HF 3077

1st Engrossment - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/26/2020 04:20pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying provisions governing caregiver support
programs and services; modifying essential community supports; appropriating
money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, 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 [256.9755] CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Program goals. new text end

new text begin It is the goal of all area agencies on aging and caregiver
support programs to support family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease or other
related dementias who are living in the community by:
new text end

new text begin (1) promoting caregiver support programs that serve Minnesotans in their homes and
communities;
new text end

new text begin (2) providing, within the limits of available funds, the caregiver support services that
will enable the family caregiver to access caregiver support programs in the most
cost-effective and efficient manner; and
new text end

new text begin (3) providing information, education, and training to respite caregivers and volunteers
about caring for, managing, and coping with care for a person with Alzheimer's disease or
other form of dementia.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Authority. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Board on Aging shall allocate to area agencies on
aging the state and federal funds which are received for the caregiver support program in a
manner consistent with federal requirements. The board shall give priority to those areas
where there is a high need of respite services as evidenced by the data provided by the board.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Caregiver support services. new text end

new text begin Funds allocated to an area agency on aging for
caregiver support services must be used in a manner consistent with the National Family
Caregiver Support Program to reach family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease
or related dementias. The funds must be used to provide social, nonmedical,
community-based services and activities that provide respite for caregivers and social
interaction for participants.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2023, and each January 15 thereafter, the Minnesota
Board on Aging shall submit a progress report about the caregiver support grants in this
section to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives
committees and divisions with jurisdiction over human services. The progress report must
include metrics of the use of the grant program.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, 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, subdivision 3a or
3b, 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 a community support plan; and

(6) has been determined by a community assessment under section 256B.0911,
subdivision 3a or 3b, 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) 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 community support plan.

(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 APPROPRIATION; CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $200,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of human services for the Minnesota Board on Aging for the purposes of caregiver support
programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 256.9755. Programs receiving funding under
this section must include an Alzheimer's-specific respite service in their caregiver support
program. This appropriation is added to the base.
new text end

new text begin (b) The appropriation in paragraph (a) does not cancel and is available until expended.
new text end