1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; modifying customized living quality improvement 
1.3 	grants; extending portions of a COVID-19 peacetime emergency modification to 
1.4 	economic assistance program application requirements; establishing retention and 
1.5 	public health grants; appropriating money;amending Laws 2019, First Special 
1.6 	Session chapter 9, article 4, section 28; article 14, section 2, subdivision 27; Laws 
1.7 	2020, First Special Session chapter 7, section 1, subdivision 2.
1.8 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9 	Section 1. Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 9, article 4, section 28, is amended 
1.10 	to read:
1.11 	Sec. 28. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER; ELDERLY WAIVER CUSTOMIZED 
1.12 	LIVING SERVICE PROVIDERS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.
 1.13 	(a) The commissioner of human services shall develop incentive-based grants to be 
1.14 	available during fiscal years 2020 and 2021 only for elderly waiverproviders of customized 
1.15 	living service providersservices under the brain injury, community access for disability 
1.16 	inclusion, and elderly waivers for achieving outcomes specified in a contract. The 
1.17 	commissioner may solicit proposals from providers and implement those that, on a 
1.18 	competitive basis, best meet the state's policy objectives, giving. Until June 30, 2021, the 
1.19 	commissioner shall give preference to providers that serve at least 75 percent elderly waiver 
1.20 	participants.
1.21 	(b) Effective July 1, 2021, to be eligible for a grant under this section, a provider must 
1.22 	serve at least 75 waiver participants, and at least 75 percent of the clients served by the 
1.23 	provider must be waiver participants. For providers of customized living services under the 
1.24 	brain injury or community access for disability inclusion, the required 75 waiver participants 
2.1 	must reside at multiple locations each with six or more residents. The commissioner shall 
2.2 	give greater preference to those providers serving a higher percentage of waiver participants.
2.3 	(c) The commissioner shall limit expenditures under this subdivision to the amount 
2.4 	appropriated for this purpose.
2.5 	(b) (d) In establishing the specified outcomes and related criteria, the commissioner shall 
2.6 	consider the following state policy objectives:
2.7 	(1) provide more efficient, higher quality services;
2.8 	(2) encourage home and community-based services providers to innovate;
2.9 	(3) equip home and community-based services providers with organizational tools and 
2.10 	expertise to improve their quality;
2.11 	(4) incentivize home and community-based services providers to invest in better services; 
2.12 	and
2.13 	(5) disseminate successful performance improvement strategies statewide.

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

2.15 	Sec. 2. Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 9, article 14, section 2, subdivision 27, 
2.16 	is amended to read:

2.17
2.18	Subd. 27.Grant Programs; Aging and Adult 
Services Grants
 		32,311,000
		32,495,000
	
2.19 	Incentive-Based Grants for Customized 
2.20 	Living Service Providers. $500,000 in fiscal 
2.21 	year 2020 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2021 
2.22 	are for incentive-based grants to brain injury, 
2.23 	community access for disability inclusion, and 
2.24 	elderly waiver customized living service 
2.25 	providers under article 4, section 28 Minnesota 
2.26 	Statutes, section 256.479.

