Section | Headnote |
---|---|
245A.001 | MS 2006 [Renumbered 15.001] |
245A.01 | CITATION. |
245A.02 | DEFINITIONS. |
245A.023 | [Repealed, 2007 c 112 s 59] |
245A.03 | WHO MUST BE LICENSED. |
245A.035 | UNLICENSED EMERGENCY RELATIVE PLACEMENT. |
245A.04 | APPLICATION PROCEDURES. |
245A.041 | SYSTEMS AND RECORDS. |
245A.05 | DENIAL OF APPLICATION. |
245A.06 | CORRECTION ORDER AND CONDITIONAL LICENSE. |
245A.07 | SANCTIONS. |
245A.08 | HEARINGS. |
245A.085 | CONSOLIDATION OF HEARINGS; RECONSIDERATION. |
245A.09 | RULES. |
245A.091 | [Repealed, 1997 c 248 s 51] |
245A.095 | RULES FOR PROGRAMS SERVING PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES. |
245A.10 | FEES. |
245A.11 | SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. |
245A.12 | VOLUNTARY RECEIVERSHIP FOR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. |
245A.13 | INVOLUNTARY RECEIVERSHIP FOR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. |
245A.14 | SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR NONRESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. |
245A.143 | FAMILY ADULT DAY SERVICES. |
245A.1435 | REDUCTION OF RISK OF SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME IN LICENSED PROGRAMS. |
245A.144 | SUDDEN INFANT DEATH AND SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME FOR CHILD FOSTER CARE PROVIDERS. |
245A.1444 | TRAINING ON RISK OF SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME AND SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME BY OTHER PROGRAMS. |
245A.1445 | DANGERS OF SHAKING INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN. |
245A.145 | CHILD CARE PROGRAM REPORTING NOTIFICATION. |
245A.146 | CRIB SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. |
245A.15 | REGULATION OF FAMILY DAY CARE BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT. |
245A.151 | FIRE MARSHAL INSPECTION. |
245A.155 | CARE OF INDIVIDUALS ON MEDICAL MONITORING EQUIPMENT. |
245A.156 | DISCLOSURE OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE. |
245A.16 | STANDARDS FOR COUNTY AGENCIES AND PRIVATE AGENCIES. |
245A.17 | [Repealed, 1992 c 513 art 9 s 44] |
245A.175 | MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING REQUIREMENT. |
245A.18 | CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS. |
245A.19 | HIV TRAINING IN CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT PROGRAM. |
245A.20 | [Repealed, 1997 c 248 s 51] |
245A.21 | [Repealed, 1997 c 248 s 51] |
245A.22 | INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTANCE FOR YOUTH. |
JUVENILE FACILITIES LICENSING PROHIBITION | |
245A.30 | LICENSING PROHIBITION FOR CERTAIN FACILITIES SERVING CHILDREN. |
CHILD CARE CENTER TRAINING | |
245A.40 | CHILD CARE CENTER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. |
FAMILY CHILD CARE TRAINING | |
245A.50 | FAMILY CHILD CARE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. |
VULNERABLE ADULTS | |
245A.65 | MALTREATMENT OF VULNERABLE ADULTS. |
245A.655 | FEDERAL GRANTS TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A SINGLE COMMON ENTRY POINT FOR REPORTING MALTREATMENT OF A VULNERABLE ADULT. |
MALTREATMENT OF MINORS | |
245A.66 | REQUIREMENTS; MALTREATMENT OF MINORS. |
This chapter may be cited as the "Human Services Licensing Act."
The terms used in this chapter and chapter 245B have the meanings given them in this section.
"Adult" means a person who is 18 years old or older and who:
(1) has a mental illness, a developmental disability, a physical disability, or a functional impairment; or
(2) is chemically dependent or abuses chemicals.
"Adult day care," "adult day services," and "family adult day services" mean a program operating less than 24 hours per day that provides functionally impaired adults with an individualized and coordinated set of services including health services, social services, and nutritional services that are directed at maintaining or improving the participants' capabilities for self-care. Adult day care, adult day services, and family adult day services do not include programs where adults gather or congregate primarily for purposes of socialization, education, supervision, caregiver respite, religious expression, exercise, or nutritious meals.
"Annual" or "annually" means prior to or within the same month of the subsequent calendar year.
"Applicant" means an individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, controlling individual, or other organization that has applied for licensure under this chapter and the rules of the commissioner.
"Certification" means the commissioner's written authorization for a license holder licensed by the commissioner of human services or the commissioner of corrections to serve children in a residential program and provide specialized services based on certification standards in Minnesota Rules. The term "certification" and its derivatives have the same meaning and may be substituted for the term "licensure" and its derivatives in this chapter.
"Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services or the commissioner's designated representative including county agencies and private agencies.
"Controlling individual" means a public body, governmental agency, business entity, officer, owner, or managerial official whose responsibilities include the direction of the management or policies of a program. For purposes of this subdivision, owner means an individual who has direct or indirect ownership interest in a corporation, partnership, or other business association issued a license under this chapter. For purposes of this subdivision, managerial official means those individuals who have the decision-making authority related to the operation of the program, and the responsibility for the ongoing management of or direction of the policies, services, or employees of the program. Controlling individual does not include:
(1) a bank, savings bank, trust company, savings association, credit union, industrial loan and thrift company, investment banking firm, or insurance company unless the entity operates a program directly or through a subsidiary;
(2) an individual who is a state or federal official, or state or federal employee, or a member or employee of the governing body of a political subdivision of the state or federal government that operates one or more programs, unless the individual is also an officer, owner, or managerial official of the program, receives remuneration from the program, or owns any of the beneficial interests not excluded in this subdivision;
(3) an individual who owns less than five percent of the outstanding common shares of a corporation:
(i) whose securities are exempt under section 80A.45, clause (6); or
(ii) whose transactions are exempt under section 80A.46, clause (2); or
(4) an individual who is a member of an organization exempt from taxation under section 290.05, unless the individual is also an officer, owner, or managerial official of the program or owns any of the beneficial interests not excluded in this subdivision. This clause does not exclude from the definition of controlling individual an organization that is exempt from taxation.
"County agency" means the agency designated by the county board of commissioners, human service boards, local social services agencies or multicounty local social services agencies, or departments where those have been established under the law.
"Drop-in child care program" means a nonresidential program of child care in which children participate on a onetime only or occasional basis up to a maximum of 90 hours per child, per month. A drop-in child care program must be licensed under Minnesota Rules governing child care centers. A drop-in child care program must meet one of the following requirements to qualify for the rule exemptions specified in section 245A.14, subdivision 6:
(1) the drop-in child care program operates in a child care center which houses no child care program except the drop-in child care program;
(2) the drop-in child care program operates in the same child care center but not during the same hours as a regularly scheduled ongoing child care program with a stable enrollment; or
(3) the drop-in child care program operates in a child care center at the same time as a regularly scheduled ongoing child care program with a stable enrollment but the program's activities, except for bathroom use and outdoor play, are conducted separately from each other.
For purposes of child care centers, "experience" includes paid or unpaid employment serving children as a teacher, assistant teacher, aide, or a student intern in a licensed child care center, in a public or nonpublic school, or in a program licensed as a family day care or group family day care provider.
"Foster care for adults" means a program operating 24 hours a day that provides functionally impaired adults with food, lodging, protection, supervision, and household services in a residence, in addition to services according to the individual service plans under Minnesota Rules, part 9555.5105, subpart 18.
For the purposes of adult day care, adult day services, family adult day services, or adult foster care, "functional impairment" means:
(1) a condition that is characterized by substantial difficulty in carrying out one or more of the essential major activities of daily living, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working; or
(2) a disorder of thought or mood that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life and that requires support to maintain independence in the community.
"HIV minimum standards" means those items approved by the department and contained in the HIV-1 Guidelines for chemical dependency treatment and care programs in Minnesota including HIV education to clients, completion of HIV training by all new and existing staff, provision for referral to individual HIV counseling and services for all clients, and the implementation of written policies and procedures for working with HIV-infected clients.
"Interpretive guidelines" means a policy statement that has been published pursuant to section 245A.09, subdivision 12, and which provides interpretation, details, or supplementary information concerning the application of laws or rules. Interpretive guidelines are published for the information and guidance of consumers, providers of service, county agencies, the Department of Human Services, and others concerned.
"License" means a certificate issued by the commissioner authorizing the license holder to provide a specified program for a specified period of time and in accordance with the terms of the license and the rules of the commissioner.
"License holder" means an individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, or other organization that is legally responsible for the operation of the program, has been granted a license by the commissioner under this chapter or chapter 245B and the rules of the commissioner, and is a controlling individual.
"Nonresidential program" means care, supervision, rehabilitation, training or habilitation of a person provided outside the person's own home and provided for fewer than 24 hours a day, including adult day care programs; and chemical dependency or chemical abuse programs that are located in a nursing home or hospital and receive public funds for providing chemical abuse or chemical dependency treatment services under chapter 254B. Nonresidential programs include home and community-based services and semi-independent living services for persons with developmental disabilities that are provided in or outside of a person's own home.
"Parent cooperative" means a nonprofit group child care program that is governed by a board that meets regularly and makes all continuing operational decisions about the program. At least 70 percent of the board membership must be parent-users of the program.
"Private agency" means an individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary association or other organization, other than a county agency, or a court with jurisdiction, that places persons who cannot remain in their own homes in residential programs, foster care, or adoptive homes.
"Individual who is related" means a spouse, a parent, a natural or adopted child or stepchild, a stepparent, a stepbrother, a stepsister, a niece, a nephew, an adoptive parent, a grandparent, a sibling, an aunt, an uncle, or a legal guardian.
"Residential program" means a program that provides 24-hour-a-day care, supervision, food, lodging, rehabilitation, training, education, habilitation, or treatment outside a person's own home, including a program in an intermediate care facility for four or more persons with developmental disabilities; and chemical dependency or chemical abuse programs that are located in a hospital or nursing home and receive public funds for providing chemical abuse or chemical dependency treatment services under chapter 254B. Residential programs include home and community-based services for persons with developmental disabilities that are provided in or outside of a person's own home.
"Respite care services" means temporary services provided to a person due to the absence or need for relief of the primary caregiver, the person's family member, or legal representative who is the primary caregiver and principally responsible for the care and supervision of the person. Respite care services are those that provide the level of supervision and care that is necessary to ensure the health and safety of the person. Respite care services do not include services that are specifically directed toward the training and habilitation of the person.
"School-age child," for programs licensed or required to be licensed as a child care center, means a child who is at least of sufficient age to have attended the first day of kindergarten, or is eligible to enter kindergarten within the next four months, but is younger than 13 years of age.
"School-age child care program" means a program licensed or required to be licensed as a child care center, serving more than ten children with the primary purpose of providing child care for school age children.
For purposes of child care centers, "supervision" means when a program staff person is within sight and hearing of a child at all times so that the program staff can intervene to protect the health and safety of the child. When an infant is placed in a crib room to sleep, supervision occurs when a staff person is within sight or hearing of the infant. When supervision of a crib room is provided by sight or hearing, the center must have a plan to address the other supervision component.
(a) For the purposes of family day care and group family day care licensing under this chapter, the following terms have the meanings given them in this subdivision.
(b) "Newborn" means a child between birth and six weeks old.
(c) "Infant" means a child who is at least six weeks old but less than 12 months old.
(d) "Toddler" means a child who is at least 12 months old but less than 24 months old, except that for purposes of specialized infant and toddler family and group family day care, "toddler" means a child who is at least 12 months old but less than 30 months old.
(e) "Preschooler" means a child who is at least 24 months old up to the age of being eligible to enter kindergarten within the next four months.
(f) "School age" means a child who is at least of sufficient age to have attended the first day of kindergarten, or is eligible to enter kindergarten within the next four months, but is younger than 11 years of age.
1987 c 333 s 2; 1988 c 411 s 1; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 60-65; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 40; 1991 c 142 s 1; 1992 c 513 art 9 s 7,8; 1993 c 338 s 1,2; 1994 c 631 s 31; 1995 c 158 s 1,2; 1995 c 202 art 1 s 25; 1995 c 207 art 2 s 4; 1997 c 248 s 3-7; 1999 c 36 s 1; 2000 c 327 s 6; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 14 s 4-6; 2002 c 375 art 1 s 5,6; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 2-7; 2005 c 56 s 1; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 1 s 4; 2006 c 196 art 1 s 52; art 2 s 5
Unless licensed by the commissioner, an individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, other organization, or controlling individual must not:
(1) operate a residential or a nonresidential program;
(2) receive a child or adult for care, supervision, or placement in foster care or adoption;
(3) help plan the placement of a child or adult in foster care or adoption or engage in placement activities as defined in section 259.21, subdivision 9, in this state, whether or not the adoption occurs in this state; or
(4) advertise a residential or nonresidential program.
(a) This chapter does not apply to:
(1) residential or nonresidential programs that are provided to a person by an individual who is related unless the residential program is a child foster care placement made by a local social services agency or a licensed child-placing agency, except as provided in subdivision 2a;
(2) nonresidential programs that are provided by an unrelated individual to persons from a single related family;
(3) residential or nonresidential programs that are provided to adults who do not abuse chemicals or who do not have a chemical dependency, a mental illness, a developmental disability, a functional impairment, or a physical disability;
(4) sheltered workshops or work activity programs that are certified by the commissioner of employment and economic development;
(5) programs operated by a public school for children 33 months or older;
(6) nonresidential programs primarily for children that provide care or supervision for periods of less than three hours a day while the child's parent or legal guardian is in the same building as the nonresidential program or present within another building that is directly contiguous to the building in which the nonresidential program is located;
(7) nursing homes or hospitals licensed by the commissioner of health except as specified under section 245A.02;
(8) board and lodge facilities licensed by the commissioner of health that do not provide children's residential services under Minnesota Rules, chapter 2960, mental health or chemical dependency treatment;
(9) homes providing programs for persons placed by a county or a licensed agency for legal adoption, unless the adoption is not completed within two years;
(10) programs licensed by the commissioner of corrections;
(11) recreation programs for children or adults that are operated or approved by a park and recreation board whose primary purpose is to provide social and recreational activities;
(12) programs operated by a school as defined in section 120A.22, subdivision 4; YMCA as defined in section 315.44; YWCA as defined in section 315.44; or JCC as defined in section 315.51, whose primary purpose is to provide child care or services to school-age children;
(13) Head Start nonresidential programs which operate for less than 45 days in each calendar year;
(14) noncertified boarding care homes unless they provide services for five or more persons whose primary diagnosis is mental illness or a developmental disability;
(15) programs for children such as scouting, boys clubs, girls clubs, and sports and art programs, and nonresidential programs for children provided for a cumulative total of less than 30 days in any 12-month period;
(16) residential programs for persons with mental illness, that are located in hospitals;
(17) the religious instruction of school-age children; Sabbath or Sunday schools; or the congregate care of children by a church, congregation, or religious society during the period used by the church, congregation, or religious society for its regular worship;
(18) camps licensed by the commissioner of health under Minnesota Rules, chapter 4630;
(19) mental health outpatient services for adults with mental illness or children with emotional disturbance;
(20) residential programs serving school-age children whose sole purpose is cultural or educational exchange, until the commissioner adopts appropriate rules;
(21) unrelated individuals who provide out-of-home respite care services to persons with developmental disabilities from a single related family for no more than 90 days in a 12-month period and the respite care services are for the temporary relief of the person's family or legal representative;
(22) respite care services provided as a home and community-based service to a person with a developmental disability, in the person's primary residence;
(23) community support services programs as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 6, and family community support services as defined in section 245.4871, subdivision 17;
(24) the placement of a child by a birth parent or legal guardian in a preadoptive home for purposes of adoption as authorized by section 259.47;
(25) settings registered under chapter 144D which provide home care services licensed by the commissioner of health to fewer than seven adults;
(26) chemical dependency or substance abuse treatment activities of licensed professionals in private practice as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 9530.6405, subpart 15, when the treatment activities are not paid for by the consolidated chemical dependency treatment fund;
(27) consumer-directed community support service funded under the Medicaid waiver for persons with developmental disabilities when the individual who provided the service is:
(i) the same individual who is the direct payee of these specific waiver funds or paid by a fiscal agent, fiscal intermediary, or employer of record; and
(ii) not otherwise under the control of a residential or nonresidential program that is required to be licensed under this chapter when providing the service; or
(28) a program serving only children who are age 33 months or older, that is operated by a nonpublic school, for no more than four hours per day per child, with no more than 20 children at any one time, and that is accredited by:
(i) an accrediting agency that is formally recognized by the commissioner of education as a nonpublic school accrediting organization; or
(ii) an accrediting agency that requires background studies and that receives and investigates complaints about the services provided.
A program that asserts its exemption from licensure under item (ii) shall, upon request from the commissioner, provide the commissioner with documentation from the accrediting agency that verifies: that the accreditation is current; that the accrediting agency investigates complaints about services; and that the accrediting agency's standards require background studies on all people providing direct contact services.
