1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to insurance; directing the commissioner of
1.3 	commerce to communicate to federal authorities this
1.4 	state's desire for federal law changes to facilitate
1.5 	the use of long-term care insurance in conjunction
1.6 	with a long-term care partnership program; permitting
1.7 	arrangements in which political subdivisions may
1.8 	jointly arrange for the voluntary purchase of
1.9 	long-term care insurance by their employees; amending
1.10 	Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 123A.21, subdivision
1.11 	7; 471.61, by adding a subdivision.
1.12 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.13 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 123A.21,
1.14 	subdivision 7, is amended to read:
1.15 		Subd. 7.Educational programs and services.  The board of
1.16 	directors of each SC shall submit annually a plan to the
1.17 	members.  The plan shall identify the programs and services
1.18 	which are suggested for implementation by the SC during the
1.19 	following year and shall contain components of long-range
1.20 	planning determined by the SC.  These programs and services may
1.21 	include, but are not limited to, the following areas:
1.22 	(1) administrative services;
1.23 	(2) curriculum development;
1.24 	(3) data processing;
1.25 	(4) distance learning and other telecommunication services;
1.26 	(5) evaluation and research;
1.27 	(6) staff development;
1.28 	(7) media and technology centers;
2.1 	(8) publication and dissemination of materials;
2.2 	(9) pupil personnel services;
2.3 	(10) planning;
2.4 	(11) secondary, postsecondary, community, adult, and adult
2.5 	vocational education;
2.6 	(12) teaching and learning services, including services for
2.7 	students with special talents and special needs;
2.8 	(13) employee personnel services;
2.9 	(14) vocational rehabilitation;
2.10 	(15) health, diagnostic, and child development services and
2.11 	centers;
2.12 	(16) leadership or direction in early childhood and family
2.13 	education;
2.14 	(17) community services;
2.15 	(18) shared time programs;
2.16 	(19) fiscal services and risk management programs;
2.17 	(20) technology planning, training, and support services;
2.18 	(21) health and safety services;
2.19 	(22) student academic challenges; and
2.20 	(23) cooperative purchasing services, including purchase of
2.21 	long-term care insurance for employees and dependents of SC
2.22 	members.

2.23 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 471.61, is
2.24 	amended by adding a subdivision to read:
2.25 		Subd. 5.Provision of long-term care insurance. Any
2.26 	political subdivision, or any two or more political subdivisions
2.27 	acting jointly, may contract with an insurance company licensed
2.28 	to do business in this state for the voluntary purchase of
2.29 	long-term care insurance by the employees and their dependents
2.30 	of the political subdivision or subdivisions.  The coverage may
2.31 	be through a group policy or through individual coverage.

2.32 	Sec. 3. COMMISSIONER TO REQUEST FEDERAL LAW CHANGES.
 2.33 	(a) The commissioner of commerce shall communicate with the
2.34 	appropriate federal authorities regarding this state's desire
2.35 	for changes in section 1917(b) of the federal Omnibus Budget
2.36 	Reconciliation Act of 1993 to permit states to reward purchase
3.1 	of long-term care insurance by reducing the amount of Medicaid
3.2 	estate recovery carried out against those insurance purchasers.
3.3 	(b) If the federal government amends the law referenced in
3.4 	paragraph (a) so as to permit states to seek waivers of the
3.5 	estate recovery requirement in connection with persons covered
3.6 	by long-term care insurance, the commissioner of commerce shall
3.7 	work with the commissioner of human services to obtain an
3.8 	appropriate waiver for this state.

3.9 	Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 3.10 	Sections 1 to 3 are effective the day following final
3.11 	enactment.