HF 1298

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/20/2023 04:01pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying essential community supports; establishing
a grant program for respite services; appropriating money; requiring reports;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256B.0922, subdivision 1; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [256.9756] CAREGIVER RESPITE SERVICES GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Caregiver respite services grant program established. new text end

new text begin The
commissioner of human services must establish a caregiver respite services grant program
to increase the availability of respite services for family caregivers of people with dementia
and older adults and to provide information, education, and training to respite caregivers
and volunteers regarding caring for people with dementia. From the funds made available
for this purpose, the commissioner must award grants on a competitive basis to respite
service providers, giving priority to areas of the state where there is a high need of respite
services.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligible uses. new text end

new text begin Grant recipients awarded grant funding under this section must
use a portion of the grant award as determined by the commissioner to provide free or
subsidized respite services for family caregivers of people with dementia and older adults.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2026, and every other January 15 thereafter, the
commissioner shall submit a progress report about the caregiver respite services grants in
this section to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over human services. The progress report must include metrics of the use of the
grant program funds.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256B.0922, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Essential community supports.

(a) The purpose of the essential
community supports program is to provide targeted services to persons age 65 and older
who need essential community support, but whose needs do not meet the level of care
required for nursing facility placement under section 144.0724, subdivision 11.

(b) Essential community supports are available not to exceed deleted text begin $400 deleted text end new text begin $600 new text end per person per
month. Essential community supports may be used as authorized within an authorization
period not to exceed 12 months. Services must be available to a person who:

(1) is age 65 or older;

(2) is not eligible for medical assistance;

(3) has received a community assessment under section 256B.0911, subdivisions 17 to
21, 23, 24, or 27, and does not require the level of care provided in a nursing facility;

(4) meets the financial eligibility criteria for the alternative care program under section
256B.0913, subdivision 4;

(5) has an assessment summary; and

(6) has been determined by a community assessment under section 256B.0911,
subdivisions 17 to 21, 23, 24, or 27, to be a person who would require provision of at least
one of the following services, as defined in the approved elderly waiver plan, in order to
maintain their community residence:

(i) adult day services;

(ii) caregiver support new text begin , including respite care new text end ;

(iii) homemaker support;

new text begin (iv) adult companion services;
new text end

deleted text begin (iv) deleted text end new text begin (v) new text end chores;

deleted text begin (v) deleted text end new text begin (vi) new text end a personal emergency response device or system;

deleted text begin (vi) deleted text end new text begin (vii) new text end home-delivered meals; or

deleted text begin (vii) deleted text end new text begin (viii) new text end community living assistance as defined by the commissioner.

(c) The person receiving any of the essential community supports in this subdivision
must also receive service coordination, not to exceed $600 in a 12-month authorization
period, as part of their assessment summary.

(d) A person who has been determined to be eligible for essential community supports
must be reassessed at least annually and continue to meet the criteria in paragraph (b) to
remain eligible for essential community supports.

(e) The commissioner is authorized to use federal matching funds for essential community
supports as necessary and to meet demand for essential community supports as outlined in
subdivision 2, and that amount of federal funds is appropriated to the commissioner for this
purpose.

Sec. 3. new text begin DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES; CAREGIVER
RESPITE SERVICES GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Beginning in fiscal year 2025, the commissioner of human services must continue the
respite services for older adults grant program established under Laws 2021, First Special
Session chapter 7, article 17, section 17, subdivision 3, under the authority granted under
Minnesota Statutes, section 256.9756. The commissioner may begin the grant application
process for awarding grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 256.9756, during fiscal year
2024 in order to facilitate the continuity of the grant program during the transition from a
temporary program to a permanent one.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; CAREGIVER RESPITE SERVICES GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of human services for caregiver respite services grants under Minnesota Statutes, section
256.9756.
new text end