(b) For purposes of paragraph (a), clause (6), a building is directly contiguous to a building in which a nonresidential program is located if it shares a common wall with the building in which the nonresidential program is located or is attached to that building by skyway, tunnel, atrium, or common roof.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require licensure for any services provided and funded according to an approved federal waiver plan where licensure is specifically identified as not being a condition for the services and funding.
Notwithstanding subdivision 2, clause (1), in order to provide foster care for a child, an individual who is related to the child, other than a parent, or legal guardian, must be licensed by the commissioner except as provided by section 245A.035.
The provision in subdivision 2, clause (2), does not apply to:
(1) a child care provider who as an applicant for licensure or as a license holder has received a license denial under section 245A.05, a conditional license under section 245A.06, or a sanction under section 245A.07 from the commissioner that has not been reversed on appeal; or
(2) a child care provider, or a child care provider who has a household member who, as a result of a licensing process, has a disqualification under this chapter that has not been set aside by the commissioner.
(a) It is a misdemeanor for an individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, other organization, or a controlling individual to provide a residential or nonresidential program without a license and in willful disregard of this chapter unless the program is excluded from licensure under subdivision 2.
(b) The commissioner may ask the appropriate county attorney or the attorney general to begin proceedings to secure a court order against the continued operation of the program, if an individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, other organization, or controlling individual has:
(1) failed to apply for a license after receiving notice that a license is required or continues to operate without a license after receiving notice that a license is required;
(2) continued to operate without a license after the license has been revoked or suspended under section 245A.07, and the commissioner has issued a final order affirming the revocation or suspension, or the license holder did not timely appeal the sanction; or
(3) continued to operate without a license after the license has been temporarily suspended under section 245A.07.
The county attorney and the attorney general have a duty to cooperate with the commissioner.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a child care program that is excluded from licensure under subdivision 2, clause (2), or under Laws 1997, chapter 248, section 46, as amended by Laws 1997, First Special Session chapter 5, section 10, from seeking a license under this chapter. The commissioner shall ensure that any application received from such an excluded provider is processed in the same manner as all other applications for licensed family day care.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a housing with services program that is excluded from licensure under subdivision 2, clause (25), from seeking a license under this chapter. The commissioner shall ensure that any application received from such an excluded provider is processed in the same manner as all other applications for licensed adult foster care.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a residential program licensed by the commissioner of corrections to serve children, that is excluded from licensure under subdivision 2, clause (10), from seeking certification from the commissioner of human services under this chapter for program services for which certification standards have been adopted.
(a) The commissioner shall not issue an initial license for child foster care licensed under Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.3000 to 2960.3340, or adult foster care licensed under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to 9555.6265, under this chapter for a physical location that will not be the primary residence of the license holder for the entire period of licensure. If a license is issued during this moratorium, and the license holder changes the license holder's primary residence away from the physical location of the foster care license, the commissioner shall revoke the license according to section 245A.07. Exceptions to the moratorium include:
(1) foster care settings that are required to be registered under chapter 144D;
(2) foster care licenses replacing foster care licenses in existence on May 15, 2009, and determined to be needed by the commissioner under paragraph (b);
(3) new foster care licenses determined to be needed by the commissioner under paragraph (b) for the closure of a nursing facility, ICF/MR, or regional treatment center;
(4) new foster care licenses determined to be needed by the commissioner under paragraph (b) for persons requiring hospital level care; or
(5) new foster care licenses determined to be needed by the commissioner for the transition of people from personal care assistance to the home and community-based services.
(b) The commissioner shall determine the need for newly licensed foster care homes as defined under this subdivision. As part of the determination, the commissioner shall consider the availability of foster care capacity in the area in which the licensee seeks to operate, and the recommendation of the local county board. The determination by the commissioner must be final. A determination of need is not required for a change in ownership at the same address.
(c) Residential settings that would otherwise be subject to the moratorium established in paragraph (a), that are in the process of receiving an adult or child foster care license as of July 1, 2009, shall be allowed to continue to complete the process of receiving an adult or child foster care license. For this paragraph, all of the following conditions must be met to be considered in the process of receiving an adult or child foster care license:
(1) participants have made decisions to move into the residential setting, including documentation in each participant's care plan;
(2) the provider has purchased housing or has made a financial investment in the property;
(3) the lead agency has approved the plans, including costs for the residential setting for each individual;
(4) the completion of the licensing process, including all necessary inspections, is the only remaining component prior to being able to provide services; and
(5) the needs of the individuals cannot be met within the existing capacity in that county.
To qualify for the process under this paragraph, the lead agency must submit documentation to the commissioner by August 1, 2009, that all of the above criteria are met.
(d) The commissioner shall study the effects of the license moratorium under this subdivision and shall report back to the legislature by January 15, 2011. This study shall include, but is not limited to the following:
(1) the overall capacity and utilization of foster care beds where the physical location is not the primary residence of the license holder prior to and after implementation of the moratorium;
(2) the overall capacity and utilization of foster care beds where the physical location is the primary residence of the license holder prior to and after implementation of the moratorium; and
(3) the number of licensed and occupied ICF/MR beds prior to and after implementation of the moratorium.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a program that is excluded from licensure under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (28), from seeking licensure. The commissioner shall ensure that any application received from such an excluded provider is processed in the same manner as all other applications for child care center licensure.
Notwithstanding subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (1), and subdivision 7, an individual who is related to a person receiving supported living services may provide licensed services to that person if:
(1) the person who receives supported living services received these services in a residential site on July 1, 2005;
(2) the services under clause (1) were provided in a corporate foster care setting for adults and were funded by the developmental disabilities home and community-based services waiver defined in section 256B.092;
(3) the individual who is related obtains and maintains both a license under chapter 245B and an adult foster care license under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to 9555.6265; and
(4) the individual who is related is not the guardian of the person receiving supported living services.
1987 c 333 s 3; 1988 c 411 s 2; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 66-68; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 41; 1991 c 265 art 9 s 63; 1992 c 499 art 3 s 12; 1992 c 513 art 9 s 9; 1993 c 338 s 3,4; 1993 c 339 s 5; 1994 c 483 s 1; 1994 c 598 s 1,2; 1994 c 631 s 3,4,31; 1995 c 158 s 3; 1995 c 207 art 2 s 5; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1997 c 113 s 16; 1997 c 248 s 9; 1998 c 397 art 11 s 3; 1998 c 406 art 1 s 4,37; 1998 c 407 art 6 s 3,4; art 9 s 4; 2000 c 327 s 1,2,6; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 14 s 7-9; 2002 c 375 art 1 s 7; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2003 c 130 s 12; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 8,9; 2005 c 56 s 1; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 1 s 5,6; 2007 c 112 s 3; 2009 c 79 art 8 s 8; 2009 c 86 art 1 s 89; 2009 c 142 art 2 s 12,13; 2009 c 173 art 1 s 43; 2010 c 329 art 1 s 2,3; 2010 c 352 art 1 s 4,5
Notwithstanding section 245A.03, subdivision 2a, or 245C.13, subdivision 2, a county agency may place a child with a relative who is not licensed to provide foster care, provided the requirements of this section are met. As used in this section, the term "relative" has the meaning given it under section 260C.007, subdivision 27.
(a) A county agency that places a child with a relative who is not licensed to provide foster care must conduct the initial inspection required by subdivision 3, clause (1), whenever possible, prior to placing the child in the relative's home, but no later than three working days after placing the child in the home. A child placed in the home of a relative who is not licensed to provide foster care must be removed from that home if the relative fails to cooperate with the county agency.
(b) If a child is to be placed in the home of a relative not licensed to provide foster care, either the placing agency or the county agency in the county in which the relative lives shall conduct the emergency placement process as required in this section.
Before an emergency placement may be made, the following requirements must be met:
(1) the county agency must conduct an initial inspection of the premises where the placement is to be made to ensure the health and safety of any child placed in the home. The county agency shall conduct the inspection using a form developed by the commissioner;
(2) at the time of the inspection or placement, whichever is earlier, the county agency must provide the relative being considered for an emergency placement an application form for a child foster care license;
(3) whenever possible, prior to placing the child in the relative's home, the relative being considered for an emergency placement shall provide the information required by section 245C.05; and
(4) if the county determines, prior to the emergency placement, that anyone requiring a background study prior to licensure of the home is disqualified under chapter 245C, and the disqualification is one which the commissioner cannot set aside, an emergency placement must not be made.
When the county agency has received the information required by section 245C.05, the county agency shall submit the information to the commissioner according to section 245C.05.
(a) The relatives with whom the emergency placement has been made shall complete the child foster care license application and necessary paperwork within ten days of the placement. The county agency shall assist the applicant to complete the application. The granting of a child foster care license to a relative shall be under the procedures in this chapter and according to the standards in Minnesota Rules, chapter 2960. In licensing a relative, the commissioner shall consider the importance of maintaining the child's relationship with relatives as an additional significant factor in determining whether a background study disqualification should be set aside under section 245C.22, or a variance should be granted under section 245C.30.
(b) When the county or private child-placing agency is processing an application for child foster care licensure of a relative as defined in section 260B.007, subdivision 12, or 260C.007, subdivision 27, the county agency or child-placing agency must explain the licensing process to the prospective licensee, including the background study process and the procedure for reconsideration of an initial disqualification for licensure. The county or private child-placing agency must also provide the prospective relative licensee with information regarding appropriate options for legal representation in the pertinent geographic area. If a relative is initially disqualified under section 245C.14, the commissioner must provide written notice of the reasons for the disqualification and the right to request a reconsideration by the commissioner as required under section 245C.17.
(c) The commissioner shall maintain licensing data so that activities related to applications and licensing actions for relative foster care providers may be distinguished from other child foster care settings.
1995 c 207 art 2 s 6; 1996 c 421 s 1; 1998 c 406 art 1 s 5,37; 1998 c 407 art 9 s 5; 2001 c 178 art 1 s 44; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 14 s 10; 2002 c 375 art 1 s 8; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2003 c 15 art 1 s 33; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 6 s 4; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 1 s 7,8; 2007 c 147 art 3 s 1
(a) An individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, other organization or controlling individual that is subject to licensure under section 245A.03 must apply for a license. The application must be made on the forms and in the manner prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner shall provide the applicant with instruction in completing the application and provide information about the rules and requirements of other state agencies that affect the applicant. An applicant seeking licensure in Minnesota with headquarters outside of Minnesota must have a program office located within the state.
The commissioner shall act on the application within 90 working days after a complete application and any required reports have been received from other state agencies or departments, counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions. The commissioner shall not consider an application to be complete until the commissioner receives all of the information required under section 245C.05.
(b) An application for licensure must specify one or more controlling individuals as an agent who is responsible for dealing with the commissioner of human services on all matters provided for in this chapter and on whom service of all notices and orders must be made. The agent must be authorized to accept service on behalf of all of the controlling individuals of the program. Service on the agent is service on all of the controlling individuals of the program. It is not a defense to any action arising under this chapter that service was not made on each controlling individual of the program. The designation of one or more controlling individuals as agents under this paragraph does not affect the legal responsibility of any other controlling individual under this chapter.
(c) An applicant or license holder must have a policy that prohibits license holders, employees, subcontractors, and volunteers, when directly responsible for persons served by the program, from abusing prescription medication or being in any manner under the influence of a chemical that impairs the individual's ability to provide services or care. The license holder must train employees, subcontractors, and volunteers about the program's drug and alcohol policy.
(d) An applicant and license holder must have a program grievance procedure that permits persons served by the program and their authorized representatives to bring a grievance to the highest level of authority in the program.
The commissioner must not issue a license without giving 30 calendar days' written notice to the affected municipality or other political subdivision unless the program is considered a permitted single-family residential use under sections 245A.11 and 245A.14. The notification must be given before the first issuance of a license and annually after that time if annual notification is requested in writing by the affected municipality or other political subdivision. State funds must not be made available to or be spent by an agency or department of state, county, or municipal government for payment to a residential or nonresidential program licensed under this chapter until the provisions of this subdivision have been complied with in full. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to programs located in hospitals.
Individuals and organizations that are required under section 245C.03 to have or initiate background studies shall comply with the requirements in chapter 245C.
The notice of background study results and the commissioner's determination of the background subject's risk of harm shall be governed according to sections 245C.16 and 245C.17.
Reconsideration of a disqualification shall be governed according to sections 245C.21 to 245C.27.
Contested case hearing rights related to a disqualification shall be governed according to section 245C.28.
Disqualification shall be governed according to sections 245C.14 and 245C.15.
A variance for a disqualified individual shall be governed according to section 245C.30.
Whether a disqualification determination or maltreatment determination or disposition is deemed conclusive shall be governed according to section 245C.29.
(a) Before issuing an initial license, the commissioner shall conduct an inspection of the program. The inspection must include but is not limited to:
(1) an inspection of the physical plant;
(2) an inspection of records and documents;
(3) an evaluation of the program by consumers of the program; and
(4) observation of the program in operation.
For the purposes of this subdivision, "consumer" means a person who receives the services of a licensed program, the person's legal guardian, or the parent or individual having legal custody of a child who receives the services of a licensed program.
(b) The evaluation required in paragraph (a), clause (3) or the observation in paragraph (a), clause (4) is not required prior to issuing an initial license under subdivision 7. If the commissioner issues an initial license under subdivision 7, these requirements must be completed within one year after the issuance of an initial license.
When the commissioner is exercising the powers conferred by this chapter and sections 245.69, 626.556, and 626.557, the commissioner must be given access to the physical plant and grounds where the program is provided, documents and records, including records maintained in electronic format, persons served by the program, and staff whenever the program is in operation and the information is relevant to inspections or investigations conducted by the commissioner. The commissioner must be given access without prior notice and as often as the commissioner considers necessary if the commissioner is investigating alleged maltreatment, conducting a licensing inspection, or investigating an alleged violation of applicable laws or rules. In conducting inspections, the commissioner may request and shall receive assistance from other state, county, and municipal governmental agencies and departments. The applicant or license holder shall allow the commissioner to photocopy, photograph, and make audio and video tape recordings during the inspection of the program at the commissioner's expense. The commissioner shall obtain a court order or the consent of the subject of the records or the parents or legal guardian of the subject before photocopying hospital medical records.
Persons served by the program have the right to refuse to consent to be interviewed, photographed, or audio or videotaped. Failure or refusal of an applicant or license holder to fully comply with this subdivision is reasonable cause for the commissioner to deny the application or immediately suspend or revoke the license.
Before issuing, denying, suspending, revoking, or making conditional a license, the commissioner shall evaluate information gathered under this section. The commissioner's evaluation shall consider facts, conditions, or circumstances concerning the program's operation, the well-being of persons served by the program, available consumer evaluations of the program, and information about the qualifications of the personnel employed by the applicant or license holder.
The commissioner shall evaluate the results of the study required in subdivision 3 and determine whether a risk of harm to the persons served by the program exists. In conducting this evaluation, the commissioner shall apply the disqualification standards set forth in chapter 245C.
(a) If the commissioner determines that the program complies with all applicable rules and laws, the commissioner shall issue a license. At minimum, the license shall state:
(1) the name of the license holder;
(2) the address of the program;
(3) the effective date and expiration date of the license;
(4) the type of license;
(5) the maximum number and ages of persons that may receive services from the program; and
(6) any special conditions of licensure.
(b) The commissioner may issue an initial license for a period not to exceed two years if:
(1) the commissioner is unable to conduct the evaluation or observation required by subdivision 4, paragraph (a), clauses (3) and (4), because the program is not yet operational;
(2) certain records and documents are not available because persons are not yet receiving services from the program; and
(3) the applicant complies with applicable laws and rules in all other respects.
(c) A decision by the commissioner to issue a license does not guarantee that any person or persons will be placed or cared for in the licensed program. A license shall not be transferable to another individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, other organization, or controlling individual or to another location.
(d) A license holder must notify the commissioner and obtain the commissioner's approval before making any changes that would alter the license information listed under paragraph (a).
(e) Except as provided in paragraphs (g) and (h), the commissioner shall not issue or reissue a license if the applicant, license holder, or controlling individual has:
(1) been disqualified and the disqualification was not set aside and no variance has been granted;
(2) has been denied a license within the past two years;
(3) had a license revoked within the past five years; or
(4) has an outstanding debt related to a license fee, licensing fine, or settlement agreement for which payment is delinquent.
When a license is revoked under clause (1) or (3), the license holder and controlling individual may not hold any license under chapter 245A or 245B for five years following the revocation, and other licenses held by the applicant, license holder, or controlling individual shall also be revoked.
(f) The commissioner shall not issue or reissue a license if an individual living in the household where the licensed services will be provided as specified under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, has been disqualified and the disqualification has not been set aside and no variance has been granted.
(g) Pursuant to section 245A.07, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), when a license has been suspended or revoked and the suspension or revocation is under appeal, the program may continue to operate pending a final order from the commissioner. If the license under suspension or revocation will expire before a final order is issued, a temporary provisional license may be issued provided any applicable license fee is paid before the temporary provisional license is issued.
