HF 4101

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/04/2020 03:38pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; creating the Minnesota Easy Enrollment Health
Insurance Program; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018,
sections 270B.14, subdivision 1; 270C.445, by adding a subdivision; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 256; 290.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [256.044] MINNESOTA EASY ENROLLMENT HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.
new text end

new text begin (c) "State health care" means MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L or medical assistance
under chapter 256B.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility determination. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must determine eligibility
for state health care as soon as possible after an individual files a state income tax return
on which the individual chose a checkoff box described in section 290.433 indicating that
an uninsured individual wishes to apply for the Minnesota Easy Enrollment Health Insurance
Program.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must verify an uninsured individual's eligibility for state health
care:
new text end

new text begin (1) with information on a state income tax return and other data from third-party data
sources, including data described in section 1413 of the Affordable Care Act as defined in
section 62A.011, subdivision 1a; and
new text end

new text begin (2) whenever possible, without requesting additional information or attestations from
the uninsured individual.
new text end

new text begin (c) If additional attestations or documentation from the uninsured individual are required
to establish eligibility for state health care, the commissioner must take steps to limit the
burden on the uninsured individual, including:
new text end

new text begin (1) proactively contacting the individual who filed the tax return or the uninsured
individual;
new text end

new text begin (2) recording, by telephonic or electronic means, attestations and other documentation
provided by the individual who filed the tax return or the uninsured individual; and
new text end

new text begin (3) if the attestations or documentation required to determine eligibility are not obtained
using the steps described in clauses (1) and (2), facilitating the selection of an authorized
representative for the uninsured individual.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Enrollment. new text end

new text begin (a) If the commissioner determines that an individual is eligible
for state health care under subdivision 2, the individual must be enrolled in the appropriate
program in accordance with chapter 256B or 256L. The commissioner must complete the
enrollment process within three months of this determination.
new text end

new text begin (b) To carry out the purposes of this section, the commissioner may promulgate rules
pursuant to chapter 14.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2020.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 270B.14, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Disclosure to commissioner of human services.

(a) On the request of
the commissioner of human services, the commissioner shall disclose return information
regarding taxes imposed by chapter 290, and claims for refunds under chapter 290A, to the
extent provided in paragraph (b) and for the purposes set forth in paragraph (c).

(b) Data that may be disclosed are limited to data relating to the identity, whereabouts,
employment, income, and property of a person owing or alleged to be owing an obligation
of child support.

(c) The commissioner of human services may request data only for the purposes of
carrying out the child support enforcement program and to assist in the location of parents
who have, or appear to have, deserted their children. Data received may be used only as set
forth in section 256.978.

(d) The commissioner shall provide the records and information necessary to administer
the supplemental housing allowance to the commissioner of human services.

(e) At the request of the commissioner of human services, the commissioner of revenue
shall electronically match the Social Security numbers and names of participants in the
telephone assistance plan operated under sections 237.69 to 237.71, with those of property
tax refund filers, and determine whether each participant's household income is within the
eligibility standards for the telephone assistance plan.

(f) The commissioner may provide records and information collected under sections
295.50 to 295.59 to the commissioner of human services for purposes of the Medicaid
Voluntary Contribution and Provider-Specific Tax Amendments of 1991, Public Law
102-234. Upon the written agreement by the United States Department of Health and Human
Services to maintain the confidentiality of the data, the commissioner may provide records
and information collected under sections 295.50 to 295.59 to the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services section of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
for purposes of meeting federal reporting requirements.

(g) The commissioner may provide records and information to the commissioner of
human services as necessary to administer the early refund of refundable tax credits.

(h) The commissioner may disclose information to the commissioner of human services
as necessary for income verification for eligibility and premium payment under the
MinnesotaCare program, under section 256L.05, subdivision 2, as well as the medical
assistance program under chapter 256B.

(i) The commissioner may disclose information to the commissioner of human services
necessary to verify whether applicants or recipients for the Minnesota family investment
program, general assistance, food support, Minnesota supplemental aid program, and child
care assistance have claimed refundable tax credits under chapter 290 and the property tax
refund under chapter 290A, and the amounts of the credits.

(j) The commissioner may disclose information to the commissioner of human services
necessary to verify income for purposes of calculating parental contribution amounts under
section 252.27, subdivision 2a.

new text begin (k) The commissioner may disclose to the commissioner of human services information
necessary to administer the Minnesota Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program under
sections 256.044, 270C.445, and 290.433.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December
31, 2019.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 270C.445, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 5c. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program checkoff. new text end

new text begin A tax
preparer must give written notice of the option to apply for the Minnesota Easy Enrollment
Health Insurance Program, as provided in section 290.433, to an individual who files an
income tax return or property tax refund claim form. This notification must be included
with information sent to the client at the same time as the preliminary worksheets or other
documents used in preparing the client's return and must include a checkoff box for displaying
the client's decision on exercising the option. The commissioner must develop the notification
and checkoff language with the commissioner of human services.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December
31, 2019.
new text end

Sec. 4.

new text begin [290.433] CHECKOFF ON RETURN TO APPLY FOR MINNESOTA EASY
ENROLLMENT HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) An individual who files an income tax return or property tax refund claim form may
designate through a checkoff box on the filer's original return that they wish to apply for
the Minnesota Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program under section 256.044. The
commissioner must notify filers on the income tax return and the property tax refund claim
form of the filer's right to apply for the Minnesota Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program
under section 256.044. The commissioner must develop the checkoff box language and
notification with the commissioner of human services. The designation by the taxpayer,
and any other information necessary to determine eligibility, must be provided for use by
the commissioner of human services as provided under section 270B.14, and in accordance
with section 256.044.
new text end

new text begin (b) The state pledges and agrees with all filers under this section that it will not impose
additional conditions or restrictions that will limit or otherwise restrict the ability of the
commissioner of human services to use the filer's information to determine eligibility for
the Minnesota Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December
31, 2019.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the ....... fund to the commissioner of
revenue to implement the duties of the department under sections 3 and 4.
new text end

new text begin (b) $....... in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the ....... fund to the commissioner of
human services to implement the duties of the department under section 1.
new text end