1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; modifying provisions relating to health finance and 
1.3 	policy, certain health licensing boards, pharmacy benefits, health care finance, the 
1.4 	Office of Emergency Medical Services, opioids, mental health warning labels, 
1.5 	economic assistance, child protection and welfare, early care and learning, and 
1.6 	licensing and certification; establishing licensure for certified midwives; requiring 
1.7 	reports; providing for civil and criminal penalties; appropriating money;amending 
1.8 	Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 62A.673, subdivision 2; 62J.51, subdivision 
1.9 	19a; 62J.581; 142A.03, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; 142A.42; 142B.01, 
1.10 	subdivision 15, by adding a subdivision; 142B.05, subdivision 3; 142B.10, 
1.11 	subdivisions 14, 16; 142B.16, subdivisions 2, 5; 142B.171, subdivision 2; 142B.18, 
1.12 	subdivisions 4, 6; 142B.30, subdivision 1; 142B.41, by adding a subdivision; 
1.13 	142B.47; 142B.51, subdivision 2; 142B.65, subdivisions 8, 9; 142B.66, subdivision 
1.14 	3; 142B.70, subdivisions 7, 8; 142B.77; 142B.80; 142C.06, by adding a subdivision; 
1.15 	142C.11, subdivision 8; 142C.12, subdivisions 1, 6; 142D.21, subdivisions 6, 10, 
1.16 	by adding a subdivision; 142D.23, subdivision 3; 142D.31, subdivision 2; 142E.03, 
1.17 	subdivision 3; 142E.11, subdivisions 1, 2; 142E.13, subdivision 2; 142E.15, 
1.18 	subdivision 1; 142E.16, subdivisions 3, 7; 142E.17, subdivision 9; 142F.14; 
1.19 	144.0758, subdivision 3; 144.1222, subdivision 2d; 144.125, subdivisions 1, 2; 
1.20 	144.50, by adding a subdivision; 144.555, subdivisions 1a, 1b; 144.562, 
1.21 	subdivisions 2, 3; 144.563; 144.608, subdivision 2; 144.966, subdivision 2; 144.99, 
1.22 	subdivision 1; 145.8811; 145C.01, by adding subdivisions; 145C.17; 147.01, 
1.23 	subdivision 7; 147.037, by adding a subdivision; 149A.02, by adding a subdivision; 
1.24 	151.37, subdivision 12; 151.555, subdivisions 6, 10; 174.30, subdivision 3; 
1.25 	245.0962, subdivision 1; 245A.18, subdivision 1; 245C.02, by adding a subdivision; 
1.26 	256.045, subdivision 7; 256.9657, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; 256.969, 
1.27 	subdivision 2f; 256B.0371, subdivision 3; 256B.04, subdivisions 12, 14; 256B.0625, 
1.28 	subdivisions 2, 3b, 13c, 13e, 17, 17a, 30, by adding subdivisions; 256B.064, 
1.29 	subdivision 1a; 256B.1973, subdivision 5, by adding a subdivision; 256B.69, 
1.30 	subdivisions 3a, 6d; 256R.01, by adding a subdivision; 260.65; 260.66, subdivision 
1.31 	1; 260.691, subdivision 1; 260.692; 260.810, subdivisions 1, 2; 260.821, subdivision 
1.32 	2; 260C.001, subdivision 2; 260C.007, subdivision 19; 260C.141, subdivision 1; 
1.33 	260C.150, subdivision 3; 260C.178, subdivisions 1, 7; 260C.201, subdivisions 1, 
1.34 	2; 260C.202, subdivision 2, by adding subdivisions; 260C.204; 260C.212, 
1.35 	subdivisions 1, 1a; 260C.221, subdivision 2; 260C.223, subdivisions 1, 2; 260C.329, 
1.36 	subdivisions 3, 8; 260C.451, subdivision 9; 260C.452, subdivision 4; 260E.03, 
1.37 	subdivision 15; 260E.09; 260E.14, subdivisions 2, 3; 260E.20, subdivisions 1, 3; 
1.38 	260E.24, subdivisions 1, 2; 325M.34; 518.68, subdivision 2; 518A.34; 518A.46, 
2.1 	subdivision 7; 518A.75, subdivision 1; Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 20, section 
2.2 	8; Laws 2024, chapter 127, article 67, section 4; proposing coding for new law in 
2.3 	Minnesota Statutes, chapters 135A; 142B; 144; 144E; 145C; 256B; 260E; 306; 
2.4 	307; 325M; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 145.361; 256B.0625, 
2.5 	subdivisions 18b, 18e, 18h; Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 16, section 22; Minnesota 
2.6 	Rules, part 9503.0030, subpart 1, item B.
2.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

2.8 	ARTICLE 1
2.9 	DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FINANCE

2.10 	Section 1. [144.063] DEMENTIA SERVICES PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.
2.11 	The commissioner of health shall establish the dementia services program to:
2.12 	(1) facilitate the coordination and support of:
2.13 	(i) state-funded policies and programs that relate to Alzheimer's disease or related forms 
2.14 	of dementia;
2.15 	(ii) outreach programs and services between state agencies, local public health 
2.16 	departments, Tribal Nations, educational institutions, and community groups for the purpose 
2.17 	of fostering public awareness and education regarding Alzheimer's disease and related forms 
2.18 	of dementia; and
2.19 	(iii) services and activities between groups that are interested in dementia research, 
2.20 	programs, and services, including area agencies on aging, service providers, advocacy 
2.21 	groups, legal services, emergency personnel, law enforcement, local public health 
2.22 	departments, Tribal Nations, and state colleges and universities;
2.23 	(2) facilitate the coordination, review, publication, and implementation of and updates 
2.24 	to the Alzheimer's Disease State Plan;
2.25 	(3) collect and analyze data related to the impact of Alzheimer's disease in Minnesota; 
2.26 	and
2.27 	(4) incorporate early detection and risk reduction strategies into existing department-led 
2.28 	public health programs.

2.29 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.0758, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.30 		Subd. 3.Eligible grantees. (a) Organizations eligible to receive grant funding under 
2.31 	this section are Minnesota's Tribal Nations in accordance with paragraph (b) and urban 
2.32 	American Indian community-based organizations in accordance with paragraph (c).
3.1 	(b) Minnesota's Tribal Nations may choose to receive funding under this section according 
3.2 	to a noncompetitive funding formula specified by the commissioner.
3.3 	(c) Urban American Indian community-based organizations are eligible to apply for 
3.4 	funding under this section by submitting a proposal for consideration by the commissioner.

3.5 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.1222, subdivision 2d, is amended to read:
3.6 		Subd. 2d.Hot tubs Spa pools on rental houseboats property. (a) For purposes of this 
3.7 	subdivision, "spa pool" has the meaning given in Minnesota Rules, part 4717.0250, subpart 
3.8 	9.
3.9 	(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), a hot water spa pool intended for seated 
3.10 	recreational use, including a hot tub or whirlpool, that is located on a houseboat that is rented 
3.11 	to the public the property of a stand-alone, single-unit rental property, offered for rent by 
3.12 	the property owner or through a resort, and that is only intended to be used by the occupants 
3.13 	of the rental property:
3.14 	(1) is not a public pool and;
3.15 	(2) is exempt from the requirements for public pools under subdivisions 1 to 2c, 4, and 
3.16 	5 and Minnesota Rules, chapter 4717, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph; and
3.17 	(3) may be used by renters so long as:
3.18 	(i) the water temperature in the spa pool does not exceed 106 degrees Fahrenheit;
3.19 	(ii) prior to check-in by each new rental party, the resort or property owner tests the 
3.20 	water in the spa pool for the concentration of chlorine or bromine, pH, and alkalinity and 
3.21 	the water in the spa pool meets the requirements for disinfection residual, pH, and alkalinity 
3.22 	in Minnesota Rules, part 4717.1750, subparts 4 to 6; and
3.23 	(iii) at check-in, the resort or property owner provides each rental party with a notice 
3.24 	that there is a spa pool on the property and that the spa pool is not subject to all of the 
3.25 	requirements in state law and rules for public pools.
3.26 	(b) (c) A spa pool intended for seated recreational use, including a hot tub or whirlpool, 
3.27 	that is located on a houseboat that is rented to the public:
3.28 	(1) is not a public pool;
3.29 	(2) is exempt from the requirements for public pools under subdivisions 1 to 2c, 4, and 
3.30 	5 and Minnesota Rules, chapter 4717; and
3.31 	(3) is exempt from the requirements under paragraph (b), clause (3).
4.1 	(d) A political subdivision must not adopt a local law, rule, or ordinance that prohibits 
4.2 	the operation of, or establishes additional requirements for, a spa pool that meets the criteria 
4.3 	in paragraph (b) or (c).
4.4 	(e) A hot water spa pool under this subdivision must be conspicuously posted with the 
4.5 	following notice to renters:
4.6 	"NOTICE
4.7 	This spa is exempt from certain state and local sanitary requirements that prevent disease 
4.8 	transmission.
4.9 	USE AT YOUR OWN RISK
4.10 	This notice is required under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.1222, subdivision 2d."

4.11 	Sec. 4. [144.124] EDUCATION ON RECOGNIZING SIGNS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE 
4.12 	IN INFANTS.
4.13 		Subdivision 1.Education by health care providers. Family practice physicians, 
4.14 	pediatricians, and other pediatric primary care providers must provide parents and primary 
4.15 	caregivers of infants up to six months of age with materials on how to recognize the signs 
4.16 	of physical abuse in infants and how to report suspected physical abuse of infants. These 
4.17 	materials must be identified and approved by the commissioner of health according to 
4.18 	subdivision 2 and must be provided to an infant's parents or primary caregivers at the infant's 
4.19 	first well-baby visit after birth.
4.20 		Subd. 2.Materials. The commissioner of health, in consultation with the commissioner 
4.21 	of children, youth, and families, must identify, approve, and make available to pediatric 
4.22 	primary care providers materials for pediatric primary care providers to use at well-baby 
4.23 	visits to educate parents and primary caregivers of infants up to six months of age on 
4.24 	recognizing the signs of physical abuse in infants and how to report suspected physical 
4.25 	abuse of infants. The commissioner must make these materials available on the Department 
4.26 	of Health website.

4.27 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.125, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.28 		Subdivision 1.Duty to perform testing. (a) It is the duty of (1) the administrative officer 
4.29 	or other person in charge of each institution caring for infants 28 days or less of age, (2) the 
4.30 	person required in pursuance of the provisions of section 144.215, to register the birth of a 
4.31 	child, or (3) the nurse midwife or midwife in attendance at the birth, to arrange to have 
5.1 	administered to every infant or child in its care tests for heritable and congenital disorders 
5.2 	according to subdivision 2 and rules prescribed by the state commissioner of health.
5.3 	(b) Testing, recording of test results, reporting of test results, and follow-up of infants 
5.4 	with heritable congenital disorders, including hearing loss detected through the early hearing 
5.5 	detection and intervention program in section 144.966, shall be performed at the times and 
5.6 	in the manner prescribed by the commissioner of health.
5.7 	(c) The fee to support the newborn screening program, including tests administered 
5.8 	under this section and section 144.966, shall be $177 $184 per specimen. This fee amount 
5.9 	shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the state government special revenue 
5.10 	fund.
5.11 	(d) The fee to offset the cost of the support services provided under section 144.966, 
5.12 	subdivision 3a, shall be $15 per specimen. This fee shall be deposited in the state treasury 
5.13 	and credited to the general fund.

5.14 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.125, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.15 		Subd. 2.Determination of tests to be administered. (a) The commissioner shall 
5.16 	periodically revise the list of tests to be administered for determining the presence of a 
5.17 	heritable or congenital disorder. Revisions to the list shall reflect advances in medical 
5.18 	science, new and improved testing methods, or other factors that will improve the public 
5.19 	health. In determining whether a test must be administered, the commissioner shall take 
5.20 	into consideration the adequacy of analytical methods to detect the heritable or congenital 
5.21 	disorder, the ability to treat or prevent medical conditions caused by the heritable or 
5.22 	congenital disorder, and the severity of the medical conditions caused by the heritable or 
5.23 	congenital disorder. The list of tests to be performed may be revised if the changes are 
5.24 	recommended by the advisory committee established under section 144.1255, approved by 
5.25 	the commissioner, and published in the State Register. The revision is exempt from the 
5.26 	rulemaking requirements in chapter 14, and sections 14.385 and 14.386 do not apply.
5.27 	(b) The commissioner shall revise the list of tests to be administered for determining 
5.28 	the presence of a heritable or congenital disorder to include metachromatic leukodystrophy 
5.29 	(MLD).

5.30 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.562, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.31 		Subd. 2.Eligibility for license condition. (a) A hospital is not eligible to receive a 
5.32 	license condition for swing beds unless (1) it either has a licensed bed capacity of less than 
6.1 	50 beds defined in the federal Medicare regulations, Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, 
6.2 	section 482.66, or it has a licensed bed capacity of 50 beds or more and has swing beds that 
6.3 	were approved for Medicare reimbursement before May 1, 1985, or it has a licensed bed 
6.4 	capacity of less than 65 beds and the available nursing homes within 50 miles have had, in 
6.5 	the aggregate, an average occupancy rate of 96 percent or higher in the most recent two 
6.6 	years as documented on the statistical reports to the Department of Health; and (2) it is 
6.7 	located in a rural area as defined in the federal Medicare regulations, Code of Federal 
6.8 	Regulations, title 42, section 482.66.
6.9 	(b) Except for those critical access hospitals established under section 144.1483, clause 
6.10 	(9), and section 1820 of the federal Social Security Act, United States Code, title 42, section 
6.11 	1395i-4, that have an attached nursing home or that owned a nursing home located in the 
6.12 	same municipality as of May 1, 2005, eligible hospitals are allowed a total number of days 
6.13 	of swing bed use per year as provided in paragraph (c). Critical access hospitals that have 
6.14 	an attached nursing home or that owned a nursing home located in the same municipality 
6.15 	as of May 1, 2005, are allowed swing bed use as provided in federal law. A critical access 
6.16 	hospital described in section 144.5621 is allowed an unlimited number of days of swing 
6.17 	bed use per year.
6.18 	(c) An eligible hospital is allowed a total of 3,000 days of swing bed use in calendar 
6.19 	year 2020. Beginning in calendar year 2021, and for each subsequent calendar year until 
6.20 	calendar year 2027, the total number of days of swing bed use per year is increased by 200 
6.21 	swing bed use days. Beginning in calendar year 2028, an eligible hospital is allowed a total 
6.22 	of 4,500 days of swing bed use per year.
6.23 	(d) Days of swing bed use for medical care that an eligible hospital has determined are 
6.24 	charity care shall not count toward the applicable limit in paragraph (b) or (c). For purposes 
6.25 	of this paragraph, "charity care" means care that an eligible hospital provided for free or at 
6.26 	a discount to persons who cannot afford to pay and for which the eligible hospital did not 
6.27 	expect payment.
6.28 	(e) Days of swing bed use for care of a person who has been denied admission to every 
6.29 	Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility within 25 miles of the eligible hospital shall not 
6.30 	count toward the applicable limit in paragraphs (b) and (c). Eligible hospitals must maintain 
6.31 	documentation that they have contacted each skilled nursing facility within 25 miles to 
6.32 	determine if any skilled nursing facility beds are available and if the skilled nursing facilities 
6.33 	are willing to admit the patient. Skilled nursing facilities that are contacted must admit the 
6.34 	patient or deny admission within 24 hours of being contacted by the eligible hospital. Failure 
6.35 	to respond within 24 hours is deemed a denial of admission.
7.1 	(f) Except for critical access hospitals that have an attached nursing home or that owned 
7.2 	a nursing home located in the same municipality as of May 1, 2005, the commissioner of 
7.3 	health may approve swing bed use beyond 2,000 days as long as there are no Medicare 
7.4 	certified skilled nursing facility beds available within 25 miles of that hospital that are 
7.5 	willing to admit the patient and the patient agrees to the referral being sent to the skilled 
7.6 	nursing facility. Critical access hospitals exceeding 2,000 swing bed days must maintain 
7.7 	documentation that they have contacted skilled nursing facilities within 25 miles to determine 
7.8 	if any skilled nursing facility beds are available that are willing to admit the patient and the 
7.9 	patient agrees to the referral being sent to the skilled nursing facility. This paragraph expires 
7.10 	January 1, 2020.
7.11 	(g) After reaching 2,000 days of swing bed use in a year, an eligible hospital to which 
7.12 	this limit applies may admit six additional patients to swing beds each year without seeking 
7.13 	approval from the commissioner or being in violation of this subdivision. These six swing 
7.14 	bed admissions are exempt from the limit of 2,000 annual swing bed days for hospitals 
7.15 	subject to this limit. This paragraph expires January 1, 2020.
7.16 	(h) A health care system that is in full compliance with this subdivision may allocate its 
7.17 	total limit of swing bed days among the hospitals within the system, provided that no hospital 
7.18 	in the system without an attached nursing home may exceed 2,000 swing bed days per year. 
7.19 	This paragraph expires January 1, 2020.

7.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, 
7.21 	whichever is later. The commissioners of health and human services shall inform the revisor 
7.22 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

7.23 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.562, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
7.24 		Subd. 3.Approval of license condition. (a) The commissioner of health shall approve 
7.25 	a license condition for swing beds if the hospital meets all of the criteria of this subdivision.
7.26 	(b) The hospital must meet the eligibility criteria in subdivision 2.
7.27 	(c) The hospital must be in compliance with the Medicare conditions of participation 
7.28 	for swing beds under Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 482.66.
7.29 	(d) Except as provided in section 144.5621, the hospital must agree, in writing, to limit 
7.30 	the length of stay of a patient receiving services in a swing bed to not more than 40 days, 
7.31 	or the duration of Medicare eligibility, unless the commissioner of health approves a greater 
7.32 	length of stay in an emergency situation. To determine whether an emergency situation 
7.33 	exists, the commissioner shall require the hospital to provide documentation that continued 
8.1 	services in the swing bed are required by the patient; that no skilled nursing facility beds 
8.2 	are available within 25 miles from the patient's home, or in some more remote facility of 
8.3 	the resident's choice, that can provide the appropriate level of services required by the 
8.4 	patient; and that other alternative services are not available to meet the needs of the patient. 
8.5 	If the commissioner approves a greater length of stay, the hospital shall develop a plan 
8.6 	providing for the discharge of the patient upon the availability of a nursing home bed or 
8.7 	other services that meet the needs of the patient. Permission to extend a patient's length of 
8.8 	stay must be requested by the hospital at least ten days prior to the end of the maximum 
8.9 	length of stay.
8.10 	(e) Except as provided in section 144.5621, the hospital must agree, in writing, to limit 
8.11 	admission to a swing bed only to (1) patients who have been hospitalized and not yet 
8.12 	discharged from the facility, or (2) patients who are transferred directly from an acute care 
8.13 	hospital.
8.14 	(f) The hospital must agree, in writing, to report to the commissioner of health by 
8.15 	December 1, 1985, and annually thereafter, in a manner required by the commissioner (1) 
8.16 	the number of patients readmitted to a swing bed within 60 days of a patient's discharge 
8.17 	from the facility, (2) the hospital's charges for care in a swing bed during the reporting 
8.18 	period with a description of the care provided for the rate charged, and (3) the number of 
8.19 	beds used by the hospital for transitional care and similar subacute inpatient care.
8.20 	(g) The hospital must agree, in writing, to report statistical data on the utilization of the 
8.21 	swing beds on forms supplied by the commissioner. The data must include the number of 
8.22 	swing beds, the number of admissions to and discharges from swing beds, Medicare 
8.23 	reimbursed patient days, total patient days, and other information required by the 
8.24 	commissioner to assess the utilization of swing beds.

8.25 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, 
8.26 	whichever is later. The commissioners of health and human services shall inform the revisor 
8.27 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

8.28 	Sec. 9. [144.5621] SWING BED APPROVAL; EXCEPTIONS.
8.29 		Subdivision 1.Swing bed exemption. (a) The conditions and limitations in section 
8.30 	144.562, paragraphs (d) and (e), do not apply to any hospital located in Cook County that:
8.31 	(1) is designated as a critical access hospital under section 144.1483, clause (9), and 
8.32 	United States Code, title 42, section 1395i-4; and
8.33 	(2) has an attached nursing home.
9.1 	(b) Any swing bed located in a hospital described in this section may be used to provide 
9.2 	nursing care without requiring a prior hospital stay.
9.3 	(c) The nursing care provided to a patient in a swing bed is a covered medical assistance 
9.4 	service under section 256B.0625, subdivision 2b.
9.5 		Subd. 2.Application of the health care bill of rights. A patient in a swing bed located 
9.6 	in a hospital described in this section is a resident of a nursing home for the purposes of 
9.7 	section 144.651.
9.8 		Subd. 3.Comprehensive resident assessment. A patient in a swing bed located in a 
9.9 	hospital described in this section is a resident of a nursing home for the purposes of Minnesota 
9.10 	Rules, part 4658.0400.

9.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, 
9.12 	whichever is later. The commissioners of health and human services shall inform the revisor 
9.13 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

9.14 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.563, is amended to read:
9.15 	144.563 NURSING SERVICES PROVIDED IN A HOSPITAL; PROHIBITED 
9.16 	PRACTICES.
9.17 	A hospital that has been granted a license condition under section 144.562or 144.5621 
9.18 	must not provide to patients not reimbursed by Medicare or medical assistance the types of 
9.19 	services that would be usually and customarily provided and reimbursed under medical 
9.20 	assistance or Medicare as services of a skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility 
9.21 	for more than 42 days and only for patients who have been hospitalized and no longer require 
9.22 	an acute level of care. Permission to extend a patient's length of stay may be granted by the 
9.23 	commissioner if requested by the physician at least ten days prior to the end of the maximum 
9.24 	length of stay.

9.25 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, 
9.26 	whichever is later. The commissioners of health and human services shall inform the revisor 
9.27 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

9.28 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.608, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
9.29 		Subd. 2.Council administration. (a) The council must meet at least twice a year but 
9.30 	may meet more frequently at the call of the chair, a majority of the council members, or the 
9.31 	commissioner.
10.1 	(b) The terms, compensation, and removal of members of the council are governed by 
10.2 	section 15.059. The council expires June 30, 2025 2035.
10.3 	(c) The council may appoint subcommittees and work groups. Subcommittees shall 
10.4 	consist of council members. Work groups may include noncouncil members. Noncouncil 
10.5 	members shall be compensated for work group activities under section 15.059, subdivision 
10.6 	3, but shall receive expenses only.

10.7 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.966, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
10.8 		Subd. 2.Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee. (a) The commissioner 
10.9 	of health shall establish a Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee to advise and 
10.10 	assist the Department of Health; Department of Children, Youth, and Families; and the 
10.11 	Department of Education in:
10.12 	(1) developing protocols and timelines for screening, rescreening, and diagnostic 
10.13 	audiological assessment and early medical, audiological, and educational intervention 
10.14 	services for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing;
10.15 	(2) designing protocols for tracking children from birth through age three that may have 
10.16 	passed newborn screening but are at risk for delayed or late onset of permanent hearing 
10.17 	loss;
10.18 	(3) designing a technical assistance program to support facilities implementing the 
10.19 	screening program and facilities conducting rescreening and diagnostic audiological 
10.20 	assessment;
10.21 	(4) designing implementation and evaluation of a system of follow-up and tracking; and
10.22 	(5) evaluating program outcomes to increase effectiveness and efficiency and ensure 
10.23 	culturally appropriate services for children with a confirmed hearing loss and their families.
10.24 	(b) The commissioner of health shall appoint at least one member from each of the 
10.25 	following groups with no less than two of the members being deaf or hard-of-hearing:
10.26 	(1) a representative from a consumer organization representing culturally deaf persons;
10.27 	(2) a parent with a child with hearing loss representing a parent organization;
10.28 	(3) a consumer from an organization representing oral communication options;
10.29 	(4) a consumer from an organization representing cued speech communication options;
10.30 	(5) an audiologist who has experience in evaluation and intervention of infants and 
10.31 	young children;
11.1 	(6) a speech-language pathologist who has experience in evaluation and intervention of 
11.2 	infants and young children;
11.3 	(7) two primary care providers who have experience in the care of infants and young 
11.4 	children, one of which shall be a pediatrician;
11.5 	(8) a representative from the early hearing detection intervention teams;
11.6 	(9) a representative from the Department of Education resource center for the deaf and 
11.7 	hard-of-hearing or the representative's designee;
11.8 	(10) a representative of the Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing;
11.9 	(11) a representative from the Department of Human Services Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing 
11.10 	Services Division;
11.11 	(12) one or more of the Part C coordinators from the Department of Education; the 
11.12 	Department of Health; the Department of Children, Youth, and Families; or the Department 
11.13 	of Human Services or the department's designees;
11.14 	(13) the Department of Health early hearing detection and intervention coordinators;
11.15 	(14) two birth hospital representatives from one rural and one urban hospital;
11.16 	(15) a pediatric geneticist;
11.17 	(16) an otolaryngologist;
11.18 	(17) a representative from the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee under this 
11.19 	subdivision;
11.20 	(18) a representative of the Department of Education regional low-incidence facilitators;
11.21 	(19) a representative from the deaf mentor program; and
11.22 	(20) a representative of the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf from the Minnesota 
11.23 	State Academies staff.
11.24 	The commissioner must complete the initial appointments required under this subdivision 
11.25 	by September 1, 2007, and the initial appointments under clauses (19) and (20) by September 
11.26 	1, 2019.
11.27 	(c) The Department of Health member shall chair the first meeting of the committee. At 
11.28 	the first meeting, the committee shall elect a chair from its membership. The committee 
11.29 	shall meet at the call of the chair, at least four times a year. The committee shall adopt 
11.30 	written bylaws to govern its activities. The Department of Health shall provide technical 
11.31 	and administrative support services as required by the committee. These services shall 
12.1 	include technical support from individuals qualified to administer infant hearing screening, 
12.2 	rescreening, and diagnostic audiological assessments.
12.3 	Members of the committee shall receive no compensation for their service, but shall be 
12.4 	reimbursed as provided in section 15.059 for expenses incurred as a result of their duties 
12.5 	as members of the committee.
12.6 	(d) By February 15, 2015, and by February 15 of the odd-numbered years after that date, 
12.7 	the commissioner shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative 
12.8 	committees with jurisdiction over health and data privacy on the activities of the committee 
12.9 	that have occurred during the past two years.
12.10 	(e) This subdivision expires June 30, 2025.

12.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment or 
12.12 	June 30, 2025, whichever is earlier.

12.13 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 145.8811, is amended to read:
12.14 	145.8811 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH ADVISORY TASK FORCE
12.15 	COMMITTEE.
12.16 		Subdivision 1.Composition of task force committee. The commissioner shall establish 
12.17 	and appoint a Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force Committee consisting of 15 
12.18 	members who will provide equal representation from:
12.19 	(1) professionals with expertise in maternal and child health services;
12.20 	(2) representatives of community health boards as defined in section 145A.02, subdivision 
12.21 	5; and
12.22 	(3) consumer representatives interested in the health of mothers and children.
12.23 	No members shall be employees of the Minnesota Department of Health. Section 15.059
12.24 	governs the Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force Committee. Notwithstanding 
12.25 	section 15.059, the Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force Committee does not 
12.26 	expire.
12.27 		Subd. 2.Duties. The advisory task force committee shall meet on a regular basis to 
12.28 	perform the following duties:
12.29 	(1) review and report on the health care needs of mothers and children throughout the 
12.30 	state of Minnesota;
13.1 	(2) review and report on the type, frequency, and impact of maternal and child health 
13.2 	care services provided to mothers and children under existing maternal and child health 
13.3 	care programs, including programs administered by the commissioner of health;
13.4 	(3) establish, review, and report to the commissioner a list of program guidelines and 
13.5 	criteria which the advisory task force committee considers essential to providing an effective 
13.6 	maternal and child health care program to low-income populations and high-risk persons 
13.7 	and fulfilling the purposes defined in section 145.88;
13.8 	(4) make recommendations to the commissioner for the use of other federal and state 
13.9 	funds available to meet maternal and child health needs;
13.10 	(5) make recommendations to the commissioner of health on priorities for funding the 
13.11 	following maternal and child health services:
13.12 	(i) prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care;
13.13 	(ii) comprehensive health care for children, especially from birth through five years of 
13.14 	age;
13.15 	(iii) adolescent health services;
13.16 	(iv) family planning services;
13.17 	(v) preventive dental care;
13.18 	(vi) special services for chronically ill and disabled children; and
13.19 	(vii) any other services that promote the health of mothers and children; and
13.20 	(6) establish in consultation with the commissioner statewide outcomes that will improve 
13.21 	the health status of mothers and children.

13.22 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
13.23 		Subd. 2.Skilled and intermediate nursing care. (a) Medical assistance covers skilled 
13.24 	nursing home services and services of intermediate care facilities, including training and 
13.25 	habilitation services, as defined in section 252.41, subdivision 3, for persons with 
13.26 	developmental disabilities who are residing in intermediate care facilities for persons with 
13.27 	developmental disabilities. Medical assistance must not be used to pay the costs of nursing 
13.28 	care provided to a patient in a swing bed as defined in section 144.562, unless (1) the facility 
13.29 	in which the swing bed is located is eligible as a sole community provider, as defined in 
13.30 	Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 412.92, or the facility is a public hospital 
13.31 	owned by a governmental entity with 15 or fewer licensed acute care beds; (2) the Centers 
14.1 	for Medicare and Medicaid Services approves the necessary state plan amendments; (3) the 
14.2 	patient was screened as provided by law; (4) the patient no longer requires acute care 
14.3 	services; and (5) no nursing home beds are available within 25 miles of the facility. The 
14.4 	commissioner shall exempt a facility from compliance with the sole community provider 
14.5 	requirement in clause (1) if, as of January 1, 2004, the facility had an agreement with the 
14.6 	commissioner to provide medical assistance swing bed services.
14.7 	(b) Medical assistance also covers up to ten days of nursing care provided to a patient 
14.8 	in a swing bed if: (1) the patient's physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician 
14.9 	assistant certifies that the patient has a terminal illness or condition that is likely to result 
14.10 	in death within 30 days and that moving the patient would not be in the best interests of the 
14.11 	patient and patient's family; (2) no open nursing home beds are available within 25 miles 
14.12 	of the facility; and (3) no open beds are available in any Medicare hospice program within 
14.13 	50 miles of the facility. The daily medical assistance payment for nursing care for the patient 
14.14 	in the swing bed is the statewide average medical assistance skilled nursing care per diem 
14.15 	as computed annually by the commissioner on July 1 of each year.

14.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, 
14.17 	whichever is later. The commissioners of health and human services shall inform the revisor 
14.18 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

14.19 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, is amended by adding a subdivision 
14.20 	to read:
14.21 		Subd. 2b.Nursing care provided to a patient in a swing bed. (a) Medical assistance 
14.22 	must not be used to pay the costs of nursing care provided to a patient in a swing bed as 
14.23 	defined in section 144.562, unless:
14.24 	(1) the facility in which the swing bed is located is eligible as a sole community provider, 
14.25 	as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 412.92, or the facility is a public 
14.26 	hospital owned by a governmental entity with 25 or fewer licensed acute care beds;
14.27 	(2) the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approves the necessary state plan 
14.28 	amendments;
14.29 	(3) the patient was screened as provided by law;
14.30 	(4) the patient no longer requires acute care services; and
14.31 	(5) no nursing home beds are available within 25 miles of the facility.
15.1 	(b) The commissioner shall exempt a facility from compliance with the sole community 
15.2 	provider requirement in paragraph (a), clause (1), if, as of January 1, 2004, the facility had 
15.3 	an agreement with the commissioner to provide medical assistance swing bed services.
15.4 	(c) Medical assistance also covers up to ten days of nursing care provided to a patient 
15.5 	in a swing bed if:
15.6 	(1) the patient's physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant 
15.7 	certifies that the patient has a terminal illness or condition that is likely to result in death 
15.8 	within 30 days and that moving the patient would not be in the best interests of the patient 
15.9 	and patient's family;
15.10 	(2) no open nursing home beds are available within 25 miles of the facility; and
15.11 	(3) no open beds are available in any Medicare hospice program within 50 miles of the 
15.12 	facility.
15.13 	(d) The commissioner shall exempt any facility described under section 144.5621 from 
15.14 	compliance with the requirements of paragraph (a), clauses (3) and (5), and paragraph (c), 
15.15 	and medical assistance covers an unlimited number of days of nursing care provided to a 
15.16 	patient in a swing bed at a facility described under section 144.5621.
15.17 	(e) The daily medical assistance payment for nursing care for the patient in the swing 
15.18 	bed is the statewide average medical assistance skilled nursing care per diem as computed 
15.19 	annually by the commissioner on July 1 of each year.

15.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, 
15.21 	whichever is later. The commissioners of health and human services shall inform the revisor 
15.22 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

15.23 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256R.01, is amended by adding a subdivision 
15.24 	to read:
15.25 		Subd. 1a.Payment rates for nursing care provided to a patient in a swing 
15.26 	bed. Payment rates paid to any hospital for nursing care provided to a patient in a swing 
15.27 	bed must be those rates established pursuant section 256B.0625, subdivision 2b.

15.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, 
15.29 	whichever is later. The commissioners of health and human services shall inform the revisor 
15.30 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

16.1 	Sec. 17. SPOKEN LANGUAGE HEALTH CARE INTERPRETER WORK GROUP.
16.2 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
16.3 	the meanings given.
16.4 	(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health.
16.5 	(c) "Common languages" means the 15 most common languages without regard to dialect 
16.6 	in Minnesota.
16.7 	(d) "Registered interpreter" means a spoken language interpreter who is listed on the 
16.8 	Department of Health's spoken language health care interpreter roster.
16.9 	(e) "Work group" means the spoken language health care interpreter work group 
16.10 	established in this section.
16.11 		Subd. 2.Composition. The commissioner, after receiving work group candidate 
16.12 	applications, must appoint 15 members to the work group consisting of the following 
16.13 	members:
16.14 	(1) three members who are interpreters listed on the Department of Health's spoken 
16.15 	language health care interpreter roster and who are Minnesota residents. Of these members:
16.16 	(i) each must be an interpreter for a different language;
16.17 	(ii) at least one must have a national certification credential; and
16.18 	(iii) at least one must have been listed on the roster as an interpreter in a language other 
16.19 	than the common languages and must have completed a nationally recognized training 
16.20 	program for health care interpreters that is, at a minimum, 40 hours in length;
16.21 	(2) three members representing limited English proficiency (LEP) individuals. Of these 
16.22 	members, two must represent LEP individuals who are proficient in a common language 
16.23 	other than English and one must represent LEP individuals who are proficient in a language 
16.24 	that is not one of the common languages;
16.25 	(3) one member representing a health plan company;
16.26 	(4) one member who is not an interpreter and who is representing a Minnesota health 
16.27 	system;
16.28 	(5) two members representing interpreter agencies, including one member representing 
16.29 	agencies whose main office is located outside the seven-county metropolitan area and one 
16.30 	member representing agencies whose main office is located within the seven-county 
16.31 	metropolitan area;
17.1 	(6) one member representing the Department of Health;
17.2 	(7) one member representing the Department of Human Services;
17.3 	(8) one member representing an interpreter training program or postsecondary educational 
17.4 	institution program providing interpreter courses or skills assessment;
17.5 	(9) one member who is affiliated with a Minnesota-based or Minnesota chapter of a 
17.6 	national or international organization representing interpreters; and
17.7 	(10) one member who is a licensed health care provider.
17.8 		Subd. 3.Duties. The work group must compile a list of recommendations to support 
17.9 	and improve access to the critical health care interpreting services provided across the state, 
17.10 	including but not limited to:
17.11 	(1) changing requirements for registered and certified interpreters to reflect changing 
17.12 	needs of the Minnesota health care community and emerging national standards of training, 
17.13 	competency, and testing;
17.14 	(2) addressing barriers for interpreters to gain access to the roster, including barriers for 
17.15 	interpreters of languages other than common languages and interpreters in rural areas;
17.16 	(3) reimbursing spoken language health care interpreting;
17.17 	(4) identifying gaps in interpreter services in rural areas and recommending ways to 
17.18 	address interpreter training and funding needs;
17.19 	(5) training, certification, and continuing education programs;
17.20 	(6) convening a meeting of public and private sector representatives of the spoken 
17.21 	language health care interpreter community to identify ongoing sources of financial assistance 
17.22 	to aid individual interpreters in meeting interpreter training and testing requirements;
17.23 	(7) conducting surveys of people receiving and providing interpreter services to 
17.24 	understand changing needs and consumer quality of care; and
17.25 	(8) suggesting changes in requirements and qualifications on telehealth or remote 
17.26 	interpreting.
17.27 		Subd. 4.Compensation; expense reimbursement. Compensation shall be offered to 
17.28 	work group members not being compensated for their participation in work group activities 
17.29 	as part of their existing job duties. Work group members shall be compensated and 
17.30 	reimbursed for expenses for work group activities under Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, 
17.31 	subdivision 3.
18.1 		Subd. 5.Administrative support; meeting space, meeting facilitation. The 
18.2 	commissioner must provide meeting space and administrative support for the work group. 
18.3 	The commissioner may contract with a neutral independent consultant to provide this 
18.4 	administrative support and to facilitate and lead the meetings of the work group.
18.5 		Subd. 6.Deadline for appointments. The commissioner must appoint members to the 
18.6 	work group by August 15, 2025.
18.7 		Subd. 7.Expiration. The work group and this section expire on November 2, 2026, or 
18.8 	upon submission of the report required under subdivision 9, whichever is earlier.
18.9 		Subd. 8.Initial work group meetings. The commissioner must convene the first meeting 
18.10 	of the work group by October 1, 2025. Prior to the first meeting, work group members must 
18.11 	receive survey results and evidence-based research on interpreter services in Minnesota. 
18.12 	During the first meetings, work group members must receive survey results and consult 
18.13 	with subject matter experts, including but not limited to signed language interpreting experts, 
18.14 	academic experts with knowledge of interpreting research, and academic health experts to 
18.15 	address specific gaps in spoken language health care interpreting. The work group must 
18.16 	provide a minimum of two opportunities for public comment. These opportunities shall be 
18.17 	announced with at least four weeks' notice, with publicity in the five most common languages 
18.18 	in Minnesota. Interpreters for those same languages shall be provided during the public 
18.19 	comment opportunities.
18.20 		Subd. 9.Report. By November 1, 2026, the commissioner must provide the chairs and 
18.21 	ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health care 
18.22 	interpreter services with recommendations, including draft legislation and any statutory 
18.23 	changes needed to implement the recommendations, to improve and support access to health 
18.24 	care interpreting services statewide.

18.25 	Sec. 18. TITLE.
 18.26 	The amendments to Minnesota Statutes, section 144.1222, subdivision 2d, in this act 
18.27 	may be cited as the "Free the Hot Tub Act."

18.28 	Sec. 19. REPEALER.
 18.29 	Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 145.361, is repealed.

19.1 	ARTICLE 2
19.2 	DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH POLICY

19.3 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62J.51, subdivision 19a, is amended to read:
19.4 		Subd. 19a.Uniform explanation of benefits document. "Uniform explanation of 
19.5 	benefits document" means either the document associated with and explaining the details 
19.6 	of a group purchaser's claim adjudication for services rendered or its electronic equivalent 
19.7 	under section 62J.581, which is sent to a patient.

19.8 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62J.581, is amended to read:
19.9 	62J.581 STANDARDS FOR MINNESOTA UNIFORM HEALTH CARE 
19.10 	REIMBURSEMENT DOCUMENTS.
19.11 		Subdivision 1.Minnesota uniform remittance advice.  All group purchasers shall 
19.12 	provide a uniform claim payment/advice transaction to health care providers when a claim 
19.13 	is adjudicated. The uniform claim payment/advice transaction shall comply with section 
19.14 	62J.536, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), and rules adopted under section 62J.536, subdivision 
19.15 	2.
19.16 		Subd. 2.Minnesota uniform explanation of benefits document. (a) All group 
19.17 	purchasers shall provide a uniform explanation of benefits document to health care patients 
19.18 	when an explanation of benefits document is provided as otherwise required or permitted 
19.19 	by law. The uniform explanation of benefits document shall comply with the standards 
19.20 	prescribed in this section.
19.21 	(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), this section does not apply to group purchasers not 
19.22 	included as covered entities under United States Code, title 42, sections 1320d to 1320d-8, 
19.23 	as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated under those sections.
19.24 		Subd. 3.Scope. For purposes of sections 62J.50 to 62J.61, the uniform claim 
19.25 	payment/advice transaction and uniform explanation of benefits document format specified 
19.26 	in subdivision 4 shall apply to all health care services delivered by a health care provider 
19.27 	or health care provider organization in Minnesota, regardless of the location of the payer. 
19.28 	Health care services not paid on an individual claims basis, such as capitated payments, are 
19.29 	not included in this section. A health plan company is excluded from the requirements in 
19.30 	subdivisions 1 and subdivision 2 if they comply with section 62A.01, subdivisions 2 and 
19.31 	3.
20.1 		Subd. 4.Specifications. (a) The uniform explanation of benefits document shall be 
20.2 	provided by use of a paper document conforming to the specifications in this section or its 
20.3 	electronic equivalent under paragraph (b).
20.4 	(b) Group purchasers may make the uniform explanation of benefits available in a version 
20.5 	that can be accessed by health care patients electronically if:
20.6 	(1) the group purchaser making the uniform explanation of benefits available 
20.7 	electronically provides health care patients the ability to choose whether to receive paper, 
20.8 	electronic, or both paper and electronic versions of their uniform explanation of benefits;
20.9 	(2) the group purchaser provides clear, readily accessible information and instructions 
20.10 	for the patient to communicate their choice; and
20.11 	(3) health care patients not responding to the opportunity to make a choice will receive 
20.12 	at a minimum a paper uniform explanation of benefits.
20.13 	(c) The commissioner, after consulting with the Administrative Uniformity Committee, 
20.14 	shall specify the data elements and definitions for the paper uniform explanation of benefits 
20.15 	document. The commissioner and the Administrative Uniformity Committee must consult 
20.16 	with the Minnesota Dental Association and Delta Dental Plan of Minnesota before requiring 
20.17 	under this section the use of a paper document for the uniform explanation of benefits 
20.18 	document or the uniform claim payment/advice transaction for dental care services. Any 
20.19 	electronic version of the uniform explanation of benefits must use the same data elements 
20.20 	and definitions as the paper uniform explanation of benefits.
20.21 		Subd. 5.Effective date. The requirements in subdivisions 1 and 2 are effective June 30, 
20.22 	2007. The requirements in subdivisions 1 and 2 apply regardless of when the health care 
20.23 	service was provided to the patient.

20.24 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.50, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
20.25 	read:
20.26 		Subd. 8.Controlling person. (a) "Controlling person" includes the following individuals, 
20.27 	if applicable, as deemed appropriate by the hospital:
20.28 	(1) any officer of the organization;
20.29 	(2) any hospital administrator; and
20.30 	(3) any managerial official.
20.31 	(b) Controlling person does not include:
21.1 	(1) a bank, savings bank, trust company, savings association, credit union, industrial 
21.2 	loan and thrift company, investment banking firm, or insurance company, unless the entity 
21.3 	directly or through a subsidiary operates a hospital;
21.4 	(2) government and government-sponsored entities such as the United States Department 
21.5 	of Housing and Urban Development, Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the 
21.6 	Minnesota Housing Finance Agency which provide loans, financing, and insurance products 
21.7 	for housing sites;
21.8 	(3) an individual who is a state or federal official, a state or federal employee, or a 
21.9 	member or employee of the governing body of a political subdivision of the state or federal 
21.10 	government that operates one or more hospitals, unless the individual is also an officer, 
21.11 	owner, or managerial official of the hospital; receives any remuneration from a hospital; or 
21.12 	is a controlling person not otherwise excluded in this subdivision;
21.13 	(4) a natural person who is a member of a tax-exempt organization under section 290.05, 
21.14 	subdivision 2, unless the individual is also a controlling person not otherwise excluded in 
21.15 	this subdivision; and
21.16 	(5) a natural person who owns less than five percent of the outstanding common shares 
21.17 	of a corporation:
21.18 	(i) whose securities are exempt by virtue of section 80A.45, clause (6); or
21.19 	(ii) whose transactions are exempt by virtue of section 80A.46, clause (7).

21.20 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.555, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
21.21 		Subd. 1a.Notice of closing, curtailing operations, relocating services, or ceasing to 
21.22 	offer certain services; hospitals. (a) The controlling persons of a hospital licensed under 
21.23 	sections 144.50 to 144.56 or a hospital campus must notify the commissioner of health, the 
21.24 	public, and others at least 182 days before the hospital or hospital campus voluntarily plans 
21.25 	to implement one of the scheduled actions listed in paragraph (b), unless the controlling 
21.26 	persons can demonstrate to the commissioner that meeting the advanced notice requirement 
21.27 	is not feasible and the commissioner approves a shorter advanced notice.
21.28 	(b) The following scheduled actions require advanced notice under paragraph (a):
21.29 	(1) ceasing operations;
21.30 	(2) curtailing operations to the extent that emergency department services or patients
21.31 	receiving inpatient health services must be relocated;
22.1 	(3) relocating the provision of inpatient health services or emergency department services 
22.2 	to another hospital or another hospital campus; or
22.3 	(4) ceasing to offer inpatient maternity care and inpatient newborn care services, inpatient 
22.4 	intensive care unit services, inpatient mental health services, or inpatient substance use 
22.5 	disorder treatment services.
22.6 	(c) A notice required under this subdivision must comply with the requirements in 
22.7 	subdivision 1d.
22.8 	(d) The commissioner shall cooperate with the controlling persons and advise them 
22.9 	about relocating the patients.
22.10 	(e) For purposes of this subdivision, "inpatient" means services that are provided to a 
22.11 	person who has been admitted to a hospital for bed occupancy.

22.12 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.555, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:
22.13 		Subd. 1b.Public hearing. Within 30 days after receiving notice under subdivision 1a, 
22.14 	the commissioner shall conduct a public hearing on the scheduled cessation of operations, 
22.15 	curtailment of operations, relocation of health services, or cessation in offering health 
22.16 	services. The commissioner must provide adequate public notice of the hearing in a time 
22.17 	and manner determined by the commissioner. The commissioner must ensure that video 
22.18 	conferencing technology is used at the public hearing to allow members of the public to 
22.19 	view and participate in the hearing. The controlling persons of the hospital or hospital 
22.20 	campus must participate in the public hearing. The public hearing must be held at a location 
22.21 	that is within ten miles of the hospital or hospital campus or with the commissioner's approval 
22.22 	as close as is practicable, that can accommodate the hearing's anticipated public attendance, 
22.23 	and that is provided or arranged by the hospital or hospital campus. Video conferencing 
22.24 	technology must be used to allow members of the public to view and participate in the 
22.25 	hearing. The public hearing must include:
22.26 	(1) an explanation by the controlling persons of the reasons for ceasing or curtailing 
22.27 	operations, relocating health services, or ceasing to offer any of the listed health services;
22.28 	(2) a description of the actions that controlling persons will take to ensure that residents 
22.29 	in the hospital's or campus's service area have continued access to the health services being 
22.30 	eliminated, curtailed, or relocated;
22.31 	(3) an opportunity for at least one hour of public testimony on the scheduled cessation 
22.32 	or curtailment of operations, relocation of health services, or cessation in offering any of 
23.1 	the listed health services, and on the hospital's or campus's plan to ensure continued access 
23.2 	to those health services being eliminated, curtailed, or relocated; and
23.3 	(4) an opportunity for the controlling persons to respond to questions from interested 
23.4 	persons.

23.5 	Sec. 6. [144.6584] INFORMED CONSENT REQUIRED FOR SENSITIVE 
23.6 	EXAMINATIONS.
23.7 		Subdivision 1.Definition. For purposes of this section, "sensitive examination" means 
23.8 	a pelvic, breast, urogenital, or rectal examination.
23.9 		Subd. 2.Informed consent required; exceptions. A health professional, or a student 
23.10 	or resident participating in a course of instruction, clinical training, or a residency program 
23.11 	for a health profession, must not perform a sensitive examination on an anesthetized or 
23.12 	unconscious patient unless:
23.13 	(1) the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative provided prior written, 
23.14 	informed consent to the sensitive examination for preventive, diagnostic, or treatment 
23.15 	purposes;
23.16 	(2) the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative provided prior written, 
23.17 	informed consent to the sensitive examination being performed solely for educational or 
23.18 	training purposes;
23.19 	(3) the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative provided prior written, 
23.20 	informed consent to a surgical procedure or diagnostic examination and the sensitive 
23.21 	examination is related to that surgical procedure or diagnostic examination and is medically 
23.22 	necessary;
23.23 	(4) the patient is unconscious and incapable of providing informed consent and the 
23.24 	sensitive examination is medically necessary for diagnostic or treatment purposes; or
23.25 	(5) the sensitive examination is performed by a health professional qualified to perform 
23.26 	the examination and is performed for purposes of collecting evidence or documenting 
23.27 	injuries.
23.28 		Subd. 3.Ground for disciplinary action. A violation of this section is a ground for 
23.29 	disciplinary action by the health-related licensing board regulating the individual who 
23.30 	violated this section.

24.1 	ARTICLE 3
24.2 	HEALTH LICENSING BOARDS

24.3 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.99, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
24.4 		Subdivision 1.Remedies available. The provisions of chapters 103I and 157 and sections 
24.5 	115.71 to 115.77; 144.12, subdivision 1, paragraphs (1), (2), (5), (6), (10), (12), (13), (14), 
24.6 	and (15); 144.1201 to 144.1204; 144.121; 144.1215; 144.1222; 144.35; 144.381 to 144.385; 
24.7 	144.411 to 144.417; 144.495; 144.71 to 144.74; 144.9501 to 144.9512; 144.97 to 144.98; 
24.8 	144.992;147.037, subdivision 1b, paragraph (d); 326.70 to 326.785; 327.10 to 327.131; 
24.9 	and 327.14 to 327.28 and all rules, orders, stipulation agreements, settlements, compliance 
24.10 	agreements, licenses, registrations, certificates, and permits adopted or issued by the 
24.11 	department or under any other law now in force or later enacted for the preservation of 
24.12 	public health may, in addition to provisions in other statutes, be enforced under this section.

24.13 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

24.14 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 147.01, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
24.15 		Subd. 7.Physician application and license fees. (a) The board may charge the following 
24.16 	nonrefundable application and license fees processed pursuant to sections 147.02, 147.03, 
24.17 	147.037, 147.0375, and 147.38:
24.18 	(1) physician application fee, $200;
24.19 	(2) physician annual registration renewal fee, $192;
24.20 	(3) physician endorsement to other states, $40;
24.21 	(4) physician emeritus license, $50;
24.22 	(5) physician late fee, $60;
24.23 	(6) nonrenewable 24-month limited license, $392;
24.24 	(7) initial physician license for limited license holder, $192;
24.25 	(6) (8) duplicate license fee, $20;
24.26 	(7) (9) certification letter fee, $25;
24.27 	(8) (10) education or training program approval fee, $100;
24.28 	(9) (11) report creation and generation fee, $60 per hour;
24.29 	(10) (12) examination administration fee (half day), $50;
25.1 	(11) (13) examination administration fee (full day), $80;
25.2 	(12) (14) fees developed by the Interstate Commission for determining physician 
25.3 	qualification to register and participate in the interstate medical licensure compact, as 
25.4 	established in rules authorized in and pursuant to section 147.38, not to exceed $1,000; and
25.5 	(13) (15) verification fee, $25.
25.6 	(b) The board may prorate the initial annual license fee. All licensees are required to 
25.7 	pay the full fee upon license renewal. The revenue generated from the fee must be deposited 
25.8 	in an account in the state government special revenue fund.

25.9 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 147.037, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
25.10 	read:
25.11 		Subd. 1b.Limited license. (a) A limited license under this subdivision is valid for one 
25.12 	24-month period and is not renewable or eligible for reapplication. The board may issue a 
25.13 	limited license, valid for 24 months, to any person who satisfies the requirements of 
25.14 	subdivision 1, paragraphs (a) to (c) and (e) to (g), and who:
25.15 	(1) pursuant to a license or other authorization to practice, has practiced medicine, as 
25.16 	defined in section 147.081, subdivision 3, clauses (2) to (4), for at least 60 months in the 
25.17 	previous 12 years outside of the United States;
25.18 	(2) submits sufficient evidence of an offer to practice within the context of a collaborative 
25.19 	agreement within a hospital or clinical setting where the limited license holder and physicians 
25.20 	work together to provide patient care;
25.21 	(3) provides services in a designated rural area or underserved urban community as 
25.22 	defined in section 144.1501; and
25.23 	(4) submits two letters of recommendation in support of a limited license, which must 
25.24 	include one letter from a physician with whom the applicant previously worked and one 
25.25 	letter from an administrator of the hospital or clinical setting in which the applicant previously 
25.26 	worked. The letters of recommendation must attest to the applicant's good medical standing. 
25.27 	The board may accept alternative forms of proof that demonstrate good medical standing 
25.28 	where there are extenuating circumstances that prevent an applicant from providing letters.
25.29 	(b) For purposes of this subdivision, a person has satisfied the requirements of subdivision 
25.30 	1, paragraph (e), if the person has passed steps or levels one and two of the USMLE or the 
25.31 	COMLEX-USA with passing scores as recommended by the USMLE program or National 
25.32 	Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners within three attempts.
26.1 	(c) A person issued a limited license under this subdivision must not be required to 
26.2 	present evidence satisfactory to the board of the completion of one year of graduate clinical 
26.3 	medical training in a program accredited by a national accrediting organization approved 
26.4 	by the board.
26.5 	(d) An employer of a limited license holder must pay the limited license holder at least 
26.6 	an amount equivalent to a medical resident in a comparable field. The employer must carry 
26.7 	medical malpractice insurance covering a limited license holder for the duration of the 
26.8 	employment. The commissioner of health may issue a correction order under section 144.99, 
26.9 	subdivision 3, requiring an employer to comply with this paragraph. An employer must not 
26.10 	retaliate against or discipline an employee for raising a complaint or pursuing enforcement 
26.11 	relating to this paragraph.
26.12 	(e) The board may issue a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine to a person 
26.13 	who holds a limited license issued pursuant to paragraph (a) and who has:
26.14 	(1) held the limited license for two years and is in good standing to practice medicine 
26.15 	in this state;
26.16 	(2) practiced for a minimum of 1,692 hours per year for each of the previous two years;
26.17 	(3) submitted a letter of recommendation in support of a full and unrestricted license 
26.18 	containing all attestations required under paragraph (i) from any physician who participated 
26.19 	in the collaborative agreement;
26.20 	(4) passed steps or levels one, two, and three of the USMLE or COMLEX-USA with 
26.21 	passing scores as recommended by the USMLE program or National Board of Osteopathic 
26.22 	Medical Examiners within three attempts; and
26.23 	(5) completed 20 hours of continuing medical education.
26.24 	(f) A limited license holder must submit to the board, every six months or upon request, 
26.25 	a statement certifying whether the person is still employed as a physician in this state and 
26.26 	whether the person has been subjected to professional discipline as a result of the person's 
26.27 	practice. The board may suspend or revoke a limited license if a majority of the board 
26.28 	determines that the limited license holder is no longer employed as a physician in this state 
26.29 	by an employer. The limited license holder must be granted an opportunity to be heard prior 
26.30 	to the board's determination. Upon request by the limited license holder, the limited license 
26.31 	holder may have 90 days to regain employment. A limited license holder may change 
26.32 	employers during the duration of the limited license if the limited license holder has another 
26.33 	offer of employment. In the event that a change of employment occurs, the limited license 
27.1 	holder must still work the number of hours required under paragraph (e), clause (2), to be 
27.2 	eligible for a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine.
27.3 	(g) In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the board may, without a hearing, 
27.4 	temporarily suspend the license of a limited license holder if the board finds that the limited 
27.5 	license holder has violated a statute or rule that the board is empowered to enforce and 
27.6 	continued practice by the limited license holder would create a serious risk of harm to the 
27.7 	public. The suspension takes effect upon written notice to the limited license holder, 
27.8 	specifying the statute or rule violated. The suspension remains in effect until the board 
27.9 	issues a final order in the matter after a hearing. At the time it issues the suspension notice, 
27.10 	the board shall schedule a disciplinary hearing to be held pursuant to the Administrative 
27.11 	Procedure Act. The limited license holder shall be provided with at least 20 days' notice of 
27.12 	any hearing held pursuant to this subdivision. The hearing shall be scheduled to begin no 
27.13 	later than 30 days after the issuance of the suspension order.
27.14 	(h) For purposes of this subdivision, "collaborative agreement" means a mutually agreed 
27.15 	upon plan for the overall working relationship and collaborative arrangement between a 
27.16 	holder of a limited license and one or more physicians licensed under this chapter that 
27.17 	designates the scope of services that can be provided to manage the care of patients. The 
27.18 	limited license holder and one of the collaborating physicians must have experience in 
27.19 	providing care to patients with the same or similar medical conditions. Under the 
27.20 	collaborative agreement, the limited license holder must shadow the collaborating physician 
27.21 	for four weeks, after which time the limited license holder must staff all patient encounters 
27.22 	with the collaborating physician for an additional four weeks. After eight weeks, the 
27.23 	collaborating physician has discretion to allow the limited license holder to see patients 
27.24 	independently and may, at the discretion of the collaborating physician, require the limited 
27.25 	license holder to present patients. However, the limited license holder must be supervised 
27.26 	by the collaborating physician for a minimum of two hours per week. A limited license 
27.27 	holder may practice medicine without a collaborating physician physically present, but the 
27.28 	limited license holder and collaborating physicians must be able to easily contact each other 
27.29 	by radio, telephone, or other telecommunication device while the limited license holder 
27.30 	practices medicine. The limited license holder must have one-on-one practice reviews with 
27.31 	each collaborating physician, provided in person or through eye-to-eye electronic media 
27.32 	while maintaining visual contact, for at least two hours per week.
27.33 	(i) At least one collaborating physician must submit a letter to the board, after the limited 
27.34 	license holder has practiced under the license for 12 months, attesting to the following:
28.1 	(1) the limited license holder has a basic understanding of federal and state laws regarding 
28.2 	the provision of health care, including but not limited to:
28.3 	(i) medical licensing obligations and standards; and
28.4 	(ii) the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Public Law 104-191;
28.5 	(2) the limited license holder has a basic understanding of documentation standards;
28.6 	(3) the limited license holder has a thorough understanding of which medications are 
28.7 	available and unavailable in the United States;
28.8 	(4) the limited license holder has a thorough understanding of American medical standards 
28.9 	of care;
28.10 	(5) the limited license holder has demonstrated mastery of each of the following:
28.11 	(i) gathering a history and performing a physical exam;
28.12 	(ii) developing and prioritizing a differential diagnosis following a clinical encounter 
28.13 	and selecting a working diagnosis;
28.14 	(iii) recommending and interpreting common diagnostic and screening tests;
28.15 	(iv) entering and discussing orders and prescriptions;
28.16 	(v) providing an oral presentation of a clinical encounter;
28.17 	(vi) giving a patient handover to transition care responsibly;
28.18 	(vii) recognizing a patient requiring urgent care and initiating an evaluation; and
28.19 	(viii) obtaining informed consent for tests, procedures, and treatments; and
28.20 	(6) the limited license holder is providing appropriate medical care.
28.21 	(j) The board must not grant a license under this section unless the applicant possesses 
28.22 	federal immigration status that allows the applicant to practice as a physician in the United 
28.23 	States.

28.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

28.25 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 151.555, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
28.26 		Subd. 6.Standards and procedures for accepting donations of drugs and supplies
28.27 	and purchasing drugs from licensed wholesalers. (a) Notwithstanding any other law or 
28.28 	rule, a donor may donate drugs or medical supplies to the central repository or a local 
28.29 	repository if the drug or supply meets the requirements of this section as determined by a 
29.1 	pharmacist or practitioner who is employed by or under contract with the central repository 
29.2 	or a local repository.
29.3 	(b) A drug is eligible for donation under the medication repository program if the 
29.4 	following requirements are met:
29.5 	(1) the drug's expiration date is at least six months after the date the drug was donated. 
29.6 	If a donated drug bears an expiration date that is less than six months from the donation 
29.7 	date, the drug may be accepted and distributed if the drug is in high demand and can be 
29.8 	dispensed for use by a patient before the drug's expiration date;
29.9 	(2) the drug is in its original, sealed, unopened, tamper-evident packaging that includes 
29.10 	the expiration date. Single-unit-dose drugs may be accepted if the single-unit-dose packaging 
29.11 	is unopened;
29.12 	(3) the drug or the packaging does not have any physical signs of tampering, misbranding, 
29.13 	deterioration, compromised integrity, or adulteration;
29.14 	(4) the drug does not require storage temperatures other than normal room temperature 
29.15 	as specified by the manufacturer or United States Pharmacopoeia, unless the drug is being 
29.16 	donated directly by its manufacturer, a wholesale drug distributor, or a pharmacy located 
29.17 	in Minnesota; and
29.18 	(5) the drug is not a controlled substance.
29.19 	(c) A medical supply is eligible for donation under the medication repository program 
29.20 	if the following requirements are met:
29.21 	(1) the supply has no physical signs of tampering, misbranding, or alteration and there 
29.22 	is no reason to believe it has been adulterated, tampered with, or misbranded;
29.23 	(2) the supply is in its original, unopened, sealed packaging; and
29.24 	(3) if the supply bears an expiration date, the date is at least six months later than the 
29.25 	date the supply was donated. If the donated supply bears an expiration date that is less than 
29.26 	six months from the date the supply was donated, the supply may be accepted and distributed 
29.27 	if the supply is in high demand and can be dispensed for use by a patient before the supply's 
29.28 	expiration date.
29.29 	(d) The board shall develop the medication repository donor form and make it available 
29.30 	on the board's website. Prior to the first donation from a new donor, a central repository or 
29.31 	local repository shall verify and record the following information on the donor form:
29.32 	(1) the donor's name, address, phone number, and license number, if applicable;
30.1 	(2) that the donor will only make donations in accordance with the program;
30.2 	(3) to the best of the donor's knowledge, only drugs or supplies that have been properly 
30.3 	stored under appropriate temperature and humidity conditions will be donated; and
30.4 	(4) to the best of the donor's knowledge, only drugs or supplies that have never been 
30.5 	opened, used, tampered with, adulterated, or misbranded will be donated.
30.6 	(e) Notwithstanding any other law or rule, a central repository or a local repository may 
30.7 	receive donated drugs from donors. Donated drugs and supplies may be shipped or delivered 
30.8 	to the premises of the central repository or a local repository, and shall be inspected by a 
30.9 	pharmacist or an authorized practitioner who is employed by or under contract with the 
30.10 	repository and who has been designated by the repository prior to dispensing. A drop box 
30.11 	must not be used to deliver or accept donations.
30.12 	(f) The central repository and local repository shall maintain a written or electronic 
30.13 	inventory of all drugs and supplies donated to the repository upon acceptance of each drug 
30.14 	or supply. For each drug, the inventory must include the drug's name, strength, quantity, 
30.15 	manufacturer, expiration date, and the date the drug was donated. For each medical supply, 
30.16 	the inventory must include a description of the supply, its manufacturer, the date the supply 
30.17 	was donated, and, if applicable, the supply's brand name and expiration date. The board 
30.18 	may waive the requirement under this paragraph if an entity is under common ownership 
30.19 	or control with a central repository or local repository and either the entity or the repository 
30.20 	maintains an inventory containing all the information required under this paragraph.
30.21 	(g) The central repository may purchase a drug from a wholesaler licensed by the board 
30.22 	to fill prescriptions for eligible patients when the repository does not have a sufficient supply 
30.23 	of donated drugs to fill the prescription. The central repository may use any purchased drugs 
30.24 	remaining after filling the prescriptions for which the drugs were initially purchased to fill 
30.25 	other prescriptions. Whenever possible, the repository must use donated drugs to fill 
30.26 	prescriptions.

30.27 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 151.555, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
30.28 		Subd. 10.Distribution of donated drugs and supplies. (a) The central repository and 
30.29 	local repositories may distribute drugs and supplies donated under the medication repository 
30.30 	program to other participating repositories for use pursuant to this program.
30.31 	(b) A local repository that elects not to dispense donated drugs or supplies that are 
30.32 	suitable for donation and dispensing must transfer all those donated drugs and supplies to 
30.33 	the central repository. A copy of the donor form that was completed by the original donor 
31.1 	under subdivision 6 must be provided to the central repository at the time of transfer. A 
31.2 	local repository must dispose of drugs and supplies in its possession that are not suitable 
31.3 	for donation or dispensing pursuant to subdivision 7.