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

2.28 	Sec. 3. Laws 2020, First Special Session chapter 7, section 1, subdivision 2, is amended 
2.29 	to read:
2.30 		Subd. 2.Waivers and modifications; extension to June 30, 2021. When the peacetime 
2.31 	emergency declared by the governor in response to the COVID-19 outbreak expires, is 
3.1 	terminated, or is rescinded by the proper authority, the following waivers and modifications 
3.2 	to human services programs issued by the commissioner of human services pursuant to 
3.3 	Executive Orders 20-11 and 20-12, including any amendments to the waivers or modifications 
3.4 	issued before the peacetime emergency expires, shall remain in effect until June 30, 2021, 
3.5 	unless necessary federal approval is not received at any time for a waiver or modification:
3.6 	(1) CV15: allowing phone or video visits for waiver programs;
3.7 	(2) CV16: expanding access to telemedicine services for Children's Health Insurance 
3.8 	Program, Medical Assistance, and MinnesotaCare enrollees;
3.9 	(3) CV21: allowing telemedicine alternative for school-linked mental health services 
3.10 	and intermediate school district mental health services;
3.11 	(4) CV24: allowing phone or video use for targeted case management visits;
3.12 	(5) CV30: expanding telemedicine in health care, mental health, and substance use 
3.13 	disorder settings;
3.14 	(6) CV31: allowing partial waiver of county cost when COVID-19 delays discharges 
3.15 	from DHS-operated psychiatric hospitals;
3.16 	(7) CV38: allowing flexibility in housing licensing requirements;
3.17 	(8) CV43: expanding remote home and community-based services waiver services;
3.18 	(9) CV44: allowing remote delivery of adult day services;
3.19 	(10) CV45: modifying certain licensing requirements for substance use disorder treatment, 
3.20 	except that the extension shall be limited to the portions of this modification requiring 
3.21 	programs to become and remain familiar with Minnesota Department of Health and Centers 
3.22 	for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on COVID-19; requiring programs to follow 
3.23 	Minnesota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance 
3.24 	specific to the situation and program capabilities if a person receiving services or a staff 
3.25 	person tests positive for COVID-19; permitting programs to temporarily suspend group 
3.26 	counseling or limit attendance at sessions when unable to accommodate requirements for 
3.27 	social distancing and community mitigation; permitting comprehensive assessments to be 
3.28 	completed by telephone or video communication; permitting a counselor, recovery peer, or 
3.29 	treatment coordinator to provide treatment services from their home by telephone or video 
3.30 	communication to a client in their home; permitting programs to follow the Substance Abuse 
3.31 	and Mental Health Services Administration guidelines as directed by the State Opioid 
3.32 	Treatment Authority within the Department of Human Services Behavioral Health division 
3.33 	to allow for an increased number of take-home doses in accordance with an assessment 
4.1 	conducted under Minnesota Statutes, section 245G.22, subdivision 6; removing the 
4.2 	requirement for opioid treatment programs to conduct outreach activities in the community; 
4.3 	and permitting programs to document a client's verbal approval of a treatment plan instead 
4.4 	of requiring the client's signature;
4.5 	(11) CV49: modifying certain license requirements for adult day services;
4.6 	(12) CV50: modifying certain requirements for early intensive developmental and 
4.7 	behavioral intervention (EIDBI) services;
4.8 	(13) CV53: allowing flexibility for personal care assistance service oversight, except 
4.9 	that the portion of this modification permitting personal care assistance workers to bill 310 
4.10 	hours per month shall expire upon the expiration of the peacetime emergency; and
4.11 	(14) CV64: modifying certain certification requirements for mental health centers, except 
4.12 	that the extension shall be limited to the portions of this modification requiring programs 
4.13 	to become and remain familiar with Minnesota Department of Health and Centers for Disease 
4.14 	Control and Prevention guidance on COVID-19; requiring programs to follow Minnesota 
4.15 	Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance specific to 
4.16 	the situation and program capabilities if a person receiving services or a staff person tests 
4.17 	positive for COVID-19; permitting alternative mental health professional supervision of 
4.18 	clinical services at satellite locations; permitting an alternative process for case consultation 
4.19 	meetings; and permitting mental health professionals to provide required client-specific 
4.20 	supervisory contact by telephone or video communication instead of face-to-face supervision; 
4.21 	and
4.22 	(15) CV03: suspending application requirements for economic assistance programs, 
4.23 	except that the extension shall be limited to the portions of this modification allowing remote 
4.24 	interviews for the Minnesota family investment program, and allowing the use of electronic 
4.25 	signatures for enrollment verification. Verbal signatures shall not be permitted for enrollment 
4.26 	verification.

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

4.28 	Sec. 4. HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDER WAIVER REQUEST 
4.29 	AUTHORIZATION.
 4.30 	The commissioner of human services may request a 1915(c), appendix K waiver 
4.31 	amendment, or any other federal waiver related to the federal public health emergency for 
4.32 	COVID-19, to provide emergency funding to home and community-based providers to 
4.33 	address the effects of the public health emergency on providers.

