Minnesota Session Laws - 2009, Regular Session

CHAPTER 174--H.F.No. 1276

An act

relating to local government; relieving counties of certain health and human services mandates; making changes to residential treatment facilities; county payment of cremation, burial, and funeral expenses; child welfare provisions; health plan audits; nursing facilities; home health aides; inspections of day training and habilitation facilities; changing certain health care provisions relating to school districts, charter schools, and local governments;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 62Q.37, subdivision 3; 144A.04, subdivision 11, by adding a subdivision; 144A.43, by adding a subdivision; 144A.45, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 147C.10, subdivision 2, as amended; 245.4882, subdivision 1; 245.4885, subdivisions 1, 1a; 256.935, subdivision 1; 256.962, subdivision 6; 256B.0945, subdivisions 1, 4; 256F.13, subdivision 1; 260B.171, subdivision 3; 260C.212, subdivisions 4a, 11; 261.035; 471.61, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245B; repealing Minnesota Rules, part 4668.0110, subpart 5.

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

ARTICLE 1

HUMAN SERVICES

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245.4882, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Availability of residential treatment services.

County boards must provide or contract for enough residential treatment services to meet the needs of each child with severe emotional disturbance residing in the county and needing this level of care. Length of stay is based on the child's residential treatment need and shall be subject to the six-month review process established in section 260C.212, deleted text begin subdivisions 7 and 9 deleted text end new text begin subdivision 7, and for children in voluntary placement for treatment, the court review process in section 260D.06 new text end . Services must be appropriate to the child's age and treatment needs and must be made available as close to the county as possible. Residential treatment must be designed to:

(1) prevent placement in settings that are more intensive, costly, or restrictive than necessary and appropriate to meet the child's needs;

(2) help the child improve family living and social interaction skills;

(3) help the child gain the necessary skills to return to the community;

(4) stabilize crisis admissions; and

(5) work with families throughout the placement to improve the ability of the families to care for children with severe emotional disturbance in the home.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245.4885, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Admission criteria.

deleted text begin The county board shall, deleted text end new text begin (a) new text end Prior to admission, except in the case of emergency admission, deleted text begin determine the needed level of care for deleted text end all children referred for treatment of severe emotional disturbance in a treatment foster care setting, residential treatment facility, or informally admitted to a regional treatment center new text begin shall undergo an assessment to determine the appropriate level of care new text end if public funds are used to pay for the services. deleted text begin The county board shall also determine the needed level of care for all children admitted to an acute care hospital for treatment of severe emotional disturbance if public funds other than reimbursement under chapters 256B and 256D are used to pay for the services. deleted text end

new text begin (b) The county board shall determine the appropriate level of care when county-controlled funds are used to pay for the services. When the child is enrolled in a prepaid health program under section 256B.69, the enrolled child's contracted health plan must determine the appropriate level of care. When more than one entity bears responsibility for coverage, the entities shall coordinate level of care determination activities to the extent possible. new text end

new text begin (c) new text end The level of care determination shall determine whether the proposed treatment:

(1) is necessary;

(2) is appropriate to the child's individual treatment needs;

(3) cannot be effectively provided in the child's home; and

(4) provides a length of stay as short as possible consistent with the individual child's need.

new text begin (d) new text end When a level of care determination is conducted, the deleted text begin county board deleted text end new text begin responsible entity new text end may not determine that referral or admission to a treatment foster care setting, new text begin or new text end residential treatment facility deleted text begin , or acute care hospital deleted text end is not appropriate solely because services were not first provided to the child in a less restrictive setting and the child failed to make progress toward or meet treatment goals in the less restrictive setting. The level of care determination must be based on a diagnostic assessment that includes a functional assessment which evaluates family, school, and community living situations; and an assessment of the child's need for care out of the home using a validated tool which assesses a child's functional status and assigns an appropriate level of care. The validated tool must be approved by the commissioner of human services. If a diagnostic assessment including a functional assessment has been completed by a mental health professional within the past 180 days, a new diagnostic assessment need not be completed unless in the opinion of the current treating mental health professional the child's mental health status has changed markedly since the assessment was completed. The child's parent shall be notified if an assessment will not be completed and of the reasons. A copy of the notice shall be placed in the child's file. Recommendations developed as part of the level of care determination process shall include specific community services needed by the child and, if appropriate, the child's family, and shall indicate whether or not these services are available and accessible to the child and family.