31.4 	ARTICLE 4
31.5 	PHARMACY BENEFITS

31.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 13c, is amended to 
31.7 	read:
31.8 		Subd. 13c.Formulary Committee. The commissioner, after receiving recommendations 
31.9 	from professional medical associations and professional pharmacy associations, and consumer 
31.10 	groups shall designate a Formulary Committee to carry out duties as described in subdivisions 
31.11 	13 to 13g. The Formulary Committee shall be comprised of at least five licensed physicians 
31.12 	actively engaged in the practice of medicine in Minnesota, one of whom is an actively 
31.13 	practicing psychiatrist, one of whom specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of rare 
31.14 	diseases, one of whom specializes in pediatrics, and one of whom actively treats persons 
31.15 	with disabilities; at least three licensed pharmacists actively engaged in the practice of 
31.16 	pharmacy in Minnesota, one of whom practices outside the metropolitan counties listed in 
31.17 	section 473.121, subdivision 4, one of whom practices in the metropolitan counties listed 
31.18 	in section 473.121, subdivision 4, and one of whom is a practicing hospital pharmacist; at 
31.19 	least two consumer representatives, all of whom must have a personal or professional 
31.20 	connection to medical assistance; and one representative designated by the Minnesota Rare 
31.21 	Disease Advisory Council established under section 256.4835; the remainder to be made 
31.22 	up of health care professionals who are licensed in their field and have recognized knowledge 
31.23 	in the clinically appropriate prescribing, dispensing, and monitoring of covered outpatient 
31.24 	drugs. Members of the Formulary Committee shall not be employed by the Department of 
31.25 	Human Services or have a personal interest in a pharmaceutical company, pharmacy benefits 
31.26 	manager, health plan company, or their affiliate organizations, but the committee shall be 
31.27 	staffed by an employee of the department who shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member 
31.28 	of the committee. For the purposes of this subdivision, "personal interest" means that a 
31.29 	person owns at least five percent of the voting interest or equity interest in the entity, the 
31.30 	equity interest owned by a person represents at least five percent of that person's net worth, 
31.31 	or more than five percent of a person's gross income for the preceding year was derived 
31.32 	from the entity. A committee member must notify the committee of any potential conflict 
31.33 	of interest and recuse themselves from any communications, discussion, or vote on any 
31.34 	matter where a conflict of interest exists. A conflict of interest alone, without a personal 
32.1 	interest, does not preclude an applicant from serving as a member of the Formulary 
32.2 	Committee. Members may be removed from the committee for cause after a recommendation 
32.3 	for removal by a majority of the committee membership. For the purposes of this subdivision, 
32.4 	"cause" does not include offering a differing or dissenting clinical opinion on a drug or drug 
32.5 	class. The department's medical director shall also serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member 
32.6 	for the committee. Committee members shall serve three-year terms and may be reappointed 
32.7 	twice by the commissioner. The committee members shall vote on a chair and vice chair 
32.8 	from among their membership. The chair shall preside over all committee meetings, and 
32.9 	the vice chair shall preside over the meetings if the chair is not present. The Formulary 
32.10 	Committee shall meet at least three times per year. The commissioner may require more 
32.11 	frequent Formulary Committee meetings as needed. An honorarium of $100 per meeting 
32.12 	and reimbursement for mileage shall be paid to each committee member in attendance. The 
32.13 	Formulary Committee expires June 30, 2027 2029. The Formulary Committee is subject to 
32.14 	the Open Meeting Law under chapter 13D. For purposes of establishing a quorum to transact 
32.15 	business, vacant committee member positions do not count in the calculation as long as at 
32.16 	least 60 percent of the committee member positions are filled.

32.17 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 13e, is amended to read:
32.18 		Subd. 13e.Payment rates. (a) The basis for determining the amount of payment shall 
32.19 	be the lower of the ingredient costs of the drugs plus the professional dispensing fee; or the 
32.20 	usual and customary price charged to the public. The usual and customary price means the 
32.21 	lowest price charged by the provider to a patient who pays for the prescription by cash, 
32.22 	check, or charge account and includes prices the pharmacy charges to a patient enrolled in 
32.23 	a prescription savings club or prescription discount club administered by the pharmacy or 
32.24 	pharmacy chain, unless the prescription savings club or prescription discount club is one 
32.25 	in which an individual pays a recurring monthly access fee for unlimited access to a defined 
32.26 	list of drugs for which the pharmacy does not bill the member or a payer on a 
32.27 	per-standard-transaction basis. The amount of payment basis must be reduced to reflect all 
32.28 	discount amounts applied to the charge by any third-party provider/insurer agreement or 
32.29 	contract for submitted charges to medical assistance programs. The net submitted charge 
32.30 	may not be greater than the patient liability for the service. The professional dispensing fee 
32.31 	shall be $11.55 for prescriptions filled with legend drugs meeting the definition of "covered 
32.32 	outpatient drugs" according to United States Code, title 42, section 1396r-8(k)(2). The 
32.33 	dispensing fee for intravenous solutions that must be compounded by the pharmacist shall 
32.34 	be $11.55 per claim. The professional dispensing fee for prescriptions filled with 
32.35 	over-the-counter drugs meeting the definition of covered outpatient drugs shall be $11.55 
33.1 	for dispensed quantities equal to or greater than the number of units contained in the 
33.2 	manufacturer's original package. The professional dispensing fee shall be prorated based 
33.3 	on the percentage of the package dispensed when the pharmacy dispenses a quantity less 
33.4 	than the number of units contained in the manufacturer's original package. The pharmacy 
33.5 	dispensing fee for prescribed over-the-counter drugs not meeting the definition of covered 
33.6 	outpatient drugs shall be $3.65 for quantities equal to or greater than the number of units 
33.7 	contained in the manufacturer's original package and shall be prorated based on the 
33.8 	percentage of the package dispensed when the pharmacy dispenses a quantity less than the 
33.9 	number of units contained in the manufacturer's original package. The ingredient cost for 
33.10 	a drug is the lowest of the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) shall be used 
33.11 	to determine the ingredient cost of a drug; the Minnesota actual acquisition cost (MNAAC), 
33.12 	as defined in paragraph (i); or the maximum allowable cost. For drugs for which a NADAC, 
33.13 	MNAAC, or maximum allowable cost is not reported, the commissioner shall estimate the 
33.14 	ingredient cost at the wholesale acquisition cost minus two percent. The ingredient cost of 
33.15 	a drug for a provider participating in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program shall be either
33.16 	the 340B Drug Pricing Program ceiling price established by the Health Resources and 
33.17 	Services Administration or, the NADAC, the MNAAC, or the maximum allowable cost,
33.18 	whichever is lower lowest. Wholesale acquisition cost is defined as the manufacturer's list 
33.19 	price for a drug or biological to wholesalers or direct purchasers in the United States, not 
33.20 	including prompt pay or other discounts, rebates, or reductions in price, for the most recent 
33.21 	month for which information is available, as reported in wholesale price guides or other 
33.22 	publications of drug or biological pricing data. The maximum allowable cost of a multisource
33.23 	drug may be set by the commissioner and it shall be comparable to the actual acquisition 
33.24 	cost of the drug product and no higher than the NADAC of the generic product. Establishment 
33.25 	of the amount of payment for drugs shall not be subject to the requirements of the 
33.26 	Administrative Procedure Act.
33.27 	(b) Pharmacies dispensing prescriptions to residents of long-term care facilities using 
33.28 	an automated drug distribution system meeting the requirements of section 151.58, or a 
33.29 	packaging system meeting the packaging standards set forth in Minnesota Rules, part 
33.30 	6800.2700, that govern the return of unused drugs to the pharmacy for reuse, may employ 
33.31 	retrospective billing for prescription drugs dispensed to long-term care facility residents. A 
33.32 	retrospectively billing pharmacy must submit a claim only for the quantity of medication 
33.33 	used by the enrolled recipient during the defined billing period. A retrospectively billing 
33.34 	pharmacy must use a billing period not less than one calendar month or 30 days.
34.1 	(c) A pharmacy provider using packaging that meets the standards set forth in Minnesota 
34.2 	Rules, part 6800.2700, is required to credit the department for the actual acquisition cost 
34.3 	of all unused drugs that are eligible for reuse, unless the pharmacy is using retrospective 
34.4 	billing. The commissioner may permit the drug clozapine to be dispensed in a quantity that 
34.5 	is less than a 30-day supply.
34.6 	(d) If a pharmacy dispenses a multisource drug, the ingredient cost shall be the lesser 
34.7 	of the NADAC of the generic product, the MNAAC of the generic product, or the maximum 
34.8 	allowable cost of the generic product established by the commissioner unless prior 
34.9 	authorization for the brand name product has been granted according to the criteria 
34.10 	established by the Drug Formulary Committee as required by subdivision 13f, paragraph 
34.11 	(a), and the prescriber has indicated "dispense as written" on the prescription in a manner 
34.12 	consistent with section 151.21, subdivision 2. If prior authorization is granted, the ingredient 
34.13 	cost shall be the lesser of the NADAC of the brand name product, the MNAAC of the brand 
34.14 	name product, or the maximum allowable cost of the brand name product. A generic product 
34.15 	includes a generic drug, an authorized generic drug, and a biosimilar biological product as 
34.16 	defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 423.4. A brand name product 
34.17 	includes a brand name drug, a brand name biological product, and an unbranded biological 
34.18 	product as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 423.4.
34.19 	(e) The basis for determining the amount of payment for drugs administered in an 
34.20 	outpatient setting shall be the lower of the usual and customary cost submitted by the 
34.21 	provider, 106 percent of the average sales price as determined by the United States 
34.22 	Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to title XVIII, section 1847a of the 
34.23 	federal Social Security Act, the specialty pharmacy rate MNAAC, or the maximum allowable 
34.24 	cost set by the commissioner. If average sales price is, MNAAC, and the maximum allowable 
34.25 	cost are unavailable, the amount of payment must be lower of the usual and customary cost 
34.26 	submitted by the provider, or the wholesale acquisition cost, the specialty pharmacy rate, 
34.27 	or the maximum allowable cost set by the commissioner. The commissioner shall discount 
34.28 	the payment rate for drugs obtained through the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program by 
34.29 	28.6 percent. The payment for drugs administered in an outpatient setting shall be made to 
34.30 	the administering facility or practitioner. A retail or specialty pharmacy dispensing a drug 
34.31 	for administration in an outpatient setting is not eligible for direct reimbursement.
34.32 	(f) The commissioner may establish maximum allowable cost rates for specialty pharmacy 
34.33 	products that are lower than the ingredient cost formulas specified in paragraph (a). The 
34.34 	commissioner may require individuals enrolled in the health care programs administered 
34.35 	by the department to obtain specialty pharmacy products from providers with whom the 
35.1 	commissioner has negotiated lower reimbursement rates. Specialty pharmacy products are 
35.2 	defined as those used by a small number of recipients or recipients with complex and chronic 
35.3 	diseases that require expensive and challenging drug regimens. Examples of these conditions 
35.4 	include, but are not limited to: multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, transplantation, hepatitis C, 
35.5 	growth hormone deficiency, Crohn's Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain forms of 
35.6 	cancer. Specialty pharmaceutical products include injectable and infusion therapies, 
35.7 	biotechnology drugs, antihemophilic factor products, high-cost therapies, and therapies that 
35.8 	require complex care. The commissioner shall consult with the Formulary Committee to 
35.9 	develop a list of specialty pharmacy products subject to maximum allowable cost 
35.10 	reimbursement. In consulting with the Formulary Committee in developing this list, the 
35.11 	commissioner shall take into consideration the population served by specialty pharmacy 
35.12 	products, the current delivery system and standard of care in the state, and access to care 
35.13 	issues. The commissioner shall have the discretion to adjust the maximum allowable cost 
35.14 	to prevent access to care issues.
35.15 	(g) (f) Home infusion therapy services provided by home infusion therapy pharmacies 
35.16 	must be paid at rates according to subdivision 8d.
35.17 	(h) (g) The commissioner shall contract with a vendor to conduct a cost of dispensing 
35.18 	survey for all pharmacies that are physically located in the state of Minnesota that dispense 
35.19 	outpatient drugs under medical assistance. The commissioner shall ensure that the vendor 
35.20 	has prior experience in conducting cost of dispensing surveys. Each pharmacy enrolled with 
35.21 	the department to dispense outpatient prescription drugs to fee-for-service members must 
35.22 	respond to the cost of dispensing survey. The commissioner may sanction a pharmacy under 
35.23 	section 256B.064 for failure to respond. The commissioner shall require the vendor to 
35.24 	measure a single statewide cost of dispensing for specialty prescription drugs and a single 
35.25 	statewide cost of dispensing for nonspecialty prescription drugs for all responding pharmacies 
35.26 	to measure the mean, mean weighted by total prescription volume, mean weighted by 
35.27 	medical assistance prescription volume, median, median weighted by total prescription 
35.28 	volume, and median weighted by total medical assistance prescription volume. The 
35.29 	commissioner shall post a copy of the final cost of dispensing survey report on the 
35.30 	department's website. The initial survey must be completed no later than January 1, 2021, 
35.31 	and repeated every three years. The commissioner shall provide a summary of the results 
35.32 	of each cost of dispensing survey and provide recommendations for any changes to the 
35.33 	dispensing fee to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees 
35.34 	with jurisdiction over medical assistance pharmacy reimbursement. Notwithstanding section 
35.35 	256.01, subdivision 42, this paragraph does not expire.
36.1 	(i) (h) The commissioner shall increase the ingredient cost reimbursement calculated in 
36.2 	paragraphs (a) and (f) (e) by 1.8 percent the amount of the wholesale drug distributor tax
36.3 	for prescription and nonprescription drugs subject to the wholesale drug distributor tax 
36.4 	under section 295.52.
36.5 	(i) The commissioner shall contract with a vendor to create the MNAAC through a 
36.6 	periodic survey of enrolled pharmacy providers. Each pharmacy enrolled with the department 
36.7 	to dispense outpatient prescription drugs must respond to the periodic surveys. The 
36.8 	commissioner may sanction a pharmacy under section 256B.064 for failure to respond. The 
36.9 	current MNAAC rates must be publicly available on the department's or vendor's website. 
36.10 	The commissioner must require that the MNAAC is measured and calculated at least 
36.11 	quarterly, but the MNAAC can be measured and calculated more frequently. The 
36.12 	commissioner must ensure that the vendor has an appeal process available to providers for 
36.13 	the time between the measurement and calculation of the periodically updated MNAAC 
36.14 	rates if price fluctuations result in a MNAAC that is lower than what enrolled providers can 
36.15 	purchase a drug for. Establishment of the MNAAC and survey reporting requirements are 
36.16 	not subject to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. Data provided by 
36.17 	pharmacies for the measurement and calculation of the MNAAC is nonpublic data as defined 
36.18 	under section 13.02, subdivision 9.

36.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2027, or upon federal approval, 
36.20 	whichever is later. The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes 
36.21 	when federal approval is obtained.

36.22 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.064, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
36.23 		Subd. 1a.Grounds for sanctions. (a) The commissioner may impose sanctions against 
36.24 	any individual or entity that receives payments from medical assistance or provides goods 
36.25 	or services for which payment is made from medical assistance for any of the following: 
36.26 	(1) fraud, theft, or abuse in connection with the provision of goods and services to recipients 
36.27 	of public assistance for which payment is made from medical assistance; (2) a pattern of 
36.28 	presentment of false or duplicate claims or claims for services not medically necessary; (3) 
36.29 	a pattern of making false statements of material facts for the purpose of obtaining greater 
36.30 	compensation than that to which the individual or entity is legally entitled; (4) suspension 
36.31 	or termination as a Medicare vendor; (5) refusal to grant the state agency access during 
36.32 	regular business hours to examine all records necessary to disclose the extent of services 
36.33 	provided to program recipients and appropriateness of claims for payment; (6) failure to 
36.34 	repay an overpayment or a fine finally established under this section; (7) failure to correct 
37.1 	errors in the maintenance of health service or financial records for which a fine was imposed 
37.2 	or after issuance of a warning by the commissioner; and (8) any reason for which an 
37.3 	individual or entity could be excluded from participation in the Medicare program under 
37.4 	section 1128, 1128A, or 1866(b)(2) of the Social Security Act. For the purposes of this 
37.5 	section, goods or services for which payment is made from medical assistance includes but 
37.6 	is not limited to care and services identified in section 256B.0625 or provided pursuant to 
37.7 	any federally approved waiver.
37.8 	(b) The commissioner may impose sanctions against a pharmacy provider for failure to 
37.9 	respond to a cost of dispensing survey under section 256B.0625, subdivision 13e, paragraph 
37.10 	(h).
37.11 	(c) The commissioner may impose sanctions against a pharmacy provider for failure to 
37.12 	respond to a Minnesota drug acquisition cost survey under section 256B.0625, subdivision 
37.13 	13e, paragraph (i).

37.14 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2027, or upon federal approval, 
37.15 	whichever is later. The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes 
37.16 	when federal approval is obtained.

37.17 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.69, subdivision 6d, is amended to read:
37.18 		Subd. 6d.Prescription drugs. (a) The commissioner may exclude or modify coverage 
37.19 	for prescription drugs from the prepaid managed care contracts entered into under this 
37.20 	section in order to increase savings to the state by collecting additional prescription drug 
37.21 	rebates.
37.22 	(b) The contracts must maintain incentives for the managed care plan to manage drug 
37.23 	costs and utilization and may require that the managed care plans maintain an open drug 
37.24 	formulary. In order to manage drug costs and utilization, the contracts may authorize the 
37.25 	managed care plans to use preferred drug lists and prior authorization. The contracts must 
37.26 	require that the managed care plans enter into contracts with the state pharmacy benefit 
37.27 	manager under section 256B.696 to administer the pharmacy benefit.
37.28 	(c) This subdivision is contingent on federal approval of the managed care contract 
37.29 	changes and the collection of additional prescription drug rebates.

38.1 	Sec. 5. [256B.696] PRESCRIPTION DRUGS; STATE PHARMACY BENEFIT 
38.2 	MANAGER.
38.3 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
38.4 	the meanings given.
38.5 	(b) "Managed care enrollees" means medical assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees 
38.6 	receiving coverage from managed care plans.
38.7 	(c) "Managed care plans" means health plans and county-based purchasing organizations 
38.8 	providing coverage to medical assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees under the managed 
38.9 	care delivery system.
38.10 	(d) "State pharmacy benefit manager" means the pharmacy benefit manager that is a 
38.11 	prepaid ambulatory plan as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 438.2, 
38.12 	selected pursuant to the procurement process in subdivision 2.
38.13 		Subd. 2.Procurement process. (a) The commissioner must, through a competitive 
38.14 	procurement process in compliance with paragraph (b), select a single pharmacy benefit 
38.15 	manager to comply with the requirements set forth in subdivision 3.
38.16 	(b) The commissioner must, when selecting the single pharmacy benefit manager, do 
38.17 	the following:
38.18 	(1) accept applications for entities seeking to become the single pharmacy benefit 
38.19 	manager;
38.20 	(2) establish eligibility criteria an entity must meet in order to become the single pharmacy 
38.21 	benefit manager; and
38.22 	(3) enter into a master contract with a single pharmacy benefit manager.
38.23 	(c) The contract required under paragraph (b), clause (3), must include a prohibition on:
38.24 	(1) the single pharmacy benefit manager requiring an enrollee to obtain a drug from a 
38.25 	pharmacy owned or otherwise affiliated with the single pharmacy benefit manager; and
38.26 	(2) paying or reimbursing a pharmacy or pharmacist for the ingredient drug product 
38.27 	component of pharmacist services, including a prescription drug, less than the lesser of the 
38.28 	national average drug acquisition cost; the Minnesota actual acquisition cost (MNAAC) 
38.29 	under section 256B.0625, subdivision 13e, paragraph (i); or the maximum allowable cost 
38.30 	as defined in section 62W.08, of that pharmacy service or prescription drug, or, if the national 
38.31 	average drug acquisition cost is unavailable, the wholesale acquisition cost minus two 
38.32 	percent at the time the drug is administered or dispensed, plus a professional dispensing fee 
39.1 	equal to the amount of the dispensing fee if it were determined pursuant to section 256B.0625, 
39.2 	subdivision 13e.
39.3 	(d) Applicants for the single pharmacy benefit manager must disclose to the commissioner 
39.4 	the following during the procurement process:
39.5 	(1) any activity, policy, practice, contract, or arrangement of the single pharmacy benefit 
39.6 	manager that may directly or indirectly present any conflict of interest with the pharmacy 
39.7 	benefit manager's relationship with or obligation to the Department of Human Services, a 
39.8 	health plan company, or county-based purchasing organization;
39.9 	(2) all common ownership, members of a board of directors, managers, or other control 
39.10 	of the pharmacy benefit manager or any of the pharmacy benefit manager's affiliated 
39.11 	companies with:
39.12 	(i) a health plan company administering the medical assistance or MinnesotaCare benefits 
39.13 	or an affiliate of the health plan company;
39.14 	(ii) a county-based purchasing organization;
39.15 	(iii) an entity that contracts on behalf of a pharmacy or any pharmacy services 
39.16 	administration organization and its affiliates;
39.17 	(iv) a drug wholesaler or distributor and its affiliates;
39.18 	(v) a third-party payer and its affiliates; or
39.19 	(vi) a pharmacy and its affiliates that are enrolled to provide medical assistance or 
39.20 	MinnesotaCare;
39.21 	(3) any direct or indirect fees, charges, or any kind of assessments imposed by the 
39.22 	pharmacy benefit manager on pharmacies licensed in this state with which the pharmacy 
39.23 	benefit manager shares common ownership, management, or control, or that are owned, 
39.24 	managed, or controlled by any of the pharmacy benefit manager's affiliated companies;
39.25 	(4) any direct or indirect fees, charges, or any kind of assessments imposed by the 
39.26 	pharmacy benefit manager on pharmacies licensed in this state; and
39.27 	(5) any financial terms and arrangements between the pharmacy benefit manager and a 
39.28 	prescription drug manufacturer or labeler, including formulary management, drug substitution 
39.29 	programs, educational support claims processing, or data sales fees.
39.30 		Subd. 3.Drug coverage. (a) The commissioner may require the pharmacy benefit 
39.31 	manager to modify utilization review limitations, requirements, and strategies imposed by 
39.32 	managed care plans on prescription drug coverage.
40.1 	(b) The state pharmacy benefit manager is responsible for processing all point of sale 
40.2 	outpatient pharmacy claims under the managed care delivery system. Managed care plans 
40.3 	must use the state pharmacy benefit manager pursuant to the terms of the master contract 
40.4 	required under subdivision 2, paragraph (b), clause (3). The pharmacy benefit manager 
40.5 	selected is the exclusive pharmacy benefit manager used by health plan companies and 
40.6 	county-based purchasing organizations when providing coverage to enrollees. The 
40.7 	commissioner may require the managed care plans and pharmacy benefit manager to directly 
40.8 	exchange data and files for members enrolled with managed care plans.
40.9 	(c) All payment arrangements between the Department of Human Services, managed 
40.10 	care plans, and the state pharmacy benefit manager must comply with state and federal 
40.11 	statutes, regulations adopted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and any 
40.12 	other agreement between the department and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 
40.13 	The commissioner may change a payment arrangement to comply with this paragraph.
40.14 	(d) The commissioner must administer and oversee this section to:
40.15 	(1) ensure proper administration of prescription drug benefits for managed care enrollees; 
40.16 	and
40.17 	(2) increase the transparency of prescription drug prices and other information for the 
40.18 	benefit of pharmacies.
40.19 		Subd. 4.Prescription drug disclosures. (a) The state pharmacy benefit manager must, 
40.20 	on request from the commissioner, disclose to the commissioner all sources of payment the 
40.21 	state pharmacy benefit manager receives for prescribed drugs, including any financial 
40.22 	benefits, drug rebates, discounts, credits, clawbacks, fees, grants, chargebacks, 
40.23 	reimbursements, or other payments related to services provided for a managed care plan.
40.24 	(b) Each managed care plan must disclose to the commissioner, in the format specified 
40.25 	by the commissioner, the entity's administrative costs associated with providing pharmacy 
40.26 	services under the managed care delivery system.
40.27 	(c) The state pharmacy benefit manager must provide a written quarterly report to the 
40.28 	commissioner containing the following information from the immediately preceding quarter:
40.29 	(1) the prices the state pharmacy benefit manager negotiated for prescribed drugs under 
40.30 	the managed care delivery system. The price must include any rebates the state pharmacy 
40.31 	benefit manager received from the drug manufacturer;
40.32 	(2) any rebate amounts the state pharmacy benefit manager passed on to individual 
40.33 	pharmacies;
41.1 	(3) any changes to the information previously disclosed under subdivision 2, paragraph 
41.2 	(d); and
41.3 	(4) any other information required by the commissioner, including unredacted copies 
41.4 	of contracts between the pharmacy benefit manager and enrolled pharmacies.
41.5 	(d) The commissioner may request and collect additional information and clinical data 
41.6 	from the state pharmacy benefit manager.
41.7 	(e) At the time of contract execution, renewal, or modification, the commissioner must 
41.8 	modify the reporting requirements under its managed care contracts as necessary to meet 
41.9 	the requirements of this subdivision.
41.10 		Subd. 5.Program authority. (a) To accomplish the requirements of subdivision 3, the 
41.11 	commissioner, in consultation with the Formulary Committee established under section 
41.12 	256B.0625, subdivision 13c, has the authority to:
41.13 	(1) adopt or develop a preferred drug list for managed care plans;
41.14 	(2) at the commissioner's discretion, engage in price negotiations with prescription drug 
41.15 	manufacturers, wholesalers, or group purchasing organizations in place of the state pharmacy 
41.16 	benefit manager to obtain price discounts and rebates for prescription drugs for managed 
41.17 	care enrollees; and
41.18 	(3) develop and manage a drug formulary for managed care plans.
41.19 	(b) The commissioner may contract with one or more entities to perform any of the 
41.20 	functions described in paragraph (a).
41.21 		Subd. 6.Pharmacies. The commissioner may review contracts between the state 
41.22 	pharmacy benefit manager and pharmacies for compliance with this section and the master 
41.23 	contract required under subdivision 2, paragraph (b), clause (3). The commissioner may 
41.24 	amend any term or condition of a contract that does not comply with this section or the 
41.25 	master contract.
41.26 		Subd. 7.Federal approval. The commissioner must seek any necessary federal approvals 
41.27 	to implement this section.

41.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. Subdivisions 1 to 6 are effective January 1, 2027, or upon federal 
41.29 	approval, whichever is later. The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor 
41.30 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained. Subdivision 7 is effective the day following 
41.31 	final enactment.

42.1 	Sec. 6. DIRECTION TO THE COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES; 
42.2 	DIRECTED PHARMACY DISPENSING PAYMENTS.
 42.3 	(a) For plan year 2026, the commissioner shall provide a directed pharmacy dispensing 
42.4 	payment of $1.84 per filled prescription under the medical assistance program to eligible 
42.5 	outpatient retail pharmacies in Minnesota to improve and maintain access to pharmaceutical 
42.6 	services in rural and underserved areas of the state. Managed care and county-based 
42.7 	purchasing plans delivering services under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.69 or 256B.692, 
42.8 	and any pharmacy benefit managers under contract with these entities, must pay the directed 
42.9 	pharmacy dispensing payment to eligible outpatient retail pharmacies for drugs dispensed 
42.10 	to medical assistance enrollees. The directed pharmacy dispensing payment is in addition 
42.11 	to, and must not supplant or reduce, any other dispensing fee paid by these entities to the 
42.12 	pharmacy. Entities paying the directed pharmacy dispensing payment must not reduce other 
42.13 	payments to the pharmacy as a result of payment of the directed pharmacy dispensing 
42.14 	payment.
42.15 	(b) For purposes of this section, "eligible outpatient retail pharmacy" means an outpatient 
42.16 	retail pharmacy licensed under chapter 151 that is not owned, either directly or indirectly 
42.17 	or through an affiliate or subsidiary, by a pharmacy benefit manager licensed under chapter 
42.18 	62W or a health carrier, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 62A.011, subdivision 2, 
42.19 	and that:
42.20 	(1) is located in a medically underserved area or primarily serves a medically underserved 
42.21 	population, as defined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services 
42.22 	Health Resources and Services Administration under United States Code, title 42, section 
42.23 	254; or
42.24 	(2) shares common ownership with 13 or fewer Minnesota pharmacies.
42.25 	(c) In order to receive the directed pharmacy dispensing payment, a pharmacy must 
42.26 	submit to the commissioner a form, developed by the commissioner, attesting that the 
42.27 	pharmacy meets the requirements of paragraph (b).
42.28 	(d) The commissioner shall set and adjust the amount of the directed pharmacy dispensing 
42.29 	payment to reflect the available state and federal funding.
42.30 	(e) Managed care and county-based purchasing plans, and any pharmacy benefit managers 
42.31 	under contract with these entities, shall pay the directed pharmacy dispensing payment to 
42.32 	eligible outpatient retail pharmacies. The commissioner shall monitor the effect of this 
42.33 	requirement on access to pharmaceutical services in rural and underserved areas of the state. 
42.34 	If, for any contract year, federal approval is not received for this section, the commissioner 
43.1 	must adjust the capitation rates paid to managed care plans and county-based purchasing 
43.2 	plans for that contract year to reflect removal of this section. Contracts between managed 
43.3 	care plans and county-based purchasing plans, and any pharmacy benefit managers under 
43.4 	contract with these entities, and providers to whom this section applies, must allow recovery 
43.5 	of payments from those providers if capitation rates are adjusted in accordance with this 
43.6 	paragraph. Payment recoveries must not exceed the amount equal to any increase in rates 
43.7 	that results from this section. This section expires if federal approval is not received for this 
43.8 	section at any time.

43.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, 
43.10 	whichever is later. The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes 
43.11 	when federal approval is obtained.

43.12 	ARTICLE 5
43.13 	HEALTH CARE FINANCE

43.14 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62A.673, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
43.15 		Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subdivision 
43.16 	have the meanings given.
43.17 	(b) "Distant site" means a site at which a health care provider is located while providing 
43.18 	health care services or consultations by means of telehealth.
43.19 	(c) "Health care provider" means a health care professional who is licensed or registered 
43.20 	by the state to perform health care services within the provider's scope of practice and in 
43.21 	accordance with state law. A health care provider includes a mental health professional 
43.22 	under section 245I.04, subdivision 2; a mental health practitioner under section 245I.04, 
43.23 	subdivision 4; a clinical trainee under section 245I.04, subdivision 6; a treatment coordinator 
43.24 	under section 245G.11, subdivision 7; an alcohol and drug counselor under section 245G.11, 
43.25 	subdivision 5; and a recovery peer under section 245G.11, subdivision 8.
43.26 	(d) "Health carrier" has the meaning given in section 62A.011, subdivision 2.
43.27 	(e) "Health plan" has the meaning given in section 62A.011, subdivision 3. Health plan 
43.28 	includes dental plans as defined in section 62Q.76, subdivision 3, but does not include dental 
43.29 	plans that provide indemnity-based benefits, regardless of expenses incurred, and are designed 
43.30 	to pay benefits directly to the policy holder.
43.31 	(f) "Originating site" means a site at which a patient is located at the time health care 
43.32 	services are provided to the patient by means of telehealth. For purposes of store-and-forward 
44.1 	technology, the originating site also means the location at which a health care provider 
44.2 	transfers or transmits information to the distant site.
44.3 	(g) "Store-and-forward technology" means the asynchronous electronic transfer or 
44.4 	transmission of a patient's medical information or data from an originating site to a distant 
44.5 	site for the purposes of diagnostic and therapeutic assistance in the care of a patient.
44.6 	(h) "Telehealth" means the delivery of health care services or consultations through the 
44.7 	use of real time two-way interactive audio and visual communications to provide or support 
44.8 	health care delivery and facilitate the assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, 
44.9 	education, and care management of a patient's health care. Telehealth includes the application 
44.10 	of secure video conferencing, store-and-forward technology, and synchronous interactions 
44.11 	between a patient located at an originating site and a health care provider located at a distant 
44.12 	site. Until July 1, 2025 2028, telehealth also includes audio-only communication between 
44.13 	a health care provider and a patient in accordance with subdivision 6, paragraph (b) if the 
44.14 	communication is a scheduled appointment and the standard of care for that particular 
44.15 	service can be met through the use of audio-only communication or if, for substance use 
44.16 	disorder treatment services and mental health care services delivered through telehealth by 
44.17 	means of audio-only communication, the communication was initiated by the enrollee while 
44.18 	in an emergency or crisis situation and a scheduled appointment was not possible due to 
44.19 	the need of an immediate response. Telehealth does not include communication between 
44.20 	health care providers that consists solely of a telephone conversation, email, or facsimile 
44.21 	transmission. Telehealth does not include communication between a health care provider 
44.22 	and a patient that consists solely of an email or facsimile transmission. Telehealth does not 
44.23 	include telemonitoring services as defined in paragraph (i).
44.24 	(i) "Telemonitoring services" means the remote monitoring of clinical data related to 
44.25 	the enrollee's vital signs or biometric data by a monitoring device or equipment that transmits 
44.26 	the data electronically to a health care provider for analysis. Telemonitoring is intended to 
44.27 	collect an enrollee's health-related data for the purpose of assisting a health care provider 
44.28 	in assessing and monitoring the enrollee's medical condition or status.

44.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2025.

44.30 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 174.30, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
44.31 		Subd. 3.Other standards; wheelchair securement; protected transport. (a) A special 
44.32 	transportation service that transports individuals occupying wheelchairs is subject to the 
44.33 	provisions of sections 299A.11 to 299A.17 concerning wheelchair securement devices. The 
44.34 	commissioners of transportation and public safety shall cooperate in the enforcement of 
45.1 	this section and sections 299A.11 to 299A.17 so that a single inspection is sufficient to 
45.2 	ascertain compliance with sections 299A.11 to 299A.17 and with the standards adopted 
45.3 	under this section. Representatives of the Department of Transportation may inspect 
45.4 	wheelchair securement devices in vehicles operated by special transportation service 
45.5 	providers to determine compliance with sections 299A.11 to 299A.17 and to issue certificates 
45.6 	under section 299A.14, subdivision 4.
45.7 	(b) In place of a certificate issued under section 299A.14, the commissioner may issue 
45.8 	a decal under subdivision 4 for a vehicle equipped with a wheelchair securement device if 
45.9 	the device complies with sections 299A.11 to 299A.17 and the decal displays the information 
45.10 	in section 299A.14, subdivision 4.
45.11 	(c) For vehicles designated as protected transport under section 256B.0625, subdivision 
45.12 	17, paragraph (l) (n), the commissioner of transportation, during the commissioner's 
45.13 	inspection, shall check to ensure the safety provisions contained in that paragraph are in 
45.14 	working order.

45.15 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256.9657, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
45.16 		Subd. 2.Hospital surcharge. (a) Effective October 1, 1992, each Minnesota hospital 
45.17 	except facilities of the federal Indian Health Service and regional treatment centers shall 
45.18 	pay to the medical assistance account health care access fund a surcharge equal to 1.4 percent 
45.19 	of net patient revenues excluding net Medicare revenues reported by that provider to the 
45.20 	health care cost information system according to the schedule in subdivision 4.
45.21 	(b) Effective July 1, 1994, the surcharge under paragraph (a) is increased to 1.56 percent.
45.22 	(c) Notwithstanding the Medicare cost finding and allowable cost principles, the hospital 
45.23 	surcharge is not an allowable cost for purposes of rate setting under sections 256.9685 to 
45.24 	256.9695.

45.25 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256.9657, is amended by adding a subdivision 
45.26 	to read:
45.27 		Subd. 2b.Hospital assessment. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms 
45.28 	have the meanings given:
45.29 	(1) "eligible hospital" means a hospital:
45.30 	(i) licensed under section 144.50;
45.31 	(ii) located in Minnesota; and
46.1 	(iii) with a Medicare cost report filed and showing in the Healthcare Cost Report 
46.2 	Information System (HCRIS);
46.3 	(2) "net outpatient revenue" means the value to reflect total outpatient revenue less 
46.4 	Medicare revenue as calculated from Worksheet G of the hospital's Medicare cost report; 
46.5 	and
46.6 	(3) "total patient days" means the value to reflect total hospital inpatient days as reported 
46.7 	on Worksheet S-3 of the hospital's Medicare cost report.
46.8 	(b) Subject to paragraphs (k) to (n), each eligible hospital must pay assessments to the 
46.9 	hospital directed payment program account, with an aggregate annual assessment amount 
46.10 	equal to the sum of the following:
46.11 	(1) $120.22 multiplied by total patient days; and
46.12 	(2) 5.96 percent of the hospital's net outpatient revenue.
46.13 	(c) The assessment amount for calendar years 2026 and 2027 must be based on the total 
46.14 	patient days and net outpatient revenue reflected on an eligible hospital's Medicare cost 
46.15 	report as follows:
46.16 	(1) an eligible hospital with a fiscal year ending on March 31 or June 30 must use data 
46.17 	from a cost report from hospital fiscal year 2022; and
46.18 	(2) an eligible hospital with a fiscal year ending on September 30 or December 31 must 
46.19 	use data from a cost report from hospital fiscal year 2021.
46.20 	The annual assessment amount for calendar years after 2027 must be set for a two-year 
46.21 	period and must be based on the total patient days and net outpatient revenue reflected on 
46.22 	an eligible hospital's most recent Medicare cost report filed and showing in HCRIS as of 
46.23 	August 1 of the year prior to the subsequent two-year period.
46.24 	(d) The commissioner may, after consultation with the Minnesota Hospital Association, 
46.25 	modify the rates of assessment in paragraph (b) as necessary to comply with federal law, 
46.26 	obtain or maintain a waiver under Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 433.72, or 
46.27 	otherwise maximize under this section federal financial participation for medical assistance.
46.28 	(e) Eligible hospitals must pay the annual assessment amount under paragraph (b) to the 
46.29 	commissioner by paying four equal, quarterly assessments. Eligible hospitals must pay the 
46.30 	quarterly assessments by January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 each year. Assessments 
46.31 	must be paid in the form and manner specified by the commissioner. An eligible hospital 
47.1 	is prohibited from paying a quarterly assessment until the eligible hospital has received the 
47.2 	applicable invoice under paragraph (f).
47.3 	(f) The commissioner must provide eligible hospitals with an invoice by December 1 
47.4 	for the assessment due January 1, March 1 for the assessment due April 1, June 1 for the 
47.5 	assessment due July 1, and September 1 for the assessment due October 1 each year.
47.6 	(g) The commissioner must notify each eligible hospital of its estimated annual assessment 
47.7 	amount for the subsequent calendar year by October 15 each year.
47.8 	(h) If any of the dates for assessments or invoices in paragraphs (d) to (f) fall on a holiday, 
47.9 	the applicable date is the next business day.
47.10 	(i) A hospital that has merged with another hospital must have the hospital's assessment 
47.11 	revised at the start of the first full fiscal year after the merger is complete. A closed hospital 
47.12 	is retroactively responsible for assessments owed for services provided through the final 
47.13 	date of operations.
47.14 	(j) If the commissioner determines that a hospital has underpaid or overpaid an 
47.15 	assessment, the commissioner must notify the hospital of the unpaid assessment or of any 
47.16 	refund due.
47.17 	(k) Revenue from an assessment under this subdivision must only be used by the 
47.18 	commissioner to pay the nonfederal share of the directed payment program under section 
47.19 	256B.1974.
47.20 	(l) The commissioner is prohibited from collecting any assessment under this subdivision 
47.21 	during any period of time when:
47.22 	(1) federal financial participation is unavailable or disallowed, or if the approved federal 
47.23 	financial participation for the directed payment under section 256B.1974 is less than 51 
47.24 	percent; or
47.25 	(2) a directed payment under section 256B.1974 is not approved by the Centers for 
47.26 	Medicare and Medicaid Services.
47.27 	(m) The commissioner must make the following discounts from the inpatient portion of 
47.28 	the assessment under paragraph (b), clause (1), in the stated amount or as necessary to 
47.29 	achieve federal approval of the assessment in this section:
47.30 	(1) Hennepin Healthcare, with a discount of 25 percent off the inpatient portion of the 
47.31 	assessment rate;
48.1 	(2) Mayo Rochester, with a discount of ten percent off the inpatient portion of the 
48.2 	assessment rate;
48.3 	(3) Gillette Children's Hospital, with a discount of 90 percent off the inpatient portion 
48.4 	of the assessment rate;
48.5 	(4) each hospital not included in another discount category, and with greater than 
48.6 	$200,000,000 in total medical assistance inpatient and outpatient revenue in fee-for-service 
48.7 	and managed care, as reported in the state fiscal year 2022 Medicare cost report, with a 
48.8 	discount of five percent off the inpatient portion of the assessment rate; and
48.9 	(5) a discount off the inpatient portion of the assessment rate, as is necessary, in order 
48.10 	to ensure that no single hospital is responsible for greater than 12 percent of the total 
48.11 	assessment annually collected statewide.
48.12 	(n) The commissioner must make the following discounts from the outpatient portion 
48.13 	of the assessment under paragraph (b), clause (2), in the stated amount or as necessary to 
48.14 	achieve federal approval of the assessment in this section:
48.15 	(1) each critical access hospital or independent hospital located outside a city of the first 
48.16 	class and paid under the Medicare prospective payment system, with a discount of 40 percent 
48.17 	off the outpatient portion of the assessment rate;
48.18 	(2) Gillette Children's Hospital, with a discount of 90 percent off the outpatient portion 
48.19 	of the assessment rate;
48.20 	(3) Hennepin Healthcare, with a discount of 60 percent off the outpatient portion of the 
48.21 	assessment rate;
48.22 	(4) Mayo Rochester, with a discount of 20 percent off the outpatient portion of the 
48.23 	assessment rate; and
48.24 	(5) each hospital not included in another discount category, and with greater than 
48.25 	$200,000,000 in total medical assistance inpatient and outpatient revenue in fee-for-service 
48.26 	and managed care, as reported in the state fiscal year 2022 Medicare cost report, with a 
48.27 	discount of ten percent off the outpatient portion of the assessment rate.
48.28 	(o) The commissioner must fully exempt the following from the assessment in this 
48.29 	section:
48.30 	(1) federal Indian Health Service facilities;
48.31 	(2) state-owned or state-operated regional treatment centers and all state-operated services;
48.32 	(3) federal Veterans Administration Medical Centers; and
49.1 	(4) long-term acute care hospitals.
49.2 	(p) If the federal share of the hospital directed payment program under section 256B.1974 
49.3 	is increased as the result of an increase to the federal medical assistance percentage, the 
49.4 	commissioner must reduce the assessment on a uniform percentage basis across eligible 
49.5 	hospitals on which the assessment is imposed, such that the aggregate amount collected 
49.6 	from hospitals under this subdivision does not exceed the total amount needed to maintain 
49.7 	the same aggregate state and federal funding level for the directed payments authorized by 
49.8 	section 256B.1974.
49.9 	(q) Hospitals subject to the assessment under this subdivision must submit to the 
49.10 	commissioner on an annual basis, in the form and manner specified by the commissioner 
49.11 	in consultation with the Minnesota Hospital Association, all documentation necessary to 
49.12 	determine the assessment amounts under this subdivision.

49.13 	EFFECTIVE DATE. (a) This section is effective the later of January 1, 2026, or federal 
49.14 	approval of all of the following:
49.15 	(1) the waiver for the assessment required under this section; and
49.16 	(2) the amendments in this act to Minnesota Statutes, sections 256B.1973 and 256B.1974.
49.17 	(b) The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes when federal 
49.18 	approval for all amendments set forth in paragraph (a) is obtained.

49.19 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256.969, subdivision 2f, is amended to read:
49.20 		Subd. 2f.Alternate inpatient payment rate. (a) Effective January 1, 2022, for a hospital 
49.21 	eligible to receive disproportionate share hospital payments under subdivision 9, paragraph 
49.22 	(d), clause (6), the commissioner shall reduce the amount calculated under subdivision 9, 
49.23 	paragraph (d), clause (6), by 99 percent and compute an alternate inpatient payment rate. 
49.24 	The alternate payment rate shall be structured to target a total aggregate reimbursement 
49.25 	amount equal to what the hospital would have received for providing fee-for-service inpatient 
49.26 	services under this section to patients enrolled in medical assistance had the hospital received 
49.27 	the entire amount calculated under subdivision 9, paragraph (d), clause (6). This paragraph 
49.28 	expires when paragraph (b) becomes effective.
49.29 	(b) For hospitals eligible to receive payment under section 256B.1973 or 256B.1974 
49.30 	and meeting the criteria in subdivision 9, paragraph (d), the commissioner shall reduce the 
49.31 	amount calculated under subdivision 9, paragraph (d), by one percent and compute an 
49.32 	alternate inpatient payment rate. The alternate payment rate shall be structured to target a 
49.33 	total aggregate reimbursement amount equal to what the hospital would have received for 
50.1 	providing fee-for-service inpatient services under this section to patients enrolled in medical 
50.2 	assistance had the hospital received 99 percent of the entire amount calculated under 
50.3 	subdivision 9, paragraph (d). Hospitals that do not meet federal requirements for Medicaid 
50.4 	disproportionate share hospitals are not eligible for this alternate payment.

50.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. (a) Paragraph (b) of this section is effective the later of January 
50.6 	1, 2026, or federal approval of all of the following:
50.7 	(1) this section; and
50.8 	(2) the amendments in this act to Minnesota Statutes, sections 256B.1973 and 256B.1974.
50.9 	(b) The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes when federal 
50.10 	approval for all amendments set forth in paragraph (a) is obtained.

50.11 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0371, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
50.12 		Subd. 3.Contingent contract with dental administrator. (a) The commissioner shall 
50.13 	determine the extent to which managed care and county-based purchasing plans in the 
50.14 	aggregate meet the performance benchmark specified in subdivision 1 for coverage year 
50.15 	2024. If managed care and county-based purchasing plans in the aggregate fail to meet the 
50.16 	performance benchmark, the commissioner, after issuing a request for information followed 
50.17 	by a request for proposals, shall contract with a dental administrator to administer dental 
50.18 	services beginning January 1, 2026 2028, for all recipients of medical assistance and 
50.19 	MinnesotaCare, including persons who are served under fee-for-service and persons receiving 
50.20 	services through managed care and county-based purchasing plans.
50.21 	(b) The dental administrator must provide administrative services, including but not 
50.22 	limited to:
50.23 	(1) provider recruitment, contracting, and assistance;
50.24 	(2) recipient outreach and assistance;
50.25 	(3) utilization management and reviews of medical necessity for dental services;
50.26 	(4) dental claims processing;
50.27 	(5) coordination of dental care with other services;
50.28 	(6) management of fraud and abuse;
50.29 	(7) monitoring access to dental services statewide;
50.30 	(8) performance measurement;
51.1 	(9) quality improvement and evaluation; and
51.2 	(10) management of third-party liability requirements.; and
51.3 	(11) establishment of grievance and appeals processes for providers and enrollees that 
51.4 	the commissioner can monitor.
51.5 	(c) Dental administrator payments to contracted dental providers must be at the based 
51.6 	on rates established under sections 256B.76 and 256L.11 recommended by the dental access 
51.7 	working group. If the recommended rates are not established in law prior to July 1, 2027, 
51.8 	then dental administrator payments to contracted dental providers must be at the rates 
51.9 	established under sections 256B.76 and 256L.11.
51.10 	(d) Recipients must be given a choice of dental provider, including any provider who 
51.11 	agrees to provider participation requirements and payment rates established by the 
51.12 	commissioner and dental administrator. The dental administrator must comply with the 
51.13 	network adequacy and geographic access requirements that apply to managed care and 
51.14 	county-based purchasing plans for dental services under section 62K.14.
51.15 	(e) The contract with the dental administrator must include a provision that states that 
51.16 	if the dental administrator fails to meet, by calendar year 2029, a performance benchmark 
51.17 	under which at least 55 percent of children and adults who were continuously enrolled for 
51.18 	at least 11 months in either medical assistance or MinnesotaCare received at least one dental 
51.19 	visit during the calendar year, the contract must be terminated and the commissioner must 
51.20 	enter into a contract with a new dental administrator as soon as practicable performance 
51.21 	benchmarks, accountability measures, and progress rewards based on the recommendations 
51.22 	from the dental access working group.
51.23 	(f) The commissioner shall implement this subdivision in consultation with representatives 
51.24 	of providers who provide dental services to patients enrolled in medical assistance or 
51.25 	MinnesotaCare, including but not limited to providers serving primarily low-income and 
51.26 	socioeconomically complex populations, and with representatives of managed care plans 
51.27 	and county-based purchasing plans.

51.28 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.04, subdivision 12, is amended to read:
51.29 		Subd. 12.Limitation on services. (a) The commissioner shall place limits on the types 
51.30 	of services covered by medical assistance, the frequency with which the same or similar 
51.31 	services may be covered by medical assistance for an individual recipient, and the amount 
51.32 	paid for each covered service. The state agency shall promulgate rules establishing maximum 
51.33 	reimbursement rates for emergency and nonemergency transportation.
52.1 	The rules shall provide:
52.2 	(1) an opportunity for all recognized transportation providers to be reimbursed for 
52.3 	nonemergency transportation consistent with the maximum rates established by the agency; 
52.4 	and
52.5 	(2) reimbursement of public and private nonprofit providers serving the population with 
52.6 	a disability generally at reasonable maximum rates that reflect the cost of providing the 
52.7 	service regardless of the fare that might be charged by the provider for similar services to 
52.8 	individuals other than those receiving medical assistance or medical care under this chapter.
52.9 	This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 
52.10 	2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
52.11 	(b) The commissioner shall encourage providers reimbursed under this chapter to 
52.12 	coordinate their operation with similar services that are operating in the same community. 
52.13 	To the extent practicable, the commissioner shall encourage eligible individuals to utilize 
52.14 	less expensive providers capable of serving their needs. This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, 
52.15 	for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
52.16 	(c) For the purpose of this subdivision and section 256B.02, subdivision 8, and effective 
52.17 	on January 1, 1981, "recognized provider of transportation services" means an operator of 
52.18 	special transportation service as defined in section 174.29 that has been issued a current 
52.19 	certificate of compliance with operating standards of the commissioner of transportation 
52.20 	or, if those standards do not apply to the operator, that the agency finds is able to provide 
52.21 	the required transportation in a safe and reliable manner. Until January 1, 1981, "recognized 
52.22 	transportation provider" includes an operator of special transportation service that the agency 
52.23 	finds is able to provide the required transportation in a safe and reliable manner. This 
52.24 	paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, 
52.25 	for prepaid medical assistance.
52.26 	(d) Effective July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, 
52.27 	for prepaid medical assistance, the commissioner shall place limits on the types of services 
52.28 	covered by medical assistance, the frequency with which the same or similar services may 
52.29 	be covered by medical assistance for an individual recipient, and the amount paid for each 
52.30 	covered service.

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

53.1 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.04, subdivision 14, is amended to read:
53.2 		Subd. 14.Competitive bidding. (a) When determined to be effective, economical, and 
53.3 	feasible, the commissioner may utilize volume purchase through competitive bidding and 
53.4 	negotiation under the provisions of chapter 16C, to provide items under the medical assistance 
53.5 	program including but not limited to the following:
53.6 	(1) eyeglasses;
53.7 	(2) oxygen. The commissioner shall provide for oxygen needed in an emergency situation 
53.8 	on a short-term basis, until the vendor can obtain the necessary supply from the contract 
53.9 	dealer;
53.10 	(3) hearing aids and supplies;
53.11 	(4) durable medical equipment, including but not limited to:
53.12 	(i) hospital beds;
53.13 	(ii) commodes;
53.14 	(iii) glide-about chairs;
53.15 	(iv) patient lift apparatus;
53.16 	(v) wheelchairs and accessories;
53.17 	(vi) oxygen administration equipment;
53.18 	(vii) respiratory therapy equipment;
53.19 	(viii) electronic diagnostic, therapeutic and life-support systems; and
53.20 	(ix) allergen-reducing products as described in section 256B.0625, subdivision 67, 
53.21 	paragraph (c) or (d);
53.22 	(5) nonemergency medical transportation level of need determinations, disbursement of 
53.23 	public transportation passes and tokens, and volunteer and recipient mileage and parking 
53.24 	reimbursements;
53.25 	(6) drugs; and
53.26 	(7) quitline services as described in section 256B.0625, subdivision 68, paragraph (c).
53.27 	This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 
53.28 	2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
53.29 	(b) Effective July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, 
53.30 	for prepaid medical assistance, when determined to be effective, economical, and feasible, 
54.1 	the commissioner may utilize volume purchase through competitive bidding and negotiation 
54.2 	under the provisions of chapter 16C to provide items under the medical assistance program, 
54.3 	including but not limited to the following:
54.4 	(1) eyeglasses;
54.5 	(2) oxygen. The commissioner shall provide for oxygen needed in an emergency situation 
54.6 	on a short-term basis, until the vendor can obtain the necessary supply from the contract 
54.7 	dealer;
54.8 	(3) hearing aids and supplies;
54.9 	(4) durable medical equipment, including but not limited to:
54.10 	(i) hospital beds;
54.11 	(ii) commodes;
54.12 	(iii) glide-about chairs;
54.13 	(iv) patient lift apparatus;
54.14 	(v) wheelchairs and accessories;
54.15 	(vi) oxygen administration equipment;
54.16 	(vii) respiratory therapy equipment; and
54.17 	(viii) electronic diagnostic, therapeutic, and life-support systems;
54.18 	(5) nonemergency medical transportation; and
54.19 	(6) drugs.
54.20 	(b) (c) Rate changes and recipient cost-sharing under this chapter and chapter 256L do 
54.21 	not affect contract payments under this subdivision unless specifically identified.
54.22 	(c) (d) The commissioner may not utilize volume purchase through competitive bidding 
54.23 	and negotiation under the provisions of chapter 16C for special transportation services or 
54.24 	incontinence products and related supplies. This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical 
54.25 	assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
54.26 	(e) Effective July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, 
54.27 	for prepaid medical assistance, the commissioner must not utilize volume purchase through 
54.28 	competitive bidding and negotiation under the provisions of chapter 16C for incontinence 
54.29 	products and related supplies.

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

55.1 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 3b, is amended to read:
55.2 		Subd. 3b.Telehealth services. (a) Medical assistance covers medically necessary services 
55.3 	and consultations delivered by a health care provider through telehealth in the same manner 
55.4 	as if the service or consultation was delivered through in-person contact. Services or 
55.5 	consultations delivered through telehealth shall be paid at the full allowable rate.
55.6 	(b) The commissioner may establish criteria that a health care provider must attest to in 
55.7 	order to demonstrate the safety or efficacy of delivering a particular service through 
55.8 	telehealth. The attestation may include that the health care provider:
55.9 	(1) has identified the categories or types of services the health care provider will provide 
55.10 	through telehealth;
55.11 	(2) has written policies and procedures specific to services delivered through telehealth 
55.12 	that are regularly reviewed and updated;
55.13 	(3) has policies and procedures that adequately address patient safety before, during, 
55.14 	and after the service is delivered through telehealth;
55.15 	(4) has established protocols addressing how and when to discontinue telehealth services; 
55.16 	and
55.17 	(5) has an established quality assurance process related to delivering services through 
55.18 	telehealth.
55.19 	(c) As a condition of payment, a licensed health care provider must document each 
55.20 	occurrence of a health service delivered through telehealth to a medical assistance enrollee. 
55.21 	Health care service records for services delivered through telehealth must meet the 
55.22 	requirements set forth in Minnesota Rules, part 9505.2175, subparts 1 and 2, and must 
55.23 	document:
55.24 	(1) the type of service delivered through telehealth;
55.25 	(2) the time the service began and the time the service ended, including an a.m. and p.m. 
55.26 	designation;
55.27 	(3) the health care provider's basis for determining that telehealth is an appropriate and 
55.28 	effective means for delivering the service to the enrollee;
55.29 	(4) the mode of transmission used to deliver the service through telehealth and records 
55.30 	evidencing that a particular mode of transmission was utilized;
55.31 	(5) the location of the originating site and the distant site;
56.1 	(6) if the claim for payment is based on a physician's consultation with another physician 
56.2 	through telehealth, the written opinion from the consulting physician providing the telehealth 
56.3 	consultation; and
56.4 	(7) compliance with the criteria attested to by the health care provider in accordance 
56.5 	with paragraph (b).
56.6 	(d) Telehealth visits provided through audio and visual communication or accessible 
56.7 	video-based platforms may be used to satisfy the face-to-face requirement for reimbursement 
56.8 	under the payment methods that apply to a federally qualified health center, rural health 
56.9 	clinic, Indian health service, 638 tribal clinic, and certified community behavioral health 
56.10 	clinic, if the service would have otherwise qualified for payment if performed in person.
56.11 	(e) For purposes of this subdivision, unless otherwise covered under this chapter:
56.12 	(1) "telehealth" means the delivery of health care services or consultations using real-time 
56.13 	two-way interactive audio and visual communication or accessible telehealth video-based 
56.14 	platforms to provide or support health care delivery and facilitate the assessment, diagnosis, 
56.15 	consultation, treatment, education, and care management of a patient's health care. Telehealth 
56.16 	includes: the application of secure video conferencing consisting of a real-time, full-motion 
56.17 	synchronized video; store-and-forward technology; and synchronous interactions, between 
56.18 	a patient located at an originating site and a health care provider located at a distant site. 
56.19 	Telehealth does not include communication between health care providers, or between a 
56.20 	health care provider and a patient that consists solely of an audio-only communication, 
56.21 	email, or facsimile transmission or as specified by law, except that between July 1, 2025, 
56.22 	and July 1, 2028, telehealth includes communication between a health care provider and a 
56.23 	patient that solely consists of audio-only communication;
56.24 	(2) "health care provider" means a health care provider as defined under section 62A.673; 
56.25 	a community paramedic as defined under section 144E.001, subdivision 5f; a community 
56.26 	health worker who meets the criteria under subdivision 49, paragraph (a); a mental health 
56.27 	certified peer specialist under section 245I.04, subdivision 10; a mental health certified 
56.28 	family peer specialist under section 245I.04, subdivision 12; a mental health rehabilitation 
56.29 	worker under section 245I.04, subdivision 14; a mental health behavioral aide under section 
56.30 	245I.04, subdivision 16; a treatment coordinator under section 245G.11, subdivision 7; an 
56.31 	alcohol and drug counselor under section 245G.11, subdivision 5; or a recovery peer under 
56.32 	section 245G.11, subdivision 8; and
56.33 	(3) "originating site," "distant site," and "store-and-forward technology" have the 
56.34 	meanings given in section 62A.673, subdivision 2.

57.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2025.

