1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; reimbursing state agencies for the costs of providing 
1.3 	reasonable accommodation; requiring a report; appropriating money; proposing 
1.4 	coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16B.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [16B.4805] ACCOMMODATION REIMBURSEMENT.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. "Reasonable accommodation" as used in this section 
1.8 	has the meaning given in section 363A.08. "State agency" as used in this section has the 
1.9 	meaning given in section 16A.011, subdivision 12.
1.10 		Subd. 2.Reimbursement for making reasonable accommodation. The 
1.11 	commissioner of administration shall reimburse state agencies for expenses incurred in 
1.12 	making reasonable accommodations for agency employees and applicants for employment 
1.13 	to the extent that funds are available in the accommodation account established under 
1.14 	subdivision 3 for this purpose.
1.15 		Subd. 3.Accommodation account established. The accommodation account 
1.16 	is created as an account in the special revenue fund for reimbursing state agencies for 
1.17 	expenses incurred in providing reasonable accommodation for agency employees and 
1.18 	applicants for agency employment.
1.19 		Subd. 4.Administration costs. The commissioner may use up to 15 percent of the 
1.20 	biennial appropriation for administration of this section.
1.21 		Subd. 5.Notification. By August 1, 2015, or within 30 days of final enactment, 
1.22 	whichever is later, and each year thereafter by June 30, the commissioner of administration 
1.23 	must notify state agencies that reimbursement for expenses incurred to make reasonable 
2.1 	accommodation for agency employees and applicants for agency employment is available 
2.2 	under this section.
2.3 		Subd. 6.Report. By January 31 of each year, the commissioner of administration 
2.4 	must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and 
2.5 	the senate committees with jurisdiction over state government finance on the use of the 
2.6 	central accommodation account during the prior calendar year. The report must include:
2.7 	(1) the number and type of accommodations requested;
2.8 	(2) the cost of accommodations requested;
2.9 	(3) the state agencies from which the requests were made;
2.10 	(4) the number of requests made for employees and the number of requests for 
2.11 	applicants for employment;
2.12 	(5) the number and type of accommodations that were not provided;
2.13 	(6) any remaining balance left in the account;
2.14 	(7) if the account was depleted, the date on which funds were exhausted and the 
2.15 	number, type, and cost of accommodations that were not reimbursed to state agencies; and
2.16 	(8) a description of how the account was promoted to state agencies.

2.17 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015. Reimbursement is 
2.18 	available for accommodation expenses incurred after June 30, 2015.

2.19 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; PROCEDURE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION 
2.20 	IN FIRST YEAR.
 2.21 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated to the 
2.22 	commissioner of administration and credited to the accommodation account established 
2.23 	in Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.4805. In fiscal year 2016, the commissioner of 
2.24 	administration may use five percent of the appropriation for fiscal year 2016 for 
2.25 	developing policies and procedures to implement the reimbursement program established 
2.26 	in Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.4805, and for educating qualifying agencies about the 
2.27 	availability of and process for receiving reimbursement for accommodation expenses.

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