new text begin (e) new text end During the level of care determination process, the child, child's family, or child's legal representative, as appropriate, must be informed of the child's eligibility for case management services and family community support services and that an individual family community support plan is being developed by the case manager, if assigned.

new text begin (f) new text end The level of care determination shall comply with section 260C.212. deleted text begin Wherever possible, deleted text end The parent shall be consulted in the process, unless clinically deleted text begin inappropriate deleted text end new text begin detrimental to the child new text end .

new text begin (g) new text end The level of care determination, and placement decision, and recommendations for mental health services must be documented in the child's record.

deleted text begin An alternate review process may be approved by the commissioner if the county board demonstrates that an alternate review process has been established by the county board and the times of review, persons responsible for the review, and review criteria are comparable to the standards in clauses (1) to (4). deleted text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 245.4885, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Emergency admission.

Effective July 1, 2006, if a child is admitted to a treatment foster care setting, residential treatment facility, or acute care hospital for emergency treatment or held for emergency care by a regional treatment center under section 253B.05, subdivision 1, the level of care determination must occur within deleted text begin three deleted text end new text begin five new text end working days of admission.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256.935, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

new text begin Cremation, burial, and new text end funeral expenses.

On the death of any person receiving public assistance through MFIP, the county agency shall deleted text begin pay deleted text end new text begin attempt to contact the decedent's spouse or next of kin. If the agency is not able to contact a spouse or next of kin and the personal preferences of the decedent or the practices of the decedent's faith tradition are not known, the agency shall pay for cremation of the person's remains and their burial or interment if the spouse or next of kin does not want to take possession of the ashes. If the county agency contacts the decedent's spouse or next of kin and it is determined that cremation is not in accordance with the decedent's personal preferences or the practices of the decedent's faith tradition or the personal preferences of the decedent's spouse or the decedent's next of kin, the county agency shall pay new text end an amount for funeral expenses new text begin including the transportation of the body into or out of the community in which the deceased resided new text end not exceeding the amount paid for comparable services under section 261.035 plus actual cemetery charges. No new text begin cremation, burial, or new text end funeral expenses shall be paid if the estate of the deceased is sufficient to pay such expenses or if the spouse, who was legally responsible for the support of the deceased while living, is able to pay such expenses deleted text begin ; provided, that the additional payment or donation of the cost of cemetery lot, interment, religious service, or for the transportation of the body into or out of the community in which the deceased resided, shall not limit payment by the county agency as herein authorized deleted text end . Freedom of choice in the selection of a funeral director shall be granted to persons lawfully authorized to make arrangements for the new text begin cremation or new text end burial of any such deceased recipient. In determining the sufficiency of such estate, due regard shall be had for the nature and marketability of the assets of the estate. The county agency may grant new text begin cremation, burial, or new text end funeral expenses where the sale would cause undue loss to the estate. Any amount paid for new text begin cremation, burial, or new text end funeral expenses shall be a prior claim against the estate, as provided in section 524.3-805, and any amount recovered shall be reimbursed to the agency which paid the expenses. The commissioner shall specify requirements for reports, including fiscal reports, according to section 256.01, subdivision 2, paragraph deleted text begin (17) deleted text end new text begin (q) new text end . The state share shall pay the entire amount of county agency expenditures. Benefits shall be issued to recipients by the state or county subject to provisions of section 256.017.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0945, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Residential services; provider qualifications.

Counties must arrange to provide residential services for children with severe emotional disturbance according to sections 245.4882, 245.4885, and this section. Services must be provided by a facility that is licensed according to section 245.4882 and administrative rules promulgated thereunder, and under contract with the county. new text begin Eligible service costs may be claimed for a facility that is located in a state that borders Minnesota if: new text end

new text begin (1) the facility is the closest facility to the child's home, providing the appropriate level of care; and new text end

new text begin (2) the commissioner of human services has completed an inspection of the out-of-state program according to the interagency agreement with the commissioner of corrections under section 260B.198, subdivision 11, paragraph (b), and the program has been certified by the commissioner of corrections under section 260B.198, subdivision 11, paragraph (a), to substantially meet the standards applicable to children's residential mental health treatment programs under Minnesota Rules, chapter 2960. Nothing in this section requires the commissioner of human services to enforce the background study requirements under chapter 245C or the requirements related to prevention and investigation of alleged maltreatment under section 626.556 or 626.557. Complaints received by the commissioner of human services must be referred to the out-of-state licensing authority for possible follow-up. new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.0945, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Payment rates.