57.2 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 17, is amended to read:
57.3 		Subd. 17.Transportation costs. (a) "Nonemergency medical transportation service" 
57.4 	means motor vehicle transportation provided by a public or private person that serves 
57.5 	Minnesota health care program beneficiaries who do not require emergency ambulance 
57.6 	service, as defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 3, to obtain covered medical services.
57.7 	(b) For purposes of this subdivision, "rural urban commuting area" or "RUCA" means 
57.8 	a census-tract based classification system under which a geographical area is determined 
57.9 	to be urban, rural, or super rural. This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical assistance 
57.10 	fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
57.11 	(c) Medical assistance covers medical transportation costs incurred solely for obtaining 
57.12 	emergency medical care or transportation costs incurred by eligible persons in obtaining 
57.13 	emergency or nonemergency medical care when paid directly to an ambulance company, 
57.14 	nonemergency medical transportation company, or other recognized providers of 
57.15 	transportation services. Medical transportation must be provided by:
57.16 	(1) nonemergency medical transportation providers who meet the requirements of this 
57.17 	subdivision;
57.18 	(2) ambulances, as defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 2;
57.19 	(3) taxicabs that meet the requirements of this subdivision;
57.20 	(4) public transportation, within the meaning of "public transportation" as defined in 
57.21 	section 174.22, subdivision 7; or
57.22 	(5) not-for-hire vehicles, including volunteer drivers, as defined in section 65B.472, 
57.23 	subdivision 1, paragraph (p).
57.24 	(d) Medical assistance covers nonemergency medical transportation provided by 
57.25 	nonemergency medical transportation providers enrolled in the Minnesota health care 
57.26 	programs. All nonemergency medical transportation providers must comply with the 
57.27 	operating standards for special transportation service as defined in sections 174.29 to 174.30 
57.28 	and Minnesota Rules, chapter 8840, and all drivers must be individually enrolled with the 
57.29 	commissioner and reported on the claim as the individual who provided the service. All 
57.30 	nonemergency medical transportation providers shall bill for nonemergency medical 
57.31 	transportation services in accordance with Minnesota health care programs criteria. Publicly 
58.1 	operated transit systems, volunteers, and not-for-hire vehicles are exempt from the 
58.2 	requirements outlined in this paragraph.
58.3 	(e) An organization may be terminated, denied, or suspended from enrollment if:
58.4 	(1) the provider has not initiated background studies on the individuals specified in 
58.5 	section 174.30, subdivision 10, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3); or
58.6 	(2) the provider has initiated background studies on the individuals specified in section 
58.7 	174.30, subdivision 10, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3), and:
58.8 	(i) the commissioner has sent the provider a notice that the individual has been 
58.9 	disqualified under section 245C.14; and
58.10 	(ii) the individual has not received a disqualification set-aside specific to the special 
58.11 	transportation services provider under sections 245C.22 and 245C.23.
58.12 	(f) The administrative agency of nonemergency medical transportation must:
58.13 	(1) adhere to the policies defined by the commissioner;
58.14 	(2) pay nonemergency medical transportation providers for services provided to 
58.15 	Minnesota health care programs beneficiaries to obtain covered medical services;
58.16 	(3) provide data monthly to the commissioner on appeals, complaints, no-shows, canceled 
58.17 	trips, and number of trips by mode; and
58.18 	(4) by July 1, 2016, in accordance with subdivision 18e, utilize a web-based single 
58.19 	administrative structure assessment tool that meets the technical requirements established 
58.20 	by the commissioner, reconciles trip information with claims being submitted by providers, 
58.21 	and ensures prompt payment for nonemergency medical transportation services. This 
58.22 	paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, 
58.23 	for prepaid medical assistance.
58.24 	(g) Effective July 1, 2026, for medical fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, for prepaid 
58.25 	medical assistance, the administrative agency of nonemergency medical transportation must:
58.26 	(1) adhere to the policies defined by the commissioner;
58.27 	(2) pay nonemergency medical transportation providers for services provided to 
58.28 	Minnesota health care program beneficiaries to obtain covered medical services; and
58.29 	(3) provide data monthly to the commissioner on appeals, complaints, no-shows, canceled 
58.30 	trips, and number of trips by mode.
59.1 	(g) (h) Until the commissioner implements the single administrative structure and delivery 
59.2 	system under subdivision 18e, clients shall obtain their level-of-service certificate from the 
59.3 	commissioner or an entity approved by the commissioner that does not dispatch rides for 
59.4 	clients using modes of transportation under paragraph (l) (n), clauses (4), (5), (6), and (7).
59.5 	This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 
59.6 	2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
59.7 	(h) (i) The commissioner may use an order by the recipient's attending physician, 
59.8 	advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or a medical or mental health 
59.9 	professional to certify that the recipient requires nonemergency medical transportation 
59.10 	services. Nonemergency medical transportation providers shall perform driver-assisted 
59.11 	services for eligible individuals, when appropriate. Driver-assisted service includes passenger 
59.12 	pickup at and return to the individual's residence or place of business, assistance with 
59.13 	admittance of the individual to the medical facility, and assistance in passenger securement 
59.14 	or in securing of wheelchairs, child seats, or stretchers in the vehicle.
59.15 	(i) (j) Nonemergency medical transportation providers must take clients to the health 
59.16 	care provider using the most direct route, and must not exceed 30 miles for a trip to a primary 
59.17 	care provider or 60 miles for a trip to a specialty care provider, unless the client receives 
59.18 	authorization from the local agency. This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical 
59.19 	assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
59.20 	(k) Effective July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, 
59.21 	for prepaid medical assistance, nonemergency medical transportation providers must take 
59.22 	clients to the health care provider using the most direct route and must not exceed 30 miles 
59.23 	for a trip to a primary care provider or 60 miles for a trip to a specialty care provider, unless 
59.24 	the client receives authorization from the administrator.
59.25 	(j) (l) Nonemergency medical transportation providers may not bill for separate base 
59.26 	rates for the continuation of a trip beyond the original destination. Nonemergency medical 
59.27 	transportation providers must maintain trip logs, which include pickup and drop-off times, 
59.28 	signed by the medical provider or client, whichever is deemed most appropriate, attesting 
59.29 	to mileage traveled to obtain covered medical services. Clients requesting client mileage 
59.30 	reimbursement must sign the trip log attesting mileage traveled to obtain covered medical 
59.31 	services.
59.32 	(k) (m) The administrative agency shall use the level of service process established by 
59.33 	the commissioner to determine the client's most appropriate mode of transportation. If public 
60.1 	transit or a certified transportation provider is not available to provide the appropriate service 
60.2 	mode for the client, the client may receive a onetime service upgrade.
60.3 	(l) (n) The covered modes of transportation are:
60.4 	(1) client reimbursement, which includes client mileage reimbursement provided to 
60.5 	clients who have their own transportation, or to family or an acquaintance who provides 
60.6 	transportation to the client;
60.7 	(2) volunteer transport, which includes transportation by volunteers using their own 
60.8 	vehicle;
60.9 	(3) unassisted transport, which includes transportation provided to a client by a taxicab 
60.10 	or public transit. If a taxicab or public transit is not available, the client can receive 
60.11 	transportation from another nonemergency medical transportation provider;
60.12 	(4) assisted transport, which includes transport provided to clients who require assistance 
60.13 	by a nonemergency medical transportation provider;
60.14 	(5) lift-equipped/ramp transport, which includes transport provided to a client who is 
60.15 	dependent on a device and requires a nonemergency medical transportation provider with 
60.16 	a vehicle containing a lift or ramp;
60.17 	(6) protected transport, which includes transport provided to a client who has received 
60.18 	a prescreening that has deemed other forms of transportation inappropriate and who requires 
60.19 	a provider: (i) with a protected vehicle that is not an ambulance or police car and has safety 
60.20 	locks, a video recorder, and a transparent thermoplastic partition between the passenger and 
60.21 	the vehicle driver; and (ii) who is certified as a protected transport provider; and
60.22 	(7) stretcher transport, which includes transport for a client in a prone or supine position 
60.23 	and requires a nonemergency medical transportation provider with a vehicle that can transport 
60.24 	a client in a prone or supine position.
60.25 	(m) (o) The local agency shall be the single administrative agency and shall administer 
60.26 	and reimburse for modes defined in paragraph (l) (n) according to paragraphs (p) and (q)
60.27 	(r) to (t) when the commissioner has developed, made available, and funded the web-based 
60.28 	single administrative structure, assessment tool, and level of need assessment under 
60.29 	subdivision 18e. The local agency's financial obligation is limited to funds provided by the 
60.30 	state or federal government. This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical assistance 
60.31 	fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
60.32 	(n) (p) The commissioner shall:
61.1 	(1) verify that the mode and use of nonemergency medical transportation is appropriate;
61.2 	(2) verify that the client is going to an approved medical appointment; and
61.3 	(3) investigate all complaints and appeals.
61.4 	(o) (q) The administrative agency shall pay for the services provided in this subdivision 
61.5 	and seek reimbursement from the commissioner, if appropriate. As vendors of medical care, 
61.6 	local agencies are subject to the provisions in section 256B.041, the sanctions and monetary 
61.7 	recovery actions in section 256B.064, and Minnesota Rules, parts 9505.2160 to 9505.2245.
61.8 	This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 
61.9 	2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
61.10 	(p) (r) Payments for nonemergency medical transportation must be paid based on the 
61.11 	client's assessed mode under paragraph (k) (m), not the type of vehicle used to provide the 
61.12 	service. The medical assistance reimbursement rates for nonemergency medical transportation 
61.13 	services that are payable by or on behalf of the commissioner for nonemergency medical 
61.14 	transportation services are:
61.15 	(1) $0.22 per mile for client reimbursement;
61.16 	(2) up to 100 percent of the Internal Revenue Service business deduction rate for volunteer 
61.17 	transport;
61.18 	(3) equivalent to the standard fare for unassisted transport when provided by public 
61.19 	transit, and $12.10 for the base rate and $1.43 per mile when provided by a nonemergency 
61.20 	medical transportation provider;
61.21 	(4) $14.30 for the base rate and $1.43 per mile for assisted transport;
61.22 	(5) $19.80 for the base rate and $1.70 per mile for lift-equipped/ramp transport;
61.23 	(6) $75 for the base rate and $2.40 per mile for protected transport; and
61.24 	(7) $60 for the base rate and $2.40 per mile for stretcher transport, and $9 per trip for 
61.25 	an additional attendant if deemed medically necessary. This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, 
61.26 	for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
61.27 	(s) Effective July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, 
61.28 	for prepaid medical assistance, payments for nonemergency medical transportation must 
61.29 	be paid based on the client's assessed mode under paragraph (m), not the type of vehicle 
61.30 	used to provide the service.
61.31 	(q) (t) The base rate for nonemergency medical transportation services in areas defined 
61.32 	under RUCA to be super rural is equal to 111.3 percent of the respective base rate in 
62.1 	paragraph (p) (r), clauses (1) to (7). The mileage rate for nonemergency medical 
62.2 	transportation services in areas defined under RUCA to be rural or super rural areas is:
62.3 	(1) for a trip equal to 17 miles or less, equal to 125 percent of the respective mileage 
62.4 	rate in paragraph (p) (r), clauses (1) to (7); and
62.5 	(2) for a trip between 18 and 50 miles, equal to 112.5 percent of the respective mileage 
62.6 	rate in paragraph (p) (r), clauses (1) to (7). This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical 
62.7 	assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
62.8 	(r) (u) For purposes of reimbursement rates for nonemergency medical transportation 
62.9 	services under paragraphs (p) and (q) (r) to (t), the zip code of the recipient's place of 
62.10 	residence shall determine whether the urban, rural, or super rural reimbursement rate applies.
62.11 	This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 
62.12 	2027, for prepaid medical assistance.
62.13 	(s) (v) The commissioner, when determining reimbursement rates for nonemergency 
62.14 	medical transportation under paragraphs (p) and (q), shall exempt all modes of transportation 
62.15 	listed under paragraph (l) (n) from Minnesota Rules, part 9505.0445, item R, subitem (2).
62.16 	(t) (w) Effective for the first day of each calendar quarter in which the price of gasoline 
62.17 	as posted publicly by the United States Energy Information Administration exceeds $3.00 
62.18 	per gallon, the commissioner shall adjust the rate paid per mile in paragraph (p) (r) by one 
62.19 	percent up or down for every increase or decrease of ten cents for the price of gasoline. The 
62.20 	increase or decrease must be calculated using a base gasoline price of $3.00. The percentage 
62.21 	increase or decrease must be calculated using the average of the most recently available 
62.22 	price of all grades of gasoline for Minnesota as posted publicly by the United States Energy 
62.23 	Information Administration. This paragraph expires July 1, 2026, for medical assistance 
62.24 	fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, for prepaid medical assistance.

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

62.26 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 17a, is amended to 
62.27 	read:
62.28 		Subd. 17a.Payment for ambulance services. (a) Medical assistance covers ambulance 
62.29 	services. Providers shall bill ambulance services according to Medicare criteria. 
62.30 	Nonemergency ambulance services shall not be paid as emergencies. Effective for services 
62.31 	rendered on or after July 1, 2001, medical assistance payments for ambulance services shall 
62.32 	be paid at the Medicare reimbursement rate or at the medical assistance payment rate in 
62.33 	effect on July 1, 2000, whichever is greater.
63.1 	(b) Effective for services provided on or after July 1, 2016, medical assistance payment 
63.2 	rates for ambulance services identified in this paragraph are increased by five percent. 
63.3 	Capitation payments made to managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans for 
63.4 	ambulance services provided on or after January 1, 2017, shall be increased to reflect this 
63.5 	rate increase. The increased rate described in this paragraph applies to ambulance service 
63.6 	providers whose base of operations as defined in section 144E.10 is located:
63.7 	(1) outside the metropolitan counties listed in section 473.121, subdivision 4, and outside 
63.8 	the cities of Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead, St. Cloud, and Rochester; or
63.9 	(2) within a municipality with a population of less than 1,000.
63.10 	(c) Effective for services provided statewide on or after January 1, 2026, medical 
63.11 	assistance payment rates for ambulance services are increased by 13.68 percent. Capitation 
63.12 	payments made to managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans for ambulance 
63.13 	services provided on or after January 1, 2026, must be increased to reflect this rate increase.
63.14 	(c) (d) Effective for the first day of each calendar quarter in which the price of gasoline 
63.15 	as posted publicly by the United States Energy Information Administration exceeds $3.00 
63.16 	per gallon, the commissioner shall adjust the rate paid per mile in paragraph (a) by one 
63.17 	percent up or down for every increase or decrease of ten cents for the price of gasoline. The 
63.18 	increase or decrease must be calculated using a base gasoline price of $3.00. The percentage 
63.19 	increase or decrease must be calculated using the average of the most recently available 
63.20 	price of all grades of gasoline for Minnesota as posted publicly by the United States Energy 
63.21 	Information Administration.
63.22 	(d) (e) Managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans must provide a fuel 
63.23 	adjustment for ambulance services rates when fuel exceeds $3 per gallon. If, for any contract 
63.24 	year, federal approval is not received for this paragraph, the commissioner must adjust the 
63.25 	capitation rates paid to managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans for that 
63.26 	contract year to reflect the removal of this provision. Contracts between managed care plans 
63.27 	and county-based purchasing plans and providers to whom this paragraph applies must 
63.28 	allow recovery of payments from those providers if capitation rates are adjusted in accordance 
63.29 	with this paragraph. Payment recoveries must not exceed the amount equal to any increase 
63.30 	in rates that results from this paragraph. This paragraph expires if federal approval is not 
63.31 	received for this paragraph at any time.

64.1 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, is amended by adding a subdivision 
64.2 	to read:
64.3 		Subd. 18i.Administration of nonemergency medical transportation. Effective July 
64.4 	1, 2026, for medical assistance fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, for prepaid medical 
64.5 	assistance, the commissioner must contract either statewide or regionally for the 
64.6 	administration of the nonemergency medical transportation program in compliance with 
64.7 	the provisions of this chapter. The contract must include the administration of the 
64.8 	nonemergency medical transportation benefit for those enrolled in managed care as described 
64.9 	in section 256B.69.

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

64.11 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 30, is amended to read:
64.12 		Subd. 30.Other clinic services. (a) Medical assistance covers rural health clinic services, 
64.13 	federally qualified health center services, nonprofit community health clinic services, and 
64.14 	public health clinic services. Rural health clinic services and federally qualified health center 
64.15 	services mean services defined in United States Code, title 42, section 1396d(a)(2)(B) and 
64.16 	(C). Payment for rural health clinic and federally qualified health center services shall be 
64.17 	made according to applicable federal law and regulation.
64.18 	(b) A federally qualified health center (FQHC) that is beginning initial operation shall 
64.19 	submit an estimate of budgeted costs and visits for the initial reporting period in the form 
64.20 	and detail required by the commissioner. An FQHC that is already in operation shall submit 
64.21 	an initial report using actual costs and visits for the initial reporting period. Within 90 days 
64.22 	of the end of its reporting period, an FQHC shall submit, in the form and detail required by 
64.23 	the commissioner, a report of its operations, including allowable costs actually incurred for 
64.24 	the period and the actual number of visits for services furnished during the period, and other 
64.25 	information required by the commissioner. FQHCs that file Medicare cost reports shall 
64.26 	provide the commissioner with a copy of the most recent Medicare cost report filed with 
64.27 	the Medicare program intermediary for the reporting year which support the costs claimed 
64.28 	on their cost report to the state.
64.29 	(c) In order to continue cost-based payment under the medical assistance program 
64.30 	according to paragraphs (a) and (b), an FQHC or rural health clinic must apply for designation 
64.31 	as an essential community provider within six months of final adoption of rules by the 
64.32 	Department of Health according to section 62Q.19, subdivision 7. For those FQHCs and 
64.33 	rural health clinics that have applied for essential community provider status within the 
64.34 	six-month time prescribed, medical assistance payments will continue to be made according 
65.1 	to paragraphs (a) and (b) for the first three years after application. For FQHCs and rural 
65.2 	health clinics that either do not apply within the time specified above or who have had 
65.3 	essential community provider status for three years, medical assistance payments for health 
65.4 	services provided by these entities shall be according to the same rates and conditions 
65.5 	applicable to the same service provided by health care providers that are not FQHCs or rural 
65.6 	health clinics.
65.7 	(d) Effective July 1, 1999, the provisions of paragraph (c) requiring an FQHC or a rural 
65.8 	health clinic to make application for an essential community provider designation in order 
65.9 	to have cost-based payments made according to paragraphs (a) and (b) no longer apply.
65.10 	(e) Effective January 1, 2000, payments made according to paragraphs (a) and (b) shall 
65.11 	be limited to the cost phase-out schedule of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
65.12 	(f) Effective January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2020, each FQHC and rural health 
65.13 	clinic may elect to be paid either under the prospective payment system established in United 
65.14 	States Code, title 42, section 1396a(aa), or under an alternative payment methodology 
65.15 	consistent with the requirements of United States Code, title 42, section 1396a(aa), and 
65.16 	approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The alternative payment 
65.17 	methodology shall be 100 percent of cost as determined according to Medicare cost 
65.18 	principles.
65.19 	(g) Effective for services provided on or after January 1, 2021, all claims for payment 
65.20 	of clinic services provided by FQHCs and rural health clinics shall be paid by the 
65.21 	commissioner, according to an annual election by the FQHC or rural health clinic, under 
65.22 	the current prospective payment system described in paragraph (f) or the alternative payment 
65.23 	methodology described in paragraph (l), or, upon federal approval, for FQHCs that are also 
65.24 	urban Indian organizations under Title V of the federal Indian Health Improvement Act, as 
65.25 	provided under paragraph (k).
65.26 	(h) For purposes of this section, "nonprofit community clinic" is a clinic that:
65.27 	(1) has nonprofit status as specified in chapter 317A;
65.28 	(2) has tax exempt status as provided in Internal Revenue Code, section 501(c)(3);
65.29 	(3) is established to provide health services to low-income population groups, uninsured, 
65.30 	high-risk and special needs populations, underserved and other special needs populations;
65.31 	(4) employs professional staff at least one-half of which are familiar with the cultural 
65.32 	background of their clients;
66.1 	(5) charges for services on a sliding fee scale designed to provide assistance to 
66.2 	low-income clients based on current poverty income guidelines and family size; and
66.3 	(6) does not restrict access or services because of a client's financial limitations or public 
66.4 	assistance status and provides no-cost care as needed.
66.5 	(i) Effective for services provided on or after January 1, 2015, all claims for payment 
66.6 	of clinic services provided by FQHCs and rural health clinics shall be paid by the 
66.7 	commissioner. the commissioner shall determine the most feasible method for paying claims 
66.8 	from the following options:
66.9 	(1) FQHCs and rural health clinics submit claims directly to the commissioner for 
66.10 	payment, and the commissioner provides claims information for recipients enrolled in a 
66.11 	managed care or county-based purchasing plan to the plan, on a regular basis; or
66.12 	(2) FQHCs and rural health clinics submit claims for recipients enrolled in a managed 
66.13 	care or county-based purchasing plan to the plan, and those claims are submitted by the 
66.14 	plan to the commissioner for payment to the clinic.
66.15 	(j) For clinic services provided prior to January 1, 2015, the commissioner shall calculate 
66.16 	and pay monthly the proposed managed care supplemental payments to clinics, and clinics 
66.17 	shall conduct a timely review of the payment calculation data in order to finalize all 
66.18 	supplemental payments in accordance with federal law. Any issues arising from a clinic's 
66.19 	review must be reported to the commissioner by January 1, 2017. Upon final agreement 
66.20 	between the commissioner and a clinic on issues identified under this subdivision, and in 
66.21 	accordance with United States Code, title 42, section 1396a(bb), no supplemental payments 
66.22 	for managed care plan or county-based purchasing plan claims for services provided prior 
66.23 	to January 1, 2015, shall be made after June 30, 2017. If the commissioner and clinics are 
66.24 	unable to resolve issues under this subdivision, the parties shall submit the dispute to the 
66.25 	arbitration process under section 14.57.
66.26 	(k) The commissioner shall establish an encounter payment rate that is equivalent to the 
66.27 	all inclusive rate (AIR) payment established by the Indian Health Service and published in 
66.28 	the Federal Register. The encounter rate must be updated annually and must reflect the 
66.29 	changes in the AIR established by the Indian Health Service each calendar year. FQHCs 
66.30 	that are also urban Indian organizations under Title V of the federal Indian Health 
66.31 	Improvement Act may elect to be paid: (1) at the encounter rate established under this 
66.32 	paragraph; (2) under the alternative payment methodology described in paragraph (l); or 
66.33 	(3) under the federally required prospective payment system described in paragraph (f). 
66.34 	FQHCs that elect to be paid at the encounter rate established under this paragraph must 
67.1 	continue to meet all state and federal requirements related to FQHCs and urban Indian 
67.2 	organizations, and must maintain their statuses as FQHCs and urban Indian organizations.
67.3 	(l) All claims for payment of clinic services provided by FQHCs and rural health clinics, 
67.4 	that have elected to be paid under this paragraph, shall be paid by the commissioner according 
67.5 	to the following requirements:
67.6 	(1) the commissioner shall establish a single medical and single dental organization 
67.7 	encounter rate for each FQHC and rural health clinic when applicable;
67.8 	(2) each FQHC and rural health clinic is eligible for same day reimbursement of one 
67.9 	medical and one dental organization encounter rate if eligible medical and dental visits are 
67.10 	provided on the same day;
67.11 	(3) the commissioner shall reimburse FQHCs and rural health clinics, in accordance 
67.12 	with current applicable Medicare cost principles, their allowable costs, including direct 
67.13 	patient care costs and patient-related support services. Nonallowable costs include, but are 
67.14 	not limited to:
67.15 	(i) general social services and administrative costs;
67.16 	(ii) retail pharmacy;
67.17 	(iii) patient incentives, food, housing assistance, and utility assistance;
67.18 	(iv) external lab and x-ray;
67.19 	(v) navigation services;
67.20 	(vi) health care taxes;
67.21 	(vii) advertising, public relations, and marketing;
67.22 	(viii) office entertainment costs, food, alcohol, and gifts;
67.23 	(ix) contributions and donations;
67.24 	(x) bad debts or losses on awards or contracts;
67.25 	(xi) fines, penalties, damages, or other settlements;
67.26 	(xii) fundraising, investment management, and associated administrative costs;
67.27 	(xiii) research and associated administrative costs;
67.28 	(xiv) nonpaid workers;
67.29 	(xv) lobbying;
68.1 	(xvi) scholarships and student aid; and
68.2 	(xvii) nonmedical assistance covered services;
68.3 	(4) the commissioner shall review the list of nonallowable costs in the years between 
68.4 	the rebasing process established in clause (5), in consultation with the Minnesota Association 
68.5 	of Community Health Centers, FQHCs, and rural health clinics. The commissioner shall 
68.6 	publish the list and any updates in the Minnesota health care programs provider manual;
68.7 	(5) the initial applicable base year organization encounter rates for FQHCs and rural 
68.8 	health clinics shall be computed for services delivered on or after January 1, 2021, and:
68.9 	(i) must be determined using each FQHC's and rural health clinic's Medicare cost reports 
68.10 	from 2017 and 2018;
68.11 	(ii) must be according to current applicable Medicare cost principles as applicable to 
68.12 	FQHCs and rural health clinics without the application of productivity screens and upper 
68.13 	payment limits or the Medicare prospective payment system FQHC aggregate mean upper 
68.14 	payment limit;
68.15 	(iii) must be subsequently rebased every two years thereafter using the Medicare cost 
68.16 	reports that are three and four years prior to the rebasing year. Years in which organizational 
68.17 	cost or claims volume is reduced or altered due to a pandemic, disease, or other public health 
68.18 	emergency shall not be used as part of a base year when the base year includes more than 
68.19 	one year. The commissioner may use the Medicare cost reports of a year unaffected by a 
68.20 	pandemic, disease, or other public health emergency, or previous two consecutive years, 
68.21 	inflated to the base year as established under item (iv);
68.22 	(iv) must be inflated to the base year using the inflation factor described in clause (6); 
68.23 	and
68.24 	(v) the commissioner must provide for a 60-day appeals process under section 14.57;
68.25 	(6) the commissioner shall annually inflate the applicable organization encounter rates 
68.26 	for FQHCs and rural health clinics from the base year payment rate to the effective date by 
68.27 	using the CMS FQHC Market Basket inflator established under United States Code, title 
68.28 	42, section 1395m(o), less productivity;
68.29 	(7) FQHCs and rural health clinics that have elected the alternative payment methodology 
68.30 	under this paragraph shall submit all necessary documentation required by the commissioner 
68.31 	to compute the rebased organization encounter rates no later than six months following the 
68.32 	date the applicable Medicare cost reports are due to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
68.33 	Services;
69.1 	(8) the commissioner shall reimburse FQHCs and rural health clinics an additional 
69.2 	amount relative to their medical and dental organization encounter rates that is attributable 
69.3 	to the tax required to be paid according to section 295.52, if applicable;
69.4 	(9) FQHCs and rural health clinics may submit change of scope requests to the 
69.5 	commissioner if the change of scope would result in an increase or decrease of 2.5 percent 
69.6 	or higher in the medical or dental organization encounter rate currently received by the 
69.7 	FQHC or rural health clinic;
69.8 	(10) for FQHCs and rural health clinics seeking a change in scope with the commissioner 
69.9 	under clause (9) that requires the approval of the scope change by the federal Health 
69.10 	Resources Services Administration:
69.11 	(i) FQHCs and rural health clinics shall submit the change of scope request, including 
69.12 	the start date of services, to the commissioner within seven business days of submission of 
69.13 	the scope change to the federal Health Resources Services Administration;
69.14 	(ii) the commissioner shall establish the effective date of the payment change as the 
69.15 	federal Health Resources Services Administration date of approval of the FQHC's or rural 
69.16 	health clinic's scope change request, or the effective start date of services, whichever is 
69.17 	later; and
69.18 	(iii) within 45 days of one year after the effective date established in item (ii), the 
69.19 	commissioner shall conduct a retroactive review to determine if the actual costs established 
69.20 	under clause (3) or encounters result in an increase or decrease of 2.5 percent or higher in 
69.21 	the medical or dental organization encounter rate, and if this is the case, the commissioner 
69.22 	shall revise the rate accordingly and shall adjust payments retrospectively to the effective 
69.23 	date established in item (ii);
69.24 	(11) for change of scope requests that do not require federal Health Resources Services 
69.25 	Administration approval, the FQHC and rural health clinic shall submit the request to the 
69.26 	commissioner before implementing the change, and the effective date of the change is the 
69.27 	date the commissioner received the FQHC's or rural health clinic's request, or the effective 
69.28 	start date of the service, whichever is later. The commissioner shall provide a response to 
69.29 	the FQHC's or rural health clinic's request within 45 days of submission and provide a final 
69.30 	approval within 120 days of submission. This timeline may be waived at the mutual 
69.31 	agreement of the commissioner and the FQHC or rural health clinic if more information is 
69.32 	needed to evaluate the request;
69.33 	(12) the commissioner, when establishing organization encounter rates for new FQHCs 
69.34 	and rural health clinics, shall consider the patient caseload of existing FQHCs and rural 
70.1 	health clinics in a 60-mile radius for organizations established outside of the seven-county 
70.2 	metropolitan area, and in a 30-mile radius for organizations in the seven-county metropolitan 
70.3 	area. If this information is not available, the commissioner may use Medicare cost reports 
70.4 	or audited financial statements to establish base rates;
70.5 	(13) the commissioner, when establishing organization encounter rates under this section 
70.6 	for FQHCs and rural health clinics resulting from a merger of existing clinics or the 
70.7 	acquisition of an existing clinic by another existing clinic, must use the combined costs and 
70.8 	caseloads from the clinics participating in the merger or acquisition to set the encounter rate 
70.9 	for the new clinic organization resulting from the merger or acquisition. The scope of services 
70.10 	for the newly formed clinic must be inclusive of the scope of services of the clinics 
70.11 	participating in the merger or acquisition;
70.12 	(13) (14) the commissioner shall establish a quality measures workgroup that includes 
70.13 	representatives from the Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers, FQHCs, 
70.14 	and rural health clinics, to evaluate clinical and nonclinical measures; and
70.15 	(14) (15) the commissioner shall not disallow or reduce costs that are related to an 
70.16 	FQHC's or rural health clinic's participation in health care educational programs to the extent 
70.17 	that the costs are not accounted for in the alternative payment methodology encounter rate 
70.18 	established in this paragraph.
70.19 	(m) Effective July 1, 2023, an enrolled Indian health service facility or a Tribal health 
70.20 	center operating under a 638 contract or compact may elect to also enroll as a Tribal FQHC. 
70.21 	Requirements that otherwise apply to an FQHC covered in this subdivision do not apply to 
70.22 	a Tribal FQHC enrolled under this paragraph, except that any requirements necessary to 
70.23 	comply with federal regulations do apply to a Tribal FQHC. The commissioner shall establish 
70.24 	an alternative payment method for a Tribal FQHC enrolled under this paragraph that uses 
70.25 	the same method and rates applicable to a Tribal facility or health center that does not enroll 
70.26 	as a Tribal FQHC.
70.27 	(n) FQHC reimbursement for mental health targeted case management services is limited 
70.28 	to:
70.29 	(1) only those services described under subdivision 20 and provided in accordance with 
70.30 	contracts executed with counties authorized to subcontract for mental health targeted case 
70.31 	management services; and
70.32 	(2) an FQHC's actual incurred costs as separately reported on the cost report submitted 
70.33 	to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and further identified in reports submitted 
70.34 	to the commissioner.
71.1 	(o) Counties contracting with FQHCs for mental health targeted case management remain 
71.2 	responsible for the nonfederal share of the cost of the provided mental health targeted case 
71.3 	management services. The commissioner must bill each county for the nonfederal share of 
71.4 	the mental health targeted case management costs as reported by the FQHC.

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

71.6 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.1973, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
71.7 		Subd. 5.Commissioner's duties; state-directed fee schedule requirement. (a) For 
71.8 	each federally approved directed payment arrangement that is a state-directed fee schedule 
71.9 	requirement, the commissioner shall determine a uniform adjustment factor to be applied 
71.10 	to each claim submitted by an eligible provider to a health plan. The uniform adjustment 
71.11 	factor shall be determined using the average commercial payer rate or using another method 
71.12 	acceptable to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services if the average commercial 
71.13 	payer rate is not approved, minus the amount necessary for the plan to satisfy tax liabilities 
71.14 	under sections 256.9657 and 297I.05 attributable to the directed payment arrangement. The 
71.15 	commissioner shall ensure that the application of the uniform adjustment factor maximizes 
71.16 	the allowable directed payments and does not result in payments exceeding federal limits, 
71.17 	and may use an annual settle-up process. The directed payment shall may be specific to 
71.18 	each health plan and prospectively incorporated into capitation payments for that plan.
71.19 	(b) For each federally approved directed payment arrangement that is a state-directed 
71.20 	fee schedule requirement, the commissioner shall develop a plan for the initial 
71.21 	implementation of the state-directed fee schedule requirement to ensure that the eligible 
71.22 	provider receives the entire permissible value of the federally approved directed payment 
71.23 	arrangement. If federal approval of a directed payment arrangement under this subdivision 
71.24 	is retroactive, the commissioner shall make a onetime pro rata increase to the uniform 
71.25 	adjustment factor and the initial payments in order to include claims submitted between the 
71.26 	retroactive federal approval date and the period captured by the initial payments.

71.27 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.1973, is amended by adding a subdivision 
71.28 	to read:
71.29 		Subd. 9.Interaction with other directed payments. An eligible provider under 
71.30 	subdivision 3 may participate in the hospital directed payment program under section 
71.31 	256B.1974 for inpatient hospital services, outpatient hospital services, or both. A provider 
71.32 	participating in the hospital directed payment program must not receive a directed payment 
71.33 	under this section for any provider classes paid via the hospital directed payment program. 
72.1 	A hospital subject to this section must notify the commissioner in writing no later than 30 
72.2 	days after enactment of this subdivision of its intention to participate in the hospital directed 
72.3 	payment program under section 256B.1974 for inpatient hospital services, outpatient hospital 
72.4 	services, or both. The election under this subdivision is a onetime election, except that if 
72.5 	an eligible provider elects to participate in the hospital directed payment program, and the 
72.6 	hospital directed payment program expires, then the eligible provider may thereafter elect 
72.7 	to participate in the directed payment under this section.

72.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. (a) This section is effective on the later of January 1, 2026, or 
72.9 	federal approval of all of the following:
72.10 	(1) the waiver for the assessment required under Minnesota Statutes, section 256.9657, 
72.11 	subdivision 2b; and
72.12 	(2) the amendments in this act to Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.1974.
72.13 	(b) The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes when federal 
72.14 	approval for all amendments set forth in paragraph (a) is obtained.

72.15 	Sec. 16. [256B.1974] HOSPITAL DIRECTED PAYMENT PROGRAM.
72.16 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
72.17 	the meanings given.
72.18 	(b) "Health plan" means a managed care plan or county-based purchasing plan that is 
72.19 	under contract with the commissioner to deliver services to medical assistance enrollees 
72.20 	under section 256B.69.
72.21 	(c) "Eligible hospital" has the meaning given in section 256.9657, subdivision 2b, 
72.22 	paragraph (a), clause (1).
72.23 		Subd. 2.Required conditions for program. The hospital directed payment program is 
72.24 	contingent on the satisfaction of all requirements necessary for the collection of an assessment 
72.25 	under section 256.9657, and must conform with the requirements for permissible directed 
72.26 	managed care organization expenditures under section 256B.6928, subdivision 5.
72.27 		Subd. 3.Commissioner's duties; state-directed fee schedule requirement. (a) For 
72.28 	each federally approved directed payment program that is a state-directed fee schedule 
72.29 	requirement that includes a quarterly payment amount to be submitted by each health plan 
72.30 	to each eligible hospital, the commissioner must determine the quarterly payment amount 
72.31 	using the statewide average commercial payer rate, or using another method acceptable to 
72.32 	the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services if the statewide average commercial payer 
73.1 	rate is not approved. The commissioner must ensure that the application of the quarterly 
73.2 	payment amounts maximizes the amount generated by the hospital assessment in section 
73.3 	256.9657, subdivision 2b, for allowable directed payments and does not result in payments 
73.4 	exceeding federal limits.
73.5 	(b) The commissioner must use an annual settle-up process that occurs within the time 
73.6 	period allowed for medical assistance managed care claims adjustments.
73.7 	(c) On and after January 1, 2028, if the federal regulations set forth in Code of Federal 
73.8 	Regulations, title 42, parts 430, 438, and 457, remain effective, the hospital directed payment 
73.9 	program may be specific to each health plan and prospectively incorporated into capitation 
73.10 	payments for that plan.
73.11 	(d) For each federally approved directed payment program that is a state-directed fee 
73.12 	schedule requirement, the commissioner must develop a plan for the initial implementation 
73.13 	of the state-directed fee schedule requirement to ensure that eligible hospitals receive the 
73.14 	entire permissible value of the federally approved directed payment.
73.15 	(e) Directed payments under this section must only be used to supplement, and not 
73.16 	supplant, medical assistance reimbursement to eligible hospitals. The directed payment 
73.17 	program must not modify, reduce, or offset the medical assistance payment rates determined 
73.18 	for each eligible hospital as required by section 256.969.
73.19 	(f) The commissioner must require health plans to make quarterly directed payments 
73.20 	according to this section.
73.21 	(g) Health plans must make quarterly directed payments using electronic funds transfers, 
73.22 	if the eligible hospital provides the information necessary to process such transfers, and in 
73.23 	accordance with directions provided by the commissioner. Health plans must make quarterly 
73.24 	directed payments:
73.25 	(1) for the first two quarters for which such payments are due, within 30 calendar days 
73.26 	of the date the commissioner issued sufficient payments to the health plan to make the 
73.27 	directed payments according to this section; and
73.28 	(2) for all subsequent quarters, within ten calendar days of the date the commissioner 
73.29 	issued sufficient payments to the health plan to make the directed payments according to 
73.30 	this section.
73.31 	(h) The commissioner of human services must publish on the Department of Human 
73.32 	Services website, on a quarterly basis, the dates that the health plans completed their required 
73.33 	quarterly payments under this section.
74.1 	(i) Payments to health plans that would be paid consistent with actuarial certification 
74.2 	and enrollment in the absence of the increased capitation payments under this section must 
74.3 	not be reduced as a result of this section.
74.4 	(j) The commissioner must publish all directed payments resulting from this section 
74.5 	owed to each eligible hospital from each health plan on the Department of Human Services 
74.6 	website for at least two years. All calculations and reports must be posted no later than the 
74.7 	first day of the quarter for which the payments are to be issued.
74.8 	(k) By December 1 each year, the commissioner must notify each eligible hospital of 
74.9 	any changes to the payment methodologies in this section, including but not limited to 
74.10 	changes in the directed payment rates, the aggregate directed payment amount for all eligible 
74.11 	hospitals, and the eligible hospital's directed payment amount for the upcoming calendar 
74.12 	year.
74.13 	(l) The commissioner must distribute payments required under this section for each 
74.14 	eligible hospital within 30 days of a quarterly assessment under section 256.9657, subdivision 
74.15 	2b, being received. The commissioner must pay the directed payments to health plans under 
74.16 	contract no later than January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 each year.
74.17 	(m) A hospital is not entitled to payments under this section until it is an eligible hospital. 
74.18 	An eligible hospital that has merged with another hospital must have its payments under 
74.19 	this section revised at the start of the first full fiscal year after the merger is complete. A 
74.20 	closed eligible hospital is entitled to the payments under this section for services provided 
74.21 	through the final date of operations.
74.22 		Subd. 4.Health plan duties; submission of claims. Each health plan must submit to 
74.23 	the commissioner, in accordance with its contract with the commissioner to serve as a 
74.24 	managed care organization in medical assistance, payment information for each claim paid 
74.25 	to an eligible hospital for services provided to a medical assistance enrollee. Health plans 
74.26 	must allow each eligible hospital to review the health plan's own paid claims detail to enable 
74.27 	proper validation that the medical assistance managed care claims volume and content is 
74.28 	consistent with the eligible hospital's internal records. To support the validation process for 
74.29 	the directed payment program, health plans must permit the commissioner to share inpatient 
74.30 	and outpatient claims-level details with eligible hospitals identifying only those claims 
74.31 	where the prepaid medical assistance program under section 256B.69 is the payer source. 
74.32 	Eligible hospitals must provide notice of discrepancies in claims paid to the commissioner 
74.33 	in a form determined by the commissioner. The commissioner is authorized to determine 
74.34 	the final disposition of the validation process for disputed claims.
75.1 		Subd. 5.Health plan duties; directed payment add-on. (a) Each health plan must 
75.2 	make, in accordance with its contract with the commissioner to serve as a managed care 
75.3 	organization in medical assistance, a directed payment to each eligible hospital. The amount 
75.4 	of the directed payment to the eligible hospital must be equal to the payment amounts the 
75.5 	plan received from the commissioner for the hospital.
75.6 	(b) Health plans are prohibited from:
75.7 	(1) setting, establishing, or negotiating reimbursement rates with an eligible hospital in 
75.8 	a manner that directly or indirectly takes into account a directed payment that a hospital 
75.9 	receives under this section;
75.10 	(2) unnecessarily delaying a directed payment to an eligible hospital; or
75.11 	(3) recouping or offsetting a directed payment for any reason, except as expressly 
75.12 	authorized by the commissioner.
75.13 		Subd. 6.Hospital duties; quarterly supplemental directed payment add-on. (a) An 
75.14 	eligible hospital receiving a directed payment under this section is prohibited from:
75.15 	(1) setting, establishing, or negotiating reimbursement rates with a managed care 
75.16 	organization in a manner that directly or indirectly takes into account a directed payment 
75.17 	that an eligible hospital receives under this section; or
75.18 	(2) directly passing on the cost of an assessment to patients or nonmedical assistance 
75.19 	payers, including as a fee or rate increase.
75.20 	(b) An eligible hospital that violates this subdivision is prohibited from receiving a 
75.21 	directed payment under this section for the remainder of the calendar year. This subdivision 
75.22 	does not prohibit an eligible hospital from negotiating with a payer for a rate increase.
75.23 	(c) Any eligible hospital receiving a directed payment under this section must meet the 
75.24 	commissioner's standards for directed payments as described in subdivision 7.
75.25 		Subd. 7.State minimum policy goals established. (a) The effect of the directed 
75.26 	payments under this section must align with the state's policy goals for medical assistance 
75.27 	enrollees. The directed payments must be used to maintain quality and access to a full range 
75.28 	of health care delivery mechanisms for medical assistance enrollees, and specifically provide 
75.29 	improvement for one of the following quality measures:
75.30 	(1) overall well child visit rates;
75.31 	(2) maternal depression screening rates; or
75.32 	(3) colon cancer screening rates.
76.1 	(b) The commissioner, in consultation with the Minnesota Hospital Association, must 
76.2 	submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services a quality measures performance 
76.3 	evaluation criteria and methodology to regularly measure access to care and the achievement 
76.4 	of state policy goals described in this subdivision.
76.5 	(c) The quality measures evaluation data, as determined by paragraph (b), must be 
76.6 	reported to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services after at least 12 months of 
76.7 	directed payments to hospitals.
76.8 		Subd. 8.Administrative review. Before making the payments required under this 
76.9 	section, and on at least an annual basis, the commissioner must consult with and provide 
76.10 	for review of the payment amounts by a permanent select committee established by the 
76.11 	Minnesota Hospital Association. Any data or information reviewed by members of the 
76.12 	committee are data not on individuals, as defined in section 13.02. The committee's members 
76.13 	may not include any current employee or paid consultant of any hospital.

76.14 	EFFECTIVE DATE. (a) This section is effective the later of January 1, 2026, or federal 
76.15 	approval of all of the following:
76.16 	(1) the amendments in this act adding Minnesota Statutes, section 256.9657, subdivision 
76.17 	2b; and
76.18 	(2) the amendments in this act to this section.
76.19 	(b) The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes when federal 
76.20 	approval for all amendments set forth in paragraph (a) is obtained.

76.21 	Sec. 17. [256B.1975] HOSPITAL DIRECTED PAYMENT PROGRAM ACCOUNT.
76.22 		Subdivision 1.Account established; appropriation. (a) The hospital directed payment 
76.23 	program account is created in the special revenue fund in the state treasury.
76.24 	(b) Money in the account, including interest earned, is annually appropriated to the 
76.25 	commissioner for the purposes specified in section 256B.1974.
76.26 	(c) Transfers from this account to another fund are prohibited, except as necessary to 
76.27 	make the payments required under section 256B.1974.
76.28 		Subd. 2.Reports to the legislature. By January 15, 2027, and each January 15 thereafter, 
76.29 	the commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
76.30 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance 
76.31 	that details the activities and uses of money in the hospital directed payment program 
77.1 	account, including the metrics and outcomes of the policy goals established by section 
77.2 	256B.1974, subdivision 7.

77.3 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective on the later of January 1, 2026, or federal 
77.4 	approval of the amendments in this act adding Minnesota Statutes, section 256.9657, 
77.5 	subdivision 2b. The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes 
77.6 	when federal approval is obtained.

77.7 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.69, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
77.8 		Subd. 3a.County authority. (a) The commissioner, when implementing the medical 
77.9 	assistance prepayment program within a county, must include the county board in the process 
77.10 	of development, approval, and issuance of the request for proposals to provide services to 
77.11 	eligible individuals within the proposed county. County boards must be given reasonable 
77.12 	opportunity to make recommendations regarding the development, issuance, review of 
77.13 	responses, and changes needed in the request for proposals. The commissioner must provide 
77.14 	county boards the opportunity to review each proposal based on the identification of 
77.15 	community needs under chapters 142F and 145A and county advocacy activities. If a county 
77.16 	board finds that a proposal does not address certain community needs, the county board and 
77.17 	commissioner shall continue efforts for improving the proposal and network prior to the 
77.18 	approval of the contract. The county board shall make recommendations regarding the 
77.19 	approval of local networks and their operations to ensure adequate availability and access 
77.20 	to covered services. The provider or health plan must respond directly to county advocates 
77.21 	and the state prepaid medical assistance ombudsperson regarding service delivery and must 
77.22 	be accountable to the state regarding contracts with medical assistance funds. The county 
77.23 	board may recommend a maximum number of participating health plans after considering 
77.24 	the size of the enrolling population; ensuring adequate access and capacity; considering the 
77.25 	client and county administrative complexity; and considering the need to promote the 
77.26 	viability of locally developed health plans. The county board or a single entity representing 
77.27 	a group of county boards and the commissioner shall mutually select health plans for 
77.28 	participation at the time of initial implementation of the prepaid medical assistance program 
77.29 	in that county or group of counties and at the time of contract renewal. The commissioner 
77.30 	shall also seek input for contract requirements from the county or single entity representing 
77.31 	a group of county boards at each contract renewal and incorporate those recommendations 
77.32 	into the contract negotiation process.
77.33 	(b) At the option of the county board, the board may develop contract requirements 
77.34 	related to the achievement of local public health goals to meet the health needs of medical 
78.1 	assistance enrollees. These requirements must be reasonably related to the performance of 
78.2 	health plan functions and within the scope of the medical assistance benefit set. If the county 
78.3 	board and the commissioner mutually agree to such requirements, the department shall 
78.4 	include such requirements in all health plan contracts governing the prepaid medical 
78.5 	assistance program in that county at initial implementation of the program in that county 
78.6 	and at the time of contract renewal. The county board may participate in the enforcement 
78.7 	of the contract provisions related to local public health goals.
78.8 	(c) For counties in which a prepaid medical assistance program has not been established, 
78.9 	the commissioner shall not implement that program if a county board submits an acceptable 
78.10 	and timely preliminary and final proposal under section 256B.692, until county-based 
78.11 	purchasing is no longer operational in that county. For counties in which a prepaid medical 
78.12 	assistance program is in existence on or after September 1, 1997, the commissioner must 
78.13 	terminate contracts with health plans according to section 256B.692, subdivision 5, if the 
78.14 	county board submits and the commissioner accepts a preliminary and final proposal 
78.15 	according to that subdivision. The commissioner is not required to terminate contracts that 
78.16 	begin on or after September 1, 1997, according to section 256B.692 until two years have 
78.17 	elapsed from the date of initial enrollment. This paragraph expires upon the effective date 
78.18 	of paragraph (d).
78.19 	(d) For counties in which a prepaid medical assistance program is in existence on or 
78.20 	after September 1, 1997, the commissioner must terminate contracts with health plans 
78.21 	according to section 256B.692, subdivision 5, if the county board submits and the 
78.22 	commissioner accepts a preliminary and final proposal according to that subdivision. This 
78.23 	paragraph is effective January 1, 2027, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. The 
78.24 	commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes when federal approval 
78.25 	is obtained.
78.26 	(d) (e) In the event that a county board or a single entity representing a group of county 
78.27 	boards and the commissioner cannot reach agreement regarding: (i) the selection of 
78.28 	participating health plans in that county; (ii) contract requirements; or (iii) implementation 
78.29 	and enforcement of county requirements including provisions regarding local public health 
78.30 	goals, the commissioner shall resolve all disputes after taking into account the 
78.31 	recommendations of a three-person mediation panel. The panel shall be composed of one 
78.32 	designee of the president of the association of Minnesota counties, one designee of the 
78.33 	commissioner of human services, and one person selected jointly by the designee of the 
78.34 	commissioner of human services and the designee of the Association of Minnesota Counties. 
78.35 	Within a reasonable period of time before the hearing, the panelists must be provided all 
79.1 	documents and information relevant to the mediation. The parties to the mediation must be 
79.2 	given 30 days' notice of a hearing before the mediation panel.
79.3 	(e) (f) If a county which elects to implement county-based purchasing ceases to implement 
79.4 	county-based purchasing, it is prohibited from assuming the responsibility of county-based 
79.5 	purchasing for a period of five years from the date it discontinues purchasing.
79.6 	(f) (g) The commissioner shall not require that contractual disputes between county-based 
79.7 	purchasing entities and the commissioner be mediated by a panel that includes a 
79.8 	representative of the Minnesota Council of Health Plans.
79.9 	(g) (h) At the request of a county-purchasing entity, the commissioner shall adopt a 
79.10 	contract reprocurement or renewal schedule under which all counties included in the entity's 
79.11 	service area are reprocured or renewed at the same time.
79.12 	(h) (i) The commissioner shall provide a written report under section 3.195 to the chairs 
79.13 	of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over human services in the senate and the 
79.14 	house of representatives describing in detail the activities undertaken by the commissioner 
79.15 	to ensure full compliance with this section. The report must also provide an explanation for 
79.16 	any decisions of the commissioner not to accept the recommendations of a county or group 
79.17 	of counties required to be consulted under this section. The report must be provided at least 
79.18 	30 days prior to the effective date of a new or renewed prepaid or managed care contract 
79.19 	in a county.

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

79.21 	Sec. 19. [256B.695] COUNTY-ADMINISTERED RURAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE 
79.22 	PROGRAM.
79.23 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
79.24 	the meanings given.
79.25 	(b) "CARMA" means the county-administered rural medical assistance program 
79.26 	established under this section.
79.27 	(c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.
79.28 	(d) "Eligible individual" means an individual who is:
79.29 	(1) residing in a county administering CARMA; and
79.30 	(2) eligible for medical assistance, MinnesotaCare, Minnesota Senior Health Options 
79.31 	(MSHO), Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+), or Special Needs Basic Care (SNBC).
80.1 	(e) "Enrollee" means an individual enrolled in CARMA.
80.2 	(f) "PMAP" means the prepaid medical assistance program under section 256B.69.
80.3 	(g) "Rural county" has the meaning given to "rural area" in Code of Federal Regulations, 
80.4 	title 42, section 438.52.
80.5 		Subd. 2.Program established. CARMA is established to:
80.6 	(1) provide a county-owned and county-administered alternative to PMAP;
80.7 	(2) facilitate integration of health care, public health, and social services to address 
80.8 	health-related social needs in rural communities;
80.9 	(3) account for the fewer enrollees and local providers of health care and community 
80.10 	services in rural communities; and
80.11 	(4) promote accountability for health outcomes, health equity, customer service, 
80.12 	community outreach, and cost of care.
80.13 		Subd. 3.County participation. Each county or group of counties authorized under 
80.14 	section 256B.692 may administer CARMA for any or all eligible individuals as an alternative 
80.15 	to PMAP, MinnesotaCare, MSHO, MSC+, or SNBC programs. Counties choosing and 
80.16 	authorized to administer CARMA are exempt from the procurement process as required 
80.17 	under section 256B.69.
80.18 		Subd. 4.Oversight and regulation. CARMA is governed by sections 256B.69 and 
80.19 	256B.692, unless otherwise provided for under this section. The commissioner must develop 
80.20 	and implement a procurement process requiring applications from county-based purchasing 
80.21 	plans interested in offering CARMA. The procurement process must require county-based 
80.22 	purchasing plans to demonstrate compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements 
80.23 	and the ability to meet the goals of the program set forth in subdivision 2. The commissioner 
80.24 	must review and approve or disapprove applications.
80.25 		Subd. 5.CARMA enrollment. (a) Subject to paragraphs (d) and (e), eligible individuals 
80.26 	must be automatically enrolled in CARMA, but may decline enrollment. Eligible individuals 
80.27 	may enroll in fee-for-service medical assistance. Eligible individuals may change their 
80.28 	CARMA elections on an annual basis.
80.29 	(b) Eligible individuals must be able to enroll in CARMA through the selection process 
80.30 	in accordance with the election period established in section 256B.69, subdivision 4, 
80.31 	paragraph (e).
81.1 	(c) Enrollees who were not previously enrolled in the medical assistance program or 
81.2 	MinnesotaCare can change their selection once within the first year after enrollment in 
81.3 	CARMA. Enrollees who were not previously enrolled in CARMA have 90 days to make a 
81.4 	change and changes are allowed for additional special circumstances.
81.5 	(d) The commissioner may offer a second health plan other than, and in addition to, 
81.6 	CARMA to eligible individuals when another health plan is required by federal law or rule. 
81.7 	The commissioner may offer a replacement plan to eligible individuals, as determined by 
81.8 	the commissioner, when counties administering CARMA have their contract terminated 
81.9 	for cause.
81.10 	(e) The commissioner may, on a county-by-county basis, offer a health plan other than, 
81.11 	and in addition to, CARMA to individuals who are eligible for both Medicare and medical 
81.12 	assistance due to age or disability if the commissioner deems it necessary for enrollees to 
81.13 	have another choice of health plan. Factors the commissioner must consider when 
81.14 	determining if the other health plan is necessary include the number of available Medicare 
81.15 	Advantage Plan options that are not special needs plans in the county, the size of the enrolling 
81.16 	population, the additional administrative burden placed on providers and counties by multiple 
81.17 	health plan options in a county, the need to ensure the viability and success of the CARMA 
81.18 	program, and the impact to the medical assistance program.
81.19 	(f) In counties where the commissioner is required by federal law or elects to offer a 
81.20 	second health plan other than CARMA pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (e), eligible enrollees 
81.21 	who do not select a health plan at the time of enrollment must automatically be enrolled in 
81.22 	CARMA.
81.23 	(g) This subdivision supersedes section 256B.694.
81.24 		Subd. 6.Benefits and services. (a) Counties or groups of counties administering CARMA 
81.25 	must cover all benefits and services required to be covered by medical assistance under 
81.26 	section 256B.0625.
81.27 	(b) Counties or groups of counties administering CARMA may include health-related 
81.28 	social needs (HRSN) benefits as covered services under medical assistance as of January 
81.29 	1, 2030. Coverage for HRSN must be based on the assessed needs of housing, food, 
81.30 	transportation, utilities, and interpersonal safety.
81.31 	(c) Counties or groups of counties administering CARMA may reimburse enrollees 
81.32 	directly for out-of-pocket costs incurred obtaining assessed HRSN services provided by 
81.33 	nontraditional providers who are unable to accept payment via traditional health insurance 
82.1 	methods. Enrollees must not be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs paid to providers eligible 
82.2 	to enroll.
82.3 		Subd. 7.Payment. (a) The commissioner, in consultation with counties and groups of 
82.4 	counties administering CARMA, must develop a mechanism for making payments to 
82.5 	counties and groups of counties that administer CARMA. The payment mechanism must:
82.6 	(1) be governed by contracts with terms, including but not limited to payment rates, 
82.7 	amended on an as-needed basis;
82.8 	(2) pay a full-risk monthly capitation payment for services included in CARMA, including 
82.9 	the cost for administering CARMA benefits and services;
82.10 	(3) include risk corridors based on minimum loss ratio, total cost of care, or other metrics;
82.11 	(4) include a settle-up process tied to the risk corridor arrangement allowing a county 
82.12 	or group of counties administering CARMA to retain savings for reinvestment in health 
82.13 	care activities and operations to protect against significant losses that a county or group of 
82.14 	counties administering CARMA or the state might realize, beginning no sooner than after 
82.15 	a county's or group of counties' third year of CARMA operations;
82.16 	(5) include a collaborative rate-setting process accounting for CARMA experience, 
82.17 	regional experience, and the Department of Human Services fee-for-service experience; 
82.18 	and
82.19 	(6) be exempt from section 256B.69, subdivisions 5a, paragraphs (c) and (f), and 5d, 
82.20 	and payment for Medicaid services provided under section 256B.69, subdivision 28, 
82.21 	paragraph (b), no sooner than three years after CARMA implementation.
82.22 	(b) Payments for benefits and services under subdivision 6, paragraph (a), must not 
82.23 	exceed payments that otherwise would have been paid to health plans under medical 
82.24 	assistance for that county or region. Payments for HRSN benefits under subdivision 6, 
82.25 	paragraph (b), must be in addition to payments for benefits and services under subdivision 
82.26 	6, paragraph (a).
82.27 		Subd. 8.Quality measures. (a) The commissioner and counties and groups of counties 
82.28 	administering CARMA must collaborate to establish quality measures for CARMA not to 
82.29 	exceed the extent of quality measures required under sections 256B.69 and 256B.692. The 
82.30 	measures must include:
82.31 	(1) enrollee experience and outcomes;
82.32 	(2) population health;
83.1 	(3) health equity; and
83.2 	(4) the value of health care spending.
83.3 	(b) The commissioner and counties and groups of counties administering CARMA must 
83.4 	collaborate to define a quality improvement model for CARMA. The model must include 
83.5 	a focus on locally specified measures based on counties' unique needs. The locally specified 
83.6 	measures for the county or group of counties administering CARMA must be determined 
83.7 	before the commissioner enters into any contract with a county or group of counties.
83.8 		Subd. 9.Data and systems integration. The commissioner and counties and groups of 
83.9 	counties administering CARMA must collaborate to:
83.10 	(1) identify and address barriers that prevent counties and groups of counties 
83.11 	administering CARMA from reviewing individual enrollee eligibility information to identify 
83.12 	eligibility and to help enrollees apply for other appropriate programs and resources;
83.13 	(2) identify and address barriers preventing counties and groups of counties administering 
83.14 	CARMA from more readily communicating with and educating potential and current 
83.15 	enrollees regarding other program opportunities, including helping enrollees apply for those 
83.16 	programs and navigate transitions between programs;
83.17 	(3) develop and test, in counties participating in CARMA, a universal public assistance 
83.18 	application form to reduce the administrative barriers associated with applying for and 
83.19 	participating in various public programs;
83.20 	(4) identify and address regulatory and system barriers that may prohibit counties and 
83.21 	groups of counties administering CARMA, agencies, and other partners from working 
83.22 	together to identify and address an individual's needs;
83.23 	(5) facilitate greater interoperability between counties and groups of counties 
83.24 	administering CARMA, agencies, and other partners to send and receive the data necessary 
83.25 	to support CARMA, counties, and local health system efforts to improve the health and 
83.26 	welfare of prospective and enrolled populations;
83.27 	(6) support efforts of counties and groups of counties administering CARMA to 
83.28 	incorporate the necessary automation and interoperability to eliminate manual processes 
83.29 	when related to the data exchanged; and
83.30 	(7) support the creation and maintenance by counties and groups of counties administering 
83.31 	CARMA of an updated electronic inventory of community resources available to assist the 
83.32 	enrollee in the enrollee's HRSN, including an electronic closed-loop referral system.

84.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2027, or upon federal approval, 
84.2 	whichever is later. The commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes 
84.3 	when federal approval is obtained.

84.4 	Sec. 20. IMPLEMENTATION OF HOSPITAL ASSESSMENT AND DIRECTED 
84.5 	PAYMENT PROGRAM.
 84.6 	(a) The commissioner of human services must immediately begin all necessary claims 
84.7 	analysis to calculate the assessment and payments required under Minnesota Statutes, section 
84.8 	256.9657, subdivision 2b, and the hospital directed payment program described in Minnesota 
84.9 	Statutes, section 256B.1974.
84.10 	(b) The commissioner of human services, in consultation with the Minnesota Hospital 
84.11 	Association, must submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services a request for 
84.12 	federal approval to implement the hospital assessment described in Minnesota Statutes, 
84.13 	section 256.9657, subdivision 2b, and the hospital directed payment program under 
84.14 	Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.1974. At least 15 days before submitting the request for 
84.15 	approval, the commissioner must make available to the public the draft assessment 
84.16 	requirements, the draft directed payment details, and an estimate of each assessment amount 
84.17 	for each eligible hospital without an exemption from the assessment pursuant to Minnesota 
84.18 	Statutes, section 256.9657, subdivision 2b, paragraph (k).
84.19 	(c) During the design and prior to submission of the request for approval under paragraph 
84.20 	(b), the commissioner of human services must consult with the Minnesota Hospital 
84.21 	Association and any eligible hospitals without an exemption from the assessment pursuant 
84.22 	to Minnesota Statutes, section 256.9657, subdivision 2b, paragraph (k), and that are not 
84.23 	members of the Minnesota Hospital Association.
84.24 	(d) If federal approval is received for the request under paragraph (b), the commissioner 
84.25 	of human services must provide at least 15 days of public posting and review of the federally 
84.26 	approved terms and conditions for the assessment and the directed payment program prior 
84.27 	to any assessment under Minnesota Statutes, section 256.9657, subdivision 2b, becoming 
84.28 	due from an eligible hospital.

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

84.30 	Sec. 21. REQUEST FOR FEDERAL WAIVER.
 84.31 	The commissioner of human services must seek all federal waivers and authority 
84.32 	necessary to implement the county-assisted rural medical assistance (CARMA) program 
85.1 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.695. Any part of the CARMA program that does 
85.2 	not require federal approval shall have an effective date as specified in state law. The 
85.3 	commissioner of human services shall notify the revisor of statutes when federal approval 
85.4 	is obtained.

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

85.6 	Sec. 22. COUNTY-ADMINISTERED RURAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 
85.7 	IMPLEMENTATION COSTS.
 85.8 	Up to $500,000 of the nonfederal share of the costs to the Department of Human Services 
85.9 	for implementation of the requirements under the county-assisted rural medical assistance 
85.10 	(CARMA) program under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.695, must be paid via an 
85.11 	intergovernmental funds transfer to the commissioner of human services by each county or 
85.12 	group of counties authorized under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.692, seeking to 
85.13 	administer a CARMA program. The costs must be paid in a manner that is in compliance 
85.14 	with the requirements of Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 433.51. Within one 
85.15 	year of receiving payment under this section, the commissioner must provide a settle-up 
85.16 	process for any county or group of counties authorized under Minnesota Statutes, section 
85.17 	256B.692, administering a CARMA program and making payment under this section to 
85.18 	document and adjust payments owed to account for the commissioner's actual implementation 
85.19 	costs for Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.695.

85.20 	Sec. 23. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE COVERAGE OF TRADITIONAL HEALTH 
85.21 	CARE PRACTICES.
 85.22 		Subdivision 1.Waiver request. By October 1, 2025, the commissioner of human services, 
85.23 	in consultation with Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations, shall apply 
85.24 	to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver to allow the state's medical 
85.25 	assistance program to provide coverage for traditional health care practices received through 
85.26 	Indian health service facilities, facilities operated by Tribes or Tribal organizations under 
85.27 	the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, or facilities operated by urban 
85.28 	Indian organizations under Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
85.29 		Subd. 2.Requirements. (a) A qualified provider must determine whether a medical 
85.30 	assistance enrollee is eligible to receive traditional health care practices under this section.
85.31 	(b) Traditional health care practices are covered under this section if they are received 
85.32 	from a qualified provider.
86.1 	(c) For purposes of this section, "qualified provider" means a practitioner or provider 
86.2 	who is employed by or under contract with the Indian Health Service, a 638 Tribal clinic, 
86.3 	or a Title V urban Indian organization. Each facility is responsible for ensuring that a 
86.4 	qualified provider has the necessary experience and appropriate training to provide traditional 
86.5 	health care practices.
86.6 		Subd. 3.Payments for traditional health care practices. Reimbursement for traditional 
86.7 	health care practices under this section is set at the outpatient, per-visit rate established by 
86.8 	the Indian Health Service under sections 321(a) and 322(b) of the Public Health Service 
86.9 	Act. Reimbursement is limited to one payment per day, per medical assistance enrollee 
86.10 	receiving traditional health care practices.

86.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, 
86.12 	whichever is later, except that subdivision 1 is effective the day following final enactment. 
86.13 	The commissioner of human services must notify the revisor of statutes when federal 
86.14 	approval is obtained.

86.15 	Sec. 24. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES; ENHANCED 
86.16 	FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES IN 
86.17 	MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
 86.18 	The commissioner of human services must make the systems modification necessary to 
86.19 	claim enhanced federal reimbursement for all family planning services under the medical 
86.20 	assistance program.

86.21 	Sec. 25. DENTAL ACCESS WORKING GROUP.
 86.22 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. (a) The commissioner of human services must establish 
86.23 	a working group as part of the Dental Services Advisory Committee to identify and make 
86.24 	recommendations on the state's goals, priorities, and processes for contracting with a dental 
86.25 	administrator under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.0371.
86.26 	(b) The working group must include members of the Dental Services Advisory 
86.27 	Committee, and at least one representative from each of the following:
86.28 	(1) critical access dental providers;
86.29 	(2) dental providers that primarily serve low-income and socioeconomically complex 
86.30 	populations;
86.31 	(3) dental providers that serve private-pay patients as well as medical assistance and 
86.32 	MinnesotaCare enrollees;
87.1 	(4) rural critical access dental providers that do not have clinics in the seven-county 
87.2 	metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2; and
87.3 	(5) managed care plans.
87.4 		Subd. 2.Recommendations. (a) The working group must provide recommendations to 
87.5 	the commissioner on:
87.6 	(1) establishing and implementing a dental payment rate structure for medical assistance 
87.7 	and MinnesotaCare that:
87.8 	(i) is based on the most recent cost data available;
87.9 	(ii) promotes accountability while considering geographic differences in access to and 
87.10 	cost of dental services, critical access dental status, patient characteristics, transportation 
87.11 	needs, and medical and dental benefit coordination; and
87.12 	(iii) can be updated regularly;
87.13 	(2) performance benchmarks that focus on improving oral health for medical assistance 
87.14 	and MinnesotaCare enrollees, including consideration of Dental Quality Alliance and Oral 
87.15 	Health Impact Profile measures for broader assessment of a full range of services, and the 
87.16 	feasibility, cost, and value of providing the services;
87.17 	(3) methods for measuring progress toward the performance benchmarks and holding 
87.18 	the dental administrator accountable for progress, including providing rewards for progress;
87.19 	(4) establishing goals and processes to ensure coordination of care among medical 
87.20 	assistance and MinnesotaCare providers, including dental, medical, and other care providers, 
87.21 	particularly for patients with complex cases engaged in active treatment plans at the time 
87.22 	of transition to the dental administrator under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.0371;
87.23 	(5) developing and implementing an infrastructure and workforce development strategy 
87.24 	that invests in the medical assistance and MinnesotaCare dental system through grants and 
87.25 	loans at a level that enables continued development of dental capacity commensurate with 
87.26 	that obtained through the managed care delivery system and from philanthropic sources; 
87.27 	and
87.28 	(6) developing and implementing a workforce development strategy to support the 
87.29 	pipeline of dental providers and oral health practitioners at all levels.
87.30 	(b) The working group must provide the recommendations required under this subdivision 
87.31 	to the commissioner by ........
88.1 		Subd. 3.Reporting requirements. (a) By ......., the commissioner, in consultation with 
88.2 	its contracted dental administrator, must develop an implementation plan and timeline to 
88.3 	effectuate the recommendations from the working group under this section.
88.4 	(b) By ......., the commissioner must submit a report with the working group 
88.5 	recommendations, implementation plan, timeline, and any draft legislation required to 
88.6 	implement the implementation plan to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
88.7 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance.

88.8 	Sec. 26. REPEALER.
 88.9 	(a) Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 16, section 22, is repealed.
88.10 	(b) Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivisions 18b, 18e, and 18h, are 
88.11 	repealed.

88.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. Paragraph (b) is effective July 1, 2026, for medical assistance 
88.13 	fee-for-service and January 1, 2027, for prepaid medical assistance.

