HF 502

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/11/2013 02:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying the adoption assistance program to allow
reimbursement for child care; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section
259A.20, subdivision 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 259A.20, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Reimbursement for special nonmedical expenses.

(a) Reimbursement
for special nonmedical expenses is available to children, except those eligible for adoption
assistance based on being an at-risk child.

(b) Reimbursements under this paragraph shall be made only after the adoptive
parent documents that the requested service was denied by the local social service agency,
community agencies, the local school district, the local public health department, the
parent's insurance provider, or the child's program. The denial must be for an eligible
service or qualified item under the program requirements of the applicable agency or
organization.

(c) Reimbursements must be previously authorized, adhere to the requirements and
procedures prescribed by the commissioner, and be limited to:

(1) child care for a child age 12 and younger, or for a child age 13 or 14 who has a
documented disability that requires special instruction for and services by the child care
provider. Child care reimbursements may be made if all available adult caregivers are
employed or attending educational or vocational training programs new text begin , or if an adult caregiver
is employed full time and the other caregiver is disabled as defined in section 256.481 new text end . If a
parent is attending an educational or vocational training program, child care reimbursement
is limited to no more than the time necessary to complete the credit requirements for an
associate or baccalaureate degree as determined by the educational institution. Child
care reimbursement is not limited for an adoptive parent completing basic or remedial
education programs needed to prepare for postsecondary education or employment;

(2) respite care provided for the relief of the child's parent up to 504 hours of respite
care annually;

(3) camping up to 14 days per state fiscal year for a child to attend a special needs
camp. The camp must be accredited by the American Camp Association as a special needs
camp in order to be eligible for camp reimbursement;

(4) postadoption counseling to promote the child's integration into the adoptive
family that is provided by the placing agency during the first year following the date of the
adoption decree. Reimbursement is limited to 12 sessions of postadoption counseling;

(5) family counseling that is required to meet the child's special needs.
Reimbursement is limited to the prorated portion of the counseling fees allotted to the
family when the adoptive parent's health insurance or Medicaid pays for the child's
counseling but does not cover counseling for the rest of the family members;

(6) home modifications to accommodate the child's special needs upon which
eligibility for adoption assistance was approved. Reimbursement is limited to once every
five years per child;

(7) vehicle modifications to accommodate the child's special needs upon which
eligibility for adoption assistance was approved. Reimbursement is limited to once every
five years per family; and

(8) burial expenses up to $1,000, if the special needs, upon which eligibility for
adoption assistance was approved, resulted in the death of the child.

(d) The adoptive parent shall submit statements for expenses incurred between July
1 and June 30 of a given fiscal year to the state adoption assistance unit within 60 days
after the end of the fiscal year in order for reimbursement to occur.