SF 2490

1st Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 04/03/2018 01:18pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring the commissioner of health to convene the older adult
social isolation working group; appropriating money; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin OLDER ADULT SOCIAL ISOLATION WORKING GROUP.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; members. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of health or the
commissioner's designee shall convene an older adult social isolation working group
consisting of the following:
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new text begin (1) three members appointed by the Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota
Chapter, one of whom is diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia, one of whom is a caregiver
of a person diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia, and one of whom represents the
association;
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new text begin (2) the executive director of Giving Voice;
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new text begin (3) one member appointed by the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center;
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new text begin (4) one member appointed by AARP Minnesota;
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new text begin (5) one member appointed by Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly, Minneapolis/St.
Paul;
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new text begin (6) one member appointed by the Minnesota HomeCare Association;
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new text begin (7) one member appointed by LeadingAge Minnesota;
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new text begin (8) one member appointed by Care Providers of Minnesota;
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new text begin (9) one member appointed by the Minnesota Rural Health Association;
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new text begin (10) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee;
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new text begin (11) one member appointed by the Minnesota Board on Aging;
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new text begin (12) one member appointed by the Commission of Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing
Minnesotans;
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new text begin (13) one member appointed by the Vital Aging Network;
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new text begin (14) one member who is a geriatrician or family physician practicing in a rural community
appointed by the commissioner of health;
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new text begin (15) one member who is a geriatrician practicing in the metropolitan area appointed by
the commissioner of health;
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new text begin (16) one member appointed by NAMI Minnesota; and
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new text begin (17) one member appointed by each of the Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging.
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new text begin (b) The appointing authorities must make their appointments by July 15, 2018.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee must convene the first
meeting by August 14, 2018.
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new text begin (d) The working group shall elect a chair from among its membership at its first meeting.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties; recommendations. new text end

new text begin (a) The older adult social isolation working group
must assess the current and future impact of social isolation on the lives of Minnesotans
over age 55. The working group shall consider and make recommendations to the governor
and chairs and members of the committees in the house of representatives and senate with
jurisdiction over health, human services, or aging and long-term care on the following issues:
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new text begin (1) the public health impact of social isolation in the older adult population of Minnesota;
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new text begin (2) identify existing Minnesota resources, services, and capacity to respond to the issue
of social isolation in older adults;
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new text begin (3) needed policies or community responses, including but not limited to expanding
current services or developing future services after identifying gaps in service for rural
geographical areas;
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new text begin (4) needed policies or community responses, including but not limited to the expansion
of culturally appropriate current services or developing future services after identifying
gaps in service for persons of color; and
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new text begin (5) impact of social isolation on older adults with disabilities and needed policies or
community responses.
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new text begin (b) The working group must solicit stakeholder input from interested stakeholders
representing rural communities, communities of color, and providers of services to seniors,
including religious organizations.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Meetings. new text end

new text begin The working group must hold at least four public meetings beginning
August 14, 2018. All meetings must be open to the public. To the extent possible, technology
must be utilized to reach the greatest number of interested persons throughout the state. The
commissioner of health shall provide meeting space, technology, and administrative staff
support for the working group. The working group must complete the required meeting
schedule by December 10, 2018.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin No compensation. new text end

new text begin Public members of the working group serve without
compensation.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin No later than January 14, 2019, the commissioner of health must submit
a report and the working group's recommendations to the governor and chairs and members
of the committees in the house of representatives and senate with jurisdiction over health,
human services, or aging and long-term care. The report must include draft legislation to
implement any recommended changes to statutes.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Sunset. new text end

new text begin The working group sunsets upon delivery of the required report to the
governor and legislative committees.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $75,000 in fiscal year 2019 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of health for the costs related to the salary of an independent, professional facilitator as well
as printing and duplicating costs and expenses related to meeting management for the
working group.
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