88.14 	ARTICLE 6
88.15 	OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

88.16 	Section 1. [144E.54] AMBULANCE OPERATING DEFICIT GRANT PROGRAM.
88.17 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this 
88.18 	subdivision have the meanings given.
88.19 	(b) "Capital expenses" means expenses incurred by a licensee for the purchase, 
88.20 	improvement, or maintenance of assets with an expected useful life of greater than five 
88.21 	years that improve the efficiency of provided ambulance services or the capabilities of the 
88.22 	licensee.
88.23 	(c) "Eligible applicant" or "eligible licensee" means any licensee who possessed a license 
88.24 	not excluded under subdivision 4 or 5 in the last completed state fiscal year for which data 
88.25 	was provided to the director, as provided in section 62J.49; who continues to operate that 
88.26 	same nonexcluded license at the time of application; and who provides verifiable evidence 
88.27 	of an operating deficit in the state fiscal year prior to submitting an application.
88.28 	(d) "Government licensee" means any government entity, as defined in section 118A.01, 
88.29 	subdivision 2, including a Tribe, that is a licensee.
88.30 	(e) "Insurance revenue" means revenue from Medicare, medical assistance, private health 
88.31 	insurance, third-party liability insurance, and payments from individuals.
89.1 	(f) "Operating deficit" means the sum of insurance revenue and other revenue is less 
89.2 	than the sum of operational expenses and capital expenses.
89.3 	(g) "Operational expenses" means costs related to the day-to-day operations of an 
89.4 	ambulance service, including but not limited to costs related to personnel, supplies and 
89.5 	equipment, fuel, vehicle maintenance, travel, education, and fundraising.
89.6 	(h) "Other revenue" means revenue from any revenue that is not insurance revenue, 
89.7 	including but not limited to grants, tax revenue, donations, fundraisers, or standby fees. 
89.8 	Grants awarded under this section must not be considered revenue.
89.9 		Subd. 2.Program establishment. An ambulance operating deficit grant program is 
89.10 	established to award grants to applicants to address revenue shortfalls creating operating 
89.11 	deficits among eligible applicants.
89.12 		Subd. 3.Licensee providing specialized life support services excluded. Licensees 
89.13 	providing specialized life support services as described in section 144E.101, subdivision 9, 
89.14 	are not eligible for grants under this section.
89.15 		Subd. 4.Other licensees excluded. Licensees whose individual primary service areas 
89.16 	are located mostly within a metropolitan county listed in section 473.121, subdivision 4, or 
89.17 	within the cities of Duluth, Mankato, St. Cloud, or Rochester are not eligible for grants 
89.18 	under this section.
89.19 		Subd. 5.Application process. (a) An eligible licensee may apply to the director, in the 
89.20 	form and manner determined by the director, for a grant under this section.
89.21 	(b) A grant application made by a government licensee must be accompanied by a 
89.22 	resolution of support from the governing body.
89.23 		Subd. 6.Director calculations. The director shall award grants only to applicants who 
89.24 	provide verifiable evidence of an operating deficit in the last completed state fiscal year for 
89.25 	which data were provided to the director. The director may audit the financial data provided 
89.26 	to the director by applicants, as provided in section 62J.49. A grant awarded must not be 
89.27 	more than five percent more than any previous grant without special permission from the 
89.28 	director.
89.29 		Subd. 7.Grant awards; limitations. (a) Grants awarded under this section to eligible 
89.30 	applicants may be proportionally distributed based on money available. Total amounts 
89.31 	awarded must not exceed the amount appropriated for purposes of this section.
89.32 	(b) The director shall award grants annually.
90.1 	(c) The director must not award individual grants that exceed the amount of the grantee's 
90.2 	most recent verified operating deficit as reported to the director.
90.3 		Subd. 8.Eligible expenditures. A grantee must spend grant money received under this 
90.4 	section on operational expenses and capital expenses incurred to provide ambulance services.
90.5 		Subd. 9.Report. By February 15, 2026, and annually thereafter, the director must submit 
90.6 	a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with 
90.7 	jurisdiction over health finance and policy. The report must describe the number and amount 
90.8 	of grants awarded under this section and the uses made of grant money by grantees.

90.9 	Sec. 2. [144E.55] RURAL EMS UNCOMPENSATED CARE POOL PAYMENT 
90.10 	PROGRAM.
90.11 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
90.12 	the meanings given.
90.13 	(b) "Eligible licensee" means a licensee that primarily provides ambulance services 
90.14 	outside the metropolitan counties listed in section 473.121, subdivision 4.
90.15 	(c) "Public safety answering point" has the meaning given in section 403.02, subdivision 
90.16 	19.
90.17 		Subd. 2.Payment program established. The director must establish and administer a 
90.18 	rural EMS uncompensated care pool payment program. Under the program, the director 
90.19 	must make payments to eligible licensees according to this section.
90.20 		Subd. 3.Excluded responses. The director must exclude EMS responses by specialized 
90.21 	life support, as described in section 144E.101, subdivision 9, in calculating payments under 
90.22 	this section.
90.23 		Subd. 4.Application process. (a) An eligible licensee seeking a payment under this 
90.24 	section must apply to the director each year by March 31, in the form and manner determined 
90.25 	by the director. In the application, the eligible licensee must specify the number of the 
90.26 	eligible licensee's EMS responses that meet the criteria in subdivision 5.
90.27 	(b) When an eligible licensee, an eligible licensee's parent company, a subsidiary of an 
90.28 	eligible licensee, or a subsidiary of an eligible licensee's parent company collectively hold 
90.29 	multiple licenses, the director must treat all such related licensees as a single eligible licensee.
90.30 		Subd. 5.Eligible EMS responses. In order for an EMS response to be an eligible EMS 
90.31 	response for purposes of subdivision 6, the EMS response must meet the following criteria:
91.1 	(1) the EMS response was initiated by a request for emergency medical services initially 
91.2 	received by a public safety answering point;
91.3 	(2) an ambulance responded to the scene;
91.4 	(3) the ambulance was not canceled while en route to the scene;
91.5 	(4) the ambulance did not transport a person from the scene to a hospital emergency 
91.6 	department;
91.7 	(5) the eligible licensee did not receive any payment for the EMS response from any 
91.8 	source; and
91.9 	(6) the EMS response was initiated between January 1 and December 31 of the year 
91.10 	prior to the year the application is submitted.
91.11 		Subd. 6.Calculations. (a) The director must calculate payments as provided in paragraphs 
91.12 	(b) and (c) for an eligible licensee that completes an application under subdivision 4.
91.13 	(b) The director must award points for eligible EMS responses as follows:
91.14 	(1) for eligible EMS responses one to 25, an eligible licensee is awarded ten points per 
91.15 	response;
91.16 	(2) for eligible EMS responses 26 to 50, an eligible licensee is awarded five points per 
91.17 	response;
91.18 	(3) for eligible EMS responses 51 to 100, an eligible licensee is awarded three points 
91.19 	per response;
91.20 	(4) for eligible EMS responses 101 to 200, an eligible licensee is awarded one point per 
91.21 	response; and
91.22 	(5) for eligible EMS responses exceeding 200, an eligible licensee is awarded zero points.
91.23 	(c) The director must total the number of all points awarded to all applying eligible 
91.24 	licensees under paragraph (b). The director must divide the amount appropriated for purposes 
91.25 	of this section by the total number of points awarded to determine a per-point amount. The 
91.26 	payment for each eligible licensee shall be calculated by multiplying the eligible licensee's 
91.27 	number of awarded points by the established per-point amount.
91.28 		Subd. 7.Payment. The director must certify the payment amount for each eligible 
91.29 	licensee and must make the full payment to each eligible licensee by May 30 each year.

92.1 	ARTICLE 7
92.2 	ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE

92.3 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142A.03, is amended by adding a subdivision 
92.4 	to read:
92.5 		Subd. 35.Electronic benefits transfer; contracting and procurement. Notwithstanding 
92.6 	chapter 16C, the commissioner is exempt from the contract term limits for the issuance of 
92.7 	public benefits through an electronic benefit transfer system and related services. These 
92.8 	contracts may have up to an initial five-year term, with extensions not to exceed a ten-year 
92.9 	total contract duration.

92.10 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142F.14, is amended to read:
92.11 	142F.14  FOOD SHELF.
92.12 		Subdivision 1.Distribution of appropriation. The commissioner must distribute funds 
92.13 	appropriated to the commissioner by law for that purpose for purposes of this section to 
92.14 	Hunger Solutions The Food Group, a statewide association of food shelves organized as a 
92.15 	nonprofit corporation as defined under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
92.16 	1986, to distribute to qualifying food shelves. A food shelf qualifies under this section if:
92.17 	(1) it is a nonprofit corporation, or is affiliated with a nonprofit corporation, as defined 
92.18 	in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or a federally recognized Tribal 
92.19 	nation;
92.20 	(2) it distributes standard food orders without charge to needy individuals. The standard 
92.21 	food order must consist of at least a two-day supply or six pounds per person of nutritionally 
92.22 	balanced food items;
92.23 	(3) it does not limit food distributions to individuals of a particular religious affiliation, 
92.24 	race, or other criteria unrelated to need or to requirements necessary to administration of a 
92.25 	fair and orderly distribution system;
92.26 	(4) it does not use the money received or the food distribution program to foster or 
92.27 	advance religious or political views; and
92.28 	(5) it has a stable address and directly serves individuals.
92.29 		Subd. 2.Application. In order to receive money appropriated under this section, Hunger 
92.30 	Solutions The Food Group must apply to the commissioner. The application must be in a 
92.31 	form prescribed by the commissioner and must indicate the proportion of money each 
93.1 	qualifying food shelf shall receive. Applications must be filed at the times and for the periods 
93.2 	determined by the commissioner.
93.3 		Subd. 3.Distribution formula. Hunger Solutions The Food Group must distribute 
93.4 	money distributed to it by the department to food shelf programs in proportion to the number 
93.5 	of individuals served by each food shelf program. The commissioner must gather data from 
93.6 	Hunger Solutions The Food Group or other appropriate sources to determine the proportionate 
93.7 	amount each qualifying food shelf program is entitled to receive. The commissioner may 
93.8 	increase or decrease the qualifying food shelf program's proportionate amount if the 
93.9 	commissioner determines the increase or decrease is necessary or appropriate to meet 
93.10 	changing needs or demands.
93.11 		Subd. 4.Use of money. At least 96 percent of the money distributed to Hunger Solutions
93.12 	The Food Group under this section must be distributed to food shelf programs to purchase, 
93.13 	transport, and coordinate the distribution of nutritious food to needy individuals and families. 
93.14 	The money distributed to food shelf programs may also be used to purchase personal hygiene 
93.15 	products, including but not limited to diapers and toilet paper. No more than four percent 
93.16 	of the money may be expended for other expenses, such as rent, salaries, and other 
93.17 	administrative expenses of Hunger Solutions The Food Group.
93.18 		Subd. 5.Enforcement. Hunger Solutions The Food Group must retain records 
93.19 	documenting expenditure of the money and comply with any additional requirements 
93.20 	imposed by the commissioner. The commissioner may require Hunger Solutions The Food 
93.21 	Group to report on its use of the funds. The commissioner may require that the report contain 
93.22 	an independent audit. If ineligible expenditures are made by Hunger Solutions The Food 
93.23 	Group, the ineligible amount must be repaid to the commissioner and deposited in the 
93.24 	general fund.
93.25 		Subd. 6.Administrative expenses. All funds appropriated under this section must be 
93.26 	distributed to Hunger Solutions The Food Group as provided under this section with 
93.27 	deduction by the commissioner for administrative expenses limited to 1.8 percent.
93.28 		Subd. 7.Data classification. Data collected on individuals from which the identity of 
93.29 	any individual receiving services may be determined are private data on individuals as 
93.30 	defined in section 13.02.

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

94.1 	ARTICLE 8
94.2 	CHILD PROTECTION AND WELFARE POLICY

94.3 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.01, subdivision 15, is amended to read:
94.4 		Subd. 15.Individual who is related. "Individual who is related" means a spouse, a 
94.5 	parent, a birth or adopted child or stepchild, a stepparent, a stepbrother, a stepsister, a niece, 
94.6 	a nephew, an adoptive parent, a grandparent, a sibling, an aunt, an uncle, or a legal guardian.
94.7 	For purposes of family child foster care, individual who is related also includes an individual 
94.8 	who, prior to the child's placement in the individual's home for foster care or adoption, was 
94.9 	an important friend of the child or of the child's parent or custodian, including an individual 
94.10 	with whom the child has resided or had significant contact or who has a significant 
94.11 	relationship to the child or the child's parent or custodian.

94.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.05, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
94.13 		Subd. 3.Foster care by an individual who is related to a child; license required. (a) 
94.14 	Notwithstanding subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (1), in order to provide foster care for 
94.15 	a child, an individual who is related to the child, other than a parent, or legal guardian, must 
94.16 	be licensed by the commissioner except as provided by section 142B.06.
94.17 	(b) An individual who is related to the child may seek foster care licensure through the 
94.18 	county agency or a private agency in the community licensed and authorized by the 
94.19 	commissioner. The placing agency must provide information to all potential relative foster 
94.20 	care providers about this choice. Counties are not obligated to pay costs for services provided 
94.21 	by private agencies.
94.22 	(c) If an individual who is related to a child is seeking licensure to provide foster care 
94.23 	for the child and the individual has a domestic partner but is not married to the domestic 
94.24 	partner, only the individual related to the child must be licensed to provide foster care. The 
94.25 	commissioner must conduct background studies on household members according to section 
94.26 	245C.03, subdivision 1.

94.27 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.47, is amended to read:
94.28 	142B.47 TRAINING ON RISK OF SUDDEN UNEXPECTED INFANT DEATH 
94.29 	AND ABUSIVE HEAD TRAUMA FOR CHILD FOSTER CARE PROVIDERS.
94.30 	(a) Licensed child foster care providers, except individuals related to the child, that care 
94.31 	for infants or children through five years of age must document that before caregivers assist 
94.32 	in the care of infants or children through five years of age, they the caregivers are instructed 
95.1 	on the standards in section 142B.46 and receive training on reducing the risk of sudden 
95.2 	unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma from shaking infants and young children.
95.3 	Licensed child foster care providers who are related to the child and who only serve a relative 
95.4 	child must document completion of the training required under this section within 30 days 
95.5 	after licensure. This section does not apply to emergency relative placement under section 
95.6 	142B.06. The training on reducing the risk of sudden unexpected infant death and abusive 
95.7 	head trauma may be provided as:
95.8 	(1) orientation training to child foster care providers who care for infants or children 
95.9 	through five years of age under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 1; or
95.10 	(2) in-service training to child foster care providers who care for infants or children 
95.11 	through five years of age under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 2.
95.12 	(b) Training required under this section must be at least one hour in length and must be 
95.13 	completed at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the risk 
95.14 	factors related to sudden unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma, means of reducing 
95.15 	the risk of sudden unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma, and license holder 
95.16 	communication with parents regarding reducing the risk of sudden unexpected infant death 
95.17 	and abusive head trauma.
95.18 	(c) Training for child foster care providers must be approved by the county or private 
95.19 	licensing agency that is responsible for monitoring the child foster care provider under 
95.20 	section 142B.30. The approved training fulfills, in part, training required under Minnesota 
95.21 	Rules, part 2960.3070.

95.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

95.23 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.51, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
95.24 		Subd. 2.Child passenger restraint systems; training requirement. (a) Programs 
95.25 	licensed by the Department of Human Services under chapter 245A or the Department of 
95.26 	Children, Youth, and Families under this chapter and Minnesota Rules, chapter 2960, that 
95.27 	serve a child or children under eight years of age must document training that fulfills the 
95.28 	requirements in this subdivision.
95.29 	(b) Before a license holder, staff person, or caregiver transports a child or children under 
95.30 	age eight in a motor vehicle, the person transporting the child must satisfactorily complete 
95.31 	training on the proper use and installation of child restraint systems in motor vehicles. 
95.32 	Training completed under this section may be used to meet initial or ongoing training under 
95.33 	Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subparts 1 and 2.
96.1 	(c) Training required under this section must be completed at orientation or initial training 
96.2 	and repeated at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the 
96.3 	proper use of child restraint systems based on the child's size, weight, and age, and the 
96.4 	proper installation of a car seat or booster seat in the motor vehicle used by the license 
96.5 	holder to transport the child or children.
96.6 	(d) Training under paragraph (c) must be provided by individuals who are certified and 
96.7 	approved by the Office of Traffic Safety within the Department of Public Safety. License 
96.8 	holders may obtain a list of certified and approved trainers through the Department of Public 
96.9 	Safety website or by contacting the agency.
96.10 	(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for an emergency relative placement under section 
96.11 	142B.06, the commissioner may grant a variance to the training required by this subdivision 
96.12 	for a relative who completes a child seat safety check up. The child seat safety check up 
96.13 	trainer must be approved by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, and 
96.14 	must provide one-on-one instruction on placing a child of a specific age in the exact child 
96.15 	passenger restraint in the motor vehicle in which the child will be transported. Once granted 
96.16 	a variance, and if all other licensing requirements are met, the relative applicant may receive 
96.17 	a license and may transport a relative foster child younger than eight years of age. A child 
96.18 	seat safety check up must be completed each time a child requires a different size car seat 
96.19 	according to car seat and vehicle manufacturer guidelines. A relative license holder must 
96.20 	complete training that meets the other requirements of this subdivision prior to placement 
96.21 	of another foster child younger than eight years of age in the home or prior to the renewal 
96.22 	of the child foster care license.
96.23 	(f) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), a child foster care license holder who is an individual 
96.24 	related to the child and who only serves a relative child must document completion of the 
96.25 	training required under this section within 30 days after licensure.

96.26 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

96.27 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.80, is amended to read:
96.28 	142B.80 CHILD FOSTER CARE TRAINING REQUIREMENT; MENTAL 
96.29 	HEALTH TRAINING; FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS TRAINING.
96.30 	Prior to a nonemergency placement of a child in a foster care home, the child foster care 
96.31 	license holder and caregivers in foster family and treatment foster care settings must complete 
96.32 	two hours of training that addresses the causes, symptoms, and key warning signs of mental 
96.33 	health disorders; cultural considerations; and effective approaches for dealing with a child's 
97.1 	behaviors. At least one hour of the annual training requirement for the foster family license 
97.2 	holder and caregivers must be on children's mental health issues and treatment. Except for 
97.3 	providers and services under chapter 245D and child foster care license holders who are 
97.4 	individuals related to the child and who only serve a relative child who does not have fetal 
97.5 	alcohol spectrum disorder, the annual training must also include at least one hour of training 
97.6 	on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which must be counted toward the 12 hours of required 
97.7 	in-service training per year. Short-term substitute caregivers are exempt from these 
97.8 	requirements. Training curriculum shall be approved by the commissioner of children, 
97.9 	youth, and families.

97.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

97.11 	Sec. 6. [142B.81] CHILD FOSTER CARE TRAINING; RELATIVE CAREGIVERS.
97.12 	Notwithstanding the required hours under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 2, 
97.13 	a child foster care license holder who is an individual related to the child must complete a 
97.14 	minimum of six hours of in-service training per year in one or more of the areas in Minnesota 
97.15 	Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 2, or in other areas as agreed upon by the licensing agency 
97.16 	and the foster parent. The relative child foster care license holder must consult with the 
97.17 	licensing agency and complete training in areas that are most applicable to caring for the 
97.18 	relative children in foster care in the home. This section does not apply to a child foster care 
97.19 	license holder who is licensed to care for both a relative child and a nonrelative child.

97.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

97.21 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 245C.02, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
97.22 	read:
97.23 		Subd. 16b.Relative. "Relative" has the meaning given in section 260C.007, subdivision 
97.24 	27. For purposes of background studies affiliated with child foster care licensure, a person 
97.25 	is a relative if the person was known to the child or the child's parent before the child is 
97.26 	placed in foster care.

97.27 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256.045, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
97.28 		Subd. 7.Judicial review. (a) Except for a prepaid health plan, any party who is aggrieved 
97.29 	by an order of the commissioner of human services; the commissioner of health; or the 
97.30 	commissioner of children, youth, and families in appeals within the commissioner's 
97.31 	jurisdiction under subdivision 3b; or the Direct Care and Treatment executive board in 
98.1 	appeals within the jurisdiction of the executive board under subdivision 5a may appeal the 
98.2 	order to the in district court of.
98.3 	(b) A party appealing under this subdivision must file:
98.4 	(1) in the county responsible for furnishing assistance,; or, in
98.5 	(2) for appeals under subdivision 3b,:
98.6 	(i) in the county where the maltreatment occurred, by serving; or
98.7 	(ii) if the maltreatment occurred in another state or country, in the county where the 
98.8 	maltreatment was determined.
98.9 	(c) A party appealing under this subdivision must (1) serve a written copy of a notice 
98.10 	of appeal upon the applicable commissioner or executive board and any adverse party of 
98.11 	record within 30 days after the date the commissioner or executive board issued the order, 
98.12 	the amended order, or order affirming the original order, and by filing (2) file the original 
98.13 	notice and proof of service with the court administrator of the district court. Service may 
98.14 	be made personally or by mail; service by mail is complete upon mailing; no filing fee shall 
98.15 	be required by the court administrator in appeals taken pursuant to this subdivision, with 
98.16 	the exception of appeals taken under subdivision 3b.
98.17 	(d) The applicable commissioner or executive board may elect to become a party to the 
98.18 	proceedings in the district court.
98.19 	(e) Except for appeals under subdivision 3b, any party may demand that the commissioner 
98.20 	or executive board furnish all parties to the proceedings with a copy of the decision, and a 
98.21 	transcript of any testimony, evidence, or other supporting papers from the hearing held 
98.22 	before the human services judge, by serving a written demand upon the applicable 
98.23 	commissioner or executive board within 30 days after service of the notice of appeal.
98.24 	(f) Any party aggrieved by the failure of an adverse party to obey an order issued by the 
98.25 	commissioner or executive board under subdivision 5 or 5a may compel performance 
98.26 	according to the order in the manner prescribed in sections 586.01 to 586.12.

98.27 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260.65, is amended to read:
98.28 	260.65 NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS; RELATIVE PLACEMENT.
98.29 	(a) Prior to the removal of an African American or a disproportionately represented child 
98.30 	from the child's home, the responsible social services agency must make active efforts to 
98.31 	identify and locate the child's noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent and the child's relatives 
98.32 	to notify the child's parent and relatives that the child is or will be placed in foster care, and 
99.1 	provide the child's parent and relatives with a list of legal resources. The notice to the child's 
99.2 	noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent and relatives must also include the information 
99.3 	required under section 260C.221, subdivision 2, paragraph (b). The responsible social 
99.4 	services agency must maintain detailed records of the agency's efforts to notify parents and 
99.5 	relatives under this section.
99.6 	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 260C.219, the responsible social services 
99.7 	agency must assess an African American or a disproportionately represented child's 
99.8 	noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent's ability to care for the child before placing the child 
99.9 	in foster care. If a child's noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent is willing and able to provide 
99.10 	daily care for the African American or disproportionately represented child temporarily or 
99.11 	permanently, the court shall order that the child be placed in into the home of the noncustodial 
99.12 	or nonadjudicated parent pursuant to section 260C.178 or 260C.201, subdivision 1. The 
99.13 	responsible social services agency must make active efforts to assist a noncustodial or 
99.14 	nonadjudicated parent with remedying any issues that may prevent the child from being 
99.15 	placed with the ordered into the home of a noncustodial or nonadjudicated parent.
99.16 	(c) The relative search, notice, engagement, and placement consideration requirements 
99.17 	under section 260C.221 apply under this act.

99.18 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260.66, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
99.19 		Subdivision 1.Emergency removal or placement permitted. Nothing in this section 
99.20 	shall be construed to prevent the emergency removal of an African American or a 
99.21 	disproportionately represented child's parent or custodian child or the emergency placement 
99.22 	of the child in a foster setting in order to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the 
99.23 	child.

99.24 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260.691, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
99.25 		Subdivision 1.Establishment and duties. (a) The African American Child and Family 
99.26 	Well-Being Advisory Council is established for the Department of Children, Youth, and 
99.27 	Families.
99.28 	(b) The council shall consist of 31 members appointed by the commissioner and must 
99.29 	include representatives with lived personal or professional experience within African 
99.30 	American communities. Members may include but are not limited to youth who have exited 
99.31 	the child welfare system; parents; legal custodians; relative and kinship caregivers or foster 
99.32 	care providers; community service providers, advocates, and members; county and private 
99.33 	social services agency case managers; representatives from faith-based institutions; academic 
100.1 	professionals; a representative from the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage; the 
100.2 	Ombudsperson for African American Families; and other individuals with experience and 
100.3 	knowledge of African American communities. Council members must be selected through 
100.4 	an open appointments process under section 15.0597. The terms, compensation, and removal 
100.5 	of council members are governed by section 15.059.
100.6 	(c) The African American Child Well-Being Advisory council must:
100.7 	(1) review annual reports related to African American children involved in the child 
100.8 	welfare system. These reports may include but are not limited to the maltreatment, 
100.9 	out-of-home placement, and permanency of African American children;
100.10 	(2) assist with and make recommendations to the commissioner for developing strategies 
100.11 	to reduce maltreatment determinations, prevent unnecessary out-of-home placement, promote 
100.12 	culturally appropriate foster care and shelter or facility placement decisions and settings for 
100.13 	African American children in need of out-of-home placement, ensure timely achievement 
100.14 	of permanency, and improve child welfare outcomes for African American children and 
100.15 	their families;
100.16 	(3) review summary reports on targeted case reviews prepared by the commissioner to 
100.17 	ensure that responsible social services agencies meet the needs of African American children 
100.18 	and their families. Based on data collected from those reviews, the council shall assist the 
100.19 	commissioner with developing strategies needed to improve any identified child welfare 
100.20 	outcomes, including but not limited to maltreatment, out-of-home placement, and permanency 
100.21 	for African American children;
100.22 	(4) assist the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council with making make
100.23 	recommendations to the commissioner and the legislature for public policy and statutory 
100.24 	changes that specifically consider the needs of African American children and their families 
100.25 	involved in the child welfare system;
100.26 	(5) advise the commissioner on stakeholder engagement strategies and actions that the 
100.27 	commissioner and responsible social services agencies may take to improve child welfare 
100.28 	outcomes for African American children and their families;
100.29 	(6) assist the commissioner with developing strategies for public messaging and 
100.30 	communication related to racial disproportionality and disparities in child welfare outcomes 
100.31 	for African American children and their families;
100.32 	(7) assist the commissioner with identifying and developing internal and external 
100.33 	partnerships to support adequate access to services and resources for African American 
101.1 	children and their families, including but not limited to housing assistance, employment 
101.2 	assistance, food and nutrition support, health care, child care assistance, and educational 
101.3 	support and training; and
101.4 	(8) assist the commissioner with developing strategies to promote the development of 
101.5 	a culturally diverse and representative child welfare workforce in Minnesota that includes 
101.6 	professionals who are reflective of the community served and who have been directly 
101.7 	impacted by lived experiences within the child welfare system. The council must also assist 
101.8 	the commissioner with exploring strategies and partnerships to address education and training 
101.9 	needs, hiring, recruitment, retention, and professional advancement practices.

101.10 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260.692, is amended to read:
101.11 	260.692 AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILD AND FAMILY WELL-BEING UNIT.
101.12 		Subdivision 1.Duties. The African American Child and Family Well-Being Unit, 
101.13 	currently established by the commissioner, must:
101.14 	(1) assist with the development of African American cultural competency training and 
101.15 	review child welfare curriculum in the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy to 
101.16 	ensure that responsible social services agency staff and other child welfare professionals 
101.17 	are appropriately prepared to engage with African American children and their families and 
101.18 	to support family preservation and reunification;
101.19 	(2) provide technical assistance, including on-site technical assistance, and case 
101.20 	consultation to responsible social services agencies to assist agencies with implementing 
101.21 	and complying with the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare 
101.22 	Disproportionality Act;
101.23 	(3) monitor individual county and statewide disaggregated and nondisaggregated data 
101.24 	to identify trends and patterns in child welfare outcomes, including but not limited to 
101.25 	reporting, maltreatment, out-of-home placement, and permanency of African American 
101.26 	children and develop strategies to address disproportionality and disparities in the child 
101.27 	welfare system;
101.28 	(4) develop and implement a system for conducting case reviews when the commissioner 
101.29 	receives reports of noncompliance with the Minnesota African American Family Preservation 
101.30 	and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act or when requested by the parent or custodian of 
101.31 	an African American child. Case reviews may include but are not limited to a review of 
101.32 	placement prevention efforts, safety planning, case planning and service provision by the 
102.1 	responsible social services agency, relative placement consideration, and permanency 
102.2 	planning;
102.3 	(5) establish and administer a request for proposals process for African American and 
102.4 	disproportionately represented family preservation grants under section 260.693, monitor 
102.5 	grant activities, and provide technical assistance to grantees;
102.6 	(6) in coordination with the African American Child and Family Well-Being Advisory 
102.7 	Council, coordinate services and create internal and external partnerships to support adequate 
102.8 	access to services and resources for African American children and their families, including 
102.9 	but not limited to housing assistance, employment assistance, food and nutrition support, 
102.10 	health care, child care assistance, and educational support and training; and
102.11 	(7) develop public messaging and communication to inform the public about racial 
102.12 	disparities in child welfare outcomes, current efforts and strategies to reduce racial disparities, 
102.13 	and resources available to African American children and their families involved in the 
102.14 	child welfare system.
102.15 		Subd. 2.Case reviews. (a) The African American Child and Family Well-Being Unit 
102.16 	must conduct systemic case reviews to monitor targeted child welfare outcomes, including 
102.17 	but not limited to maltreatment, out-of-home placement, and permanency of African 
102.18 	American children.
102.19 	(b) The reviews under this subdivision must be conducted using a random sampling of 
102.20 	representative child welfare cases stratified for certain case related factors, including but 
102.21 	not limited to case type, maltreatment type, if the case involves out-of-home placement, 
102.22 	and other demographic variables. In conducting the reviews, unit staff may use court records 
102.23 	and documents, information from the social services information system, and other available 
102.24 	case file information to complete the case reviews.
102.25 	(c) The frequency of the reviews and the number of cases, child welfare outcomes, and 
102.26 	selected counties reviewed shall be determined by the unit in consultation with the African 
102.27 	American Child and Family Well-Being Advisory Council, with consideration given to the 
102.28 	availability of unit resources needed to conduct the reviews.
102.29 	(d) The unit must monitor all case reviews and use the collective case review information 
102.30 	and data to generate summary case review reports, ensure compliance with the Minnesota 
102.31 	African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act, and 
102.32 	identify trends or patterns in child welfare outcomes for African American children.
103.1 	(e) The unit must review information from members of the public received through the 
103.2 	compliance and feedback portal, including policy and practice concerns related to individual 
103.3 	child welfare cases. After assessing a case concern, the unit may determine if further 
103.4 	necessary action should be taken, which may include coordinating case remediation with 
103.5 	other relevant child welfare agencies in accordance with data privacy laws, including the 
103.6 	African American Child and Family Well-Being Advisory Council, and offering case 
103.7 	consultation and technical assistance to the responsible local social services agency as 
103.8 	needed or requested by the agency.
103.9 		Subd. 3.Reports. (a) The African American Child and Family Well-Being Unit must 
103.10 	provide regular updates on unit activities, including summary reports of case reviews, to 
103.11 	the African American Child and Family Well-Being Advisory Council, and must publish 
103.12 	an annual census of African American children in out-of-home placements statewide. The 
103.13 	annual census must include data on the types of placements, age and sex of the children, 
103.14 	how long the children have been in out-of-home placements, and other relevant demographic 
103.15 	information.
103.16 	(b) The African American Child and Family Well-Being Unit shall gather summary data 
103.17 	about the practice and policy inquiries and individual case concerns received through the 
103.18 	compliance and feedback portal under subdivision 2, paragraph (e). The unit shall provide 
103.19 	regular reports of the nonidentifying compliance and feedback portal summary data to the 
103.20 	African American Child and Family Well-Being Advisory Council to identify child welfare 
103.21 	trends and patterns to assist with developing policy and practice recommendations to support 
103.22 	eliminating disparity and disproportionality for African American children.

103.23 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.001, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
103.24 		Subd. 2.Juvenile protection proceedings. (a) The paramount consideration in all 
103.25 	juvenile protection proceedings is the health, safety, and best interests of the child. In 
103.26 	proceedings involving an American Indian child, as defined in section 260.755, subdivision 
103.27 	8, the best interests of the child must be determined consistent with sections 260.751 to 
103.28 	260.835 and the Indian Child Welfare Act, United States Code, title 25, sections 1901 to 
103.29 	1923.
103.30 	(b) The purpose of the laws relating to juvenile protection proceedings is:
103.31 	(1) to secure for each child under the jurisdiction of the court, the care and guidance, 
103.32 	preferably in the child's own home, as will best serve the spiritual, emotional, mental, and 
103.33 	physical welfare of the child;
104.1 	(2) to provide judicial procedures that protect the welfare of the child;
104.2 	(3) to preserve and strengthen the child's family ties whenever possible and in the child's 
104.3 	best interests, removing the child from the custody of parents only when the child's welfare 
104.4 	or safety cannot be adequately safeguarded without removal;
104.5 	(4) to ensure that when removal from the child's own family is necessary and in the 
104.6 	child's best interests, the responsible social services agency has legal responsibility for the 
104.7 	child removal either:
104.8 	(i) pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement between the child's parent or guardian 
104.9 	or the child, when the child is over age 18, and the responsible social services agency; or
104.10 	(ii) by court order pursuant to section 260C.151, subdivision 6; 260C.178; 260C.201; 
104.11 	260C.325; or 260C.515;
104.12 	(5) to ensure that, when placement is pursuant to court order, the court order removing 
104.13 	the child or continuing the child in foster care contains an individualized determination that 
104.14 	placement is in the best interests of the child that coincides with the actual removal of the 
104.15 	child;
104.16 	(6) to ensure that when the child is removed, the child's care and discipline is, as nearly 
104.17 	as possible, equivalent to that which should have been given by the parents and is either in:
104.18 	(i) the home of a noncustodial parent pursuant to section 260C.178 or 260C.201, 
104.19 	subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (1);
104.20 	(ii) the home of a relative pursuant to emergency placement by the responsible social 
104.21 	services agency under chapter 245A; or
104.22 	(iii) foster care licensed under chapter 245A; and
104.23 	(7) to ensure appropriate permanency planning for children in foster care including:
104.24 	(i) unless reunification is not required under section 260.012, developing a permanency 
104.25 	plan for the child that includes a primary plan for reunification with the child's parent or 
104.26 	guardian and a secondary plan for an alternative, legally permanent home for the child in 
104.27 	the event reunification cannot be achieved in a timely manner;
104.28 	(ii) identifying, locating, and assessing both parents of the child as soon as possible and 
104.29 	offering reunification services to both parents of the child as required under sections 260.012
104.30 	and 260C.219;
105.1 	(iii) inquiring about the child's heritage, including the child's Tribal lineage pursuant to 
105.2 	section 260.761, and their race, culture, and ethnicity pursuant to section 260.63, subdivision 
105.3 	10;
105.4 	(iii) (iv) identifying, locating, and notifying relatives of both parents of the child according 
105.5 	to section 260C.221;
105.6 	(iv) (v) making a placement with a family that will commit to being the legally permanent 
105.7 	home for the child in the event reunification cannot occur at the earliest possible time while 
105.8 	at the same time actively supporting the reunification plan; and
105.9 	(v) (vi) returning the child home with supports and services, as soon as return is safe for 
105.10 	the child, or when safe return cannot be timely achieved, moving to finalize another legally 
105.11 	permanent home for the child.

105.12 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.007, subdivision 19, is amended to read:
105.13 		Subd. 19.Habitual truant. "Habitual truant" means a child under the age of 17 who is 
105.14 	at least 12 years old and less than 18 years old who is absent from attendance at school 
105.15 	without lawful excuse for seven school days per school year if the child is in elementary 
105.16 	school or for one or more class periods on seven school days per school year if the child is 
105.17 	in middle school, junior high school, or high school or a child who is 17 years of age who 
105.18 	is absent from attendance at school without lawful excuse for one or more class periods on 
105.19 	seven school days per school year and who has not lawfully withdrawn from school under 
105.20 	section 120A.22, subdivision 8. Pursuant to section 260C.163, subdivision 11, habitual 
105.21 	truant also means a child under age 12 who has been absent from school for seven school 
105.22 	days without lawful excuse, based on a showing by clear and convincing evidence that the 
105.23 	child's absence is not due to the failure of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian to comply 
105.24 	with compulsory instruction laws.

105.25 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.141, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
105.26 		Subdivision 1.Who may file; required form. (a) Any reputable person, including but 
105.27 	not limited to any agent of the commissioner of children, youth, and families, having 
105.28 	knowledge of a child in this state or of a child who is a resident of this state, who appears 
105.29 	to be in need of protection or services or neglected and in foster care, may petition the 
105.30 	juvenile court in the manner provided in this section.
105.31 	(b) A petition for a child in need of protection filed by an individual who is not a county 
105.32 	attorney or an agent of the commissioner of children, youth, and families shall be filed on 
106.1 	a form developed by the state court administrator and provided to court administrators. 
106.2 	Copies of the form may be obtained from the court administrator in each county. The court 
106.3 	administrator shall review the petition before it is filed to determine that it is completed. 
106.4 	The court administrator may reject the petition if it does not indicate that the petitioner has 
106.5 	contacted the responsible social services agency.
106.6 	An individual may file a petition under this subdivision without seeking internal review 
106.7 	of the responsible social services agency's decision. The court shall determine whether there 
106.8 	is probable cause to believe that a need for protection or services exists before the matter 
106.9 	is set for hearing. If the matter is set for hearing, the court administrator shall notify the 
106.10 	responsible social services agency by sending notice to the county attorney.
106.11 	The petition must contain:
106.12 	(1) a statement of facts that would establish, if proven, that there is a need for protection 
106.13 	or services for the child named in the petition;
106.14 	(2) a statement that petitioner has reported the circumstances underlying the petition to 
106.15 	the responsible social services agency, and protection or services were not provided to the 
106.16 	child;
106.17 	(3) a statement whether there are existing juvenile or family court custody orders or 
106.18 	pending proceedings in juvenile or family court concerning the child; and
106.19 	(4) a statement of the relationship of the petitioner to the child and any other parties.; 
106.20 	and
106.21 	(5) a statement whether the petitioner has inquired of the parent or parents of the child, 
106.22 	the child, and relatives about the child's heritage, including the child's Tribal lineage pursuant 
106.23 	to section 260.761 and their race, culture, and ethnicity pursuant to section 260.63, 
106.24 	subdivision 10.
106.25 	The court may not allow a petition to proceed under this paragraph if it appears that the 
106.26 	sole purpose of the petition is to modify custody between the parents.

106.27 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.150, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
106.28 		Subd. 3.Identifying parents of child; diligent efforts; data. (a) The responsible social 
106.29 	services agency shall make diligent efforts to inquire about the child's heritage, including 
106.30 	the child's Tribal lineage pursuant to section 260.761 and their race, culture, and ethnicity 
106.31 	pursuant to section 260.63, subdivision 10, and to identify and locate both parents of any 
106.32 	child who is the subject of proceedings under this chapter. Diligent efforts include:
107.1 	(1) asking the custodial or known parent to identify any nonresident parent of the child 
107.2 	and provide information that can be used to verify the nonresident parent's identity including 
107.3 	the dates and locations of marriages and divorces; dates and locations of any legal 
107.4 	proceedings regarding paternity; date and place of the child's birth; nonresident parent's full 
107.5 	legal name; nonresident parent's date of birth, or if the nonresident parent's date of birth is 
107.6 	unknown, an approximate age; the nonresident parent's Social Security number; the 
107.7 	nonresident parent's whereabouts including last known whereabouts; and the whereabouts 
107.8 	of relatives of the nonresident parent. For purposes of this subdivision, "nonresident parent" 
107.9 	means a parent who does not reside in the same household as the child or did not reside in 
107.10 	the same household as the child at the time the child was removed when the child is in foster 
107.11 	care;
107.12 	(2) obtaining information that will identify and locate the nonresident parent from the 
107.13 	county and state of Minnesota child support enforcement information system;
107.14 	(3) requesting a search of the Minnesota Fathers' Adoption Registry 30 days after the 
107.15 	child's birth; and
107.16 	(4) using any other reasonable means to identify and locate the nonresident parent.
107.17 	(b) The agency may disclose data which is otherwise private under section 13.46 or 
107.18 	chapter 260E in order to carry out its duties under this subdivision.
107.19 	(c) Upon the filing of a petition alleging the child to be in need of protection or services, 
107.20 	the responsible social services agency may contact a putative father who registered with 
107.21 	the Minnesota Fathers' Adoption Registry more than 30 days after the child's birth. The 
107.22 	social service agency may consider a putative father for the day-to-day care of the child 
107.23 	under section 260C.219 if the putative father cooperates with genetic testing and there is a 
107.24 	positive test result under section 257.62, subdivision 5. Nothing in this paragraph:
107.25 	(1) relieves a putative father who registered with the Minnesota Fathers' Adoption 
107.26 	Registry more than 30 days after the child's birth of the duty to cooperate with paternity 
107.27 	establishment proceedings under section 260C.219;
107.28 	(2) gives a putative father who registered with the Minnesota Fathers' Adoption Registry 
107.29 	more than 30 days after the child's birth the right to notice under section 260C.151 unless 
107.30 	the putative father is entitled to notice under sections 259.24 and 259.49, subdivision 1, 
107.31 	paragraph (a) or (b), clauses (1) to (7); or
107.32 	(3) establishes a right to assert an interest in the child in a termination of parental rights 
107.33 	proceeding contrary to section 259.52, subdivision 6, unless the putative father is entitled 
108.1 	to notice under sections 259.24 and 259.49, subdivision 1, paragraph (a) or (b), clauses (1) 
108.2 	to (7).

108.3 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.178, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
108.4 		Subdivision 1.Hearing and release requirements. (a) If a child was taken into custody 
108.5 	under section 260C.175, subdivision 1, clause (1) or (2), item (ii), the court shall hold a 
108.6 	hearing within 72 hours of the time that the child was taken into custody, excluding 
108.7 	Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, to determine whether the child should continue to be in 
108.8 	custody.
108.9 	(b) Unless there is reason to believe that the child would endanger self or others or not 
108.10 	return for a court hearing, or that the child's health or welfare would be immediately 
108.11 	endangered, the child shall be released to the custody of a parent, guardian, custodian, or 
108.12 	other suitable person, subject to reasonable conditions of release including, but not limited 
108.13 	to, a requirement that the child undergo a chemical use assessment as provided in section 
108.14 	260C.157, subdivision 1.
108.15 	(c) If the court determines that there is reason to believe that the child would endanger 
108.16 	self or others or not return for a court hearing, or that the child's health or welfare would be 
108.17 	immediately endangered if returned to the care of the parent or guardian who has custody 
108.18 	and from whom the child was removed, the court shall order the child:
108.19 	(1) into the care of the child's noncustodial parent and order the noncustodial parent to 
108.20 	comply with any conditions that the court determines appropriate to ensure the safety and 
108.21 	care of the child, including requiring the noncustodial parent to cooperate with paternity 
108.22 	establishment proceedings if the noncustodial parent has not been adjudicated the child's 
108.23 	father; or
108.24 	(2) into foster care as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 18, under the legal 
108.25 	responsibility of the responsible social services agency or responsible probation or corrections 
108.26 	agency for the purposes of protective care as that term is used in the juvenile court rules. 
108.27 	The court shall not give the responsible social services legal custody and order a trial home 
108.28 	visit at any time prior to adjudication and disposition under section 260C.201, subdivision 
108.29 	1, paragraph (a), clause (3), but may order the child returned to the care of the parent or 
108.30 	guardian who has custody and from whom the child was removed and order the parent or 
108.31 	guardian to comply with any conditions the court determines to be appropriate to meet the 
108.32 	safety, health, and welfare of the child.
109.1 	(d) In determining whether the child's health or welfare would be immediately 
109.2 	endangered, the court shall consider whether the child would reside with a perpetrator of 
109.3 	domestic child abuse.
109.4 	(e) The court, before determining whether a child should be placed in or continue in 
109.5 	foster care under the protective care of the responsible agency, shall also make a 
109.6 	determination, consistent with section 260.012 as to whether reasonable efforts were made 
109.7 	to prevent placement or whether reasonable efforts to prevent placement are not required. 
109.8 	In the case of an Indian child, the court shall determine whether active efforts, according 
109.9 	to section 260.762 and the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, United States Code, title 25, 
109.10 	section 1912(d), were made to prevent placement. The court shall enter a finding that the 
109.11 	responsible social services agency has made reasonable efforts to prevent placement when 
109.12 	the agency establishes either:
109.13 	(1) that the agency has actually provided services or made efforts in an attempt to prevent 
109.14 	the child's removal but that such services or efforts have not proven sufficient to permit the 
109.15 	child to safely remain in the home; or
109.16 	(2) that there are no services or other efforts that could be made at the time of the hearing 
109.17 	that could safely permit the child to remain home or to return home. The court shall not 
109.18 	make a reasonable efforts determination under this clause unless the court is satisfied that 
109.19 	the agency has sufficiently demonstrated to the court that there were no services or other 
109.20 	efforts that the agency was able to provide at the time of the hearing enabling the child to 
109.21 	safely remain home or to safely return home. When reasonable efforts to prevent placement 
109.22 	are required and there are services or other efforts that could be ordered that would permit 
109.23 	the child to safely return home, the court shall order the child returned to the care of the 
109.24 	parent or guardian and the services or efforts put in place to ensure the child's safety. When 
109.25 	the court makes a prima facie determination that one of the circumstances under paragraph 
109.26 	(g) exists, the court shall determine that reasonable efforts to prevent placement and to 
109.27 	return the child to the care of the parent or guardian are not required.
109.28 	(f) If the court finds the social services agency's preventive or reunification efforts have 
109.29 	not been reasonable but further preventive or reunification efforts could not permit the child 
109.30 	to safely remain at home, the court may nevertheless authorize or continue the removal of 
109.31 	the child.
109.32 	(g) The court may not order or continue the foster care placement of the child unless the 
109.33 	court makes explicit, individualized findings that continued custody of the child by the 
110.1 	parent or guardian would be contrary to the welfare of the child and that placement is in the 
110.2 	best interest of the child.
110.3 	(h) At the emergency removal hearing, or at any time during the course of the proceeding, 
110.4 	and upon notice and request of the county attorney, the court shall determine whether a 
110.5 	petition has been filed stating a prima facie case that:
110.6 	(1) the parent has subjected a child to egregious harm as defined in section 260C.007, 
110.7 	subdivision 14;
110.8 	(2) the parental rights of the parent to another child have been involuntarily terminated;
110.9 	(3) the child is an abandoned infant under section 260C.301, subdivision 2, paragraph 
110.10 	(a), clause (2);
110.11 	(4) the parents' custodial rights to another child have been involuntarily transferred to a 
110.12 	relative under a juvenile protection proceeding or a similar process of another jurisdiction;
110.13 	(5) the parent has committed sexual abuse as defined in section 260E.03, against the 
110.14 	child or another child of the parent;
110.15 	(6) the parent has committed an offense that requires registration as a predatory offender 
110.16 	under section 243.166, subdivision 1b, paragraph (a) or (b); or
110.17 	(7) the provision of services or further services for the purpose of reunification is futile 
110.18 	and therefore unreasonable.
110.19 	(i) When a petition to terminate parental rights is required under section 260C.301, 
110.20 	subdivision 4, or 260C.503, subdivision 2, but the county attorney has determined not to 
110.21 	proceed with a termination of parental rights petition, and has instead filed a petition to 
110.22 	transfer permanent legal and physical custody to a relative under section 260C.507, the 
110.23 	court shall schedule a permanency hearing within 30 days of the filing of the petition.
110.24 	(j) If the county attorney has filed a petition under section 260C.307, the court shall 
110.25 	schedule a trial under section 260C.163 within 90 days of the filing of the petition except 
110.26 	when the county attorney determines that the criminal case shall proceed to trial first under 
110.27 	section 260C.503, subdivision 2, paragraph (c).
110.28 	(k) If the court determines the child should be ordered into foster care and, the court 
110.29 	shall inquire about the child's heritage, including the child's Tribal lineage pursuant to section 
110.30 	260.761; their race, culture, and ethnicity pursuant to section 260.63, subdivision 10; and 
110.31 	the responsible social services agency's initial relative search efforts. If the child's parent 
110.32 	refuses to give information to the responsible social services agency regarding the child's 
111.1 	father or relatives of the child, the court may order the parent to disclose the names, addresses, 
111.2 	telephone numbers, and other identifying information to the responsible social services 
111.3 	agency for the purpose of complying with sections 260C.150, 260C.151, 260C.212, 
111.4 	260C.215, 260C.219, and 260C.221.
111.5 	(l) If a child ordered into foster care has siblings, whether full, half, or step, who are 
111.6 	also ordered into foster care, the court shall inquire of the responsible social services agency 
111.7 	of the efforts to place the children together as required by section 260C.212, subdivision 2, 
111.8 	paragraph (d), if placement together is in each child's best interests, unless a child is in 
111.9 	placement for treatment or a child is placed with a previously noncustodial parent who is 
111.10 	not a parent to all siblings. If the children are not placed together at the time of the hearing, 
111.11 	the court shall inquire at each subsequent hearing of the agency's reasonable efforts to place 
111.12 	the siblings together, as required under section 260.012. If any sibling is not placed with 
111.13 	another sibling or siblings, the agency must develop a plan to facilitate visitation or ongoing 
111.14 	contact among the siblings as required under section 260C.212, subdivision 1, unless it is 
111.15 	contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings to do so.
111.16 	(m) When the court has ordered the child into the care of a noncustodial parent or in 
111.17 	foster care, the court may order a chemical dependency evaluation, mental health evaluation, 
111.18 	medical examination, and parenting assessment for the parent as necessary to support the 
111.19 	development of a plan for reunification required under subdivision 7 and section 260C.212, 
111.20 	subdivision 1, or the child protective services plan under section 260E.26, and Minnesota 
111.21 	Rules, part 9560.0228.
111.22 	(n) When the court has ordered an Indian child into an emergency child placement, the 
111.23 	Indian child shall be placed according to the placement preferences in the Minnesota Indian 
111.24 	Family Preservation Act, section 260.773.

111.25 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.178, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
111.26 		Subd. 7.Case plan. (a) When the court has ordered the child into the care of a parent 
111.27 	under subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (1), the child protective services plan under section 
111.28 	260E.26 must be filed within 30 days of the filing of the juvenile protection petition under 
111.29 	section 260C.141, subdivision 1.
111.30 	(b) When the court orders the child into foster care under subdivision 1, paragraph (c), 
111.31 	clause (2), and not into the care of a parent, an out-of-home placement plan summary required 
111.32 	under section 260C.212, subdivision 1, must be filed with the court within 30 days of the 
111.33 	filing of a juvenile protection petition under section 260C.141, subdivision 1, when the 
111.34 	court orders emergency removal of the child under this section, or filed with the petition if 
112.1 	the petition is a review of a voluntary placement under section 260C.141, subdivision 2.
112.2 	An out-of-home placement plan shall be prepared and filed with the court within 60 days 
112.3 	after any child is placed in foster care under section 260C.212, subdivision 1.
112.4 	(c) Upon the filing of the child protective services plan under section 260E.26 or 
112.5 	out-of-home placement plan that has been developed jointly with the parent and in 
112.6 	consultation with others as required under section 260C.212, subdivision 1, the court may 
112.7 	approve implementation of the plan by the responsible social services agency based on the 
112.8 	allegations contained in the petition and any evaluations, examinations, or assessments 
112.9 	conducted under subdivision 1, paragraph (m). The court shall send written notice of the 
112.10 	approval of the child protective services plan or out-of-home placement plan to all parties 
112.11 	and the county attorney or may state such approval on the record at a hearing. A parent may 
112.12 	agree to comply with the terms of the plan filed with the court.
112.13 	(d) The responsible social services agency shall make reasonable efforts to engage both 
112.14 	parents of the child in case planning. The responsible social services agency shall report 
112.15 	the results of its efforts to engage the child's parents in the child protective services plan or 
112.16 	out-of-home placement plan filed with the court. The agency shall notify the court of the 
112.17 	services it will provide or efforts it will attempt under the plan notwithstanding the parent's 
112.18 	refusal to cooperate or disagreement with the services. The parent may ask the court to 
112.19 	modify the plan to require different or additional services requested by the parent, but which 
112.20 	the agency refused to provide. The court may approve the plan as presented by the agency 
112.21 	or may modify the plan to require services requested by the parent. The court's approval 
112.22 	must be based on the content of the petition.
112.23 	(e) Unless the parent agrees to comply with the terms of the child protective services 
112.24 	plan or out-of-home placement plan, the court may not order a parent to comply with the 
112.25 	provisions of the plan until the court finds the child is in need of protection or services and 
112.26 	orders disposition under section 260C.201, subdivision 1. However, the court may find that 
112.27 	the responsible social services agency has made reasonable efforts for reunification if the 
112.28 	agency makes efforts to implement the terms of the child protective services plan or 
112.29 	out-of-home placement plan approved under this section.

112.30 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.201, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
112.31 		Subdivision 1.Dispositions. (a) If the court finds that the child is in need of protection 
112.32 	or services or neglected and in foster care, the court shall enter an order making any of the 
112.33 	following dispositions of the case:
113.1 	(1) place the child under the protective supervision of the responsible social services 
113.2 	agency or child-placing agency in the home of a parent of the child under conditions 
113.3 	prescribed by the court directed to the correction of the child's need for protection or services:
113.4 	(i) the court may order the child into the home of a parent who does not otherwise have 
113.5 	legal custody of the child, however, an order under this section does not confer legal custody 
113.6 	on that parent;
113.7 	(ii) if the court orders the child into the home of a father who is not adjudicated, the 
113.8 	father must cooperate with paternity establishment proceedings regarding the child in the 
113.9 	appropriate jurisdiction as one of the conditions prescribed by the court for the child to 
113.10 	continue in the father's home; and
113.11 	(iii) the court may order the child into the home of a noncustodial parent with conditions 
113.12 	and may also order both the noncustodial and the custodial parent to comply with the 
113.13 	requirements of a case plan under subdivision 2; or
113.14 	(2) transfer legal custody to one of the following:
113.15 	(i) a child-placing agency; or
113.16 	(ii) the responsible social services agency. In making a foster care placement of a child 
113.17 	whose custody has been transferred under this subdivision, the court shall inquire about the 
113.18 	child's heritage, including the child's Tribal lineage pursuant to section 260.761 and their 
113.19 	race, culture, and ethnicity pursuant to section 260.63, subdivision 10, and the agency shall 
113.20 	make an individualized determination of how the placement is in the child's best interests 
113.21 	using the placement consideration order for relatives and the best interest factors in section 
113.22 	260C.212, subdivision 2, and may include a child colocated with a parent in a licensed 
113.23 	residential family-based substance use disorder treatment program under section 260C.190; 
113.24 	or
113.25 	(3) order a trial home visit without modifying the transfer of legal custody to the 
113.26 	responsible social services agency under clause (2). Trial home visit means the child is 
113.27 	returned to the care of the parent or guardian from whom the child was removed for a period 
113.28 	not to exceed six months. During the period of the trial home visit, the responsible social 
113.29 	services agency:
113.30 	(i) shall continue to have legal custody of the child, which means that the agency may 
113.31 	see the child in the parent's home, at school, in a child care facility, or other setting as the 
113.32 	agency deems necessary and appropriate;
113.33 	(ii) shall continue to have the ability to access information under section 260C.208;
114.1 	(iii) shall continue to provide appropriate services to both the parent and the child during 
114.2 	the period of the trial home visit;
114.3 	(iv) without previous court order or authorization, may terminate the trial home visit in 
114.4 	order to protect the child's health, safety, or welfare and may remove the child to foster care;
114.5 	(v) shall advise the court and parties within three days of the termination of the trial 
114.6 	home visit when a visit is terminated by the responsible social services agency without a 
114.7 	court order; and
114.8 	(vi) shall prepare a report for the court when the trial home visit is terminated whether 
114.9 	by the agency or court order that describes the child's circumstances during the trial home 
114.10 	visit and recommends appropriate orders, if any, for the court to enter to provide for the 
114.11 	child's safety and stability. In the event a trial home visit is terminated by the agency by 
114.12 	removing the child to foster care without prior court order or authorization, the court shall 
114.13 	conduct a hearing within ten days of receiving notice of the termination of the trial home 
114.14 	visit by the agency and shall order disposition under this subdivision or commence 
114.15 	permanency proceedings under sections 260C.503 to 260C.515. The time period for the 
114.16 	hearing may be extended by the court for good cause shown and if it is in the best interests 
114.17 	of the child as long as the total time the child spends in foster care without a permanency 
114.18 	hearing does not exceed 12 months;
114.19 	(4) if the child has been adjudicated as a child in need of protection or services because 
114.20 	the child is in need of special services or care to treat or ameliorate a physical or mental 
114.21 	disability or emotional disturbance as defined in section 245.4871, subdivision 15, the court 
114.22 	may order the child's parent, guardian, or custodian to provide it. The court may order the 
114.23 	child's health plan company to provide mental health services to the child. Section 62Q.535 
114.24 	applies to an order for mental health services directed to the child's health plan company. 
114.25 	If the health plan, parent, guardian, or custodian fails or is unable to provide this treatment 
114.26 	or care, the court may order it provided. Absent specific written findings by the court that 
114.27 	the child's disability is the result of abuse or neglect by the child's parent or guardian, the 
114.28 	court shall not transfer legal custody of the child for the purpose of obtaining special 
114.29 	treatment or care solely because the parent is unable to provide the treatment or care. If the 
114.30 	court's order for mental health treatment is based on a diagnosis made by a treatment 
114.31 	professional, the court may order that the diagnosing professional not provide the treatment 
114.32 	to the child if it finds that such an order is in the child's best interests; or
114.33 	(5) if the court believes that the child has sufficient maturity and judgment and that it is 
114.34 	in the best interests of the child, the court may order a child 16 years old or older to be 
115.1 	allowed to live independently, either alone or with others as approved by the court under 
115.2 	supervision the court considers appropriate, if the county board, after consultation with the 
115.3 	court, has specifically authorized this dispositional alternative for a child.
115.4 	(b) If the child was adjudicated in need of protection or services because the child is a 
115.5 	runaway or habitual truant, the court may order any of the following dispositions in addition 
115.6 	to or as alternatives to the dispositions authorized under paragraph (a):
115.7 	(1) counsel the child or the child's parents, guardian, or custodian;
115.8 	(2) place the child under the supervision of a probation officer or other suitable person 
115.9 	in the child's own home under conditions prescribed by the court, including reasonable rules 
115.10 	for the child's conduct and the conduct of the parents, guardian, or custodian, designed for 
115.11 	the physical, mental, and moral well-being and behavior of the child;
115.12 	(3) subject to the court's supervision, transfer legal custody of the child to one of the 
115.13 	following:
115.14 	(i) a reputable person of good moral character. No person may receive custody of two 
115.15 	or more unrelated children unless licensed to operate a residential program under sections 
115.16 	245A.01 to 245A.16; or
115.17 	(ii) a county probation officer for placement in a group foster home established under 
115.18 	the direction of the juvenile court and licensed pursuant to section 241.021;
115.19 	(4) require the child to pay a fine of up to $100. The court shall order payment of the 
115.20 	fine in a manner that will not impose undue financial hardship upon the child;
115.21 	(5) require the child to participate in a community service project;
115.22 	(6) order the child to undergo a chemical dependency evaluation and, if warranted by 
115.23 	the evaluation, order participation by the child in a drug awareness program or an inpatient 
115.24 	or outpatient chemical dependency treatment program;
115.25 	(7) if the court believes that it is in the best interests of the child or of public safety that 
115.26 	the child's driver's license or instruction permit be canceled, the court may order the 
115.27 	commissioner of public safety to cancel the child's license or permit for any period up to 
115.28 	the child's 18th birthday. If the child does not have a driver's license or permit, the court 
115.29 	may order a denial of driving privileges for any period up to the child's 18th birthday. The 
115.30 	court shall forward an order issued under this clause to the commissioner, who shall cancel 
115.31 	the license or permit or deny driving privileges without a hearing for the period specified 
115.32 	by the court. At any time before the expiration of the period of cancellation or denial, the 
116.1 	court may, for good cause, order the commissioner of public safety to allow the child to 
116.2 	apply for a license or permit, and the commissioner shall so authorize;
116.3 	(8) order that the child's parent or legal guardian deliver the child to school at the 
116.4 	beginning of each school day for a period of time specified by the court; or
116.5 	(9) require the child to perform any other activities or participate in any other treatment 
116.6 	programs deemed appropriate by the court.
116.7 	To the extent practicable, the court shall enter a disposition order the same day it makes 
116.8 	a finding that a child is in need of protection or services or neglected and in foster care, but 
116.9 	in no event more than 15 days after the finding unless the court finds that the best interests 
116.10 	of the child will be served by granting a delay. If the child was under eight years of age at 
116.11 	the time the petition was filed, the disposition order must be entered within ten days of the 
116.12 	finding and the court may not grant a delay unless good cause is shown and the court finds 
116.13 	the best interests of the child will be served by the delay.
116.14 	(c) If a child who is 14 years of age or older is adjudicated in need of protection or 
116.15 	services because the child is a habitual truant and truancy procedures involving the child 
116.16 	were previously dealt with by a school attendance review board or county attorney mediation 
116.17 	program under section 260A.06 or 260A.07, the court shall order a cancellation or denial 
116.18 	of driving privileges under paragraph (b), clause (7), for any period up to the child's 18th 
116.19 	birthday.
116.20 	(d) In the case of a child adjudicated in need of protection or services because the child 
116.21 	has committed domestic abuse and been ordered excluded from the child's parent's home, 
116.22 	the court shall dismiss jurisdiction if the court, at any time, finds the parent is able or willing 
116.23 	to provide an alternative safe living arrangement for the child as defined in paragraph (f).
116.24 	(e) When a parent has complied with a case plan ordered under subdivision 6 and the 
116.25 	child is in the care of the parent, the court may order the responsible social services agency 
116.26 	to monitor the parent's continued ability to maintain the child safely in the home under such 
116.27 	terms and conditions as the court determines appropriate under the circumstances.
116.28 	(f) For the purposes of this subdivision, "alternative safe living arrangement" means a 
116.29 	living arrangement for a child proposed by a petitioning parent or guardian if a court excludes 
116.30 	the minor from the parent's or guardian's home that is separate from the victim of domestic 
116.31 	abuse and safe for the child respondent. A living arrangement proposed by a petitioning 
116.32 	parent or guardian is presumed to be an alternative safe living arrangement absent information 
116.33 	to the contrary presented to the court. In evaluating any proposed living arrangement, the 
116.34 	court shall consider whether the arrangement provides the child with necessary food, clothing, 
117.1 	shelter, and education in a safe environment. Any proposed living arrangement that would 
117.2 	place the child in the care of an adult who has been physically or sexually violent is presumed 
117.3 	unsafe.

