal law enforcement officials, upon their written request,
for the purpose of investigating an alleged violation of the Food Stamp Act, according
to Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 272.1 (c);

(18) the address, Social Security number, and, if available, photograph of any
member of a household receiving food support shall be made available, on request, to a
local, state, or federal law enforcement officer if the officer furnishes the agency with the
name of the member and notifies the agency that:

(i) the member:

(A) is fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, for a
crime or attempt to commit a crime that is a felony in the jurisdiction the member is fleeing;

(B) is violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under state or federal
law; or

(C) has information that is necessary for the officer to conduct an official duty related
to conduct described in subitem (A) or (B);

(ii) locating or apprehending the member is within the officer's official duties; and

(iii) the request is made in writing and in the proper exercise of the officer's official
duty;

(19) the current address of a recipient of Minnesota family investment program,
general assistance, general assistance medical care, or food support may be disclosed to
law enforcement officers who, in writing, provide the name of the recipient and notify the
agency that the recipient is a person required to register under section 243.166, but is not
residing at the address at which the recipient is registered under section 243.166;

(20) certain information regarding child support obligors who are in arrears may be
made public according to section 518A.74;

(21) data on child support payments made by a child support obligor and data on
the distribution of those payments excluding identifying information on obligees may be
disclosed to all obligees to whom the obligor owes support, and data on the enforcement
actions undertaken by the public authority, the status of those actions, and data on the
income of the obligor or obligee may be disclosed to the other party;

(22) data in the work reporting system may be disclosed under section 256.998,
subdivision 7;

(23) to the Department of Education for the purpose of matching Department of
Education student data with public assistance data to determine students eligible for free
and reduced-price meals, meal supplements, and free milk according to United States
Code, title 42, sections 1758, 1761, 1766, 1766a, 1772, and 1773; to allocate federal and
state funds that are distributed based on income of the student's family; and to verify
receipt of energy assistance for the telephone assistance plan;

(24) the current address and telephone number of program recipients and emergency
contacts may be released to the commissioner of health or a local board of health as
defined in section 145A.02, subdivision 2, when the commissioner or local board of health
has reason to believe that a program recipient is a disease case, carrier, suspect case, or at
risk of illness, and the data are necessary to locate the person;

(25) to other state agencies, statewide systems, and political subdivisions of this
state, including the attorney general, and agencies of other states, interstate information
networks, federal agencies, and other entities as required by federal regulation or law for
the administration of the child support enforcement program;

(26) to personnel of public assistance programs as defined in section 256.741, for
access to the child support system database for the purpose of administration, including
monitoring and evaluation of those public assistance programs;

(27) to monitor and evaluate the Minnesota family investment program by
exchanging data between the Departments of Human Services and Education, on
recipients and former recipients of food support, cash assistance under chapter 256, 256D,
256J, or 256K, child care assistance under chapter 119B, or medical programs under
chapter 256B, 256D, or 256L;

(28) to evaluate child support program performance and to identify and prevent
fraud in the child support program by exchanging data between the Department of Human
Services, Department of Revenue under section 270B.14, subdivision 1, paragraphs (a)
and (b), without regard to the limitation of use in paragraph (c), Department of Health,
Department of Employment and Economic Development, and other state agencies as is
reasonably necessary to perform these functions;

(29) counties operating child care assistance programs under chapter 119B may
disseminate data on program participants, applicants, and providers to the commissioner
of education; or

(30) child support data on the parents and the child may be disclosed to agencies
administering programs under titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act, as provided
by federal law. Data may be disclosed only to the extent necessary for the purpose of
establishing parentage or for determining who has or may have parental rights with respect
to a child, which could be related to permanency planning.

(b) Information on persons who have been treated for drug or alcohol abuse may
only be disclosed according to the requirements of Code of Federal Regulations, title
42, sections 2.1 to 2.67.

(c) Data provided to law enforcement agencies under paragraph (a), clause (15),
(16), (17), or (18), or paragraph (b), are investigative data and are confidential or protected
nonpublic while the investigation is active. The data are private after the investigation
becomes inactive under section 13.82, subdivision 5, paragraph (a) or (b).

(d) Mental health data shall be treated as provided in subdivisions 7, 8, and 9, but is
not subject to the access provisions of subdivision 10, paragraph (b).

For the purposes of this subdivision, a request will be deemed to be made in writing
if made through a computer interface system.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 13.46, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Investigative data.

(a) Data on persons, including data on vendors of
services, licensees, and applicants that is collected, maintained, used, or disseminated
by the welfare system in an investigation, authorized by statute, and relating to the
enforcement of rules or law is confidential data on individuals pursuant to section 13.02,
subdivision 3, or protected nonpublic data not on individuals pursuant to section 13.02,
subdivision 13, and shall not be disclosed except:

(1) pursuant to section 13.05;

(2) pursuant to statute or valid court order;

(3) to a party named in a civil or criminal proceeding, administrative or judicial, for
preparation of defense; or

(4) to provide notices required or permitted by statute.

The data referred to in this subdivision shall be classified as public data upon
its submission to an administrative law judge or court in an administrative or judicial
proceeding. Inactive welfare investigative data shall be treated as provided in section
13.39, subdivision 3.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in law, the commissioner of human services
shall provide all active and inactive investigative data, including the name of the reporter
of alleged maltreatment under section 626.556 or 626.557, to the ombudsman for mental
health and developmental disabilities upon the request of the ombudsman.

new text begin (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) and section 13.39, the existence and status of an
investigation by the commissioner of possible overpayments of public funds to a service
provider are public data during an investigation.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 13.46, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Licensing data.

(a) As used in this subdivision:

(1) "licensing data" means all data collected, maintained, used, or disseminated by
the welfare system pertaining to persons licensed or registered or who apply for licensure
or registration or who formerly were licensed or registered under the authority of the
commissioner of human services;

(2) "client" means a person who is receiving services from a licensee or from an
applicant for licensure; and

(3) "personal and personal financial data" means Social Security numbers, identity
of and letters of reference, insurance information, reports from the Bureau of Criminal
Apprehension, health examination reports, and social/home studies.

(b)(1) new text begin (i) new text end Except as provided in paragraph (c), the following data on applicants,
license holders, and former licensees are public: name, address, telephone number of
licensees, date of receipt of a completed application, dates of licensure, licensed capacity,
type of client preferred, variances granted, record of training and education in child care
and child development, type of dwelling, name and relationship of other family members,
previous license history, class of license, the existence and status of complaints, and the
number of serious injuries to or deaths of individuals in the licensed program as reported
to the commissioner of human services, the local social services agency, or any other
county welfare agency. For purposes of this clause, a serious injury is one that is treated
by a physician.

new text begin (ii) new text end When a correction order, an order to forfeit a fine, an order of license suspension,
an order of temporary immediate suspension, an order of license revocation, an order
of license denial, or an order of conditional license has been issued, or a complaint is
resolved, the following data on current and former licensees and applicants are public: the
substance and investigative findings of the licensing or maltreatment complaint, licensing
violation, or substantiated maltreatment; the record of informal resolution of a licensing
violation; orders of hearing; findings of fact; conclusions of law; specifications of the final
correction order, fine, suspension, temporary immediate suspension, revocation, denial, or
conditional license contained in the record of licensing action; whether a fine has been
paid; and the status of any appeal of these actions. deleted text begin If a licensing sanction under section
245A.07, or a license denial under section 245A.05, is based on a determination that the
license holder or applicant is responsible for maltreatment or is disqualified under chapter
245C, the identity of the license holder or applicant as the individual responsible for
maltreatment or as the disqualified individual is public data at the time of the issuance of
the licensing sanction or denial.
deleted text end

new text begin (iii) When a license denial under section 245A.05 or a sanction under section
245A.07 is based on a determination that the license holder or applicant is responsible for
maltreatment under section 626.556 or 626.557, the identity of the applicant or license
holder as the individual responsible for maltreatment is public data at the time of the
issuance of the license denial or sanction.
new text end

new text begin (iv) When a license denial under section 245A.05 or a sanction under section
245A.07 is based on a determination that the license holder or applicant is disqualified
under chapter 245C, the identity of the license holder or applicant as the disqualified
individual and the reason for the disqualification are public data at the time of the
issuance of the licensing sanction or denial. If the applicant or license holder requests
reconsideration of the disqualification and the disqualification is affirmed, the reason for
the disqualification and the reason to not set aside the disqualification are public data.
new text end

(2) Notwithstanding sections 626.556, subdivision 11, and 626.557, subdivision 12b,
when any person subject to disqualification under section 245C.14 in connection with a
license to provide family day care for children, child care center services, foster care
for children in the provider's home, or foster care or day care services for adults in the
provider's home is a substantiated perpetrator of maltreatment, and the substantiated
maltreatment is a reason for a licensing action, the identity of the substantiated perpetrator
of maltreatment is public data. For purposes of this clause, a person is a substantiated
perpetrator if the maltreatment determination has been upheld under section 256.045;
626.556, subdivision 10i; 626.557, subdivision 9d; or chapter 14, or if an individual or
facility has not timely exercised appeal rights under these sections, except as provided
under clause (1).

(3) For applicants who withdraw their application prior to licensure or denial of a
license, the following data are public: the name of the applicant, the city and county in
which the applicant was seeking licensure, the dates of the commissioner's receipt of the
initial application and completed application, the type of license sought, and the date
of withdrawal of the application.

(4) For applicants who are denied a license, the following data are public: the name
and address of the applicant, the city and county in which the applicant was seeking
licensure, the dates of the commissioner's receipt of the initial application and completed
application, the type of license sought, the date of denial of the application, the nature of
the basis for the denial, the record of informal resolution of a denial, orders of hearings,
findings of fact, conclusions of law, specifications of the final order of denial, and the
status of any appeal of the denial.

