1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to services for the hearing impaired; 
  1.3             authorizing the commissioner of human services to fund 
  1.4             a pilot project to provide independent living skills 
  1.5             training and support services for persons who are 
  1.6             hearing impaired; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.7             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256C. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  [256C.30] [INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING 
  1.10  AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED.] 
  1.11     (a) The commissioner of human services shall develop a 
  1.12  request for proposal for grants to establish a pilot project to 
  1.13  provide independent living skills training and support services 
  1.14  for hearing impaired adults who exhibit functional limitations 
  1.15  because of one of the following: 
  1.16     (1) they have multiple disabilities; 
  1.17     (2) they have incomes less than the state median income; or 
  1.18     (3) they are foreign born. 
  1.19     (b) The project shall be located in the seven-county 
  1.20  metropolitan area and services shall be provided in center-based 
  1.21  instruction and through outreach services.  Services to be 
  1.22  provided shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 
  1.23     (1) assistance in acquisition of sign communication skills; 
  1.24     (2) training in money management skills; 
  1.25     (3) training in use of public transportation; 
  1.26     (4) instruction designed to develop problem solving skills; 
  2.1      (5) assistance in reading and responding to English 
  2.2   correspondence; and 
  2.3      (6) training in household management, including assistance 
  2.4   in locating affordable and accessible housing. 
  2.5      The project selected for funding under this section shall 
  2.6   demonstrate the expertise necessary to provide the services 
  2.7   specified in this section to hearing impaired adults, and shall 
  2.8   submit a detailed plan for project evaluation, including a 
  2.9   statement of project goals and outcomes to be achieved.  The 
  2.10  commissioner of human services shall allocate grant money in 
  2.11  accordance with this section.  The commissioner shall report to 
  2.12  the legislature no later than January 15, 1998, on the results 
  2.13  of the pilot programs funded, with recommendations on the 
  2.14  feasibility of expanding supported living services for hearing 
  2.15  impaired persons.