(a) Notwithstanding sections 256B.19 and 256B.041, payments to counties for residential services provided by a residential facility shall only be made of federal earnings for services provided under this section, and the nonfederal share of costs for services provided under this section shall be paid by the county from sources other than federal funds or funds used to match other federal funds. Payment to counties for services provided according to this section shall be a proportion of the per day contract rate that relates to rehabilitative mental health services and shall not include payment for costs or services that are billed to the IV-E program as room and board.

(b) Per diem rates paid to providers under this section by prepaid plans shall be the proportion of the per-day contract rate that relates to rehabilitative mental health services and shall not include payment for group foster care costs or services that are billed to the county of financial responsibility. new text begin Services provided in facilities located in bordering states are eligible for reimbursement on a fee-for-service basis only as described in paragraph (a) and are not covered under prepaid health plans. new text end

(c) The commissioner shall set aside a portion not to exceed five percent of the federal funds earned for county expenditures under this section to cover the state costs of administering this section. Any unexpended funds from the set-aside shall be distributed to the counties in proportion to their earnings under this section.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256F.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Federal revenue enhancement.

(a) The commissioner of human services may enter into an agreement with one or more family services collaboratives to enhance federal reimbursement under title IV-E of the Social Security Act and federal administrative reimbursement under title XIX of the Social Security Act. The commissioner may contract with the Department of Education for purposes of transferring the federal reimbursement to the commissioner of education to be distributed to the collaboratives according to clause (2). The commissioner shall have the following authority and responsibilities regarding family services collaboratives:

(1) the commissioner shall submit amendments to state plans and seek waivers as necessary to implement the provisions of this section;

(2) the commissioner shall pay the federal reimbursement earned under this subdivision to each collaborative based on their earnings. Payments to collaboratives for expenditures under this subdivision will only be made of federal earnings from services provided by the collaborative;

(3) the commissioner shall review expenditures of family services collaboratives using reports specified in the agreement with the collaborative to ensure that the base level of expenditures is continued and new federal reimbursement is used to expand education, social, health, or health-related services to young children and their families;

(4) the commissioner may reduce, suspend, or eliminate a family services collaborative's obligations to continue the base level of expenditures or expansion of services if the commissioner determines that one or more of the following conditions apply:

(i) imposition of levy limits that significantly reduce available funds for social, health, or health-related services to families and children;

(ii) reduction in the net tax capacity of the taxable property eligible to be taxed by the lead county or subcontractor that significantly reduces available funds for education, social, health, or health-related services to families and children;

(iii) reduction in the number of children under age 19 in the county, collaborative service delivery area, subcontractor's district, or catchment area when compared to the number in the base year using the most recent data provided by the State Demographer's Office; or

(iv) termination of the federal revenue earned under the family services collaborative agreement;

(5) the commissioner shall not use the federal reimbursement earned under this subdivision in determining the allocation or distribution of other funds to counties or collaboratives;

(6) the commissioner may suspend, reduce, or terminate the federal reimbursement to a provider that does not meet the reporting or other requirements of this subdivision;

(7) the commissioner shall recover from the family services collaborative any federal fiscal disallowances or sanctions for audit exceptions directly attributable to the family services collaborative's actions in the integrated fund, or the proportional share if federal fiscal disallowances or sanctions are based on a statewide random sample; and

(8) the commissioner shall establish criteria for the family services collaborative for the accounting and financial management system that will support claims for federal reimbursement.