(5) The following data on persons subject to disqualification under section 245C.14
in connection with a license to provide family day care for children, child care center
services, foster care for children in the provider's home, or foster care or day care
services for adults in the provider's home, are public: the nature of any disqualification
set aside under section 245C.22, subdivisions 2 and 4, and the reasons for setting aside
the disqualification; the nature of any disqualification for which a variance was granted
under sections 245A.04, subdivision 9; and 245C.30, and the reasons for granting any
variance under section 245A.04, subdivision 9; and, if applicable, the disclosure that
any person subject to a background study under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, has
successfully passed a background study. If a licensing sanction under section 245A.07,
or a license denial under section 245A.05, is based on a determination that an individual
subject to disqualification under chapter 245C is disqualified, the disqualification as a
basis for the licensing sanction or denial is public data. As specified in clause (1), new text begin item
(iv), new text end if the disqualified individual is the license holder or applicant, the identity of the
license holder or applicant deleted text begin is deleted text end new text begin and the reason for the disqualification are new text end public data new text begin ; and, if
the license holder or applicant requested reconsideration of the disqualification and the
disqualification is affirmed, the reason for the disqualification and the reason to not set
aside the disqualification are public data new text end . If the disqualified individual is an individual
other than the license holder or applicant, the identity of the disqualified individual shall
remain private data.

(6) When maltreatment is substantiated under section 626.556 or 626.557 and the
victim and the substantiated perpetrator are affiliated with a program licensed under
chapter 245A, the commissioner of human services, local social services agency, or
county welfare agency may inform the license holder where the maltreatment occurred of
the identity of the substantiated perpetrator and the victim.

(7) Notwithstanding clause (1), for child foster care, only the name of the license
holder and the status of the license are public if the county attorney has requested that data
otherwise classified as public data under clause (1) be considered private data based on the
best interests of a child in placement in a licensed program.

(c) The following are private data on individuals under section 13.02, subdivision
12, or nonpublic data under section 13.02, subdivision 9: personal and personal financial
data on family day care program and family foster care program applicants and licensees
and their family members who provide services under the license.

(d) The following are private data on individuals: the identity of persons who have
made reports concerning licensees or applicants that appear in inactive investigative data,
and the records of clients or employees of the licensee or applicant for licensure whose
records are received by the licensing agency for purposes of review or in anticipation of a
contested matter. The names of reporters of complaints or alleged violations of licensing
standards under chapters 245A, 245B, 245C, and applicable rules and alleged maltreatment
under sections 626.556 and 626.557, are confidential data and may be disclosed only as
provided in section 626.556, subdivision 11, or 626.557, subdivision 12b.

(e) Data classified as private, confidential, nonpublic, or protected nonpublic under
this subdivision become public data if submitted to a court or administrative law judge as
part of a disciplinary proceeding in which there is a public hearing concerning a license
which has been suspended, immediately suspended, revoked, or denied.

(f) Data generated in the course of licensing investigations that relate to an alleged
violation of law are investigative data under subdivision 3.

(g) Data that are not public data collected, maintained, used, or disseminated under
this subdivision that relate to or are derived from a report as defined in section 626.556,
subdivision 2, or 626.5572, subdivision 18, are subject to the destruction provisions of
sections 626.556, subdivision 11c, and 626.557, subdivision 12b.

(h) Upon request, not public data collected, maintained, used, or disseminated under
this subdivision that relate to or are derived from a report of substantiated maltreatment as
defined in section 626.556 or 626.557 may be exchanged with the Department of Health
for purposes of completing background studies pursuant to section 144.057 and with
the Department of Corrections for purposes of completing background studies pursuant
to section 241.021.

(i) Data on individuals collected according to licensing activities under chapters
245A and 245C, deleted text begin and deleted text end data on individuals collected by the commissioner of human
services according to deleted text begin maltreatment deleted text end investigations under new text begin chapters 245A and 245C, and
new text end sections 626.556 and 626.557 deleted text begin , deleted text end may be shared with the Department of Human Rights, the
Department of Health, the Department of Corrections, the ombudsman for mental health
and developmental disabilities, and the individual's professional regulatory board when
there is reason to believe that laws or standards under the jurisdiction of those agencies
may have been violated deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin or the information may otherwise be relevant to the board's
regulatory jurisdiction. Background study data on an individual who is the subject of a
background study under chapter 245C for a licensed service for which the commissioner
of human services is the license holder may be shared with the commissioner and the
commissioner's delegate by the licensing division. new text end Unless otherwise specified in this
chapter, the identity of a reporter of alleged maltreatment or licensing violations may not
be disclosed.

(j) In addition to the notice of determinations required under section 626.556,
subdivision 10f, if the commissioner or the local social services agency has determined
that an individual is a substantiated perpetrator of maltreatment of a child based on sexual
abuse, as defined in section 626.556, subdivision 2, and the commissioner or local social
services agency knows that the individual is a person responsible for a child's care in
another facility, the commissioner or local social services agency shall notify the head
of that facility of this determination. The notification must include an explanation of the
individual's available appeal rights and the status of any appeal. If a notice is given under
this paragraph, the government entity making the notification shall provide a copy of the
notice to the individual who is the subject of the notice.

(k) All not public data collected, maintained, used, or disseminated under this
subdivision and subdivision 3 may be exchanged between the Department of Human
Services, Licensing Division, and the Department of Corrections for purposes of
regulating services for which the Department of Human Services and the Department
of Corrections have regulatory authority.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 13.82, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Application.

This section shall apply to agencies which carry on
a law enforcement function, including but not limited to municipal police departments,
county sheriff departments, fire departments, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension,
the Minnesota State Patrol, the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, the
Department of Commerce, deleted text begin and the program integrity section of, and deleted text end county human service
agency client and provider fraud new text begin investigation, new text end prevention new text begin , new text end and control units operated or
supervised by the Department of Human Services.

ARTICLE 2

LICENSING

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.04, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:

Subdivision 1.

Application for licensure.

(a) An individual, corporation,
partnership, voluntary association, other organization or controlling individual that is
subject to licensure under section 245A.03 must apply for a license. The application
must be made on the forms and in the manner prescribed by the commissioner. The
commissioner shall provide the applicant with instruction in completing the application
and provide information about the rules and requirements of other state agencies that affect
the applicant. An applicant seeking licensure in Minnesota with headquarters outside of
Minnesota must have a program office located within the state.

The commissioner shall act on the application within 90 working days after a
complete application and any required reports have been received from other state
agencies or departments, counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions. The
commissioner shall not consider an application to be complete until the commissioner
receives all of the information required under section 245C.05.

new text begin When the commissioner receives an application for initial licensure that is incomplete
because the applicant failed to submit required documents or that is substantially
deficient because the documents submitted do not meet licensing requirements, the
commissioner shall provide the applicant written notice that the application is incomplete
or substantially deficient. In the written notice to the applicant the commissioner shall
identify documents that are missing or deficient and give the applicant 45 days to resubmit
a second application that is substantially complete. An applicant's failure to submit a
substantially complete application after receiving notice from the commissioner is a basis
for license denial under section 245A.05.
new text end

(b) An application for licensure must deleted text begin specify one or more deleted text end new text begin identify all new text end controlling
individuals deleted text begin as deleted text end new text begin and must specify new text end an agent who is responsible for dealing with the
commissioner of human services on all matters provided for in this chapter and on whom
service of all notices and orders must be made. The agent must be authorized to accept
service on behalf of all of the controlling individuals of the program. Service on the agent
is service on all of the controlling individuals of the program. It is not a defense to any
action arising under this chapter that service was not made on each controlling individual
of the program. The designation of one or more controlling individuals as agents under
this paragraph does not affect the legal responsibility of any other controlling individual
under this chapter.

(c) An applicant or license holder must have a policy that prohibits license holders,
employees, subcontractors, and volunteers, when directly responsible for persons served
by the program, from abusing prescription medication or being in any manner under
the influence of a chemical that impairs the individual's ability to provide services or
care. The license holder must train employees, subcontractors, and volunteers about the
program's drug and alcohol policy.

(d) An applicant and license holder must have a program grievance procedure that
permits persons served by the program and their authorized representatives to bring a
grievance to the highest level of authority in the program.

new text begin (e) The applicant must be able to demonstrate competent knowledge of the
applicable requirements of this chapter and chapter 245C, and the requirements of
other licensing statutes and rules applicable to the program or services for which the
applicant is seeking to be licensed. Effective January 1, 2013, the commissioner may
require the applicant, except for child foster care, to demonstrate competence in the
applicable licensing requirements by successfully completing a written examination. The
commissioner may develop a prescribed written examination format.
new text end

new text begin (f) When an applicant is an individual, the individual must provide the applicant's
Social Security number and a photocopy of a Minnesota driver's license, Minnesota
identification card, or valid United States passport.
new text end

new text begin (g) When an applicant is a nonindividual, the applicant must provide the applicant's
Minnesota tax identification number, the name, and address, and the date that the
background study was initiated by the applicant for each controlling individual, and:
new text end

new text begin (1) if the agent authorized to accept service on behalf of all the controlling
individuals resides in Minnesota, the agent must provide a photocopy of the agent's
Minnesota driver's license, Minnesota identification card, or United States passport; or
new text end

new text begin (2) if the agent authorized to accept service on behalf of all the controlling
individuals resides outside Minnesota, the agent must provide a photocopy of the agent's
driver's license or identification card from the state where the agent resides or a photocopy
of the agent's United States passport.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.04, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Grant of license; license extension.

(a) If the commissioner determines
that the program complies with all applicable rules and laws, the commissioner shall issue
a license. At minimum, the license shall state:

(1) the name of the license holder;

(2) the address of the program;

(3) the effective date and expiration date of the license;

(4) the type of license;

(5) the maximum number and ages of persons that may receive services from the
program; and

(6) any special conditions of licensure.

(b) The commissioner may issue an initial license for a period not to exceed two
years if:

(1) the commissioner is unable to conduct the evaluation or observation required
by subdivision 4, paragraph (a), clauses (3) and (4), because the program is not yet
operational;

(2) certain records and documents are not available because persons are not yet
receiving services from the program; and

(3) the applicant complies with applicable laws and rules in all other respects.

(c) A decision by the commissioner to issue a license does not guarantee that any
person or persons will be placed or cared for in the licensed program. A license shall not
be transferable to another individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, other
organization, or controlling individual or to another location.

(d) A license holder must notify the commissioner and obtain the commissioner's
approval before making any changes that would alter the license information listed under
paragraph (a).

