HF 2542

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/02/2023 02:11pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring a study on obesity in individuals with intellectual
disabilities; establishing a health and wellness pilot program for adults with
intellectual disabilities; requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin STUDY ON OBESITY IN INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL
DISABILITIES.
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new text begin (a) The commissioner of health, in consultation with the commissioner of human services
and relevant stakeholder groups, shall study and make recommendations on ways to address
the prevalence of obesity in individuals with intellectual disabilities due to a combination
of behavioral, environmental, and systemic factors, including but not limited to high-calorie
diets, lower rates of physical activity and exercise, limited opportunities for exercise, and
lack of appropriate and targeted dietary and lifestyle advice and education. The study and
recommendations shall include:
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new text begin (1) options for tracking data on obesity among individuals with intellectual disabilities;
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new text begin (2) identifying barriers in providing effective weight management tools for individuals
with intellectual disabilities;
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new text begin (3) designing health promotion activities and dietary strategies for individuals with
intellectual disabilities to meet weight management needs, including but not limited to
healthy eating, physical activity, and behavior change techniques;
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new text begin (4) developing communication strategies for identifying and communicating health risks
associated with obesity, the health benefits of physical activity, and how to make healthy
dietary and lifestyle choices; and
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new text begin (5) training opportunities for health care providers who provide services to individuals
with intellectual disabilities on how to provide effective and targeted weight management
of obesity through appropriate dietary intake, physical activity, health promotion, and health
education.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner shall submit recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health care policy and finance
by February 15, 2024.
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Sec. 2. new text begin HEALTH AND WELLNESS PILOT PROGRAM FOR ADULTS WITH
INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.
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new text begin (a) The commissioner of health, in coordination with the commissioner of human services,
shall establish a pilot program to study the benefits to adults with intellectual disabilities of
participating in a health and wellness program. The commissioner of health may award a
grant to an organization to enroll participants in the pilot program, connect participants with
health and wellness services, collect data on how the health and wellness services provided
impact the health of participants, and report that data to the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) County case managers and special needs basic care plan care coordinators may refer
individuals with intellectual disabilities for enrollment in the pilot program, and up to 15
individuals shall be enrolled in the pilot program. In the pilot program, participants shall
be provided with:
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new text begin (1) access to a fitness facility and personal trainer to establish and work on fitness goals;
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new text begin (2) access to a dietitian to help participants create a nutrition plan to maintain a healthy
diet;
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new text begin (3) access to a wellness education program to provide information on nutrition and
mental health issues; and
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new text begin (4) a fitness tracker to track physical activity, sleep, and other health metrics.
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new text begin (c) Participants may be provided with a small incentive for participating in the pilot
program.
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new text begin (d) The pilot program shall include a study of how program participation affects the
weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and other health metrics of the participants. The
commissioner shall issue a report by November 1, 2024, to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services on
how participation in the pilot program impacted the health and quality of life of the
participants.
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Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $400,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of health for a study on obesity in individuals with intellectual disabilities and a health and
wellness pilot program for adults with intellectual disabilities. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end