(b) The family services collaborative shall have the following authority and responsibilities regarding federal revenue enhancement:

(1) the family services collaborative shall be the party with which the commissioner contracts. A lead county shall be designated as the fiscal agency for reporting, claiming, and receiving payments;

(2) the family services collaboratives may enter into subcontracts with other counties, school districts, special education cooperatives, municipalities, and other public and nonprofit entities for purposes of identifying and claiming eligible expenditures to enhance federal reimbursement, or to expand education, social, health, or health-related services to families and children;

(3) deleted text begin the family services collaborative must continue the base level of expenditures for education, social, health, or health-related services to families and children from any state, county, federal, or other public or private funding source which, in the absence of the new federal reimbursement earned under this subdivision, would have been available for those services, except as provided in paragraph (a), clause (4). The base year for purposes of this subdivision shall be the four-quarter calendar year ending at least two calendar quarters before the first calendar quarter in which the new federal reimbursement is earned; deleted text end

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end the family services collaborative must use all new federal reimbursement resulting from federal revenue enhancement to expand expenditures for education, social, health, or health-related services to families and children beyond the base level, except as provided in paragraph (a), clause (4);

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end the family services collaborative must ensure that expenditures submitted for federal reimbursement are not made from federal funds or funds used to match other federal funds. Notwithstanding section 256B.19, subdivision 1, for the purposes of family services collaborative expenditures under agreement with the department, the nonfederal share of costs shall be provided by the family services collaborative from sources other than federal funds or funds used to match other federal funds;

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end the family services collaborative must develop and maintain an accounting and financial management system adequate to support all claims for federal reimbursement, including a clear audit trail and any provisions specified in the agreement; and

deleted text begin (7) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end the family services collaborative shall submit an annual report to the commissioner as specified in the agreement.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 260C.212, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:

Subd. 4a.

Monthly caseworker visits.

(a) Every child in foster care or on a trial home visit shall be visited by the child's caseworker new text begin or another person who has responsibility for visitation of the child new text end on a monthly basis, with the majority of visits occurring in the child's residence. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) "visit" is defined as a face-to-face contact between a child and the child's caseworker;

(2) "visited on a monthly basis" is defined as at least one visit per calendar month;

(3) "the child's caseworker" is defined as the person who has responsibility for managing the child's foster care placement case as assigned by the responsible social service agency; and

(4) "the child's residence" is defined as the home where the child is residing, and can include the foster home, child care institution, or the home from which the child was removed if the child is on a trial home visit.

(b) Caseworker visits shall be of sufficient substance and duration to address issues pertinent to case planning and service delivery to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of the child.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 260C.212, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11.

Rules; family and group foster care.

deleted text begin The commissioner shall revise deleted text end deleted text begin Minnesota Rules, parts 9545.0010 to 9545.0260, the rules setting standards for family and deleted text end deleted text begin group family foster care. deleted text end The commissioner shall:

(1) require that, as a condition of licensure, foster care providers attend training on understanding and validating the cultural heritage of all children in their care, and on the importance of the Indian Child Welfare Act, United States Code, title 25, sections 1901 to 1923, and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, sections 260.751 to 260.835; deleted text begin and deleted text end

(2) review and, where necessary, revise foster care rules to reflect sensitivity to cultural diversity and differing lifestyles. Specifically, the commissioner shall examine whether space and other requirements discriminate against single-parent, minority, or low-income families who may be able to provide quality foster care reflecting the values of their own respective cultures new text begin ; and new text end

new text begin (3) relieve relative foster care providers of the requirements promulgated as a result of clauses (1) and (2) when the safety of the child is not jeopardized and as allowed under federal law new text end .

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 261.035, is amended to read:

261.035 new text begin CREMATION, BURIAL, AND new text end FUNERALS AT EXPENSE OF COUNTY.

When a person dies in any county without apparent means to provide for that person's funeral or final disposition, the county board shall first investigate to determine whether that person had contracted for any prepaid funeral arrangements. If new text begin prepaid new text end arrangements have been made, the county shall authorize arrangements to be implemented in accord with the instructions of the deceased. If it is determined that the person did not leave sufficient means to defray the necessary expenses of a funeral and final disposition, nor any spouse of sufficient ability to procure the burial, the county board shall deleted text begin provide deleted text end new text begin pay new text end for deleted text begin a funeral and final disposition deleted text end new text begin cremation new text end of the person's remains deleted text begin to be made at the expense of the county. deleted text end new text begin and the person's burial or interment if the spouse or next of kin does not want to take possession of the ashes. If it is determined that cremation is not in accordance with the decedent's personal preferences or the known practices of the decedent's faith tradition or the personal preferences of the decedent's spouse or the decedent's next of kin, the county board shall provide for a burial and funeral. new text end Any new text begin burial, new text end funeral new text begin , new text end and final disposition provided at the expense of the county shall be in accordance with deleted text begin religious and moral beliefs of the decedent or deleted text end new text begin personal preferences or known practices of the decedent's faith tradition or the personal preferences of new text end the decedent's spouse or the decedent's next of kin. If new text begin neither new text end the wishes of the decedent deleted text begin are not known deleted text end new text begin , nor the practices of the decedent's faith tradition are known, new text end and the county has no information about the existence of or location of any next of kin, the county deleted text begin may determine the method of final disposition deleted text end new text begin may provide for cremation of the person's remains and burial or interment new text end .

