SF 618

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/26/2021 10:07am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; expanding budget methodology exceptions for
consumer-directed community supports; establishing a onetime grant program to
promote consumer-directed community supports; requiring a report; appropriating
money.

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

Section 1. new text begin REGIONAL AND LOCAL CONSUMER-DIRECTED COMMUNITY
SUPPORTS EDUCATION AND MARKETING GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services shall award onetime, competitive regional and
local consumer-directed community supports education and marketing grants. The grants
must be awarded to eligible applicants for regional and local projects targeted to a designated
community of the applicant's choosing, which may consist of a specific geographic area or
population, to:
new text end

new text begin (1) increase awareness of consumer-directed community supports;
new text end

new text begin (2) increase the rate of utilization of consumer-directed community supports, specifically
in counties with low enrollment in the program;
new text end

new text begin (3) promote the benefits of support planning services; or
new text end

new text begin (4) connect eligible persons with disabilities, their parents and family members, and
lead agency staff, to education and resources related to consumer-directed community
supports.
new text end

new text begin (b) The project areas for the grant include local or community-based initiatives to:
new text end

new text begin (1) promote the benefits of consumer-directed community supports; and
new text end

new text begin (2) provide informational materials and other resources to persons with disabilities
eligible for consumer-directed community supports, their parents and family members, and
lead agency staff.
new text end

new text begin (c) Eligible applicants may include, but are not limited to, statewide nonprofit
organizations with regional and local presence that provide advocacy services and supports
for persons with disabilities and their parents and family members.
new text end

new text begin (d) Applicants must:
new text end

new text begin (1) describe the proposed project, including the targeted community and how the project
meets the requirements of this section; and
new text end

new text begin (2) identify the proposed outcomes of the project and the evaluation process to measure
these outcomes.
new text end

new text begin (e) In awarding the regional and local consumer-directed community supports education
and marketing grants, the commissioner of human services must give priority to applicants
who demonstrate that the proposed project:
new text end

new text begin (1) is supported by and appropriately targeted to the community the applicant serves;
new text end

new text begin (2) is designed to coordinate with other community activities related to initiatives aimed
at promoting independence, inclusion, and self-direction in the lives of persons with
disabilities;
new text end

new text begin (3) is conducted by an applicant able to demonstrate expertise in the project areas;
new text end

new text begin (4) utilizes and enhances existing activities and resources or involves innovative
approaches to achieve success in the project areas; and
new text end

new text begin (5) strengthens community relationships and partnerships to achieve the project areas.
new text end

new text begin (f) The commissioner of human services shall divide the state into specific geographic
regions and allocate a percentage of the money available for the regional and local
consumer-directed community supports education and marketing grants to projects aimed
at each geographic region with an emphasis on counties with low rates of utilization of
consumer-directed community supports.
new text end

new text begin (g) The commissioner of human services shall award the grants by January 31, 2022.
new text end

new text begin (h) A grantee shall report to the commissioner of human services on the progress of the
project at least once during the grant period and, within two months of the end of the grant
period, shall submit a final report to the commissioner that includes the measurable outcomes.
new text end

new text begin (i) The commissioner of human services shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop the criteria and procedures to allocate the grants under this section, evaluate
all applicants on a competitive basis, award the grants, and select qualified providers to
offer technical assistance to grant applicants and grantees. The selected providers shall assist
applicants and grantees with project design, evaluation methods, materials, and training;
and
new text end

new text begin (2) submit by January 15, 2023, a progress report on the consumer-directed community
supports education and marketing grants under this section to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health finance and policy. The
report shall include:
new text end

new text begin (i) information on the grantees;
new text end

new text begin (ii) a summary of all projects undertaken with the grants;
new text end

new text begin (iii) the measurable outcomes established by the grantees, an explanation of the evaluation
process used to determine whether the outcomes were met, and the results of the evaluation;
and
new text end

new text begin (iv) an accounting of how the grant funds were spent.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
human services for the regional and local consumer-directed community supports education
and marketing grants described in section 1. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end