(h) Notwithstanding paragraph (g), when a revocation is based on the disqualification of a controlling individual or license holder, and the controlling individual or license holder is ordered under section 245C.17 to be immediately removed from direct contact with persons receiving services or is ordered to be under continuous, direct supervision when providing direct contact services, the program may continue to operate only if the program complies with the order and submits documentation demonstrating compliance with the order. If the disqualified individual fails to submit a timely request for reconsideration, or if the disqualification is not set aside and no variance is granted, the order to immediately remove the individual from direct contact or to be under continuous, direct supervision remains in effect pending the outcome of a hearing and final order from the commissioner.
(i) For purposes of reimbursement for meals only, under the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, subtitle B, chapter II, subchapter A, part 226, relocation within the same county by a licensed family day care provider, shall be considered an extension of the license for a period of no more than 30 calendar days or until the new license is issued, whichever occurs first, provided the county agency has determined the family day care provider meets licensure requirements at the new location.
(j) Unless otherwise specified by statute, all licenses expire at 12:01 a.m. on the day after the expiration date stated on the license. A license holder must apply for and be granted a new license to operate the program or the program must not be operated after the expiration date.
(k) The commissioner shall not issue or reissue a license if it has been determined that a tribal licensing authority has established jurisdiction to license the program or service.
Licensing authority granted under this section shall not modify the presumption regarding routine hospital inspections under section 144.55, subdivision 4.
The commissioner may grant variances to rules that do not affect the health or safety of persons in a licensed program if the following conditions are met:
(1) the variance must be requested by an applicant or license holder on a form and in a manner prescribed by the commissioner;
(2) the request for a variance must include the reasons that the applicant or license holder cannot comply with a requirement as stated in the rule and the alternative equivalent measures that the applicant or license holder will follow to comply with the intent of the rule; and
(3) the request must state the period of time for which the variance is requested.
The commissioner may grant a permanent variance when conditions under which the variance is requested do not affect the health or safety of persons being served by the licensed program, nor compromise the qualifications of staff to provide services. The permanent variance shall expire as soon as the conditions that warranted the variance are modified in any way. Any applicant or license holder must inform the commissioner of any changes or modifications that have occurred in the conditions that warranted the permanent variance. Failure to advise the commissioner shall result in revocation of the permanent variance and may be cause for other sanctions under sections 245A.06 and 245A.07.
The commissioner's decision to grant or deny a variance request is final and not subject to appeal under the provisions of chapter 14.
In addition to the other requirements of this section, an individual, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, other organization, or controlling individual applying for a license to place children for adoption must:
(1) incorporate as a nonprofit corporation under chapter 317A;
(2) file with the application for licensure a copy of the disclosure form required under section 259.37, subdivision 2;
(3) provide evidence that a bond has been obtained and will be continuously maintained throughout the entire operating period of the agency, to cover the cost of transfer of records to and storage of records by the agency which has agreed, according to rule established by the commissioner, to receive the applicant agency's records if the applicant agency voluntarily or involuntarily ceases operation and fails to provide for proper transfer of the records. The bond must be made in favor of the agency which has agreed to receive the records; and
(4) submit a certified audit to the commissioner each year the license is renewed as required under section 245A.03, subdivision 1.
(a) The education program offered in a residential or nonresidential program, except for child care, foster care, or services for adults, must be approved by the commissioner of education before the commissioner of human services may grant a license to the program.
(b) A residential program licensed by the commissioner of human services under Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.0010 to 2960.0710, may serve persons through the age of 19 when:
(1) the admission or continued stay is necessary for a person to complete a secondary school program or its equivalent, or it is necessary to facilitate a transition period after completing the secondary school program or its equivalent for up to four months in order for the resident to obtain other living arrangements;
(2) the facility develops policies, procedures, and plans required under section 245A.65;
(3) the facility documents an assessment of the 18- or 19-year-old person's risk of victimizing children residing in the facility, and develops necessary risk reduction measures, including sleeping arrangements, to minimize any risk of harm to children; and
(4) notwithstanding the license holder's target population age range, whenever persons age 18 or 19 years old are receiving residential services, the age difference among residents may not exceed five years.
(c) A child foster care program licensed by the commissioner under Minnesota Rules, chapter 2960, may serve persons who are over the age of 18 but under the age of 21 when the person is:
(1) completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;
(2) enrolled in an institution which provides postsecondary or vocational education;
(3) participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment;
(4) employed for at least 80 hours per month; or
(5) incapable of doing any of the activities described in clauses (1) to (4) due to a medical condition, which incapability is supported by regularly updated information in the case plan of the person.
(d) Nothing in this paragraph precludes the license holder from seeking other variances under subdivision 9.
(a) If an adult day care facility markets or otherwise promotes services for persons with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders, the facility's direct care staff and their supervisors must be trained in dementia care.
(b) Areas of required training include:
(1) an explanation of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders;
(2) assistance with activities of daily living;
(3) problem solving with challenging behaviors; and
(4) communication skills.
(c) The facility shall provide to consumers in written or electronic form a description of the training program, the categories of employees trained, the frequency of training, and the basic topics covered.
(a) A license holder must ensure that persons served by the program retain the use and availability of personal funds or property unless restrictions are justified in the person's individual plan. This subdivision does not apply to programs governed by the provisions in section 245B.07, subdivision 10.
(b) The license holder must ensure separation of funds of persons served by the program from funds of the license holder, the program, or program staff.
(c) Whenever the license holder assists a person served by the program with the safekeeping of funds or other property, the license holder must:
(1) immediately document receipt and disbursement of the person's funds or other property at the time of receipt or disbursement, including the person's signature, or the signature of the conservator or payee; and
(2) return to the person upon the person's request, funds and property in the license holder's possession subject to restrictions in the person's treatment plan, as soon as possible, but no later than three working days after the date of request.
(d) License holders and program staff must not:
(1) borrow money from a person served by the program;
(2) purchase personal items from a person served by the program;
(3) sell merchandise or personal services to a person served by the program;
(4) require a person served by the program to purchase items for which the license holder is eligible for reimbursement; or
(5) use funds of persons served by the program to purchase items for which the facility is already receiving public or private payments.
(a) The license holder shall develop program policies and procedures necessary to maintain compliance with licensing requirements under Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules.
(b) The license holder shall:
(1) provide training to program staff related to their duties in implementing the program's policies and procedures developed under paragraph (a);
(2) document the provision of this training; and
(3) monitor implementation of policies and procedures by program staff.
(c) The license holder shall keep program policies and procedures readily accessible to staff and index the policies and procedures with a table of contents or another method approved by the commissioner.
Upon request, the license holder must cooperate with state and local government disaster planning agencies working to prepare for or react to emergencies presented by a pandemic outbreak.
1987 c 333 s 4; 1988 c 411 s 3,4; 1988 c 608 s 2; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 69-76; 1990 c 542 s 7; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 42-44; 1991 c 38 s 1; 1992 c 513 art 9 s 10; 1993 c 171 s 3,4; 1993 c 306 s 1; 1993 c 338 s 5; 1993 c 351 s 29; 1994 c 434 s 1-3; 1994 c 465 art 1 s 29; 1994 c 631 s 5,31; 1995 c 207 art 2 s 7-10; 1995 c 229 art 3 s 5; art 4 s 11; 1996 c 408 art 10 s 5; 1997 c 177 s 1; 1997 c 248 s 10-18; 1998 c 367 art 2 s 32; 1998 c 406 art 1 s 6,7,37; 1998 c 407 art 9 s 6,7; 1999 c 139 art 4 s 2; 1999 c 241 art 2 s 53; 1999 c 245 art 4 s 9; 2000 c 260 s 29; 2000 c 319 s 1; 2000 c 327 s 3-6; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 14 s 11-18; 2002 c 292 s 1,2; 2002 c 375 art 1 s 9-12; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2003 c 15 art 2 s 1-8; 2003 c 37 s 4; 2003 c 130 s 12; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 10-14; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 1 s 9,10; 2007 c 112 s 4-6; 2009 c 142 art 2 s 14,15; 2010 c 301 art 3 s 1; 2010 c 329 art 1 s 4,5
The commissioner's establishment and use of systems and records to fulfill the requirements under chapter 245C shall be governed according to section 245C.32, subdivisions 1 and 2.
National records searches shall be governed according to section 245C.32, subdivision 3.
(a) The commissioner may deny a license if an applicant or controlling individual:
(1) fails to comply with applicable laws or rules;
(2) knowingly withholds relevant information from or gives false or misleading information to the commissioner in connection with an application for a license or during an investigation;
(3) has a disqualification that has not been set aside under section 245C.22 and no variance has been granted;
(4) has an individual living in the household who received a background study under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (2), who has a disqualification that has not been set aside under section 245C.22, and no variance has been granted; or
(5) is associated with an individual who received a background study under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (6), who may have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults, and who has a disqualification that has not been set aside under section 245C.22, and no variance has been granted.
(b) An applicant whose application has been denied by the commissioner must be given notice of the denial. Notice must be given by certified mail or personal service. The notice must state the reasons the application was denied and must inform the applicant of the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The applicant may appeal the denial by notifying the commissioner in writing by certified mail or personal service. If mailed, the appeal must be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within 20 calendar days after the applicant received the notice of denial. If an appeal request is made by personal service, it must be received by the commissioner within 20 calendar days after the applicant received the notice of denial. Section 245A.08 applies to hearings held to appeal the commissioner's denial of an application.
1987 c 333 s 5; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 14 s 19; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 15; 2009 c 142 art 2 s 16
(a) If the commissioner finds that the applicant or license holder has failed to comply with an applicable law or rule and this failure does not imminently endanger the health, safety, or rights of the persons served by the program, the commissioner may issue a correction order and an order of conditional license to the applicant or license holder. When issuing a conditional license, the commissioner shall consider the nature, chronicity, or severity of the violation of law or rule and the effect of the violation on the health, safety, or rights of persons served by the program. The correction order or conditional license must state:
(1) the conditions that constitute a violation of the law or rule;
(2) the specific law or rule violated;
(3) the time allowed to correct each violation; and
(4) if a license is made conditional, the length and terms of the conditional license.
(b) Nothing in this section prohibits the commissioner from proposing a sanction as specified in section 245A.07, prior to issuing a correction order or conditional license.
If the applicant or license holder believes that the contents of the commissioner's correction order are in error, the applicant or license holder may ask the Department of Human Services to reconsider the parts of the correction order that are alleged to be in error. The request for reconsideration must be made in writing and must be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within 20 calendar days after receipt of the correction order by the applicant or license holder, and:
(1) specify the parts of the correction order that are alleged to be in error;
(2) explain why they are in error; and
(3) include documentation to support the allegation of error.
A request for reconsideration does not stay any provisions or requirements of the correction order. The commissioner's disposition of a request for reconsideration is final and not subject to appeal under chapter 14.
If the commissioner finds that the applicant or license holder has not corrected the violations specified in the correction order or conditional license, the commissioner may impose a fine and order other licensing sanctions pursuant to section 245A.07.
If a license is made conditional, the license holder must be notified of the order by certified mail or personal service. If mailed, the notice must be mailed to the address shown on the application or the last known address of the license holder. The notice must state the reasons the conditional license was ordered and must inform the license holder of the right to request reconsideration of the conditional license by the commissioner. The license holder may request reconsideration of the order of conditional license by notifying the commissioner by certified mail or personal service. The request must be made in writing. If sent by certified mail, the request must be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license holder received the order. If a request is made by personal service, it must be received by the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license holder received the order. The license holder may submit with the request for reconsideration written argument or evidence in support of the request for reconsideration. A timely request for reconsideration shall stay imposition of the terms of the conditional license until the commissioner issues a decision on the request for reconsideration. If the commissioner issues a dual order of conditional license under this section and an order to pay a fine under section 245A.07, subdivision 3, the license holder has a right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The scope of the contested case hearing shall include the fine and the conditional license. In this case, a reconsideration of the conditional license will not be conducted under this section. If the license holder does not appeal the fine, the license holder does not have a right to a contested case hearing and a reconsideration of the conditional license must be conducted under this subdivision.
The commissioner's disposition of a request for reconsideration is final and not subject to appeal under chapter 14.
For licensed family child care providers and child care centers, upon receipt of any correction order or order of conditional license issued by the commissioner under this section, and notwithstanding a pending request for reconsideration of the correction order or order of conditional license by the license holder, the license holder shall post the correction order or order of conditional license in a place that is conspicuous to the people receiving services and all visitors to the facility for two years. When the correction order or order of conditional license is accompanied by a maltreatment investigation memorandum prepared under section 626.556 or 626.557, the investigation memoranda must be posted with the correction order or order of conditional license.
1987 c 333 s 6; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 77-79; 1993 c 338 s 6; 1995 c 207 art 2 s 11-13; 1997 c 248 s 19-25; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 14 s 20; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 16,17; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 1 s 11; 2007 c 112 s 7
(a) In addition to making a license conditional under section 245A.06, the commissioner may suspend or revoke the license, impose a fine, or secure an injunction against the continuing operation of the program of a license holder who does not comply with applicable law or rule. When applying sanctions authorized under this section, the commissioner shall consider the nature, chronicity, or severity of the violation of law or rule and the effect of the violation on the health, safety, or rights of persons served by the program.
(b) If a license holder appeals the suspension or revocation of a license and the license holder continues to operate the program pending a final order on the appeal, the commissioner shall issue the license holder a temporary provisional license. Unless otherwise specified by the commissioner, variances in effect on the date of the license sanction under appeal continue under the temporary provisional license. If a license holder fails to comply with applicable law or rule while operating under a temporary provisional license, the commissioner may impose additional sanctions under this section and section 245A.06, and may terminate any prior variance. If a temporary provisional license is set to expire, a new temporary provisional license shall be issued to the license holder upon payment of any fee required under section 245A.10. The temporary provisional license shall expire on the date the final order is issued. If the license holder prevails on the appeal, a new nonprovisional license shall be issued for the remainder of the current license period.
(c) If a license holder is under investigation and the license is due to expire before completion of the investigation, the program shall be issued a new license upon completion of the reapplication requirements and payment of any applicable license fee. Upon completion of the investigation, a licensing sanction may be imposed against the new license under this section, section 245A.06, or 245A.08.
(d) Failure to reapply or closure of a license by the license holder prior to the completion of any investigation shall not preclude the commissioner from issuing a licensing sanction under this section, section 245A.06, or 245A.08 at the conclusion of the investigation.
If the license holder's actions or failure to comply with applicable law or rule, or the actions of other individuals or conditions in the program pose an imminent risk of harm to the health, safety, or rights of persons served by the program, the commissioner shall act immediately to temporarily suspend the license. No state funds shall be made available or be expended by any agency or department of state, county, or municipal government for use by a license holder regulated under this chapter while a license is under immediate suspension. A notice stating the reasons for the immediate suspension and informing the license holder of the right to an expedited hearing under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612, must be delivered by personal service to the address shown on the application or the last known address of the license holder. The license holder may appeal an order immediately suspending a license. The appeal of an order immediately suspending a license must be made in writing by certified mail or personal service. If mailed, the appeal must be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within five calendar days after the license holder receives notice that the license has been immediately suspended. If a request is made by personal service, it must be received by the commissioner within five calendar days after the license holder received the order. A license holder and any controlling individual shall discontinue operation of the program upon receipt of the commissioner's order to immediately suspend the license.
(a) Within five working days of receipt of the license holder's timely appeal, the commissioner shall request assignment of an administrative law judge. The request must include a proposed date, time, and place of a hearing. A hearing must be conducted by an administrative law judge within 30 calendar days of the request for assignment, unless an extension is requested by either party and granted by the administrative law judge for good cause. The commissioner shall issue a notice of hearing by certified mail or personal service at least ten working days before the hearing. The scope of the hearing shall be limited solely to the issue of whether the temporary immediate suspension should remain in effect pending the commissioner's final order under section 245A.08, regarding a licensing sanction issued under subdivision 3 following the immediate suspension. The burden of proof in expedited hearings under this subdivision shall be limited to the commissioner's demonstration that reasonable cause exists to believe that the license holder's actions or failure to comply with applicable law or rule poses, or if the actions of other individuals or conditions in the program poses an imminent risk of harm to the health, safety, or rights of persons served by the program. "Reasonable cause" means there exist specific articulable facts or circumstances which provide the commissioner with a reasonable suspicion that there is an imminent risk of harm to the health, safety, or rights of persons served by the program.
(b) The administrative law judge shall issue findings of fact, conclusions, and a recommendation within ten working days from the date of hearing. The parties shall have ten calendar days to submit exceptions to the administrative law judge's report. The record shall close at the end of the ten-day period for submission of exceptions. The commissioner's final order shall be issued within ten working days from the close of the record. Within 90 calendar days after a final order affirming an immediate suspension, the commissioner shall make a determination regarding whether a final licensing sanction shall be issued under subdivision 3. The license holder shall continue to be prohibited from operation of the program during this 90-day period.
(c) When the final order under paragraph (b) affirms an immediate suspension, and a final licensing sanction is issued under subdivision 3 and the license holder appeals that sanction, the license holder continues to be prohibited from operation of the program pending a final commissioner's order under section 245A.08, subdivision 5, regarding the final licensing sanction.