ARTICLE 2

HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 62Q.37, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Audits.

(a) The commissioner may conduct routine audits and investigations as prescribed under the commissioner's respective state authorizing statutes. If a nationally recognized independent organization has conducted an audit of the health plan company using audit procedures that are comparable to or more stringent than the commissioner's audit procedures:

(1) the commissioner deleted text begin may deleted text end new text begin shall new text end accept the independent audit new text begin , including standards and audit practices, new text end and require no further audit if the results of the independent audit show that the performance standard being audited meets or exceeds state standards;

(2) the commissioner may accept the independent audit and limit further auditing if the results of the independent audit show that the performance standard being audited partially meets state standards;

(3) the health plan company must demonstrate to the commissioner that the nationally recognized independent organization that conducted the audit is qualified and that the results of the audit demonstrate that the particular performance standard partially or fully meets state standards; and

(4) if the commissioner has partially or fully accepted an independent audit of the performance standard, the commissioner may use the finding of a deficiency with regard to statutes or rules by an independent audit as the basis for a targeted audit or enforcement action.

(b) If a health plan company has formally delegated activities that are required under either state law or contract to another organization that has undergone an audit by a nationally recognized independent organization, that health plan company may use the nationally recognized accrediting body's determination on its own behalf under this section.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144A.04, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11.

Incontinent residents.

Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 4658.0520, an incontinent resident must be deleted text begin checked according to a specific time interval written in the resident's deleted text end new text begin treated according to the comprehensive assessment and new text end care plan. deleted text begin The resident's attending physician must authorize in writing any interval longer than two hours unless the resident, if competent, or a family member or legally appointed conservator, guardian, or health care agent of a resident who is not competent, agrees in writing to waive physician involvement in determining this interval, and this waiver is documented in the resident's care plan. deleted text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144A.04, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 12. new text end

new text begin Resident positioning. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 4658.0525, subpart 4, the position of residents unable to change their own position must be changed based on the comprehensive assessment and care plan. new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144A.43, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Medication reminder. new text end

new text begin "Medication reminder" means providing a verbal or visual reminder to a client to take medication. This includes bringing the medication to the client and providing liquids or nutrition to accompany medication that a client is self-administering. new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144A.45, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Rules.

The commissioner shall adopt rules for the regulation of home care providers pursuant to sections 144A.43 to 144A.47. The rules shall include the following:

(1) provisions to assure, to the extent possible, the health, safety and well-being, and appropriate treatment of persons who receive home care services;

(2) requirements that home care providers furnish the commissioner with specified information necessary to implement sections 144A.43 to 144A.47;

(3) standards of training of home care provider personnel, which may vary according to the nature of the services provided or the health status of the consumer;

(4) standards for medication management which may vary according to the nature of the services provided, the setting in which the services are provided, or the status of the consumer. Medication management includes the central storage, handling, distribution, and administration of medications;

(5) standards for supervision of home care services requiring supervision by a registered nurse or other appropriate health care professional which must occur on site at least every 62 days, or more frequently if indicated by a clinical assessment, and in accordance with sections 148.171 to 148.285 and rules adopted thereunder, except that deleted text begin , notwithstanding the provisions of Minnesota Rules, part 4668.0110, subpart 5, item B, supervision of deleted text end a person performing home care aide tasks for a class B licensee providing paraprofessional services deleted text begin must occur only every 180 days, or more frequently if indicated by a clinical assessment deleted text end new text begin does not require nursing supervision new text end ;