117.4 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.201, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
117.5 		Subd. 2.Written findings. (a) Any order for a disposition authorized under this section 
117.6 	shall contain written findings of fact to support the disposition and case plan ordered and 
117.7 	shall also set forth in writing the following information:
117.8 	(1) why the best interests and safety of the child are served by the disposition and case 
117.9 	plan ordered;
117.10 	(2) what alternative dispositions or services under the case plan were considered by the 
117.11 	court and why such dispositions or services were not appropriate in the instant case;
117.12 	(3) when legal custody of the child is transferred, the appropriateness of the particular 
117.13 	placement made or to be made by the placing agency using the relative and sibling placement 
117.14 	considerations and best interest factors in section 260C.212, subdivision 2, or the 
117.15 	appropriateness of a child colocated with a parent in a licensed residential family-based 
117.16 	substance use disorder treatment program under section 260C.190;
117.17 	(4) whether reasonable efforts to finalize the permanent plan for the child consistent 
117.18 	with section 260.012 were made including reasonable efforts:
117.19 	(i) to prevent the child's placement and to reunify the child with the parent or guardian 
117.20 	from whom the child was removed at the earliest time consistent with the child's safety. 
117.21 	The court's findings must include a brief description of what preventive and reunification 
117.22 	efforts were made and why further efforts could not have prevented or eliminated the 
117.23 	necessity of removal or that reasonable efforts were not required under section 260.012 or 
117.24 	260C.178, subdivision 1;
117.25 	(ii) to identify and locate any noncustodial or nonresident parent of the child and to 
117.26 	assess such parent's ability to provide day-to-day care of the child, and, where appropriate, 
117.27 	provide services necessary to enable the noncustodial or nonresident parent to safely provide 
117.28 	day-to-day care of the child as required under section 260C.219, unless such services are 
117.29 	not required under section 260.012 or 260C.178, subdivision 1. The court's findings must 
117.30 	include a description of the agency's efforts to:
117.31 	(A) identify and locate the child's noncustodial or nonresident parent;
118.1 	(B) assess the noncustodial or nonresident parent's ability to provide day-to-day care of 
118.2 	the child; and
118.3 	(C) if appropriate, provide services necessary to enable the noncustodial or nonresident 
118.4 	parent to safely provide the child's day-to-day care, including efforts to engage the 
118.5 	noncustodial or nonresident parent in assuming care and responsibility of the child;
118.6 	(iii) to inquire about the child's heritage, including the child's Tribal lineage pursuant to 
118.7 	section 260.761 and their race, culture, and ethnicity pursuant to section 260.63, subdivision 
118.8 	10, and make the diligent search for relatives and provide the notices required under section 
118.9 	260C.221; a finding made pursuant to a hearing under section 260C.202 that the agency 
118.10 	has made diligent efforts to conduct a relative search and has appropriately engaged relatives 
118.11 	who responded to the notice under section 260C.221 and other relatives, who came to the 
118.12 	attention of the agency after notice under section 260C.221 was sent, in placement and case 
118.13 	planning decisions fulfills the requirement of this item;
118.14 	(iv) to identify and make a foster care placement of the child, considering the order in 
118.15 	section 260C.212, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), in the home of an unlicensed relative, 
118.16 	according to the requirements of section 142B.06, a licensed relative, or other licensed foster 
118.17 	care provider, who will commit to being the permanent legal parent or custodian for the 
118.18 	child in the event reunification cannot occur, but who will actively support the reunification 
118.19 	plan for the child. If the court finds that the agency has not appropriately considered relatives 
118.20 	for placement of the child, the court shall order the agency to comply with section 260C.212, 
118.21 	subdivision 2, paragraph (a). The court may order the agency to continue considering 
118.22 	relatives for placement of the child regardless of the child's current placement setting; and
118.23 	(v) to place siblings together in the same home or to ensure visitation is occurring when 
118.24 	siblings are separated in foster care placement and visitation is in the siblings' best interests 
118.25 	under section 260C.212, subdivision 2, paragraph (d); and
118.26 	(5) if the child has been adjudicated as a child in need of protection or services because 
118.27 	the child is in need of special services or care to treat or ameliorate a mental disability or 
118.28 	emotional disturbance as defined in section 245.4871, subdivision 15, the written findings 
118.29 	shall also set forth:
118.30 	(i) whether the child has mental health needs that must be addressed by the case plan;
118.31 	(ii) what consideration was given to the diagnostic and functional assessments performed 
118.32 	by the child's mental health professional and to health and mental health care professionals' 
118.33 	treatment recommendations;
119.1 	(iii) what consideration was given to the requests or preferences of the child's parent or 
119.2 	guardian with regard to the child's interventions, services, or treatment; and
119.3 	(iv) what consideration was given to the cultural appropriateness of the child's treatment 
119.4 	or services.
119.5 	(b) If the court finds that the social services agency's preventive or reunification efforts 
119.6 	have not been reasonable but that further preventive or reunification efforts could not permit 
119.7 	the child to safely remain at home, the court may nevertheless authorize or continue the 
119.8 	removal of the child.
119.9 	(c) If the child has been identified by the responsible social services agency as the subject 
119.10 	of concurrent permanency planning, the court shall review the reasonable efforts of the 
119.11 	agency to develop a permanency plan for the child that includes a primary plan that is for 
119.12 	reunification with the child's parent or guardian and a secondary plan that is for an alternative, 
119.13 	legally permanent home for the child in the event reunification cannot be achieved in a 
119.14 	timely manner.

119.15 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.202, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
119.16 		Subd. 2.Court review for a child placed in foster care. (a) If the court orders a child 
119.17 	placed in foster care, the court shall review the out-of-home placement plan and the child's 
119.18 	placement at least every 90 days as required in juvenile court rules to determine whether 
119.19 	continued out-of-home placement is necessary and appropriate or whether the child should 
119.20 	be returned home.
119.21 	(b) This review is not required if the court has returned the child home, ordered the child 
119.22 	permanently placed away from the parent under sections 260C.503 to 260C.521, or 
119.23 	terminated rights under section 260C.301. Court review for a child permanently placed 
119.24 	away from a parent, including where the child is under guardianship of the commissioner, 
119.25 	is governed by section 260C.607.
119.26 	(c) When a child is placed in a qualified residential treatment program setting as defined 
119.27 	in section 260C.007, subdivision 26d, the responsible social services agency must submit 
119.28 	evidence to the court as specified in section 260C.712.
119.29 	(d) No later than three months after the child's placement in foster care, the court shall 
119.30 	review agency efforts to search for and notify relatives pursuant to section 260C.221, and 
119.31 	order that the agency's efforts begin immediately, or continue, if the agency has failed to 
119.32 	perform, or has not adequately performed, the duties under that section. The court must 
119.33 	order the agency to continue to appropriately engage relatives who responded to the notice 
120.1 	under section 260C.221 in placement and case planning decisions and to consider relatives 
120.2 	for foster care placement consistent with section 260C.221. Notwithstanding a court's finding 
120.3 	that the agency has made reasonable efforts to search for and notify relatives under section 
120.4 	260C.221, the court may order the agency to continue making reasonable efforts to search 
120.5 	for, notify, engage, and consider relatives who came to the agency's attention after sending 
120.6 	the initial notice under section 260C.221.
120.7 	(e) The court shall review the out-of-home placement plan and may modify the plan as 
120.8 	provided under section 260C.201, subdivisions 6 and 7.
120.9 	(f) When the court transfers the custody of a child to a responsible social services agency 
120.10 	resulting in foster care or protective supervision with a noncustodial parent under subdivision 
120.11 	1, the court shall notify the parents of the provisions of sections 260C.204 and 260C.503 
120.12 	to 260C.521, as required under juvenile court rules.
120.13 	(g) When a child remains in or returns to foster care pursuant to section 260C.451 and 
120.14 	the court has jurisdiction pursuant to section 260C.193, subdivision 6, paragraph (c), the 
120.15 	court shall at least annually conduct the review required under section 260C.203.

120.16 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.202, is amended by adding a subdivision 
120.17 	to read:
120.18 		Subd. 3.Court review prior to the 18th birthday of a child in foster care. (a) The 
120.19 	court must conduct a review during the 90-day period prior to the 18th birthday of a child 
120.20 	in foster care.
120.21 	(b) The responsible social services agency must file a written report with the court 
120.22 	containing or attaching the following:
120.23 	(1) the child's name, date of birth, race, gender, and current address;
120.24 	(2) whether the child is eligible for extended foster care and if not, the reason or reasons 
120.25 	why the child is not eligible;
120.26 	(3) a written summary describing how the child was involved in creating the child's plan 
120.27 	for after their 18th birthday;
120.28 	(4) the date the required extended foster care eligibility notice in section 260C.451, 
120.29 	subdivision 1, was provided and the child's plan after the child's 18th birthday;
120.30 	(5) the child's most recent independent living plan required under section 260C.212, 
120.31 	subdivision 1;
121.1 	(6) if the agency's recommendation is to extend jurisdiction up to age 19 under section 
121.2 	260C.193, why the extended jurisdiction is in the child's best interest;
121.3 	(7) if the agency's recommendation is to reunify the child with their parent or legal 
121.4 	guardian, why reunification is in the child's best interest;
121.5 	(8) if the agency plans to transition the child into adult services on or after the child's 
121.6 	18th birthday, a summary of the transition plan as required in section 260C.452 and how 
121.7 	this plan is in the child's best interest; and
121.8 	(9) if the child's plan is to leave foster care at age 18 and not continue in extended foster 
121.9 	care, a copy of their 180-day transition plan required in section 260C.452 and the reasons 
121.10 	the child is not continuing in extended foster care.
121.11 	(c) The agency must inform the child and parties to the proceeding of the reporting and 
121.12 	court review requirements of this subdivision and their right to request a hearing. The child 
121.13 	or a party to the proceeding may request a hearing if they believe the agency did not make 
121.14 	reasonable efforts under this subdivision.
121.15 	(d) Upon receiving the report, the court must hold a hearing when a party to the 
121.16 	proceeding or the child requests a hearing. In all other circumstances, the court has the 
121.17 	discretion to hold a hearing or issue an order without a hearing.
121.18 	(e) The court must issue an order with findings including but not limited to the following:
121.19 	(1) whether the responsible social services agency provided the notice to the child about 
121.20 	extended foster care as required in section 260C.451;
121.21 	(2) whether the responsible social services agency engaged with the child and 
121.22 	appropriately planned with the child to transition to adulthood; and
121.23 	(3) if the child has decided to not continue in the extended foster care program at age 
121.24 	18, whether the responsible social services agency informed the child that they can reenter 
121.25 	extended foster care up to age 21 or that the child is not eligible to reenter and why.

121.26 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.202, is amended by adding a subdivision 
121.27 	to read:
121.28 		Subd. 4.Court reviews for a child over age 18 in foster care. When a child remains 
121.29 	in or returns to foster care pursuant to section 260C.451 and the court has jurisdiction 
121.30 	pursuant to section 260C.193, subdivision 6, paragraph (c), the court must at least annually 
121.31 	conduct the review required under section 260C.203.

122.1 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.204, is amended to read:
122.2 	260C.204 PERMANENCY PROGRESS REVIEW FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER 
122.3 	CARE FOR SIX MONTHS.
122.4 	(a) When a child continues in placement out of the home of the parent or guardian from 
122.5 	whom the child was removed, no later than six months after the child's placement the court 
122.6 	shall conduct a permanency progress hearing to review:
122.7 	(1) the progress of the case, the parent's progress on the case plan or out-of-home 
122.8 	placement plan, whichever is applicable;
122.9 	(2) the agency's reasonable, or in the case of an Indian child, active efforts for 
122.10 	reunification and its provision of services;
122.11 	(3) the agency's reasonable efforts to finalize the permanent plan for the child under 
122.12 	section 260.012, paragraph (e), and to make a placement as required under section 260C.212, 
122.13 	subdivision 2, in a home that will commit to being the legally permanent family for the 
122.14 	child in the event the child cannot return home according to the timelines in this section; 
122.15 	and
122.16 	(4) in the case of an Indian child, active efforts to prevent the breakup of the Indian 
122.17 	family and to make a placement according to the placement preferences under United States 
122.18 	Code, title 25, chapter 21, section 1915.
122.19 	(b) When a child is placed in a qualified residential treatment program setting as defined 
122.20 	in section 260C.007, subdivision 26d, the responsible social services agency must submit 
122.21 	evidence to the court as specified in section 260C.712.
122.22 	(c) The court shall ensure that notice of the hearing is sent to any relative who:
122.23 	(1) responded to the agency's notice provided under section 260C.221, indicating an 
122.24 	interest in participating in planning for the child or being a permanency resource for the 
122.25 	child and who has kept the court apprised of the relative's address; or
122.26 	(2) asked to be notified of court proceedings regarding the child as is permitted in section 
122.27 	260C.152, subdivision 5.
122.28 	(d)(1) If the parent or guardian has maintained contact with the child and is complying 
122.29 	with the court-ordered out-of-home placement plan, and if the child would benefit from 
122.30 	reunification with the parent, the court may either:
122.31 	(i) return the child home, if the conditions that led to the out-of-home placement have 
122.32 	been sufficiently mitigated that it is safe and in the child's best interests to return home; or
123.1 	(ii) continue the matter up to a total of six additional months. If the child has not returned 
123.2 	home by the end of the additional six months, the court must conduct a hearing according 
123.3 	to sections 260C.503 to 260C.521.
123.4 	(2) If the court determines that the parent or guardian is not complying, is not making 
123.5 	progress with or engaging with services in the out-of-home placement plan, or is not 
123.6 	maintaining regular contact with the child as outlined in the visitation plan required as part 
123.7 	of the out-of-home placement plan under section 260C.212, the court may order the 
123.8 	responsible social services agency:
123.9 	(i) to develop a plan for legally permanent placement of the child away from the parent;
123.10 	(ii) to consider, identify, recruit, and support one or more permanency resources from 
123.11 	the child's relatives and foster parent, consistent with clause (3) and section 260C.212, 
123.12 	subdivision 2, paragraph (a), to be the legally permanent home in the event the child cannot 
123.13 	be returned to the parent. Any relative or the child's foster parent may ask the court to order 
123.14 	the agency to consider them for permanent placement of the child in the event the child 
123.15 	cannot be returned to the parent. A relative or foster parent who wants to be considered 
123.16 	under this item shall cooperate with the background study required under section 245C.08, 
123.17 	if the individual has not already done so, and with the home study process required under 
123.18 	chapter 142B for providing child foster care and for adoption under section 259.41. The 
123.19 	home study referred to in this item shall be a single-home study in the form required by the 
123.20 	commissioner of children, youth, and families or similar study required by the individual's 
123.21 	state of residence when the subject of the study is not a resident of Minnesota. The court 
123.22 	may order the responsible social services agency to make a referral under the Interstate 
123.23 	Compact on the Placement of Children when necessary to obtain a home study for an 
123.24 	individual who wants to be considered for transfer of permanent legal and physical custody 
123.25 	or adoption of the child; and
123.26 	(iii) to file a petition to support an order for the legally permanent placement plan.
123.27 	(3) Consistent with section 260C.223, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), the responsible social 
123.28 	services agency must not define a foster family as the permanent home for a child until:
123.29 	(i) inquiry and Tribal notice requirements under section 260.761, subdivisions 1 and 2, 
123.30 	are satisfied;
123.31 	(ii) inquiry about the child's heritage, including their race, culture, and ethnicity pursuant 
123.32 	to section 260.63, subdivision 10, has been completed; and
124.1 	(iii) the court has determined that reasonable or active efforts toward completing the 
124.2 	relative search requirements in section 260C.221 have been made.
124.3 	(e) Following the review under this section:
124.4 	(1) if the court has either returned the child home or continued the matter up to a total 
124.5 	of six additional months, the agency shall continue to provide services to support the child's 
124.6 	return home or to make reasonable efforts to achieve reunification of the child and the parent 
124.7 	as ordered by the court under an approved case plan;
124.8 	(2) if the court orders the agency to develop a plan for the transfer of permanent legal 
124.9 	and physical custody of the child to a relative, a petition supporting the plan shall be filed 
124.10 	in juvenile court within 30 days of the hearing required under this section and a trial on the 
124.11 	petition held within 60 days of the filing of the pleadings; or
124.12 	(3) if the court orders the agency to file a termination of parental rights, unless the county 
124.13 	attorney can show cause why a termination of parental rights petition should not be filed, 
124.14 	a petition for termination of parental rights shall be filed in juvenile court within 30 days 
124.15 	of the hearing required under this section and a trial on the petition held within 60 days of 
124.16 	the filing of the petition.

124.17 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.212, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
124.18 		Subdivision 1.Out-of-home placement; plan. (a) An out-of-home placement plan shall 
124.19 	be prepared within 30 days after any child is placed in foster care by court order or a 
124.20 	voluntary placement agreement between the responsible social services agency and the 
124.21 	child's parent pursuant to section 260C.227 or chapter 260D.
124.22 	(b) (a) An out-of-home placement plan means a written document individualized to the 
124.23 	needs of the child and the child's parents or guardians that is prepared by the responsible 
124.24 	social services agency using a form developed by the commissioner. The plan must be 
124.25 	completed jointly with the child's parents or guardians and in consultation with the child's 
124.26 	guardian ad litem; the child's tribe, if the child is an Indian child; the child's foster parent 
124.27 	or representative of the foster care facility; and, when appropriate, the child. When a child 
124.28 	is age 14 or older, the child may include two other individuals on the team preparing the 
124.29 	child's out-of-home placement plan. The child may select one member of the case planning 
124.30 	team to be designated as the child's advisor and to advocate with respect to the application 
124.31 	of the reasonable and prudent parenting standards. The responsible social services agency 
124.32 	may reject an individual selected by the child if the agency has good cause to believe that 
124.33 	the individual would not act in the best interest of the child. For a child in voluntary foster 
125.1 	care for treatment under chapter 260D, preparation of the out-of-home placement plan shall 
125.2 	additionally include the child's mental health treatment provider. For a child 18 years of 
125.3 	age or older, the responsible social services agency shall involve the child and the child's 
125.4 	parents as appropriate. As appropriate, the plan shall be:
125.5 	(1) submitted to the court for approval under section 260C.178, subdivision 7;
125.6 	(2) ordered by the court, either as presented or modified after hearing, under section 
125.7 	260C.178, subdivision 7, or 260C.201, subdivision 6; and
125.8 	(3) signed by the parent or parents or guardian of the child, the child's guardian ad litem, 
125.9 	a representative of the child's tribe, the responsible social services agency, and, if possible, 
125.10 	the child.
125.11 	(b) Before an out-of-home placement plan is signed by the parent or parents or guardian 
125.12 	of the child, the responsible social services agency must provide the parent or parents or 
125.13 	guardian with a one- to two-page summary of the plan using a form developed by the 
125.14 	commissioner. The out-of-home placement plan summary must clearly summarize the plan's 
125.15 	contents under paragraph (d) and list the requirements and responsibilities for the parent or 
125.16 	parents or guardian using plain language. The summary must be updated and provided to 
125.17 	the parent or parents or guardian when the out-of-home placement plan is updated under 
125.18 	subdivision 1a.
125.19 	(c) An out-of-home placement plan summary shall be prepared within 30 days after any 
125.20 	child is placed in foster care by court order or voluntary placement agreement between the 
125.21 	responsible social services agency and the child's parent pursuant to section 260C.227 or 
125.22 	chapter 260D. An out-of-home placement plan shall be prepared within 60 days after any 
125.23 	child is placed in foster care by court order or a voluntary placement agreement between 
125.24 	the responsible social services agency and the child's parent pursuant to section 260C.227 
125.25 	or chapter 260D.
125.26 	(c) (d) The out-of-home placement plan shall be explained by the responsible social 
125.27 	services agency to all persons involved in the plan's implementation, including the child 
125.28 	who has signed the plan, and shall set forth:
125.29 	(1) a description of the foster care home or facility selected, including how the 
125.30 	out-of-home placement plan is designed to achieve a safe placement for the child in the 
125.31 	least restrictive, most family-like setting available that is in close proximity to the home of 
125.32 	the child's parents or guardians when the case plan goal is reunification; and how the 
125.33 	placement is consistent with the best interests and special needs of the child according to 
125.34 	the factors under subdivision 2, paragraph (b);
126.1 	(2) a description of the services offered and provided to prevent removal of the child 
126.2 	from the home;
126.3 	(2) (3) the specific reasons for the placement of the child in foster care, and when 
126.4 	reunification is the plan, a description of the problems or conditions in the home of the 
126.5 	parent or parents that necessitated removal of the child from home and the services offered 
126.6 	and provided to support the changes the parent or parents must make for the child to safely 
126.7 	return home;
126.8 	(3) a description of the services offered and provided to prevent removal of the child 
126.9 	from the home and to reunify the family including:
126.10 	(i) the specific actions to be taken by the parent or parents of the child to eliminate or 
126.11 	correct the problems or conditions identified in clause (2), and the time period during which 
126.12 	the actions are to be taken; and
126.13 	(ii) the reasonable efforts, or in the case of an Indian child, active efforts to be made to 
126.14 	achieve a safe and stable home for the child including social and other supportive services 
126.15 	to be provided or offered to the parent or parents or guardian of the child, the child, and the 
126.16 	residential facility during the period the child is in the residential facility;
126.17 	(4) a description of any services or resources that were requested by the child or the 
126.18 	child's parent, guardian, foster parent, or custodian since the date of the child's placement 
126.19 	in the residential facility, and whether those services or resources were provided and if not, 
126.20 	the basis for the denial of the services or resources;
126.21 	(5) the visitation plan for the parent or parents or guardian, other relatives as defined in 
126.22 	section 260C.007, subdivision 26b or 27, and siblings of the child if the siblings are not 
126.23 	placed together in foster care, and whether visitation is consistent with the best interest of 
126.24 	the child, during the period the child is in foster care;
126.25 	(6) when a child cannot return to or be in the care of either parent, documentation of 
126.26 	steps to finalize permanency through either:
126.27 	(i) adoption as the permanency plan for the child through reasonable efforts to place the 
126.28 	child for adoption pursuant to section 260C.605. At a minimum, the documentation must 
126.29 	include consideration of whether adoption is in the best interests of the child and 
126.30 	child-specific recruitment efforts such as a relative search, consideration of relatives for 
126.31 	adoptive placement, and the use of state, regional, and national adoption exchanges to 
126.32 	facilitate orderly and timely placements in and outside of the state. A copy of this 
127.1 	documentation shall be provided to the court in the review required under section 260C.317, 
127.2 	subdivision 3, paragraph (b); or
127.3 	(7) when a child cannot return to or be in the care of either parent, documentation of 
127.4 	steps to finalize (ii) the transfer of permanent legal and physical custody to a relative as the 
127.5 	permanency plan for the child. This documentation must support the requirements of the 
127.6 	kinship placement agreement under section 142A.605 and must include the reasonable 
127.7 	efforts used to determine that it is not appropriate for the child to return home or be adopted, 
127.8 	and reasons why permanent placement with a relative through a Northstar kinship assistance 
127.9 	arrangement is in the child's best interest; how the child meets the eligibility requirements 
127.10 	for Northstar kinship assistance payments; agency efforts to discuss adoption with the child's 
127.11 	relative foster parent and reasons why the relative foster parent chose not to pursue adoption, 
127.12 	if applicable; and agency efforts to discuss with the child's parent or parents the permanent 
127.13 	transfer of permanent legal and physical custody or the reasons why these efforts were not 
127.14 	made;
127.15 	(8) (7) efforts to ensure the child's educational stability while in foster care for a child 
127.16 	who attained the minimum age for compulsory school attendance under state law and is 
127.17 	enrolled full time in elementary or secondary school, or instructed in elementary or secondary 
127.18 	education at home, or instructed in an independent study elementary or secondary program, 
127.19 	or incapable of attending school on a full-time basis due to a medical condition that is 
127.20 	documented and supported by regularly updated information in the child's case plan. 
127.21 	Educational stability efforts include:
127.22 	(i) efforts to ensure that the child remains in the same school in which the child was 
127.23 	enrolled prior to placement or upon the child's move from one placement to another, including 
127.24 	efforts to work with the local education authorities to ensure the child's educational stability 
127.25 	and attendance; or
127.26 	(ii) if it is not in the child's best interest to remain in the same school that the child was 
127.27 	enrolled in prior to placement or move from one placement to another, efforts to ensure 
127.28 	immediate and appropriate enrollment for the child in a new school;
127.29 	(9) (8) the educational records of the child including the most recent information available 
127.30 	regarding:
127.31 	(i) the names and addresses of the child's educational providers;
127.32 	(ii) the child's grade level performance;
127.33 	(iii) the child's school record;
128.1 	(iv) a statement about how the child's placement in foster care takes into account 
128.2 	proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement; and
128.3 	(v) any other relevant educational information;
128.4 	(10) (9) the efforts by the responsible social services agency to ensure support the child's 
128.5 	well-being by ensuring the oversight and continuity of health care services for the foster 
128.6 	child and documenting their health record, including:
128.7 	(i) the plan to schedule the child's initial health screens;
128.8 	(ii) how the child's known medical problems and identified needs from the screens, 
128.9 	including any known communicable diseases, as defined in section 144.4172, subdivision 
128.10 	2, shall be monitored and treated while the child is in foster care;
128.11 	(iii) how the child's medical information shall be updated and shared, including the 
128.12 	child's immunizations;
128.13 	(iv) who is responsible to coordinate and respond to the child's health care needs, 
128.14 	including the role of the parent, the agency, and the foster parent;
128.15 	(v) who is responsible for oversight of the child's prescription medications;
128.16 	(vi) how physicians or other appropriate medical and nonmedical professionals shall be 
128.17 	consulted and involved in assessing the health and well-being of the child and determine 
128.18 	the appropriate medical treatment for the child; and
128.19 	(vii) the responsibility to ensure that the child has access to medical care through either 
128.20 	medical insurance or medical assistance; and
128.21 	(11) the health records of the child including (viii) information available regarding:
128.22 	(i) (A) the names and addresses of the child's health care and dental care providers;
128.23 	(ii) (B) a record of the child's immunizations;
128.24 	(iii) (C) the child's known medical problems, including any known communicable 
128.25 	diseases as defined in section 144.4172, subdivision 2;
128.26 	(iv) (D) the child's medications; and
128.27 	(v) (E) any other relevant health care information such as the child's eligibility for medical 
128.28 	insurance or medical assistance;
128.29 	(12) (10) an independent living plan for a child 14 years of age or older, developed in 
128.30 	consultation with the child. The child may select one member of the case planning team to 
128.31 	be designated as the child's advisor and to advocate with respect to the application of the 
129.1 	reasonable and prudent parenting standards in subdivision 14. The plan should include, but 
129.2 	not be limited to, the following objectives:
129.3 	(i) educational, vocational, or employment planning;
129.4 	(ii) health care planning and medical coverage;
129.5 	(iii) transportation including, where appropriate, assisting the child in obtaining a driver's 
129.6 	license;
129.7 	(iv) money management, including the responsibility of the responsible social services 
129.8 	agency to ensure that the child annually receives, at no cost to the child, a consumer report 
129.9 	as defined under section 13C.001 and assistance in interpreting and resolving any inaccuracies 
129.10 	in the report;
129.11 	(v) planning for housing;
129.12 	(vi) social and recreational skills;
129.13 	(vii) establishing and maintaining connections with the child's family and community; 
129.14 	and
129.15 	(viii) regular opportunities to engage in age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate 
129.16 	activities typical for the child's age group, taking into consideration the capacities of the 
129.17 	individual child;
129.18 	(13) (11) for a child in voluntary foster care for treatment under chapter 260D, diagnostic 
129.19 	and assessment information, specific services relating to meeting the mental health care 
129.20 	needs of the child, and treatment outcomes;
129.21 	(14) (12) for a child 14 years of age or older, a signed acknowledgment that describes 
129.22 	the child's rights regarding education, health care, visitation, safety and protection from 
129.23 	exploitation, and court participation; receipt of the documents identified in section 260C.452; 
129.24 	and receipt of an annual credit report. The acknowledgment shall state that the rights were 
129.25 	explained in an age-appropriate manner to the child; and
129.26 	(15) (13) for a child placed in a qualified residential treatment program, the plan must 
129.27 	include the requirements in section 260C.708.
129.28 	(d) (e) The parent or parents or guardian and the child each shall have the right to legal 
129.29 	counsel in the preparation of the case plan and shall be informed of the right at the time of 
129.30 	placement of the child. The child shall also have the right to a guardian ad litem. If unable 
129.31 	to employ counsel from their own resources, the court shall appoint counsel upon the request 
129.32 	of the parent or parents or the child or the child's legal guardian. The parent or parents may 
130.1 	also receive assistance from any person or social services agency in preparation of the case 
130.2 	plan.
130.3 	(e) Before an out-of-home placement plan is signed by the parent or parents or guardian 
130.4 	of the child, the responsible social services agency must provide the parent or parents or 
130.5 	guardian with a one- to two-page summary of the plan using a form developed by the 
130.6 	commissioner. The out-of-home placement plan summary must clearly summarize the plan's 
130.7 	contents under paragraph (c) and list the requirements and responsibilities for the parent or 
130.8 	parents or guardian using plain language. The summary must be updated and provided to 
130.9 	the parent or parents or guardian when the out-of-home placement plan is updated under 
130.10 	subdivision 1a.
130.11 	(f) After the plan has been agreed upon by the parties involved or approved or ordered 
130.12 	by the court, the foster parents shall be fully informed of the provisions of the case plan and 
130.13 	shall be provided a copy of the plan.
130.14 	(g) Upon the child's discharge from foster care, the responsible social services agency 
130.15 	must provide the child's parent, adoptive parent, or permanent legal and physical custodian, 
130.16 	and the child, if the child is 14 years of age or older, with a current copy of the child's health 
130.17 	and education record. If a child meets the conditions in subdivision 15, paragraph (b), the 
130.18 	agency must also provide the child with the child's social and medical history. The responsible 
130.19 	social services agency may give a copy of the child's health and education record and social 
130.20 	and medical history to a child who is younger than 14 years of age, if it is appropriate and 
130.21 	if subdivision 15, paragraph (b), applies.

130.22 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.212, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
130.23 		Subd. 1a.Out-of-home placement plan update. (a) Within 30 days of placing the child 
130.24 	in foster care, the agency must complete the child's out-of-home placement plan summary 
130.25 	and file it with the court. Within 60 days of placing the child in foster care, the agency must
130.26 	file the child's initial out-of-home placement plan with the court. After filing the child's 
130.27 	initial out-of-home placement plan, the agency shall update and file the child's out-of-home 
130.28 	placement plan with the court as follows:
130.29 	(1) when the agency moves a child to a different foster care setting, the agency shall 
130.30 	inform the court within 30 days of the child's placement change or court-ordered trial home 
130.31 	visit. The agency must file the child's updated out-of-home placement plan summary and
130.32 	out-of-home placement plan with the court at the next required review hearing;
131.1 	(2) when the agency places a child in a qualified residential treatment program as defined 
131.2 	in section 260C.007, subdivision 26d, or moves a child from one qualified residential 
131.3 	treatment program to a different qualified residential treatment program, the agency must 
131.4 	update the child's out-of-home placement plan within 60 days. To meet the requirements 
131.5 	of section 260C.708, the agency must file the child's out-of-home placement plan along 
131.6 	with the agency's report seeking the court's approval of the child's placement at a qualified 
131.7 	residential treatment program under section 260C.71. After the court issues an order, the 
131.8 	agency must update the child's out-of-home placement plan to document the court's approval 
131.9 	or disapproval of the child's placement in a qualified residential treatment program;
131.10 	(3) when the agency places a child with the child's parent in a licensed residential 
131.11 	family-based substance use disorder treatment program under section 260C.190, the agency 
131.12 	must identify the treatment program where the child will be placed in the child's out-of-home 
131.13 	placement plan prior to the child's placement. The agency must file the child's out-of-home 
131.14 	placement plan summary and out-of-home placement plan with the court at the next required 
131.15 	review hearing; and
131.16 	(4) under sections 260C.227 and 260C.521, the agency must update the child's
131.17 	out-of-home placement plan summary and out-of-home placement plan and file the child's 
131.18 	out-of-home placement plan with the court.
131.19 	(b) When none of the items in paragraph (a) apply, the agency must update the child's
131.20 	out-of-home placement plan summary and out-of-home placement plan no later than 180 
131.21 	days after the child's initial placement and every six months thereafter, consistent with 
131.22 	section 260C.203, paragraph (a).

131.23 	Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.221, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
131.24 		Subd. 2.Relative notice requirements. (a) The agency may provide oral or written 
131.25 	notice to a child's relatives. In the child's case record, the agency must document providing 
131.26 	the required notice to each of the child's relatives. The responsible social services agency 
131.27 	must notify relatives:
131.28 	(1) of the need for a foster home for the child, the option to become a placement resource 
131.29 	for the child, the order of placement that the agency will consider under section 260C.212, 
131.30 	subdivision 2, paragraph (a), and the possibility of the need for a permanent placement for 
131.31 	the child;
131.32 	(2) of their responsibility to keep the responsible social services agency and the court 
131.33 	informed of their current address in order to receive notice in the event that a permanent 
132.1 	placement is sought for the child and to receive notice of the permanency progress review 
132.2 	hearing under section 260C.204. A relative who fails to provide a current address to the 
132.3 	responsible social services agency and the court forfeits the right to receive notice of the 
132.4 	possibility of permanent placement and of the permanency progress review hearing under 
132.5 	section 260C.204, until the relative provides a current address to the responsible social 
132.6 	services agency and the court. A decision by a relative not to be identified as a potential 
132.7 	permanent placement resource or participate in planning for the child shall not affect whether 
132.8 	the relative is considered for placement of, or as a permanency resource for, the child with 
132.9 	that relative at any time in the case, and shall not be the sole basis for the court to rule out 
132.10 	the relative as the child's placement or permanency resource;
132.11 	(3) that the relative may participate in the care and planning for the child, as specified 
132.12 	in subdivision 3, including that the opportunity for such participation may be lost by failing 
132.13 	to respond to the notice sent under this subdivision;
132.14 	(4) of the family foster care licensing and adoption home study requirements and supports, 
132.15 	including how to complete an application and how to request a variance from licensing 
132.16 	standards that do not present a safety or health risk to the child in the home under section 
132.17 	142B.10 and supports that are available for relatives and children who reside in a family 
132.18 	foster home;:
132.19 	(i) the choice between county or private agency licensing and services under section 
132.20 	142B.05, subdivision 3;
132.21 	(ii) how to complete an application;
132.22 	(iii) how to request a variance from licensing standards that do not present a safety or 
132.23 	health risk to the child in the home under section 142B.10; and
132.24 	(iv) supports that are available for relatives and children who reside in a family foster 
132.25 	home, including but not limited to ways to include resource or substitute caregivers in the 
132.26 	child's case plan, strategies for leveraging the child and family's natural supports, and how 
132.27 	to access legal services and support and respite care;
132.28 	(5) of the relatives' right to ask to be notified of any court proceedings regarding the 
132.29 	child, to attend the hearings, and of a relative's right to be heard by the court as required 
132.30 	under section 260C.152, subdivision 5;
132.31 	(6) that regardless of the relative's response to the notice sent under this subdivision, the 
132.32 	agency is required to establish permanency for a child, including planning for alternative 
132.33 	permanency options if the agency's reunification efforts fail or are not required; and
133.1 	(7) that by responding to the notice, a relative may receive information about participating 
133.2 	in a child's family and permanency team if the child is placed in a qualified residential 
133.3 	treatment program as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 26d.
133.4 	(b) The responsible social services agency shall send the notice required under paragraph 
133.5 	(a) to relatives who become known to the responsible social services agency, except for 
133.6 	relatives that the agency does not contact due to safety reasons under subdivision 5, paragraph 
133.7 	(b). The responsible social services agency shall continue to send notice to relatives 
133.8 	notwithstanding a court's finding that the agency has made reasonable efforts to conduct a 
133.9 	relative search.
133.10 	(c) The responsible social services agency is not required to send the notice under 
133.11 	paragraph (a) to a relative who becomes known to the agency after an adoption placement 
133.12 	agreement has been fully executed under section 260C.613, subdivision 1. If the relative 
133.13 	wishes to be considered for adoptive placement of the child, the agency shall inform the 
133.14 	relative of the relative's ability to file a motion for an order for adoptive placement under 
133.15 	section 260C.607, subdivision 6.

133.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

133.17 	Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.223, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
133.18 		Subdivision 1.Program; goals. (a) The commissioner of children, youth, and families 
133.19 	shall establish a program for concurrent permanency planning for child protection services.
133.20 	(b) Concurrent permanency planning involves a planning process for children who are 
133.21 	placed out of the home of their parents pursuant to a court order, or who have been voluntarily 
133.22 	placed out of the home by the parents for 60 days or more and who are not developmentally 
133.23 	disabled or emotionally disabled under section 260C.212, subdivision 9. The responsible 
133.24 	social services agency shall develop an alternative permanency plan while making reasonable 
133.25 	efforts for reunification of the child with the family, if required by section 260.012. The 
133.26 	goals of concurrent permanency planning are to:
133.27 	(1) achieve early permanency for children;
133.28 	(2) decrease children's length of stay in foster care and reduce the number of moves 
133.29 	children experience in foster care; and
133.30 	(3) develop a group of families establish a foster parent for a child who will work towards
133.31 	toward reunification and also serve as a permanent families family for children.

134.1 	Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.223, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
134.2 		Subd. 2.Development of guidelines and protocols. (a) The commissioner shall establish 
134.3 	guidelines and protocols for social services agencies involved in concurrent permanency 
134.4 	planning, including criteria for conducting concurrent permanency planning based on relevant 
134.5 	factors such as:
134.6 	(1) age of the child and duration of out-of-home placement;
134.7 	(2) prognosis for successful reunification with parents;
134.8 	(3) availability of relatives and other concerned individuals to provide support or a 
134.9 	permanent placement for the child; and
134.10 	(4) special needs of the child and other factors affecting the child's best interests.
134.11 	(b) In developing the guidelines and protocols, the commissioner shall consult with 
134.12 	interest groups within the child protection system, including child protection workers, child 
134.13 	protection advocates, county attorneys, law enforcement, community service organizations, 
134.14 	the councils of color, and the ombudsperson for families.
134.15 	(c) The responsible social services agency must not make a foster family the permanent 
134.16 	home for a child until:
134.17 	(1) inquiry and Tribal notice requirements under section 260.761, subdivisions 1 and 2, 
134.18 	are satisfied;
134.19 	(2) inquiry about the child's heritage, including their race, culture, and ethnicity pursuant 
134.20 	to section 260.63, subdivision 10, has been completed; and
134.21 	(3) the court has determined that reasonable or active efforts toward completing the 
134.22 	relative search requirements in section 260C.221 have been made.

134.23 	Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.329, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
134.24 		Subd. 3.Petition. (a) The following individuals may file a petition for the reestablishment 
134.25 	of the legal parent and child relationship:
134.26 	(1) county attorney,;
134.27 	(2) a parent whose parental rights were terminated under a previous order of the court,;
134.28 	(3) a parent whose voluntary consent to adoption was accepted by the court and:
134.29 	(i) the identified prospective adoptive parent did not finalize the adoption; or
135.1 	(ii) the adoption finalized but subsequently dissolved and the child returned to foster 
135.2 	care and guardianship of the commissioner;
135.3 	(4) a child who is ten years of age or older,;
135.4 	(5) the responsible social services agency,; or
135.5 	(6) a guardian ad litem may file a petition for the reestablishment of the legal parent and 
135.6 	child relationship.
135.7 	(b) A parent filing a petition under this section shall pay a filing fee in the amount 
135.8 	required under section 357.021, subdivision 2, clause (1). The filing fee may be waived 
135.9 	pursuant to chapter 563. A petition for the reestablishment of the legal parent and child 
135.10 	relationship may be filed when:
135.11 	(1) the parent has corrected the conditions that led to an order terminating parental rights;
135.12 	(2) the parent is willing and has the capability to provide day-to-day care and maintain 
135.13 	the health, safety, and welfare of the child;
135.14 	(3) the child has been in foster care for at least 24 months after the court issued the order 
135.15 	terminating parental rights;
135.16 	(4) the child has is not been currently adopted; and
135.17 	(5) the child is not the subject of a written adoption placement agreement between the 
135.18 	responsible social services agency and the prospective adoptive parent, as required under 
135.19 	Minnesota Rules, part 9560.0060, subpart 2.

135.20 	Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.329, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
135.21 		Subd. 8.Hearing. The court may grant the petition ordering the reestablishment of the 
135.22 	legal parent and child relationship only if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that:
135.23 	(1) reestablishment of the legal parent and child relationship is in the child's best interests;
135.24 	(2) the child has is not been currently adopted;
135.25 	(3) the child is not the subject of a written adoption placement agreement between the 
135.26 	responsible social services agency and the prospective adoptive parent, as required under 
135.27 	Minnesota Rules, part 9560.0060, subpart 2;
135.28 	(4) at least 24 months have elapsed following a final order terminating parental rights 
135.29 	and the child remains in foster care;
135.30 	(5) the child desires to reside with the parent;
136.1 	(6) the parent has corrected the conditions that led to an order terminating parental rights; 
136.2 	and
136.3 	(7) the parent is willing and has the capability to provide day-to-day care and maintain 
136.4 	the health, safety, and welfare of the child.

136.5 	Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.451, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
136.6 		Subd. 9.Administrative or court review of placements. (a) The court shall must
136.7 	conduct reviews at least annually to ensure the responsible social services agency is making 
136.8 	reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan for the child.
136.9 	(b) The responsible social services agency must file a written report with the court 
136.10 	containing or attaching the following:
136.11 	(1) the child's name, date of birth, race, gender, and current address;
136.12 	(2) a written summary describing planning with the child, including supports and services 
136.13 	to ensure the child's safety, housing stability, well-being needs, and independent living 
136.14 	skills;
136.15 	(3) the child's most recent out-of-home placement plan and independent living plan 
136.16 	required under section 260C.212, subdivision 1;
136.17 	(4) if the child's plan is to not continue in extended foster care or if the child will reach 
136.18 	age 21 before the next review, a copy of their 180-day transition plan as required in section 
136.19 	260C.452, subdivision 4; and
136.20 	(5) if the agency plans to transition the child into adult services, a summary of the 
136.21 	transition plan as required in section 260C.452, subdivision 4, and how this plan is in the 
136.22 	child's best interest.
136.23 	(b) (c) The court shall must find that the responsible social services agency is making 
136.24 	reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan for the child when the responsible social 
136.25 	services agency:
136.26 	(1) provides appropriate support to the child and caregiver or foster care provider parent
136.27 	to ensure continuing stability and success in placement;
136.28 	(2) works with the child to plan for transition to adulthood and assists the child in 
136.29 	demonstrating progress in achieving related goals;
136.30 	(3) works with the child to plan for independent living skills and assists the child in 
136.31 	demonstrating progress in achieving independent living goals; and
137.1 	(4) prepares the child for independence according to sections 260C.203, paragraph (d), 
137.2 	and 260C.452, subdivision 4.
137.3 	(c) (d) The responsible social services agency must ensure that an administrative review 
137.4 	that meets the requirements of this section and section 260C.203 is completed at least six 
137.5 	months after each of the court's annual reviews.

137.6 	Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260C.452, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
137.7 		Subd. 4.Administrative or court review of placements. (a) When the youth is 14 years 
137.8 	of age or older, the court, in consultation with the youth, shall review the youth's independent 
137.9 	living plan according to section 260C.203, paragraph (d).
137.10 	(b) The responsible social services agency shall file a copy of the notification of foster 
137.11 	care benefits for a youth who is 18 years of age or older according to section 260C.451, 
137.12 	subdivision 1, with the court. If the responsible social services agency does not file the 
137.13 	notice by the time the youth is 17-1/2 years of age, the court shall require the responsible 
137.14 	social services agency to file the notice.
137.15 	(c) When a youth is 18 years of age or older, the court shall ensure that the responsible 
137.16 	social services agency assists the youth in obtaining the following documents before the 
137.17 	youth leaves foster care: a Social Security card; an official or certified copy of the youth's 
137.18 	birth certificate; a state identification card or driver's license, Tribal enrollment identification 
137.19 	card, green permanent resident card, or school visa; health insurance information; the youth's 
137.20 	school, medical, and dental records; a contact list of the youth's medical, dental, and mental 
137.21 	health providers; and contact information for the youth's siblings, if the siblings are in foster 
137.22 	care.
137.23 	(d) For a youth who will be discharged from foster care at 18 years of age or older 
137.24 	because the youth is not eligible for extended foster care benefits or chooses to leave foster 
137.25 	care, the responsible social services agency must develop a personalized transition plan as 
137.26 	directed by the youth during the 180-day period immediately prior to the expected date of 
137.27 	discharge. The transition plan must be as detailed as the youth elects and include specific 
137.28 	options, including but not limited to:
137.29 	(1) affordable housing with necessary supports that does not include a homeless shelter;
137.30 	(2) health insurance, including eligibility for medical assistance as defined in section 
137.31 	256B.055, subdivision 17;
137.32 	(3) education, including application to the Education and Training Voucher Program;
138.1 	(4) local opportunities for mentors and continuing support services;
138.2 	(5) workforce supports and employment services;
138.3 	(6) a copy of the youth's consumer credit report as defined in section 13C.001 and 
138.4 	assistance in interpreting and resolving any inaccuracies in the report, at no cost to the youth;
138.5 	(7) information on executing a health care directive under chapter 145C and on the 
138.6 	importance of designating another individual to make health care decisions on behalf of the 
138.7 	youth if the youth becomes unable to participate in decisions;
138.8 	(8) appropriate contact information through 21 years of age if the youth needs information 
138.9 	or help dealing with a crisis situation; and
138.10 	(9) official documentation that the youth was previously in foster care.

138.11 	Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.03, subdivision 15, is amended to read:
138.12 		Subd. 15.Neglect. (a) "Neglect" means the commission or omission of any of the acts 
138.13 	specified under clauses (1) to (8), other than by accidental means:
138.14 	(1) failure by a person responsible for a child's care to supply a child with necessary 
138.15 	food, clothing, shelter, health, medical, or other care required for the child's physical or 
138.16 	mental health when reasonably able to do so;
138.17 	(2) failure to protect a child from conditions or actions that seriously endanger the child's 
138.18 	physical or mental health when reasonably able to do so, including a growth delay, which 
138.19 	may be referred to as a failure to thrive, that has been diagnosed by a physician and is due 
138.20 	to parental neglect;
138.21 	(3) failure to provide for necessary supervision or child care arrangements appropriate 
138.22 	for a child after considering factors as the child's age, mental ability, physical condition, 
138.23 	length of absence, or environment, when the child is unable to care for the child's own basic 
138.24 	needs or safety, or the basic needs or safety of another child in their care;
138.25 	(4) failure to ensure that the child is educated as defined in sections 120A.22 and 
138.26 	260C.163, subdivision 11, which does not include a parent's refusal to provide the parent's 
138.27 	child with sympathomimetic medications, consistent with section 125A.091, subdivision 
138.28 	5;
138.29 	(5) prenatal exposure to a controlled substance, as defined in section 253B.02, subdivision 
138.30 	2, used by the mother for a nonmedical purpose, as evidenced by withdrawal symptoms in 
138.31 	the child at birth, results of a toxicology test performed on the mother at delivery or the 
138.32 	child at birth, medical effects or developmental delays during the child's first year of life 
139.1 	that medically indicate prenatal exposure to a controlled substance, or the presence of a 
139.2 	fetal alcohol spectrum disorder;
139.3 	(6) medical neglect, as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 6, clause (5);
139.4 	(7) chronic and severe use of alcohol or a controlled substance by a person responsible 
139.5 	for the child's care that adversely affects the child's basic needs and safety; or
139.6 	(8) emotional harm from a pattern of behavior that contributes to impaired emotional 
139.7 	functioning of the child which may be demonstrated by a substantial and observable effect 
139.8 	in the child's behavior, emotional response, or cognition that is not within the normal range 
139.9 	for the child's age and stage of development, with due regard to the child's culture.
139.10 	(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to mean that a child is neglected solely 
139.11 	because the child's parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the child's care in good 
139.12 	faith selects and depends upon spiritual means or prayer for treatment or care of disease or 
139.13 	remedial care of the child in lieu of medical care.
139.14 	(c) This chapter does not impose upon persons not otherwise legally responsible for 
139.15 	providing a child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, education, or medical care a duty 
139.16 	to provide that care.
139.17 	(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to mean that a child who has a mental, 
139.18 	physical, or emotional condition is neglected solely because the child remains in an 
139.19 	emergency department or hospital setting because services, including residential treatment, 
139.20 	that are deemed necessary by the child's medical or mental health care professional or county 
139.21 	case manager are not available to the child's parent, guardian, or other person responsible 
139.22 	for the child's care, and the child cannot be safely discharged to the child's family.

139.23 	Sec. 35. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.09, is amended to read:
139.24 	260E.09 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
139.25 	(a) An oral report shall be made immediately by telephone or otherwise. An oral report 
139.26 	made by a person required under section 260E.06, subdivision 1, to report shall be followed 
139.27 	within 72 hours, exclusive of weekends and holidays, by a report in writing to the appropriate 
139.28 	police department, the county sheriff, the agency responsible for assessing or investigating 
139.29 	the report, or the local welfare agency.
139.30 	(b) Any report shall be of sufficient content to identify the child, any person believed 
139.31 	to be responsible for the maltreatment of the child if the person is known, the nature and 
139.32 	extent of the maltreatment, and the name and address of the reporter. The local welfare 
140.1 	agency or agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report shall accept a report 
140.2 	made under section 260E.06 notwithstanding refusal by a reporter to provide the reporter's 
140.3 	name or address as long as the report is otherwise sufficient under this paragraph. The local 
140.4 	welfare agency or agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report shall ask the 
140.5 	reporter if the reporter is aware of the child or family heritage, including the child's Tribal 
140.6 	lineage pursuant to section 260.761 and their race, culture, and ethnicity pursuant to section 
140.7 	260.63, subdivision 10.
140.8 	(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), upon implementation of the provider licensing and 
140.9 	reporting hub, an individual who has an account with the provider licensing and reporting 
140.10 	hub and is required to report suspected maltreatment at a licensed program under section 
140.11 	260E.06, subdivision 1, may submit a written report in the hub in a manner prescribed by 
140.12 	the commissioner and is not required to make an oral report. A report submitted through 
140.13 	the provider licensing and reporting hub must be made immediately.

140.14 	Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.14, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
140.15 		Subd. 2.Sexual abuse. (a) The local welfare agency is the agency responsible for 
140.16 	investigating an allegation of sexual abuse, including if the alleged sexual abuse occurred 
140.17 	in another state or country but the child's residence is in Minnesota, if the alleged offender 
140.18 	is the parent, guardian, sibling, or an individual functioning within the family unit as a 
140.19 	person responsible for the child's care, or a person with a significant relationship to the child 
140.20 	if that person resides in the child's household.
140.21 	(b) The local welfare agency is also responsible for assessing or investigating when a 
140.22 	child is identified as a victim of sex trafficking.

140.23 	Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.14, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
140.24 		Subd. 3.Neglect, physical abuse, or labor trafficking. (a) The local welfare agency 
140.25 	is responsible for immediately conducting a family assessment or investigation if the report 
140.26 	alleges neglect or physical abuse by a parent, guardian, or individual functioning within the 
140.27 	family unit as a person responsible for the child's care, including if the alleged neglect or 
140.28 	physical abuse occurred in another state or country but the child's residence is in Minnesota.
140.29 	(b) The local welfare agency is also responsible for conducting a family assessment or 
140.30 	investigation when a child is identified as a victim of labor trafficking.

141.1 	Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.20, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
141.2 		Subdivision 1.General duties. (a) The local welfare agency shall offer services to 
141.3 	prevent future maltreatment, safeguarding and enhancing the welfare of the maltreated child, 
141.4 	and supporting and preserving family life whenever possible.
141.5 	(b) If the report alleges a violation of a criminal statute involving maltreatment or child 
141.6 	endangerment under section 609.378, the local law enforcement agency and local welfare 
141.7 	agency shall coordinate the planning and execution of their respective investigation and 
141.8 	assessment efforts to avoid a duplication of fact-finding efforts and multiple interviews. 
141.9 	Each agency shall prepare a separate report of the results of the agency's investigation or 
141.10 	assessment.
141.11 	(c) In cases of alleged child maltreatment resulting in death, the local agency may rely 
141.12 	on the fact-finding efforts of a law enforcement investigation to make a determination of 
141.13 	whether or not maltreatment occurred.
141.14 	(d) When necessary, the local welfare agency shall seek authority to remove the child 
141.15 	from the custody of a parent, guardian, or adult with whom the child is living.
141.16 	(e) In performing any of these duties, the local welfare agency shall maintain an 
141.17 	appropriate record.
141.18 	(f) In conducting a family assessment, noncaregiver human trafficking assessment, or 
141.19 	investigation, the local welfare agency shall gather information on the existence of substance 
141.20 	abuse and domestic violence.
141.21 	(g) If the family assessment, noncaregiver human trafficking assessment, or investigation 
141.22 	indicates there is a potential for abuse of alcohol or other drugs by the parent, guardian, or 
141.23 	person responsible for the child's care, the local welfare agency must coordinate a 
141.24 	comprehensive assessment pursuant to section 245G.05.
141.25 	(h) The agency may use either a family assessment or investigation to determine whether 
141.26 	the child is safe when responding to a report resulting from birth match data under section 
141.27 	260E.03, subdivision 23, paragraph (c). If the child subject of birth match data is determined 
141.28 	to be safe, the agency shall consult with the county attorney to determine the appropriateness 
141.29 	of filing a petition alleging the child is in need of protection or services under section 
141.30 	260C.007, subdivision 6, clause (16), in order to deliver needed services. If the child is 
141.31 	determined not to be safe, the agency and the county attorney shall take appropriate action 
141.32 	as required under section 260C.503, subdivision 2.
142.1 	(i) When conducting any assessment or investigation, the agency shall ask the child, if 
142.2 	age appropriate; parents; extended family; and reporter about the child's family heritage, 
142.3 	including the child's Tribal lineage pursuant to section 260.761 and the child's race, culture, 
142.4 	and ethnicity pursuant to section 260.63, subdivision 10.

142.5 	Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.20, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
142.6 		Subd. 3.Collection of information. (a) The local welfare agency responsible for 
142.7 	conducting a family assessment, noncaregiver human trafficking assessment, or investigation 
142.8 	shall collect available and relevant information to determine child safety, risk of subsequent 
142.9 	maltreatment, and family strengths and needs and share not public information with an 
142.10 	Indian's Tribal social services agency without violating any law of the state that may 
142.11 	otherwise impose a duty of confidentiality on the local welfare agency in order to implement 
142.12 	the Tribal state agreement.
142.13 	(b) The local welfare agency or the agency responsible for investigating the report shall 
142.14 	collect available and relevant information to ascertain whether maltreatment occurred and 
142.15 	whether protective services are needed.
142.16 	(c) Information collected includes, when relevant, information regarding the person 
142.17 	reporting the alleged maltreatment, including the nature of the reporter's relationship to the 
142.18 	child and to the alleged offender, and the basis of the reporter's knowledge for the report; 
142.19 	the child allegedly being maltreated; the alleged offender; the child's caretaker; and other 
142.20 	collateral sources having relevant information related to the alleged maltreatment.
142.21 	(d) Information relevant to the assessment or investigation must be requested, and may 
142.22 	include:
142.23 	(1) the child's sex and age; prior reports of maltreatment, including any maltreatment 
142.24 	reports that were screened out and not accepted for assessment or investigation; information 
142.25 	relating to developmental functioning; credibility of the child's statement; and whether the 
142.26 	information provided under this clause is consistent with other information collected during 
142.27 	the course of the assessment or investigation;
142.28 	(2) except in a noncaregiver human trafficking assessment, the alleged offender's age, 
142.29 	a record check for prior reports of maltreatment, and criminal charges and convictions;
142.30 	(3) collateral source information regarding the alleged maltreatment and care of the 
142.31 	child. Collateral information includes, when relevant: (i) a medical examination of the child; 
142.32 	(ii) prior medical records relating to the alleged maltreatment or the care of the child 
142.33 	maintained by any facility, clinic, or health care professional and an interview with the 
143.1 	treating professionals; and (iii) interviews with the child's caretakers, including the child's 
143.2 	parent, guardian, foster parent, child care provider, teachers, counselors, family members, 
143.3 	relatives, and other persons who may have knowledge regarding the alleged maltreatment 
143.4 	and the care of the child; and
143.5 	(4) information on the existence of domestic abuse and violence in the home of the child, 
143.6 	and substance abuse.
143.7 	(e) Nothing in this subdivision precludes the local welfare agency, the local law 
143.8 	enforcement agency, or the agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report from 
143.9 	collecting other relevant information necessary to conduct the assessment or investigation.
143.10 	(f) Notwithstanding section 13.384 or 144.291 to 144.298, the local welfare agency has 
143.11 	access to medical data and records for purposes of paragraph (d), clause (3).

143.12 	Sec. 40. [260E.215] REPORTING OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CONCERNS.
143.13 		Subdivision 1.Reports required. (a) A person mandated to report under this chapter 
143.14 	must immediately report to the local welfare agency or designated partner if the person 
143.15 	knows or has reason to believe that a child required to be enrolled in school under section 
143.16 	120A.22 has at least seven unexcused absences in the current school year and is at risk of 
143.17 	educational neglect or truancy under section 260C.163, subdivision 11.
143.18 	(b) Any person may make a voluntary report if the person knows or has reason to believe 
143.19 	that a child required to be enrolled in school under section 120A.22 has at least seven 
143.20 	unexcused absences in the current school year and is at risk of educational neglect or truancy 
143.21 	under section 260C.163, subdivision 11.
143.22 	(c) An oral report must be made immediately. An oral report made by a person required 
143.23 	to report under paragraph (a) must be followed within 72 hours, exclusive of weekends and 
143.24 	holidays, by a report in writing to the local welfare agency. A report must sufficiently 
143.25 	identify the child and the child's parent or guardian, the actual or estimated number of the 
143.26 	child's unexcused absences in the current school year, the efforts made by school officials 
143.27 	to resolve attendance concerns with the family, and the name and address of the reporter. 
143.28 	A voluntary reporter under paragraph (b) may refuse to provide their name or address if the 
143.29 	report is otherwise sufficient, and the local welfare agency must accept such a report.
143.30 		Subd. 2.Local welfare agency. (a) The local welfare agency or partner designated to 
143.31 	provide child welfare services must provide a child welfare response for a report that alleges 
143.32 	a child enrolled in school has seven or more unexcused absences. When providing a child 
143.33 	welfare response under this paragraph, the local welfare agency or designated partner must 
144.1 	offer services to the child and the child's family to address school attendance concerns or 
144.2 	may partner with a county attorney's office, a community-based organization, or other 
144.3 	community partner to provide the services. The services must be culturally and linguistically 
144.4 	appropriate and tailored to the needs of the child and the child's family. This section is 
144.5 	subject to the requirements of the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act under sections 
144.6 	260.751 to 260.835 and the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child 
144.7 	Welfare Disproportionality Act under sections 260.61 to 260.693.
144.8 	(b) If the unexcused absences continue and the family has not engaged with services 
144.9 	under paragraph (a) after the local welfare agency or partner designated to provide child 
144.10 	welfare services has made multiple varied attempts to engage the child's family, a report of 
144.11 	educational neglect must be made regardless of the number of unexcused absences the child 
144.12 	has accrued. The local welfare agency must determine the response path assignment pursuant 
144.13 	to section 260E.17 and may proceed with the process outlined in section 260C.141.

144.14 	Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.24, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
144.15 		Subdivision 1.Timing. The local welfare agency shall conclude the family assessment, 
144.16 	the noncaregiver human trafficking assessment, or the investigation within 45 days of the 
144.17 	receipt of a report. The conclusion of the assessment or investigation may be extended to 
144.18 	permit the completion of a criminal investigation or the receipt of expert information 
144.19 	requested within 45 days of the receipt of the report.

144.20 	Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.24, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
144.21 		Subd. 2.Determination after family assessment or a noncaregiver human trafficking 
144.22 	assessment. After conducting a family assessment or a noncaregiver human trafficking 
144.23 	assessment, the local welfare agency shall determine whether child protective services are 
144.24 	needed to address the safety of the child and other family members and the risk of subsequent 
144.25 	maltreatment. The local welfare agency must document the information collected under 
144.26 	section 260E.20, subdivision 3, related to the completed family assessment or noncaregiver 
144.27 	human trafficking assessment in the child's or family's case notes.

144.28 	Sec. 43. REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
 144.29 	The revisor of statutes shall change paragraphs to subdivisions, clauses to paragraphs, 
144.30 	and items to clauses in Minnesota Statutes, sections 260C.203 and 260C.204. The revisor 
144.31 	shall make any necessary grammatical changes or changes to sentence structure necessary 
145.1 	to preserve the meaning of the text as a result of the changes. The revisor of statutes must 
145.2 	correct any statutory cross-references consistent with the changes in this section.