(a) The commissioner may suspend or revoke a license, or impose a fine if a license holder fails to comply fully with applicable laws or rules, if a license holder, a controlling individual, or an individual living in the household where the licensed services are provided or is otherwise subject to a background study has a disqualification which has not been set aside under section 245C.22, or if a license holder knowingly withholds relevant information from or gives false or misleading information to the commissioner in connection with an application for a license, in connection with the background study status of an individual, during an investigation, or regarding compliance with applicable laws or rules. A license holder who has had a license suspended, revoked, or has been ordered to pay a fine must be given notice of the action by certified mail or personal service. If mailed, the notice must be mailed to the address shown on the application or the last known address of the license holder. The notice must state the reasons the license was suspended, revoked, or a fine was ordered.
(b) If the license was suspended or revoked, the notice must inform the license holder of the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The license holder may appeal an order suspending or revoking a license. The appeal of an order suspending or revoking a license must be made in writing by certified mail or personal service. If mailed, the appeal must be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license holder receives notice that the license has been suspended or revoked. If a request is made by personal service, it must be received by the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license holder received the order. Except as provided in subdivision 2a, paragraph (c), if a license holder submits a timely appeal of an order suspending or revoking a license, the license holder may continue to operate the program as provided in section 245A.04, subdivision 7, paragraphs (g) and (h), until the commissioner issues a final order on the suspension or revocation.
(c)(1) If the license holder was ordered to pay a fine, the notice must inform the license holder of the responsibility for payment of fines and the right to a contested case hearing under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The appeal of an order to pay a fine must be made in writing by certified mail or personal service. If mailed, the appeal must be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license holder receives notice that the fine has been ordered. If a request is made by personal service, it must be received by the commissioner within ten calendar days after the license holder received the order.
(2) The license holder shall pay the fines assessed on or before the payment date specified. If the license holder fails to fully comply with the order, the commissioner may issue a second fine or suspend the license until the license holder complies. If the license holder receives state funds, the state, county, or municipal agencies or departments responsible for administering the funds shall withhold payments and recover any payments made while the license is suspended for failure to pay a fine. A timely appeal shall stay payment of the fine until the commissioner issues a final order.
(3) A license holder shall promptly notify the commissioner of human services, in writing, when a violation specified in the order to forfeit a fine is corrected. If upon reinspection the commissioner determines that a violation has not been corrected as indicated by the order to forfeit a fine, the commissioner may issue a second fine. The commissioner shall notify the license holder by certified mail or personal service that a second fine has been assessed. The license holder may appeal the second fine as provided under this subdivision.
(4) Fines shall be assessed as follows: the license holder shall forfeit $1,000 for each determination of maltreatment of a child under section 626.556 or the maltreatment of a vulnerable adult under section 626.557 for which the license holder is determined responsible for the maltreatment under section 626.556, subdivision 10e, paragraph (i), or 626.557, subdivision 9c, paragraph (c); the license holder shall forfeit $200 for each occurrence of a violation of law or rule governing matters of health, safety, or supervision, including but not limited to the provision of adequate staff-to-child or adult ratios, and failure to comply with background study requirements under chapter 245C; and the license holder shall forfeit $100 for each occurrence of a violation of law or rule other than those subject to a $1,000 or $200 fine above. For purposes of this section, "occurrence" means each violation identified in the commissioner's fine order. Fines assessed against a license holder that holds a license to provide the residential-based habilitation services, as defined under section 245B.02, subdivision 20, and a license to provide foster care, may be assessed against both licenses for the same occurrence, but the combined amount of the fines shall not exceed the amount specified in this clause for that occurrence.
(5) When a fine has been assessed, the license holder may not avoid payment by closing, selling, or otherwise transferring the licensed program to a third party. In such an event, the license holder will be personally liable for payment. In the case of a corporation, each controlling individual is personally and jointly liable for payment.
If a license holder licensed to place children for adoption fails to provide services as described in the disclosure form required by section 259.37, subdivision 2, the sanctions under this section may be imposed.
For licensed family child care providers and child care centers, upon receipt of any order of license suspension, temporary immediate suspension, fine, or revocation issued by the commissioner under this section, and notwithstanding a pending appeal of the order of license suspension, temporary immediate suspension, fine, or revocation by the license holder, the license holder shall post the order of license suspension, temporary immediate suspension, fine, or revocation in a place that is conspicuous to the people receiving services and all visitors to the facility for two years. When the order of license suspension, temporary immediate suspension, fine, or revocation is accompanied by a maltreatment investigation memorandum prepared under section 626.556 or 626.557, the investigation memoranda must be posted with the order of license suspension, temporary immediate suspension, fine, or revocation.
(a) When the license holder appeals more than one licensing action or sanction that were simultaneously issued by the commissioner, the license holder shall specify the actions or sanctions that are being appealed.
(b) If there are different timelines prescribed in statutes for the licensing actions or sanctions being appealed, the license holder must submit the appeal within the longest of those timelines specified in statutes.
(c) The appeal must be made in writing by certified mail or personal service. If mailed, the appeal must be postmarked and sent to the commissioner within the prescribed timeline with the first day beginning the day after the license holder receives the certified letter. If a request is made by personal service, it must be received by the commissioner within the prescribed timeline with the first day beginning the day after the license holder receives the certified letter.
(d) When there are different timelines prescribed in statutes for the appeal of licensing actions or sanctions simultaneously issued by the commissioner, the commissioner shall specify in the notice to the license holder the timeline for appeal as specified under paragraph (b).
1987 c 333 s 7; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 80; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 45; 1992 c 513 art 9 s 11,12; 1994 c 631 s 6,31; 1995 c 207 art 2 s 14; 1997 c 248 s 26,27; 2000 c 327 s 6; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 14 s 21; 2002 c 375 art 1 s 13,14; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2002 c 396 s 2,3; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 18-20; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 1 s 12-14; 2007 c 112 s 8-10; 2008 c 317 s 1; 2009 c 142 art 2 s 17,18; 2010 c 329 art 1 s 6-8
Upon receiving a timely appeal or petition pursuant to section 245A.05, 245A.07, subdivision 3, or 245C.28, the commissioner shall issue a notice of and order for hearing to the appellant under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612.
At any hearing provided for by section 245A.05, 245A.07, subdivision 3, or 245C.28, the appellant may be represented by counsel and has the right to call, examine, and cross-examine witnesses. The administrative law judge may require the presence of witnesses and evidence by subpoena on behalf of any party.
(a) When a denial of a license under section 245A.05 or a licensing sanction under section 245A.07, subdivision 3, is based on a disqualification for which reconsideration was requested and which was not set aside under section 245C.22, the scope of the contested case hearing shall include the disqualification and the licensing sanction or denial of a license, unless otherwise specified in this subdivision. When the licensing sanction or denial of a license is based on a determination of maltreatment under section 626.556 or 626.557, or a disqualification for serious or recurring maltreatment which was not set aside, the scope of the contested case hearing shall include the maltreatment determination, disqualification, and the licensing sanction or denial of a license, unless otherwise specified in this subdivision. In such cases, a fair hearing under section 256.045 shall not be conducted as provided for in sections 245C.27, 626.556, subdivision 10i, and 626.557, subdivision 9d.
(b) Except for family child care and child foster care, reconsideration of a maltreatment determination under sections 626.556, subdivision 10i, and 626.557, subdivision 9d, and reconsideration of a disqualification under section 245C.22, shall not be conducted when:
(1) a denial of a license under section 245A.05, or a licensing sanction under section 245A.07, is based on a determination that the license holder is responsible for maltreatment or the disqualification of a license holder is based on serious or recurring maltreatment;
(2) the denial of a license or licensing sanction is issued at the same time as the maltreatment determination or disqualification; and
(3) the license holder appeals the maltreatment determination or disqualification, and denial of a license or licensing sanction. In these cases, a fair hearing shall not be conducted under sections 245C.27, 626.556, subdivision 10i, and 626.557, subdivision 9d. The scope of the contested case hearing must include the maltreatment determination, disqualification, and denial of a license or licensing sanction.
Notwithstanding clauses (1) to (3), if the license holder appeals the maltreatment determination or disqualification, but does not appeal the denial of a license or a licensing sanction, reconsideration of the maltreatment determination shall be conducted under sections 626.556, subdivision 10i, and 626.557, subdivision 9d, and reconsideration of the disqualification shall be conducted under section 245C.22. In such cases, a fair hearing shall also be conducted as provided under sections 245C.27, 626.556, subdivision 10i, and 626.557, subdivision 9d.
(c) In consolidated contested case hearings regarding sanctions issued in family child care, child foster care, family adult day services, and adult foster care, the county attorney shall defend the commissioner's orders in accordance with section 245A.16, subdivision 4.
(d) The commissioner's final order under subdivision 5 is the final agency action on the issue of maltreatment and disqualification, including for purposes of subsequent background studies under chapter 245C and is the only administrative appeal of the final agency determination, specifically, including a challenge to the accuracy and completeness of data under section 13.04.
(e) When consolidated hearings under this subdivision involve a licensing sanction based on a previous maltreatment determination for which the commissioner has issued a final order in an appeal of that determination under section 256.045, or the individual failed to exercise the right to appeal the previous maltreatment determination under section 626.556, subdivision 10i, or 626.557, subdivision 9d, the commissioner's order is conclusive on the issue of maltreatment. In such cases, the scope of the administrative law judge's review shall be limited to the disqualification and the licensing sanction or denial of a license. In the case of a denial of a license or a licensing sanction issued to a facility based on a maltreatment determination regarding an individual who is not the license holder or a household member, the scope of the administrative law judge's review includes the maltreatment determination.
(f) The hearings of all parties may be consolidated into a single contested case hearing upon consent of all parties and the administrative law judge, if:
(1) a maltreatment determination or disqualification, which was not set aside under section 245C.22, is the basis for a denial of a license under section 245A.05 or a licensing sanction under section 245A.07;
(2) the disqualified subject is an individual other than the license holder and upon whom a background study must be conducted under section 245C.03; and
(3) the individual has a hearing right under section 245C.27.
(g) When a denial of a license under section 245A.05 or a licensing sanction under section 245A.07 is based on a disqualification for which reconsideration was requested and was not set aside under section 245C.22, and the individual otherwise has no hearing right under section 245C.27, the scope of the administrative law judge's review shall include the denial or sanction and a determination whether the disqualification should be set aside, unless section 245C.24 prohibits the set-aside of the disqualification. In determining whether the disqualification should be set aside, the administrative law judge shall consider the factors under section 245C.22, subdivision 4, to determine whether the individual poses a risk of harm to any person receiving services from the license holder.
(h) Notwithstanding section 245C.30, subdivision 5, when a licensing sanction under section 245A.07 is based on the termination of a variance under section 245C.30, subdivision 4, the scope of the administrative law judge's review shall include the sanction and a determination whether the disqualification should be set aside, unless section 245C.24 prohibits the set-aside of the disqualification. In determining whether the disqualification should be set aside, the administrative law judge shall consider the factors under section 245C.22, subdivision 4, to determine whether the individual poses a risk of harm to any person receiving services from the license holder.
(a) At a hearing regarding a licensing sanction under section 245A.07, including consolidated hearings under subdivision 2a, the commissioner may demonstrate reasonable cause for action taken by submitting statements, reports, or affidavits to substantiate the allegations that the license holder failed to comply fully with applicable law or rule. If the commissioner demonstrates that reasonable cause existed, the burden of proof shifts to the license holder to demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the license holder was in full compliance with those laws or rules that the commissioner alleges the license holder violated, at the time that the commissioner alleges the violations of law or rules occurred.
(b) At a hearing on denial of an application, the applicant bears the burden of proof to demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the appellant has complied fully with this chapter and other applicable law or rule and that the application should be approved and a license granted.
The administrative law judge shall recommend whether or not the commissioner's order should be affirmed. The recommendations must be consistent with this chapter and the rules of the commissioner. The recommendations must be in writing and accompanied by findings of fact and conclusions and must be mailed to the parties by certified mail to their last known addresses as shown on the license or application.
After considering the findings of fact, conclusions, and recommendations of the administrative law judge, the commissioner shall issue a final order. The commissioner shall consider, but shall not be bound by, the recommendations of the administrative law judge. The appellant must be notified of the commissioner's final order as required by chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The notice must also contain information about the appellant's rights under chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. The institution of proceedings for judicial review of the commissioner's final order shall not stay the enforcement of the final order except as provided in section 14.65.
(a) A license holder and each controlling individual of a license holder whose license has been revoked because of noncompliance with applicable law or rule must not be granted a license for five years following the revocation. Notwithstanding the five-year restriction, when a license is revoked because a person, other than the license holder, resides in the home where services are provided and that person has a disqualification that is not set aside and no variance has been granted, the former license holder may reapply for a license when:
(1) the person with a disqualification, who is not a minor child, is no longer residing in the home and is prohibited from residing in or returning to the home; or
(2) the person with the disqualification is a minor child, the restriction applies until the minor child becomes an adult and permanently moves away from the home or five years, whichever is less.
(b) An applicant whose application was denied must not be granted a license for two years following a denial, unless the applicant's subsequent application contains new information which constitutes a substantial change in the conditions that caused the previous denial.
1987 c 333 s 8; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 81; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 46; 1997 c 248 s 28,29; 1999 c 245 art 4 s 10; 2000 c 327 s 6; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 14 s 22; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2003 c 15 art 1 s 33; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 21-23; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 1 s 15,16; 2007 c 112 s 11
Hearings authorized under this chapter, chapter 245C, and sections 256.045, 626.556, and 626.557, shall be consolidated if feasible and in accordance with other applicable statutes and rules. Reconsideration under sections 245C.28; 626.556, subdivision 10i; and 626.557, subdivision 9d, shall also be consolidated if feasible.
The commissioner shall adopt rules under chapter 14 to govern the operation, maintenance, and licensure of programs subject to licensure under this chapter. The commissioner shall not adopt any rules that are inconsistent with or duplicative of existing state or federal regulations. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prohibit the commissioner from incorporating existing state or federal regulations or accreditation standards by reference.
This subdivision applies to rules governing this chapter that are adopted after July 1, 1987. As appropriate for each type of license:
(a) The commissioner shall give preference in rule to standards that describe program outcomes and the practices that have been shown to result in the desired program outcomes.
(b) The rules may include model program standards for each type of program licensed by the commissioner.
(c) The rules shall include basic licensing standards governing licensure of each type of program licensed by the commissioner. The basic licensing standards must be met by all applicants and license holders. Basic licensing standards must include, but are not limited to:
(1) standards for adequate staff that take into account the age distribution and severity of the disability of persons served by the program;
(2) safety standards that take into account the size and conditions of the physical plant and studies of fire safety including studies of the interaction between fire detection factors, fire spread factors, and evacuation factors in case of a fire;
(3) standards for program services that describe, when appropriate, adequate levels of shelter, nutrition, planned activities, materials, and qualifications of individuals responsible for administering and delivering program services;
(4) standards that describe the characteristics of the settings where program services are to be delivered; and
(5) health and sanitation standards.
The commissioner may adopt rules under subdivision 1 to provide for the reduction of fees established under section 245A.10 when a license holder substantially exceeds the basic standards for licensure.
For rules adopted under this section after July 1, 1987, the commissioner shall evaluate the effects of the rules within three years after the date of adoption and at least once every five years thereafter. The evaluation must include an assessment of any discrepancies between the actual and intended effects of the rules, identification of necessary revisions, if any, and a discussion of the rules' effect on the availability and quality of licensed programs. The commissioner shall consider the results of the evaluation in amending and writing rules.
For rules adopted after July 1, 1987, the commissioner shall:
(1) summarize the rules in language understandable to the general public and inform license holders and applicants where they may obtain a copy of the rules and the summary;
(2) develop and provide each applicant with information describing the services offered to applicants by the commissioner and explaining the penalties for operating an unlicensed program or failing to fully comply with the commissioner's correction orders or applicable laws or rules;
(3) upon request, interpret rules for applicants and license holders; and
(4) take measures to ensure that rules are enforced uniformly throughout the state.
In developing rules, the commissioner shall request and receive consultation from: other state departments and agencies; counties and other affected political subdivisions that reflect the diversity of political subdivisions affected by the rule; persons and relatives of persons using the program governed by the rule; advocacy groups; and representatives of license holders affected by the rule. In choosing parties for consultation, the commissioner shall choose individuals and representatives of groups that reflect a cross section of urban, suburban, and rural areas of the state.
(a) Where appropriate and feasible the commissioner shall identify and implement alternative methods of regulation and enforcement to the extent authorized in this subdivision. These methods shall include:
(1) expansion of the types and categories of licenses that may be granted;
(2) when the standards of another state or federal governmental agency or an independent accreditation body have been shown to require the same standards, methods, or alternative methods to achieve substantially the same intended outcomes as the licensing standards, the commissioner shall consider compliance with the governmental or accreditation standards to be equivalent to partial compliance with the licensing standards; and
(3) use of an abbreviated inspection that employs key standards that have been shown to predict full compliance with the rules.