(e) Except as provided in paragraphs (g) and (h), the commissioner shall not issue or
reissue a license if the applicant, license holder, or controlling individual has:

(1) been disqualified and the disqualification was not set aside and no variance has
been granted;

(2) deleted text begin has deleted text end been denied a license within the past two years;

(3) had a license revoked within the past five years; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(4) deleted text begin has deleted text end an outstanding debt related to a license fee, licensing fine, or settlement
agreement for which payment is delinquent deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (5) failed to submit the information required of an applicant under section 245A.04,
subdivision 1, paragraph (f) or (g), after being requested by the commissioner.
new text end

When a license is revoked under clause (1) or (3), the license holder and controlling
individual may not hold any license under chapter 245A or 245B for five years following
the revocation, and other licenses held by the applicant, license holder, or controlling
individual shall also be revoked.

(f) The commissioner shall not issue or reissue a license if an individual living in
the household where the licensed services will be provided as specified under section
245C.03, subdivision 1, has been disqualified and the disqualification has not been set
aside and no variance has been granted.

(g) Pursuant to section 245A.07, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), when a license has
been suspended or revoked and the suspension or revocation is under appeal, the program
may continue to operate pending a final order from the commissioner. If the license under
suspension or revocation will expire before a final order is issued, a temporary provisional
license may be issued provided any applicable license fee is paid before the temporary
provisional license is issued.

(h) Notwithstanding paragraph (g), when a revocation is based on the disqualification
of a controlling individual or license holder, and the controlling individual or license holder
is ordered under section 245C.17 to be immediately removed from direct contact with
persons receiving services or is ordered to be under continuous, direct supervision when
providing direct contact services, the program may continue to operate only if the program
complies with the order and submits documentation demonstrating compliance with the
order. If the disqualified individual fails to submit a timely request for reconsideration, or
if the disqualification is not set aside and no variance is granted, the order to immediately
remove the individual from direct contact or to be under continuous, direct supervision
remains in effect pending the outcome of a hearing and final order from the commissioner.

(i) For purposes of reimbursement for meals only, under the Child and Adult Care
Food Program, Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, subtitle B, chapter II, subchapter A,
part 226, relocation within the same county by a licensed family day care provider, shall
be considered an extension of the license for a period of no more than 30 calendar days or
until the new license is issued, whichever occurs first, provided the county agency has
determined the family day care provider meets licensure requirements at the new location.

(j) Unless otherwise specified by statute, all licenses expire at 12:01 a.m. on the
day after the expiration date stated on the license. A license holder must apply for and
be granted a new license to operate the program or the program must not be operated
after the expiration date.

(k) The commissioner shall not issue or reissue a license if it has been determined that
a tribal licensing authority has established jurisdiction to license the program or service.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.04, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11.

Education program; permitted ages, additional requirement.

(a) deleted text begin The
education program offered in a residential or nonresidential program, except for child care,
foster care, or services for adults, must be approved by the commissioner of education
before the commissioner of human services may grant a license to the program. deleted text end new text begin Except for
foster care, the commissioner of human services may not grant a license to a residential
facility for the placement of children before the commissioner has received documentation
of approval of the educational program from the commissioner of education according to
section 125A.515.
new text end

deleted text begin (b) A residential program licensed by the commissioner of human services under
Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.0010 to 2960.0710, may serve persons through the age of
19 when:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) the admission or continued stay is necessary for a person to complete a secondary
deleted text end deleted text begin school program or its equivalent, or it is necessary to facilitate a transition period after
deleted text end deleted text begin completing the secondary school program or its equivalent for up to four months in order
deleted text end deleted text begin for the resident to obtain other living arrangements;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) the facility develops policies, procedures, and plans required under section
deleted text end deleted text begin ;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) the facility documents an assessment of the 18- or 19-year-old person's risk
deleted text end deleted text begin of victimizing children residing in the facility, and develops necessary risk reduction
deleted text end deleted text begin measures, including sleeping arrangements, to minimize any risk of harm to children; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (4) notwithstanding the license holder's target population age range, whenever
deleted text end deleted text begin persons age 18 or 19 years old are receiving residential services, the age difference among
deleted text end deleted text begin residents may not exceed five years.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end A deleted text begin child foster care deleted text end program licensed by the commissioner under Minnesota
Rules, chapter 2960, may serve persons who are over the age of 18 but under the age
of 21 when the person is:

(1) completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;

(2) enrolled in an institution which provides postsecondary or vocational education;

(3) participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to,
employment;

(4) employed for at least 80 hours per month; or

(5) incapable of doing any of the activities described in clauses (1) to (4) due to a
medical condition, which incapability is supported by regularly updated information in the
case plan of the person.

new text begin (c) In addition to the requirements in paragraph (b), a residential program licensed
by the commissioner of human services under Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.0010 to
2960.0710, may serve persons under the age of 21 provided the facility complies with the
following requirements:
new text end

new text begin (1) for each person age 18 and older served at the program, the program must assess
and document the person's risk of victimizing other residents residing in the facility, and
based on the assessment, the facility must develop and implement necessary measures
to minimize any risk of harm to other residents, including making arrangements for
appropriate sleeping arrangements; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the program must assure that the services and living arrangements provided to all
residents are suitable to the age and functioning of the residents, including separation of
services, staff supervision, and other program operations as appropriate.
new text end

(d) Nothing in this deleted text begin paragraph deleted text end new text begin subdivision new text end precludes the license holder from seeking
other variances under subdivision 9.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.04, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 16. new text end

new text begin Program policy; reporting a death in the program. new text end

new text begin Unless such
reporting is otherwise already required under statute or rule, programs licensed under this
chapter must have a written policy for reporting the death of an individual served by the
program to the commissioner of human services. Within 24 hours of receiving knowledge
of the death of an individual served by the program, the license holder shall notify the
commissioner of the death. If the license holder has reason to know that the death has
been reported to the commissioner, a subsequent report is not required.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.04, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 17. new text end

new text begin Child care education plan. new text end

new text begin Child care providers are not required to
provide an education plan or curriculum that has been approved by the Department of
Education as a condition for initial or renewed licensure under this chapter.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.05, is amended to read:

245A.05 DENIAL OF APPLICATION.

(a) The commissioner may deny a license if an applicant or controlling individual:

new text begin (1) fails to submit a substantially complete application after receiving notice from
the commissioner under section 245A.04, subdivision 1;
new text end

deleted text begin (1) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end fails to comply with applicable laws or rules;

deleted text begin (2) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end knowingly withholds relevant information from or gives false or misleading
information to the commissioner in connection with an application for a license or during
an investigation;

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end has a disqualification that has not been set aside under section 245C.22
and no variance has been granted;

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end has an individual living in the household who received a background study
under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (2), who has a disqualification
that has not been set aside under section 245C.22, and no variance has been granted; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end is associated with an individual who received a background study under
section 245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (6), who may have unsupervised
access to children or vulnerable adults, and who has a disqualification that has not been set
aside under section 245C.22, and no variance has been granted deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (7) fails to comply with section 245A.04, subdivision 1, paragraph (f) or (g).
new text end

(b) An applicant whose application has been denied by the commissioner must be
given notice of the denial. Notice must be given by certified mail or personal service.
The notice must state the reasons the application was denied and must inform the
applicant of the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules,
parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The applicant may appeal the denial by notifying the
commissioner in writing by certified mail or personal service. If mailed, the appeal must
be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within 20 calendar days after the applicant
received the notice of denial. If an appeal request is made by personal service, it must
be received by the commissioner within 20 calendar days after the applicant received the
notice of denial. Section 245A.08 applies to hearings held to appeal the commissioner's
denial of an application.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.07, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

License suspension, revocation, or fine.

(a) The commissioner may
suspend or revoke a license, or impose a fine if new text begin :
new text end

new text begin (1) new text end a license holder fails to comply fully with applicable laws or rules deleted text begin , if deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (2) new text end a license holder, a controlling individual, or an individual living in the household
where the licensed services are provided or is otherwise subject to a background study has
a disqualification which has not been set aside under section 245C.22 deleted text begin , or if deleted text end new text begin ; new text end

new text begin (3) new text end a license holder knowingly withholds relevant information from or gives false
or misleading information to the commissioner in connection with an application for
a license, in connection with the background study status of an individual, during an
investigation, or regarding compliance with applicable laws or rules deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (4) after July 1, 2012, and upon request by the commissioner, a license holder fails
to submit the information required of an applicant under section 245A.04, subdivision 1,
paragraph (f) or (g). new text end

A license holder who has had a license suspended, revoked, or has been ordered
to pay a fine must be given notice of the action by certified mail or personal service. If
mailed, the notice must be mailed to the address shown on the application or the last
known address of the license holder. The notice must state the reasons the license was
suspended, revoked, or a fine was ordered.

(b) If the license was suspended or revoked, the notice must inform the license
holder of the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts
1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The license holder may appeal an order suspending or revoking
a license. The appeal of an order suspending or revoking a license must be made in writing
by certified mail or personal service. If mailed, the appeal must be postmarked and sent to
the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license holder receives notice that the
license has been suspended or revoked. If a request is made by personal service, it must be
received by the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license holder received
the order. Except as provided in subdivision 2a, paragraph (c), if a license holder submits
a timely appeal of an order suspending or revoking a license, the license holder may
continue to operate the program as provided in section 245A.04, subdivision 7, paragraphs
(g) and (h), until the commissioner issues a final order on the suspension or revocation.

(c)(1) If the license holder was ordered to pay a fine, the notice must inform the
license holder of the responsibility for payment of fines and the right to a contested case
hearing under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The appeal
of an order to pay a fine must be made in writing by certified mail or personal service. If
mailed, the appeal must be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within ten calendar
days after the license holder receives notice that the fine has been ordered. If a request is
made by personal service, it must be received by the commissioner within ten calendar
days after the license holder received the order.

(2) The license holder shall pay the fines assessed on or before the payment date
specified. If the license holder fails to fully comply with the order, the commissioner
may issue a second fine or suspend the license until the license holder complies. If the
license holder receives state funds, the state, county, or municipal agencies or departments
responsible for administering the funds shall withhold payments and recover any payments
made while the license is suspended for failure to pay a fine. A timely appeal shall stay
payment of the fine until the commissioner issues a final order.

(3) A license holder shall promptly notify the commissioner of human services,
in writing, when a violation specified in the order to forfeit a fine is corrected. If upon
reinspection the commissioner determines that a violation has not been corrected as
indicated by the order to forfeit a fine, the commissioner may issue a second fine. The
commissioner shall notify the license holder by certified mail or personal service that a
second fine has been assessed. The license holder may appeal the second fine as provided
under this subdivision.

