SF 3416

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/22/2022 10:05am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; directing the commissioner to develop a medical
assistance waiver service for life sharing; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. DIRECTION TO THE COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES;
LIFE-SHARING SERVICES.

Subdivision 1.

Recommendations required.

The commissioner of human services shall
develop recommendations for establishing life sharing as a covered medical assistance
waiver service.

Subd. 2.

Definition.

For the purposes of this section, "life sharing" means a
relationship-based living arrangement between an adult with a disability and an individual
or family in which they share their lives and experiences while the adult with a disability
receives support from the individual or family using person-centered practices.

Subd. 3.

Stakeholder engagement and consultation.

(a) The commissioner must
proactively solicit participation in the development of the life-sharing medical assistance
service through a robust stakeholder engagement process that results in the inclusion of a
racially, culturally, and geographically diverse group of interested stakeholders from each
of the following groups:

(1) providers currently providing or interested in providing life-sharing services;

(2) people with disabilities accessing or interested in accessing life-sharing services;

(3) disability advocacy organizations; and

(4) lead agencies.

(b) The commissioner must proactively seek input into and assistance with the
development of recommendations for establishing the life-sharing service from interested
stakeholders.

(c) The commissioner must provide a method for the commissioner and interested
stakeholders to cofacilitate public meetings. The first meeting must occur before July 31,
2022. The commissioner must host the cofacilitated meetings at least monthly through
December 31, 2022. All meetings must be accessible to all interested stakeholders, recorded,
and posted online within one week of the meeting date.

Subd. 4.

Required topics to be discussed during development of the
recommendations.

The commissioner and the interested stakeholders must discuss the
following topics:

(1) the distinction between life sharing and adult family foster care;

(2) successful life-sharing models used in other states;

(3) services and supports that could be included in a life-sharing service;

(4) potential barriers to providing or accessing life-sharing services;

(5) solutions to remove identified barriers to providing or accessing life-sharing services;

(6) potential medical assistance payment methodologies for life-sharing services;

(7) expanding awareness of the life-sharing model; and

(8) draft language for legislation necessary to define and implement life-sharing services.

Subd. 5.

Report to the legislature.

By December 31, 2022, the commissioner must
provide to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and
senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over direct care services a report
summarizing the discussions between the commissioner and the interested stakeholders and
the commissioner's recommendations. The report must also include any draft legislation
necessary to define and implement life-sharing services.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; LIFE-SHARING SERVICES.

$....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated to the commissioner of human services for
engaging stakeholders and developing recommendations regarding establishing a life-sharing
service under the state's medical assistance disability waivers and elderly waiver. This is a
onetime appropriation.