SF 2786

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/17/2022 11:26am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; providing bonuses to employees of nursing homes and
assisted living facilities; providing initial funding for all-inclusive care for the
elderly; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin DIRECTION TO THE COMMISSIONER; INITIAL PACE
IMPLEMENTATION FINANCING.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services must work with stakeholders to develop
recommendations for financing mechanisms to complete the actuarial work and cover the
administrative costs of a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE). The
commissioner must recommend a financing mechanism that could begin July 1, 2024. By
December 15, 2023, the commissioner shall inform the chairs and ranking minority members
of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health care finance on the commissioner's
progress toward developing a recommended financing mechanism.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; INITIAL PACE IMPLEMENTATION FINANCING.
new text end

new text begin $265,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the state fiscal recovery federal fund
to the commissioner of human services to complete the initial actuarial and administrative
work necessary to recommend a financing mechanism for the operation of PACE under
Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.69, subdivision 23, paragraph (e). For the purposes of
this section, "state fiscal recovery federal fund" means money received by the state from
the state fiscal recovery fund in the American Rescue Plan Act, Public Law 117-2. This is
a onetime appropriation and is available until December 31, 2026.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; LONG-TERM CARE STAFF FUNDING.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the state fiscal recovery federal fund
to the commissioner of human services for onetime grants to licensed nursing homes and
licensed assisted living facilities for employee bonuses. For the purposes of this section,
"state fiscal recovery federal fund" means money received by the state from the state fiscal
recovery fund in the American Rescue Plan Act, Public Law 117-2. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until December 31, 2026. Any money not obligated by eligible
organizations by November 15, 2024, must be returned to the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall evenly distribute the available grant money to all licensed
nursing facilities and licensed assisted living facilities as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) add the number of licensed beds in nursing facilities and the licensed resident capacity
in assisted living facilities;
new text end

new text begin (2) divide the result of clause (1) by the total available funding; and
new text end

new text begin (3) for each facility, multiply the result of clause (2) by either the facility's number of
licensed beds or by its licensed resident capacity.
new text end

new text begin (c) Grantees must use the grant money for one or more of the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) signing bonuses of up to $1,500 for newly hired employees and contractors;
new text end

new text begin (2) retention bonuses of up to $1,500 for existing employees and contractors; or
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new text begin (3) sub-grants up to $2,500 to existing or newly hired employees who recently completed
or are pursuing a course of study that is expected to lead to employment or career
advancement with a provider of or in the field of long-term care. Sub-grantees must use the
sub-grant money only for costs related to tuition, direct educational expenses, child care
and transportation costs incurred as a direct result of participating in classroom instruction
or training, or repayment of student loan debt directly incurred as a result of pursuing a
qualifying course of study.
new text end

new text begin (d) No individual may receive more than $5,000.
new text end

new text begin (e) Costs associated with the purposes described in paragraph (c) that are funded under
this section are not allowable costs under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256R. Grants provided
under this section are not applicable credits under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256R.
new text end

new text begin (f) Money received by a facility under this section must not be used to supplant funding
available under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.1503 or 256B.0918, or to supplant the
portion of a nursing facility's total payment rate attributable to scholarships under Minnesota
Statutes, section 256R.37.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 3 are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end