HF 1742

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 03/03/2025 06:16pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing a direct support professional certification
pilot project; requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PILOT
PROJECT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services shall establish a
three-year direct support professional certification pilot project in partnership with the
commissioner of the Office of Higher Education, Anoka County, Dakota County, the
Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, and willing postsecondary institutions to
implement a direct support curriculum leading to the credential of certified direct support
professionals.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Covered program" means a program to provide direct support services funded in
whole or in part by the state of Minnesota, including the community first services and
supports program under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.85; consumer-directed community
supports and extended state plan personal care assistance services available under programs
established pursuant to home and community-based service waivers authorized under section
1915(c) of the Social Security Act, including but not limited to Minnesota Statutes, sections
256B.092 and 256B.49, and chapter 256S, and the alternative care program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 256B.0913; the personal care assistance program under Minnesota Statutes,
section 256B.0659; and any similar program that may provide similar services in the future.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Direct support" means assistance with activities of daily living, assistance with
instrumental activities of daily living, provision of home and community-based services,
and other similar, long-term services and supports provided to a person age 65 or older or
to a person with a disability to meet the person's daily living needs and ensure that the person
may adequately function in the person's home and have safe access to the community.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Curriculum requirements. new text end

new text begin The direct support curriculum implemented as a
component of the pilot project must meet or exceed the training requirements under
Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.85, subdivision 16, paragraph (e), and be based on the
validated results of the National Direct Services Workforce Resource Center's Core
Competencies for Direct Service Workforce Project. The curriculum must consist of at least
80 total hours of instruction and training provided over the course of no less than eight
weeks.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Scholarships. new text end

new text begin From the money appropriated under this section, the commissioner
of human services shall establish an interagency agreement with the commissioner of the
Office of Higher Education to provide direct support professional certification scholarships
that include a work stipend of $20 per hour for 80 hours of instruction.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Certification. new text end

new text begin (a) Individuals who successfully complete the direct support
professional certification curriculum must be certified as direct support professionals and
must receive the credential of certified direct support professional.
new text end

new text begin (b) Individuals who successfully complete the direct support professional certification
curriculum meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.85, subdivision 16,
paragraph (e).
new text end

new text begin (c) With federal approval, services provided by a certified direct support professional
in a covered program must receive an enhanced rate of 118.75 percent of the medical
assistance rate otherwise paid. The commissioner must submit a complete request for federal
approval of this paragraph by October 1, 2025.
new text end

new text begin (d) Any provider receiving an enhanced rate under this section must comply with
Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.85, subdivision 7a, paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin (e) The creation of eligibility criteria for an enhanced rate under this section does not
constitute a change in a term or condition for individual providers as defined in Minnesota
Statutes, section 256B.0711, and is not subject to the state's obligation to meet and negotiate
under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 179A. A change in the rate for services within covered
programs under this section does not constitute a change in a term or condition for individual
providers in covered programs and is not subject to the state's obligation to meet and negotiate
under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 179A.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Accreditation criteria development. new text end

new text begin Participating postsecondary institutions
must collaborate with the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living to create continuity
of educational programming and to develop accreditation criteria that provides guidance to
other postsecondary institutions who wish to develop and implement a direct support
professional certificate program on their own campuses. The Metropolitan Center for
Independent Living, in cooperation with the commissioner of human services and local
pilot counties, shall facilitate coordination among the postsecondary institutions located
within the pilot counties.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services shall hire an independent
program evaluator to prepare an evaluation of the pilot project. The evaluation must include
how effective the pilot project was in addressing the direct care workforce needs of people
in Anoka and Dakota Counties who rely upon direct support, an economic analysis of the
economic contribution of the direct support professional certification pilot project to Anoka
and Dakota Counties, an analysis of potential strategies for expanding the pilot project to
the entire state, a fiscal estimate for statewide expansion, and an estimate of the economic
impact of a statewide program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must submit the evaluation required under
subdivision 7 and the program accreditation criteria developed according to subdivision 6
to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over higher education and medical assistance long-term services and supports. The
commissioner must submit the evaluation and accreditation criteria within six months
following the completion of the pilot project.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATION PILOT PROJECT.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
human services for the direct support professional certification pilot project. Of this amount,
$150,000 is for a grant to the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living for its role in
developing and coordinating the implementation of the pilot project. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30, 2029.
new text end