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HF 2425

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/25/2021 02:11pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 03/25/2021

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to critical services; creating a task force to facilitate development of a
statewide public-private telepresence strategy; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin TASK FORCE ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE TELEPRESENCE STRATEGY.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Purpose. new text end

new text begin (a) Telepresence is the use of telecommunication technologies
to support virtual interactions, allowing users to interact as if users are physically present.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesota had embraced the use of telepresence to
increase access to person-centered care and improve the lives of residents through local and
regional collaborative initiatives in health and human services, education, and corrections.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in rapid expansion of telepresence across public and
private sectors throughout Minnesota. The widespread utilization demonstrated the promise
and potential of telepresence to provide timely, safe, and less-expensive care. However, to
rapidly support expanded telepresence use, a myriad of technology platforms were deployed
to meet short-term needs. Long-term investment in the disparate platforms impedes
integration, fragments service delivery, and increases the digital divide.
new text end

new text begin (b) The use of telepresence is expected to grow in a postpandemic world. A telepresence
network scaled to support access across Minnesota creates opportunities to improve care
while driving down costs, supporting integration and collaboration, and advancing health
equity. There is strong interest within public and private sector agencies to collaborate on
statewide public-private telepresence strategies to leverage scale and cloud opportunities.
It is imperative to convene telepresence strategy discussions now, as the time frame to
develop a coordinated, statewide strategy is limited. Once investments in disparate
technologies have been made, fragmentation is difficult to overcome.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Task force establishment; membership. new text end

new text begin (a) A task force on public-private
telepresence strategies is established to address the purpose and issues identified in
subdivision 1. The task force consists of the following members:
new text end

new text begin (1) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one appointed
by the minority leader;
new text end

new text begin (2) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the
house and one appointed by the minority leader;
new text end

new text begin (3) three members appointed by the governor to represent county services in the areas
of human services, health, and corrections or law enforcement. Members appointed under
this clause must represent counties outside the metropolitan area, defined in Minnesota
Statutes, section 473.121;
new text end

new text begin (4) one member appointed by the governor to represent public health;
new text end

new text begin (5) one member appointed by the Minnesota American Indian Mental Health Advisory
Council;
new text end

new text begin (6) one member appointed by the Minnesota Medical Association who is a primary care
provider practicing in greater Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (7) one member appointed by NAMI of Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (8) two members appointed by the Minnesota School Boards Association;
new text end

new text begin (9) one member appointed by the Minnesota Hospital Association to represent rural
hospital emergency departments;
new text end

new text begin (10) one member appointed by the governor to represent community mental health
centers;
new text end

new text begin (11) one member appointed by the governor to represent adolescent treatment centers;
new text end

new text begin (12) one member appointed by the Medical Alley Association;
new text end

new text begin (13) one member appointed by the Minnesota Council of Health Plans;
new text end

new text begin (14) one rural nonprofit foundation with expertise in health and human services, appointed
by the governor;
new text end

new text begin (15) one member to represent child advocacy centers;
new text end

new text begin (16) one nonprofit statewide social services agency, appointed by the Minnesota Social
Service Association; and
new text end

new text begin (17) one member appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court.
new text end

new text begin (b) In addition to the members identified in paragraph (a), the task force must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) the commissioner of corrections or a designee;
new text end

new text begin (2) the commissioner of human services or a designee;
new text end

new text begin (3) the commissioner of health or a designee; and
new text end

new text begin (4) the commissioner of education or a designee.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appointment deadline; first meeting; chair. new text end

new text begin Appointing authorities must
complete appointments by June 15, 2021. The task force must select a chair from among
the members at their first meeting. The task force chair must convene the first meeting of
the task force no later than July 15, 2021.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The task force must:
new text end

new text begin (1) explore opportunities to improve behavioral health and other health care service
delivery through the use of a common interoperable person-centered telepresence platform
that provides HIPAA-compliant connectivity and technical support to potential users;
new text end

new text begin (2) review and coordinate state and local innovation initiatives and investments designed
to leverage telepresence connectivity and collaboration for Minnesotans;
new text end

new text begin (3) determine standards for a single interoperable telepresence platform;
new text end

new text begin (4) determine statewide capabilities for a single interoperable telepresence platform;
new text end

new text begin (5) identify barriers to providing a telepresence technology, including limited bandwidth
availability, limitations in providing certain services via telepresence, and broadband
infrastructure needs;
new text end

new text begin (6) identify and make recommendations for governance that ensure person-centered
responsiveness;
new text end

new text begin (7) identify how the business model may be innovated to provide an incentive for ongoing
innovation in Minnesota's health care, human services, education, corrections, and related
sectors;
new text end

new text begin (8) identify criteria for suggested deliverables, including:
new text end

new text begin (i) equitable statewide access;
new text end

new text begin (ii) bandwidth availability; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) competitive pricing;
new text end

new text begin (9) identify sustainable financial support for a single telepresence platform, including
infrastructure costs and start-up costs for potential users; and
new text end

new text begin (10) identify the benefits to partners in the private sector, state, political subdivisions,
Tribal governments, and the constituents served by using a common person-centered
telepresence platform to deliver behavioral health services.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The task force must report to the chairs and ranking minority members
of the committees in the senate and the house of representatives with primary jurisdiction
over health and state information technology by January 15, 2022, with recommendations
related to expanding the state's telepresence platform and any legislation required to
implement the recommendations.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Sunset. new text end

new text begin The task force expires July 31, 2022, or the day after the task force
submits the report required in this section, whichever is earlier.
new text end