2007 Minnesota Statutes

256.976 FOSTER GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM.
    Subdivision 1. Program established. There is established a foster grandparents program
which will engage the services of low income persons aged 60 or over to provide supportive
person to person assistance in health, education, welfare, and related fields to persons receiving
care in resident group homes for dependent and neglected persons, day care centers or other
public or private nonprofit institutions or agencies providing care for neglected and disadvantaged
persons who lack close personal relationships.
    Subd. 2. Compensation. Persons employed as foster grandparents shall be compensated for
no more than 20 hours per week and at an hourly rate not to exceed the federal minimum wage by
more than 20 percent. In addition to such compensation foster grandparents shall be eligible for
protective clothing, including replacement of glasses; transportation assistance, not to exceed
mileage payments for 20 miles per day or chartered transportation service, for travel between
residence and place of employment; workers' compensation; annual physical examinations; food
services during employment, generally provided by the employing agency or institution; and such
other assistance as the Minnesota Board on Aging may prescribe. No person employed as a foster
grandparent shall be terminated because of redefinition of income standards, or a change of
income, marital status, or number of dependents.
    Subd. 3. Grants-in-aid. The Minnesota Board on Aging, hereinafter called the board, may
make grants-in-aid for the employment of foster grandparents to qualified resident group homes
for dependent and neglected persons, day care centers and other public or nonprofit private
institutions and agencies providing care for neglected and disadvantaged persons who lack close
personal relationships. Agencies and institutions seeking aid shall apply on a form prescribed by
the board. Priority shall be given to agencies and institutions providing care for retarded children.
Grants shall not be made to local public or nonprofit agencies until 40 percent of the recognized
need for foster grandparents within state institutions has been met. Grants shall be for a period
of 12 months or less, and grants to local public and nonprofit agencies or institutions shall be
based on 90 percent state, and ten percent local sharing of program expenditures authorized by the
board. Grants shall not be used to match other state funds nor shall any person paid from grant
funds be used to replace any staff member of the grantee. Grants may be used to match federal
funds. Each grantee shall file a semiannual report with the board at the time and containing
such information as the board shall prescribe.
    Subd. 4. Rulemaking authority. The board is authorized, subject to the provisions of
chapter 14, to make rules necessary to the operation of the foster grandparent program and to
employ assistance in performing its administrative duties. In adopting rules the board shall give
consideration to applicable federal guidelines.
History: 1971 c 938 s 1; 1973 c 302 s 1,2; 1975 c 271 s 6; 1975 c 359 s 23; 1983 c 216
art 1 s 39