(4) Fines shall be assessed as follows: the license holder shall forfeit $1,000 for
each determination of maltreatment of a child under section 626.556 or the maltreatment
of a vulnerable adult under section 626.557 for which the license holder is determined
responsible for the maltreatment under section 626.556, subdivision 10e, paragraph (i),
or 626.557, subdivision 9c, paragraph (c); the license holder shall forfeit $200 for each
occurrence of a violation of law or rule governing matters of health, safety, or supervision,
including but not limited to the provision of adequate staff-to-child or adult ratios, and
failure to comply with background study requirements under chapter 245C; and the license
holder shall forfeit $100 for each occurrence of a violation of law or rule other than those
subject to a $1,000 or $200 fine above. For purposes of this section, "occurrence" means
each violation identified in the commissioner's fine order. Fines assessed against a license
holder that holds a license to provide the residential-based habilitation services, as defined
under section 245B.02, subdivision 20, and a license to provide foster care, may be
assessed against both licenses for the same occurrence, but the combined amount of the
fines shall not exceed the amount specified in this clause for that occurrence.

(5) When a fine has been assessed, the license holder may not avoid payment by
closing, selling, or otherwise transferring the licensed program to a third party. In such an
event, the license holder will be personally liable for payment. In the case of a corporation,
each controlling individual is personally and jointly liable for payment.

new text begin (d) Except for background study violations involving the failure to comply with an
order to immediately remove an individual or an order to provide continuous, direct
supervision, the commissioner shall not issue a fine under paragraph (c) relating to a
background study violation to a license holder who self-corrects a background study
violation before the commissioner discovers the violation. A license holder who has
previously exercised the provisions of this paragraph to avoid a fine for a background
study violation may not avoid a fine for a subsequent background study violation unless at
least 365 days have passed since the license holder self-corrected the earlier background
study violation.
new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.14, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11.

Swimming pools; family day care and group family day care
providers.

(a) This subdivision governs swimming pools located at family day care
or group family day care homes licensed under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502. This
subdivision does not apply to portable wading pools or whirlpools located at family day
care or group family day care homes licensed under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502. For a
provider to be eligible to allow a child cared for at the family day care or group family day
care home to use the swimming pool located at the home, the provider must not have had
a licensing sanction under section 245A.07 or a correction order or conditional license
under section 245A.06 relating to the supervision or health and safety of children during
the prior 24 months, and must satisfy the following requirements:

(1) notify the county agency before initial use of the swimming pool and annually,
thereafter;

(2) obtain written consent from a child's parent or legal guardian allowing the child
to use the swimming pool and renew the parent or legal guardian's written consent at least
annually. The written consent must include a statement that the parent or legal guardian
has received and read materials provided by the Department of Health to the Department
of Human Services for distribution to all family day care or group family day care homes
and the general public on the human services Internet Web site related to the risk of disease
transmission as well as other health risks associated with swimming pools. The written
consent must also include a statement that the Department of Health, Department of
Human Services, and county agency will not monitor or inspect the provider's swimming
pool to ensure compliance with the requirements in this subdivision;

(3) enter into a written contract with a child's parent or legal guardian and renew the
written contract annually. The terms of the written contract must specify that the provider
agrees to perform all of the requirements in this subdivision;

(4) attend and successfully complete a swimming pool operator training course once
every five years. Acceptable training courses are:

(i) the National Swimming Pool Foundation Certified Pool Operator course;

(ii) the National Spa and Pool Institute Tech I and Tech II courses (both required); or

(iii) the National Recreation and Park Association Aquatic Facility Operator course;

(5) require a caregiver trained in first aid and adult and child cardiopulmonary
resuscitation to supervise and be present at the swimming pool with any children in the
pool;

(6) toilet all potty-trained children before they enter the swimming pool;

(7) require all children who are not potty-trained to wear swim diapers while in
the swimming pool;

(8) if fecal material enters the swimming pool water, add three times the normal
shock treatment to the pool water to raise the chlorine level to at least 20 parts per million,
and close the pool to swimming for the 24 hours following the entrance of fecal material
into the water or until the water pH and disinfectant concentration levels have returned to
the standards specified in clause (10), whichever is later;

(9) prevent any person from entering the swimming pool who has an open wound or
any person who has or is suspected of having a communicable disease;

(10) maintain the swimming pool water at a pH of not less than 7.2 and not more
than 8.0, maintain the disinfectant concentration between two and five parts per million for
chlorine or between 2.3 and 4.5 parts per million for bromine, and maintain a daily record
of the swimming pool's operation with pH and disinfectant concentration readings on days
when children cared for at the family day care or group family day care home are present;

(11) have a disinfectant feeder or feeders;

(12) have a recirculation system that will clarify and disinfect the swimming pool
volume of water in ten hours or less;

(13) maintain the swimming pool's water clarity so that an object on the pool floor at
the pool's deepest point is easily visible;

(14) deleted text begin have two or more suction lines in the swimming pool deleted text end new text begin comply with the provisions
of the Abigail Taylor Pool Safety Act in section 144.1222, subdivisions 1c and 1d new text end ;

(15) have in place and enforce written safety rules and swimming pool policies;

(16) have in place at all times a safety rope that divides the shallow and deep
portions of the swimming pool;

(17) satisfy any existing local ordinances regarding swimming pool installation,
decks, and fencing;

(18) maintain a water temperature of not more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit and
not less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit; and

(19) for lifesaving equipment, have a United States Coast Guard-approved life
ring attached to a rope, an exit ladder, and a shepherd's hook available at all times to the
caregiver supervising the swimming pool.

The requirements of clauses (5), (16), and (18) only apply at times when children
cared for at the family day care or group family day care home are present.

(b) A violation of paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3), is grounds for a sanction under
section 245A.07 or a correction order or conditional license under section 245A.06.

(c) If a provider under this subdivision receives a licensing sanction under section
245A.07 or a correction order or a conditional license under section 245A.06 relating to
the supervision or health and safety of children, the provider is prohibited from allowing a
child cared for at the family day care or group family day care home to continue to use
the swimming pool located at the home.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.146, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Documentation requirement for license holders.

(a) deleted text begin Effective January
1, 2006, deleted text end All licensed child care providers new text begin , children's residential facilities, chemical
dependency treatment programs with children in care, and residential habilitation
programs serving children with developmental disabilities new text end must maintain the following
documentation for every crib used by or that is accessible to any child in care:

(1) the crib's brand name; and

(2) the crib's model number.

(b) Any crib for which the license holder does not have the documentation required
under paragraph (a) must not be used by or be accessible to children in care.

new text begin (c) Effective December 28, 2012, the licensed program must maintain documentation
to show that every full-size and non-full-size crib that is used by or is accessible to any
child in care is compliant with federal crib standards under Code of Federal Regulations,
title 16, part 1219, for full-size baby cribs, or Code of Federal Regulations, title 16, part
1220, for non-full-size baby cribs. Documentation must include verification that each crib
was either purchased from a retailer on or after June 28, 2011, or a certificate from the
manufacturer or retailer verifying compliance with Code of Federal Regulations, title 16,
part 1219 or part 1220 for each crib purchased before June 28, 2011.
new text end

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.146, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

License holder documentation of cribs.

(a) Annually, from the date
printed on the license, all license holders shall check all their cribs' brand names and
model numbers against the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission Web
site listing of unsafe cribs.

(b) The license holder shall maintain written documentation to be reviewed on site
for each crib showing that the review required in paragraph (a) has been completed, and
which of the following conditions applies:

(1) the crib was not identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer Product
Safety Commission Web site;

(2) the crib was identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer Product Safety
Commission Web site, but the license holder has taken the action directed by the United
States Consumer Product Safety Commission to make the crib safe; or

(3) the crib was identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer Product Safety
Commission Web site, and the license holder has removed the crib so that it is no longer
used by or accessible to children in care.

(c) Documentation of the review completed under this subdivision shall be
maintained by the license holder on site and made available to parents new text begin or guardians new text end of
children in care and the commissioner.

(d) Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0425, a family child care provider
that complies with this section may use a mesh-sided playpen or crib that has not been
identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site
for the care or sleeping of infants.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.18, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Seat belt new text begin and child passenger restraint system new text end use.

new text begin When a child
is transported, new text end a license holder must comply with all seat belt and child passenger restraint
system requirements under deleted text begin section deleted text end new text begin sections new text end 169.685 new text begin and 169.686 new text end .

Sec. 12.

new text begin [245A.191] PROVIDER ELIGIBILITY FOR PAYMENTS FROM THE
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY CONSOLIDATED TREATMENT FUND.
new text end

new text begin (a) When a chemical dependency treatment provider licensed under Minnesota
Rules, parts 2960.0430 to 2960.0490 or 9530.6405 to 9530.6505, agrees to meet the
applicable requirements under section 254B.05, subdivision 5, paragraphs (b), clauses
(1) to (4) and (6), (c), and (d), to be eligible for enhanced funding from the chemical
dependency consolidated treatment fund, the applicable requirements under section
254B.05 are also licensing requirements that may be monitored for compliance through
licensing investigations and licensing inspections.
new text end

new text begin (b) Noncompliance with the requirements identified under paragraph (a) may
result in:
new text end

new text begin (1) a correction order or a conditional license under section 245A.06, or sanctions
under section 245A.07;
new text end

new text begin (2) nonpayment of claims submitted by the license holder for public program
reimbursement;
new text end

new text begin (3) recovery of payments made for the service;
new text end

new text begin (4) disenrollment in the public payment program; or
new text end

new text begin (5) other administrative, civil, or criminal penalties as provided by law.
new text end

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.22, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Admission.

(a) The license holder shall accept as clients in the independent
living assistance program only youth ages 16 to 21 who are in out-of-home placement,
leaving out-of-home placement, at risk of becoming homeless, or homeless.

(b) Youth who have current drug or alcohol problems, a recent history of violent
behaviors, or a mental health disorder or issue that is not being resolved through
counseling or treatment are not eligible to receive the services described in subdivision 1.

(c) Youth who are not employed, participating in employment training, or enrolled
in an academic program are not eligible to receive transitional housing or independent
living assistance.

new text begin (d) The commissioner may grant a variance under section 245A.04, subdivision 9,
to requirements in this section.
new text end

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.66, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Child care centers; risk reduction plan.

