SF 989

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 08/27/2015 03:43pm

A bill for an act
relating to state government; reimbursing state agencies for the costs of providing
reasonable accommodation; requiring a report; appropriating money; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [16B.4805] ACCOMMODATION REIMBURSEMENT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin "Reasonable accommodation" as used in this section
has the meaning given in section 363A.08. "State agency" as used in this section has the
meaning given in section 16A.011, subdivision 12.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Reimbursement for making reasonable accommodation. new text end

new text begin The
commissioner of administration shall reimburse state agencies for expenses incurred in
making reasonable accommodations for agency employees and applicants for employment
to the extent that funds are available in the accommodation account established under
subdivision 3 for this purpose.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Accommodation account established. new text end

new text begin The accommodation account
is created as an account in the special revenue fund for reimbursing state agencies for
expenses incurred in providing reasonable accommodation for agency employees and
applicants for agency employment.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Administration costs. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may use up to 15 percent of the
biennial appropriation for administration of this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Notification. new text end

new text begin By August 1, 2015, or within 30 days of final enactment,
whichever is later, and each year thereafter by June 30, the commissioner of administration
must notify state agencies that reimbursement for expenses incurred to make reasonable
accommodation for agency employees and applicants for agency employment is available
under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 31 of each year, the commissioner of administration
must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and
the senate committees with jurisdiction over state government finance on the use of the
central accommodation account during the prior calendar year. The report must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) the number and type of accommodations requested;
new text end

new text begin (2) the cost of accommodations requested;
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new text begin (3) the state agencies from which the requests were made;
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new text begin (4) the number of requests made for employees and the number of requests for
applicants for employment;
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new text begin (5) the number and type of accommodations that were not provided;
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new text begin (6) any remaining balance left in the account;
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new text begin (7) if the account was depleted, the date on which funds were exhausted and the
number, type, and cost of accommodations that were not reimbursed to state agencies; and
new text end

new text begin (8) a description of how the account was promoted to state agencies.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2015. Reimbursement is
available for accommodation expenses incurred after June 30, 2015.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; PROCEDURE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION
IN FIRST YEAR.
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new text begin $500,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated to the
commissioner of administration and credited to the accommodation account established
in Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.4805. In fiscal year 2016, the commissioner of
administration may use five percent of the appropriation for fiscal year 2016 for
developing policies and procedures to implement the reimbursement program established
in Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.4805, and for educating qualifying agencies about the
availability of and process for receiving reimbursement for accommodation expenses.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end