(b) If the commissioner accepts accreditation as documentation of compliance with a licensing standard under paragraph (a), the commissioner shall continue to investigate complaints related to noncompliance with all licensing standards. The commissioner may take a licensing action for noncompliance under this chapter and shall recognize all existing appeal rights regarding any licensing actions taken under this chapter.
(c) The commissioner shall work with the commissioners of health, public safety, administration, and education in consolidating duplicative licensing and certification rules and standards if the commissioner determines that consolidation is administratively feasible, would significantly reduce the cost of licensing, and would not reduce the protection given to persons receiving services in licensed programs. Where administratively feasible and appropriate, the commissioner shall work with the commissioners of health, public safety, administration, and education in conducting joint agency inspections of programs.
(d) The commissioner shall work with the commissioners of health, public safety, administration, and education in establishing a single point of application for applicants who are required to obtain concurrent licensure from more than one of the commissioners listed in this clause.
(e) Unless otherwise specified in statute, the commissioner may conduct routine inspections biennially.
The commissioner of human services may develop and publish interpretive guidelines.
Interpretive guidelines do not have the force and effect of law and have no precedential effect, but may be relied on by consumers, providers of service, county agencies, the Department of Human Services, and others concerned until revoked or modified. A guideline may be expressly revoked or modified by the commissioner, by the issuance of another interpretive guideline, but may not be revoked or modified retroactively to the detriment of consumers, providers of service, county agencies, the Department of Human Services, or others concerned. A change in the law or an interpretation of the law occurring after the interpretive guidelines are issued, whether in the form of a statute, court decision, administrative ruling, or subsequent interpretive guideline, results in the revocation or modification of the previously adopted guidelines to the extent that the change affects the guidelines.
When developing, making, adopting, and issuing interpretive guidelines under the authority granted under subdivision 8, the commissioner is exempt from the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14 until July 1, 1998.
The issuance of interpretive guidelines is at the discretion of the commissioner of human services.
The commissioner shall publish notice of interpretive guidelines availability in the State Register. The commissioner may publish or make available the interpretive guidelines in any manner determined by the commissioner, provided they are accessible to the general public. The commissioner may charge a reasonable fee for copies of the guidelines requested by interested parties when they are provided by the commissioner.
1987 c 333 s 9; 1993 c 338 s 7; 1995 c 207 art 2 s 15-19; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1997 c 187 art 4 s 7; 1997 c 248 s 30; 2000 c 327 s 6; 2003 c 130 s 12; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 6 s 8; 2005 c 56 s 1
Residential programs with five or more persons with a mental illness must be licensed under this chapter. To assure that this requirement is met, the commissioner of health, in cooperation with the commissioner of human services, shall monitor licensed boarding care homes, board and lodging houses, and supervised living facilities.
By January 1, 1989, the commissioner of health shall recommend to the legislature an appropriate method for enforcing this requirement.
In developing rules for serving persons with mental illness, the commissioner of human services shall assure that persons with mental illness are provided with needed treatment or support in the least restrictive, most appropriate environment, that supportive residential care in small homelike settings is available for persons needing that care, and that a mechanism is developed to ensure that no person is placed in a care or treatment setting inappropriate for meeting the person's needs. To the maximum extent possible, the rule shall assure that length of stay is governed solely by client need and shall allow for a variety of innovative and flexible approaches in meeting residential and support needs of persons with mental illness.
The commissioner shall:
(1) provide in rule for additional types of programs and services, including but not limited to supportive small group residential care, semi-independent and apartment living services, and crisis and respite services, to address the residential treatment and support needs of persons with mental illness;
(2) review category I and II programs established in Minnesota Rules, parts 9520.0500 to 9520.0690 to ensure that the categories of programs provide a continuum of residential service programs for persons with mental illness, including but not limited to programs meeting needs for intensive treatment, crisis and respite care, and rehabilitation and training;
(3) provide in rule for a definition of the term "treatment" as used in relation to persons with mental illness;
(4) adjust funding mechanisms by rule as needed to reflect the requirements established by rule for services being provided;
(5) review and recommend staff educational requirements and staff training as needed;
(6) review and make changes in rules relating to residential care and service programs for persons with mental illness as the commissioner may determine necessary; and
(7) the commissioner shall report to the legislature by February 15, 1990, on the status of rulemaking with respect to clauses (1) to (6).
(a) Unless exempt under paragraph (b), the commissioner shall charge a fee for evaluation of applications and inspection of programs which are licensed under this chapter.
(b) Except as provided under subdivision 2, no application or license fee shall be charged for child foster care, adult foster care, family and group family child care or state-operated programs, unless the state-operated program is an intermediate care facility for persons with developmental disabilities (ICF/MR).
(a) For purposes of family and group family child care licensing under this chapter, a county agency may charge a fee to an applicant or license holder to recover the actual cost of background studies, but in any case not to exceed $100 annually. A county agency may also charge a license fee to an applicant or license holder not to exceed $50 for a one-year license or $100 for a two-year license.
(b) A county agency may charge a fee to a legal nonlicensed child care provider or applicant for authorization to recover the actual cost of background studies completed under section 119B.125, but in any case not to exceed $100 annually.
(c) Counties may elect to reduce or waive the fees in paragraph (a) or (b):
(1) in cases of financial hardship;
(2) if the county has a shortage of providers in the county's area;
(3) for new providers; or
(4) for providers who have attained at least 16 hours of training before seeking initial licensure.
(d) Counties may allow providers to pay the applicant fees in paragraph (a) or (b) on an installment basis for up to one year. If the provider is receiving child care assistance payments from the state, the provider may have the fees under paragraph (a) or (b) deducted from the child care assistance payments for up to one year and the state shall reimburse the county for the county fees collected in this manner.
(e) For purposes of adult foster care and child foster care licensing under this chapter, a county agency may charge a fee to a corporate applicant or corporate license holder to recover the actual cost of licensing inspections, not to exceed $500 annually.
(f) Counties may elect to reduce or waive the fees in paragraph (e) under the following circumstances:
(1) in cases of financial hardship;
(2) if the county has a shortage of providers in the county's area; or
(3) for new providers.
(a) For fees required under subdivision 1, an applicant for an initial license or certification issued by the commissioner shall submit a $500 application fee with each new application required under this subdivision. The application fee shall not be prorated, is nonrefundable, and is in lieu of the annual license or certification fee that expires on December 31. The commissioner shall not process an application until the application fee is paid.
(b) Except as provided in clauses (1) to (3), an applicant shall apply for a license to provide services at a specific location.
(1) For a license to provide residential-based habilitation services to persons with developmental disabilities under chapter 245B, an applicant shall submit an application for each county in which the services will be provided. Upon licensure, the license holder may provide services to persons in that county plus no more than three persons at any one time in each of up to ten additional counties. A license holder in one county may not provide services under the home and community-based waiver for persons with developmental disabilities to more than three people in a second county without holding a separate license for that second county. Applicants or licensees providing services under this clause to not more than three persons remain subject to the inspection fees established in section 245A.10, subdivision 2, for each location. The license issued by the commissioner must state the name of each additional county where services are being provided to persons with developmental disabilities. A license holder must notify the commissioner before making any changes that would alter the license information listed under section 245A.04, subdivision 7, paragraph (a), including any additional counties where persons with developmental disabilities are being served.
(2) For a license to provide supported employment, crisis respite, or semi-independent living services to persons with developmental disabilities under chapter 245B, an applicant shall submit a single application to provide services statewide.
(3) For a license to provide independent living assistance for youth under section 245A.22, an applicant shall submit a single application to provide services statewide.
(a) Child care centers and programs with a licensed capacity shall pay an annual nonrefundable license or certification fee based on the following schedule:
Licensed Capacity | Child Care Center License Fee |
Other Program License Fee | ||
1 to 24 persons | $225 | $400 | ||
25 to 49 persons | $340 | $600 | ||
50 to 74 persons | $450 | $800 | ||
75 to 99 persons | $565 | $1,000 | ||
100 to 124 persons | $675 | $1,200 | ||
125 to 149 persons | $900 | $1,400 | ||
150 to 174 persons | $1,050 | $1,600 | ||
175 to 199 persons | $1,200 | $1,800 | ||
200 to 224 persons | $1,350 | $2,000 | ||
225 or more persons | $1,500 | $2,500 |
(b) A day training and habilitation program serving persons with developmental disabilities or related conditions shall be assessed a license fee based on the schedule in paragraph (a) unless the license holder serves more than 50 percent of the same persons at two or more locations in the community. Except as provided in paragraph (c), when a day training and habilitation program serves more than 50 percent of the same persons in two or more locations in a community, the day training and habilitation program shall pay a license fee based on the licensed capacity of the largest facility and the other facility or facilities shall be charged a license fee based on a licensed capacity of a residential program serving one to 24 persons.
(c) When a day training and habilitation program serving persons with developmental disabilities or related conditions seeks a single license allowed under section 245B.07, subdivision 12, clause (2) or (3), the licensing fee must be based on the combined licensed capacity for each location.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), a program without a stated licensed capacity shall pay a license or certification fee of $400.
(b) A mental health center or mental health clinic requesting certification for purposes of insurance and subscriber contract reimbursement under Minnesota Rules, parts 9520.0750 to 9520.0870, shall pay a certification fee of $1,000 per year. If the mental health center or mental health clinic provides services at a primary location with satellite facilities, the satellite facilities shall be certified with the primary location without an additional charge.
(c) A program licensed to provide residential-based habilitation services under the home and community-based waiver for persons with developmental disabilities shall pay an annual license fee that includes a base rate of $250 plus $38 times the number of clients served on the first day of August of the current license year. State-operated programs are exempt from the license fee under this paragraph.
The commissioner shall not issue a license or certification until the license or certification fee is paid. The commissioner shall send a bill for the license or certification fee to the billing address identified by the license holder. If the license holder does not submit the license or certification fee payment by the due date, the commissioner shall send the license holder a past due notice. If the license holder fails to pay the license or certification fee by the due date on the past due notice, the commissioner shall send a final notice to the license holder informing the license holder that the program license will expire on December 31 unless the license fee is paid before December 31. If a license expires, the program is no longer licensed and, unless exempt from licensure under section 245A.03, subdivision 2, must not operate after the expiration date. After a license expires, if the former license holder wishes to provide licensed services, the former license holder must submit a new license application and application fee under subdivision 3.
1987 c 333 s 11; 1995 c 158 s 4; 2000 c 327 s 6; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 6 s 9; 2005 c 56 s 1; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 3 s 4; art 5 s 6; 2007 c 112 s 12; 2007 c 147 art 3 s 2; 2008 c 268 s 2; 2009 c 79 art 1 s 1,2
It is the policy of the state that persons shall not be excluded by municipal zoning ordinances or other land use regulations from the benefits of normal residential surroundings.
Residential programs with a licensed capacity of six or fewer persons shall be considered a permitted single-family residential use of property for the purposes of zoning and other land use regulations, except that a residential program whose primary purpose is to treat juveniles who have violated criminal statutes relating to sex offenses or have been adjudicated delinquent on the basis of conduct in violation of criminal statutes relating to sex offenses shall not be considered a permitted use. This exception shall not apply to residential programs licensed before July 1, 1995. Programs otherwise allowed under this subdivision shall not be prohibited by operation of restrictive covenants or similar restrictions, regardless of when entered into, which cannot be met because of the nature of the licensed program, including provisions which require the home's occupants be related, and that the home must be occupied by the owner, or similar provisions.
(a) The commissioner shall issue adult foster care licenses with a maximum licensed capacity of four beds, including nonstaff roomers and boarders, except that the commissioner may issue a license with a capacity of five beds, including roomers and boarders, according to paragraphs (b) to (f).
(b) An adult foster care license holder may have a maximum license capacity of five if all persons in care are age 55 or over and do not have a serious and persistent mental illness or a developmental disability.
(c) The commissioner may grant variances to paragraph (b) to allow a foster care provider with a licensed capacity of five persons to admit an individual under the age of 55 if the variance complies with section 245A.04, subdivision 9, and approval of the variance is recommended by the county in which the licensed foster care provider is located.
(d) The commissioner may grant variances to paragraph (b) to allow the use of a fifth bed for emergency crisis services for a person with serious and persistent mental illness or a developmental disability, regardless of age, if the variance complies with section 245A.04, subdivision 9, and approval of the variance is recommended by the county in which the licensed foster care provider is located.
(e) If the 2009 legislature adopts a rate reduction that impacts providers of adult foster care services, the commissioner may issue an adult foster care license with a capacity of five adults if the fifth bed does not increase the overall statewide capacity of licensed adult foster care beds in homes that are not the primary residence of the license holder, over the licensed capacity in such homes on July 1, 2009, as identified in a plan submitted to the commissioner by the county, when the capacity is recommended by the county licensing agency of the county in which the facility is located and if the recommendation verifies that:
(1) the facility meets the physical environment requirements in the adult foster care licensing rule;
(2) the five-bed living arrangement is specified for each resident in the resident's:
(i) individualized plan of care;
(ii) individual service plan under section 256B.092, subdivision 1b, if required; or
(iii) individual resident placement agreement under Minnesota Rules, part 9555.5105, subpart 19, if required;
(3) the license holder obtains written and signed informed consent from each resident or resident's legal representative documenting the resident's informed choice to living in the home and that the resident's refusal to consent would not have resulted in service termination; and
(4) the facility was licensed for adult foster care before March 1, 2009.
(f) The commissioner shall not issue a new adult foster care license under paragraph (e) after June 30, 2011. The commissioner shall allow a facility with an adult foster care license issued under paragraph (e) before June 30, 2011, to continue with a capacity of five adults if the license holder continues to comply with the requirements in paragraph (e).
An adult foster care license holder licensed under the conditions in subdivision 2a may also provide family adult day care for adults age 55 or over if no persons in the adult foster or family adult day services program have a serious and persistent mental illness or a developmental disability. Family adult day services provided in a licensed adult foster care setting must be provided as specified under section 245A.143. Authorization to provide family adult day services in the adult foster care setting shall be printed on the license certificate by the commissioner. Adult foster care homes licensed under this section and family adult day services licensed under section 245A.143 shall not be subject to licensure by the commissioner of health under the provisions of chapter 144, 144A, 157, or any other law requiring facility licensure by the commissioner of health.
Unless otherwise provided in any town, municipal, or county zoning regulation, a licensed residential program with a licensed capacity of seven to 16 persons shall be considered a permitted multifamily residential use of property for the purposes of zoning and other land use regulations. A town, municipal, or county zoning authority may require a conditional use or special use permit to assure proper maintenance and operation of a residential program. Conditions imposed on the residential program must not be more restrictive than those imposed on other conditional uses or special uses of residential property in the same zones, unless the additional conditions are necessary to protect the health and safety of the persons being served by the program. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to exclude or prohibit residential programs from single-family zones if otherwise permitted by local zoning regulations.
In determining whether to grant a license, the commissioner shall specifically consider the population, size, land use plan, availability of community services, and the number and size of existing licensed residential programs in the town, municipality, or county in which the applicant seeks to operate a residential program. The commissioner shall not grant an initial license to any residential program if the residential program will be within 1,320 feet of an existing residential program unless one of the following conditions apply: (1) the existing residential program is located in a hospital licensed by the commissioner of health; (2) the town, municipality, or county zoning authority grants the residential program a conditional use or special use permit; (3) the program serves six or fewer persons and is not located in a city of the first class; or (4) the program is foster care.
(a) Before January 1, 1985, each county having two or more group residential programs within 1,320 feet of each other shall submit to the Department of Human Services a plan to promote dispersal of group residential programs. In formulating its plan, the county shall solicit the participation of affected persons, programs, municipalities having highly concentrated residential program populations, and advocacy groups. For the purposes of this subdivision, "highly concentrated" means having a population in residential programs serving seven or more persons that exceeds one-half of one percent of the population of a recognized planning district or other administrative subdivision.
(b) Within 45 days after the county submits the plan, the commissioner shall certify whether the plan fulfills the purposes and requirements of this subdivision including the following requirements:
(1) a new program serving seven or more persons must not be located in any recognized planning district or other administrative subdivision where the population in residential programs is highly concentrated;
(2) the county plan must promote dispersal of highly concentrated residential program populations;
(3) the county plan shall promote the development of residential programs in areas that are not highly concentrated;
(4) no person in a residential program shall be displaced as a result of this section until a relocation plan has been implemented that provides for an acceptable alternative placement;
(5) if the plan provides for the relocation of residential programs, the relocation must be completed by January 1, 1990. If the commissioner certifies that the plan does not do so, the commissioner shall state the reasons, and the county has 30 days to submit a plan amended to comply with the requirements of the commissioner.
(c) After July 1, 1985, the commissioner may reduce grants under section 245.73 to a county required to have an approved plan under paragraph (a) if the county does not have a plan approved by the commissioner or if the county acts in disregard of its approved plan. The county board has the right to be provided with advance notice and to appeal the commissioner's decision. If the county requests a hearing within 30 days of the notification of intent to reduce grants, the commissioner shall not certify any reduction in grants until a hearing is conducted and a decision made in accordance with the contested case provisions of chapter 14.