(6) standards for client evaluation or assessment which may vary according to the nature of the services provided or the status of the consumer;

(7) requirements for the involvement of a consumer's physician, the documentation of physicians' orders, if required, and the consumer's treatment plan, and the maintenance of accurate, current clinical records;

(8) the establishment of different classes of licenses for different types of providers and different standards and requirements for different kinds of home care services; and

(9) operating procedures required to implement the home care bill of rights.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144A.45, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 1b. new text end

new text begin Home health aide qualifications. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding the provisions of Minnesota Rules, part 4668.0100, subpart 5, a person may perform home health aide tasks if the person maintains current registration as a nursing assistant on the Minnesota nursing assistant registry. Maintaining current registration on the Minnesota nursing assistant registry satisfies the documentation requirements of Minnesota Rules, part 4668.0110, subpart 3. new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 147C.10, subdivision 2, as amended by Laws 2009, chapter 142, article 2, section 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Other health care practitioners.

(a) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the practice of any profession or occupation licensed or registered by the state by any person duly licensed or registered to practice the profession or occupation or to perform any act that falls within the scope of practice of the profession or occupation.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a respiratory care license for:

(1) a student enrolled in a respiratory therapy or polysomnography technology education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, its successor organization, or another nationally recognized accrediting organization;

(2) a respiratory therapist as a member of the United States armed forces while performing duties incident to that duty;

(3) an individual employed by a durable medical equipment provider or a home medical equipment provider who delivers, sets up, new text begin instructs the patient on the use of, new text end or maintains respiratory care equipment, but does not perform assessment, education, or evaluation of the patient;

(4) self-care by a patient or gratuitous care by a friend or relative who does not purport to be a licensed respiratory therapist; or

(5) an individual employed in a sleep lab or center as a polysomnographic technologist under the supervision of a licensed physician.

Sec. 8.

new text begin [245B.031] ACCREDITATION, ALTERNATIVE INSPECTION, AND DEEMED COMPLIANCE. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Day training and habilitation or supported employment services programs; alternative inspection status. new text end

new text begin (a) A license holder providing day training and habilitation services or supported employment services according to this chapter, with a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities, that has had at least one on-site inspection by the commissioner following issuance of the initial license, may request alternative inspection status under this section. new text end

new text begin (b) The request for alternative inspection status must be made in the manner prescribed by the commissioner, and must include: new text end

new text begin (1) a copy of the license holder's application to the Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities for accreditation; new text end

new text begin (2) the most recent Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities accreditation survey report; and new text end

new text begin (3) the most recent letter confirming the three-year accreditation and approval of the license holder's quality improvement plan. new text end

new text begin Based on the request and the accompanying materials, the commissioner may approve alternative inspection status. new text end

new text begin (c) Following approval of alternative inspection status, the commissioner may terminate the alternative inspection status or deny a subsequent alternative inspection status if the commissioner determines that any of the following conditions have occurred after approval of the alternative inspection process: new text end

new text begin (1) the license holder has not maintained full three-year accreditation; new text end

new text begin (2) the commissioner has substantiated maltreatment for which the license holder or facility is determined to be responsible during the three-year accreditation period; and new text end

new text begin (3) during the three-year accreditation period, the license holder has been issued an order for conditional license, a fine, suspension, or license revocation that has not been reversed upon appeal. new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner's decision that the conditions for approval for the alternative licensing inspection status have not been met is final and not subject to appeal under the provisions of chapter 14. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Programs exempt from certain statutes. new text end

new text begin (a) A license holder approved for alternative inspection status under this section is exempt from the requirements under: new text end

new text begin (1) section 245B.04; new text end

new text begin (2) section 245B.05, subdivisions 5 and 6; new text end

new text begin (3) section 245B.06, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6; and new text end

new text begin (4) section 245B.07, subdivisions 1, 4, and 6. new text end

new text begin (b) Upon receipt of a complaint regarding a requirement under paragraph (a), the commissioner shall refer the complaint to the Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities for possible follow-up. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Programs deemed to be in compliance with nonexempt licensing requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) License holders approved for alternative inspection status under this section are required to maintain compliance with all licensing standards from which they are not exempt under subdivision 2, paragraph (a). new text end