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

5.2 	Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION; COVID-19-RELATED RETENTION GRANTS FOR 
5.3 	HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE PROVIDERS.
 5.4 		Subdivision 1.Appropriation. (a) $20,305,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from 
5.5 	the coronavirus relief fund to the commissioner of human services for retention grants to 
5.6 	eligible providers as defined in subdivision 2 to assist providers: (1) with the costs of business 
5.7 	interruptions caused by required closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and (2) to help 
5.8 	ensure access to eligible services during or following the COVID-19 pandemic.
5.9 	(b) The commissioner may use up to $125,000 of this appropriation to administer this 
5.10 	grant.
5.11 	(c) Beginning October 31, 2020, any unencumbered appropriations may be used for 
5.12 	disability services provider COVID-19-related public health grants.
5.13 	(d) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until December 5, 2020.
5.14 		Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
5.15 	meanings given.
5.16 	(b) "Eligible provider" means either an enrolled provider who provides either eligible 
5.17 	services, as defined in paragraph (c), clauses (1) or (2), and meets the attestation and 
5.18 	agreement requirements in subdivisions 5 and 6; or an agency, as defined in Minnesota 
5.19 	Statutes, section 256B.0949, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), who provides eligible services 
5.20 	as defined in paragraph (c), clause (3), and meets the attestation and agreement requirements 
5.21 	in subdivisions 5 and 6.
5.22 	(c) "Eligible services" means the following services:
5.23 	(1) adult day services, day training and habilitation, day support services, prevocational 
5.24 	services, and structured day services provided by the home and community-based waiver 
5.25 	programs under Minnesota Statutes, sections 256B.0913, 256B.092, and 256B.49, and 
5.26 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256S;
5.27 	(2) employment exploration services, employment development services, and employment 
5.28 	support services provided by the home and community-based waiver programs under 
5.29 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 256B.092 and 256B.49; and
5.30 	(3) early intensive developmental and behavioral interventions under Minnesota Statutes, 
5.31 	section 256B.0949.
6.1 	(d) "Fixed costs" means costs determined by the commissioner that do not fluctuate with 
6.2 	changes in service provision. Eligible fixed costs under this section are costs similar to costs 
6.3 	considered in the rate methodology component values under Minnesota Statutes, section 
6.4 	256B.4914, subdivision 5, paragraph (d), clauses (7) and (8); paragraph (e), clauses (7) and 
6.5 	(8); paragraph (f), clauses (7) and (8); and subdivision 7, clause (11).
6.6 	(e) "Total revenue from medical assistance" includes both fee-for-service revenue and 
6.7 	revenue from managed care organizations. The commissioner shall determine each provider's 
6.8 	total revenue from medical assistance for eligible services provided during January 2020, 
6.9 	based on data for service claims paid as of August 1, 2020.
6.10 		Subd. 3.Allowable uses of funds. Grantees must use funds awarded under this section 
6.11 	for fixed costs incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic from March 1, 2020, through 
6.12 	December 30, 2020, associated with maintaining the provider's capacity to provide services.
6.13 		Subd. 4.Grant request. Eligible providers must request a grant under this section no 
6.14 	later than September 15, 2020. The commissioner shall develop an expedited request process 
6.15 	that includes a form allowing providers to meet the requirements of subdivisions 5 and 6 
6.16 	in as timely a manner as possible. The commissioner shall allow the use of electronic 
6.17 	submission of request forms and accept electronic signatures.
6.18 		Subd. 5.Attestation. As a condition of obtaining funds under this section, an eligible 
6.19 	provider must attest to the following on the grant request form:
6.20 	(1) the intent to provide eligible services under this section through December 31, 2020;
6.21 	(2) unreimbursed costs incurred between March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2020, related 
6.22 	to COVID-19-related business interruptions caused by required closures, reduced capacity 
6.23 	to promote social distancing measures, or reduced demand for services;
6.24 	(3) revenue losses experienced between March 1, 2020, and August 31, 2020, due to 
6.25 	the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in monthly fixed costs incurred exceeding monthly 
6.26 	revenue; and
6.27 	(4) without additional funds, the provider will be unable to maintain the continuity of 
6.28 	the services provided.
6.29 		Subd. 6.Agreement. As a condition of obtaining funds under this section, an eligible 
6.30 	provider must agree to the following on the grant request form:
6.31 	(1) cooperate with the commissioner of human services to deliver services according to 
6.32 	the program and service waivers and modifications issued under the commissioner's authority;
7.1 	(2) maintain documentation sufficient to demonstrate the unreimbursed costs required 
7.2 	in order to receive a grant under this section; and
7.3 	(3) acknowledge that retention grants may be subject to a special recoupment under this 
7.4 	section if a state audit performed under this section determines that the provider used awarded 
7.5 	funds for purposes not authorized under this section.
7.6 		Subd. 7.Retention grants. (a) No later than September 30, 2020, the commissioner 
7.7 	shall begin issuing retention grants to eligible providers  in an amount equal to 66 percent 
7.8 	of the provider's total revenue from medical assistance for eligible services provided during 
7.9 	January 2020.
7.10 	(b) The commissioner, acting under the governor's authority under Minnesota Statutes, 
7.11 	section 12.36, shall implement retention grants and the process of making grants under this 
7.12 	subdivision without compliance with time-consuming procedures and formalities prescribed 
7.13 	in law such as the following statutes and related policies: Minnesota Statutes, sections 
7.14 	16A.15, subdivision 3; 16B.97; 16B.98, subdivisions 5 and 7; and 16B.98, subdivision 8, 
7.15 	the express audit clause requirement.
7.16 	(c) By accepting a grant under this subdivision, the grantee attests to the conditions 
7.17 	specified in subdivisions 5 and 6.
7.18 	(d) The commissioner's determination of the grant amount determined under this 
7.19 	subdivision is final and is not subject to appeal. This paragraph does not apply to recoupment 
7.20 	by the commissioner under subdivision 9.
7.21 		Subd. 8.Payments for services provided. Providers who receive grants under this 
7.22 	section may continue to bill for services provided.
7.23 		Subd. 9.Recoupment. (a) The commissioner may perform an audit under this section 
7.24 	up to six years after the grant is awarded to ensure the funds are utilized solely for the 
7.25 	purposes stated in subdivision 1.
7.26 	(b) If the commissioner determines that a provider used awarded funds for purposes not 
7.27 	authorized under this section, the commissioner shall treat any amount used for a purpose 
7.28 	not authorized under this section as an overpayment. The commissioner shall recover any 
7.29 	overpayment.
7.30 		Subd. 10.Expiration. This section expires December 30, 2020, except for subdivision 
7.31 	9.