The commissioner of human services shall seek input from counties and municipalities on methods for integrating all residential programs into the community.
Residential programs located in hospitals shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
(a) The commissioner may grant a variance under section 245A.04, subdivision 9, to rule parts requiring a caregiver to be present in an adult foster care home during normal sleeping hours to allow for alternative methods of overnight supervision. The commissioner may grant the variance if the local county licensing agency recommends the variance and the county recommendation includes documentation verifying that:
(1) the county has approved the license holder's plan for alternative methods of providing overnight supervision and determined the plan protects the residents' health, safety, and rights;
(2) the license holder has obtained written and signed informed consent from each resident or each resident's legal representative documenting the resident's or legal representative's agreement with the alternative method of overnight supervision; and
(3) the alternative method of providing overnight supervision, which may include the use of technology, is specified for each resident in the resident's: (i) individualized plan of care; (ii) individual service plan under section 256B.092, subdivision 1b, if required; or (iii) individual resident placement agreement under Minnesota Rules, part 9555.5105, subpart 19, if required.
(b) To be eligible for a variance under paragraph (a), the adult foster care license holder must not have had a licensing action under section 245A.06 or 245A.07 during the prior 24 months based on failure to provide adequate supervision, health care services, or resident safety in the adult foster care home.
(c) A license holder requesting a variance under this subdivision to utilize technology as a component of a plan for alternative overnight supervision may request the commissioner's review in the absence of a county recommendation. Upon receipt of such a request from a license holder, the commissioner shall review the variance request with the county.
(a) The commissioner may grant an applicant or license holder an adult foster care license for a residence that does not have a caregiver in the residence during normal sleeping hours as required under Minnesota Rules, part 9555.5105, subpart 37, item B, but uses monitoring technology to alert the license holder when an incident occurs that may jeopardize the health, safety, or rights of a foster care recipient. The applicant or license holder must comply with all other requirements under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to 9555.6265, and the requirements under this subdivision. The license printed by the commissioner must state in bold and large font:
(1) that the facility is under electronic monitoring; and
(2) the telephone number of the county's common entry point for making reports of suspected maltreatment of vulnerable adults under section 626.557, subdivision 9.
(b) Applications for a license under this section must be submitted directly to the Department of Human Services licensing division. The licensing division must immediately notify the host county and lead county contract agency and the host county licensing agency. The licensing division must collaborate with the county licensing agency in the review of the application and the licensing of the program.
(c) Before a license is issued by the commissioner, and for the duration of the license, the applicant or license holder must establish, maintain, and document the implementation of written policies and procedures addressing the requirements in paragraphs (d) through (f).
(d) The applicant or license holder must have policies and procedures that:
(1) establish characteristics of target populations that will be admitted into the home, and characteristics of populations that will not be accepted into the home;
(2) explain the discharge process when a foster care recipient requires overnight supervision or other services that cannot be provided by the license holder due to the limited hours that the license holder is on site;
(3) describe the types of events to which the program will respond with a physical presence when those events occur in the home during time when staff are not on site, and how the license holder's response plan meets the requirements in paragraph (e), clause (1) or (2);
(4) establish a process for documenting a review of the implementation and effectiveness of the response protocol for the response required under paragraph (e), clause (1) or (2). The documentation must include:
(i) a description of the triggering incident;
(ii) the date and time of the triggering incident;
(iii) the time of the response or responses under paragraph (e), clause (1) or (2);
(iv) whether the response met the resident's needs;
(v) whether the existing policies and response protocols were followed; and
(vi) whether the existing policies and protocols are adequate or need modification.
When no physical presence response is completed for a three-month period, the license holder's written policies and procedures must require a physical presence response drill to be conducted for which the effectiveness of the response protocol under paragraph (e), clause (1) or (2), will be reviewed and documented as required under this clause; and
(5) establish that emergency and nonemergency phone numbers are posted in a prominent location in a common area of the home where they can be easily observed by a person responding to an incident who is not otherwise affiliated with the home.
(e) The license holder must document and include in the license application which response alternative under clause (1) or (2) is in place for responding to situations that present a serious risk to the health, safety, or rights of people receiving foster care services in the home:
(1) response alternative (1) requires only the technology to provide an electronic notification or alert to the license holder that an event is underway that requires a response. Under this alternative, no more than ten minutes will pass before the license holder will be physically present on site to respond to the situation; or
(2) response alternative (2) requires the electronic notification and alert system under alternative (1), but more than ten minutes may pass before the license holder is present on site to respond to the situation. Under alternative (2), all of the following conditions are met:
(i) the license holder has a written description of the interactive technological applications that will assist the license holder in communicating with and assessing the needs related to the care, health, and safety of the foster care recipients. This interactive technology must permit the license holder to remotely assess the well being of the foster care recipient without requiring the initiation of the foster care recipient. Requiring the foster care recipient to initiate a telephone call does not meet this requirement;
(ii) the license holder documents how the remote license holder is qualified and capable of meeting the needs of the foster care recipients and assessing foster care recipients' needs under item (i) during the absence of the license holder on site;
(iii) the license holder maintains written procedures to dispatch emergency response personnel to the site in the event of an identified emergency; and
(iv) each foster care recipient's individualized plan of care, individual service plan under section 256B.092, subdivision 1b, if required, or individual resident placement agreement under Minnesota Rules, part 9555.5105, subpart 19, if required, identifies the maximum response time, which may be greater than ten minutes, for the license holder to be on site for that foster care recipient.
(f) All placement agreements, individual service agreements, and plans applicable to the foster care recipient must clearly state that the adult foster care license category is a program without the presence of a caregiver in the residence during normal sleeping hours; the protocols in place for responding to situations that present a serious risk to the health, safety, or rights of foster care recipients under paragraph (e), clause (1) or (2); and a signed informed consent from each foster care recipient or the person's legal representative documenting the person's or legal representative's agreement with placement in the program. If electronic monitoring technology is used in the home, the informed consent form must also explain the following:
(1) how any electronic monitoring is incorporated into the alternative supervision system;
(2) the backup system for any electronic monitoring in times of electrical outages or other equipment malfunctions;
(3) how the license holder is trained on the use of the technology;
(4) the event types and license holder response times established under paragraph (e);
(5) how the license holder protects the foster care recipient's privacy related to electronic monitoring and related to any electronically recorded data generated by the monitoring system. A foster care recipient may not be removed from a program under this subdivision for failure to consent to electronic monitoring. The consent form must explain where and how the electronically recorded data is stored, with whom it will be shared, and how long it is retained; and
(6) the risks and benefits of the alternative overnight supervision system.
The written explanations under clauses (1) to (6) may be accomplished through cross-references to other policies and procedures as long as they are explained to the person giving consent, and the person giving consent is offered a copy.
(g) Nothing in this section requires the applicant or license holder to develop or maintain separate or duplicative policies, procedures, documentation, consent forms, or individual plans that may be required for other licensing standards, if the requirements of this section are incorporated into those documents.
(h) The commissioner may grant variances to the requirements of this section according to section 245A.04, subdivision 9.
(i) For the purposes of paragraphs (d) through (h), "license holder" has the meaning under section 245A.2, subdivision 9, and additionally includes all staff, volunteers, and contractors affiliated with the license holder.
(j) For the purposes of paragraph (e), the terms "assess" and "assessing" mean to remotely determine what action the license holder needs to take to protect the well-being of the foster care recipient.
(a) An adult foster care license holder who creates, collects, records, maintains, stores, or discloses any individually identifiable recipient data, whether in an electronic or any other format, must comply with the privacy and security provisions of applicable privacy laws and regulations, including:
(1) the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Public Law 104-1; and the HIPAA Privacy Rule, Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, part 160, and subparts A and E of part 164; and
(2) the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act as codified in chapter 13.
(b) For purposes of licensure, the license holder shall be monitored for compliance with the following data privacy and security provisions:
(1) the license holder must control access to data on foster care recipients according to the definitions of public and private data on individuals under section 13.02; classification of the data on individuals as private under section 13.46, subdivision 2; and control over the collection, storage, use, access, protection, and contracting related to data according to section 13.05, in which the license holder is assigned the duties of a government entity;
(2) the license holder must provide each foster care recipient with a notice that meets the requirements under section 13.04, in which the license holder is assigned the duties of the government entity, and that meets the requirements of Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, part 164.52. The notice shall describe the purpose for collection of the data, and to whom and why it may be disclosed pursuant to law. The notice must inform the recipient that the license holder uses electronic monitoring and, if applicable, that recording technology is used;
(3) the license holder must not install monitoring cameras in bathrooms;
(4) electronic monitoring cameras must not be concealed from the foster care recipients; and
(5) electronic video and audio recordings of foster care recipients shall be stored by the license holder for five days unless: (i) a foster care recipient or legal representative requests that the recording be held longer based on a specific report of alleged maltreatment; or (ii) the recording captures an incident or event of alleged maltreatment under section 626.556 or 626.557 or a crime under chapter 609. When requested by a recipient or when a recording captures an incident or event of alleged maltreatment or a crime, the license holder must maintain the recording in a secured area for no longer than 30 days to give the investigating agency an opportunity to make a copy of the recording. The investigating agency will maintain the electronic video or audio recordings as required in section 626.557, subdivision 12b.
(c) The commissioner shall develop, and make available to license holders and county licensing workers, a checklist of the data privacy provisions to be monitored for purposes of licensure.
(a) The commissioner shall establish provider standards for residential support services that integrate service standards and the residential setting under one license. The commissioner shall propose statutory language and an implementation plan for licensing requirements for residential support services to the legislature by January 15, 2011.
(b) Providers licensed under chapter 245B, and providing, contracting, or arranging for services in settings licensed as adult foster care under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to 9555.6265, or child foster care under Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.3000 to 2960.3340; and meeting the provisions of section 256B.092, subdivision 11, paragraph (b), must be required to obtain a community residential setting license.
1987 c 333 s 12; 1988 c 411 s 6; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 47; 1992 c 513 art 9 s 14; 1993 c 10 s 1; 1995 c 224 s 79; 1997 c 203 art 7 s 4; 1997 c 248 s 31; 2000 c 327 s 6; 2001 c 4 s 1,2; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 6 s 10-12; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 25; art 5 s 2; 2007 c 112 s 13; 2009 c 79 art 1 s 3-5; art 8 s 9; 2009 c 173 art 1 s 3; 2010 c 352 art 1 s 6
For purposes of this section and section 245A.13, the following terms have the meanings given them.
(a) "Controlling individual" has the meaning in section 245A.02, subdivision 5a. When used in this section and section 245A.13, it means only those individuals controlling the residential program prior to the commencement of the receivership period.
(b) "Physical plant" means the building or buildings in which a residential program is located; all equipment affixed to the building and not easily subject to transfer as specified in the building and fixed equipment tables of the depreciation guidelines; and auxiliary buildings in the nature of sheds, garages, and storage buildings located on the same site if used for purposes related to resident care.
(c) "Related party" means a person who is a close relative of a provider or a provider group; an affiliate of a provider or a provider group; a close relative of an affiliate of a provider or provider group; or an affiliate of a close relative of an affiliate of a provider or provider group. For the purposes of this paragraph, the following terms have the meanings given them.
(1) "Affiliate" means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with another person.
(2) "Person" means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a trust, an unincorporated organization, or a government or political subdivision.
(3) "Close relative of an affiliate of a provider or provider group" means an individual whose relationship by blood, marriage, or adoption to an individual who is an affiliate to a provider or a provider group is no more remote than first cousin.
(4) "Control" includes the terms "controlling," "controlled by," and "under common control with" and means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management, operations, or policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
(5) "Provider or provider group" means the license holder or controlling individual prior to the effective date of the receivership.
A majority of controlling individuals of a residential program may at any time ask the commissioner to assume operation of the residential program through appointment of a receiver. On receiving the request for a receiver, the commissioner may enter into an agreement with a majority of controlling individuals and become the receiver and operate the residential program under conditions acceptable to both the commissioner and the majority of controlling individuals. The agreement must specify the terms and conditions of the receivership and preserve the rights of the persons being served by the residential program. A receivership set up under this section terminates at the time specified by the parties to the agreement.
When the commissioner agrees to become the receiver of a residential program, the commissioner may enter into a management agreement with another entity or group to act as the managing agent during the receivership period. The managing agent will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the residential program subject at all times to the review and approval of the commissioner. A reasonable fee may be paid to the managing agent for the performance of these services.
The provisions of section 245A.13, subdivisions 7 and 8, shall also apply to voluntary receiverships.
No controlling individual of a residential program placed into receivership under this section shall apply for or receive a license to operate a residential program for five years from the commencement of the receivership period. This subdivision does not apply to residential programs that are owned or operated by controlling individuals, that were in existence prior to the date of the receivership agreement, and that have not been placed into receivership.
The controlling individuals of a residential program placed into receivership remain liable for any claims made against the residential program that arose from incidents or events that occurred prior to the commencement of the receivership period. Neither the commissioner nor the managing agent of the commissioner assumes this liability.
Neither the commissioner nor the managing agent of the commissioner shall be liable for payment of any financial obligations of the residential program or of its controlling individuals incurred prior to the commencement of the receivership period unless such liability is expressly assumed in the receivership agreement. Those financial obligations remain the liability of the residential program and its controlling individuals. Financial obligations of the residential program incurred after the commencement of the receivership period are the responsibility of the commissioner or the managing agent of the commissioner to the extent such obligations are expressly assumed by each in the receivership or management agreements. The controlling individuals of the residential program remain liable for any financial obligations incurred after the commencement of the receivership period to the extent these obligations are not reimbursed in the rate paid to the residential program and are reasonable and necessary to the operation of the residential program. These financial obligations, or any other financial obligations incurred by the residential program prior to the commencement of the receivership period which are necessary to the continued operation of the residential program, may be deducted from any rental payments owed to the controlling individuals of the residential program as part of the receivership agreement.
Occupation of the physical plant after commencement of the receivership period shall be controlled by paragraphs (a) and (b).
(a) If the physical plant of a residential program placed in receivership is owned by a controlling individual or related party, the physical plant may be used by the commissioner or the managing agent for purposes of the receivership as long as the receivership period continues. A fair monthly rental for the physical plant shall be paid by the commissioner or managing agent to the owner of the physical plant. This fair monthly rental shall be determined by considering all relevant factors necessary to meet required arm's-length obligations of controlling individuals such as the mortgage payments owed on the physical plant, the real estate taxes, and special assessments. This rental shall not include any allowance for profit or be based on any formula that includes an allowance for profit.
(b) If the owner of the physical plant of a residential program placed in receivership is not a related party, the controlling individual shall continue as the lessee of the property. However, during the receivership period, rental payments shall be made to the owner of the physical plant by the commissioner or the managing agent on behalf of the controlling individual. Neither the commissioner nor the managing agent assumes the obligations of the lease unless expressly stated in the receivership agreement. Should the lease expire during the receivership, the commissioner or the managing agent may negotiate a new lease for the term of the receivership period.
The commissioner may use the medical assistance account and funds for receivership cash flow and accounting purposes.
The commissioner may use the accounts and funds that would have been available for the room and board, services, and program costs of persons in the residential program for costs, cash flow, and accounting purposes related to the receivership.
In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the commissioner may petition the district court in Ramsey County for an order directing the controlling individuals of the residential program to show cause why the commissioner should not be appointed receiver to operate the residential program. The petition to the district court must contain proof by affidavit: (1) that the commissioner has either begun license suspension or revocation proceedings, suspended or revoked a license, or has decided to deny an application for licensure of the residential program; or (2) it appears to the commissioner that the health, safety, or rights of the residents may be in jeopardy because of the manner in which the residential program may close, the residential program's financial condition, or violations committed by the residential program of federal or state laws or rules. If the license holder, applicant, or controlling individual operates more than one residential program, the commissioner's petition must specify and be limited to the residential program for which it seeks receivership. The affidavit submitted by the commissioner must set forth alternatives to receivership that have been considered, including rate adjustments. The order to show cause is returnable not less than five days after service is completed and must provide for personal service of a copy to the residential program administrator and to the persons designated as agents by the controlling individuals to accept service on their behalf.
If the court finds that involuntary receivership is necessary as a means of protecting the health, safety, or rights of persons being served by the residential program, the court shall appoint the commissioner as receiver to operate the residential program. The commissioner as receiver may contract with another entity or group to act as the managing agent during the receivership period. The managing agent will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the residential program subject at all times to the review and approval of the commissioner.
Within 36 months after the receivership order, the receiver shall provide for the orderly transfer of the persons served by the residential program to other residential programs or make other provisions to protect their health, safety, and rights. The receiver or the managing agent shall correct or eliminate deficiencies in the residential program that the commissioner determines endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the persons being served by the residential program unless the correction or elimination of deficiencies involves major alteration in the structure of the physical plant. If the correction or elimination of the deficiencies requires major alterations in the structure of the physical plant, the receiver shall take actions designed to result in the immediate transfer of persons served by the residential program. During the period of the receivership, the receiver and the managing agent shall operate the residential program in a manner designed to preserve the health, safety, rights, adequate care, and supervision of the persons served by the residential program. The receiver or the managing agent may make contracts and incur lawful expenses. The receiver or the managing agent shall collect incoming payments from all sources and apply them to the cost incurred in the performance of the functions of the receivership including the fee set under subdivision 4. No security interest in any real or personal property comprising the residential program or contained within it, or in any fixture of the physical plant, shall be impaired or diminished in priority by the receiver or the managing agent.
