1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; providing assistive technology for people with 
1.3 	disabilities; requiring the Council on Disability to undertake a statewide study; 
1.4 	requiring reports; appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY STUDY AND REPORT.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Study. (a) During the biennium ending June 30, 2009, the Council 
1.8 	on Disability shall facilitate a statewide study of the assistive technology needs of 
1.9 	people with disabling conditions, and seniors. As part of the study, the council shall 
1.10 	identify community-based service providers, state agencies, and other entities involved in 
1.11 	providing assistive technology supports. The study shall also examine the creation of an 
1.12 	assistive technology pretax savings account to allow disabled persons and seniors to set 
1.13 	aside pretax and unearned income to purchase assistive technology devices, equipment, 
1.14 	and services.
1.15 	(b) The council shall provide oversight and direction to the Minnesota Regions 
1.16 	Assistive Technology Collaborative during the biennium ending June 30, 2009.
1.17 		Subd. 2.Report. The council shall present to the chairs of the house and senate 
1.18 	committees having jurisdiction over human services, by January 1, 2009, a report of the 
1.19 	findings of the study, including proposed legislation creating a statewide comprehensive 
1.20 	plan to meet the assistive technology needs of people with disabling conditions and 
1.21 	seniors. The statewide plan must include steps to coordinate and streamline assistive 
1.22 	technology services and the creation of an assistive technology pretax savings account.

1.23 	Sec. 2.  APPROPRIATIONS.
 2.1 	(a) $200,000 is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2009, from the 
2.2 	general fund to the Council on Disability for purposes of the study in section 1.
2.3 	(b) $300,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $300,000 in fiscal year 2009 is appropriated 
2.4 	from the general fund to the Council on Disability for the purposes of providing financial 
2.5 	support to the Minnesota Regions Assistive Technology Collaborative.
2.6 	(c) $200,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2008 from the general fund to the Council 
2.7 	on Disability for transfer to the commissioner of administration for the purposes of 
2.8 	completing the state's remaining share of the local match required to access the federal 
2.9 	Technology Related Assistance Act for Persons with Disabilities Title III, Alternative 
2.10 	Financing Project 2003 grant award which provides microloans to individuals for the 
2.11 	purpose of acquiring assistive technology devices and services.