145.3 	ARTICLE 9
145.4 	CHILD PROTECTION AND WELFARE FINANCE

145.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142A.03, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
145.6 		Subd. 2.Duties of the commissioner. (a) The commissioner may apply for and accept 
145.7 	on behalf of the state any grants, bequests, gifts, or contributions for the purpose of carrying 
145.8 	out the duties and responsibilities of the commissioner. Any money received under this 
145.9 	paragraph is appropriated and dedicated for the purpose for which the money is granted. 
145.10 	The commissioner must biennially report to the chairs and ranking minority members of 
145.11 	relevant legislative committees and divisions by January 15 of each even-numbered year a 
145.12 	list of all grants and gifts received under this subdivision.
145.13 	(b) Pursuant to law, the commissioner may apply for and receive money made available 
145.14 	from federal sources for the purpose of carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the 
145.15 	commissioner.
145.16 	(c) The commissioner may make contracts with and grants to Tribal Nations, public and 
145.17 	private agencies, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and individuals using appropriated 
145.18 	money.
145.19 	(d) The commissioner must develop program objectives and performance measures for 
145.20 	evaluating progress toward achieving the objectives. The commissioner must identify the 
145.21 	objectives, performance measures, and current status of achieving the measures in a biennial 
145.22 	report to the chairs and ranking minority members of relevant legislative committees and 
145.23 	divisions. The report is due no later than January 15 each even-numbered year. The report 
145.24 	must include, when possible, the following objectives:
145.25 	(1) centering and including the lived experiences of children and youth, including those 
145.26 	with disabilities and mental illness and their families, in all aspects of the department's work;
145.27 	(2) increasing the effectiveness of the department's programs in addressing the needs of 
145.28 	children and youth facing racial, economic, or geographic inequities;
145.29 	(3) increasing coordination and reducing inefficiencies among the department's programs 
145.30 	and the funding sources that support the programs;
146.1 	(4) increasing the alignment and coordination of family access to child care and early 
146.2 	learning programs and improving systems of support for early childhood and learning 
146.3 	providers and services;
146.4 	(5) improving the connection between the department's programs and the kindergarten 
146.5 	through grade 12 and higher education systems; and
146.6 	(6) minimizing and streamlining the effort required of youth and families to receive 
146.7 	services to which the youth and families are entitled.
146.8 	(e) The commissioner shall administer and supervise the forms of public assistance and 
146.9 	other activities or services that are vested in the commissioner. Administration and 
146.10 	supervision of activities or services includes but is not limited to assuring timely and accurate 
146.11 	distribution of benefits, completeness of service, and quality program management. In 
146.12 	addition to administering and supervising activities vested by law in the department, the 
146.13 	commissioner has the authority to:
146.14 	(1) require county agency participation in training and technical assistance programs to 
146.15 	promote compliance with statutes, rules, federal laws, regulations, and policies governing 
146.16 	the programs and activities administered by the commissioner;
146.17 	(2) monitor, on an ongoing basis, the performance of county agencies in the operation 
146.18 	and administration of activities and programs; enforce compliance with statutes, rules, 
146.19 	federal laws, regulations, and policies governing welfare services; and promote excellence 
146.20 	of administration and program operation;
146.21 	(3) develop a quality control program or other monitoring program to review county 
146.22 	performance and accuracy of benefit determinations;
146.23 	(4) require county agencies to make an adjustment to the public assistance benefits issued 
146.24 	to any individual consistent with federal law and regulation and state law and rule and to 
146.25 	issue or recover benefits as appropriate;
146.26 	(5) delay or deny payment of all or part of the state and federal share of benefits and 
146.27 	administrative reimbursement according to the procedures set forth in section 142A.10;
146.28 	(6) make contracts with and grants to public and private agencies and organizations, 
146.29 	both for-profit and nonprofit, and individuals, using appropriated funds; and
146.30 	(7) enter into contractual agreements with federally recognized Indian Tribes with a 
146.31 	reservation in Minnesota to the extent necessary for the Tribe to operate a federally approved 
146.32 	family assistance program or any other program under the supervision of the commissioner. 
146.33 	The commissioner shall consult with the affected county or counties in the contractual 
147.1 	agreement negotiations, if the county or counties wish to be included, in order to avoid the 
147.2 	duplication of county and Tribal assistance program services. The commissioner may 
147.3 	establish necessary accounts for the purposes of receiving and disbursing funds as necessary 
147.4 	for the operation of the programs.
147.5 	The commissioner shall work in conjunction with the commissioner of human services to 
147.6 	carry out the duties of this paragraph when necessary and feasible.
147.7 	(f) The commissioner shall inform county agencies, on a timely basis, of changes in 
147.8 	statute, rule, federal law, regulation, and policy necessary to county agency administration 
147.9 	of the programs and activities administered by the commissioner.
147.10 	(g) The commissioner shall administer and supervise child welfare activities, including 
147.11 	promoting the enforcement of laws preventing child maltreatment and protecting children 
147.12 	with a disability and children who are in need of protection or services, licensing and 
147.13 	supervising child care and child-placing agencies, and supervising the care of children in 
147.14 	foster care. The commissioner shall coordinate with the commissioner of human services 
147.15 	on activities impacting children overseen by the Department of Human Services, such as 
147.16 	disability services, behavioral health, and substance use disorder treatment.
147.17 	(h) The commissioner shall assist and cooperate with local, state, and federal departments, 
147.18 	agencies, and institutions.
147.19 	(i) The commissioner shall establish and maintain any administrative units reasonably 
147.20 	necessary for the performance of administrative functions common to all divisions of the 
147.21 	department.
147.22 	(j) The commissioner shall act as designated guardian of children pursuant to chapter 
147.23 	260C. For children under the guardianship of the commissioner or a Tribe in Minnesota 
147.24 	recognized by the Secretary of the Interior whose interests would be best served by adoptive 
147.25 	placement, the commissioner may contract with a licensed child-placing agency or a 
147.26 	Minnesota Tribal social services agency to provide adoption services. For children in 
147.27 	out-of-home care whose interests would be best served by a transfer of permanent legal and 
147.28 	physical custody to a relative under section 260C.515, subdivision 4, or equivalent in Tribal 
147.29 	code, the commissioner may contract with a licensed child-placing agency or a Minnesota 
147.30 	Tribal social services agency to provide permanency services. A contract with a licensed 
147.31 	child-placing agency must be designed to supplement existing county efforts and may not 
147.32 	replace existing county programs or Tribal social services, unless the replacement is agreed 
147.33 	to by the county board and the appropriate exclusive bargaining representative, Tribal 
147.34 	governing body, or the commissioner has evidence that child placements of the county 
148.1 	continue to be substantially below that of other counties. Funds encumbered and obligated 
148.2 	under an agreement for a specific child shall remain available until the terms of the agreement 
148.3 	are fulfilled or the agreement is terminated.
148.4 	(k) The commissioner has the authority to conduct and administer experimental projects 
148.5 	to test methods and procedures of administering assistance and services to recipients or 
148.6 	potential recipients of public benefits. To carry out the experimental projects, the 
148.7 	commissioner may waive the enforcement of existing specific statutory program 
148.8 	requirements, rules, and standards in one or more counties. The order establishing the waiver 
148.9 	must provide alternative methods and procedures of administration and must not conflict 
148.10 	with the basic purposes, coverage, or benefits provided by law. No project under this 
148.11 	paragraph shall exceed four years. No order establishing an experimental project as authorized 
148.12 	by this paragraph is effective until the following conditions have been met:
148.13 	(1) the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services has agreed, for the same 
148.14 	project, to waive state plan requirements relative to statewide uniformity; and
148.15 	(2) a comprehensive plan, including estimated project costs, has been approved by the 
148.16 	Legislative Advisory Commission and filed with the commissioner of administration.
148.17 	(l) The commissioner shall, according to federal requirements and in coordination with 
148.18 	the commissioner of human services, establish procedures to be followed by local welfare 
148.19 	boards in creating citizen advisory committees, including procedures for selection of 
148.20 	committee members.
148.21 	(m) The commissioner shall allocate federal fiscal disallowances or sanctions that are 
148.22 	based on quality control error rates for the aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) 
148.23 	program formerly codified in sections 256.72 to 256.87 or the Supplemental Nutrition 
148.24 	Assistance Program (SNAP) in the following manner:
148.25 	(1) one-half of the total amount of the disallowance shall be borne by the county boards 
148.26 	responsible for administering the programs. For AFDC, disallowances shall be shared by 
148.27 	each county board in the same proportion as that county's expenditures to the total of all 
148.28 	counties' expenditures for AFDC. For SNAP, sanctions shall be shared by each county 
148.29 	board, with 50 percent of the sanction being distributed to each county in the same proportion 
148.30 	as that county's administrative costs for SNAP benefits are to the total of all SNAP 
148.31 	administrative costs for all counties, and 50 percent of the sanctions being distributed to 
148.32 	each county in the same proportion as that county's value of SNAP benefits issued are to 
148.33 	the total of all benefits issued for all counties. Each county shall pay its share of the 
148.34 	disallowance to the state of Minnesota. When a county fails to pay the amount due under 
149.1 	this paragraph, the commissioner may deduct the amount from reimbursement otherwise 
149.2 	due the county, or the attorney general, upon the request of the commissioner, may institute 
149.3 	civil action to recover the amount due; and
149.4 	(2) notwithstanding the provisions of clause (1), if the disallowance results from knowing 
149.5 	noncompliance by one or more counties with a specific program instruction, and that knowing 
149.6 	noncompliance is a matter of official county board record, the commissioner may require 
149.7 	payment or recover from the county or counties, in the manner prescribed in clause (1), an 
149.8 	amount equal to the portion of the total disallowance that resulted from the noncompliance 
149.9 	and may distribute the balance of the disallowance according to clause (1).
149.10 	(n) The commissioner shall develop and implement special projects that maximize 
149.11 	reimbursements and result in the recovery of money to the state. For the purpose of recovering 
149.12 	state money, the commissioner may enter into contracts with third parties. Any recoveries 
149.13 	that result from projects or contracts entered into under this paragraph shall be deposited 
149.14 	in the state treasury and credited to a special account until the balance in the account reaches 
149.15 	$1,000,000. When the balance in the account exceeds $1,000,000, the excess shall be 
149.16 	transferred and credited to the general fund. All money in the account is appropriated to the 
149.17 	commissioner for the purposes of this paragraph.
149.18 	(o) The commissioner has the authority to establish and enforce the following county 
149.19 	reporting requirements:
149.20 	(1) the commissioner shall establish fiscal and statistical reporting requirements necessary 
149.21 	to account for the expenditure of funds allocated to counties for programs administered by 
149.22 	the commissioner. When establishing financial and statistical reporting requirements, the 
149.23 	commissioner shall evaluate all reports, in consultation with the counties, to determine if 
149.24 	the reports can be simplified or the number of reports can be reduced;
149.25 	(2) the county board shall submit monthly or quarterly reports to the department as 
149.26 	required by the commissioner. Monthly reports are due no later than 15 working days after 
149.27 	the end of the month. Quarterly reports are due no later than 30 calendar days after the end 
149.28 	of the quarter, unless the commissioner determines that the deadline must be shortened to 
149.29 	20 calendar days to avoid jeopardizing compliance with federal deadlines or risking a loss 
149.30 	of federal funding. Only reports that are complete, legible, and in the required format shall 
149.31 	be accepted by the commissioner;
149.32 	(3) if the required reports are not received by the deadlines established in clause (2), the 
149.33 	commissioner may delay payments and withhold funds from the county board until the next 
149.34 	reporting period. When the report is needed to account for the use of federal funds and the 
150.1 	late report results in a reduction in federal funding, the commissioner shall withhold from 
150.2 	the county boards with late reports an amount equal to the reduction in federal funding until 
150.3 	full federal funding is received;
150.4 	(4) a county board that submits reports that are late, illegible, incomplete, or not in the 
150.5 	required format for two out of three consecutive reporting periods is considered 
150.6 	noncompliant. When a county board is found to be noncompliant, the commissioner shall 
150.7 	notify the county board of the reason the county board is considered noncompliant and 
150.8 	request that the county board develop a corrective action plan stating how the county board 
150.9 	plans to correct the problem. The corrective action plan must be submitted to the 
150.10 	commissioner within 45 days after the date the county board received notice of 
150.11 	noncompliance;
150.12 	(5) the final deadline for fiscal reports or amendments to fiscal reports is one year after 
150.13 	the date the report was originally due. If the commissioner does not receive a report by the 
150.14 	final deadline, the county board forfeits the funding associated with the report for that 
150.15 	reporting period and the county board must repay any funds associated with the report 
150.16 	received for that reporting period;
150.17 	(6) the commissioner may not delay payments, withhold funds, or require repayment 
150.18 	under clause (3) or (5) if the county demonstrates that the commissioner failed to provide 
150.19 	appropriate forms, guidelines, and technical assistance to enable the county to comply with 
150.20 	the requirements. If the county board disagrees with an action taken by the commissioner 
150.21 	under clause (3) or (5), the county board may appeal the action according to sections 14.57 
150.22 	to 14.69; and
150.23 	(7) counties subject to withholding of funds under clause (3) or forfeiture or repayment 
150.24 	of funds under clause (5) shall not reduce or withhold benefits or services to clients to cover 
150.25 	costs incurred due to actions taken by the commissioner under clause (3) or (5).
150.26 	(p) The commissioner shall allocate federal fiscal disallowances or sanctions for audit 
150.27 	exceptions when federal fiscal disallowances or sanctions are based on a statewide random 
150.28 	sample in direct proportion to each county's claim for that period.
150.29 	(q) The commissioner is responsible for ensuring the detection, prevention, investigation, 
150.30 	and resolution of fraudulent activities or behavior by applicants, recipients, and other 
150.31 	participants in the programs administered by the department. The commissioner shall 
150.32 	cooperate with the commissioner of education to enforce the requirements for program 
150.33 	integrity and fraud prevention for investigation for child care assistance under chapter 142E.
151.1 	(r) The commissioner shall require county agencies to identify overpayments, establish 
151.2 	claims, and utilize all available and cost-beneficial methodologies to collect and recover 
151.3 	these overpayments in the programs administered by the department.
151.4 	(s) The commissioner shall develop recommended standards for child foster care homes 
151.5 	that address the components of specialized therapeutic services to be provided by child 
151.6 	foster care homes with those services.
151.7 	(t) The commissioner shall authorize the method of payment to or from the department 
151.8 	as part of the programs administered by the department. This authorization includes the 
151.9 	receipt or disbursement of funds held by the department in a fiduciary capacity as part of 
151.10 	the programs administered by the department.
151.11 	(u) In coordination with the commissioner of human services, the commissioner shall 
151.12 	create and provide county and Tribal agencies with blank applications, affidavits, and other 
151.13 	forms as necessary for public assistance programs.
151.14 	(v) The commissioner shall cooperate with the federal government and its public welfare 
151.15 	agencies in any reasonable manner as may be necessary to qualify for federal aid for 
151.16 	temporary assistance for needy families and in conformity with Title I of Public Law 104-193, 
151.17 	the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and successor 
151.18 	amendments, including making reports that contain information required by the federal 
151.19 	Social Security Advisory Board and complying with any provisions the board may find 
151.20 	necessary to assure the correctness and verification of the reports.
151.21 	(w) On or before January 15 in each even-numbered year, the commissioner shall make 
151.22 	a biennial report to the governor concerning the activities of the agency.
151.23 	(x) The commissioner shall enter into agreements with other departments of the state as 
151.24 	necessary to meet all requirements of the federal government.
151.25 	(y) The commissioner may cooperate with other state agencies in establishing reciprocal 
151.26 	agreements in instances where a child receiving Minnesota family investment program 
151.27 	(MFIP) assistance or its out-of-state equivalent moves or contemplates moving into or out 
151.28 	of the state, in order that the child may continue to receive MFIP or equivalent aid from the 
151.29 	state moved from until the child has resided for one year in the state moved to.
151.30 	(z) The commissioner shall provide appropriate technical assistance to county agencies 
151.31 	to develop methods to have county financial workers remind and encourage recipients of 
151.32 	aid to families with dependent children, the Minnesota family investment program, the 
151.33 	Minnesota family investment plan, family general assistance, or SNAP benefits whose 
152.1 	assistance unit includes at least one child under the age of five to have each young child 
152.2 	immunized against childhood diseases. The commissioner must examine the feasibility of 
152.3 	utilizing the capacity of a statewide computer system to assist county agency financial 
152.4 	workers in performing this function at appropriate intervals.
152.5 	(aa) The commissioner shall have the power and authority to accept on behalf of the 
152.6 	state contributions and gifts for the use and benefit of children under the guardianship or 
152.7 	custody of the commissioner. The commissioner may also receive and accept on behalf of 
152.8 	such children money due and payable to them as old age and survivors insurance benefits, 
152.9 	veterans benefits, pensions, or other such monetary benefits. Gifts, contributions, pensions, 
152.10 	and benefits under this paragraph must be deposited in and disbursed from the social welfare 
152.11 	fund provided for in sections 256.88 to 256.92.
152.12 	(bb) The specific enumeration of powers and duties in this section must not be construed 
152.13 	to be a limitation upon the general powers granted to the commissioner.

152.14 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260.810, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
152.15 		Subdivision 1.Payments. The commissioner shall make grant payments to each approved 
152.16 	program in four quarterly installments a year. The commissioner may certify an advance 
152.17 	payment for the first quarter of the state fiscal year. Later payments must be made upon 
152.18 	receipt by the state of a quarterly report on finances and program activities quarterly.

152.19 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260.810, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
152.20 		Subd. 2.Quarterly report Reporting. The commissioner shall specify engage Tribal 
152.21 	and urban Indian organizations to establish requirements for reports and reporting timelines, 
152.22 	including quarterly fiscal reports submitted to the commissioner at least annually, according 
152.23 	to section 142A.03, subdivision 2, paragraph (o). Each quarter reporting period as agreed 
152.24 	upon by the commissioner and grantee, an approved program receiving an Indian child 
152.25 	welfare grant shall submit a report to the commissioner that includes:
152.26 	(1) a detailed accounting of grant money expended during the preceding quarter reporting 
152.27 	period, specifying expenditures by line item and year to date; and
152.28 	(2) a description of Indian child welfare activities conducted during the preceding quarter
152.29 	reporting period, including the number of clients served and the type of services provided.
152.30 	The quarterly Reports must be submitted no later than 30 days after the end of each 
152.31 	quarter agreed upon reporting timelines of the state fiscal year.

153.1 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260.821, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
153.2 		Subd. 2.Special focus grants. The amount available for grants established under section 
153.3 	260.785, subdivision 2, for child-placing agencies, Tribes, Indian organizations, and other 
153.4 	social services organizations is one-fifth of the total annual appropriation for Indian child 
153.5 	welfare grants. The maximum award under this subdivision is $100,000 a year for programs 
153.6 	approved by the commissioner.

153.7 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 518.68, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
153.8 		Subd. 2.Contents. (a) This subdivision expires January 1, 2027. For orders issued prior 
153.9 	to January 1, 2027, the required notices must be substantially as follows:
153.10 	IMPORTANT NOTICE
153.11 	1. PAYMENTS TO PUBLIC AGENCY
153.12 	According to Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.50, payments ordered for maintenance 
153.13 	and support must be paid to the public agency responsible for child support enforcement 
153.14 	as long as the person entitled to receive the payments is receiving or has applied for 
153.15 	public assistance or has applied for support and maintenance collection services. MAIL 
153.16 	PAYMENTS TO:
153.17 	2. DEPRIVING ANOTHER OF CUSTODIAL OR PARENTAL RIGHTS -- A FELONY
153.18 	A person may be charged with a felony who conceals a minor child or takes, obtains, 
153.19 	retains, or fails to return a minor child from or to the child's parent (or person with 
153.20 	custodial or visitation rights), according to Minnesota Statutes, section 609.26. A copy 
153.21 	of that section is available from any district court clerk.
153.22 	3. NONSUPPORT OF A SPOUSE OR CHILD -- CRIMINAL PENALTIES
153.23 	A person who fails to pay court-ordered child support or maintenance may be charged 
153.24 	with a crime, which may include misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony charges, 
153.25 	according to Minnesota Statutes, section 609.375. A copy of that section is available 
153.26 	from any district court clerk.
153.27 	4. RULES OF SUPPORT, MAINTENANCE, PARENTING TIME
153.28 	(a) Payment of support or spousal maintenance is to be as ordered, and the giving of 
153.29 	gifts or making purchases of food, clothing, and the like will not fulfill the obligation.
154.1 	(b) Payment of support must be made as it becomes due, and failure to secure or denial 
154.2 	of parenting time is NOT an excuse for nonpayment, but the aggrieved party must seek 
154.3 	relief through a proper motion filed with the court.
154.4 	(c) Nonpayment of support is not grounds to deny parenting time. The party entitled to 
154.5 	receive support may apply for support and collection services, file a contempt motion, 
154.6 	or obtain a judgment as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 548.091.
154.7 	(d) The payment of support or spousal maintenance takes priority over payment of debts 
154.8 	and other obligations.
154.9 	(e) A party who accepts additional obligations of support does so with the full knowledge 
154.10 	of the party's prior obligation under this proceeding.
154.11 	(f) Child support or maintenance is based on annual income, and it is the responsibility 
154.12 	of a person with seasonal employment to budget income so that payments are made 
154.13 	throughout the year as ordered.
154.14 	(g) Reasonable parenting time guidelines are contained in Appendix B, which is available 
154.15 	from the court administrator.
154.16 	(h) The nonpayment of support may be enforced through the denial of student grants; 
154.17 	interception of state and federal tax refunds; suspension of driver's, recreational, and 
154.18 	occupational licenses; referral to the department of revenue or private collection agencies; 
154.19 	seizure of assets, including bank accounts and other assets held by financial institutions; 
154.20 	reporting to credit bureaus; income withholding and contempt proceedings; and other 
154.21 	enforcement methods allowed by law.
154.22 	(i) The public authority may suspend or resume collection of the amount allocated for 
154.23 	child care expenses if the conditions of Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.40, subdivision 
154.24 	4, are met.
154.25 	(j) The public authority may remove or resume a medical support offset if the conditions 
154.26 	of Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.41, subdivision 16, are met.
154.27 	5. MODIFYING CHILD SUPPORT
154.28 	If either the obligor or obligee is laid off from employment or receives a pay reduction, 
154.29 	child support may be modified, increased, or decreased. Any modification will only take 
154.30 	effect when it is ordered by the court, and will only relate back to the time that a motion 
154.31 	is filed. Either the obligor or obligee may file a motion to modify child support, and may 
154.32 	request the public agency for help. UNTIL A MOTION IS FILED, THE CHILD 
155.1 	SUPPORT OBLIGATION WILL CONTINUE AT THE CURRENT LEVEL. THE 
155.2 	COURT IS NOT PERMITTED TO REDUCE SUPPORT RETROACTIVELY.
155.3 	6. PARENTAL RIGHTS FROM MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 518.17, 
155.4 	SUBDIVISION 3
155.5 	Unless otherwise provided by the Court:
155.6 	(a) Each party has the right of access to, and to receive copies of, school, medical, dental, 
155.7 	religious training, and other important records and information about the minor children. 
155.8 	Each party has the right of access to information regarding health or dental insurance 
155.9 	available to the minor children. Presentation of a copy of this order to the custodian of 
155.10 	a record or other information about the minor children constitutes sufficient authorization 
155.11 	for the release of the record or information to the requesting party.
155.12 	(b) Each party shall keep the other informed as to the name and address of the school 
155.13 	of attendance of the minor children. Each party has the right to be informed by school 
155.14 	officials about the children's welfare, educational progress and status, and to attend 
155.15 	school and parent teacher conferences. The school is not required to hold a separate 
155.16 	conference for each party.
155.17 	(c) In case of an accident or serious illness of a minor child, each party shall notify the 
155.18 	other party of the accident or illness, and the name of the health care provider and the 
155.19 	place of treatment.
155.20 	(d) Each party has the right of reasonable access and telephone contact with the minor 
155.21 	children.
155.22 	7. WAGE AND INCOME DEDUCTION OF SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE
155.23 	Child support and/or spousal maintenance may be withheld from income, with or without 
155.24 	notice to the person obligated to pay, when the conditions of Minnesota Statutes, section 
155.25 	518A.53 have been met. A copy of those sections is available from any district court 
155.26 	clerk.
155.27 	8. CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR RESIDENCE
155.28 	Unless otherwise ordered, each party shall notify the other party, the court, and the public 
155.29 	authority responsible for collection, if applicable, of the following information within 
155.30 	ten days of any change: the residential and mailing address, telephone number, driver's 
155.31 	license number, Social Security number, and name, address, and telephone number of 
155.32 	the employer.
156.1 	9. COST OF LIVING INCREASE OF SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE
156.2 	Prior to January 1, 2027, basic support and/or spousal maintenance may be adjusted 
156.3 	every two years based upon a change in the cost of living (using Department of Labor 
156.4 	Consumer Price Index .........., unless otherwise specified in this order) when the 
156.5 	conditions of Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.75, are met. Cost of living increases are 
156.6 	compounded. A copy of Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.75, and forms necessary to 
156.7 	request or contest a cost of living increase are available from any district court clerk.
156.8 	10. JUDGMENTS FOR UNPAID SUPPORT
156.9 	If a person fails to make a child support payment, the payment owed becomes a judgment 
156.10 	against the person responsible to make the payment by operation of law on or after the 
156.11 	date the payment is due, and the person entitled to receive the payment or the public 
156.12 	agency may obtain entry and docketing of the judgment WITHOUT NOTICE to the 
156.13 	person responsible to make the payment under Minnesota Statutes, section 548.091.
156.14 	11. JUDGMENTS FOR UNPAID MAINTENANCE
156.15 	(a) A judgment for unpaid spousal maintenance may be entered when the conditions of 
156.16 	Minnesota Statutes, section 548.091, are met. A copy of that section is available from 
156.17 	any district court clerk.
156.18 	(b) The public authority is not responsible for calculating interest on any judgment for 
156.19 	unpaid spousal maintenance. When providing services in IV-D cases, as defined in 
156.20 	Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.26, subdivision 10, the public authority will only 
156.21 	collect interest on spousal maintenance if spousal maintenance is reduced to a sum 
156.22 	certain judgment.
156.23 	12. ATTORNEY FEES AND COLLECTION COSTS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD 
156.24 	SUPPORT
156.25 	A judgment for attorney fees and other collection costs incurred in enforcing a child 
156.26 	support order will be entered against the person responsible to pay support when the 
156.27 	conditions of Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.735, are met. A copy of Minnesota 
156.28 	Statutes, sections 518.14 and 518A.735 and forms necessary to request or contest these 
156.29 	attorney fees and collection costs are available from any district court clerk.
156.30 	13. PARENTING TIME EXPEDITOR PROCESS
156.31 	On request of either party or on its own motion, the court may appoint a parenting time 
156.32 	expeditor to resolve parenting time disputes under Minnesota Statutes, section 518.1751. 
157.1 	A copy of that section and a description of the expeditor process is available from any 
157.2 	district court clerk.
157.3 	14. PARENTING TIME REMEDIES AND PENALTIES
157.4 	Remedies and penalties for the wrongful denial of parenting time are available under 
157.5 	Minnesota Statutes, section 518.175, subdivision 6. These include compensatory parenting 
157.6 	time; civil penalties; bond requirements; contempt; and reversal of custody. A copy of 
157.7 	that subdivision and forms for requesting relief are available from any district court 
157.8 	clerk.
157.9 	(b) For orders issued on or after January 1, 2027, the required notices must be 
157.10 	substantially as follows:
157.11 	IMPORTANT NOTICE
157.12 	1. PAYMENTS TO PUBLIC AGENCY
157.13 	According to Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.50, payments ordered for maintenance 
157.14 	and support must be paid to the public agency responsible for child support enforcement 
157.15 	as long as the person entitled to receive the payments is receiving or has applied for 
157.16 	public assistance or has applied for support and maintenance collection services. MAIL 
157.17 	PAYMENTS TO:
157.18 	2. DEPRIVING ANOTHER OF CUSTODIAL OR PARENTAL RIGHTS -- A FELONY
157.19 	A person may be charged with a felony who conceals a minor child or takes, obtains, 
157.20 	retains, or fails to return a minor child from or to the child's parent (or person with 
157.21 	custodial or visitation rights), according to Minnesota Statutes, section 609.26. A copy 
157.22 	of that section is available from any district court clerk.
157.23 	3. NONSUPPORT OF A SPOUSE OR CHILD -- CRIMINAL PENALTIES
157.24 	A person who fails to pay court-ordered child support or maintenance may be charged 
157.25 	with a crime, which may include misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony charges, 
157.26 	according to Minnesota Statutes, section 609.375. A copy of that section is available 
157.27 	from any district court clerk.
157.28 	4. RULES OF SUPPORT, MAINTENANCE, PARENTING TIME
157.29 	(a) Payment of support or spousal maintenance is to be as ordered, and the giving of 
157.30 	gifts or making purchases of food, clothing, and the like will not fulfill the obligation.
158.1 	(b) Payment of support must be made as it becomes due, and failure to secure or denial 
158.2 	of parenting time is NOT an excuse for nonpayment, but the aggrieved party must seek 
158.3 	relief through a proper motion filed with the court.
158.4 	(c) Nonpayment of support is not grounds to deny parenting time. The party entitled to 
158.5 	receive support may apply for support and collection services, file a contempt motion, 
158.6 	or obtain a judgment as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 548.091.
158.7 	(d) The payment of support or spousal maintenance takes priority over payment of debts 
158.8 	and other obligations.
158.9 	(e) A party who accepts additional obligations of support does so with the full knowledge 
158.10 	of the party's prior obligation under this proceeding.
158.11 	(f) Child support or maintenance is based on annual income, and it is the responsibility 
158.12 	of a person with seasonal employment to budget income so that payments are made 
158.13 	throughout the year as ordered.
158.14 	(g) Reasonable parenting time guidelines are contained in Appendix B, which is available 
158.15 	from the court administrator.
158.16 	(h) The nonpayment of support may be enforced through the denial of student grants; 
158.17 	interception of state and federal tax refunds; suspension of driver's, recreational, and 
158.18 	occupational licenses; referral to the Department of Revenue or private collection 
158.19 	agencies; seizure of assets, including bank accounts and other assets held by financial 
158.20 	institutions; reporting to credit bureaus; income withholding and contempt proceedings; 
158.21 	and other enforcement methods allowed by law.
158.22 	(i) The public authority may suspend or resume collection of the amount allocated for 
158.23 	child care expenses if the conditions of Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.40, subdivision 
158.24 	4, are met.
158.25 	(j) The public authority may remove or resume a medical support offset if the conditions 
158.26 	of Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.41, subdivision 16, are met.
158.27 	5. MODIFYING CHILD SUPPORT
158.28 	If either the obligor or obligee is laid off from employment or receives a pay reduction, 
158.29 	child support may be modified, increased, or decreased. Any modification will only take 
158.30 	effect when it is ordered by the court, and will only relate back to the time that a motion 
158.31 	is filed. Either the obligor or obligee may file a motion to modify child support, and may 
158.32 	request the public agency for help. UNTIL A MOTION IS FILED, THE CHILD 
159.1 	SUPPORT OBLIGATION WILL CONTINUE AT THE CURRENT LEVEL. THE 
159.2 	COURT IS NOT PERMITTED TO REDUCE SUPPORT RETROACTIVELY.
159.3 	6. PARENTAL RIGHTS FROM MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 518.17, 
159.4 	SUBDIVISION 3
159.5 	Unless otherwise provided by the court:
159.6 	(a) Each party has the right of access to, and to receive copies of, school, medical, dental, 
159.7 	religious training, and other important records and information about the minor children. 
159.8 	Each party has the right of access to information regarding health or dental insurance 
159.9 	available to the minor children. Presentation of a copy of this order to the custodian of 
159.10 	a record or other information about the minor children constitutes sufficient authorization 
159.11 	for the release of the record or information to the requesting party.
159.12 	(b) Each party shall keep the other informed as to the name and address of the school 
159.13 	of attendance of the minor children. Each party has the right to be informed by school 
159.14 	officials about the children's welfare, educational progress, and status, and to attend 
159.15 	school and parent-teacher conferences. The school is not required to hold a separate 
159.16 	conference for each party.
159.17 	(c) In case of an accident or serious illness of a minor child, each party shall notify the 
159.18 	other party of the accident or illness, and the name of the health care provider and the 
159.19 	place of treatment.
159.20 	(d) Each party has the right of reasonable access and telephone contact with the minor 
159.21 	children.
159.22 	7. WAGE AND INCOME DEDUCTION OF SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE
159.23 	Child support and/or spousal maintenance may be withheld from income, with or without 
159.24 	notice to the person obligated to pay, when the conditions of Minnesota Statutes, section 
159.25 	518A.53, have been met. A copy of those sections is available from any district court 
159.26 	clerk.
159.27 	8. CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR RESIDENCE
159.28 	Unless otherwise ordered, each party shall notify the other party, the court, and the public 
159.29 	authority responsible for collection, if applicable, of the following information within 
159.30 	ten days of any change: the residential and mailing address, telephone number, driver's 
159.31 	license number, Social Security number, and name, address, and telephone number of 
159.32 	the employer.
160.1 	9. JUDGMENTS FOR UNPAID SUPPORT
160.2 	If a person fails to make a child support payment, the payment owed becomes a judgment 
160.3 	against the person responsible to make the payment by operation of law on or after the 
160.4 	date the payment is due, and the person entitled to receive the payment or the public 
160.5 	agency may obtain entry and docketing of the judgment WITHOUT NOTICE to the 
160.6 	person responsible to make the payment under Minnesota Statutes, section 548.091.
160.7 	10. JUDGMENTS FOR UNPAID MAINTENANCE
160.8 	(a) A judgment for unpaid spousal maintenance may be entered when the conditions of 
160.9 	Minnesota Statutes, section 548.091, are met. A copy of that section is available from 
160.10 	any district court clerk.
160.11 	(b) The public authority is not responsible for calculating interest on any judgment for 
160.12 	unpaid spousal maintenance. When providing services in IV-D cases, as defined in 
160.13 	Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.26, subdivision 10, the public authority will only 
160.14 	collect interest on spousal maintenance if spousal maintenance is reduced to a sum 
160.15 	certain judgment.
160.16 	11. ATTORNEY FEES AND COLLECTION COSTS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD 
160.17 	SUPPORT
160.18 	A judgment for attorney fees and other collection costs incurred in enforcing a child 
160.19 	support order will be entered against the person responsible to pay support when the 
160.20 	conditions of Minnesota Statutes, section 518A.735, are met. A copy of Minnesota 
160.21 	Statutes, sections 518.14 and 518A.735, and forms necessary to request or contest these 
160.22 	attorney fees and collection costs are available from any district court clerk.
160.23 	12. PARENTING TIME EXPEDITOR PROCESS
160.24 	On request of either party or on its own motion, the court may appoint a parenting time 
160.25 	expeditor to resolve parenting time disputes under Minnesota Statutes, section 518.1751. 
160.26 	A copy of that section and a description of the expeditor process is available from any 
160.27 	district court clerk.
160.28 	13. PARENTING TIME REMEDIES AND PENALTIES
160.29 	Remedies and penalties for the wrongful denial of parenting time are available under 
160.30 	Minnesota Statutes, section 518.175, subdivision 6. These include compensatory parenting 
160.31 	time, civil penalties, bond requirements, contempt, and reversal of custody. A copy of 
160.32 	that subdivision and forms for requesting relief are available from any district court 
160.33 	clerk.

161.1 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 518A.34, is amended to read:
161.2 	518A.34 COMPUTATION OF CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS.
161.3 	(a) To determine the presumptive child support obligation of a parent, the court shall 
161.4 	follow the procedure set forth in this section.
161.5 	(b) To determine the obligor's basic support obligation, the court shall:
161.6 	(1) determine the gross income of each parent under section 518A.29;
161.7 	(2) calculate the parental income for determining child support (PICS) of each parent, 
161.8 	by subtracting from the gross income the credit, if any, for each parent's nonjoint children 
161.9 	under section 518A.33;
161.10 	(3) determine the percentage contribution of each parent to the combined PICS by 
161.11 	dividing the combined PICS into each parent's PICS;
161.12 	(4) determine the combined basic support obligation by application of the guidelines in 
161.13 	section 518A.35;
161.14 	(5) determine each parent's share of the combined basic support obligation by multiplying 
161.15 	the percentage figure from clause (3) by the combined basic support obligation in clause 
161.16 	(4); and
161.17 	(6) apply the parenting expense adjustment formula provided in section 518A.36 to 
161.18 	determine the obligor's basic support obligation.
161.19 	(c) If the parents have split custody of joint children, child support must be calculated 
161.20 	for each joint child as follows:
161.21 	(1) the court shall determine each parent's basic support obligation under paragraph (b) 
161.22 	and include the amount of each parent's obligation in the court order. If the basic support 
161.23 	calculation results in each parent owing support to the other, the court shall offset the higher 
161.24 	basic support obligation with the lower basic support obligation to determine the amount 
161.25 	to be paid by the parent with the higher obligation to the parent with the lower obligation. 
161.26 	For the purpose of the cost-of-living adjustment required under section 518A.75, the 
161.27 	adjustment a future modification, the application of section 518A.39 must be based on each 
161.28 	parent's basic support obligation prior to offset. For the purposes of this paragraph, "split 
161.29 	custody" means that there are two or more joint children and each parent has at least one 
161.30 	joint child more than 50 percent of the time;
161.31 	(2) if each parent pays all child care expenses for at least one joint child, the court shall 
161.32 	calculate child care support for each joint child as provided in section 518A.40. The court 
162.1 	shall determine each parent's child care support obligation and include the amount of each 
162.2 	parent's obligation in the court order. If the child care support calculation results in each 
162.3 	parent owing support to the other, the court shall offset the higher child care support 
162.4 	obligation with the lower child care support obligation to determine the amount to be paid 
162.5 	by the parent with the higher obligation to the parent with the lower obligation; and
162.6 	(3) if each parent pays all medical or dental insurance expenses for at least one joint 
162.7 	child, medical support shall be calculated for each joint child as provided in section 518A.41. 
162.8 	The court shall determine each parent's medical support obligation and include the amount 
162.9 	of each parent's obligation in the court order. If the medical support calculation results in 
162.10 	each parent owing support to the other, the court shall offset the higher medical support 
162.11 	obligation with the lower medical support obligation to determine the amount to be paid by 
162.12 	the parent with the higher obligation to the parent with the lower obligation. Unreimbursed 
162.13 	and uninsured medical expenses are not included in the presumptive amount of support 
162.14 	owed by a parent and are calculated and collected as provided in section 518A.41.
162.15 	(d) The court shall determine the child care support obligation for the obligor as provided 
162.16 	in section 518A.40.
162.17 	(e) The court shall determine the medical support obligation for each parent as provided 
162.18 	in section 518A.41. Unreimbursed and uninsured medical expenses are not included in the 
162.19 	presumptive amount of support owed by a parent and are calculated and collected as described 
162.20 	in section 518A.41.
162.21 	(f) The court shall determine each parent's total child support obligation by adding 
162.22 	together each parent's basic support, child care support, and health care coverage obligations 
162.23 	as provided in this section.
162.24 	(g) If Social Security benefits or veterans' benefits are received by one parent as a 
162.25 	representative payee for a joint child based on the other parent's eligibility, the court shall 
162.26 	subtract the amount of benefits from the other parent's net child support obligation, if any. 
162.27 	Any benefit received by the obligee for the benefit of the joint child based upon the obligor's 
162.28 	disability or past earnings in any given month in excess of the child support obligation must 
162.29 	not be treated as an arrearage payment or a future payment.
162.30 	(h) The final child support order shall separately designate the amount owed for basic 
162.31 	support, child care support, and medical support. If applicable, the court shall use the 
162.32 	self-support adjustment and minimum support adjustment under section 518A.42 to determine 
162.33 	the obligor's child support obligation.

162.34 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2027.

163.1 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 518A.46, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
163.2 		Subd. 7.Administrative redirection of support. (a) The public authority must provide 
163.3 	written notice of redirection to the obligee, the obligor, and the caregiver. The notice must 
163.4 	be mailed to the obligor, obligee, and caregiver at the obligee's, the obligor's, and the 
163.5 	caregiver's respective last known address. The notice must state the name of the child or 
163.6 	children for whom support will be redirected, to whom the support will be redirected, the 
163.7 	date the support will be redirected, and the amount of the support that will be redirected. 
163.8 	The notice must also inform the parties of the right to contest the redirection of support 
163.9 	according to paragraph (c).
163.10 	(b) If fewer than all of the children for whom the support is ordered reside with the 
163.11 	caregiver, the public authority must redirect the proportional share of the support for the 
163.12 	number of children residing with the caregiver.
163.13 	(c) The obligee or obligor may contest the redirection of support on the limited grounds 
163.14 	that:
163.15 	(1) the child or children do not reside or no longer reside with the caregiver;
163.16 	(2) under an out-of-home placement plan under section 260C.212, subdivision 1, that 
163.17 	includes a plan for reunification, all or part of the support is needed to maintain the obligee's 
163.18 	home; or
163.19 	(3) the redirection of support is not in the best interests of the child.
163.20 	(d) To contest the redirection, the obligee or obligor must make a written request for a 
163.21 	hearing to the public authority within 30 calendar days of the date of the written notice of 
163.22 	redirection. The hearing must be held at the earliest practicable time, but no later than 30 
163.23 	calendar days from the date the public authority receives the written request for a hearing. 
163.24 	If the public authority receives a timely written request for a hearing, the public authority 
163.25 	must schedule a hearing and serve the obligee and the obligor with a notice of hearing at 
163.26 	least 14 days before the date of the hearing. The notice must be served personally or by 
163.27 	mail at the obligee's and the obligor's respective last known address. The public authority 
163.28 	must file with the court the notice of hearing along with the notice of redirection at least 
163.29 	five days before the scheduled hearing. The court administrator must schedule these hearings 
163.30 	to be heard in the expedited process before a child support magistrate, but may schedule 
163.31 	these hearings in district court if the availability of a child support magistrate does not permit 
163.32 	a hearing to occur within the time frames of this subdivision.
164.1 	(e) If neither the obligee nor the obligor contests the redirection of support under this 
164.2 	subdivision, support must be redirected to the caregiver effective the first day of the month 
164.3 	following the expiration of the time period to contest under paragraph (d). If the obligee or 
164.4 	the obligor contests the redirection of support under paragraph (d), the public authority must 
164.5 	not redirect support to the caregiver pending the outcome of the hearing.
164.6 	(f) The redirection of the basic support, medical support, and child care support terminates 
164.7 	and the public authority must direct support to the obligee if the public authority determines 
164.8 	that:
164.9 	(1) the caregiver for the child no longer receives public assistance for the child;
164.10 	(2) the voluntary placement agreement expires; or
164.11 	(3) the court order placing the child is no longer in effect.; or
164.12 	(4) the redirection of support is not in the best interests of the child as determined under 
164.13 	section 260B.331, subdivision 1, or 260C.331, subdivision 1.
164.14 	(g) The public authority must notify the obligee, obligor, and caregiver of a termination 
164.15 	of the redirection of support by mailing a written notice to each of them at their last known 
164.16 	address. The termination is effective the first day of the month that occurs at least 14 calendar 
164.17 	days after the date the notice is mailed.

164.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective September 1, 2025.

164.19 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 518A.75, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
164.20 		Subdivision 1.Requirement. (a) An order establishing, modifying, or enforcing 
164.21 	maintenance or child support shall provide for a biennial adjustment in the amount to be 
164.22 	paid based on a change in the cost of living. An order that provides for a cost-of-living 
164.23 	adjustment shall specify the cost-of-living index to be applied and the date on which the 
164.24 	cost-of-living adjustment shall become effective. The court may use the Consumer Price 
164.25 	Index for all urban consumers, Minneapolis-St. Paul (CPI-U), the Consumer Price Index 
164.26 	for wage earners and clerical, Minneapolis-St. Paul (CPI-W), or another cost-of-living index 
164.27 	published by the Department of Labor which it specifically finds is more appropriate. 
164.28 	Cost-of-living increases under this section shall be compounded. The court may also increase 
164.29 	the amount by more than the cost-of-living adjustment by agreement of the parties or by 
164.30 	making further findings.
164.31 	(b) The adjustment becomes effective on the first of May of the year in which it is made, 
164.32 	for cases in which payment is made to the public authority. For cases in which payment is 
165.1 	not made to the public authority, application for an adjustment may be made in any month 
165.2 	but no application for an adjustment may be made sooner than two years after the date of 
165.3 	the dissolution decree. A court may waive the requirement of the cost-of-living clause if it 
165.4 	expressly finds that the obligor's occupation or income, or both, does not provide for 
165.5 	cost-of-living adjustment or that the order for maintenance or child support has a provision 
165.6 	such as a step increase that has the effect of a cost-of-living clause. The court may waive a 
165.7 	cost-of-living adjustment in a maintenance order if the parties so agree in writing. The 
165.8 	commissioner of children, youth, and families may promulgate rules for child support 
165.9 	adjustments under this section in accordance with the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14. 
165.10 	Notice of this statute must comply with section 518.68, subdivision 2.
165.11 	(c) No adjustment under this section shall be made after January 1, 2027, for any 
165.12 	maintenance or child support order established before, on, or after January 1, 2027.

165.13 	Sec. 9. SOCIAL SERVICES INFORMATION SYSTEM MODERNIZATION.
 165.14 	(a) The commissioner of children, youth, and families must improve and modernize the 
165.15 	child welfare social services information system. Elements the commissioner must address 
165.16 	as part of the system modernization include but are not limited to:
165.17 	(1) capabilities that support case intake, screening, assessments, and investigations;
165.18 	(2) the capacity for local social services agencies to track various financial information, 
165.19 	including benefits received by counties on behalf of children in the child welfare system, 
165.20 	and fees received by counties from parents with children in out-of-home placements;
165.21 	(3) access for the ombudspersons for families, the ombudsperson for American Indian 
165.22 	families, and the foster youth ombudsperson, on a case-by-case basis, to nonprivileged 
165.23 	information necessary for the discharge of the ombudsperson's duties, including specific 
165.24 	child protection case information, while protecting Tribal data sovereignty;
165.25 	(4) comprehensive statewide data reports, including data on law enforcement involvement 
165.26 	in the child protection system;
165.27 	(5) demographic information about children in the child welfare system, including race, 
165.28 	cultural and ethnic identity, disability status, and economic status;
165.29 	(6) bidirectional data exchanges, as required by federal Comprehensive Child Welfare 
165.30 	Information System regulations; and
165.31 	(7) data quality measures, as required by federal Comprehensive Child Welfare 
165.32 	Information System regulations.
166.1 	(b) By March 15, 2026, the commissioner of children, youth, and families must provide 
166.2 	the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
166.3 	over child welfare and state and local government with a plan and estimated timeline for 
166.4 	modernization of the social services information system in compliance with state law and 
166.5 	federal Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System requirements.
166.6 	(c) By August 15, 2026, and by each January 15 and July 15 thereafter, the commissioner 
166.7 	must provide an update on the social services information system modernization efforts and 
166.8 	progress toward federal compliance required under this section to the chairs and ranking 
166.9 	minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child welfare and 
166.10 	state and local government. This paragraph expires upon the commissioner's report to the 
166.11 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
166.12 	child welfare and state and local government that the modernization required under this 
166.13 	section has been substantially completed.

166.14 	ARTICLE 10
166.15 	EARLY CARE AND LEARNING POLICY

166.16 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142A.42, is amended to read:
166.17 	142A.42 DIAPER DISTRIBUTION GRANT PROGRAM.
166.18 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose. The commissioner of children, youth, and 
166.19 	families shall establish a diaper distribution program to award competitive grants to eligible 
166.20 	applicants a sole-source grant to the Diaper Bank of Minnesota to provide diapers to 
166.21 	underresourced families statewide.
166.22 		Subd. 2.Eligibility. To be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant the Diaper 
166.23 	Bank of Minnesota must demonstrate its capacity to distribute diapers statewide by having:
166.24 	(1) a network of well-established partners for diaper distribution;
166.25 	(2) the infrastructure needed to efficiently manage diaper procurement and distribution 
166.26 	statewide;
166.27 	(3) relationships with national organizations that support and enhance the work of 
166.28 	addressing diaper need;
166.29 	(4) the ability to engage in building community awareness of diaper need and advocate 
166.30 	for diaper need at local, state, and federal levels;
166.31 	(5) a commitment to and demonstration of working with organizations across ideological 
166.32 	and political spectrums;
167.1 	(6) the ability to address diaper need for children from birth through early childhood; 
167.2 	and
167.3 	(7) a commitment to working within an equity framework by ensuring access to 
167.4 	organizations that provide culturally specific services or are located in communities with 
167.5 	high concentrations of poverty.
167.6 		Subd. 3.Application. Applicants The Diaper Bank of Minnesota must apply to the 
167.7 	commissioner in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. Applications must be 
167.8 	filed at the times and for the periods determined by the commissioner.
167.9 		Subd. 4.Eligible uses of grant money. An eligible applicant that receives grant money 
167.10 	under this section shall The Diaper Bank of Minnesota must use the money awarded under 
167.11 	this section to purchase diapers and wipes and may use up to ten percent of the money for 
167.12 	administrative costs.
167.13 		Subd. 5.Enforcement. (a) An eligible applicant that receives grant money under this 
167.14 	section The Diaper Bank of Minnesota must:
167.15 	(1) retain records documenting expenditure of the grant money;
167.16 	(2) report to the commissioner on the use of the grant money; and
167.17 	(3) comply with any additional requirements imposed by the commissioner.
167.18 	(b) The commissioner may require that a report submitted under this subdivision include 
167.19 	an independent audit.

167.20 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142D.21, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
167.21 		Subd. 6.Payments. (a) The commissioner shall provide payments under this section to 
167.22 	all eligible programs on a noncompetitive basis. The payment amounts shall be based on 
167.23 	the number of full-time equivalent staff who regularly care for children in the program, 
167.24 	including any employees, sole proprietors, or independent contractors.
167.25 	(b) For purposes of this section, "one full-time equivalent" is defined as an individual 
167.26 	caring for children 32 hours per week. An individual can count as more or less than one 
167.27 	full-time equivalent staff, but as no more than two full-time equivalent staff.
167.28 	(c) The commissioner must establish an amount to award per full-time equivalent 
167.29 	individual who regularly cares for children in the program.
167.30 	(d) Payments must be increased by ten percent for programs receiving child care 
167.31 	assistance payments under section 142E.08 or 142E.17 or early learning scholarships under 
168.1 	section 142D.25, or for programs located in a child care access equity area. The commissioner 
168.2 	must develop a method for establishing child care access equity areas. For purposes of this 
168.3 	section, "child care access equity area" means an area with low access to child care, high 
168.4 	poverty rates, high unemployment rates, low homeownership rates, and low median 
168.5 	household incomes.
168.6 	(e) (d) The commissioner shall establish the form, frequency, and manner for making 
168.7 	payments under this section.

168.8 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142D.21, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
168.9 	read:
168.10 		Subd. 11.Data. (a) For the purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the 
168.11 	meanings given in this paragraph.
168.12 	(1) "Great start compensation program support payment data" means data for a specified 
168.13 	time period showing that a great start compensation payment under this section was made 
168.14 	and the amount of great start compensation payments made to a child care and early learning 
168.15 	program.
168.16 	(2) "Data on children and families" means data about the enrollment and attendance as 
168.17 	described in subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (2).
168.18 	(b) Great start compensation program support payment data are public except that:
168.19 	(1) any data on children and families collected by the great start compensation support 
168.20 	payment program that may identify a specific family or child or, as determined by the 
168.21 	commissioner, are private data on individuals as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 12;
168.22 	(2) great start compensation payment data about operating expenses and personnel 
168.23 	expenses are private or nonpublic data; and
168.24 	(3) great start compensation payment data about legal nonlicensed child care providers 
168.25 	as described in subdivision 8 are private or nonpublic data.

168.26 	ARTICLE 11
168.27 	EARLY CARE AND LEARNING FINANCE

168.28 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.18, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
168.29 		Subd. 4.License suspension, revocation, or fine. (a) The commissioner may suspend 
168.30 	or revoke a license, or impose a fine if:
169.1 	(1) a license holder fails to comply fully with applicable laws or rules including but not 
169.2 	limited to the requirements of this chapter and chapter 245C;
169.3 	(2) a license holder, a controlling individual, or an individual living in the household 
169.4 	where the licensed services are provided or is otherwise subject to a background study has 
169.5 	been disqualified and the disqualification was not set aside and no variance has been granted;
169.6 	(3) a license holder knowingly withholds relevant information from or gives false or 
169.7 	misleading information to the commissioner in connection with an application for a license, 
169.8 	in connection with the background study status of an individual, during an investigation, 
169.9 	or regarding compliance with applicable laws or rules;
169.10 	(4) a license holder is excluded from any program administered by the commissioner 
169.11 	under section 142A.12;
169.12 	(5) revocation is required under section 142B.10, subdivision 14, paragraph (d);
169.13 	(6) for a family foster setting, a license holder, or an individual living in the household 
169.14 	where the licensed services are provided or who is otherwise subject to a background study, 
169.15 	has nondisqualifying background study information, as described in section 245C.05, 
169.16 	subdivision 4, that reflects on the license holder's ability to safely provide care to foster 
169.17 	children; or
169.18 	(7) suspension is necessary under subdivision 3, paragraph (b), clause (2).
169.19 	A license holder who has had a license issued under this chapter suspended, revoked, or 
169.20 	has been ordered to pay a fine must be given notice of the action by certified mail, by 
169.21 	personal service, or through the provider licensing and reporting hub. If mailed, the notice 
169.22 	must be mailed to the address shown on the application or the last known address of the 
169.23 	license holder. The notice must state in plain language the reasons the license was suspended 
169.24 	or revoked, or a fine was ordered.
169.25 	(b) If the license was suspended or revoked, the notice must inform the license holder 
169.26 	of the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 
169.27 	1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The license holder may appeal an order suspending or revoking 
169.28 	a license. The appeal of an order suspending or revoking a license must be made in writing 
169.29 	by certified mail, by personal service, or through the provider licensing and reporting hub. 
169.30 	If mailed, the appeal must be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within ten calendar 
169.31 	days after the license holder receives notice that the license has been suspended or revoked. 
169.32 	If a request is made by personal service, it must be received by the commissioner within 
169.33 	ten calendar days after the license holder received the order. If the order is issued through 
170.1 	the provider hub, the appeal must be received by the commissioner within ten calendar days 
170.2 	from the date the commissioner issued the order through the hub. Except as provided in 
170.3 	subdivision 3, paragraph (c), if a license holder submits a timely appeal of an order 
170.4 	suspending or revoking a license, the license holder may continue to operate the program 
170.5 	as provided under section 142B.10, subdivision 14, paragraphs (i) and (j), until the 
170.6 	commissioner issues a final order on the suspension or revocation.
170.7 	(c)(1) If the license holder was ordered to pay a fine, the notice must inform the license 
170.8 	holder of the responsibility for payment of fines and the right to a contested case hearing 
170.9 	under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The appeal of an 
170.10 	order to pay a fine must be made in writing by certified mail, by personal service, or through 
170.11 	the provider licensing and reporting hub. If mailed, the appeal must be postmarked and sent 
170.12 	to the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license holder receives notice that 
170.13 	the fine has been ordered. If a request is made by personal service, it must be received by 
170.14 	the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license holder received the order. If the 
170.15 	order is issued through the provider hub, the appeal must be received by the commissioner 
170.16 	within ten calendar days from the date the commissioner issued the order through the hub.
170.17 	(2) The license holder shall pay the fines assessed on or before the payment date specified. 
170.18 	If the license holder fails to fully comply with the order, the commissioner may issue a 
170.19 	second fine or suspend the license until the license holder complies. If the license holder 
170.20 	receives state funds, the state, county, or municipal agencies or departments responsible for 
170.21 	administering the funds shall withhold payments and recover any payments made while the 
170.22 	license is suspended for failure to pay a fine. A timely appeal shall stay payment of the fine 
170.23 	until the commissioner issues a final order.
170.24 	(3) A license holder shall promptly notify the commissioner of children, youth, and 
170.25 	families, in writing, when a violation specified in the order to forfeit a fine is corrected. If 
170.26 	upon reinspection the commissioner determines that a violation has not been corrected as 
170.27 	indicated by the order to forfeit a fine, the commissioner may issue a second fine. The 
170.28 	commissioner shall notify the license holder by certified mail, by personal service, or through 
170.29 	the provider licensing and reporting hub that a second fine has been assessed. The license 
170.30 	holder may appeal the second fine as provided under this subdivision.
170.31 	(4) Fines shall be assessed as follows:
170.32 	(i) the license holder shall forfeit $1,000 for each determination of maltreatment of a 
170.33 	child under chapter 260E or the maltreatment of a vulnerable adult under section 626.557 
171.1 	for which the license holder is determined responsible for the maltreatment under section 
171.2 	260E.30, subdivision 4, paragraphs (a) and (b), or 626.557, subdivision 9c, paragraph (c);
171.3 	(ii) if the commissioner determines that a determination of maltreatment for which the 
171.4 	license holder is responsible is the result of maltreatment that meets the definition of serious 
171.5 	maltreatment as defined in section 245C.02, subdivision 18, the license holder shall forfeit 
171.6 	$5,000;
171.7 	(iii) for a program that operates out of the license holder's home and a program licensed 
171.8 	under Minnesota Rules, parts 9502.0300 to 9502.0445, the fine assessed against the license 
171.9 	holder shall not exceed $1,000 for each determination of maltreatment;
171.10 	(iv) the license holder shall forfeit $200 for each occurrence of a violation of law or rule 
171.11 	governing matters of health, safety, or supervision, including but not limited to the provision 
171.12 	of adequate staff-to-child or adult ratios, and failure to comply with background study 
171.13 	requirements under chapter 245C; and
171.14 	(v) the license holder shall forfeit $500 for each occurrence of failure to comply with 
171.15 	background study requirements under chapter 245C; and
171.16 	(v) (vi) the license holder shall forfeit $100 for each occurrence of a violation of law or 
171.17 	rule other than those subject to a $5,000, $1,000, or $200, or $500 fine in items (i) to (iv)
171.18 	(v).
171.19 	(5) When a fine has been assessed, the license holder may not avoid payment by closing, 
171.20 	selling, or otherwise transferring the licensed program to a third party. In such an event, the 
171.21 	license holder will be personally liable for payment. In the case of a corporation, each 
171.22 	controlling individual is personally and jointly liable for payment.
171.23 	(d) Except for background study violations involving the failure to comply with an order 
171.24 	to immediately remove an individual or an order to provide continuous, direct supervision, 
171.25 	the commissioner shall not issue a fine under paragraph (c) relating to a background study 
171.26 	violation to a license holder who self-corrects a background study violation before the 
171.27 	commissioner discovers the violation. A license holder who has previously exercised the 
171.28 	provisions of this paragraph to avoid a fine for a background study violation may not avoid 
171.29 	a fine for a subsequent background study violation unless at least 365 days have passed 
171.30 	since the license holder self-corrected the earlier background study violation.

171.31 	Sec. 2. [142B.68] VIDEO SECURITY CAMERAS IN CHILD CARE CENTERS.
171.32 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this 
171.33 	subdivision have the meanings given.
172.1 	(b) "Facility" means the indoor and outdoor space in which child care is provided that 
172.2 	is owned, leased, or operated by a licensed child care center and does not include any outdoor 
172.3 	space that is not located on the same property as the licensed child care center.
172.4 	(c) "Video security camera" means a closed circuit video camera or other closed circuit 
172.5 	device that captures or records video.
172.6 		Subd. 2.Requirements for video security cameras. (a) Beginning July 1, 2026, a 
172.7 	licensed child care center must have video security cameras in public and shared areas of 
172.8 	its facility as provided under this subdivision and comply with the requirements of this 
172.9 	section if the center is required to post a maltreatment investigation memorandum under 
172.10 	section 142B.16, subdivision 5, or 142B.18, subdivision 6. A center must comply with the 
172.11 	requirements under this section within six months of when the maltreatment investigation 
172.12 	memorandum is posted and must maintain compliance for the length of time the 
172.13 	memorandum is required to be posted.
172.14 	(b) A licensed child care center must have at least one video security camera in each 
172.15 	room designated for infants or toddlers. The camera must be positioned to provide maximum 
172.16 	visibility of the room. If one camera is not sufficient to view at least 80 percent of the square 
172.17 	footage of the room, the center must place an additional camera or cameras in the room to 
172.18 	achieve maximum visibility of the room.
172.19 	(c) A licensed child care center must have a sufficient number of video security cameras 
172.20 	to provide visibility of all the facility's outdoor recreational equipment used by infants or 
172.21 	toddlers and at least 80 percent of the square footage of the facility's fenced-in outdoor space 
172.22 	used by infants or toddlers.
172.23 	(d) The video security cameras must:
172.24 	(1) be turned on and recording at all times the licensed child care center is in operation;
172.25 	(2) record and display the accurate date and time;
172.26 	(3) have a display resolution of 720p or higher; and
172.27 	(4) have a frames per second rate of 15 or higher.
172.28 	(e) A licensed child care center is exempt from having cameras that meet the requirements 
172.29 	under paragraph (d), clauses (2), (3), and (4), if the center has cameras as required in 
172.30 	paragraphs (b) and (c) prior to July 1, 2025.
172.31 		Subd. 3.Retention and disposal of recordings; access to recordings. (a) A licensed 
172.32 	child care center must retain video security camera recordings for 60 calendar days after 
173.1 	the date of the recording. Except as provided under paragraphs (b), (c), and (d), a licensed 
173.2 	child care center must dispose of video security camera recordings after 60 calendar days.
173.3 	(b) A licensed child care center that receives notice from a law enforcement official of 
173.4 	a suspected crime committed against a child at the center may not dispose of any video 
173.5 	security camera recordings until the law enforcement investigation of the suspected crime 
173.6 	is complete.
173.7 	(c) A licensed child care center must retain video security camera recordings related to 
173.8 	an incident that the center must report to the commissioner under Minnesota Rules, part 
173.9 	9503.0130, for six months from the date of the incident.
173.10 	(d) A licensed child care center may retain video security camera recordings to use for 
173.11 	training center employees. Any recordings used for training purposes must redact, as defined 
173.12 	under section 13.825, subdivision 1, identifying information on children shown or heard in 
173.13 	the recording, unless a parent or legal guardian has provided written consent providing that 
173.14 	the center may use unredacted recordings of the parent's or guardian's child.
173.15 	(e) A licensed child care center must adhere to additional requirements issued by the 
173.16 	commissioner regarding retention and disposal of video security camera recordings.
173.17 	(f) A licensed child care center must establish appropriate security safeguards for video 
173.18 	security camera recordings, including procedures for ensuring that the recordings are only 
173.19 	accessible to persons whose work assignment reasonably requires access to the recordings, 
173.20 	and are only accessed by those persons for purposes described in the procedure. All queries 
173.21 	and responses, and all actions in which the recordings are accessed, shared, or disseminated, 
173.22 	must be recorded, including the day and time of the action and who was involved in the 
173.23 	action. The data created pursuant to this paragraph are subject to the same requirements as 
173.24 	the underlying recording under this section.
173.25 		Subd. 4.Dissemination of recordings. (a) A licensed child care center may not sell, 
173.26 	share, transmit, or disseminate a video security camera recording to any person except as 
173.27 	authorized by this subdivision.
173.28 	(b) A child care center must disseminate a video security camera recording pursuant to 
173.29 	a valid court order, search warrant, or subpoena in a civil, criminal, or administrative 
173.30 	proceeding, including an investigation by the commissioner.
173.31 	(c) A licensed child care center must establish a process by which a parent or legal 
173.32 	guardian may review, but not obtain a copy of, a video security camera recording if the 
173.33 	parent or guardian provides documentation from a physician of a child's physical injury.
174.1 	(d) An employee of a licensed child care center who is the subject of proposed disciplinary 
174.2 	action by the center based upon evidence obtained by a video security camera must be given 
174.3 	access to that evidence for purposes of defending against the proposed action. An employee 
174.4 	who obtains a recording or a copy of the recording must treat the recording or copy 
174.5 	confidentially and must not further disseminate it to any other person except as required 
174.6 	under law. The employee must not keep the recording or copy or a portion of the recording 
174.7 	or copy after it is no longer needed for purposes of defending against a proposed action.
174.8 		Subd. 5.Exception. Notwithstanding the requirement to have closed circuit video security 
174.9 	cameras under this section and subdivision 4, paragraph (a), a licensed child care center 
174.10 	that, as of July 1, 2025, provided remote viewing of video footage for parents and legal 
174.11 	guardians may continue to do so in the same manner.
174.12 		Subd. 6.Hold harmless. (a) The commissioner may not issue a fix-it ticket, correction 
174.13 	order, or order of conditional license against a child care center license holder for a licensing 
174.14 	violation that does not imminently endanger the health or safety of the children served by 
174.15 	the center, if the only source of evidence for the violation is video security camera recordings 
174.16 	reviewed as part of an investigation under subdivision 4, paragraph (b). This paragraph 
174.17 	expires upon implementation of the child care weighted risk system under section 142B.171. 
174.18 	The commissioner shall notify the revisor of statutes when the system has been implemented.
174.19 	(b) Upon implementation of the child care weighted risk system under section 142B.171, 
174.20 	the commissioner may not take a licensing action against a child care center license holder 
174.21 	for a violation that counts as 6.5 or below for a child care center in the weighted risk system, 
174.22 	if the only source of evidence for the violation is video security camera recordings reviewed 
174.23 	as part of an investigation under subdivision 4, paragraph (b).
174.24 		Subd. 7.Written policy required. A licensed child care center must have a written 
174.25 	policy on the center's use of video security cameras that includes the following:
174.26 	(1) the days and times the video security cameras in the facility are in use;
174.27 	(2) the locations of all areas monitored by video security cameras in the facility;
174.28 	(3) the center's retention and disposal policies and procedures for the video security 
174.29 	camera recordings;
174.30 	(4) the center's policies governing access to the video security camera recordings; and
174.31 	(5) the center's security safeguards and procedures regarding employee access to the 
174.32 	recordings.
175.1 		Subd. 8.Notices. (a) A licensed child care center must notify all parents and legal 
175.2 	guardians who apply to enroll or enroll a child in the center about the use of video security 
175.3 	cameras in the facility. At the time of a child's enrollment, the center must provide parents 
175.4 	and legal guardians with the video security camera policy required under subdivision 7.
175.5 	(b) A licensed child care center must post a sign at each facility entrance accessible to 
175.6 	visitors that states: "Video security cameras are present to record persons and activities."
175.7 		Subd. 9.Data practices. Video footage collected or maintained by the commissioner 
175.8 	under this section is classified as welfare data under section 13.46.

175.9 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142D.21, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
175.10 		Subd. 10.Account; carryforward authority. Money appropriated under this section 
175.11 	is available until expended. (a) An account is established in the special revenue fund known 
175.12 	as the great start compensation support payment program account.
175.13 	(b) Money appropriated under this section must be transferred to the great start 
175.14 	compensation support payment program account in the special revenue fund.
175.15 	(c) Money in the account is annually appropriated to the commissioner for the purposes 
175.16 	of this section. Any returned funds are available to be regranted.

175.17 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142D.23, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
175.18 		Subd. 3.Eligible uses of money. Grantees must use money received under this section, 
175.19 	either directly or through grants to eligible child care providers, for one or more of the 
175.20 	following purposes:
175.21 	(1) the purchase of computers or mobile devices for use in business management;
175.22 	(2) access to the Internet through the provision of necessary hardware such as routers 
175.23 	or modems or by covering the costs of monthly fees for Internet access;
175.24 	(3) covering the costs of subscription to child care management software;
175.25 	(4) covering the costs of training in the use of technology for business management 
175.26 	purposes; or
175.27 	(5) providing grants for up to $4,000 to licensed child care centers to help cover the 
175.28 	costs of video security cameras and related training; or
175.29 	(5) (6) other services as determined by the commissioner.

176.1 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142D.31, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
176.2 		Subd. 2.Program components. (a) The nonprofit organization must use the grant for:
176.3 	(1) tuition scholarships up to $10,000 per year in amounts per year consistent with the 
176.4 	national TEACH early childhood program requirements for courses leading to the nationally 
176.5 	recognized child development associate credential or college-level courses leading to an 
176.6 	associate's degree or bachelor's degree in early childhood development and school-age care; 
176.7 	and
176.8 	(2) education incentives of a minimum of $250 to participants in the tuition scholarship 
176.9 	program if they complete a year of working in the early care and education field.
176.10 	(b) Applicants for the scholarship must be employed by a licensed or certified early 
176.11 	childhood or child care program and working directly with children, a licensed family child 
176.12 	care provider, employed by a public prekindergarten program, employed by a Head Start 
176.13 	program, or an employee in a school-age program exempt from licensing under section 
176.14 	142B.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (8). Lower wage earners must be given priority 
176.15 	in awarding the tuition scholarships. Scholarship recipients must contribute at least ten 
176.16 	percent of the total scholarship and must be sponsored by their employers, who must also 
176.17 	contribute at least five percent of the total scholarship. Scholarship recipients who are 
176.18 	self-employed work in licensed family child care under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502,
176.19 	must contribute 20 at least ten percent of the total scholarship and are not required to receive 
176.20 	employer sponsorship or employer match.

176.21 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142E.03, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
176.22 		Subd. 3.Redeterminations. (a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 3400.0180, item 
176.23 	A, the county shall conduct a redetermination according to paragraphs (b) and (c).
176.24 	(b) The county shall use the redetermination form developed by the commissioner. The 
176.25 	county must verify the factors listed in subdivision 1, paragraph (a), as part of the 
176.26 	redetermination.
176.27 	(c) An applicant's eligibility must be redetermined no more frequently than every 12 
176.28 	months. The following criteria apply:
176.29 	(1) a family meets the eligibility redetermination requirements if a complete 
176.30 	redetermination form and all required verifications are received within 30 days after the 
176.31 	date the form was due;
177.1 	(2) if the 30th day after the date the form was due falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, 
177.2 	the 30-day time period is extended to include the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, 
177.3 	or holiday. Assistance shall be payable retroactively from the redetermination due date;
177.4 	(3) for a family where at least one parent is younger than 21 years of age, does not have 
177.5 	a high school degree or commissioner of education-selected high school equivalency 
177.6 	certification, and is a student in a school district or another similar program that provides 
177.7 	or arranges for child care, parenting, social services, career and employment supports, and 
177.8 	academic support to achieve high school graduation, the redetermination of eligibility may 
177.9 	be deferred beyond 12 months, to the end of the student's school year; and
177.10 	(4) starting May 25, 2026, if a new eligible child is added to the family and has care 
177.11 	authorized, the redetermination of eligibility must be extended 12 months from the eligible 
177.12 	child's arrival date; and
177.13 	(4) (5) a family and the family's providers must be notified that the family's 
177.14 	redetermination is due at least 45 days before the end of the family's 12-month eligibility 
177.15 	period.