The provisions contained in section 245A.12, subdivision 6, shall also apply to receiverships ordered according to this section.
The provisions contained in section 245A.12, subdivision 7, also apply to receiverships ordered according to this section.
Occupation of the physical plant under an involuntary receivership shall be governed by paragraphs (a) and (b).
(a) The physical plant owned by a controlling individual of the residential program or related party must be made available for the use of the residential program throughout the receivership period. The court shall determine a fair monthly rental for the physical plant, taking into account all relevant factors necessary to meet required arm's-length obligations of controlling individuals such as mortgage payments, real estate taxes, and special assessments. The rental fee must be paid by the receiver to the appropriate controlling individuals or related parties for each month that the receivership remains in effect. No payment made to a controlling individual or related party by the receiver or the managing agent or any state agency during a period of the receivership shall include any allowance for profit or be based on any formula that includes an allowance for profit.
(b) If the owner of the physical plant of a residential program is not a related party, the court shall order the controlling individual to continue as the lessee of the property during the receivership period. Rental payments during the receivership period shall be made to the owner of the physical plant by the commissioner or the managing agent on behalf of the controlling individual.
A receiver appointed under an involuntary receivership or the managing agent is entitled to a reasonable fee as determined by the court.
An involuntary receivership terminates 36 months after the date on which it was ordered or at any other time designated by the court or when any of the following events occurs:
(1) the commissioner determines that the residential program's license application should be granted or should not be suspended or revoked;
(2) a new license is granted to the residential program;
(3) the commissioner determines that all persons residing in the residential program have been provided with alternative residential programs; or
(4) the residential program closes.
If it appears from the petition filed under subdivision 1, from an affidavit or affidavits filed with the petition, or from testimony of witnesses under oath if the court determines it necessary, that there is probable cause to believe that an emergency exists in a residential program, the court shall issue a temporary order for appointment of a receiver within five days after receipt of the petition. Notice of the petition must be served on the residential program administrator and on the persons designated as agents by the controlling individuals to accept service on their behalf. A hearing on the petition must be held within five days after notice is served unless the administrator or designated agent consents to a later date. After the hearing, the court may continue, modify, or terminate the temporary order.
The commissioner of human services may review rates of a residential program participating in the medical assistance program which is in receivership and that has needs or deficiencies documented by the Department of Health or the Department of Human Services. If the commissioner of human services determines that a review of the rate established under sections 256B.5012 and 256B.5013 is needed, the commissioner shall:
(1) review the order or determination that cites the deficiencies or needs; and
(2) determine the need for additional staff, additional annual hours by type of employee, and additional consultants, services, supplies, equipment, repairs, or capital assets necessary to satisfy the needs or deficiencies.
Upon review of rates under subdivision 7, the commissioner may adjust the residential program's payment rate. The commissioner shall review the circumstances, together with the residential program's most recent income and expense report, to determine whether or not the deficiencies or needs can be corrected or met by reallocating residential program staff, costs, revenues, or any other resources including investments. If the commissioner determines that any deficiency cannot be corrected or the need cannot be met with the payment rate currently being paid, the commissioner shall determine the payment rate adjustment by dividing the additional annual costs established during the commissioner's review by the residential program's actual resident days from the most recent income and expense report or the estimated resident days in the projected receivership period. The payment rate adjustment remains in effect during the period of the receivership or until another date set by the commissioner. Upon the subsequent sale, closure, or transfer of the residential program, the commissioner may recover amounts that were paid as payment rate adjustments under this subdivision. This recovery shall be determined through a review of actual costs and resident days in the receivership period. The costs the commissioner finds to be allowable shall be divided by the actual resident days for the receivership period. This rate shall be compared to the rate paid throughout the receivership period, with the difference multiplied by resident days, being the amount to be repaid to the commissioner. Allowable costs shall be determined by the commissioner as those ordinary, necessary, and related to resident care by prudent and cost-conscious management. The buyer or transferee shall repay this amount to the commissioner within 60 days after the commissioner notifies the buyer or transferee of the obligation to repay. This provision does not limit the liability of the seller to the commissioner pursuant to section 256B.0641.
The commissioner may use the medical assistance account and funds for receivership cash flow and accounting purposes.
The commissioner may use the accounts and funds that would have been available for the room and board, services, and program costs of persons in the residential program for costs, cash flow, and accounting purposes related to the receivership.
No controlling individual of a residential program placed into receivership under this section may apply for or receive a license to operate a residential program for five years from the commencement of the receivership period. This subdivision does not apply to residential programs that are owned or operated by controlling individuals that were in existence before the date of the receivership agreement, and that have not been placed into receivership.
1987 c 333 s 14; 1988 c 411 s 7; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 83; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 49; 1992 c 513 art 9 s 15; 1994 c 434 s 5-7; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 3 s 1,2; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113
A licensed nonresidential program with a licensed capacity of 12 or fewer persons and a group family day care facility licensed under Minnesota Rules, parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445, to serve 14 or fewer children shall be considered a permitted single-family residential use of property for the purposes of zoning and other land use regulations.
Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 1 or in a town, municipal, or county regulation, a licensed nonresidential program with a licensed capacity of 13 to 16 persons shall be considered a permitted multifamily residential use of property for purposes of zoning. A town, municipal, or county zoning authority may require a conditional use or special use permit in order to assure proper maintenance and operation of the program. Conditions imposed on the nonresidential program must not be more restrictive than those imposed on other conditional uses or special uses of residential property in the same zones unless the additional conditions are necessary to protect the health and safety of the persons being served by the nonresidential program. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to exclude or prohibit nonresidential programs from single-family zones if otherwise permitted by local zoning regulations.
Until such time as the commissioner adopts appropriate rules for conditional licenses, no license holder or applicant for a family or group family day care license is required to spend more than $100 to meet fire safety rules in excess of those required to meet Group "R" occupancies under the Uniform Building Code, chapter 12, as incorporated by reference in Minnesota Rules, part 1305.0100.
When the commissioner determines that an applicant or license holder of a family or group family day care license would be required to spend over $100 for physical changes to ensure fire safety, the commissioner may issue a conditional license when all of the following conditions have been met:
(a) The commissioner shall notify the license holder or applicant in writing of the fire safety deficiencies.
(b) The commissioner shall notify the license holder or applicant in writing of alternative compliance standards that would correct deficiencies, if available.
(c) The license holder or applicant agrees in writing to notify each parent, on a form prescribed by the commissioner that requires the signature of the parent, of the fire safety deficiencies, and the existence of the conditional license.
Nonresidential child care programs serving 14 or fewer children that are conducted at a location other than the license holder's own residence shall be licensed under this section and the rules governing family day care or group family day care if:
(a) the license holder is the primary provider of care and the nonresidential child care program is conducted in a dwelling that is located on a residential lot;
(b) the license holder is an employer who may or may not be the primary provider of care, and the purpose for the child care program is to provide child care services to children of the license holder's employees;
(c) the license holder is a church or religious organization;
(d) the license holder is a community collaborative child care provider. For purposes of this subdivision, a community collaborative child care provider is a provider participating in a cooperative agreement with a community action agency as defined in section 256E.31; or
(e) the license holder is a not-for-profit agency that provides child care in a dwelling located on a residential lot and the license holder maintains two or more contracts with community employers or other community organizations to provide child care services. The county licensing agency may grant a capacity variance to a license holder licensed under this paragraph to exceed the licensed capacity of 14 children by no more than five children during transition periods related to the work schedules of parents, if the license holder meets the following requirements:
(1) the program does not exceed a capacity of 14 children more than a cumulative total of four hours per day;
(2) the program meets a one to seven staff-to-child ratio during the variance period;
(3) all employees receive at least an extra four hours of training per year than required in the rules governing family child care each year;
(4) the facility has square footage required per child under Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0425;
(5) the program is in compliance with local zoning regulations;
(6) the program is in compliance with the applicable fire code as follows:
(i) if the program serves more than five children older than 2-1/2 years of age, but no more than five children 2-1/2 years of age or less, the applicable fire code is educational occupancy, as provided in Group E Occupancy under the Minnesota State Fire Code 2003, Section 202; or
(ii) if the program serves more than five children 2-1/2 years of age or less, the applicable fire code is Group I-4 Occupancies, as provided in the Minnesota State Fire Code 2003, Section 202; and
(7) any age and capacity limitations required by the fire code inspection and square footage determinations shall be printed on the license.
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this subdivision, drop-in and school age child care programs must be licensed as a drop-in or school age program under the rules governing child care programs operated in a center.
(b) Drop-in and school age child care programs are exempt from the following Minnesota Rules:
(1) part 9503.0040;
(2) part 9503.0045, subpart 1, items F and G;
(3) part 9503.0050, subpart 6, except for children less than 2-1/2 years old;
(4) one-half the requirements of part 9503.0060, subpart 4, item A, subitems (2), (5), and (8), subpart 5, item A, subitems (2), (3), and (7), and subpart 6, item A, subitems (3) and (6);
(5) part 9503.0070; and
(6) part 9503.0090, subpart 2.
(c) A drop-in and school age child care program must be operated under the supervision of a person qualified as a director and a teacher.
(d) A drop-in and school age child care program must have at least two persons on staff whenever the program is operating, except that the commissioner may permit variances from this requirement under specified circumstances for parent cooperative programs, as long as all other staff-to-child ratios are met.
(e) Whenever the total number of children present to be cared for at a drop-in child care center is more than 20, children that are younger than age 2-1/2 must be in a separate group. This group may contain children up to 60 months old. This group must be cared for in an area that is physically separated from older children.
(f) A drop-in child care program must maintain a minimum staff ratio for children age 2-1/2 or greater of one staff person for each ten children. A school age child care program must maintain a minimum staff ratio of one staff person for every 15 children.
(g) If the drop-in child care program has additional staff who are on call as a mandatory condition of their employment, the minimum child-to-staff ratio may be exceeded only for children age 2-1/2 or greater, by a maximum of four children, for no more than 20 minutes while additional staff are in transit.
(h) In a drop-in child care program, the minimum staff-to-child ratio for infants up to 16 months of age is one staff person for every four infants. The minimum staff-to-child ratio for children age 17 months to 30 months is one staff for every seven children.
(i) In drop-in care programs that serve both infants and older children, children up to age 2-1/2 may be supervised by assistant teachers, as long as other staff are present in appropriate ratios.
(j) The minimum staff distribution pattern for a drop-in child care program serving children age 2-1/2 or greater and a school age child care program serving school age children is: the first staff member must be a teacher; the second, third, and fourth staff members must have at least the qualifications of a child care aide; the fifth staff member must have at least the qualifications of an assistant teacher; the sixth, seventh, and eighth staff members must have at least the qualifications of a child care aide; and the ninth staff person must have at least the qualifications of an assistant teacher.
(k) A drop-in child care program may care for siblings 16 months or older together in any group. For purposes of this subdivision, sibling is defined as sister or brother, half sister or half brother, or stepsister or stepbrother.
(l) The commissioner may grant a variance to any of the requirements in paragraphs (a) to (k), as long as the health and safety of the persons served by the program are not affected. The request for a variance shall comply with the provisions in section 245A.04, subdivision 9.
(a) An individual employed as an aide at a child care center may work with children without being directly supervised for an amount of time that does not exceed 25 percent of the child care center's daily hours if:
(1) a teacher is in the facility;
(2) the individual has received within the last three years first aid training that meets the requirements under section 245A.40, subdivision 3, and CPR training that meets the requirements under section 245A.40, subdivision 4;
(3) the individual is at least 20 years old; and
(4) the individual has at least 4,160 hours of child care experience as a staff member in a licensed child care center or as the license holder of a family day care home, 120 days of which must be in the employment of the current company.
(b) A child care center that uses experienced aides under this subdivision must notify parents or guardians by posting the notification in each classroom that uses experienced aides, identifying which staff member is the experienced aide. Records of experienced aide usage must be kept on site and given to the commissioner upon request.
(c) A child care center may not use the experienced aide provision for one year following two determined experienced aide violations within a one-year period.
(d) A child care center may use one experienced aide per every four full-time child care classroom staff.
A portable wading pool as defined in section 144.1222 may not be used by a child at a family day care or group family day care home or at a home at which child care services are provided under section 245A.03, subdivision 2, clause (2), unless the parent or legal guardian of the child has provided written consent. The written consent shall include a statement that the parent or legal guardian has received and read material provided by the Department of Health to the Department of Human Services for distribution to all family day care or group family day care homes and the general public on the human services Internet Web site related to the risk of disease transmission as well as other health risks associated with the use of portable wading pools.
(a) This subdivision governs swimming pools located at family day care or group family day care homes licensed under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502. This subdivision does not apply to portable wading pools or whirlpools located at family day care or group family day care homes licensed under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502. For a provider to be eligible to allow a child cared for at the family day care or group family day care home to use the swimming pool located at the home, the provider must not have had a licensing sanction under section 245A.07 or a correction order or conditional license under section 245A.06 relating to the supervision or health and safety of children during the prior 24 months, and must satisfy the following requirements:
(1) notify the county agency before initial use of the swimming pool and annually, thereafter;
(2) obtain written consent from a child's parent or legal guardian allowing the child to use the swimming pool and renew the parent or legal guardian's written consent at least annually. The written consent must include a statement that the parent or legal guardian has received and read materials provided by the Department of Health to the Department of Human Services for distribution to all family day care or group family day care homes and the general public on the human services Internet Web site related to the risk of disease transmission as well as other health risks associated with swimming pools. The written consent must also include a statement that the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and county agency will not monitor or inspect the provider's swimming pool to ensure compliance with the requirements in this subdivision;
(3) enter into a written contract with a child's parent or legal guardian and renew the written contract annually. The terms of the written contract must specify that the provider agrees to perform all of the requirements in this subdivision;
(4) attend and successfully complete a swimming pool operator training course once every five years. Acceptable training courses are:
(i) the National Swimming Pool Foundation Certified Pool Operator course;
(ii) the National Spa and Pool Institute Tech I and Tech II courses (both required); or
(iii) the National Recreation and Park Association Aquatic Facility Operator course;
(5) require a caregiver trained in first aid and adult and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation to supervise and be present at the swimming pool with any children in the pool;
(6) toilet all potty-trained children before they enter the swimming pool;
(7) require all children who are not potty-trained to wear swim diapers while in the swimming pool;
(8) if fecal material enters the swimming pool water, add three times the normal shock treatment to the pool water to raise the chlorine level to at least 20 parts per million, and close the pool to swimming for the 24 hours following the entrance of fecal material into the water or until the water pH and disinfectant concentration levels have returned to the standards specified in clause (10), whichever is later;
(9) prevent any person from entering the swimming pool who has an open wound or any person who has or is suspected of having a communicable disease;
(10) maintain the swimming pool water at a pH of not less than 7.2 and not more than 8.0, maintain the disinfectant concentration between two and five parts per million for chlorine or between 2.3 and 4.5 parts per million for bromine, and maintain a daily record of the swimming pool's operation with pH and disinfectant concentration readings on days when children cared for at the family day care or group family day care home are present;
(11) have a disinfectant feeder or feeders;
(12) have a recirculation system that will clarify and disinfect the swimming pool volume of water in ten hours or less;
(13) maintain the swimming pool's water clarity so that an object on the pool floor at the pool's deepest point is easily visible;
(14) have two or more suction lines in the swimming pool;
(15) have in place and enforce written safety rules and swimming pool policies;
(16) have in place at all times a safety rope that divides the shallow and deep portions of the swimming pool;
(17) satisfy any existing local ordinances regarding swimming pool installation, decks, and fencing;
(18) maintain a water temperature of not more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit and not less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit; and
(19) for lifesaving equipment, have a United States Coast Guard-approved life ring attached to a rope, an exit ladder, and a shepherd's hook available at all times to the caregiver supervising the swimming pool.
The requirements of clauses (5), (16), and (18) only apply at times when children cared for at the family day care or group family day care home are present.
(b) A violation of paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3), is grounds for a sanction under section 245A.07 or a correction order or conditional license under section 245A.06.
(c) If a provider under this subdivision receives a licensing sanction under section 245A.07 or a correction order or a conditional license under section 245A.06 relating to the supervision or health and safety of children, the provider is prohibited from allowing a child cared for at the family day care or group family day care home to continue to use the swimming pool located at the home.