(a) Child care centers licensed
under this chapter and Minnesota Rules, chapter 9503, must develop a risk reduction plan
that deleted text begin assesses deleted text end new text begin identifies new text end the general risks to children served by the child care center. The
license holder must establish procedures to minimize identified risks, train staff on the
procedures, and annually review the procedures.

(b) The risk reduction plan must include an assessment of risk to children the
center serves or intends to serve new text begin and identify specific risks based on the outcome of the
assessment. The assessment of risk must be new text end based on the following:

(1) deleted text begin an assessment of the risk presented by the vulnerability of the children served,
including an evaluation of the following factors: age, developmental functioning, and the
physical and emotional health of children the program serves or intends to serve;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) deleted text end an assessment of the risks presented by the physical plant where the licensed
services are provided, including an evaluation of the following factors: the condition and
design of the facility and its outdoor space, bathrooms, storage areas, and accessibility
of medications and cleaning products that are harmful to children when children are not
supervised deleted text begin , doors where finger pinching may occur, deleted text end and the existence of areas that are
difficult to supervise; and

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end an assessment of the risks presented by the environment for each facility and
for each site, including an evaluation of the following factors: the type of grounds and
terrain surrounding the building and the proximity to hazards, busy roads, and publicly
accessed businesses.

(c) The risk reduction plan must include a statement of measures that will be
taken to minimize the risk of harm presented to children new text begin for each risk identified in the
assessment required under paragraph (b) related to the physical plant and environment new text end . At
a minimum, the deleted text begin risk reduction plan deleted text end new text begin stated measures new text end must deleted text begin address the following: deleted text end new text begin include
new text end

deleted text begin (1) a general description of supervision, programming, and deleted text end new text begin the development and
implementation of specific policies and procedures or new text end reference to deleted text begin the deleted text end new text begin existing new text end policies
and procedures deleted text begin developed and implemented to address deleted text end new text begin that minimize new text end the risks identified
deleted text begin in the assessment required under paragraph (b) related to the general population served,
the physical plant, and environment; deleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (2) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end In addition to any program-specific risks identified in paragraph (b), the plan
must include new text begin development and implementation of specific policies and procedures new text end or refer
to new text begin existing new text end policies and procedures deleted text begin developed and implemented to deleted text end new text begin that new text end minimize the risk
of harm or injury to children, including:

deleted text begin (i) deleted text end new text begin (1) new text end closing children's fingers in doors, including cabinet doors;

deleted text begin (ii) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end leaving children in the community without supervision;

deleted text begin (iii) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end children leaving the facility without supervision;

deleted text begin (iv) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end caregiver dislocation of children's elbows;

deleted text begin (v) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end burns from hot food or beverages, whether served to children or being
consumed by caregivers, and the devices used to warm food and beverages;

deleted text begin (vi) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end injuries from equipment, such as scissors and glue guns;

deleted text begin (vii) deleted text end new text begin (7) new text end sunburn;

deleted text begin (viii) deleted text end new text begin (8) new text end feeding children foods to which they are allergic;

deleted text begin (ix) deleted text end new text begin (9) new text end children falling from changing tables; and

deleted text begin (x) deleted text end new text begin (10) new text end children accessing dangerous items or chemicals or coming into contact
with residue from harmful cleaning products deleted text begin ; and deleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end The plan shall prohibit the accessibility of hazardous items to children.

new text begin (f) The plan must include specific policies and procedures to ensure adequate
supervision of children at all times as defined under section 245A.02, subdivision 18, with
particular emphasis on:
new text end

new text begin (1) times when children are transitioned from one area within the facility to another;
new text end

new text begin (2) nap-time supervision, including infant crib rooms as specified under section
245A.02, subdivision 18, which requires that when an infant is placed in a crib to sleep,
supervision occurs when a staff person is within sight or hearing of the infant. When
supervision of a crib room is provided by sight or hearing, the center must have a plan to
address the other supervision components;
new text end

new text begin (3) child drop-off and pick-up times;
new text end

new text begin (4) supervision during outdoor play and on community activities, including but not
limited to field trips and neighborhood walks; and
new text end

new text begin (5) supervision of children in hallways.
new text end

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.66, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Orientation to risk reduction plan and annual review of plan.

(a) The
license holder shall ensure that all mandated reporters, as defined in section 626.556,
subdivision 3, who are under the control of the license holder, receive an orientation to
the risk reduction plan prior to first providing unsupervised direct contact services, as
defined in section 245C.02, subdivision 11, to children, not to exceed 14 days from the
first supervised direct contact, and annually thereafter. new text begin The license holder must document
the orientation to the risk reduction plan in the mandated reporter's personnel records.
new text end

(b) The license holder must review the risk reduction plan annually new text begin and document
the annual review new text end . When conducting the review, the license holder must consider incidents
that have occurred in the center since the last review, including:

(1) the assessment factors in the plan;

(2) the internal reviews conducted under this section, if any;

(3) substantiated maltreatment findings, if any; and

(4) incidents that caused injury or harm to a child, if any, that occurred since the
last review.

Following any change to the risk reduction plan, the license holder must inform mandated
reporters, under the control of the license holder, of the changes in the risk reduction plan new text begin ,
and document that the mandated reporters were informed of the changes new text end .

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Licensed programs.

(a) The commissioner shall conduct a
background study on:

(1) the person or persons applying for a license;

(2) an individual age 13 and over living in the household where the licensed program
will be provided new text begin who is not receiving licensed services from the program new text end ;

(3) current or prospective employees or contractors of the applicant who will have
direct contact with persons served by the facility, agency, or program;

(4) volunteers or student volunteers who will have direct contact with persons served
by the program to provide program services if the contact is not under the continuous,
direct supervision by an individual listed in clause (1) or (3);

(5) an individual age ten to 12 living in the household where the licensed services
will be provided when the commissioner has reasonable cause;

(6) an individual who, without providing direct contact services at a licensed
program, may have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults receiving services
from a program, when the commissioner has reasonable cause; and

(7) all managerial officials as defined under section 245A.02, subdivision 5a.

(b) For family child foster care settings, a short-term substitute caregiver providing
direct contact services for a child for less than 72 hours of continuous care is not required
to receive a background study under this chapter.

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.04, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Licensed programs.

(a) The commissioner shall conduct a
background study of an individual required to be studied under section 245C.03,
subdivision 1, at least upon application for initial license for all license types.

(b) The commissioner shall conduct a background study of an individual required
to be studied under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, at reapplication for a license for
family child care.

(c) The commissioner is not required to conduct a study of an individual at the time
of reapplication for a license if the individual's background study was completed by the
commissioner of human services for an adult foster care license holder that is also:

(1) registered under chapter 144D; or

(2) licensed to provide home and community-based services to people with
disabilities at the foster care location and the license holder does not reside in the foster
care residence; and

(3) the following conditions are met:

(i) a study of the individual was conducted either at the time of initial licensure or
when the individual became affiliated with the license holder;

(ii) the individual has been continuously affiliated with the license holder since
the last study was conducted; and

(iii) the last study of the individual was conducted on or after October 1, 1995.

(d) From July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2009, the commissioner of human services shall
conduct a study of an individual required to be studied under section 245C.03, at the
time of reapplication for a child foster care license. The county or private agency shall
collect and forward to the commissioner the information required under section 245C.05,
subdivisions 1, paragraphs (a) and (b), and 5, paragraphs (a) and (b). The background
study conducted by the commissioner of human services under this paragraph must
include a review of the information required under section 245C.08, subdivisions 1,
paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (5), 3, and 4.

(e) The commissioner of human services shall conduct a background study of an
individual specified under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clauses (2)
to (6), who is newly affiliated with a child foster care license holder. The county or
private agency shall collect and forward to the commissioner the information required
under section 245C.05, subdivisions 1 and 5. The background study conducted by the
commissioner of human services under this paragraph must include a review of the
information required under section 245C.08, subdivisions 1, 3, and 4.

(f) From January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2012, unless otherwise specified in
paragraph (c), the commissioner shall conduct a study of an individual required to
be studied under section 245C.03 at the time of reapplication for an adult foster care
or family adult day services license: (1) the county shall collect and forward to the
commissioner the information required under section 245C.05, subdivision 1, paragraphs
(a) and (b), and subdivision 5, paragraphs (a) and (b), for background studies conducted
by the commissioner for all family adult day services and for adult foster care when
the adult foster care license holder resides in the adult foster care or family adult day
services residence; (2) the license holder shall collect and forward to the commissioner
the information required under section 245C.05, subdivisions 1, paragraphs (a) and (b);
and 5, paragraphs (a) and (b), for background studies conducted by the commissioner for
adult foster care when the license holder does not reside in the adult foster care residence;
and (3) the background study conducted by the commissioner under this paragraph must
include a review of the information required under section 245C.08, subdivision 1,
paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (5), and subdivisions 3 and 4.

(g) The commissioner shall conduct a background study of an individual specified
under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clauses (2) to (6), who is newly
affiliated with an adult foster care or family adult day services license holder: (1) the
county shall collect and forward to the commissioner the information required under
section 245C.05, subdivision 1, paragraphs (a) and (b), and subdivision 5, paragraphs (a)
and (b), for background studies conducted by the commissioner for all family adult day
services and for adult foster care when the adult foster care license holder resides in
the adult foster care residence; (2) the license holder shall collect and forward to the
commissioner the information required under section 245C.05, subdivisions 1, paragraphs
(a) and (b); and 5, paragraphs (a) and (b), for background studies conducted by the
commissioner for adult foster care when the license holder does not reside in the adult
foster care residence; and (3) the background study conducted by the commissioner under
this paragraph must include a review of the information required under section 245C.08,
subdivision 1, paragraph (a), and subdivisions 3 and 4.

(h) Applicants for licensure, license holders, and other entities as provided in this
chapter must submit completed background study forms to the commissioner before
individuals specified in section 245C.03, subdivision 1, begin positions allowing direct
contact in any licensed program.