177.16 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142E.11, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
177.17 		Subdivision 1.General authorization requirements. (a) When authorizing the amount 
177.18 	of child care, the county agency must consider the amount of time the parent reports on the 
177.19 	application or redetermination form that the child attends preschool, a Head Start program, 
177.20 	or school while the parent is participating in an authorized activity.
177.21 	(b) Care must be authorized and scheduled with a provider based on the applicant's or 
177.22 	participant's verified activity schedule when:
177.23 	(1) the family requests care from more than one provider per child;
177.24 	(2) the family requests care from a legal nonlicensed provider; or
177.25 	(3) an applicant or participant is employed by any child care center that is licensed by 
177.26 	the Department of Children, Youth, and Families or has been identified as a high-risk 
177.27 	Medicaid-enrolled provider.
177.28 	This paragraph expires March 2, 2026.
177.29 	(c) If the family remains eligible at redetermination, a new authorization with fewer 
177.30 	hours, the same hours, or increased hours may be determined.

178.1 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142E.11, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
178.2 		Subd. 2.Maintain steady child care authorizations. (a) Notwithstanding Minnesota 
178.3 	Rules, chapter 3400, the amount of child care authorized under section 142E.12 for 
178.4 	employment, education, or an MFIP employment plan shall continue at the same number 
178.5 	of hours or more hours until redetermination, including:
178.6 	(1) when the other parent moves in and is employed or has an education plan under 
178.7 	section 142E.12, subdivision 3, or has an MFIP employment plan; or
178.8 	(2) when the participant's work hours are reduced or a participant temporarily stops 
178.9 	working or attending an approved education program. Temporary changes include, but are 
178.10 	not limited to, a medical leave, seasonal employment fluctuations, or a school break between 
178.11 	semesters.
178.12 	(b) The county may increase the amount of child care authorized at any time if the 
178.13 	participant verifies the need for increased hours for authorized activities.
178.14 	(c) The county may reduce the amount of child care authorized if a parent requests a 
178.15 	reduction or because of a change in:
178.16 	(1) the child's school schedule;
178.17 	(2) the custody schedule; or
178.18 	(3) the provider's availability.
178.19 	(d) The amount of child care authorized for a family subject to subdivision 1, paragraph 
178.20 	(b), must change when the participant's activity schedule changes. Paragraph (a) does not 
178.21 	apply to a family subject to subdivision 1, paragraph (b). This paragraph expires March 2, 
178.22 	2026.
178.23 	(e) When a child reaches 13 years of age or a child with a disability reaches 15 years of 
178.24 	age, the amount of child care authorized shall continue at the same number of hours or more 
178.25 	hours until redetermination.

178.26 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142E.13, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
178.27 		Subd. 2.Extended eligibility and redetermination. (a) If the family received three 
178.28 	months of extended eligibility and redetermination is not due, to continue receiving child 
178.29 	care assistance the participant must be employed or have an education plan that meets the 
178.30 	requirements of section 142E.12, subdivision 3, or have an MFIP employment plan. 
178.31 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 3400.0110, if child care assistance continues, the 
178.32 	amount of child care authorized shall continue at the same number or more hours until 
179.1 	redetermination, unless a condition in section 142E.11, subdivision 2, paragraph (c), applies. 
179.2 	A family subject to section 142E.11, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), shall have child care 
179.3 	authorized based on a verified activity schedule.
179.4 	(b) If the family's redetermination occurs before the end of the three-month extended 
179.5 	eligibility period to continue receiving child care assistance, the participant must verify that 
179.6 	the participant meets eligibility and activity requirements for child care assistance under 
179.7 	this chapter. IfNotwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 3400.0110, if child care assistance 
179.8 	continues, the amount of child care authorized is based on section 142E.12. A family subject 
179.9 	to section 142E.11, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), shall have child care authorized based on 
179.10 	a verified activity schedule.

179.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective May 25, 2026.

179.12 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142E.15, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
179.13 		Subdivision 1.Fee schedule. All changes to parent fees must be implemented on the 
179.14 	first Monday of the service period following the effective date of the change.
179.15 	PARENT FEE SCHEDULE. The parent fee schedule is as follows, except as noted in 
179.16 	subdivision 2:

179.17
179.18
179.19	Income Range (as a percent of the state 
median income, except at the start of the first 
tier)
	Co-payment (as a percentage of adjusted 
gross income)
	
179.20
179.21	0-74.99% 0-99.99% of federal poverty 
guidelines
	$0/biweekly
	
179.22	75.00-99.99% of federal poverty guidelines
	$2/biweekly
	
179.23
179.24	100.00% of federal poverty 
guidelines-27.72% 27.99%
	2.61% 2.6%
	
179.25	27.73-29.04%
	2.61%
	
179.26	29.05-30.36%
	2.61%
	
179.27	30.37-31.68%
	2.61%
	
179.28	31.69-33.00%
	2.91%
	
179.29	33.01-34.32%
	2.91%
	
179.30	34.33-35.65%
	2.91%
	
179.31	35.66-36.96%
	2.91%
	
179.32	36.97-38.29%
	3.21%
	
179.33	38.30-39.61%
	3.21%
	
179.34	39.62-40.93%
	3.21%
	
179.35	40.94-42.25%
	3.84%
	
179.36	42.26-43.57%
	3.84%
	
180.1	43.58-44.89%
	4.46%
	
180.2	44.90-46.21%
	4.76%
	
180.3	46.22-47.53%
	5.05%
	
180.4	47.54-48.85%
	5.65%
	
180.5	48.86-50.17%
	5.95%
	
180.6	50.18-51.49%
	6.24%
	
180.7	51.50-52.81%
	6.84%
	
180.8	52.82-54.13%
	7.58%
	
180.9	54.14-55.45%
	8.33%
	
180.10	55.46-56.77%
	9.20%
	
180.11	56.78-58.09%
	10.07%
	
180.12	58.10-59.41%
	10.94%
	
180.13	59.42-60.73%
	11.55%
	
180.14	60.74-62.06%
	12.16%
	
180.15	62.07-63.38%
	12.77%
	
180.16	63.39-64.70%
	13.38%
	
180.17	64.71-67.00%
	14.00%
	
180.18	28.00-30.99%
	2.6%
	
180.19	31.00-33.99%
	2.6%
	
180.20	34.00-36.99%
	2.9%
	
180.21	37.00-39.99%
	3.2%
	
180.22	40.00-42.99%
	3.8%
	
180.23	43.00-45.99%
	4.4%
	
180.24	46.00-48.99%
	5.0%
	
180.25	49.00-51.99%
	5.6%
	
180.26	52.00-54.99%
	6.2%
	
180.27	55.00-57.99%
	6.8%
	
180.28	58.00-60.99%
	6.9%
	
180.29	61.00-63.99%
	6.9%
	
180.30	64.00-67.00%
	6.9%
	
180.31	Greater than 67.00%
	ineligible
	
180.32 	A family's biweekly co-payment fee is the fixed percentage established for the income 
180.33 	range multiplied by the highest lowest possible income within that income range.

180.34 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective October 13, 2025.

181.1 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142E.16, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
181.2 		Subd. 3.Training required. (a) Prior to initial authorization as required in subdivision 
181.3 	1, a legal nonlicensed family child care provider must complete first aid and CPR training 
181.4 	and provide the verification of first aid and CPR training to the commissioner. The training 
181.5 	documentation must have valid effective dates as of the date the registration request is 
181.6 	submitted to the commissioner. The training must have been provided by an individual 
181.7 	approved to provide first aid and CPR instruction and have included CPR techniques for 
181.8 	infants and children.
181.9 	(b) Upon each reauthorization after the authorization period when the initial first aid 
181.10 	and CPR training requirements are met, a legal nonlicensed family child care provider must 
181.11 	provide verification of at least eight hours of additional training listed in the Minnesota 
181.12 	Center for Professional Development Registry.
181.13 	(c) Every 12 months, a legal nonlicensed family child care provider who is unrelated to 
181.14 	the child they care for must complete two hours of training in caring for children approved 
181.15 	by the commissioner.
181.16 	(c) (d) This subdivision only applies to legal nonlicensed family child care providers.

181.17 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective October 1, 2025.

181.18 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142E.16, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
181.19 		Subd. 7.Record-keeping requirement. (a) As a condition of payment, all providers 
181.20 	receiving child care assistance payments must:
181.21 	(1) keep accurate and legible daily attendance records at the site where services are 
181.22 	delivered for children receiving child care assistance; and
181.23 	(2) make those records available immediately to the county or the commissioner upon 
181.24 	request. Any records not provided to a county or the commissioner at the date and time of 
181.25 	the request are deemed inadmissible if offered as evidence by the provider in any proceeding 
181.26 	to contest an overpayment or disqualification of the provider.; and
181.27 	(3) submit data on child enrollment and attendance in the form and manner specified by 
181.28 	the commissioner.
181.29 	(b) As a condition of payment, attendance records must be completed daily and include 
181.30 	the date, the first and last name of each child in attendance, and the times when each child 
181.31 	is dropped off and picked up. To the extent possible, the times that the child was dropped 
181.32 	off to and picked up from the child care provider must be entered by the person dropping 
182.1 	off or picking up the child. The daily attendance records must be retained at the site where 
182.2 	services are delivered for six years after the date of service.
182.3 	(c) When the county or the commissioner knows or has reason to believe that a current 
182.4 	or former provider has not complied with the record-keeping requirement in this subdivision:
182.5 	(1) the commissioner may:
182.6 	(i) deny or revoke a provider's authorization to receive child care assistance payments 
182.7 	under section 142E.17, subdivision 9, paragraph (d);
182.8 	(ii) pursue an administrative disqualification under sections 142E.51, subdivision 5, and 
182.9 	256.98; or
182.10 	(iii) take an action against the provider under sections 142E.50 to 142E.58 section 
182.11 	142E.51; or
182.12 	(2) a county or the commissioner may establish an attendance record overpayment under 
182.13 	paragraph (d).
182.14 	(d) To calculate an attendance record overpayment under this subdivision, the 
182.15 	commissioner or county agency shall subtract the maximum daily rate from the total amount 
182.16 	paid to a provider for each day that a child's attendance record is missing, unavailable, 
182.17 	incomplete, inaccurate, or otherwise inadequate.
182.18 	(e) The commissioner shall develop criteria for a county to determine an attendance 
182.19 	record overpayment under this subdivision.

182.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective June 22, 2026.

182.21 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142E.17, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
182.22 		Subd. 9.Provider payments. (a) A provider shall bill only for services documented 
182.23 	according to section 142E.16, subdivision 7. The provider shall bill for services provided 
182.24 	within ten days of the end of the service period. A provider must sign each bill and declare, 
182.25 	under penalty of perjury as provided in section 609.48, that the information in the bill is 
182.26 	true and correct. Payments under the child care fund shall be made within 21 days of 
182.27 	receiving a complete bill from the provider. Counties or the state may establish policies that 
182.28 	make payments on a more frequent basis.
182.29 	(b) If a provider has received an authorization of care and been issued a billing form for 
182.30 	an eligible family, the bill must be submitted within 60 days of the last date of service on 
182.31 	the bill. A bill submitted more than 60 days after the last date of service must be paid if the 
182.32 	county determines that the provider has shown good cause why the bill was not submitted 
183.1 	within 60 days. Good cause must be defined in the county's child care fund plan under 
183.2 	section 142E.09, subdivision 3, and the definition of good cause must include county error. 
183.3 	Any bill submitted more than a year after the last date of service on the bill must not be 
183.4 	paid.
183.5 	(c) If a provider provided care for a time period without receiving an authorization of 
183.6 	care and a billing form for an eligible family, payment of child care assistance may only be 
183.7 	made retroactively for a maximum of three months from the date the provider is issued an 
183.8 	authorization of care and a billing form. For a family at application, if a provider provided 
183.9 	child care during a time period without receiving an authorization of care and a billing form, 
183.10 	a county may only make child care assistance payments to the provider retroactively from 
183.11 	the date that child care began, or from the date that the family's eligibility began under 
183.12 	section 142E.10, subdivision 7, or from the date that the family meets authorization 
183.13 	requirements, not to exceed six months from the date that the provider is issued an 
183.14 	authorization of care and a billing form, whichever is later.
183.15 	(d) The commissioner may refuse to issue a child care authorization to a certified, 
183.16 	licensed, or legal nonlicensed provider; revoke an existing child care authorization to a 
183.17 	certified, licensed, or legal nonlicensed provider; stop payment issued to a certified, licensed, 
183.18 	or legal nonlicensed provider; or refuse to pay a bill submitted by a certified, licensed, or 
183.19 	legal nonlicensed provider if:
183.20 	(1) the provider admits to intentionally giving the county materially false information 
183.21 	on the provider's billing forms;
183.22 	(2) the commissioner finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the provider 
183.23 	intentionally gave the county materially false information on the provider's billing forms, 
183.24 	or provided false attendance records to a county or the commissioner;
183.25 	(3) the provider is in violation of child care assistance program rules, until the agency 
183.26 	determines those violations have been corrected;
183.27 	(4) the provider is operating after:
183.28 	(i) an order of suspension of the provider's license issued by the commissioner;
183.29 	(ii) an order of revocation of the provider's license issued by the commissioner; or
183.30 	(iii) an order of decertification issued to the provider;
183.31 	(5) the provider submits false attendance reports or refuses to provide documentation 
183.32 	of the child's attendance upon request;
184.1 	(6) the provider gives false child care price information; or
184.2 	(7) the provider fails to report decreases in a child's attendance as required under section 
184.3 	142E.16, subdivision 9.
184.4 	(e) For purposes of paragraph (d), clauses (3), (5), (6), and (7), the commissioner may 
184.5 	withhold the provider's authorization or payment for a period of time not to exceed three 
184.6 	months beyond the time the condition has been corrected.
184.7 	(f) A county's payment policies must be included in the county's child care plan under 
184.8 	section 142E.09, subdivision 3. If payments are made by the state, in addition to being in 
184.9 	compliance with this subdivision, the payments must be made in compliance with section 
184.10 	16A.124.
184.11 	(g) If the commissioner suspends or refuses payment to a provider under paragraph (d), 
184.12 	clause (1) or (2), or sections 142E.50 to 142E.58 and the provider has:
184.13 	(1) a disqualification for wrongfully obtaining assistance under section 256.98, 
184.14 	subdivision 8, paragraph (c);
184.15 	(2) an administrative disqualification under section 142E.51, subdivision 5; or
184.16 	(3) a termination under section 142E.51, subdivision 4, paragraph (c), clause (4), or 
184.17 	142E.55;
184.18 	then the provider forfeits the payment to the commissioner or the responsible county agency, 
184.19 	regardless of the amount assessed in an overpayment, charged in a criminal complaint, or 
184.20 	ordered as criminal restitution.

184.21 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective September 15, 2025.

184.22 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 245.0962, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
184.23 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioner of human services children, youth, 
184.24 	and families must establish a quality parenting initiative grant program to implement quality 
184.25 	parenting initiative principles and practices to support children and families experiencing 
184.26 	foster care placements.

184.27 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2025.

184.28 	Sec. 15. ELIMINATING SCHEDULE REPORTER DESIGNATION.
 184.29 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 142E.04, subdivisions 6, 7, and 8, the 
184.30 	commissioner of children, youth, and families must allocate additional basic sliding fee 
185.1 	child care money for calendar years 2026 and 2027 to counties and Tribes to account for 
185.2 	eliminating the schedule reporter designation in the child care assistance program. In 
185.3 	allocating the additional money, the commissioner shall consider:
185.4 	(1) the number of children who are in schedule reporter families; and
185.5 	(2) the average basic sliding fee cost of care in the county or Tribe.

185.6 	Sec. 16. CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS 
185.7 	MODERNIZATION.
 185.8 		Subdivision 1.Direction to commissioner. To the extent there is funding available for 
185.9 	these purposes in the state systems account established under Minnesota Statutes, section 
185.10 	142A.04, subdivision 2, the commissioner of children, youth, and families must establish 
185.11 	and implement the information technology systems described under this section.
185.12 		Subd. 2.Family common application tool. (a) The commissioner must establish and 
185.13 	implement an application tool that allows families to apply for available early care and 
185.14 	education support programs. The application tool must:
185.15 	(1) provide integrated support in multiple languages, including real-time translation 
185.16 	capabilities;
185.17 	(2) include an eligibility screener;
185.18 	(3) include capability for automatic pre-population of known family information and 
185.19 	use open authorization to validate identity;
185.20 	(4) enable application completion and submission across multiple programs and services;
185.21 	(5) integrate selection tool for early care and education programs;
185.22 	(6) reach families through various ways, including employers, employee organizations, 
185.23 	and medical assistance managed care organizations; and
185.24 	(7) operate using the software as a service model that ensures frequent maintenance and 
185.25 	user experience updates.
185.26 	(b) Funding under this section for the application tool may only be used for early care 
185.27 	and education support programs.
185.28 		Subd. 3.Payments system. The commissioner must establish and implement a 
185.29 	centralized, integrated payment system for early care and education funding streams that:
185.30 	(1) integrates seamlessly with the existing provider licensing and reporting hub;
186.1 	(2) implements real-time payment processing and cash management capabilities, including 
186.2 	instant fund transfers and automated reconciliation;
186.3 	(3) incorporates robust security measures, including fraud detection and prevention;
186.4 	(4) enables automated compliance with state and federal reporting requirements;
186.5 	(5) provides a user-friendly interface with mobile accessibility for child care providers 
186.6 	to manage invoices and payments;
186.7 	(6) ensures interoperability with other relevant state systems and databases; and
186.8 	(7) implements data quality monitoring and reporting tools to support decision making.
186.9 		Subd. 4.Reporting requirements. The commissioner must provide quarterly 
186.10 	implementation updates to the chairs and minority leads of the committees with jurisdiction 
186.11 	over programs for children and families. The quarterly updates must describe the department's 
186.12 	progress toward establishing and implementing the information technology systems under 
186.13 	this section. The quarterly updates must continue until either the systems are fully 
186.14 	implemented or the department no longer has sufficient funding for the purposes identified 
186.15 	in this section.

186.16 	Sec. 17. REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
 186.17 	The revisor of statutes shall renumber Minnesota Statutes, section 245.0962, as Minnesota 
186.18 	Statutes, section 142A.47. The revisor shall also make necessary cross-reference changes 
186.19 	consistent with the renumbering.

186.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2025.

186.21 	Sec. 18. REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
 186.22 	The revisor of statutes shall renumber Minnesota Statutes, section 142D.12, subdivision 
186.23 	3, as Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.121. The revisor shall also make necessary 
186.24 	cross-reference changes consistent with the renumbering.

187.1 	ARTICLE 12
187.2 	DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES
187.3 	LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION POLICY

187.4 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.01, is amended by adding a subdivision 
187.5 	to read:
187.6 		Subd. 12a.Education. For purposes of child care centers, "education" means accredited 
187.7 	coursework in behavior guidance, child abuse and neglect prevention, child development, 
187.8 	child health and safety, child health and wellness, child nutrition, child psychology, child 
187.9 	study techniques, children with special needs, communication studies, computer science, 
187.10 	coordination of community and school activities, cultural studies, curriculum planning, 
187.11 	early childhood education, early childhood special education, elementary education, 
187.12 	elementary special education, English language arts, ethics, family studies, history, 
187.13 	mathematics, music, parent involvement, psychology, recreational sports, arts and crafts 
187.14 	methods or theory, science, social studies, sociology, or other coursework approved by the 
187.15 	commissioner.

187.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2025.

187.17 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.10, subdivision 14, is amended to read:
187.18 		Subd. 14.Grant of license; license extension. (a) If the commissioner determines that 
187.19 	the program complies with all applicable rules and laws, the commissioner shall issue a 
187.20 	license consistent with this section or, if applicable, a temporary change of ownership license 
187.21 	under section 142B.11. At minimum, the license shall state:
187.22 	(1) the name of the license holder;
187.23 	(2) the address of the program;
187.24 	(3) the effective date and expiration date of the license;
187.25 	(4) the type of license;
187.26 	(5) the maximum number and ages of persons that may receive services from the program; 
187.27 	and
187.28 	(6) any special conditions of licensure.
187.29 	(b) The commissioner may issue a license for a period not to exceed two years if:
187.30 	(1) the commissioner is unable to conduct the observation required by subdivision 11, 
187.31 	paragraph (a), clause (3), because the program is not yet operational;
188.1 	(2) certain records and documents are not available because persons are not yet receiving 
188.2 	services from the program; and
188.3 	(3) the applicant complies with applicable laws and rules in all other respects.
188.4 	(c) A decision by the commissioner to issue a license does not guarantee that any person 
188.5 	or persons will be placed or cared for in the licensed program.
188.6 	(d) Except as provided in paragraphs (i) and (j), the commissioner shall not issue a 
188.7 	license if the applicant, license holder, or an affiliated controlling individual has:
188.8 	(1) been disqualified and the disqualification was not set aside and no variance has been 
188.9 	granted;
188.10 	(2) been denied a license under this chapter or chapter 245A within the past two years;
188.11 	(3) had a license issued under this chapter or chapter 245A revoked within the past five 
188.12 	years; or
188.13 	(4) failed to submit the information required of an applicant under subdivision 1, 
188.14 	paragraph (f), (g), or (h), after being requested by the commissioner.
188.15 	When a license issued under this chapter or chapter 245A is revoked, the license holder 
188.16 	and each affiliated controlling individual with a revoked license may not hold any license 
188.17 	under chapter 142B for five years following the revocation, and other licenses held by the 
188.18 	applicant or license holder or licenses affiliated with each controlling individual shall also 
188.19 	be revoked.
188.20 	(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), the commissioner may elect not to revoke a license 
188.21 	affiliated with a license holder or controlling individual that had a license revoked within 
188.22 	the past five years if the commissioner determines that (1) the license holder or controlling 
188.23 	individual is operating the program in substantial compliance with applicable laws and rules 
188.24 	and (2) the program's continued operation is in the best interests of the community being 
188.25 	served.
188.26 	(f) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), the commissioner may issue a new license in response 
188.27 	to an application that is affiliated with an applicant, license holder, or controlling individual 
188.28 	that had an application denied within the past two years or a license revoked within the past 
188.29 	five years if the commissioner determines that (1) the applicant or controlling individual 
188.30 	has operated one or more programs in substantial compliance with applicable laws and rules 
188.31 	and (2) the program's operation would be in the best interests of the community to be served.
189.1 	(g) In determining whether a program's operation would be in the best interests of the 
189.2 	community to be served, the commissioner shall consider factors such as the number of 
189.3 	persons served, the availability of alternative services available in the surrounding 
189.4 	community, the management structure of the program, whether the program provides 
189.5 	culturally specific services, and other relevant factors.
189.6 	(h) The commissioner shall not issue or reissue a license under this chapter if an individual 
189.7 	living in the household where the services will be provided as specified under section 
189.8 	245C.03, subdivision 1, has been disqualified and the disqualification has not been set aside 
189.9 	and no variance has been granted.
189.10 	(i) Pursuant to section 142B.18, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), when a license issued 
189.11 	under this chapter has been suspended or revoked and the suspension or revocation is under 
189.12 	appeal, the program may continue to operate pending a final order from the commissioner. 
189.13 	If the license under suspension or revocation will expire before a final order is issued, a 
189.14 	temporary provisional license may be issued provided any applicable license fee is paid 
189.15 	before the temporary provisional license is issued.
189.16 	(j) Notwithstanding paragraph (i), when a revocation is based on the disqualification of 
189.17 	a controlling individual or license holder, and the controlling individual or license holder 
189.18 	is ordered under section 245C.17 to be immediately removed from direct contact with 
189.19 	persons receiving services or is ordered to be under continuous, direct supervision when 
189.20 	providing direct contact services, the program may continue to operate only if the program 
189.21 	complies with the order and submits documentation demonstrating compliance with the 
189.22 	order. If the disqualified individual fails to submit a timely request for reconsideration, or 
189.23 	if the disqualification is not set aside and no variance is granted, the order to immediately 
189.24 	remove the individual from direct contact or to be under continuous, direct supervision 
189.25 	remains in effect pending the outcome of a hearing and final order from the commissioner.
189.26 	(k) For purposes of reimbursement for meals only, under the Child and Adult Care Food 
189.27 	Program, Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, subtitle B, chapter II, subchapter A, part 226, 
189.28 	relocation within the same county by a licensed family day care provider, shall be considered 
189.29 	an extension of the license for a period of no more than 30 calendar days or until the new 
189.30 	license is issued, whichever occurs first, provided the county agency has determined the 
189.31 	family day care provider meets licensure requirements at the new location.
189.32 	(l) Unless otherwise specified by statute, all licenses issued under this chapter expire at 
189.33 	12:01 a.m. on the day after the expiration date stated on the license. A license holder must 
189.34 	apply for and be granted comply with the requirements in section 142B.12 and be reissued
190.1 	a new license to operate the program or the program must not be operated after the expiration 
190.2 	date. Child foster care license holders must apply for and be granted a new license to operate 
190.3 	the program or the program must not be operated after the expiration date. Upon 
190.4 	implementation of the provider licensing and reporting hub, licenses may be issued each 
190.5 	calendar year.
190.6 	(m) The commissioner shall not issue or reissue a license under this chapter if it has 
190.7 	been determined that a tribal licensing authority has established jurisdiction to license the 
190.8 	program or service.
190.9 	(n) The commissioner of children, youth, and families shall coordinate and share data 
190.10 	with the commissioner of human services to enforce this section.

190.11 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.10, subdivision 16, is amended to read:
190.12 		Subd. 16.Variances. (a) The commissioner may grant variances to rules that do not 
190.13 	affect the health or safety of persons in a licensed program if the following conditions are 
190.14 	met:
190.15 	(1) the variance must be requested by an applicant or license holder on a form and in a 
190.16 	manner prescribed by the commissioner;
190.17 	(2) the request for a variance must include the reasons that the applicant or license holder 
190.18 	cannot comply with a requirement as stated in the rule and the alternative equivalent measures 
190.19 	that the applicant or license holder will follow to comply with the intent of the rule; and
190.20 	(3) the request must state the period of time for which the variance is requested.
190.21 	The commissioner may grant a permanent variance when conditions under which the variance 
190.22 	is requested do not affect the health or safety of persons being served by the licensed program, 
190.23 	nor compromise the qualifications of staff to provide services. The permanent variance shall 
190.24 	expire as soon as the conditions that warranted the variance are modified in any way. Any 
190.25 	applicant or license holder must inform the commissioner of any changes or modifications 
190.26 	that have occurred in the conditions that warranted the permanent variance. Failure to advise 
190.27 	the commissioner shall result in revocation of the permanent variance and may be cause for 
190.28 	other sanctions under sections 142B.17 and 142B.18.
190.29 	The commissioner's decision to grant or deny a variance request is final and not subject to 
190.30 	appeal under the provisions of chapter 14.
190.31 	(b) The commissioner shall consider variances for child care center staff qualification 
190.32 	requirements under Minnesota Rules, parts 9503.0032 and 9503.0033, that do not affect 
191.1 	the health and safety of children served by the center. A variance request must be submitted 
191.2 	to the commissioner in accordance with paragraph (a) and must include a plan for the staff 
191.3 	person to gain additional experience, education, or training, as requested by the commissioner. 
191.4 	When reviewing a variance request under this section, the commissioner shall consider the 
191.5 	staff person's level of professional development, including but not limited to steps completed 
191.6 	on the Minnesota career lattice.
191.7 	(c) The commissioner must grant a variance for a child care program's licensed capacity 
191.8 	limit if:
191.9 	(1) the program's indoor space is within 100 square feet of what would be required for 
191.10 	maximum capacity in the program based on the program's number and qualifications of 
191.11 	staff;
191.12 	(2) the state fire marshal approves the variance; and
191.13 	(3) the applicant or license holder submits the variance request to the commissioner in 
191.14 	accordance with paragraph (a).
191.15 	A child care program's licensed capacity must not increase by more than two children under 
191.16 	this paragraph. For purposes of this paragraph, a "child care program" means a child care 
191.17 	center or family or group family child care provider licensed under this chapter and Minnesota 
191.18 	Rules, chapter 9502 or 9503.
191.19 	(c) (d) Counties shall use a uniform application form developed by the commissioner 
191.20 	for variance requests by family child care license holders.

191.21 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.16, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
191.22 		Subd. 2.Reconsideration of correction orders. (a) If the applicant or license holder 
191.23 	believes that the contents of the commissioner's correction order are in error, the applicant 
191.24 	or license holder may ask the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to reconsider 
191.25 	the parts of the correction order that are alleged to be in error. The request for reconsideration 
191.26 	must be made in writing and must be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within 20 
191.27 	calendar days after receipt of the correction order under this paragraph, or receipt of the 
191.28 	interpretive guidance under paragraph (d), by the applicant or license holder or submitted 
191.29 	in the provider licensing and reporting hub within 20 calendar days from the date the 
191.30 	commissioner issued the order under this paragraph, or provided the interpretive guidance 
191.31 	under paragraph (d), through the hub, and:
191.32 	(1) specify the parts of the correction order that are alleged to be in error;
192.1 	(2) explain why they are in error; and
192.2 	(3) include documentation to support the allegation of error.
192.3 	(b) Upon implementation of the provider licensing and reporting hub, the provider must 
192.4 	use the hub to request reconsideration under this paragraph, or to request interpretive guidance 
192.5 	under paragraph (d). A request for reconsideration does not stay any provisions or 
192.6 	requirements of the correction order. The commissioner's disposition of a request for 
192.7 	reconsideration is final and not subject to appeal under chapter 14.
192.8 	(b) (c) This paragraph applies only to licensed family child care providers. A licensed 
192.9 	family child care provider who requests reconsideration of a correction order under paragraph 
192.10 	(a) may also request, on a form and in the manner prescribed by the commissioner, that the 
192.11 	commissioner expedite the review if:
192.12 	(1) the provider is challenging a violation and provides a description of how complying 
192.13 	with the corrective action for that violation would require the substantial expenditure of 
192.14 	funds or a significant change to their program; and
192.15 	(2) describes what actions the provider will take in lieu of the corrective action ordered 
192.16 	to ensure the health and safety of children in care pending the commissioner's review of the 
192.17 	correction order.
192.18 	(d) Prior to a request for reconsideration under paragraph (a), if the applicant or license 
192.19 	holder believes that the applicable rule or statute is ambiguous or the commissioner's 
192.20 	interpretation of the applicable rule or statute is in error, the applicant or license holder may 
192.21 	ask the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to provide interpretive guidance on 
192.22 	the applicable rule or statute underlying the correction order.
192.23 	(e) The commissioner must not publicly post the correction order for licensed child care 
192.24 	centers or licensed family child care providers on the department's website until:
192.25 	(1) after the 20-calendar-day period for requesting reconsideration; or
192.26 	(2) if the applicant or license holder requested reconsideration, after the commissioner's 
192.27 	disposition of a request for reconsideration is provided to the applicant or license holder.

192.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2025, except that paragraph (e) 
192.29 	is effective January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, whichever is later. The commissioner 
192.30 	of children, youth, and families must notify the revisor of statutes when federal approval is 
192.31 	obtained.

193.1 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.16, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
193.2 		Subd. 5.Requirement to post conditional license. For licensed family child care 
193.3 	providers and child care centers, upon receipt of any order of conditional license issued by 
193.4 	the commissioner under this section, and notwithstanding a pending request for 
193.5 	reconsideration of the order of conditional license by the license holder, the license holder 
193.6 	shall post the order of conditional license in a place that is conspicuous to the people receiving 
193.7 	services and all visitors to the facility for two years. When the order of conditional license 
193.8 	is accompanied by a maltreatment investigation memorandum prepared under section 
193.9 	626.557 or chapter 260E, the investigation memoranda must be posted with the order of 
193.10 	conditional license, and the license holder must post both in a place that is conspicuous to 
193.11 	the people receiving services and all visitors to the facility for ten years.

193.12 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.171, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
193.13 		Subd. 2.Documented technical assistance.  (a) In lieu of a correction order under section 
193.14 	142B.16, the commissioner shall provide documented technical assistance to a family child 
193.15 	care or child care center license holder if the commissioner finds that:
193.16 	(1) the license holder has failed to comply with a requirement in this chapter or Minnesota 
193.17 	Rules, chapter 9502 or 9503, that the commissioner determines to be low risk as determined 
193.18 	by the child care weighted risk system;
193.19 	(2) the noncompliance does not imminently endanger the health, safety, or rights of the 
193.20 	persons served by the program; and
193.21 	(3) the license holder did not receive documented technical assistance or a correction 
193.22 	order for the same violation at the license holder's most recent annual licensing inspection.
193.23 	(b) Documented technical assistance must include communication from the commissioner 
193.24 	to the license holder that:
193.25 	(1) states the conditions that constitute a violation of a law or rule;
193.26 	(2) references the specific law or rule violated; and
193.27 	(3) explains remedies for correcting the violation.
193.28 	(c) The commissioner shall not publicly publish documented technical assistance on the 
193.29 	department's website.

194.1 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.18, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
194.2 		Subd. 6.Requirement to post licensing order or fine. For licensed family child care 
194.3 	providers and child care centers, upon receipt of any order of license suspension, temporary 
194.4 	immediate suspension, fine, or revocation issued by the commissioner under this section, 
194.5 	and notwithstanding a pending appeal of the order of license suspension, temporary 
194.6 	immediate suspension, fine, or revocation by the license holder, the license holder shall 
194.7 	post the order of license suspension, temporary immediate suspension, fine, or revocation 
194.8 	in a place that is conspicuous to the people receiving services and all visitors to the facility 
194.9 	for two years. When the order of license suspension, temporary immediate suspension, fine, 
194.10 	or revocation is accompanied by a maltreatment investigation memorandum prepared under 
194.11 	section 626.557 or chapter 260E, the investigation memoranda must be posted with the 
194.12 	order of license suspension, temporary immediate suspension, fine, or revocation, and the 
194.13 	license holder must post both in a place that is conspicuous to the people receiving services 
194.14 	and all visitors to the facility for ten years.

194.15 	Sec. 8. [142B.181] POSTING LICENSING ACTIONS ON DEPARTMENT 
194.16 	WEBSITE.
194.17 	(a) The commissioner must post a summary document for each licensing action, except 
194.18 	correction orders under section 142B.16, issued to a licensed child care center and family 
194.19 	child care provider on the Licensing Information Lookup public website maintained by the 
194.20 	Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The commissioner must not post any 
194.21 	communication, including letters, from the commissioner to the center or provider.
194.22 	(b) The commissioner must remove a summary document from the Licensing Information 
194.23 	Lookup public website within ten days of the length of time that the document is required 
194.24 	to be posted under Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 98.33.
194.25 	(c) The requirement to post summary documents under this section only applies to 
194.26 	licensing actions issued to licensed child care centers and family child care providers after 
194.27 	the effective date of this section.

194.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, 
194.29 	whichever is later. The commissioner of children, youth, and families must notify the revisor 
194.30 	of statutes when federal approval is obtained.

195.1 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.30, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
195.2 		Subdivision 1.Delegation of authority to agencies. (a) County agencies and private 
195.3 	agencies that have been designated or licensed by the commissioner to perform licensing 
195.4 	functions and activities under section 142B.10; to recommend denial of applicants under 
195.5 	section 142B.15; to issue correction orders, to issue variances, and to recommend a 
195.6 	conditional license under section 142B.16; or to recommend suspending or revoking a 
195.7 	license or issuing a fine under section 142B.18, shall comply with rules and directives of 
195.8 	the commissioner governing those functions and with this section. The following variances 
195.9 	are excluded from the delegation of variance authority and may be issued only by the 
195.10 	commissioner:
195.11 	(1) dual licensure of family child care and family child foster care;
195.12 	(2) child foster care maximum age requirement;
195.13 	(3) variances regarding disqualified individuals;
195.14 	(4) variances to requirements relating to chemical use problems of a license holder or a 
195.15 	household member of a license holder; and
195.16 	(5) variances to section 142B.74 for a time-limited period. If the commissioner grants 
195.17 	a variance under this clause, the license holder must provide notice of the variance to all 
195.18 	parents and guardians of the children in care.
195.19 	(b) The commissioners of human services and children, youth, and families must both 
195.20 	approve a variance for dual licensure of family child foster care and family adult foster care 
195.21 	or family adult foster care and family child care. Variances under this paragraph are excluded 
195.22 	from the delegation of variance authority and may be issued only by both commissioners.
195.23 	(c) Except as provided in section 142B.41, subdivision 4, paragraph (e), a county agency 
195.24 	must not grant a license holder a variance to exceed the maximum allowable family child 
195.25 	care license capacity of 14 children.
195.26 	(d) A county agency that has been designated by the commissioner to issue family child 
195.27 	care variances must:
195.28 	(1) publish the county agency's policies and criteria for issuing variances on the county's 
195.29 	public website and update the policies as necessary; and
195.30 	(2) annually distribute the county agency's policies and criteria for issuing variances to 
195.31 	all family child care license holders in the county.
196.1 	(e) Before the implementation of NETStudy 2.0, county agencies must report information 
196.2 	about disqualification reconsiderations under sections 245C.25 and 245C.27, subdivision 
196.3 	2, paragraphs (a) and (b), and variances granted under paragraph (a), clause (5), to the 
196.4 	commissioner at least monthly in a format prescribed by the commissioner.
196.5 	(f) For family child care programs, the commissioner shall require a county agency to 
196.6 	conduct one unannounced licensing review at least annually.
196.7 	(g) A child foster care license issued under this section may be issued for up to two years
196.8 	until implementation of the provider licensing and reporting hub. Upon implementation of 
196.9 	the provider licensing and reporting hub, licenses may be issued each calendar year.
196.10 	(h) A county agency shall report to the commissioner, in a manner prescribed by the 
196.11 	commissioner, the following information for a licensed family child care program:
196.12 	(1) the results of each licensing review completed, including the date of the review, and 
196.13 	any licensing correction order issued;
196.14 	(2) any death, serious injury, or determination of substantiated maltreatment; and
196.15 	(3) any fires that require the service of a fire department within 48 hours of the fire. The 
196.16 	information under this clause must also be reported to the state fire marshal within two 
196.17 	business days of receiving notice from a licensed family child care provider.

196.18 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.41, is amended by adding a subdivision 
196.19 	to read:
196.20 		Subd. 7a.Staff distribution. Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0040, subpart 
196.21 	2, item B, an aide may substitute for a teacher during morning arrival and afternoon departure 
196.22 	times in a licensed child care center if the total arrival and departure time does not exceed 
196.23 	25 percent of the center's daily hours of operation. In order for an aide to be used in this 
196.24 	capacity, an aide must:
196.25 	(1) be at least 18 years of age;
196.26 	(2) have worked in the licensed child care center for a minimum of 30 days; and
196.27 	(3) have completed all preservice and first-90-days training required for licensing.

196.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2025.

197.1 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.51, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
197.2 		Subd. 2.Child passenger restraint systems; training requirement. (a) Programs 
197.3 	licensed by the Department of Human Services under chapter 245A or the Department of 
197.4 	Children, Youth, and Families under this chapter and Minnesota Rules, chapter 2960, that 
197.5 	serve a child or children under eight nine years of age must document training that fulfills 
197.6 	the requirements in this subdivision.
197.7 	(b) Before a license holder, staff person, or caregiver transports a child or children under 
197.8 	age eight nine in a motor vehicle, the person transporting the child must satisfactorily 
197.9 	complete training on the proper use and installation of child restraint systems in motor 
197.10 	vehicles. Training completed under this section may be used to meet initial or ongoing 
197.11 	training under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subparts 1 and 2.
197.12 	(c) Training required under this section must be completed at orientation or initial training 
197.13 	and repeated at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the 
197.14 	proper use of child restraint systems based on the child's size, weight, and age, and the 
197.15 	proper installation of a car seat or booster seat in the motor vehicle used by the license 
197.16 	holder to transport the child or children.
197.17 	(d) Training under paragraph (c) must be provided by individuals who are certified and 
197.18 	approved by the Office of Traffic Safety within the Department of Public Safety. License 
197.19 	holders may obtain a list of certified and approved trainers through the Department of Public 
197.20 	Safety website or by contacting the agency.
197.21 	(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for an emergency relative placement under section 
197.22 	142B.06, the commissioner may grant a variance to the training required by this subdivision 
197.23 	for a relative who completes a child seat safety check up. The child seat safety check up 
197.24 	trainer must be approved by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, and 
197.25 	must provide one-on-one instruction on placing a child of a specific age in the exact child 
197.26 	passenger restraint in the motor vehicle in which the child will be transported. Once granted 
197.27 	a variance, and if all other licensing requirements are met, the relative applicant may receive 
197.28 	a license and may transport a relative foster child younger than eight years of age. A child 
197.29 	seat safety check up must be completed each time a child requires a different size car seat 
197.30 	according to car seat and vehicle manufacturer guidelines. A relative license holder must 
197.31 	complete training that meets the other requirements of this subdivision prior to placement 
197.32 	of another foster child younger than eight years of age in the home or prior to the renewal 
197.33 	of the child foster care license.

198.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026, except paragraph (e), 
198.2 	which is effective July 1, 2026.

198.3 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.65, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
198.4 		Subd. 8.Child passenger restraint systems; training requirement.  (a) Before a license 
198.5 	holder transports a child or children under age eight nine in a motor vehicle, the person 
198.6 	placing the child or children in a passenger restraint must satisfactorily complete training 
198.7 	on the proper use and installation of child restraint systems in motor vehicles.
198.8 	(b) Training required under this subdivision must be repeated at least once every five 
198.9 	years. At a minimum, the training must address the proper use of child restraint systems 
198.10 	based on the child's size, weight, and age, and the proper installation of a car seat or booster 
198.11 	seat in the motor vehicle used by the license holder to transport the child or children.
198.12 	(c) Training required under this subdivision must be provided by individuals who are 
198.13 	certified and approved by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. License 
198.14 	holders may obtain a list of certified and approved trainers through the Department of Public 
198.15 	Safety website or by contacting the agency.
198.16 	(d) Child care providers that only transport school-age children as defined in section 
198.17 	142B.01, subdivision 25, in child care buses as defined in section 169.448, subdivision 1, 
198.18 	paragraph (e), are exempt from this subdivision.
198.19 	(e) Training completed under this subdivision may be used to meet in-service training 
198.20 	requirements under subdivision 9. Training completed within the previous five years is 
198.21 	transferable upon a staff person's change in employment to another child care center.

198.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

198.23 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.65, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
198.24 		Subd. 9.In-service training. (a) A license holder must ensure that the center director, 
198.25 	staff persons, substitutes, and unsupervised volunteers complete in-service training each 
198.26 	calendar year.
198.27 	(b) The center director and staff persons who work more than 20 hours per week must 
198.28 	complete 24 hours of in-service training each calendar year. Staff persons who work 20 
198.29 	hours or less per week must complete 12 hours of in-service training each calendar year. 
198.30 	Substitutes and unsupervised volunteers must complete at least two hours of training each 
198.31 	year, and the training must include the requirements of paragraphs (d) to (g) and do not 
198.32 	otherwise have a minimum number of hours of training to complete.
199.1 	(c) The number of in-service training hours may be prorated for individuals center 
199.2 	directors and staff persons not employed for an entire year.
199.3 	(d) Each year, in-service training must include:
199.4 	(1) the center's procedures for maintaining health and safety according to section 142B.66 
199.5 	and Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0140, and handling emergencies and accidents according 
199.6 	to Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0110;
199.7 	(2) the reporting responsibilities under chapter 260E and Minnesota Rules, part 
199.8 	9503.0130;
199.9 	(3) at least one-half hour of training on the standards under section 142B.46 and on 
199.10 	reducing the risk of sudden unexpected infant death as required under subdivision 6, if 
199.11 	applicable; and
199.12 	(4) at least one-half hour of training on the risk of abusive head trauma from shaking 
199.13 	infants and young children as required under subdivision 7, if applicable.
199.14 	(e) Each year, or when a change is made, whichever is more frequent, in-service training 
199.15 	must be provided on: (1) the center's risk reduction plan under section 142B.54, subdivision 
199.16 	2; and (2) a child's individual child care program plan as required under Minnesota Rules, 
199.17 	part 9503.0065, subpart 3.
199.18 	(f) At least once every two calendar years, the in-service training must include:
199.19 	(1) child development and learning training under subdivision 3;
199.20 	(2) pediatric first aid that meets the requirements of subdivision 4;
199.21 	(3) pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation training that meets the requirements of 
199.22 	subdivision 5;
199.23 	(4) cultural dynamics training to increase awareness of cultural differences; and
199.24 	(5) disabilities training to increase awareness of differing abilities of children.
199.25 	(g) At least once every five years, in-service training must include child passenger 
199.26 	restraint training that meets the requirements of subdivision 8, if applicable.
199.27 	(h) The remaining hours of the in-service training requirement must be met by completing 
199.28 	training in the following content areas of the Minnesota Knowledge and Competency 
199.29 	Framework:
199.30 	(1) Content area I: child development and learning;
199.31 	(2) Content area II: developmentally appropriate learning experiences;
200.1 	(3) Content area III: relationships with families;
200.2 	(4) Content area IV: assessment, evaluation, and individualization;
200.3 	(5) Content area V: historical and contemporary development of early childhood 
200.4 	education;
200.5 	(6) Content area VI: professionalism;
200.6 	(7) Content area VII: health, safety, and nutrition; and
200.7 	(8) Content area VIII: application through clinical experiences.
200.8 	(i) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the meanings given them.
200.9 	(1) "Child development and learning training" means training in understanding how 
200.10 	children develop physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially and learn as part of the 
200.11 	children's family, culture, and community.
200.12 	(2) "Developmentally appropriate learning experiences" means creating positive learning 
200.13 	experiences, promoting cognitive development, promoting social and emotional development, 
200.14 	promoting physical development, and promoting creative development.
200.15 	(3) "Relationships with families" means training on building a positive, respectful 
200.16 	relationship with the child's family.
200.17 	(4) "Assessment, evaluation, and individualization" means training in observing, 
200.18 	recording, and assessing development; assessing and using information to plan; and assessing 
200.19 	and using information to enhance and maintain program quality.
200.20 	(5) "Historical and contemporary development of early childhood education" means 
200.21 	training in past and current practices in early childhood education and how current events 
200.22 	and issues affect children, families, and programs.
200.23 	(6) "Professionalism" means training in knowledge, skills, and abilities that promote 
200.24 	ongoing professional development.
200.25 	(7) "Health, safety, and nutrition" means training in establishing health practices, ensuring 
200.26 	safety, and providing healthy nutrition.
200.27 	(8) "Application through clinical experiences" means clinical experiences in which a 
200.28 	person applies effective teaching practices using a range of educational programming models.
200.29 	(j) The license holder must ensure that documentation, as required in subdivision 10, 
200.30 	includes the number of total training hours required to be completed, name of the training, 
201.1 	the Minnesota Knowledge and Competency Framework content area, number of hours 
201.2 	completed, and the director's approval of the training.
201.3 	(k) In-service training completed by a staff person that is not specific to that child care 
201.4 	center is transferable upon a staff person's change in employment to another child care 
201.5 	program.

201.6 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.66, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
201.7 		Subd. 3.Emergency preparedness. (a) A licensed child care center must have a written 
201.8 	emergency plan for emergencies that require evacuation, sheltering, or other protection of 
201.9 	a child, such as fire, natural disaster, intruder, or other threatening situation that may pose 
201.10 	a health or safety hazard to a child. The plan must be written on a form developed by the 
201.11 	commissioner and must include:
201.12 	(1) procedures for an evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place, or lockdown;
201.13 	(2) a designated relocation site and evacuation route;
201.14 	(3) procedures for notifying a child's parent or legal guardian of the evacuation, relocation, 
201.15 	shelter-in-place, or lockdown, including procedures for reunification with families;
201.16 	(4) accommodations for a child with a disability or a chronic medical condition;
201.17 	(5) procedures for storing a child's medically necessary medicine that facilitates easy 
201.18 	removal during an evacuation or relocation;
201.19 	(6) procedures for continuing operations in the period during and after a crisis;
201.20 	(7) procedures for communicating with local emergency management officials, law 
201.21 	enforcement officials, or other appropriate state or local authorities; and
201.22 	(8) accommodations for infants and toddlers.
201.23 	(b) The license holder must train staff persons on the emergency plan at orientation, 
201.24 	when changes are made to the plan, and at least once each calendar year. Training must be 
201.25 	documented in each staff person's personnel file.
201.26 	(c) The license holder must conduct drills according to the requirements in Minnesota 
201.27 	Rules, part 9503.0110, subpart 3. The date and time of the drills must be documented.
201.28 	(d) The license holder must review and update the emergency plan annually each calendar 
201.29 	year. Documentation of the annual yearly emergency plan review shall be maintained in 
201.30 	the program's administrative records.
202.1 	(e) The license holder must include the emergency plan in the program's policies and 
202.2 	procedures as specified under section 142B.10, subdivision 21. The license holder must 
202.3 	provide a physical or electronic copy of the emergency plan to the child's parent or legal 
202.4 	guardian upon enrollment.
202.5 	(f) The relocation site and evacuation route must be posted in a visible place as part of 
202.6 	the written procedures for emergencies and accidents in Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0140, 
202.7 	subpart 21.

202.8 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.70, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
202.9 		Subd. 7.Child passenger restraint systems; training requirement. (a) A license 
202.10 	holder must comply with all seat belt and child passenger restraint system requirements 
202.11 	under section 169.685.
202.12 	(b) Family and group family child care programs licensed by the Department of Children, 
202.13 	Youth, and Families that serve a child or children under eight nine years of age must 
202.14 	document training that fulfills the requirements in this subdivision.
202.15 	(1) Before a license holder, second adult caregiver, substitute, or helper transports a 
202.16 	child or children under age eight nine in a motor vehicle, the person placing the child or 
202.17 	children in a passenger restraint must satisfactorily complete training on the proper use and 
202.18 	installation of child restraint systems in motor vehicles. Training completed under this 
202.19 	subdivision may be used to meet initial training under subdivision 1 or ongoing training 
202.20 	under subdivision 8.
202.21 	(2) Training required under this subdivision must be at least one hour in length, completed 
202.22 	at initial training, and repeated at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training 
202.23 	must address the proper use of child restraint systems based on the child's size, weight, and 
202.24 	age, and the proper installation of a car seat or booster seat in the motor vehicle used by the 
202.25 	license holder to transport the child or children.
202.26 	(3) Training under this subdivision must be provided by individuals who are certified 
202.27 	and approved by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. License holders 
202.28 	may obtain a list of certified and approved trainers through the Department of Public Safety 
202.29 	website or by contacting the agency.
202.30 	(c) Child care providers that only transport school-age children as defined in section 
202.31 	142B.01, subdivision 13, paragraph (f), in child care buses as defined in section 169.448, 
202.32 	subdivision 1, paragraph (e), are exempt from this subdivision.

202.33 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

203.1 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.70, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
203.2 		Subd. 8.Training requirements for family and group family child care. (a) For 
203.3 	purposes of family and group family child care, the license holder and each second adult 
203.4 	caregiver must complete 16 hours of ongoing training each year. Repeat of topical training 
203.5 	requirements in subdivisions 3 to 9 shall count toward the annual 16-hour training 
203.6 	requirement. Additional ongoing training subjects to meet the annual 16-hour training 
203.7 	requirement must be selected from the following areas:
203.8 	(1) child development and learning training in understanding how a child develops 
203.9 	physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially, and how a child learns as part of the 
203.10 	child's family, culture, and community;
203.11 	(2) developmentally appropriate learning experiences, including training in creating 
203.12 	positive learning experiences, promoting cognitive development, promoting social and 
203.13 	emotional development, promoting physical development, promoting creative development; 
203.14 	and behavior guidance;
203.15 	(3) relationships with families, including training in building a positive, respectful 
203.16 	relationship with the child's family;
203.17 	(4) assessment, evaluation, and individualization, including training in observing, 
203.18 	recording, and assessing development; assessing and using information to plan; and assessing 
203.19 	and using information to enhance and maintain program quality;
203.20 	(5) historical and contemporary development of early childhood education, including 
203.21 	training in past and current practices in early childhood education and how current events 
203.22 	and issues affect children, families, and programs;
203.23 	(6) professionalism, including training in knowledge, skills, and abilities that promote 
203.24 	ongoing professional development; and
203.25 	(7) health, safety, and nutrition, including training in establishing healthy practices; 
203.26 	ensuring safety; and providing healthy nutrition.
203.27 	(b) A provider who is approved as a trainer through the Develop data system may count 
203.28 	up to two hours of training instruction toward the annual 16-hour training requirement in 
203.29 	paragraph (a). The provider may only count training instruction hours for the first instance 
203.30 	in which they deliver a particular content-specific training during each licensing year. Hours 
203.31 	counted as training instruction must be approved through the Develop data system with 
203.32 	attendance verified on the trainer's individual learning record and must be in Knowledge 
204.1 	and Competency Framework content area VII A (Establishing Healthy Practices) or B 
204.2 	(Ensuring Safety).
204.3 	(c) Substitutes and adult caregivers who provide care for 500 or fewer hours per year 
204.4 	must complete a minimum of one hour of training each calendar year, and the training must 
204.5 	include the requirements in subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9.

204.6 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.77, is amended to read:
204.7 	142B.77 SUPERVISION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE 
204.8 	LICENSE HOLDER'S OWN CHILD.
204.9 		Subdivision 1.Supervision of license holder's own child. (a) Notwithstanding Minnesota 
204.10 	Rules, part 9502.0365, subpart 5, and with the license holder's consent, an individual may 
204.11 	be present in the licensed space, may supervise the family child care license holder's own 
204.12 	child both inside and outside of the licensed space, and is exempt from the training and 
204.13 	supervision requirements of this chapter and Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502, if the individual:
204.14 	(1) is related to the license holder or to the license holder's child, as defined in section 
204.15 	142B.01, subdivision 15, or is a household member who the license holder has reported to 
204.16 	the county agency;
204.17 	(2) is not a designated caregiver, helper, or substitute for the licensed program;
204.18 	(3) is involved only in the care of the license holder's own child; and
204.19 	(4) does not have direct, unsupervised contact with any nonrelative children receiving 
204.20 	services.
204.21 	(b) If the individual in paragraph (a) is not a household member, the individual is also 
204.22 	exempt from background study requirements under chapter 245C.
204.23 		Subd. 2.Exclusion from licensed capacity. For the purposes of licensed capacity 
204.24 	requirements under Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0367, one of a license holder's own children 
204.25 	is excluded from licensed capacity, provided the excluded child is at least eight years old 
204.26 	and the license holder has never been determined to have maltreated a child or vulnerable 
204.27 	adult under section 626.557 or chapter 260E.

204.28 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142C.06, is amended by adding a subdivision 
204.29 	to read:
204.30 		Subd. 4.Requirement to post conditional certification. Upon receipt of any order of 
204.31 	conditional certification issued by the commissioner under this section, and notwithstanding 
205.1 	a pending request for reconsideration of the order of conditional certification by the 
205.2 	certification holder, the certification holder shall post the order of conditional certification 
205.3 	in a place that is conspicuous to the people receiving services and all visitors to the facility 
205.4 	for the duration of the conditional certification. When the order of conditional certification 
205.5 	is accompanied by a maltreatment investigation memorandum prepared under chapter 260E, 
205.6 	the investigation memoranda must be posted with the order of conditional certification.

205.7 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142C.11, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
205.8 		Subd. 8.Required policies. A certified center must have written policies for health and 
205.9 	safety items in subdivisions 1 to 6, 9, and 10.

205.10 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142C.12, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
205.11 		Subdivision 1.First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (a) Before having 
205.12 	unsupervised direct contact with a child, but within 90 days after the first date of direct 
205.13 	contact with a child, the director, all staff persons, substitutes, and unsupervised volunteers 
205.14 	must successfully complete pediatric first aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation 
205.15 	(CPR) training, unless the training has been completed within the previous two calendar 
205.16 	years. Staff must complete the pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR training at least every 
205.17 	other calendar year and the center must document the training in the staff person's personnel 
205.18 	record.
205.19 	(b) Training completed under this subdivision may be used to meet the in-service training 
205.20 	requirements under subdivision 6.
205.21 	(c) Training must include CPR and techniques for providing immediate care to people 
205.22 	experiencing life-threatening cardiac emergencies, choking, bleeding, fractures and sprains, 
205.23 	head injuries, poisoning, and burns. Training developed by the American Heart Association, 
205.24 	the American Red Cross, or another organization that uses nationally recognized, 
205.25 	evidence-based guidelines meets these requirements.

205.26 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

205.27 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142C.12, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
205.28 		Subd. 6.In-service training. (a) The certified center must ensure that the director and 
205.29 	all staff persons, including substitutes and unsupervised volunteers, are trained at least once 
205.30 	each calendar year on health and safety requirements in this section and sections 142C.10, 
205.31 	142C.11, and 142C.13.
206.1 	(b) The director and each staff person, not including substitutes, must complete at least 
206.2 	six hours of training each calendar year. Substitutes must complete at least two hours of 
206.3 	training each calendar year. Training required under paragraph (a) may be used toward the 
206.4 	hourly training requirements of this subdivision.

206.5 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 245A.18, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
206.6 		Subdivision 1.Seat belt and child passenger restraint system use. All license holders 
206.7 	that transport children must comply with the requirements of section 142B.51, subdivision 
206.8 	1, and license holders that transport a child or children under eight nine years of age must 
206.9 	document training that fulfills the requirements in section 142B.51, subdivision 2.

206.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

206.11 	Sec. 23. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND 
206.12 	FAMILIES; STANDARDIZED LICENSING VISIT TIMELINE AND 
206.13 	REQUIREMENTS.
 206.14 	(a) The commissioner of children, youth, and families must, in consultation with 
206.15 	stakeholders, develop and implement a standardized timeline and standards for the conduct 
206.16 	of licensors when conducting inspections of licensed child care centers. The timeline and 
206.17 	standards developed by the commissioner must clearly identify:
206.18 	(1) the steps of a licensing visit;
206.19 	(2) the expectations for licensors and license holders before, during, and after the licensing 
206.20 	visit;
206.21 	(3) the standards of conduct that licensors must follow during a visit;
206.22 	(4) the rights of license holders;
206.23 	(5) when and how license holders can request technical assistance; and
206.24 	(6) a process for license holders to request additional review of an issue related to the 
206.25 	licensing visit from someone other than the assigned licensor.
206.26 	(b) The timeline and standards must be implemented by January 1, 2026.

206.27 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2026.

206.28 	Sec. 24. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND 
206.29 	FAMILIES; STANDARDIZED COUNTY-DELEGATED LICENSING.
 206.30 	By January 1, 2026, the commissioner of children, youth, and families must:
207.1 	(1) establish time frames for county licensors to respond to time-sensitive or urgent 
207.2 	requests and implement a system to track response times to the requests; and
207.3 	(2) require county licensors to use the electronic licensing inspection tool during an 
207.4 	inspection of a family child care provider and to complete the inspection report on site with 
207.5 	the license holder, including direct communication related to any correction orders issued.

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

207.7 	Sec. 25. REPEALER.
 207.8 	Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0030, subpart 1, item B, is repealed.

207.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2025.

207.10 	ARTICLE 13
207.11 	MISCELLANEOUS

207.12 	Section 1. [135A.1367] OPIATE ANTAGONIST.
207.13 		Subdivision 1.Definition. For purposes of this section, "opiate antagonist" has the 
207.14 	meaning given in section 604A.04, subdivision 1.
207.15 		Subd. 2.Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; University of Minnesota. (a) 
207.16 	The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities shall, and the Board 
207.17 	of Regents of the University of Minnesota is requested to:
207.18 	(1) maintain a supply of opiate antagonists at each campus site to be administered in 
207.19 	compliance with section 151.37, subdivision 12; and
207.20 	(2) have at least two doses of a nasal opiate antagonist available on site at each campus 
207.21 	residential building.
207.22 	(b) The commissioner of health shall identify resources, including at least one training 
207.23 	video, to help postsecondary institutions implement an opiate antagonist emergency response 
207.24 	and make the resources available for institutions.
207.25 	(c) The Board of Trustees and the Board of Regents may adopt a model plan for use, 
207.26 	storage, and administration of opiate antagonists on system campuses.
207.27 		Subd. 3.Tribal colleges. (a) The commissioner of health shall distribute money to Leech 
207.28 	Lake Tribal College, White Earth Tribal College, and Red Lake Nation Tribal College to 
207.29 	make opiate antagonists available according to paragraph (b). The commissioner may 
208.1 	determine an appropriate method to equitably allocate the amounts appropriated among the 
208.2 	colleges.
208.3 	(b) A Tribal college receiving money under this section must:
208.4 	(1) maintain a supply of opiate antagonists at each campus site to be administered in 
208.5 	compliance with section 151.37, subdivision 12; and
208.6 	(2) have at least two doses of a nasal opiate antagonist available on site at each campus 
208.7 	residential building.

208.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective beginning in the 2025-2026 academic 
208.9 	year.

208.10 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 145C.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
208.11 	read:
208.12 		Subd. 1c.Emergency medical services provider. "Emergency medical services provider" 
208.13 	means:
208.14 	(1) an ambulance service licensed under chapter 144E;
208.15 	(2) a medical response unit as defined in section 144E.275, subdivision 1;
208.16 	(3) an emergency medical responder as defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 6; or
208.17 	(4) ambulance service personnel as defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 3a.

208.18 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 145C.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
208.19 	read:
208.20 		Subd. 7b.Nonopioid directive. "Nonopioid directive" means a written instrument that 
208.21 	includes one or more instructions that a patient must not be administered an opioid by a 
208.22 	health professional or be offered a prescription for an opioid by a prescriber.

208.23 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 145C.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
208.24 	read:
208.25 		Subd. 7c.Prescriber. "Prescriber" means an individual who is authorized by section 
208.26 	148.235; 151.01, subdivision 23; or 151.37 to prescribe prescription drugs.

209.1 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 145C.17, is amended to read:
209.2 	145C.17 OPIOID INSTRUCTIONS ENTERED INTO HEALTH RECORD.
209.3 	At the request of the patient or health care agent, a health care provider shall enter into 
209.4 	the patient's health care record any instructions relating to administering, dispensing, or 
209.5 	prescribing an opioid. A health care provider presented with a nonopioid directive executed 
209.6 	by or on behalf of a patient must include the nonopioid directive in the patient's health care 
209.7 	record. A health care provider receiving notice of revocation of a patient's nonopioid directive 
209.8 	must note the revocation in the patient's health care record.