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

8.1 	Sec. 6. APPROPRIATION; DISABILITY SERVICES PROVIDER 
8.2 	COVID-19-RELATED PUBLIC HEALTH GRANTS.
 8.3 		Subdivision 1.Appropriation. (a) $10,125,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from 
8.4 	the coronavirus relief fund to the commissioner of human services for COVID-19-related 
8.5 	public health grants to eligible providers under subdivision 3 who have implemented or 
8.6 	intend to implement COVID-19-related public health measures that facilitate social distancing 
8.7 	practices that align with the most current social distancing guidelines issued by the United 
8.8 	States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are in accordance with the 
8.9 	federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Public Law 116-136, and 
8.10 	related guidance.
8.11 	(b) The commissioner may use up to $125,000 of this appropriation to administer this 
8.12 	grant.
8.13 	(c) This is a onetime appropriation.
8.14 		Subd. 2.Purpose. Grants under this section are established to reduce the risk of exposure 
8.15 	to and transmission of COVID-19 to people with disabilities and staff who support them 
8.16 	by maintaining or increasing  utilization of individualized day or employment services and 
8.17 	reducing utilization of congregate and sheltered workshop settings.
8.18 		Subd. 3.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
8.19 	meanings given.
8.20 	(b) "Eligible provider" means an enrolled provider who provides eligible services and 
8.21 	who meets the attestation and application requirements in subdivisions 5 and 6.
8.22 	(c) "Eligible services" means the following services:
8.23 	(1) day training and habilitation, day support services, prevocational services, and 
8.24 	structured day services provided by the home and community-based waiver programs under  
8.25 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 256B.092 and 256B.49; and
8.26 	(2) employment exploration services, employment development services, and employment 
8.27 	support services provided by the home and community-based waiver programs under 
8.28 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 256B.092 and 256B.49.
8.29 		Subd. 4.Allowable uses of funds. (a) Grants must be used to reduce the risk of exposure 
8.30 	to and transmission of COVID-19 to people with disabilities and staff who support them 
8.31 	by maintaining or increasing access to individualized employment services and reducing 
8.32 	the use of congregate and sheltered workshop service settings. Funds must be used  in 
8.33 	accordance with the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Public 
9.1 	Law 116-136, and guidance from the United States Department of the Treasury. Funds may 
9.2 	be used for:
9.3 	(1) expenses incurred as a result of actions to facilitate compliance with 
9.4 	COVID-19-related public health measures, such as the provision of services in settings that 
9.5 	optimize social distancing and health and safety precautions for people with disabilities and 
9.6 	staff who support them;
9.7 	(2) expenses to facilitate and ensure the availability of individualized services to enable 
9.8 	compliance with COVID-19 public health precautions; and
9.9 	(3) other activities as determined by the commissioner that align with the purpose in 
9.10 	subdivision 2 and are in accordance with the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic 
9.11 	Security Act, Public Law 116-136, and related guidance.
9.12 		Subd. 5.Attestation. As a condition of applying for and accepting public health grants 
9.13 	under this section, each provider must attest in writing that the provider:
9.14 	(1) has or will have unreimbursed costs that are greater than or equal to grant awards 
9.15 	under this section related to actions to facilitate compliance with COVID-19-related public 
9.16 	health measures, such as the provision of services in settings that optimize social distancing 
9.17 	and health and safety precautions for people with disabilities and staff who support them;
9.18 	(2) agrees to return any funds determined by the commissioner to be ineligible uses 
9.19 	according to the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Public Law 
9.20 	116-136, and related guidance; and