(i) A license holder must deleted text begin provide the commissioner notice deleted text end new text begin initiate a new background
study new text end through the commissioner's online background study system deleted text begin or through a letter
mailed to the commissioner deleted text end when:

(1) an individual returns to a position requiring a background study following an
absence of deleted text begin 45 deleted text end new text begin 180 new text end or more consecutive days; or

(2) a program that discontinued providing licensed direct contact services for deleted text begin 45 deleted text end new text begin 180 new text end
or more consecutive days begins to provide direct contact licensed services again.

The license holder shall maintain a copy of the notification provided to
the commissioner under this paragraph in the program's files. new text begin If the individual's
disqualification was previously set aside for the license holder's program and the new
background study results in no new information that indicates the individual may pose a
risk of harm to persons receiving services from the license holder, the previous set-aside
shall remain in effect.
new text end

(j) For purposes of this section, a physician licensed under chapter 147 is considered
to be continuously affiliated upon the license holder's receipt from the commissioner of
health or human services of the physician's background study results.

new text begin (k) For purposes of family child care, a substitute caregiver must receive repeat
background studies at the time of each license renewal.
new text end

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.05, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Applicant, license holder, or other entity.

The applicant, license holder,
or other entities as provided in this chapter shall deleted text begin provide deleted text end new text begin verify that new text end the information
collected under subdivision 1 about an individual who is the subject of the background
study new text begin is correct and must provide the information new text end on forms or in a format prescribed by
the commissioner.

Sec. 19.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.05, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 2c. new text end

new text begin Privacy notice to background study subject. new text end

new text begin (a) For every background
study, the commissioner's notice to the background study subject required under
section 13.04, subdivision 2, that is provided through the commissioner's electronic
NETStudy system or through the commissioner's background study forms shall include
the information in paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin (b) The background study subject shall be informed that any previous background
studies that received a set-aside will be reviewed, and without further contact with the
background study subject, the commissioner may notify the agency that initiated the
subsequent background study:
new text end

new text begin (1) that the individual has a disqualification that has been set aside for the program
or agency that initiated the study;
new text end

new text begin (2) the reason for the disqualification; and
new text end

new text begin (3) information about the decision to set aside the disqualification will be available
to the license holder upon request without the consent of the background study subject.
new text end

Sec. 20.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.05, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Electronic transmission.

new text begin (a) new text end For background studies conducted by the
Department of Human Services, the commissioner shall implement a system for the
electronic transmission of:

(1) background study information to the commissioner;

(2) background study results to the license holder;

(3) background study results to county and private agencies for background studies
conducted by the commissioner for child foster care; and

(4) background study results to county agencies for background studies conducted
by the commissioner for adult foster care and family adult day services.

new text begin (b) Unless the commissioner has granted a hardship variance under paragraph (c), a
license holder or an applicant must use the electronic transmission system known as
NETStudy to submit all requests for background studies to the commissioner as required
by this chapter.
new text end

new text begin (c) A license holder or applicant whose program is located in an area in which
high-speed Internet is inaccessible may request the commissioner to grant a variance to
the electronic transmission requirement.
new text end

Sec. 21.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.05, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Probation officer and corrections agent.

(a) A probation officer or
corrections agent shall notify the commissioner of an individual's conviction if the
individual deleted text begin is deleted text end :

(1) new text begin has been new text end affiliated with a program or facility regulated by the Department of
Human Services or Department of Health, a facility serving children or youth licensed by
the Department of Corrections, or any type of home care agency or provider of personal
care assistance services new text begin within the preceding year new text end ; and

(2) new text begin has been new text end convicted of a crime constituting a disqualification under section
245C.14.

(b) For the purpose of this subdivision, "conviction" has the meaning given it
in section 609.02, subdivision 5.

(c) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of corrections, shall
develop forms and information necessary to implement this subdivision and shall provide
the forms and information to the commissioner of corrections for distribution to local
probation officers and corrections agents.

(d) The commissioner shall inform individuals subject to a background study that
criminal convictions for disqualifying crimes will be reported to the commissioner by the
corrections system.

(e) A probation officer, corrections agent, or corrections agency is not civilly or
criminally liable for disclosing or failing to disclose the information required by this
subdivision.

(f) Upon receipt of disqualifying information, the commissioner shall provide the
notice required under section 245C.17, as appropriate, to agencies on record as having
initiated a background study or making a request for documentation of the background
study status of the individual.

(g) This subdivision does not apply to family child care programs.

Sec. 22.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.07, is amended to read:

245C.07 STUDY SUBJECT AFFILIATED WITH MULTIPLE FACILITIES.

(a) deleted text begin Except for child foster care and adoption agencies, deleted text end new text begin Subject to the conditions in
paragraph (d), new text end when a license holder, applicant, or other entity owns multiple programs or
services that are licensed by the Department of Human Services, Department of Health, or
Department of Corrections, only one background study is required for an individual who
provides direct contact services in one or more of the licensed programs or services if:

(1) the license holder designates one individual with one address and telephone
number as the person to receive sensitive background study information for the multiple
licensed programs or services that depend on the same background study; and

(2) the individual designated to receive the sensitive background study information
is capable of determining, upon request of the department, whether a background study
subject is providing direct contact services in one or more of the license holder's programs
or services and, if so, at which location or locations.

(b) When a license holder maintains background study compliance for multiple
licensed programs according to paragraph (a), and one or more of the licensed programs
closes, the license holder shall immediately notify the commissioner which staff must be
transferred to an active license so that the background studies can be electronically paired
with the license holder's active program.

(c) When a background study is being initiated by a licensed program or service or a
foster care provider that is also registered under chapter 144D, a study subject affiliated
with multiple licensed programs or services may attach to the background study form a
cover letter indicating the additional names of the programs or services, addresses, and
background study identification numbers.

When the commissioner receives a notice, the commissioner shall notify each
program or service identified by the background study subject of the study results.

The background study notice the commissioner sends to the subsequent agencies
shall satisfy those programs' or services' responsibilities for initiating a background study
on that individual.

new text begin (d) If a background study was conducted on an individual related to child foster care
and the requirements under paragraph (a) are met, the background study is transferable
across all licensed programs. If a background study was conducted on an individual under
a license other than child foster care and the requirements under paragraph (a) are met, the
background study is transferable to all licensed programs except child foster care.
new text end

new text begin (e) The provisions of this section that allow a single background study in one
or more licensed programs or services do not apply to background studies submitted
by adoption agencies, supplemental nursing services agencies, personnel agencies,
educational programs, professional services agencies, and unlicensed personal care
provider organizations.
new text end

Sec. 23.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.08, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Background studies conducted by Department of Human
Services.

(a) For a background study conducted by the Department of Human Services,
the commissioner shall review:

(1) information related to names of substantiated perpetrators of maltreatment of
vulnerable adults that has been received by the commissioner as required under section
626.557, subdivision 9c, paragraph (j);

(2) the commissioner's records relating to the maltreatment of minors in licensed
programs, and from findings of maltreatment of minors as indicated through the social
service information system;

(3) information from juvenile courts as required in subdivision 4 for individuals
listed in section 245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), when there is reasonable cause;

(4) information from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension;

(5) except as provided in clause (6), information from the national crime information
system when the commissioner has reasonable cause as defined under section 245C.05,
subdivision 5; and

(6) for a background study related to a child foster care application for licensure or
adoptions, the commissioner shall also review:

(i) information from the child abuse and neglect registry for any state in which the
background study subject has resided for the past five years; and

(ii) information from national crime information databases, when the background
study subject is 18 years of age or older.

(b) Notwithstanding expungement by a court, the commissioner may consider
information obtained under paragraph (a), clauses (3) and (4), unless the commissioner
received notice of the petition for expungement and the court order for expungement is
directed specifically to the commissioner. new text begin When the commissioner has reasonable cause to
believe that the identity of a background study subject is uncertain, the commissioner shall
require the subject to provide a set of classifiable fingerprints and may review the subject's
national criminal history record information.
new text end

Sec. 24.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.14, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Disqualification from access.

(a) If an individual who is studied under
section 245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), deleted text begin clauses (2), (5), and (6), deleted text end is disqualified from
direct contact under subdivision 1, the commissioner shall also disqualify the individual
from access to a person receiving services from the license holder.

(b) No individual who is disqualified following a background study under section
245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), deleted text begin clauses (2), (5), and (6), deleted text end or as provided elsewhere
in statute who is disqualified as a result of this section, may be allowed access to persons
served by the program unless the commissioner has provided written notice under section
245C.17 stating that:

(1) the individual may remain in direct contact during the period in which the
individual may request reconsideration as provided in section 245C.21, subdivision 2;

(2) the commissioner has set aside the individual's disqualification for that
licensed program or entity identified in section 245C.03 as provided in section 245C.22,
subdivision 4; or

(3) the license holder has been granted a variance for the disqualified individual
under section 245C.30.

Sec. 25.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.16, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Determining immediate risk of harm.

(a) If the commissioner
determines that the individual studied has a disqualifying characteristic, the commissioner
shall review the information immediately available and make a determination as to the
subject's immediate risk of harm to persons served by the program where the individual
studied will have direct contact with, or access to, people receiving services.

(b) The commissioner shall consider all relevant information available, including the
following factors in determining the immediate risk of harm:

(1) the recency of the disqualifying characteristic;

(2) the recency of discharge from probation for the crimes;

(3) the number of disqualifying characteristics;

(4) the intrusiveness or violence of the disqualifying characteristic;

(5) the vulnerability of the victim involved in the disqualifying characteristic;

(6) the similarity of the victim to the persons served by the program where the
individual studied will have direct contact;

(7) whether the individual has a disqualification from a previous background study
that has not been set aside; and

(8) if the individual has a disqualification which may not be set aside because it is
a permanent bar under section 245C.24, subdivision 1, the commissioner may order the
immediate removal of the individual from any position allowing direct contact with, or
access to, persons receiving services from the program.

(c) This section does not apply when the subject of a background study is regulated
by a health-related licensing board as defined in chapter 214, and the subject is determined
to be responsible for substantiated maltreatment under section 626.556 or 626.557.

(d) This section does not apply to a background study related to an initial application
for a child foster care license.

new text begin (e) This section does not apply to a background study that is also subject to the
requirements under section 256B.0659, subdivisions 11 and 13, for a personal care
assistant or a qualified professional as defined in section 256B.0659, subdivision 1.
new text end

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end If the commissioner has reason to believe, based on arrest information or an
active maltreatment investigation, that an individual poses an imminent risk of harm to
persons receiving services, the commissioner may order that the person be continuously
supervised or immediately removed pending the conclusion of the maltreatment
investigation or criminal proceedings.

