1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing direct support professionals child care 
1.3 	relief grants; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL CHILD CARE RELIEF GRANTS.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose. The direct support professional child care relief 
1.7 	grant program is established to help with the costs of child care incurred by eligible direct 
1.8 	support professionals.
1.9 		Subd. 2.Administration. The commissioner of human services shall administer the 
1.10 	direct support professional child care relief grant program. Up to ten percent of the 
1.11 	appropriation for the grant program under this section may be used by the commissioner 
1.12 	for administration of the grant program.
1.13 		Subd. 3.Application. (a) Eligible direct support professionals must apply to the 
1.14 	commissioner for grant money on the forms and according to the timelines established by 
1.15 	the commissioner.
1.16 	(b) The commissioner shall develop an expedited application process that includes a 
1.17 	form allowing applicants to meet the requirements of this section in as timely a manner as 
1.18 	possible. The commissioner shall allow the use of electronic submission of application 
1.19 	forms and accept electronic signatures.
1.20 		Subd. 4.Eligibility. Eligible direct support professionals must:
1.21 	(1) for the entire duration of the grant period, be employed by an employer who provides 
1.22 	services funded through one of the following programs:
2.1 	(i) home and community-based waiver services for persons with developmental 
2.2 	disabilities under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.092;
2.3 	(ii) community access for disability inclusion waiver services under Minnesota Statutes, 
2.4 	section 256B.49;
2.5 	(iii) community alternative care waiver services under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.6 	256B.49;
2.7 	(iv) brain injury waiver services under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.49; or
2.8 	(v) intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities under 
2.9 	Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.5012;
2.10 	(2) have at least one child enrolled in out-of-home child care in a licensed or legal 
2.11 	unlicensed setting; and
2.12 	(3) provide direct support services to clients.
2.13 		Subd. 5.Grant awards. (a) The commissioner shall make grant awards to eligible direct 
2.14 	support professionals once per month.
2.15 	(b) A direct support professional with one child in out-of-home child care qualifies for 
2.16 	a grant award up to $100 per month for 12 months. A direct support professional with two 
2.17 	or more children in out-of-home child care qualifies for a grant award of up to $200 per 
2.18 	month for 12 months.

2.19 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL CHILD CARE 
2.20 	RELIEF GRANTS.
 2.21 	$40,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the federal American Rescue Plan 
2.22 	state fiscal recovery funds to the commissioner of human services for direct support 
2.23 	professional child care relief grants. This is a onetime appropriation.