9.21 	(3) will maintain documentation sufficient to demonstrate the unreimbursed costs required 
9.22 	in order to receive a grant under this section.
9.23 		Subd. 6.Application. (a) The commissioner, acting under the governor's authority under 
9.24 	Minnesota Statutes, section 12.36, shall develop an expedited application process and process 
9.25 	for issuing grants under this section notwithstanding time-consuming procedures and 
9.26 	formalities prescribed in law such as the following statutes and related policies: Minnesota 
9.27 	Statutes, sections 16A.15, subdivision 3; 16B.97; 16B.98, subdivisions 5 and 7; and 16B.98, 
9.28 	subdivision 8, the express audit clause requirement. The application and related processes 
9.29 	must be consistent with allowable uses of funds under subdivision 4. The commissioner 
9.30 	shall allow applicants to submit applications electronically and shall accept electronic 
9.31 	signatures.
9.32 	(b) Eligible providers must apply for a grant under this section no later than November 
9.33 	15, 2020.
10.1 		Subd. 7.Allocation. (a) Beginning October 31, 2020, the commissioner shall award 
10.2 	grants under this section to eligible providers who meet the attestation and application 
10.3 	requirements under subdivisions 5 and 6.
10.4 	(b) The commissioner may make public health grants in an amount determined by the 
10.5 	commissioner and based on each grantee's application, up to a maximum grant amount of 
10.6 	$200,000.
10.7 	(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), if funds are available after all eligible providers have 
10.8 	received a grant, the commissioner may award additional grant funds to providers who have 
10.9 	already received the $200,000 maximum grant amount.
10.10 	(d) If applications for grants exceed the available appropriations, the commissioner shall 
10.11 	give priority to grant applications from providers whose applications demonstrate the most 
10.12 	need or the most robust plan to ensure people have opportunities to participate in day or 
10.13 	employment services that are not provided in a facility or sheltered or work crew setting.
10.14 	(e) The commissioner's determination of the grant amount is final and not subject to 
10.15 	appeal. This paragraph does not apply to recoupment by the commissioner under subdivision 
10.16 	8.
10.17 		Subd. 8.Recoupment. (a) The commissioner may perform an audit under this section 
10.18 	up to six years after the grant contract expires to ensure the funds are utilized solely for the 
10.19 	purposes stated in subdivision 4.
10.20 	(b) If the commissioner determines that a provider used awarded funds for purposes not 
10.21 	authorized under this section, the commissioner shall treat any amount used for a purpose 
10.22 	not authorized under this section as an overpayment. The commissioner shall recover any 
10.23 	overpayment. All money recovered by the commissioner under this subdivision must be 
10.24 	deposited in the federal fund.
10.25 		Subd. 9.Reporting. The commissioner shall develop a reporting process for public 
10.26 	health grants under this section. Each provider receiving funds under this section shall report 
10.27 	to the commissioner by March 1, 2021, with a description of how the funds were utilized. 
10.28 	By August 1, 2021, the commissioner shall report to the legislative committees with 
10.29 	jurisdiction over human services policy and finance the total funds allocated to providers, 
10.30 	uses of the funds, outcomes measured, people impacted, and other measures determined by 
10.31 	the commissioner.
10.32 		Subd. 10.Expiration. Subdivisions 1 to 7 expire December 30, 2020, or on a date 
10.33 	determined by the United States Department of Treasury, whichever is later. Subdivision 
11.1 	9 expires August 1, 2021, or on the date the commissioner submits the report required under 
11.2 	subdivision 9, whichever is later.

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

11.4 	Sec. 7. REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
 11.5 	The revisor of statutes shall codify Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 9, article 
11.6 	4, section 28, as amended in this act, as Minnesota Statutes, section 256.479.

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