Sec. 26.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.17, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Disqualification notice sent to subject.

(a) If the information in the study
indicates the individual is disqualified from direct contact with, or from access to, persons
served by the program, the commissioner shall disclose to the individual studied:

(1) the information causing disqualification;

(2) instructions on how to request a reconsideration of the disqualification;

(3) an explanation of any restrictions on the commissioner's discretion to set aside
the disqualification under section 245C.24, when applicable to the individual;

new text begin (4) a statement that, if the individual's disqualification is set aside under section
245C.22, the applicant, license holder, or other entity that initiated the background study
will be provided with the reason for the individual's disqualification and an explanation
that the factors under section 245C.22, subdivision 4, which were the basis of the decision
to set aside the disqualification shall be made available to the license holder upon request
without the consent of the subject of the background study;
new text end

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end a statement indicating that if the individual's disqualification is set aside or
the facility is granted a variance under section 245C.30, the individual's identity and the
reason for the individual's disqualification will become public data under section 245C.22,
subdivision 7, when applicable to the individual; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

new text begin (6) a statement that when a subsequent background study is initiated on the
individual following a set-aside of the individual's disqualification, and the commissioner
makes a determination under section 245C.22, subdivision 5, paragraph (b), that the
previous set-aside applies to the subsequent background study, the applicant, license
holder, or other entity that initiated the background study will be informed in the notice
under section 245C.22, subdivision 5, paragraph (c):
new text end

new text begin (i) of the reason for the individual's disqualification;
new text end

new text begin (ii) that the individual's disqualification is set aside for that program or agency; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) that information about the factors under section 245C.22, subdivision 4, that
were the basis of the decision to set aside the disqualification are available to the license
holder upon request without the consent of the background study subject; and
new text end

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (7) new text end the commissioner's determination of the individual's immediate risk of harm
under section 245C.16.

(b) If the commissioner determines under section 245C.16 that an individual poses
an imminent risk of harm to persons served by the program where the individual will have
direct contact with, or access to, people receiving services, the commissioner's notice must
include an explanation of the basis of this determination.

(c) If the commissioner determines under section 245C.16 that an individual studied
does not pose a risk of harm that requires immediate removal, the individual shall be
informed of the conditions under which the agency that initiated the background study
may allow the individual to have direct contact with, or access to, people receiving
services, as provided under subdivision 3.

Sec. 27.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.22, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Scope of set-aside.

new text begin (a) new text end If the commissioner sets aside a disqualification
under this section, the disqualified individual remains disqualified, but may hold a license
and have direct contact with or access to persons receiving services. new text begin Except as provided
in paragraph (b), new text end the commissioner's set-aside of a disqualification is limited solely
to the licensed program, applicant, or agency specified in the set aside notice under
section 245C.23 deleted text begin , unless otherwise specified in the notice deleted text end . For personal care provider
organizations, the commissioner's set-aside may further be limited to a specific individual
who is receiving services. new text begin For new background studies required under section 245C.04,
subdivision 1, paragraph (i), if an individual's disqualification was previously set aside for
the license holder's program and the new background study results in no new information
that indicates the individual may pose a risk of harm to persons receiving services from
the license holder, the previous set-aside shall remain in effect.
new text end

new text begin (b) If the commissioner has previously set aside an individual's disqualification
for one or more programs or agencies, and the individual is the subject of a subsequent
background study for a different program or agency, the commissioner shall determine
whether the disqualification is set aside for the program or agency that initiated the
subsequent background study. A notice of a set-aside under paragraph (c) shall be issued
within 15 working days if all of the following criteria are met:
new text end

new text begin (1) the subsequent background study was initiated in connection with a program
licensed or regulated under the same provisions of law and rule for at least one program
for which the individual's disqualification was previously set aside by the commissioner;
new text end

new text begin (2) the individual is not disqualified for an offense specified in section 245C.15,
subdivision 1 or 2;
new text end

new text begin (3) the commissioner has received no new information to indicate that the individual
may pose a risk of harm to any person served by the program; and
new text end

new text begin (4) the previous set-aside was not limited to a specific person receiving services.
new text end

new text begin (c) When a disqualification is set aside under paragraph (b), the notice of background
study results issued under section 245C.17, in addition to the requirements under section
245C.17, shall state that the disqualification is set aside for the program or agency that
initiated the subsequent background study. The notice must inform the individual that the
individual may request reconsideration of the disqualification under section 245C.21 on
the basis that the information used to disqualify the individual is incorrect.
new text end

Sec. 28.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.23, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Commissioner's notice of disqualification that is not set aside.

(a) The
commissioner shall notify the license holder of the disqualification and order the license
holder to immediately remove the individual from any position allowing direct contact
with persons receiving services from the license holder if:

(1) the individual studied does not submit a timely request for reconsideration
under section 245C.21;

(2) the individual submits a timely request for reconsideration, but the commissioner
does not set aside the disqualification for that license holder under section 245C.22;

(3) an individual who has a right to request a hearing under sections 245C.27 and
256.045, or 245C.28 and chapter 14 for a disqualification that has not been set aside, does
not request a hearing within the specified time; or

(4) an individual submitted a timely request for a hearing under sections 245C.27
and 256.045, or 245C.28 and chapter 14, but the commissioner does not set aside the
disqualification under section 245A.08, subdivision 5, or 256.045.

(b) If the commissioner does not set aside the disqualification under section 245C.22,
and the license holder was previously ordered under section 245C.17 to immediately
remove the disqualified individual from direct contact with persons receiving services or
to ensure that the individual is under continuous, direct supervision when providing direct
contact services, the order remains in effect pending the outcome of a hearing under
sections 245C.27 and 256.045, or 245C.28 and chapter 14.

new text begin (c) If the commissioner does not set aside the disqualification under section
245C.22, and the license holder was not previously ordered to immediately remove the
individual from any position allowing direct contact with persons receiving services from
the program or to ensure that the individual is under continuous, direct supervision when
providing direct contact services, the commissioner shall order the license holder to ensure
that the individual remains under continuous, direct supervision when providing direct
contact services pending the outcome of a hearing under sections 245C.27 and 256.045, or
245C.28 and chapter 14.
new text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end For background studies related to child foster care, the commissioner shall
also notify the county or private agency that initiated the study of the results of the
reconsideration.

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end For background studies related to adult foster care and family adult day
services, the commissioner shall also notify the county that initiated the study of the
results of the reconsideration.

Sec. 29.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245C.24, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Permanent bar to set aside a disqualification.

(a) Except as new text begin otherwise
new text end provided in deleted text begin paragraph (b) deleted text end new text begin this section new text end , the commissioner may not set aside the
disqualification of any individual disqualified pursuant to this chapter, regardless of how
much time has passed, if the individual was disqualified for a crime or conduct listed in
section 245C.15, subdivision 1.

(b) For an individual deleted text begin in the chemical dependency or corrections field deleted text end who was
disqualified for a crime or conduct listed under section 245C.15, subdivision 1, and whose
disqualification was set aside prior to July 1, 2005, the commissioner must consider
granting a variance pursuant to section 245C.30 for the license holder for a program
dealing primarily with adults. A request for reconsideration evaluated under this paragraph
must include a letter of recommendation from the license holder that was subject to the
prior set-aside decision addressing the individual's quality of care to children or vulnerable
adults and the circumstances of the individual's departure from that service.

(c) When a licensed foster care provider adopts an individual who had received
foster care services from the provider for over six months, and the adopted individual is
required to receive a background study under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph
(a), clause (2) or (6), the commissioner may grant a variance to the license holder under
section 245C.30 to permit the adopted individual with a permanent disqualification
to remain affiliated with the license holder under the conditions of the variance when
the variance is recommended by the county of responsibility for each of the remaining
individuals in placement in the home and the licensing agency for the home.

new text begin (d) For background studies related to an application or license to provide child foster
care for a specific child related to the applicant or license holder, the commissioner shall
consider granting a variance under section 245C.30 to an individual with a disqualification
under section 245C.15, subdivision 1. The variance shall be limited to the specific child
related to the applicant or license holder.
new text end

new text begin (e) When a background study is required on a child foster care provider's former
recipient of foster care services because the former recipient of foster care services
returns for occasional overnight visits or temporarily resides with the foster parents, the
commissioner shall consider granting a variance under section 245C.30 related to the
former foster care recipient with a disqualification under section 245C.15, subdivision 1.
new text end

Sec. 30.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 471.709, is amended to read:

471.709 LICENSE; PERMIT.

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a municipality shall not require a massage
therapist to obtain a license or permit when the therapist deleted text begin is working for or an employee of deleted text end new text begin
is hired or employed by, and exclusively provides treatment on the premises of, new text end a medical
professional licensed under chapter 147 or 148 new text begin or a dental professional licensed under
chapter 150A. A massage therapist is not limited to providing treatment to patients of the
medical or dental professional new text end .

Sec. 31. new text begin REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.
new text end

new text begin The revisor shall renumber Minnesota Statutes, section 245B.05, subdivision 4, as
Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.04, subdivision 2a. The revisor shall make necessary
cross-reference changes to effectuate this renumbering.
new text end

Sec. 32. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0150, item E, new text end new text begin is repealed.
new text end

ARTICLE 3

PROGRAM INTEGRITY

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.04, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:

Subdivision 1.

Application for licensure.

(a) An individual, corporation,
partnership, voluntary association, other organization or controlling individual that is
subject to licensure under section 245A.03 must apply for a license. The application
must be made on the forms and in the manner prescribed by the commissioner. The
commissioner shall provide the applicant with instruction in completing the application
and provide information about the rules and requirements of other state agencies that affect
the applicant. An applicant seeking licensure in Minnesota with headquarters outside of
Minnesota must have a program office located within the state.

The commissioner shall act on the application within 90 working days after a
complete application and any required reports have been received from other state
agencies or departments, counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions. The
commissioner shall not consider an application to be complete until the commissioner
receives all of the information required under section 245C.05.