new text begin (b) License holders approved for alternative inspection status under this section shall be deemed to be in compliance with all nonexempt statutes, and the commissioner shall not perform routine licensing inspections. new text end

new text begin (c) Upon receipt of a complaint regarding the services of a license holder approved for alternative inspection under this section that is not related to a licensing requirement from which the license holder is exempt under subdivision 2, the commissioner shall investigate the complaint and may take any action as provided under section 245A.06 or 245A.07. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Investigations of alleged maltreatment of minors or vulnerable adults. new text end

new text begin Nothing in this section changes the commissioner's responsibilities to investigate alleged or suspected maltreatment of a minor under section 626.556 or vulnerable adult under section 626.557. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Request to Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities to expand accreditation survey. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall submit a request to the Commission on Rehabilitation Facilities to routinely inspect for compliance with standards that are similar to the following nonexempt licensing requirements: new text end

new text begin (1) section 245A.54; new text end

new text begin (2) section 245A.66; new text end

new text begin (3) section 245B.05, subdivisions 1, 2, and 7; new text end

new text begin (4) section 245B.055; new text end

new text begin (5) section 245B.06, subdivisions 2, 7, 9, and 10; new text end

new text begin (6) section 245B.07, subdivisions 2, 5, and 8, paragraph (a), clause (7); new text end

new text begin (7) section 245C.04, subdivision 1, paragraph (f); new text end

new text begin (8) section 245C.07; new text end

new text begin (9) section 245C.13, subdivision 2; new text end

new text begin (10) section 245C.20; and new text end

new text begin (11) Minnesota Rules, parts 9525.2700 to 9525.2810. new text end

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256.962, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

School districts new text begin and charter schools new text end .

(a) At the beginning of each school year, a school district new text begin or charter school new text end shall provide information to each student on the availability of health care coverage through the Minnesota health care programs.

(b) deleted text begin For each child who is determined to be eligible for the free and reduced-price school lunch program, the district shall provide the child's family with information on how to obtain an application for the Minnesota health care programs and application assistance. deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end A new text begin school new text end district new text begin or charter school new text end shall also ensure that applications and information on application assistance are available at early childhood education sites and public schools located within the district's jurisdiction.

deleted text begin (d) Each district shall designate an enrollment specialist to provide application assistance and follow-up services with families who have indicated an interest in receiving information or an application for the Minnesota health care program. A district is eligible for the application assistance bonus described in subdivision 5. deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) Each deleted text end new text begin (c) If a school district or charter school maintains a district Web site, the new text end school district new text begin or charter school new text end shall provide on deleted text begin their deleted text end new text begin its new text end Web site a link to information on how to obtain an application and application assistance.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 260B.171, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Disposition order; copy to school.

(a) If a juvenile is enrolled in school, the juvenile's probation officer shall deleted text begin transmit a deleted text end new text begin ensure that either a mailed notice or an electronic new text end copy of the court's disposition order new text begin be transmitted new text end to the superintendent of the juvenile's school district or the chief administrative officer of the juvenile's school if the juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent for committing an act on the school's property or an act:

(1) that would be a violation of section 609.185 (first-degree murder); 609.19 (second-degree murder); 609.195 (third-degree murder); 609.20 (first-degree manslaughter); 609.205 (second-degree manslaughter); 609.21 (criminal vehicular homicide and injury); 609.221 (first-degree assault); 609.222 (second-degree assault); 609.223 (third-degree assault); 609.2231 (fourth-degree assault); 609.224 (fifth-degree assault); 609.2242 (domestic assault); 609.24 (simple robbery); 609.245 (aggravated robbery); 609.25 (kidnapping); 609.255 (false imprisonment); 609.342 (first-degree criminal sexual conduct); 609.343 (second-degree criminal sexual conduct); 609.344 (third-degree criminal sexual conduct); 609.345 (fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct); 609.3451 (fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct); 609.498 (tampering with a witness); 609.561 (first-degree arson); 609.582, subdivision 1 or 2 (burglary); 609.713 (terroristic threats); or 609.749 (harassment and stalking), if committed by an adult;

(2) that would be a violation of section 152.021 (first-degree controlled substance crime); 152.022 (second-degree controlled substance crime); 152.023 (third-degree controlled substance crime); 152.024 (fourth-degree controlled substance crime); 152.025 (fifth-degree controlled substance crime); 152.0261 (importing a controlled substance); 152.0262 (possession of substances with intent to manufacture methamphetamine); or 152.027 (other controlled substance offenses), if committed by an adult; or

(3) that involved the possession or use of a dangerous weapon as defined in section 609.02, subdivision 6.

