HF 3688

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/13/2024 03:51pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing a licensed psychologist income subsidy pilot
program; requiring reports; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [144.1914] LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST INCOME SUBSIDY PILOT
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions
apply.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Designated rural area" has the meaning given in section 144.1501, subdivision 1,
paragraph (f).
new text end

new text begin (c) "Licensed psychologist" means a person licensed by the Board of Psychology under
chapter 148.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Underserved urban community" has the meaning given in section 144.1501,
subdivision 1, paragraph (t).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of health must establish a licensed
psychologist income subsidy pilot program to provide payments to eligible participants.
The pilot program terminates on June 30, 2031.
new text end

new text begin (b) A licensed psychologist income subsidy pilot program account is established. The
commissioner of health must use money from the account to establish an income subsidy
pilot program for eligible licensed psychologists. Payments must be made directly to the
licensed psychologist on a schedule determined by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (c) Appropriations made to the account do not cancel and are available until expended,
except that at the end of each biennium, any remaining balance in the account that is not
committed by contract and not needed to fulfill existing commitments must cancel to the
fund.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin To be eligible to participate in the income subsidy pilot program,
an individual must submit an application to the commissioner of health. To be eligible to
participate in the program, the applicant must be a licensed psychologist in good standing
who, at the time of application, is not practicing psychology and has not practiced for at
least 12 months. For purposes of this section, practicing psychology does not include
psychological research and teaching of psychology. A person is eligible to participate in
the program for a maximum of five years. To be eligible to receive payment for services
provided from the program, the services must be provided in a designated rural area or
underserved urban community.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Rulemaking. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin (a) By January 30, 2028, the commissioner of health must submit an
initial report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over the Department of Health. The report must include an overview of the pilot
program implementation, the number of psychologists who have participated in the program,
the dollar amount of payments made, the number of hours of services provided by program
participants, the geographical locations served by program participants, and any
recommendations to the legislature for changes to the pilot program.
new text end

new text begin (b) By January 30, 2032, the commissioner of health must submit an initial report to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
the Department of Health. The report must include the number of psychologists who have
participated in the program, the dollar amount of payments made, the number of hours of
services provided by program participants, the geographical locations served by program
participants, and any recommendations to the legislature on whether the program should
be implemented as a permanent program.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2025 and $....... in fiscal year 2026 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of health for the licensed psychologist income subsidy pilot
program.
new text end