HF 2715

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/03/2022 04:27pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying the home and community-based employee
scholarship program to permit loan forgiveness; temporarily modifying employment
requirements for nursing assistants; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections
144.1503; 144A.61, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 144.1503, is amended to read:

144.1503 HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES EMPLOYEE
SCHOLARSHIP new text begin AND LOAN FORGIVENESS new text end PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.

Creation.

The home and community-based services employee scholarship
new text begin and loan forgiveness new text end grant program is established deleted text begin for the purpose of assisting deleted text end new text begin to assist new text end
qualified provider applicants deleted text begin to fund deleted text end new text begin in funding new text end employee scholarships new text begin and qualified
educational loan repayments new text end for education new text begin , training, field experience, and examinations new text end in
nursing deleted text begin and deleted text end new text begin , new text end other health care fields new text begin , and licensure as an assisted living director under section
144A.20, subdivision 4 new text end .

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "qualified educational loan" means
a government, commercial, or foundation loan secured by an employee of a qualifying
provider for actual costs paid for tuition, training, and examinations; reasonable education,
training, and field experience expenses; and reasonable living expenses related to the
employee's graduate or undergraduate education.
new text end

Subd. 2.

Provision of grants.

The commissioner shall make grants available to qualified
providers of older adult services. Grants must be used by home and community-based service
providers to recruit and train staff through the establishment of an employee scholarship
new text begin and loan forgiveness new text end fund.

Subd. 3.

Eligibility.

(a) Eligible providers must primarily provide services to individuals
who are 65 years of age and older in home and community-based settings, including housing
with services establishments as defined in section 144D.01, subdivision 4; new text begin assisted living
facilities as defined in section 144G.08, subdivision 7; new text end adult day care as defined in section
245A.02, subdivision 2a; and home care services as defined in section 144A.43, subdivision
3.

(b) Qualifying providers must establish a home and community-based services employee
scholarship new text begin and loan forgiveness new text end program, as specified in subdivision 4. Providers that
receive funding under this section must use the funds to award scholarships to new text begin , and to repay
qualified educational loans of, new text end employees who work an average of at least 16 hours per
week for the provider.

Subd. 4.

Home and community-based services employee scholarship program.

Each
qualifying provider under this section must propose a home and community-based services
employee scholarship new text begin and loan forgiveness new text end program. Providers must establish criteria by
which funds are to be distributed among employees. At a minimum, the scholarship new text begin and
loan forgiveness new text end program must cover employee costs new text begin and repay qualified educational loans
of employees new text end related to a course of study that is expected to lead to career advancement
with the provider or in the field of long-term care, including home care, care of persons
with disabilities, deleted text begin or deleted text end nursing new text begin , or management as a licensed assisted living director new text end .

Subd. 5.

Participating providers.

The commissioner shall publish a request for proposals
in the State Register, specifying provider eligibility requirements, criteria for a qualifying
employee scholarship new text begin and loan forgiveness new text end program, provider selection criteria,
documentation required for program participation, maximum award amount, and methods
of evaluation. The commissioner must publish additional requests for proposals each year
in which funding is available for this purpose.

Subd. 6.

Application requirements.

Eligible providers seeking a grant shall submit an
application to the commissioner. Applications must contain a complete description of the
employee scholarship new text begin and loan forgiveness new text end program being proposed by the applicant,
including the need for the organization to enhance the education of its workforce, the process
for determining which employees will be eligible for scholarships new text begin or loan repayment new text end , any
other sources of funding for scholarships new text begin or loan repayment new text end , the expected degrees or
credentials eligible for scholarships new text begin or loan repayment new text end , the amount of funding sought for
the scholarship new text begin and loan forgiveness new text end program, a proposed budget detailing how funds will
be spent, and plans for retaining eligible employees after completion of their scholarship new text begin
or repayment of their loan new text end .

Subd. 7.

Selection process.

The commissioner shall determine a maximum award for
grants and make grant selections based on the information provided in the grant application,
including the demonstrated need for an applicant provider to enhance the education of its
workforce, the proposed employee scholarship new text begin and loan forgiveness new text end selection process, the
applicant's proposed budget, and other criteria as determined by the commissioner.
Notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, funds awarded to grantees in a grant
agreement do not lapse until the grant agreement expires.

Subd. 8.

Reporting requirements.

Participating providers shall submit an invoice for
reimbursement and a report to the commissioner on a schedule determined by the
commissioner and on a form supplied by the commissioner. The report shall include the
amount spent on scholarships new text begin and loan repayment new text end ; the number of employees who received
scholarships new text begin and the number of employees for whom loans were repaid new text end ; and, for each
scholarship new text begin or loan forgiveness new text end recipient, the name of the recipient, the current position of
the recipient, the amount awarded new text begin or loan amount repaid new text end , the educational institution attended,
the nature of the educational program, and the expected or actual program completion date.
During the grant period, the commissioner may require and collect from grant recipients
other information necessary to evaluate the program.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 144A.61, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 6b. new text end

new text begin Nursing assistants hired under CMS COVID-19-related blanket 1135
waiver. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding the requirements of subdivision 6a, each nursing assistant hired
to work in a nursing home or in a certified boarding care home on or after March 1, 2020,
who accumulates 100 hours of work experience that includes in-service training regarding
abuse, neglect, and exploitation prevention and reporting requirements before the expiration
of the blanket Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) COVID-19-related 1135
waiver of Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 483.35(d), with the exception of
Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 483.35(d)(1)(i), must have successfully
completed an approved competency evaluation within six months from the expiration of
the blanket CMS COVID-19-related 1135 waiver.
new text end