1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; permitting nursing home bed layaway in certain emergency 
1.3 	circumstances; requiring commissioner of health to make recommendations on 
1.4 	a mutual aid agreement process;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 
1.5 	12A.10, by adding a subdivision.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 12A.10, is amended by adding a 
1.8 	subdivision to read:
1.9 		Subd. 4.Nursing home bed layaway. Notwithstanding section 144A.071, 
1.10 	subdivision 4b, the commissioner of health may approve the placement on and removal 
1.11 	from layaway status of nursing home beds at any time when a partial or complete 
1.12 	evacuation of a nursing home occurs in response to a natural disaster, a possible natural 
1.13 	disaster, or another event that threatens the health and safety of residents of a nursing home.

1.14 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

1.15 	Sec. 2. MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS.
 1.16 	By January 15, 2012, the commissioner of health, with Minnesota Management and 
1.17 	Budget, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Pollution Control Agency, must 
1.18 	study and make recommendations to the legislature as to the development of mutual aid 
1.19 	agreements for emergency or disaster situations that do not rise to the level triggering 
1.20 	operations under an Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The report must 
1.21 	include recommendations for a process that allows local communities to share resources, 
1.22 	such as equipment and staff, and to coordinate response activities during emergency or 
1.23 	disaster situations, with specific attention to agreements across state or county borders.