209.9 	Sec. 6. [145C.18] NONOPIOID DIRECTIVE.
209.10 		Subdivision 1.Execution. A patient with the capacity to do so may execute a nonopioid 
209.11 	directive on the patient's own behalf. A patient's health care agent may execute a nonopioid 
209.12 	directive on behalf of the patient. A nonopioid directive must include one or more instructions 
209.13 	that the patient must not be administered an opioid by a health professional or be offered a 
209.14 	prescription for an opioid by a prescriber.
209.15 		Subd. 2.Revocation. A patient who executed a nonopioid directive on the patient's own 
209.16 	behalf may revoke the nonopioid directive at any time and in any manner in which the 
209.17 	patient is able to communicate an intent to revoke the nonopioid directive. A patient's health 
209.18 	care agent may revoke the nonopioid directive executed on behalf of a patient by executing 
209.19 	a written, dated statement of revocation and by providing notice of the revocation to the 
209.20 	patient's health care provider.
209.21 		Subd. 3.Compliance with nonopioid directive; exception. (a) Except as specified in 
209.22 	paragraph (b), prescribers and health professionals must comply with a nonopioid directive 
209.23 	executed under this section.
209.24 	(b) A prescriber or a health professional acting on the order of a prescriber may administer 
209.25 	an opioid to a patient with a nonopioid directive if:
209.26 	(1) the patient is being treated, in emergency circumstances, in a hospital setting or in 
209.27 	a setting outside a hospital;
209.28 	(2) in the prescriber's professional opinion, it is medically necessary to administer an 
209.29 	opioid to the patient in order to treat the patient, including but not limited to during a surgical 
209.30 	procedure when one or more complications arise; and
209.31 	(3) it is not practical or feasible for the prescriber or health professional to access the 
209.32 	patient's health care record.
210.1 	If an opioid is administered according to this paragraph to a patient with a nonopioid 
210.2 	directive, the prescriber must ensure that the patient is provided with information on substance 
210.3 	use disorder services.
210.4 		Subd. 4.Immunities. Except as otherwise provided by law, the following persons or 
210.5 	entities are not subject to criminal prosecution, civil liability, or professional disciplinary 
210.6 	action for failing to prescribe, administer, or dispense an opioid to a patient with a nonopioid 
210.7 	directive; for the administration of an opioid in the circumstances in subdivision 3, paragraph 
210.8 	(b), to a patient with a nonopioid directive; or for the inadvertent administration of an opioid 
210.9 	to a patient with a nonopioid directive, if the act or failure to act was performed in good 
210.10 	faith and in accordance with the applicable standard of care:
210.11 	(1) a health professional whose scope of practice includes prescribing, administering, 
210.12 	or dispensing a controlled substance;
210.13 	(2) an employee of a health professional described in clause (1);
210.14 	(3) a health care facility or an employee of a health care facility; or
210.15 	(4) an emergency medical services provider.
210.16 		Subd. 5.Nonopioid directive form. The commissioner of health must develop a 
210.17 	nonopioid directive form for use by patients and health care agents to communicate to health 
210.18 	professionals and prescribers that a patient with a nonopioid directive must not be 
210.19 	administered an opioid or offered a prescription for an opioid. The commissioner must 
210.20 	include on the nonopioid directive form instructions for how to revoke a nonopioid directive 
210.21 	and other information the commissioner deems relevant. The commissioner must post the 
210.22 	form on the Department of Health website.

210.23 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 149A.02, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
210.24 	read:
210.25 		Subd. 42.Green burial. "Green burial" means a method of burial that emphasizes 
210.26 	environmental sustainability without interfering with natural decomposition, in which:
210.27 	(1) the body is not embalmed;
210.28 	(2) a biodegradable casket is used; and
210.29 	(3) no vault or outer burial container is employed for a casket or shroud.

211.1 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 151.37, subdivision 12, is amended to read:
211.2 		Subd. 12.Administration of opiate antagonists for drug overdose. (a) A licensed 
211.3 	physician, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse authorized to prescribe drugs 
211.4 	pursuant to section 148.235, or a licensed physician assistant may authorize the following 
211.5 	individuals to administer opiate antagonists, as defined in section 604A.04, subdivision 1:
211.6 	(1) an emergency medical responder registered pursuant to section 144E.27;
211.7 	(2) a peace officer as defined in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraphs (c) and (d);
211.8 	(3) correctional employees of a state or local political subdivision;
211.9 	(4) staff of community-based health disease prevention or social service programs;
211.10 	(5) a volunteer firefighter;
211.11 	(6) a nurse or any other personnel employed by, or under contract with, a postsecondary 
211.12 	institution or a charter, public, or private school; and
211.13 	(7) transit rider investment program personnel authorized under section 473.4075.
211.14 	(b) For the purposes of this subdivision, opiate antagonists may be administered by one 
211.15 	of these individuals only if:
211.16 	(1) the licensed physician, licensed physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice 
211.17 	registered nurse has issued a standing order to, or entered into a protocol with, the individual; 
211.18 	and
211.19 	(2) the individual has training in the recognition of signs of opiate overdose and the use 
211.20 	of opiate antagonists as part of the emergency response to opiate overdose.
211.21 	(c) Nothing in this section prohibits the possession and administration of naloxone 
211.22 	pursuant to section 604A.04.
211.23 	(d) Notwithstanding section 148.235, subdivisions 8 and 9, a licensed practical nurse is 
211.24 	authorized to possess and administer according to this subdivision an opiate antagonist in 
211.25 	a school setting.

211.26 	Sec. 9. [306.991] GREEN BURIALS IN PUBLIC CEMETERIES.
211.27 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
211.28 	the meanings given.
211.29 	(b) "Drainage system" has the meaning given in section 103E.005, subdivision 12.
211.30 	(c) "Green burial" has the meaning given in section 149A.02, subdivision 42.
212.1 	(d) "Natural watercourse" has the meaning given in section 103G.005, subdivision 13.
212.2 	(e) "Ordinary high-water level" has the meaning given in section 103G.005, subdivision 
212.3 	14.
212.4 	(f) "Water supply well" has the meaning given in section 103I.005, subdivision 20a.
212.5 		Subd. 2.Green burial requirements. A municipality, town, or other cemetery governed 
212.6 	by this chapter that allows for green burials must comply with the requirements of this 
212.7 	section.
212.8 		Subd. 3.Green burial plot locations. (a) Green burial plots must have a designated 
212.9 	location within the cemetery. Green burial plot locations must:
212.10 	(1) be set back 50 feet from property lines;
212.11 	(2) maintain at least three and one-half feet of clearance above the ordinary high-water 
212.12 	level;
212.13 	(3) not be in standing water;
212.14 	(4) not be within zone 1 groundwater source protection zones around a spring, water 
212.15 	supply well, or shaft drilled into the ground meant to extract water; and
212.16 	(5) not be within flood-prone areas.
212.17 	(b) Green burial plot locations must be a certain distance from water sources. Green 
212.18 	burial plot locations must be:
212.19 	(1) 50 feet from water supply wells and shafts drilled into the ground used to extract 
212.20 	water;
212.21 	(2) 100 feet from other springs or watercourses; and
212.22 	(3) 33 feet from drainage systems.
212.23 		Subd. 4.Burial depth. (a) Green burial plots must be at a minimum depth of three and 
212.24 	one-half feet from the base of the grave to the soil horizon.
212.25 	(b) Green burials must have one meter of cover.
212.26 		Subd. 5.Burial density. Green burial plots must be limited to a maximum of 300 burials 
212.27 	per acre over a 100-year period.

212.28 	Sec. 10. [306.992] SCATTERING OF CREMATED REMAINS.
212.29 	(a) For purposes of this section, "cremated remains" has the meaning given in section 
212.30 	149A.02, subdivision 7.
213.1 	(b) A municipality, town, or other cemetery governed by this chapter that allows for 
213.2 	scattering of cremated remains must designate a location within the cemetery for the 
213.3 	scattering of cremated remains.

213.4 	Sec. 11. [307.14] GREEN BURIALS IN PRIVATE CEMETERIES.
213.5 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
213.6 	the meanings given.
213.7 	(b) "Drainage system" has the meaning given in section 103E.005, subdivision 12.
213.8 	(c) "Green burial" has the meaning given in section 149A.02, subdivision 42.
213.9 	(d) "Natural watercourse" has the meaning given in section 103G.005, subdivision 13.
213.10 	(e) "Ordinary high-water level" has the meaning given in section 103G.005, subdivision 
213.11 	14.
213.12 	(f) "Water supply well" has the meaning given in section 103I.005, subdivision 20a.
213.13 		Subd. 2.Green burial requirements. A person who owns a cemetery governed by this 
213.14 	chapter that allows for green burials must comply with the requirements of this section.
213.15 		Subd. 3.Green burial plot locations. Green burial plots must have a designated location 
213.16 	within the cemetery. Green burial plot locations must:
213.17 	(1) be set back 50 feet from property lines;
213.18 	(2) maintain at least three and one-half feet of clearance above the ordinary high-water 
213.19 	level;
213.20 	(3) not be in standing water;
213.21 	(4) not be within zone 1 groundwater source protection zones around a spring, water 
213.22 	supply well, or shaft drilled into the ground meant to extract water; and
213.23 	(5) not be within flood-prone areas.
213.24 		Subd. 4.Burial depth. (a) Green burial plots must be at a minimum depth of three and 
213.25 	one-half feet from the base of the grave to the soil horizon.
213.26 	(b) Green burials must have one meter of cover.
213.27 		Subd. 5.Burial density. Green burial plots must be limited to a maximum of 300 burials 
213.28 	per acre over a 100-year period.

214.1 	Sec. 12. [307.15] SCATTERING OF CREMATED REMAINS.
214.2 	(a) For purposes of this section, "cremated remains" has the meaning given in section 
214.3 	149A.02, subdivision 7.
214.4 	(b) A municipality, town, or other cemetery governed by this chapter that allows for 
214.5 	scattering of cremated remains must designate a location within the cemetery for the 
214.6 	scattering of cremated remains.

214.7 	Sec. 13. [325M.335] MENTAL HEALTH WARNING LABEL.
214.8 		Subdivision 1.Warning label required. (a) A social media platform must ensure that 
214.9 	a conspicuous mental health warning label that complies with the requirements under this 
214.10 	section:
214.11 	(1) appears each time a user accesses the social media platform; and
214.12 	(2) only disappears when the user: (i) exits the social media platform; or (ii) acknowledges 
214.13 	the potential for harm and chooses to proceed to the social media platform despite the risk.
214.14 	(b) A mental health warning label under this section must:
214.15 	(1) in a manner that conforms with the guidelines established under subdivision 2, warn 
214.16 	the user of potential negative mental health impacts of accessing the social media platform; 
214.17 	and
214.18 	(2) provide the user access to resources to address the potential negative mental health 
214.19 	impacts described in clause (1) and include the website and telephone number of a national 
214.20 	suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system, including but not limited to the 
214.21 	988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
214.22 	(c) A social media platform is prohibited from:
214.23 	(1) providing the warning label exclusively in the social media platform's terms and 
214.24 	conditions;
214.25 	(2) including extraneous information in the warning label that obscures the visibility or 
214.26 	prominence of the warning label; or
214.27 	(3) allowing a user to disable a warning label, except as provided under paragraph (a).
214.28 		Subd. 2.Content of label. (a) The commissioner of health, in consultation with the 
214.29 	commissioner of commerce, must develop guidelines for social media platforms that contain 
214.30 	appropriate requirements for the warning labels required under this section. The guidelines 
215.1 	must be based on current evidence regarding the negative mental health impacts of social 
215.2 	media platforms. The commissioners must review and revise the guidelines as appropriate.
215.3 	(b) The commissioner of health is exempt from chapter 14, including section 14.386, 
215.4 	when implementing this subdivision.

215.5 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 325M.34, is amended to read:
215.6 	325M.34 ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY.
215.7 	(a) The attorney general may investigate and bring an action against a social media 
215.8 	platform for an alleged violation of section 325M.33 or 325M.335.
215.9 	(b) Nothing in sections 325M.30 to 325M.34 creates a private cause of action in favor 
215.10 	of a person injured by a violation of section 325M.33.

215.11 	ARTICLE 14
215.12 	DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS

215.13	Section 1. HUMAN SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
215.14 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the 
215.15 	commissioner of human services for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations 
215.16 	are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years 
215.17 	indicated for each purpose. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this article mean that 
215.18 	the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, 
215.19 	or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year" is 
215.20 	fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

215.21				APPROPRIATIONS
	
215.22				Available for the Year
	
215.23				Ending June 30
	
215.24					2026
		2027

215.25
215.26	Sec. 2. COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN 
SERVICES
 	$
	2,865,264,000
	$
	2,954,103,000

215.27	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation

215.28	Appropriations by Fund
	
215.29		2026
	2027
	
215.30	General
	1,583,157,000
	1,795,469,000
	
215.31	Health Care Access
	1,282,107,000
	1,158,634,000
	
215.32 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
215.33 	purpose are specified in this article.

216.1	Subd. 2.Information Technology Appropriations
 					
216.2 	(a) IT appropriations generally. This 
216.3 	appropriation includes money for information 
216.4 	technology projects, services, and support. 
216.5 	Funding for information technology project 
216.6 	costs must be incorporated into the 
216.7 	service-level agreement and paid to Minnesota 
216.8 	IT Services by the Department of Human 
216.9 	Services under the rates and mechanism 
216.10 	specified in that agreement.
216.11 	(b) Receipts for systems project.
216.12 	Appropriations and federal receipts for 
216.13 	information technology systems projects for 
216.14 	MMIS and METS must be deposited in the 
216.15 	state systems account authorized in Minnesota 
216.16 	Statutes, section 256.014. Money appropriated 
216.17 	for information technology projects approved 
216.18 	by the commissioner of Minnesota IT 
216.19 	Services, funded by the legislature, and 
216.20 	approved by the commissioner of management 
216.21 	and budget may be transferred from one 
216.22 	project to another and from development to 
216.23 	operations as the commissioner of human 
216.24 	services deems necessary. Any unexpended 
216.25 	balance in the appropriation for these projects 
216.26 	does not cancel and is available for ongoing 
216.27 	development and operations.

216.28	Sec. 3. CENTRAL OFFICE; OPERATIONS
 	$
	232,000
	$
	73,000

216.29	Sec. 4. CENTRAL OFFICE; HEALTH CARE

216.30	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	3,964,000
	$
	24,131,000

216.31	Subd. 2.Base Level Adjustment
 					
216.32 	The base for this section is $44,158,000 in 
216.33 	fiscal year 2028 and $44,158,000 in fiscal year 
216.34 	2029.

217.1
217.2	Sec. 5. CENTRAL OFFICE; BEHAVIORAL 
HEALTH

217.3	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	-0-
	$
	741,000

217.4	Subd. 2.Base Level Adjustment
 					
217.5 	The base for this section is $768,000 in fiscal 
217.6 	year 2028 and $768,000 in fiscal year 2029.

217.7
217.8	Sec. 6. FORECASTED PROGRAMS; 
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

217.9	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	2,852,802,000
	$
	2,920,843,000

217.10	Appropriations by Fund
	
217.11	General
	1,574,160,000
	1,765,674,000
	
217.12	Health Care Access
	1,278,642,000
	1,155,169,000

217.13	Subd. 2.Base Level Adjustment
 					
217.14 	The health care access fund base for this 
217.15 	section is $1,157,833,000 in fiscal year 2028 
217.16 	and $1,176,922,000 in fiscal year 2029.

217.17
217.18	Sec. 7. FORECASTED PROGRAMS; 
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FUND
 	$
	-0-
	$
	39,000

217.19
217.20	Sec. 8. GRANT PROGRAMS; HEALTH CARE 
GRANTS
 	$
	8,276,000
	$
	8,276,000

217.21	Appropriations by Fund
	
217.22	General
	4,811,000
	4,811,000
	
217.23	Health Care Access
	3,465,000
	3,465,000

217.24 	Sec. 9. TRANSFERS.
 217.25 		Subdivision 1.Grants. The commissioner of human services, with the advance approval 
217.26 	of the commissioner of management and budget, may transfer unencumbered appropriation 
217.27 	balances for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, within fiscal years among general assistance, 
217.28 	medical assistance, MinnesotaCare, the Minnesota supplemental aid program, the housing 
217.29 	support program, and the entitlement portion of the behavioral health fund between fiscal 
217.30 	years of the biennium. The commissioner shall report to the chairs and ranking minority 
217.31 	members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services 
217.32 	quarterly about transfers made under this subdivision.
218.1 		Subd. 2.Administration. Positions, salary money, and nonsalary administrative money 
218.2 	may be transferred within the Department of Human Services as the commissioner deems 
218.3 	necessary, with the advance approval of the commissioner of management and budget. The 
218.4 	commissioner shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative 
218.5 	committees with jurisdiction over health and human services finance quarterly about transfers 
218.6 	made under this section.

218.7 	Sec. 10. GRANT ADMINISTRATION COSTS.
 218.8 	The administrative costs retention requirement under Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, 
218.9 	subdivision 14, is inapplicable to any appropriation in this article for a grant.

218.10 	Sec. 11. APPROPRIATIONS GIVEN EFFECT ONCE.
 218.11 	If an appropriation, cancellation, or transfer in this article is enacted more than once 
218.12 	during the 2025 regular session, the appropriation, cancellation, or transfer must be given 
218.13 	effect once.

218.14 	Sec. 12. EXPIRATION OF UNCODIFIED LANGUAGE.
 218.15 	All uncodified language contained in this article expires June 30, 2027, unless a different 
218.16 	expiration date is explicit or an appropriation is made available beyond June 30, 2027.

218.17 	ARTICLE 15
218.18 	DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS

218.19	Section 1. HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
218.20 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the 
218.21 	commissioner of health for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are 
218.22 	from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated 
218.23 	for each purpose. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this article mean that the 
218.24 	appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, or 
218.25 	June 30, 2027, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year" is fiscal 
218.26 	year 2027. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

218.27				APPROPRIATIONS
	
218.28				Available for the Year
	
218.29				Ending June 30
	
218.30					2026
		2027

218.31	Sec. 2. COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH
 	$
	413,509,000
	$
	410,880,000

219.1	Appropriations by Fund
	
219.2		2026
	2027
	
219.3	General
	265,883,000
	264,366,000
	
219.4
219.5	State Government 
Special Revenue
	81,148,000
	80,982,000
	
219.6	Health Care Access
	54,765,000
	53,819,000
	
219.7	Federal TANF
	11,713,000
	11,713,000
	
219.8 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
219.9 	purpose are specified in this article.

219.10	Sec. 3. HEALTH IMPROVEMENT

219.11	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	285,090,000
	$
	280,679,000

219.12	Appropriations by Fund
	
219.13	General
	210,765,000
	208,746,000
	
219.14
219.15	State Government 
Special Revenue
	9,258,000
	9,258,000
	
219.16	Health Care Access
	53,354,000
	50,962,000
	
219.17	Federal TANF
	11,713,000
	11,713,000

219.18
219.19	Subd. 2.Local and Tribal Public Health 
Cannabis and Substance Misuse Grant Program
 					
219.20 	$6,256,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $6,256,000 
219.21 	in fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund 
219.22 	for the local and Tribal public health cannabis 
219.23 	and substance misuse grant program under 
219.24 	Minnesota Statutes, section 144.197, 
219.25 	subdivision 4.

219.26
219.27
219.28	Subd. 3.Cannabis and Substance Misuse 
Prevention and Education Programs; Youth 
Prevention and Education Program
 					
219.29 	$4,410,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $4,360,000 
219.30 	in fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund 
219.31 	for the cannabis and substance misuse youth 
219.32 	prevention and education program under 
219.33 	Minnesota Statutes, section 144.197, 
219.34 	subdivision 1.

220.1	Subd. 4.Public Health Infrastructure Funds
 					
220.2 	$4,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $4,000,000 
220.3 	in fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund 
220.4 	to distribute to community health boards and 
220.5 	Tribal governments to support their ability to 
220.6 	meet national public health standards.

220.7
220.8	Subd. 5.Sexual and Reproductive Health 
Services Grant Program
 					
220.9 	$11,050,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
220.10 	$11,050,000 in fiscal year 2027 are from the 
220.11 	general fund for the sexual and reproductive 
220.12 	health services grant program under Minnesota 
220.13 	Statutes, section 145.925.

220.14
220.15	Subd. 6.Internal Policy to Promote Diversity, 
Equity, and Inclusion
 					
220.16 	The general fund appropriations in this section 
220.17 	include reductions of $337,000 in fiscal year 
220.18 	2026 and $337,000 in fiscal year 2027 for an 
220.19 	internal Department of Health policy to 
220.20 	promote diversity, equity, and inclusion 
220.21 	funded under Laws 2023, chapter 70.

220.22	Subd. 7.Partner Engagement and Staffing
 					
220.23 	The general fund appropriations in this section 
220.24 	include reductions of $110,000 in fiscal year 
220.25 	2026 and $110,000 in fiscal year 2027 for 
220.26 	partner engagement and staffing activities 
220.27 	funded under Laws 2023, chapter 70, and 
220.28 	Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 7.

220.29
220.30	Subd. 8.Development of Nonopioid Directive 
Form
 					
220.31 	$10,000 in fiscal year 2026 is from the general 
220.32 	fund for the development of a nonopioid 
220.33 	directive form under Minnesota Statutes, 
220.34 	section 145C.18, subdivision 5.

221.1	Subd. 9.Dementia Services Program
 					
221.2 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 in 
221.3 	fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund for 
221.4 	the dementia services program under 
221.5 	Minnesota Statutes, section 144.063.

221.6	Subd. 10.Opiate Antagonists at Tribal Colleges
 					
221.7 	$75,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $75,000 in 
221.8 	fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund to 
221.9 	make opiate antagonists available at Tribal 
221.10 	colleges under Minnesota Statutes, section 
221.11 	135A.1367, subdivision 3.

221.12
221.13	Subd. 11.Materials on Recognizing Signs of 
Physical Abuse in Infants
 					
221.14 	$55,000 in fiscal year 2026 is from the general 
221.15 	fund for the development of materials on 
221.16 	recognizing the signs of physical abuse in 
221.17 	infants under Minnesota Statutes, section 
221.18 	144.124, subdivision 2.

221.19	Subd. 12.Opioid Use Prevention and Education
 					
221.20 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 in 
221.21 	fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund for 
221.22 	a grant to Change the Outcome to provide:
221.23 	(1) data-centered learning opportunities on the 
221.24 	dangers of opioid use in middle and high 
221.25 	schools and communities in Minnesota;
221.26 	(2) instruction on prevention strategies, 
221.27 	assessing personal risk, and how to recognize 
221.28 	an overdose;
221.29 	(3) information on emerging drug trends 
221.30 	including but not limited to fentanyl, xylazine, 
221.31 	and pressed pills; and
221.32 	(4) access to resources, including support for 
221.33 	those struggling with substance use disorders.

222.1
222.2	Subd. 13.Guidelines for Social Media Mental 
Health Warning Labels
 					
222.3 	$45,000 in fiscal year 2026 is from the general 
222.4 	fund to develop and review guidelines for 
222.5 	social media mental health warning labels 
222.6 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 325M.335, 
222.7 	subdivision 2.

222.8	Subd. 14.TANF Appropriations
 					
222.9 	TANF funds must be used as follows:
222.10 	(1) $3,579,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
222.11 	$3,579,000 in fiscal year 2027 are from the 
222.12 	TANF fund for home visiting and nutritional 
222.13 	services listed under Minnesota Statutes, 
222.14 	section 145.882, subdivision 7, clauses (6) and 
222.15 	(7). Funds must be distributed to community 
222.16 	health boards according to Minnesota Statutes, 
222.17 	section 145A.131, subdivision 1;
222.18 	(2) $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
222.19 	$2,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are from the 
222.20 	TANF fund for decreasing racial and ethnic 
222.21 	disparities in infant mortality rates under 
222.22 	Minnesota Statutes, section 145.928, 
222.23 	subdivision 7;
222.24 	(3) $4,978,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
222.25 	$4,978,000 in fiscal year 2027 are from the 
222.26 	TANF fund for the family home visiting grant 
222.27 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
222.28 	145A.17. Of these amounts, $4,000,000 in 
222.29 	fiscal year 2026 and $4,000,000 in fiscal year 
222.30 	2027 must be distributed to community health 
222.31 	boards under Minnesota Statutes, section 
222.32 	145A.131, subdivision 1; and $978,000 in 
222.33 	fiscal year 2026 and $978,000 in fiscal year 
222.34 	2027 must be distributed to Tribal 
223.1 	governments under Minnesota Statutes, section 
223.2 	145A.14, subdivision 2a;
223.3 	(4) $1,156,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
223.4 	$1,156,000 in fiscal year 2027 are from the 
223.5 	TANF fund for sexual and reproductive health 
223.6 	services grants under Minnesota Statutes, 
223.7 	section 145.925; and
223.8 	(5) the commissioner may use up to 6.23 
223.9 	percent of the funds appropriated from the 
223.10 	TANF fund each fiscal year to conduct the 
223.11 	ongoing evaluations required under Minnesota 
223.12 	Statutes, section 145A.17, subdivision 7, and 
223.13 	training and technical assistance required 
223.14 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 145A.17, 
223.15 	subdivisions 4 and 5.

223.16	Subd. 15.TANF Carryforward
 					
223.17 	Any unexpended balance of the TANF 
223.18 	appropriation in the first year does not cancel 
223.19 	but is available in the second year.

223.20	Subd. 16.Base Level Adjustment
 					
223.21 	The general fund base for this section is 
223.22 	$207,520,000 in fiscal year 2028 and 
223.23 	$207,520,000 in fiscal year 2029.

223.24	Sec. 4. HEALTH PROTECTION

223.25	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	106,143,000
	$
	105,452,000

223.26	Appropriations by Fund
	
223.27	General
	34,253,000
	33,728,000
	
223.28
223.29	State Government 
Special Revenue
	71,890,000
	71,724,000

223.30
223.31	Subd. 2.Infectious Disease Prevention, Early 
Detection, and Outbreak Response
 					
223.32 	$1,300,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,300,000 
223.33 	in fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund 
224.1 	for infectious disease prevention, early 
224.2 	detection, and outbreak response activities 
224.3 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.05, 
224.4 	subdivision 1.

224.5
224.6	Subd. 3.Collaborative Funding for State and 
Outside Partners
 					
224.7 	The general fund appropriations in this section 
224.8 	include reductions of $30,000 in fiscal year 
224.9 	2026 and $30,000 in fiscal year 2027 for 
224.10 	collaborative funding for state and outside 
224.11 	partners funded under Laws 2023, chapter 70.

224.12
224.13	Subd. 4.Spoken Language Health Care 
Interpreter Work Group
 					
224.14 	$150,000 in fiscal year 2026 is from the 
224.15 	general fund for the spoken language health 
224.16 	care interpreter work group. This appropriation 
224.17 	is available until June 30, 2027.

224.18	Subd. 5.Base Level Adjustments
 					
224.19 	The general fund base for this section is 
224.20 	$33,683,000 in fiscal year 2028 and 
224.21 	$33,683,000 in fiscal year 2029. The state 
224.22 	government special revenue fund base for this 
224.23 	section is $71,735,000 in fiscal year 2028 and 
224.24 	$71,747,000 in fiscal year 2029.

224.25	Sec. 5. HEALTH OPERATIONS
 	$
	22,276,000
	$
	24,749,000

224.26	Appropriations by Fund
	
224.27	General
	20,865,000
	21,892,000
	
224.28	Health Care Access
	1,411,000
	2,857,000

224.29 	Sec. 6. TRANSFERS.
 224.30 	Positions, salary money, and nonsalary administrative money may be transferred within 
224.31 	the Department of Health as the commissioner deems necessary with the advance approval 
224.32 	of the commissioner of management and budget. The commissioner shall report to the chairs 
225.1 	and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health 
225.2 	finance quarterly about transfers made under this section.

225.3 	Sec. 7. INDIRECT COSTS NOT TO FUND PROGRAMS.
 225.4 	The commissioner of health shall not use indirect cost allocations to pay for the 
225.5 	operational costs of any program for which the commissioner is responsible.

225.6 	Sec. 8. GRANT ADMINISTRATION COSTS.
 225.7 	The administrative costs retention requirement under Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, 
225.8 	subdivision 14, is inapplicable to any appropriation in this article for a grant.

225.9 	Sec. 9. APPROPRIATIONS GIVEN EFFECT ONCE.
 225.10 	If an appropriation, cancellation, or transfer in this article is enacted more than once 
225.11 	during the 2025 regular session, the appropriation, cancellation, or transfer must be given 
225.12 	effect once.

225.13 	Sec. 10. EXPIRATION OF UNCODIFIED LANGUAGE.
 225.14 	All uncodified language contained in this article expires on June 30, 2027, unless a 
225.15 	different expiration date is explicit or an appropriation is made available after June 30, 2027.

225.16 	ARTICLE 16
225.17 	DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES
225.18 	APPROPRIATIONS

225.19	Section 1. CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
225.20 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the 
225.21 	commissioner of children, youth, and families for the purposes specified in this article. The 
225.22 	appropriations are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the 
225.23 	fiscal years indicated for each purpose. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this article 
225.24 	mean that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 
225.25 	30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second 
225.26 	year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

225.27				APPROPRIATIONS
	
225.28				Available for the Year
	
225.29				Ending June 30
	
225.30					2026
		2027

225.31	Sec. 2. TOTAL APPROPRIATION
 	$
	1,312,922,000
	$
	1,341,755,000

226.1	Appropriations by Fund
	
226.2		2026
	2027
	
226.3	General
	1,084,762,000
	1,093,133,000
	
226.4
226.5	State Government 
Special Revenue
	732,000
	732,000
	
226.6	Federal TANF
	227,428,000
	247,890,000
	
226.7 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
226.8 	purpose are specified in the following sections.

226.9	Sec. 3. TANF MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT

226.10	Subdivision 1.Nonfederal Expenditures
 					
226.11 	The commissioner shall ensure that sufficient 
226.12 	qualified nonfederal expenditures are made 
226.13 	each year to meet the state's maintenance of 
226.14 	effort requirements of the TANF block grant 
226.15 	specified under Code of Federal Regulations, 
226.16 	title 45, section 263.1. In order to meet these 
226.17 	basic TANF maintenance of effort 
226.18 	requirements, the commissioner may report 
226.19 	as TANF maintenance of effort expenditures 
226.20 	only nonfederal money expended for allowable 
226.21 	activities listed in the following clauses:
226.22 	(1) MFIP cash, diversionary work program, 
226.23 	and food assistance benefits under Minnesota 
226.24 	Statutes, chapter 142G;
226.25 	(2) the child care assistance programs under 
226.26 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 142E.04 and 
226.27 	142E.08, and county child care administrative 
226.28 	costs under Minnesota Statutes, section 
226.29 	142E.02, subdivision 9;
226.30 	(3) state and county MFIP administrative costs 
226.31 	under Minnesota Statutes, chapters 142G and 
226.32 	256K;
227.1 	(4) state, county, and Tribal MFIP 
227.2 	employment services under Minnesota 
227.3 	Statutes, chapters 142G and 256K;
227.4 	(5) expenditures made on behalf of legal 
227.5 	noncitizen MFIP recipients who qualify for 
227.6 	the MinnesotaCare program under Minnesota 
227.7 	Statutes, chapter 256L;
227.8 	(6) qualifying working family credit 
227.9 	expenditures under Minnesota Statutes, section 
227.10 	290.0671, and child tax credit expenditures 
227.11 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 290.0661;
227.12 	(7) qualifying Minnesota education credit 
227.13 	expenditures under Minnesota Statutes, section 
227.14 	290.0674; and
227.15 	(8) qualifying Head Start expenditures under 
227.16 	Minnesota Statutes, section 142D.12.

227.17	Subd. 2.Nonfederal Expenditures; Reporting
 					
227.18 	For the activities listed in subdivision 1, 
227.19 	clauses (2) to (8), the commissioner may 
227.20 	report only expenditures that are excluded 
227.21 	from the definition of assistance under Code 
227.22 	of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 
227.23 	260.31.

227.24	Subd. 3.Supplemental Expenditures
 					
227.25 	For the purposes of this section, the 
227.26 	commissioner may supplement the 
227.27 	maintenance of effort claim with working 
227.28 	family credit expenditures or other qualified 
227.29 	expenditures to the extent such expenditures 
227.30 	are otherwise available after considering the 
227.31 	expenditures allowed in this section.

228.1	Subd. 4.Reduction of Appropriations; Exception
 					
228.2 	The requirement in Minnesota Statutes, section 
228.3 	142A.06, subdivision 3, that federal grants or 
228.4 	aids secured or obtained under that subdivision 
228.5 	be used to reduce any direct appropriations 
228.6 	provided by law does not apply if the grants 
228.7 	or aids are federal TANF funds.

228.8	Subd. 5.IT Appropriations Generally
 					
228.9 	This appropriation includes funds for 
228.10 	information technology projects, services, and 
228.11 	support. Funding for information technology 
228.12 	project costs must be incorporated into the 
228.13 	service level agreement and paid to Minnesota 
228.14 	IT Services by the Department of Children, 
228.15 	Youth, and Families under the rates and 
228.16 	mechanism specified in that agreement.

228.17	Subd. 6.Receipts for Systems Project
 					
228.18 	Appropriations and federal receipts for 
228.19 	information technology systems projects for 
228.20 	MAXIS, PRISM, MMIS, ISDS, METS, and 
228.21 	SSIS must be deposited in the state systems 
228.22 	account authorized in Minnesota Statutes, 
228.23 	section 142A.04. Money appropriated for 
228.24 	information technology projects approved by 
228.25 	the commissioner of Minnesota IT Services 
228.26 	funded by the legislature, and approved by the 
228.27 	commissioner of management and budget may 
228.28 	be transferred from one project to another and 
228.29 	from development to operations as the 
228.30 	commissioner of children, youth, and families 
228.31 	considers necessary. Any unexpended balance 
228.32 	in the appropriation for these projects does not 
228.33 	cancel and is available for ongoing 
228.34 	development and operations.

229.1
229.2	Subd. 7.Federal SNAP Education and Training 
Grants
 					
229.3 	Federal funds available during fiscal years 
229.4 	2026 and 2027 for Supplemental Nutrition 
229.5 	Assistance Program Education and Training 
229.6 	and SNAP Quality Control Performance 
229.7 	Bonus grants are appropriated to the 
229.8 	commissioner of human services for the 
229.9 	purposes allowable under the terms of the 
229.10 	federal award. This subdivision is effective 
229.11 	the day following final enactment.

229.12
229.13	Sec. 4. CENTRAL OFFICE; AGENCY 
SUPPORTS

229.14	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	138,708,000
	$
	102,070,000

229.15	Appropriations by Fund
	
229.16		2026
	2027
	
229.17	General
	137,876,000
	101,238,000
	
229.18
229.19	State Government 
Special Revenue
	732,000
	732,000
	
229.20	Federal TANF
	100,000
	100,000

229.21	Subd. 2.Information Technology
 					
229.22 	$40,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is for 
229.23 	information technology improvements to 
229.24 	SSIS. The appropriation must be used to 
229.25 	develop and implement a modernization plan 
229.26 	for SSIS that addresses priorities established 
229.27 	through collaborative planning with counties 
229.28 	and Tribal Nations that use SSIS. Priorities 
229.29 	must take into consideration available funding 
229.30 	and have a direct impact on child welfare 
229.31 	casework. The appropriation must not be used 
229.32 	for changes to SSIS that are not part of the 
229.33 	child welfare modernization plan. This is a 
229.34 	onetime appropriation.

230.1	Subd. 3.Base Level Adjustment
 					
230.2 	The general fund base is $95,066,000 in fiscal 
230.3 	year 2028 and $95,066,000 in fiscal year 2029.

230.4
230.5	Sec. 5. CENTRAL OFFICE; CHILD SAFETY 
AND PERMANENCY
 	$
	17,232,000
	$
	16,945,000

230.6
230.7	Sec. 6. CENTRAL OFFICE; EARLY 
CHILDHOOD
 	$
	17,212,000
	$
	13,337,000

230.8
230.9	Subdivision 1.Child Care Attendance and 
Record-Keeping System
 					
230.10 	$5,555,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,639,000 
230.11 	in fiscal year 2027 are to develop a statewide 
230.12 	electronic attendance and record-keeping 
230.13 	system for the child care assistance program. 
230.14 	The system must provide the commissioner, 
230.15 	county agencies, and Tribal Nations that 
230.16 	administer the program with real-time access 
230.17 	to electronic attendance records to verify 
230.18 	children's enrollment in the program. This is 
230.19 	a onetime appropriation.

230.20	Subd. 2.Base Level Adjustment
 					
230.21 	The general fund base is $11,698,000 in fiscal 
230.22 	year 2028 and $11,698,000 in fiscal year 2029.

230.23
230.24	Sec. 7. CENTRAL OFFICE; ECONOMIC 
OPPORTUNITIES AND YOUTH SERVICES
 	$
	3,852,000
	$
	3,562,000

230.25
230.26	Sec. 8. CENTRAL OFFICE; FAMILY 
WELL-BEING
 	$
	14,147,000
	$
	14,147,000

230.27	Appropriations by Fund
	
230.28		2026
	2027
	
230.29	General
	10,471,000
	10,471,000
	
230.30	Federal TANF
	3,676,000
	3,676,000

230.31
230.32	Sec. 9. FORECASTED PROGRAMS; 
MFIP/DWP
 	$
	230,473,000
	$
	268,167,000

230.33	Appropriations by Fund
	
230.34		2026
	2027
	
231.1	General
	103,272,000
	120,504,000
	
231.2	Federal TANF
	127,201,000
	147,663,000

231.3
231.4	Sec. 10. FORECASTED PROGRAMS; MFIP 
CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE
 	$
	100,244,000
	$
	137,333,000

231.5
231.6	Sec. 11. FORECASTED PROGRAMS; 
NORTHSTAR CARE FOR CHILDREN
 	$
	110,214,000
	$
	116,160,000

231.7
231.8	Sec. 12. GRANT PROGRAMS; SUPPORT 
SERVICES GRANTS
 	$
	111,359,000
	$
	111,359,000

231.9	Appropriations by Fund
	
231.10		2026
	2027
	
231.11	General
	14,908,000
	14,908,000
	
231.12	Federal TANF
	96,451,000
	96,451,000

231.13
231.14
231.15	Sec. 13. GRANT PROGRAMS; BASIC 
SLIDING FEE CHILD ASSISTANCE CARE 
GRANTS
 	$
	137,768,000
	$
	135,212,000

231.16
231.17	Sec. 14. GRANT PROGRAMS; CHILD CARE 
DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
 	$
	139,319,000
	$
	138,819,000
	
231.18 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2026 is from the 
231.19 	general fund for child care provider access to 
231.20 	technology grants under Minnesota Statutes, 
231.21 	section 142D.23, subdivision 3, clause (5). 
231.22 	This appropriation is available until fiscal year 
231.23 	2029.

231.24
231.25	Sec. 15. GRANT PROGRAMS; CHILD 
SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT GRANTS
 	$
	50,000
	$
	50,000

231.26
231.27	Sec. 16. GRANT PROGRAMS; CHILDREN'S 
SERVICES GRANTS
 	$
	43,204,000
	$
	43,205,000
	
231.28 	The commissioner shall allocate funds from 
231.29 	the state's savings from the Fostering 
231.30 	Connections to Success and Increasing 
231.31 	Adoptions Act's expanded eligibility for Title 
231.32 	IV-E adoption assistance as required in 
231.33 	Minnesota Statutes, section 142A.61, and as 
231.34 	allowable under federal law. Additional 
231.35 	savings to the state as a result of the Fostering 
231.36 	Connections to Success and Increasing 
232.1 	Adoptions Act's expanded eligibility for Title 
232.2 	IV-E adoption assistance is for postadoption, 
232.3 	foster care, adoption, and kinship services, 
232.4 	including a parent-to-parent support network 
232.5 	and as allowable under federal law.

232.6
232.7	Sec. 17. GRANT PROGRAMS; CHILDREN 
AND COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS
 	$
	87,984,000
	$
	87,984,000

232.8
232.9	Sec. 18. GRANT PROGRAMS; CHILDREN 
AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT GRANTS
 	$
	14,327,000
	$
	12,426,000

232.10	Subdivision 1.FAIM
 					
232.11 	$209,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $210,000 in 
232.12 	fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund for 
232.13 	the family assets for independence program. 
232.14 	This is a onetime appropriation and is 
232.15 	available until fiscal year 2029.

232.16
232.17	Subd. 2.American Indian Food Sovereignty 
Funding Program
 					
232.18 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2026 is for the 
232.19 	American Indian food sovereignty funding 
232.20 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
232.21 	142F.15. This is a onetime appropriation and 
232.22 	is available until June 30, 2027.

232.23	Subd. 3.Minnesota Food Shelf Program
 					
232.24 	$451,000 in fiscal year 2026 is for the 
232.25 	Minnesota food shelf program under 
232.26 	Minnesota Statutes, section 142F.14. This is 
232.27 	a onetime appropriation.

232.28	Subd. 4.Prepared Meals Food Relief
 					
232.29 	$451,000 in fiscal year 2026 is for prepared 
232.30 	meals food relief grants under Laws 2023, 
232.31 	chapter 70, article 12, section 33. This is a 
232.32 	onetime appropriation.

233.1	Subd. 5.Minnesota Food Bank Program
 					
233.2 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2026 is for Minnesota's 
233.3 	regional food banks with an annual operating 
233.4 	budget of less than $100,000,000 that the 
233.5 	commissioner contracts with for the purposes 
233.6 	of the emergency food assistance program 
233.7 	(TEFAP). The commissioner shall distribute 
233.8 	funding under this paragraph in accordance 
233.9 	with the federal TEFAP formula and 
233.10 	guidelines of the United States Department of 
233.11 	Agriculture. Funding must be used to purchase 
233.12 	food that will be distributed free of charge to 
233.13 	TEFAP partner agencies. Funding must also 
233.14 	cover the handling and delivery fees typically 
233.15 	paid by food shelves to food banks to ensure 
233.16 	that costs associated with funding under this 
233.17 	paragraph are not incurred at the local level. 
233.18 	This is a onetime appropriation.

233.19	Subd. 6.Base Level Adjustment
 					
233.20 	The general fund base is $12,216,000 in fiscal 
233.21 	year 2028 and $12,216,000 in fiscal year 2029.

233.22
233.23	Sec. 19. GRANT PROGRAMS; EARLY 
LEARNING GRANTS
 	$
	138,688,000
	$
	132,838,000

233.24
233.25	Sec. 20. GRANT PROGRAMS; YOUTH 
SERVICES GRANTS
 	$
	8,141,000
	$
	8,141,000

233.26
233.27	Subdivision 1.Restorative Practices Initiative 
Grant
 					
233.28 	$1,750,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,750,000 
233.29 	in fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund 
233.30 	for restorative practices initiative grants. The 
233.31 	general fund base for this appropriation is 
233.32 	$2,500,000 in fiscal year 2028 and $2,500,000 
233.33 	in fiscal year 2029.

234.1	Subd. 2.Base Level Adjustment
 					
234.2 	The general fund base is $8,891,000 in fiscal 
234.3 	year 2028 and $8,891,000 in fiscal year 2029.

234.4	Sec. 21. TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES
 	$
	74,493,000
	$
	74,493,000
	
234.5 	This appropriation is from the federal TANF 
234.6 	fund.

234.7 	Sec. 22. APPROPRIATIONS; FOOD ASSISTANCE.
 234.8 	(a) $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
234.9 	commissioner of children, youth, and families for food shelf programs under Minnesota 
234.10 	Statutes, section 142F.14. This is a onetime emergency appropriation with the intent to 
234.11 	distribute as quickly as possible and is available until June 30, 2026.
234.12 	(b) $500,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
234.13 	of children, youth, and families for the American Indian food sovereignty funding program 
234.14 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 142F.15. This is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding 
234.15 	Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, subdivision 3, this appropriation is available until June 
234.16 	30, 2026.
234.17 	(c) $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
234.18 	commissioner of children, youth, and families for contracts with Minnesota's regional food 
234.19 	banks with an annual operating budget of less than $100,000,000 for the purposes of The 
234.20 	Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The commissioner shall distribute the food 
234.21 	bank funding under this paragraph in accordance with the federal TEFAP formula and 
234.22 	guidelines of the United States Department of Agriculture. Funding must be used by all 
234.23 	regional food banks to purchase food that will be distributed free of charge to TEFAP partner 
234.24 	agencies. Funding must also cover the handling and delivery fees typically paid by food 
234.25 	shelves to food banks to ensure that costs associated with funding under this paragraph are 
234.26 	not incurred at the local level. Funding distributed under this paragraph must not be used 
234.27 	for food bank administrative costs. This is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding 
234.28 	Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, subdivision 3, this appropriation is available until June 
234.29 	30, 2026.

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

235.1 	Sec. 23. Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 20, section 8, is amended to read:

235.2
235.3	Sec. 8. OFFICE OF THE FOSTER YOUTH 
OMBUDSPERSON
 	$
	842,000
	$
	759,000
	
235.4 	This appropriation is available until June 30, 
235.5 	2027.

235.6 	Sec. 24. CANCELLATIONS.
 235.7 		Subdivision 1.Child welfare initiative grants. $5,294,000 of the fiscal year 2025 
235.8 	general fund appropriation in Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 20, section 2, subdivision 22, 
235.9 	paragraph (b), is canceled to the general fund.
235.10 		Subd. 2.Establishing the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. $8,500,000 
235.11 	of the fiscal year 2024 general fund appropriation in Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 20, 
235.12 	section 12, paragraph (b), is canceled to the general fund.
235.13 		Subd. 3.Social service information system technology improvements. $5,059,000 
235.14 	of the fiscal year 2024 general fund appropriation in Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 20, 
235.15 	section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (g), is canceled to the general fund.

235.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment, or 
235.17 	retroactively from June 30, 2025, whichever is earlier.

235.18 	Sec. 25. TRANSFERS.
 235.19 		Subdivision 1.Programs and grants. The commissioner of children, youth, and families, 
235.20 	with the approval of the commissioner of management and budget, may transfer 
235.21 	unencumbered appropriation balances for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, within fiscal 
235.22 	years among MFIP; MFIP child care assistance under Minnesota Statutes, section 142E.08; 
235.23 	the entitlement portion of Northstar Care for Children under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
235.24 	142A.60 to 142A.612; and early childhood family education under Minnesota Statutes, 
235.25 	section 142D.11, between fiscal years of the biennium. The commissioner shall inform the 
235.26 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
235.27 	children and families finance and policy quarterly about transfers made under this 
235.28 	subdivision.
235.29 		Subd. 2.Administration. Positions, salary money, and nonsalary administrative money 
235.30 	may be transferred within the Department of Children, Youth, and Families as the 
235.31 	commissioners deem necessary, with the advance approval of the commissioner of 
235.32 	management and budget. The commissioners shall report to the chairs and ranking minority 
236.1 	members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over children and families finance 
236.2 	quarterly about transfers made under this subdivision.
236.3 		Subd. 3.Interdepartmental transfers. Administrative money may be transferred 
236.4 	between the Department of Children, Youth, and Families and Department of Human 
236.5 	Services or the Department of Education as the commissioners deem necessary, with the 
236.6 	advance approval of the commissioner of management and budget. The commissioners 
236.7 	shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with 
236.8 	jurisdiction over children and families finance and policy quarterly about transfers made 
236.9 	under this subdivision.

236.10 	Sec. 26. EXPIRATION OF UNCODIFIED LANGUAGE.
 236.11 	All uncodified language contained in this article expires on June 30, 2027, unless a 
236.12 	different expiration date is explicit or an appropriation is made available beyond June 30, 
236.13 	2027.

236.14 	Sec. 27. APPROPRIATIONS GIVEN EFFECT ONCE.
 236.15 	If an appropriation, transfer, or cancellation in this article is enacted more than once 
236.16 	during the 2025 regular session, the appropriation, transfer, or cancellation must be given 
236.17 	effect once.

236.18 	ARTICLE 17
236.19 	OTHER AGENCY HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS

236.20	Section 1. OTHER AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
236.21 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies 
236.22 	and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the general fund, 
236.23 	or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. 
236.24 	The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under 
236.25 	them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. 
236.26 	"The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" 
236.27 	is fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

236.28				APPROPRIATIONS
	
236.29				Available for the Year
	
236.30				Ending June 30
	
236.31					2026
		2027

236.32	Sec. 2. HEALTH-RELATED BOARDS

236.33	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	34,630,000
	$
	34,511,000

237.1	Appropriations by Fund
	
237.2		2026
	2027
	
237.3	General
	643,000
	643,000
	
237.4
237.5	State Government 
Special Revenue
	33,987,000
	33,868,000
	
237.6 	These amounts are appropriated from the state 
237.7 	government special revenue fund, unless 
237.8 	specified otherwise, for the purposes specified 
237.9 	in the following subdivisions.

237.10
237.11	Subd. 2.Board of Behavioral Health and 
Therapy
 		1,289,000
		1,289,000

237.12	Subd. 3.Board of Chiropractic Examiners
 		890,000
		890,000

237.13	Subd. 4.Board of Dentistry
 		4,308,000
		4,310,000
	
237.14 	(a) Administrative services unit; operating 
237.15 	costs. Of this appropriation, $1,936,000 in 
237.16 	fiscal year 2026 and $1,936,000 in fiscal year 
237.17 	2027 are for operating costs of the 
237.18 	administrative services unit. The 
237.19 	administrative services unit may receive and 
237.20 	expend reimbursements for services it 
237.21 	performs for other agencies.
237.22 	(b) Administrative services unit; volunteer 
237.23 	health care provider program. Of this 
237.24 	appropriation, $150,000 in fiscal year 2026 
237.25 	and $150,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to pay 
237.26 	for medical professional liability coverage 
237.27 	required under Minnesota Statutes, section 
237.28 	214.40.
237.29 	(c) Administrative services unit; retirement 
237.30 	costs. Of this appropriation, $237,000 in fiscal 
237.31 	year 2026 and $237,000 in fiscal year 2027 
237.32 	are for the administrative services unit to pay 
237.33 	for the retirement costs of health-related board 
237.34 	employees. This funding may be transferred 
237.35 	to the health board incurring retirement costs. 
238.1 	Any board that has an unexpended balance for 
238.2 	an amount transferred under this paragraph 
238.3 	shall transfer the unexpended amount to the 
238.4 	administrative services unit. If the amount 
238.5 	appropriated in the first year of the biennium 
238.6 	is not sufficient, the amount from the second 
238.7 	year of the biennium is available.
238.8 	(d) Administrative services unit; contested 
238.9 	cases and other legal proceedings. Of this 
238.10 	appropriation, $200,000 in fiscal year 2026 
238.11 	and $200,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for costs 
238.12 	of contested case hearings and other 
238.13 	unanticipated costs of legal proceedings 
238.14 	involving health-related boards under this 
238.15 	section. Upon certification by a health-related 
238.16 	board to the administrative services unit that 
238.17 	unanticipated costs for legal proceedings will 
238.18 	be incurred and that available appropriations 
238.19 	are insufficient to pay for the unanticipated 
238.20 	costs for that board, the administrative services 
238.21 	unit is authorized to transfer money from this 
238.22 	appropriation to the board for payment of costs 
238.23 	for contested case hearings and other 
238.24 	unanticipated costs of legal proceedings with 
238.25 	the approval of the commissioner of 
238.26 	management and budget. The commissioner 
238.27 	of management and budget must require any 
238.28 	board that has an unexpended balance or an 
238.29 	amount transferred under this paragraph to 
238.30 	transfer the unexpended amount to the 
238.31 	administrative services unit to be deposited in 
238.32 	the state government special revenue fund.

238.33
238.34	Subd. 5.Board of Dietetics and Nutrition 
Practice
 		277,000
		277,000

238.35
238.36	Subd. 6.Board of Executives for Long-term 
Services and Supports
 		736,000
		736,000

239.1	Subd. 7.Board of Marriage and Family Therapy
 		457,000
		457,000

239.2	Subd. 8.Board of Medical Practice
 		6,196,000
		6,141,000
	
239.3 	Base Level Adjustment. The state 
239.4 	government special revenue fund base for this 
239.5 	subdivision is $6,132,000 in fiscal year 2028 
239.6 	and $6,132,000 in fiscal year 2029.

239.7	Subd. 9.Board of Nursing
 		6,275,000
		6,275,000

239.8
239.9	Subd. 10.Board of Occupational Therapy 
Practice
 		560,000
		560,000

239.10	Subd. 11.Board of Optometry
 		280,000
		280,000

239.11	Subd. 12.Board of Pharmacy

239.12	Appropriations by Fund
	
239.13	General
	643,000
	643,000
	
239.14
239.15	State Government 
Special Revenue
	6,280,000
	6,280,000
	
239.16 	(a) Medication Repository Program.
239.17 	$175,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $175,000 in 
239.18 	fiscal year 2027 are from the general fund for 
239.19 	the medication repository program under 
239.20 	Minnesota Statutes, section 151.555. The 
239.21 	general fund base for this appropriation is 
239.22 	$450,000 in fiscal year 2028 and $450,000 in 
239.23 	fiscal year 2029.
239.24 	(b) Base Level Adjustments. The general 
239.25 	fund base for this subdivision is $918,000 in 
239.26 	fiscal year 2028 and $918,000 in fiscal year 
239.27 	2029.

239.28	Subd. 13.Board of Physical Therapy
 		789,000
		789,000

239.29	Subd. 14.Board of Podiatric Medicine
 		257,000
		257,000

239.30	Subd. 15.Board of Psychology
 		2,781,000
		2,781,000
	
239.31 	Health Professionals Services Program.
239.32 	$1,324,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,324,000 
240.1 	in fiscal year 2027 are for the health 
240.2 	professionals services program.

240.3	Subd. 16.Board of Social Work
 		2,068,000
		2,002,000
	
240.4 	Base Level Adjustments. The state 
240.5 	government special revenue fund base for this 
240.6 	subdivision is $2,022,000 in fiscal year 2028 
240.7 	and $2,022,000 in fiscal year 2029.

240.8	Subd. 17.Board of Veterinary Medicine
 		544,000
		544,000

240.9240.10
	Sec. 3. OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL 
SERVICES
 	$
	22,168,000
	$
	20,631,000

240.11
240.12	Subdivision 1.Ambulance Operating Deficit 
Grant Program
 					
240.13 	$9,916,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $9,916,000 
240.14 	in fiscal year 2027 are for the ambulance 
240.15 	operating deficit grant program under 
240.16 	Minnesota Statutes, section 144E.54. The base 
240.17 	for this appropriation is $9,516,000 in fiscal 
240.18 	year 2028 and $9,516,000 in fiscal year 2029.

240.19
240.20	Subd. 2.Rural EMS Uncompensated Care Pool 
Payment Program
 					
240.21 	$5,239,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $5,267,000 
240.22 	in fiscal year 2027 are for the rural EMS 
240.23 	uncompensated care pool payment program 
240.24 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 144E.55. 
240.25 	The base for this appropriation is $4,978,000 
240.26 	in fiscal year 2028 and $4,978,000 in fiscal 
240.27 	year 2029.

240.28	Subd. 3.Base Level Adjustments
 					
240.29 	The base for this section is $19,942,000 in 
240.30 	fiscal year 2028 and $19,942,000 in fiscal year 
240.31 	2029.

240.32
240.33	Sec. 4. RARE DISEASE ADVISORY 
COUNCIL
 	$
	674,000
	$
	679,000

240.34	Sec. 5. BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MNSURE
 	$
	70,000
	$
	70,000

241.1 	Sec. 6. Laws 2024, chapter 127, article 67, section 4, is amended to read:

241.2	Sec. 4. BOARD OF PHARMACY

241.3	Appropriations by Fund
	
241.4	General
	1,500,000
	-0-
	
241.5
241.6	State Government 
Special Revenue
	-0-
	27,000
	
241.7 	(a) Legal Costs. $1,500,000 in fiscal year 
241.8 	2024 is from the general fund for legal costs. 
241.9 	This is a onetime appropriation and is 
241.10 	available until June 30, 2027.
241.11 	(b) Base Level Adjustment. The state 
241.12 	government special revenue fund base is 
241.13 	increased by $27,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
241.14 	increased by $27,000 in fiscal year 2027.

241.15 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective June 30, 2025.

241.16 	Sec. 7. GRANT ADMINISTRATION COSTS.
 241.17 	The administrative costs retention requirement under Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, 
241.18 	subdivision 14, is inapplicable to any appropriation in this article for a grant.

241.19 	Sec. 8. APPROPRIATIONS GIVEN EFFECT ONCE.
 241.20 	If an appropriation, cancellation, or transfer in this article is enacted more than once 
241.21 	during the 2025 regular session, the appropriation, cancellation, or transfer must be given 
241.22 	effect once.

241.23 	Sec. 9. EXPIRATION OF UNCODIFIED LANGUAGE.
 241.24 	All uncodified language contained in this article expires June 30, 2027, unless a different 
241.25 	expiration date is explicit or an appropriation is made available after June 30, 2027.

241.26 	ARTICLE 18
241.27 	OTHER AGENCY CHILDREN APPROPRIATIONS

241.28	Section 1. OTHER AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
241.29 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies 
241.30 	and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the general fund, 
242.1 	or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. 
242.2 	The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under 
242.3 	them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. 
242.4 	"The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" 
242.5 	is fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

242.6				APPROPRIATIONS
	
242.7				Available for the Year
	
242.8				Ending June 30
	
242.9					2026
		2027

242.10	Sec. 2. OMBUDSPERSON FOR FAMILIES
 	$
	792,000
	$
	808,000

242.11
242.12	Sec. 3. OMBUDSPERSON FOR AMERICAN 
INDIAN FAMILIES
 	$
	344,000
	$
	347,000

242.13
242.14	Sec. 4. OFFICE OF THE FOSTER YOUTH 
OMBUDSPERSON
 	$
	772,000
	$
	785,000

242.15	Sec. 5. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 	$
	7,950,000
	$
	7,950,000

242.16 	Sec. 6. EXPIRATION OF UNCODIFIED LANGUAGE.
 242.17 	All uncodified language contained in this article expires on June 30, 2027, unless a 
242.18 	different expiration date is explicit or an appropriation is made available beyond June 30, 
242.19 	2027.

242.20 	Sec. 7. APPROPRIATIONS GIVEN EFFECT ONCE.
 242.21 	If an appropriation, transfer, or cancellation in this article is enacted more than once 
242.22 	during the 2025 regular session, the appropriation, transfer, or cancellation must be given 
242.23 	effect once.

	ARTICLE 1	DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FINANCE........	Page.Ln 2.8	
	ARTICLE 2	DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH POLICY........	Page.Ln 19.1	
	ARTICLE 3	HEALTH LICENSING BOARDS........	Page.Ln 24.1	
	ARTICLE 4	PHARMACY BENEFITS........	Page.Ln 31.4	
	ARTICLE 5	HEALTH CARE FINANCE........	Page.Ln 43.12	
	ARTICLE 6	OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES........	Page.Ln 88.14	
	ARTICLE 7	ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE........	Page.Ln 92.1	
	ARTICLE 8	CHILD PROTECTION AND WELFARE POLICY........	Page.Ln 94.1	
	ARTICLE 9	CHILD PROTECTION AND WELFARE FINANCE........	Page.Ln 145.3	
	ARTICLE 10	EARLY CARE AND LEARNING POLICY........	Page.Ln 166.14	
	ARTICLE 11	EARLY CARE AND LEARNING FINANCE........	Page.Ln 168.26	
	ARTICLE 12	DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIESLICENSING AND CERTIFICATION POLICY........	Page.Ln 187.1	
	ARTICLE 13	MISCELLANEOUS........	Page.Ln 207.10	
	ARTICLE 14	DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS........	Page.Ln 215.11	
	ARTICLE 15	DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS........	Page.Ln 218.17	
	ARTICLE 16	DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES APPROPRIATIONS........	Page.Ln 225.16	
	ARTICLE 17	OTHER AGENCY HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS........	Page.Ln 236.18	
	ARTICLE 18	OTHER AGENCY CHILDREN APPROPRIATIONS........	Page.Ln 241.26	

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: H2435-3 

145.361 LONG COVID AND RELATED CONDITIONS; ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING.Subdivision 1.Definitions. 
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given. 

(b) "Long COVID" means health problems that people experience four or more weeks after being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Long COVID is also called post-COVID conditions, long-haul COVID, chronic COVID, post-acute COVID, or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). 

(c) "Related conditions" means conditions associated with or sequelae of long COVID, including but not limited to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and dysautonomia, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). 

Subd. 2.Establishment. 
The commissioner of health shall establish a program to conduct community assessments and epidemiologic investigations to monitor and address impacts of long COVID and related conditions. The purposes of these activities are to: 

(1) monitor trends in: incidence, prevalence, mortality, and health outcomes; changes in disability status, employment, and quality of life; and service needs of individuals with long COVID or related conditions and to detect potential public health problems, predict risks, and assist in investigating long COVID and related conditions health inequities; 

(2) more accurately target information and resources for communities and patients and their families; 

(3) inform health professionals and citizens about risks and early detection; 

(4) promote evidence-based practices around long COVID and related conditions prevention and management and to address public concerns and questions about long COVID and related conditions; and 

(5) research and track related conditions. 

Subd. 3.Partnerships. 
The commissioner of health shall, in consultation with health care professionals, the commissioner of human services, local public health entities, health insurers, employers, schools, survivors of long COVID or related conditions, and community organizations serving people at high risk of long COVID or related conditions, identify priority actions and activities to address the needs for communication, services, resources, tools, strategies, and policies to support survivors of long COVID or related conditions and their families. 

Subd. 4.Grants and contracts. 
The commissioner of health shall coordinate and collaborate with community and organizational partners to implement evidence-informed priority actions through community-based grants and contracts. The commissioner of health shall award grants and enter into contracts to organizations that serve communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, long COVID, or related conditions, including but not limited to rural and low-income areas, Black and African Americans, African immigrants, American Indians, Asian American-Pacific Islanders, Latino(a) communities, LGBTQ+ communities, and persons with living disabilities. Organizations may also address intersectionality within the groups. The commissioner shall award grants and award contracts to eligible organizations to plan, construct, and disseminate resources and information to support survivors of long COVID or related conditions, including caregivers, health care providers, ancillary health care workers, workplaces, schools, communities, and local and Tribal public health. 

256B.0625 COVERED SERVICES.Subd. 18b.Broker dispatching prohibition. 
Except for establishing level of service process, the commissioner shall not use a broker or coordinator for any purpose related to nonemergency medical transportation services under subdivision 18. 

Subd. 18e.Single administrative structure and delivery system. 
 The commissioner, in coordination with the commissioner of transportation, shall implement a single administrative structure and delivery system for nonemergency medical transportation, beginning the latter of the date the single administrative assessment tool required in this subdivision is available for use, as determined by the commissioner or by July 1, 2016. 

In coordination with the Department of Transportation, the commissioner shall develop and authorize a web-based single administrative structure and assessment tool, which must operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to facilitate the enrollee assessment process for nonemergency medical transportation services. The web-based tool shall facilitate the transportation eligibility determination process initiated by clients and client advocates; shall include an accessible automated intake and assessment process and real-time identification of level of service eligibility; and shall authorize an appropriate and auditable mode of transportation authorization. The tool shall provide a single framework for reconciling trip information with claiming and collecting complaints regarding inappropriate level of need determinations, inappropriate transportation modes utilized, and interference with accessing nonemergency medical transportation. The web-based single administrative structure shall operate on a trial basis for one year from implementation and, if approved by the commissioner, shall be permanent thereafter. 

Subd. 18h.Nonemergency medical transportation provisions related to managed care. 
(a) The following nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) subdivisions apply to managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans: 

(1) subdivision 17, paragraphs (a), (b), (i), and (n); 

(2) subdivision 18; and 

(3) subdivision 18a. 

(b) A nonemergency medical transportation provider must comply with the operating standards for special transportation service specified in sections 174.29 to 174.30 and Minnesota Rules, chapter 8840. Publicly operated transit systems, volunteers, and not-for-hire vehicles are exempt from the requirements in this paragraph. 

(c) Managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans must provide a fuel adjustment for NEMT rates when fuel exceeds $3 per gallon. If, for any contract year, federal approval is not received for this paragraph, the commissioner must adjust the capitation rates paid to managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans for that contract year to reflect the removal of this provision. Contracts between managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans and providers to whom this paragraph applies must allow recovery of payments from those providers if capitation rates are adjusted in accordance with this paragraph. Payment recoveries must not exceed the amount equal to any increase in rates that results from this paragraph. This paragraph expires if federal approval is not received for this paragraph at any time. 

Repealed Minnesota Session Laws: H2435-3 

Laws 2023, chapter 70, article 16, section 22
Sec. 22. WAIVER SUBMITTAL. 
(a) The commissioner of commerce is authorized to perform the steps necessary to submit a 1332 waiver application, including but not limited to submitting the waiver application and all other steps necessary to complete the waiver application process, based on the final recommendation of the commissioner of commerce under section 21 if the legislature does not enact a law by June 1, 2024, modifying the:  

(1) recommendation under section 21; or  

(2) commissioner of commerce's authority under this section.  

(b) Upon receipt of a federal waiver and the enactment of any necessary legislation, the commissioner of commerce shall implement a public option to be made available to consumers beginning January 1, 2027. 

(c) In implementing this section, the commissioner of commerce shall consult with the commissioners of human services and health and the Board of Directors of MNsure. 

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

9503.0030QUALIFICATIONS OF APPLICANT AND STAFF. Subpart 1.Definitions.  B.
 "Education" means accredited course work from an accredited postsecondary institution in child development; children with special needs; early childhood education methods or theory; curriculum planning; child study techniques; family studies; child psychology; parent involvement; behavior guidance; child nutrition; child health and safety; early childhood special education methods or theory; child abuse and neglect prevention; recreational sports, arts, and crafts methods or theory; or coordination of community and school activities. "Education," as specified on the charts in parts 9503.0032 and 9503.0033, is in addition to the credential specified in column A unless the course work has been completed as part of the credential.