When a disposition order is transmitted under this subdivision, the probation officer shall notify the juvenile's parent or legal guardian that the disposition order has been shared with the juvenile's school.

(b) In addition, the juvenile's probation officer may transmit a copy of the court's disposition order to the superintendent of the juvenile's school district or the chief administrative officer of the juvenile's school if the juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent for offenses not listed in paragraph (a) and placed on probation. The probation officer shall notify the superintendent or chief administrative officer when the juvenile is discharged from probation.

(c) The disposition order must be accompanied by a notice to the school that the school may obtain additional information from the juvenile's probation officer with the consent of the juvenile or the juvenile's parents, as applicable. The disposition order must be maintained, shared, or released only as provided in section 121A.75.

(d) The juvenile's probation officer shall maintain a record of disposition orders released under this subdivision and the basis for the release.

(e) No later than September 1, 2002, the criminal and juvenile justice information policy group, in consultation with representatives of probation officers and educators, shall prepare standard forms for use by juvenile probation officers in forwarding information to schools under this subdivision and in maintaining a record of the information that is released. The group shall provide a copy of any forms or procedures developed under this paragraph to the legislature by January 15, 2003.

(f) As used in this subdivision, "school" means a charter school or a school as defined in section 120A.22, subdivision 4, except a home school.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 471.61, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Officers, employees.

A county, municipal corporation, town, school district, county extension committee, other political subdivision or other body corporate and politic of this state, other than the state or any department of the state, through its governing body, and any two or more subdivisions acting jointly through their governing bodies, may insure or protect its or their officers and employees, and their dependents, or any class or classes of officers, employees, or dependents, under a policy or policies or contract or contracts of group insurance or benefits covering life, health, and accident, in the case of employees, and medical and surgical benefits and hospitalization insurance or benefits for both employees and dependents or dependents of an employee whose death was due to causes arising out of and in the course of employment, or any one or more of those forms of insurance or protection. A governmental unit, including county extension committees and those paying their employees, may pay all or any part of the premiums or charges on the insurance or protection. A payment is deemed to be additional compensation paid to the officers or employees, but for purposes of determining contributions or benefits under a public pension or retirement system it is not deemed to be additional compensation. One or more governmental units may determine that a person is an officer or employee if the person receives income from the governmental subdivisions without regard to the manner of election or appointment, including but not limited to employees of county historical societies that receive funding from the county and employees of the Minnesota Inter-county Association. The appropriate officer of the governmental unit, or those disbursing county extension funds, shall deduct from the salary or wages of each officer and employee who elects to become insured or so protected, on the officer's or employee's written order, all or part of the officer's or employee's share of premiums or charges and remit the share or portion to the insurer or company issuing the policy or contract.

A governmental unit, other than a school district, that pays all or part of the premiums or charges is authorized to levy and collect a tax, if necessary, in the next annual tax levy for the purpose of providing the necessary money for the payment of the premiums or charges, and the sums levied and appropriated are not, in the event the sum exceeds the maximum sum allowed by the charter of a municipal corporation, considered part of the cost of government of the governmental unit as defined in any levy or expenditure limitation; provided at least 50 percent of the cost of benefits on dependents must be contributed by the employee or be paid by levies within existing charter tax limitations.

The word "dependents" as used in this subdivision means spouse and minor unmarried children under the age of 18 years actually dependent upon the employee.

new text begin Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a political subdivision described in this subdivision may provide health benefits to its employees, dependents, and any class or classes of officers, employers, or dependents through negotiated contributions to self-funded multiemployer health and welfare funds. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment; applies to contributions made before, on, or after that date; and is intended as a clarification of existing law. new text end

Sec. 12.

new text begin REPEALER. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Rules, part 4668.0110, subpart 5, new text end new text begin is repealed. new text end

Presented to the governor May 21, 2009

Signed by the governor May 22, 2009, 5:51 p.m.