1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to human services; contracted foster care 
  1.3             services; specifying that service rates are a matter 
  1.4             of contract between parties; amending Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes 1994, section 256.82, by adding a subdivision.
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 256.82, is 
  1.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 5.  [PRIVATE AGENCY CONTRACTS.] Notwithstanding any 
  1.10  other provision of this section, rates for contracted foster 
  1.11  care services to licensed child care placing agencies are a 
  1.12  matter of contract between the licensed child care placing 
  1.13  agency and the local service agency.  The foster care difficulty 
  1.14  of care laws and administrative rules do not apply, unless the 
  1.15  parties to a contract for foster care services mutually agree to 
  1.16  use them.