(b) An application for licensure must specify one or more controlling individuals as
an agent who is responsible for dealing with the commissioner of human services on all
matters provided for in this chapter and on whom service of all notices and orders must be
made. The agent must be authorized to accept service on behalf of all of the controlling
individuals of the program. Service on the agent is service on all of the controlling
individuals of the program. It is not a defense to any action arising under this chapter that
service was not made on each controlling individual of the program. The designation of
one or more controlling individuals as agents under this paragraph does not affect the legal
responsibility of any other controlling individual under this chapter.

(c) An applicant or license holder must have a policy that prohibits license holders,
employees, subcontractors, and volunteers, when directly responsible for persons served
by the program, from abusing prescription medication or being in any manner under
the influence of a chemical that impairs the individual's ability to provide services or
care. The license holder must train employees, subcontractors, and volunteers about the
program's drug and alcohol policy.

(d) An applicant and license holder must have a program grievance procedure that
permits persons served by the program and their authorized representatives to bring a
grievance to the highest level of authority in the program.

new text begin (e) At the time of application for licensure or renewal of a license, the applicant
or license holder must acknowledge on the form provided by the commissioner if the
applicant or license holder elects to receive any public funding reimbursement from the
commissioner for services provided under the license that:
new text end

new text begin (1) the applicant's or license holder's compliance with the provider enrollment
agreement or registration requirements for receipt of public funding may be monitored by
the commissioner as part of a licensing investigation or licensing inspection; and
new text end

new text begin (2) noncompliance with the provider enrollment agreement or registration
requirements for receipt of public funding that is identified through a licensing
investigation or licensing inspection, or noncompliance with a licensing requirement that
is a basis of enrollment for reimbursement for a service, may result in:
new text end

new text begin (i) a correction order or a conditional license under section 245A.06, or sanctions
under section 245A.07;
new text end

new text begin (ii) nonpayment of claims submitted by the license holder for public program
reimbursement;
new text end

new text begin (iii) recovery of payments made for the service;
new text end

new text begin (iv) disenrollment in the public payment program; or
new text end

new text begin (v) other administrative, civil, or criminal penalties as provided by law.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.14, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 14. new text end

new text begin Attendance records for publicly funded services. new text end

new text begin (a) A child care
center licensed under this chapter and according to Minnesota Rules, chapter 9503, must
maintain documentation of actual attendance for each child receiving care for which the
license holder is reimbursed by a governmental program. The records must be accessible
to the commissioner during the program's hours of operation, they must be completed on
the actual day of attendance, and they must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) the first and last name of the child;
new text end

new text begin (2) the time of day that the child was dropped off; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the time of day that the child was picked up.
new text end

new text begin (b) A family child care provider licensed under this chapter and according to
Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502, must maintain documentation of actual attendance for
each child receiving care for which the license holder is reimbursed by a governmental
program. The records must be accessible to the commissioner during the program's
hours of operation, they must be completed on the actual day of attendance, and they
must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) the first and last name of the child;
new text end

new text begin (2) the time of day that the child was dropped off; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the time of day that the child was picked up.
new text end

new text begin (c) An adult day services program licensed under this chapter and according to
Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to 9555.6265, must maintain documentation of actual
attendance for each adult day service recipient for which the license holder is reimbursed
by a governmental program. The records must be accessible to the commissioner during
the program's hours of operation, they must be completed on the actual day of attendance,
and they must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) the first, middle, and last name of the recipient;
new text end

new text begin (2) the time of day that the recipient was dropped off; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the time of day that the recipient was picked up.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner shall not issue a correction for attendance record errors that
occur before August 1, 2013.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [245A.167] PUBLIC FUNDS PROGRAM INTEGRITY MONITORING.
new text end

new text begin (a) An applicant or a license holder that has enrolled to receive public funding
reimbursement for services is required to comply with the registration or enrollment
requirements as licensing standards.
new text end

new text begin (b) Compliance with the licensing standards established under paragraph (a) may
be monitored during a licensing investigation or inspection. Noncompliance with these
licensure standards may result in:
new text end

new text begin (i) a correction order or a conditional license under section 245A.06, or sanctions
under section 245A.07;
new text end

new text begin (ii) nonpayment of claims submitted by the license holder for public program
reimbursement according to the statute applicable to that program;
new text end

new text begin (iii) recovery of payments made for the service according to the statute applicable to
that program;
new text end

new text begin (iv) disenrollment in the public payment program according to the statute applicable
to that program; or
new text end

new text begin (v) a referral for other administrative, civil, or criminal penalties as provided by law.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 18d. new text end

new text begin Drug convictions. new text end

new text begin (a) The state court administrator shall report every
six months by electronic means to the commissioner of human services the name, address,
date of birth, and, if available, driver's license or state identification card number, date of
sentence, effective date of the sentence, and county in which the conviction occurred of
each person who has been convicted of a felony under chapter 152 within the previous
six months.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall determine whether the individuals who are the subject
of the data reported under paragraph (a) are receiving publicly funded assistance under
chapter 256D or 256J, and if an individual is receiving assistance under chapter 256D or
256J, the commissioner shall instruct the county to proceed under section 256D.024
and 256J.26 for this individual. If a person is determined to have violated sections
256D.024, 256J.26, or any other law or rule, the commissioner shall apply current law and
immediately carry out the consequences according to section 256D.024, 256J.26, or any
other applicable law or rule, and refer the matter to the county attorney.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner shall not retain any data received under paragraph (a) that
does not relate to an individual receiving publicly funded assistance under chapter 256J.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 18e. new text end

new text begin Data sharing with the Department of Human Services; multiple
identification cards. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of public safety shall, on a monthly basis,
provide the commissioner of human services with the first, middle, and last name,
the address, date of birth, and driver's license or state identification card number of all
applicants and holders whose drivers' licenses and state identification cards have been
canceled under section 171.14, paragraph (a), clause (2) or (3), by the commissioner of
public safety. After the initial data report has been provided by the commissioner of
public safety to the commissioner of human services under this paragraph, subsequent
reports shall only include cancellations that occurred after the end date of the cancellations
represented in the previous data report.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of human services shall compare the information provided
under paragraph (a) with the commissioner's data regarding recipients of all public
assistance programs managed by the Department of Human Services to determine whether
any person with multiple identification cards issued by the Department of Public Safety
has illegally or improperly enrolled in any public assistance program managed by the
Department of Human Services.
new text end

new text begin (c) If the commissioner of human services determines that an applicant or recipient
has illegally or improperly enrolled in any public assistance program, the commissioner
shall provide all due process protections to the individual before terminating the individual
from the program according to applicable statute and notifying the county attorney.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 18f. new text end

new text begin Data sharing with the Department of Human Services; legal presence
status. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of public safety shall, on a monthly basis, provide the
commissioner of human services with the first, middle, and last name, address, date of
birth, and driver's license or state identification number of all applicants and holders of
drivers' licenses and state identification cards whose temporary legal presence status date
has expired and, as a result, the driver's license or identification card has been accordingly
canceled under section 171.14, by the commissioner of public safety.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of human services shall use the information provided under
paragraph (a) to determine whether the eligibility of any recipients of public assistance
programs managed by the Department of Human Services has changed as a result of the
status change in the Department of Public Safety data.
new text end

new text begin (c) If the commissioner of human services determines that a recipient has illegally or
improperly received benefits from any public assistance program, the commissioner shall
provide all due process protections to the individual before terminating the individual from
the program according to applicable statute and notifying the county attorney.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 256B.04, subdivision 21, is
amended to read:

Subd. 21.

Provider enrollment.

(a) If the commissioner or the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services determines that a provider is designated "high-risk," the
commissioner may withhold payment from providers within that category upon initial
enrollment for a 90-day period. The withholding for each provider must begin on the date
of the first submission of a claim.

(b) new text begin An enrolled provider that is also licensed by the commissioner under chapter
245A must designate an individual as the entity's compliance officer. The compliance
officer must:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop policies and procedures to assure adherence to medical assistance laws
and regulations and to prevent inappropriate claims submissions;
new text end

new text begin (2) train the employees of the provider entity, and any agents or subcontractors of
the provider entity including billers, on the policies and procedures under clause (1);
new text end

new text begin (3) respond to allegations of improper conduct related to the provision or billing of
medical assistance services, and implement action to remediate any resulting problems;
new text end

new text begin (4) use evaluation techniques to monitor compliance with medical assistance laws
and regulations;
new text end

new text begin (5) promptly report to the commissioner any identified violations of medical
assistance laws or regulations; and
new text end

new text begin (6) within 60 days of discovery by the provider of a medical assistance
reimbursement overpayment, report the overpayment to the commissioner and make
arrangements with the commissioner for the commissioner's recovery of the overpayment.
new text end

The commissioner may require, as a condition of enrollment in medical assistance, that a
provider within a particular industry sector or category establish a compliance program that
contains the core elements established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

(c) The commissioner may revoke the enrollment of an ordering or rendering
provider for a period of not more than one year, if the provider fails to maintain and, upon
request from the commissioner, provide access to documentation relating to written orders
or requests for payment for durable medical equipment, certifications for home health
services, or referrals for other items or services written or ordered by such provider, when
the commissioner has identified a pattern of a lack of documentation. A pattern means a
failure to maintain documentation or provide access to documentation on more than one
occasion. new text begin Nothing in this paragraph limits the authority of the commissioner to sanction a
provider under the provisions of section 256B.064.
new text end

(d) The commissioner shall terminate or deny the enrollment of any individual or
entity if the individual or entity has been terminated from participation in Medicare or
under the Medicaid program or Children's Health Insurance Program of any other state.

(e) As a condition of enrollment in medical assistance, the commissioner shall
require that a provider designated "moderate" or "high-risk" by the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services or the Minnesota Department of Human Services permit the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, its agents, or its designated contractors and
the state agency, its agents, or its designated contractors to conduct unannounced on-site
inspections of any provider location.

(f) As a condition of enrollment in medical assistance, the commissioner shall
require that a high-risk provider, or a person with a direct or indirect ownership interest in
the provider of five percent or higher, consent to criminal background checks, including
fingerprinting, when required to do so under state law or by a determination by the
commissioner or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that a provider is
designated high-risk for fraud, waste, or abuse.

Sec. 8. new text begin DIRECTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services, in consultation with the commissioner of
public safety, shall report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and
human services policy and finance regarding the implementations of sections 4 to 6 and
the number of persons affected and fiscal impact by the program by February 1, 2013.
new text end