1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing emergency grants to providers of personal 
1.3 	care services; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. COVID-19-RELATED EMERGENCY GRANTS FOR DIRECT SUPPORT 
1.6 	SERVICES.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.8 	the meanings given.
1.9 	(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.
1.10 	(c) "Covered program" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.0711, 
1.11 	subdivision 1, paragraph (b).
1.12 	(d) "Direct support professional" means an individual employed to personally provide 
1.13 	personal care assistance services covered by medical assistance under Minnesota Statutes, 
1.14 	section 256B.0625, subdivisions 19a and 19c; or to personally provide medical assistance 
1.15 	services covered under Minnesota Statutes, sections 256B.0913, 256B.092, 256B.49, or 
1.16 	chapter 256S. Direct support professional does not include managerial or administrative 
1.17 	staff who do not personally provide the services described in this paragraph.
1.18 	(e) "Direct support services" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 
1.19 	256B.0711, subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
1.20 		Subd. 2.Grants. The commissioner may make emergency grants to eligible grantees 
1.21 	under subdivision 3 for allowable uses under subdivision 4 to ensure continued provision 
2.1 	of direct support services during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. The commissioner 
2.2 	shall determine the number of grants issued and the amount.
2.3 		Subd. 3.Eligible grantees. The following provider organizations and individuals are 
2.4 	eligible for grants under this section:
2.5 	(1) direct support professionals providing direct support services under a covered 
2.6 	program;
2.7 	(2) parents and spouses temporarily providing personal care assistance services;
2.8 	(3) direct support professionals temporarily providing direct support services in excess 
2.9 	of monthly service limits;
2.10 	(4) personal care assistance provider agencies; and
2.11 	(5) personal care assistance choice provider agencies.
2.12 		Subd. 4.Allowable uses of funds. Grantees must use grants for uses permitted under 
2.13 	the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136, 
2.14 	Title V, including for:
2.15 	(1) acquiring medical and protective supplies, including sanitizing products and personal 
2.16 	protective equipment;
2.17 	(2) disinfecting settings in which direct support services are provided in response to the 
2.18 	COVID-19 pandemic;
2.19 	(3) payroll expenses for direct support professionals, personal care assistants, and parents 
2.20 	or spouses temporarily providing personal care assistance services and whose services are 
2.21 	substantially dedicated to mitigating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals 
2.22 	receiving direct support services; and
2.23 	(4) any other permissible use under the CARES Act.
2.24 		Subd. 5.Application. (a) The commissioner shall develop an application form and 
2.25 	application process for emergency grants under this section. An applicant must provide the 
2.26 	following information in the application:
2.27 	(1) eligibility for existing COVID-19-related emergency funding, including state and 
2.28 	federal small business loans;
2.29 	(2) the provider's total revenue, if any, from medical assistance for eligible services 
2.30 	provided during January 2020;
3.1 	(3) how the applicant anticipates using the grant within the allowable uses outlined in 
3.2 	subdivision 4;
3.3 	(4) the requested grant amount;
3.4 	(5) an explanation of how the grant will allow the applicant to ensure continued provision 
3.5 	of direct support services during or following the COVID-19 pandemic; and
3.6 	(6) other information deemed necessary by the commissioner to evaluate grant 
3.7 	applications.
3.8 	(b) If applications for grants exceed the available appropriations, the commissioner shall 
3.9 	give priority to grant applications from providers who are ineligible for existing 
3.10 	COVID-19-related funding.
3.11 		Subd. 6.Expiration. This section expires June 30, 2021.

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

3.13 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; DIRECT SUPPORT SERVICES.
 3.14 	$....... in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the coronavirus relief fund to the 
3.15 	commissioner of human services for grants under this act. This is a onetime appropriation 
3.16 	and is available until June 30, 2021.

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