1987 c 333 s 15; 1988 c 608 s 3,4; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 84,85; 1Sp1989 c 2 s 10; 1990 c 426 art 1 s 28; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 50,51; 1991 c 142 s 2; 1991 c 143 s 1; 1993 c 338 s 8; 1995 c 158 s 5; 1995 c 207 art 2 s 20; art 4 s 1; 1998 c 407 art 6 s 5; 2000 c 327 s 6; 2000 c 489 art 1 s 20-22; 2002 c 279 s 6; 2002 c 333 s 2; 2003 c 57 s 1; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 26; 2005 c 98 art 1 s 24; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 1 s 17,18; 2006 c 207 s 1-3; 2006 c 264 s 5,6; 2007 c 112 s 14
(a) The licensing standards in this section must be met to obtain and maintain a license to provide family adult day services. For the purposes of this section, family adult day services means a program operating fewer than 24 hours per day that provides functionally impaired adults, none of which are under age 55, have serious or persistent mental illness, or have developmental disabilities, with an individualized and coordinated set of services including health services, social services, and nutritional services that are directed at maintaining or improving the participants' capabilities for self-care.
(b) A family adult day services license shall only be issued when the services are provided in the license holder's primary residence, and the license holder is the primary provider of care. The license holder may not serve more than eight adults at one time, including residents, if any, served under a license issued under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to 9555.6265.
(c) An adult foster care license holder may provide family adult day services if the license holder meets the requirements of this section.
(d) When an applicant or license holder submits an application for initial licensure or relicensure for both adult foster care and family adult day services, the county agency shall process the request as a single application and shall conduct concurrent routine licensing inspections.
(e) Adult foster care license holders providing family adult day services under their foster care license on March 30, 2004, shall be permitted to continue providing these services with no additional requirements until their adult foster care license is due for renewal. At the time of relicensure, an adult foster care license holder may continue to provide family adult day services upon demonstration of compliance with this section. Adult foster care license holders who provide only family adult day services on August 1, 2004, may apply for a license under this section instead of an adult foster care license.
(a) For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subdivision have the following meanings unless otherwise provided for by text.
(b) "Caregiver" means a spouse, adult child, parent, relative, friend, or others who normally provide unpaid support or care to the individual needing assistance. For the purpose of this section, the caregiver may or may not have legal or financial responsibility for the participant.
(c) "Participant" means a functionally impaired adult receiving family adult day services.
(d) "Consultation by a health care professional" means the review and oversight of the participant's health-related services by a registered nurse, physician, or mental health professional.
(a) The license holder shall have available for review, and shall distribute to participants and their caregivers upon admission, written information about:
(1) the scope of the programs, services, and care offered by the license holder;
(2) a description of the population to be served by the license holder;
(3) a description of individual conditions which the license holder is not prepared to accept, such as a communicable disease requiring isolation, a history of violence to self or others, unmanageable incontinence, or uncontrollable wandering;
(4) the participants' rights and procedure for presenting grievances, including the name, address, and telephone number of the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care and the county licensing department, to which a participant or participant's caregiver may submit an oral or written complaint;
(5) the license holder's policy on and arrangements for providing transportation;
(6) the license holder's policy on providing meals and snacks;
(7) the license holder's fees, billing arrangements, and plans for payment;
(8) the license holder's policy governing the presence of pets in the home;
(9) the license holder's policy on smoking in the home;
(10) types of insurance coverage carried by the license holder;
(11) information on orientation requirements under section 245A.65, subdivisions 1, paragraph (c), and 2, paragraph (a), clause (4);
(12) the terms and conditions of the license holder's license issued by the department;
(13) the license holder's plan for emergency evacuation of participants involving fire, weather, and other disasters. The plan must include instructions for evacuation or rescue of participants, identification of an emergency shelter area, quarterly fire drill schedule, and staff responsibilities; and
(14) the license holder's policy for handling harmful objects, materials, or equipment including the storage of poisonous chemicals, use of appliances, sharp instruments, matches, or any other potentially harmful materials.
(b) The information in paragraph (a) must be provided in writing to the commissioner's representative upon request and must be available for inspection by the commissioner's representative at the home.
(a) Before admitting an individual into the family adult day services program, the license holder shall screen the individual to determine how or whether the license holder can serve the individual, based on the license holder's policies, services, expertise, and the individual's needs and condition. If possible, the screening shall include an interview with the individual and with the individual's caregiver.
(b) The screening required under paragraph (a) shall include an evaluation of the health, nutritional, and social services needs of the individual.
Before providing family adult day services, an individual, the individual's caregiver, the legal representative if there is one, the county or private case manager, if applicable, and the license holder shall develop a service delivery plan. At a minimum, the service delivery plan shall include:
(1) a description of the health services, nutritional services, and social services to be arranged or provided by the license holder and the frequency of those services and that the services will be based on the needs of the individual;
(2) scheduled days and hours of participant's attendance at the license holder's home;
(3) transportation arrangements for getting the participant to and from the license holder's home;
(4) contingency plans if scheduled services cannot be provided by the license holder;
(5) identification of responsibilities of the participant and the license holder with respect to payment for the services;
(6) circumstances when emergency services will be called; and
(7) identification of the license holder's discharge policy when services are no longer needed or when the participant's needs can no longer be met by the license holder.
(a) The service plan must be coordinated with other plans of services for the participant, as appropriate.
(b) The service plan must be dated and revised when there is a change in the needs of the participant or annually, whichever occurs sooner.
(a) The license holder shall provide health services as specified in the service delivery plan under the direction of the designated caregiver or county or private case manager. Health services must include:
(1) monitoring the participant's level of function and health while participating; taking appropriate action for a change in condition including immediately reporting changes to the participant's caregiver, physician, mental health professional, or registered nurse; and seeking consultation;
(2) offering information to participants and caregivers on good health and safety practices; and
(3) maintaining a listing of health resources available for referrals as needed by participants and caregivers.
(b) Unless the person is a licensed health care practitioner qualified to administer medications, the person responsible for medication administration or assistance shall provide a certificate verifying successful completion of a trained medication aid program for unlicensed personnel approved by the Minnesota Department of Health or comparable program, or biennially provide evidence of competency as demonstrated to a registered nurse or physician.
(c) The license holder must have secure storage and safeguarding of all medications with storage of medications in their original container, know what information regarding medication administration must be reported to a health care professional, and must maintain a record of all medications administered.
(a) The license holder shall ensure that food served is nutritious and meets any special dietary needs of the participants as prescribed by the participant's physician or dietitian as specified in the service delivery plan.
(b) Food and beverages must be obtained, handled, and properly stored to prevent contamination, spoilage, or a threat to the health of a resident.
The license holder, in consultation with the county or private case manager, when appropriate, shall actively assist the participant in identifying and achieving personal goals, support the participant in maintaining personal support networks and socially valued roles, provide assistance to the participant to enable community participation, and refer participants to the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care and other advocacy organizations for assistance when there is a potential conflict of interest between the license holder and the participant.
(a) The license holder shall adopt and comply with a participant bill of rights. The rights shall include the participants' right to:
(1) participate in the development of the service plan;
(2) refuse services or participation;
(3) privacy;
(4) confidentiality of participant information; and
(5) present grievances regarding treatment or services to the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care or the county licensing department. The license holder's policies shall include a procedure for addressing participant grievances, including the name, address, and telephone number of the county licensing department, to which a participant or participant caregiver may submit an oral or written complaint.
(b) The license holder shall post the participant rights in the home and shall provide a copy to the participant and the participant's primary caregiver and legal representative if the participant has one.
Whenever participants are in the home, there must be present at least one individual who is trained in basic first aid and certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the treatment of obstructed airways. Whenever there are six, seven, or eight participants present, there must be a second staff person present.
The license holder and license holder's staff must annually complete 12 hours of training related to the health, nutritional, and social needs of the license holder's target population. License holders with six or more years of licensure under this section or as an adult foster care provider must annually complete six hours of training. The annual training must include training on the reporting of maltreatment of vulnerable adults under sections 626.557 and 626.5572; license holder requirements governing maltreatment of vulnerable adults under section 245A.65; and, when a license holder serves participants who rely on medical monitoring equipment to sustain life or monitor a medical condition, training on medical equipment as required under section 245A.155 for foster care providers. A record of all training must be maintained in the home.
(a) The home where family adult day services are to be provided shall be classified as a residential group R-3 occupancy under the State Building Code and State Fire Code for purposes of building code and fire code inspections. A building code inspection is not required for licensure under this section. The state or local fire marshal must inspect the family adult day services home operating in the residence for compliance with the residential group R-3 occupancy provisions of the State Fire Code.
(b) The licensed capacity of the home shall be limited by the amount of indoor space available for use by participants. The total indoor space available for use by participants must equal at least 35 square feet for each participant, the license holder, and each staff member present in the home. In determining the square footage of usable indoor space available, the following must not be counted: hallways, stairways, closets, offices, restrooms, and utility and storage areas. The usable indoor space available must include a room or an area that can be used as private space for providing personal hygiene services or social services to participants.
(c) The residence must comply with all applicable local ordinances.
The commissioner may grant a variance to any of the requirements in this section if the conditions in section 245A.04, subdivision 9, are met.
(a) When a license holder is placing an infant to sleep, the license holder must place the infant on the infant's back, unless the license holder has documentation from the infant's parent directing an alternative sleeping position for the infant. The parent directive must be on a form approved by the commissioner and must include a statement that the parent or legal guardian has read the information provided by the Minnesota Sudden Infant Death Center, related to the risk of SIDS and the importance of placing an infant or child on its back to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS.
(b) The license holder must place the infant in a crib directly on a firm mattress with a fitted crib sheet that fits tightly on the mattress and overlaps the mattress so it cannot be dislodged by pulling on the corner of the sheet. The license holder must not place pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskin, pillow-like stuffed toys, or other soft products in the crib with the infant. The requirements of this section apply to license holders serving infants up to and including 12 months of age. Licensed child care providers must meet the crib requirements under section 245A.146.
(a) Licensed child foster care providers that care for infants or children through five years of age must document that before staff persons and caregivers assist in the care of infants or children through five years of age, they are instructed on the standards in section 245A.1435 and receive training on reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby syndrome for infants and young children. This section does not apply to emergency relative placement under section 245A.035. The training on reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby syndrome may be provided as:
(1) orientation training to child foster care providers, who care for infants or children through five years of age, under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 1; or
(2) in-service training to child foster care providers, who care for infants or children through five years of age, under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subpart 2.
(b) Training required under this section must be at least one hour in length and must be completed at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the risk factors related to sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby syndrome, means of reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby syndrome, and license holder communication with parents regarding reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby syndrome.
(c) Training for child foster care providers must be approved by the county or private licensing agency that is responsible for monitoring the child foster care provider under section 245A.16. The approved training fulfills, in part, training required under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070.
1Sp2001 c 9 art 14 s 23; 2002 c 375 art 1 s 16; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 1 s 19; 2007 c 112 s 16; 2009 c 26 s 1; 2010 c 329 art 1 s 9
A licensed chemical dependency treatment program that serves clients with infants or children through five years of age, who sleep at the program and a licensed children's residential facility that serves infants or children through five years of age, must document that before program staff persons or volunteers assist in the care of infants or children through five years of age, they are instructed on the standards in section 245A.1435 and receive training on reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby syndrome. The training conducted under this section may be used to fulfill training requirements under Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.0100, subpart 3; and 9530.6490, subpart 4, item B.
This section does not apply to child care centers or family child care programs governed by sections 245A.40 and 245A.50.
The commissioner shall make available for viewing by all legal nonlicensed child care providers a video presentation on the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children. Legal nonlicensed child care providers may participate at their option in a video presentation session offered under this section. The commissioner shall provide to child care providers and interested individuals, at cost, copies of a video approved by the commissioner of health under section 144.574 on the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children.
(a) All licensed child care providers must develop policies and procedures for reporting suspected child maltreatment that fulfill the requirements in section 626.556 and must develop policies and procedures for reporting complaints about the operation of a child care program. The policies and procedures must include the telephone numbers of the local county child protection agency for reporting suspected maltreatment; the county licensing agency for family and group family child care providers; and the state licensing agency for child care centers.
(b) The policies and procedures required in paragraph (a) must:
(1) be provided to the parents of all children at the time of enrollment in the child care program; and
(2) be made available upon request.
By July 1, 2002, a new or renewed child care license must include a statement that informs parents who have concerns about their child's care that they may call the licensing agency. The commissioner shall print the telephone number for the licensing agency in bold and large font on the license issued to child care providers.
The commissioner shall maintain a link from the licensing division Web site to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site that addresses crib safety information.
(a) Effective January 1, 2006, all licensed child care providers must maintain the following documentation for every crib used by or that is accessible to any child in care:
(1) the crib's brand name; and
(2) the crib's model number.
(b) Any crib for which the license holder does not have the documentation required under paragraph (a) must not be used by or be accessible to children in care.
(a) Annually, from the date printed on the license, all license holders shall check all their cribs' brand names and model numbers against the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site listing of unsafe cribs.
(b) The license holder shall maintain written documentation to be reviewed on site for each crib showing that the review required in paragraph (a) has been completed, and which of the following conditions applies:
(1) the crib was not identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site;
(2) the crib was identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site, but the license holder has taken the action directed by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission to make the crib safe; or
(3) the crib was identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site, and the license holder has removed the crib so that it is no longer used by or accessible to children in care.
(c) Documentation of the review completed under this subdivision shall be maintained by the license holder on site and made available to parents of children in care and the commissioner.
(d) Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0425, a family child care provider that complies with this section may use a mesh-sided playpen or crib that has not been identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site for the care or sleeping of infants.
(a) On at least a monthly basis, the license holder shall perform safety inspections of every crib used by or that is accessible to any child in care, and must document the following:
(1) no corner posts extend more than 1/16 of an inch;
(2) no spaces between side slats exceed 2.375 inches;
(3) no mattress supports can be easily dislodged from any point of the crib;
(4) no cutout designs are present on end panels;
(5) no heights of the rail and end panel are less than 26 inches when measured from the top of the rail or panel in the highest position to the top of the mattress support in its lowest position;
(6) no heights of the rail and end panel are less than nine inches when measured from the top of the rail or panel in its lowest position to the top of the mattress support in its highest position;
(7) no screws, bolts, or hardware are loose or not secured, and there is no use of woodscrews in components that are designed to be assembled and disassembled by the crib owner;
(8) no sharp edges, points, or rough surfaces are present;
(9) no wood surfaces are rough, splintered, split, or cracked;
(10) no tears in mesh of fabric sides in non-full-size cribs;
(11) no mattress pads in non-full-size mesh or fabric cribs exceed one inch; and
(12) no unacceptable gaps between the mattress and any sides of the crib are present as follows:
(i) when the noncompressed mattress is centered in the non-full-size crib, at any of the adjustable mattress support positions, the gap between the perimeter of the mattress and the perimeter of the crib cannot be greater than one-half inch at any point. When the mattress is placed against the perimeter of the crib, the resulting gap cannot be greater than one inch at any point; and
(ii) when the noncompressed mattress is centered in the full-size crib, at any of the adjustable mattress support positions, the gap between the perimeter of the mattress and the perimeter of the crib cannot be greater than 11/16 inch at any point. When the mattress is placed against the perimeter of the crib, the resulting gap cannot be greater than 1-3/8 inch at any point.
(b) Upon discovery of any unsafe condition identified by the license holder during the safety inspection required under paragraph (a), the license holder shall immediately remove the crib from use and ensure that the crib is not accessible to children in care, and as soon as practicable, but not more than two business days after the inspection, remove the crib from the area where child care services are routinely provided for necessary repairs or to destroy the crib.
(c) Documentation of the inspections and actions taken with unsafe cribs required in paragraphs (a) and (b) shall be maintained on site by the license holder and made available to parents of children in care and the commissioner.
During routine licensing inspections, and when investigating complaints regarding alleged violations of this section, the commissioner shall review the provider's documentation required under subdivisions 3 and 4.
The authority of local units of government to establish requirements for family day care programs is limited by section 299F.011, subdivision 4a, clauses (1) and (2).
When licensure under this chapter requires an inspection by a fire marshal to determine compliance with the State Fire Code under section 299F.011, a local fire code inspector approved by the state fire marshal may conduct the inspection. If a community does not have a local fire code inspector or if the local fire code inspector does not perform the inspection, the state fire marshal must conduct the inspection. A local fire code inspector or the state fire marshal may recover the cost of these inspections through a fee of no more than $50 per inspection charged to the applicant or license holder. The fees collected by the state fire marshal under this section are appropriated to the commissioner of public safety for the purpose of conducting the inspections.
This section applies to foster care agencies and licensed foster care providers who place, supervise, or care for individuals who rely on medical monitoring equipment to sustain life or monitor a medical condition in respite care or foster care.
In order for an agency to place an individual who relies on medical equipment to sustain life or monitor a medical condition with a foster care provider, the agency must ensure that the foster care provider has received the training to operate such equipment as observed and confirmed by a qualified source, and that the provider:
(1) is currently caring for an individual who is using the same equipment in the foster home; or
(2) has written documentation that the foster care provider has cared for an individual who relied on such equipment within the past six months; or
(3) has successfully completed training with the individual being placed with the provider.
A foster care provider shall not care for an individual who relies on medical equipment to sustain life or monitor a medical condition unless the provider has received the training to operate such equipment as observed and confirmed by a qualified source, and:
(1) is currently caring for an individual who is using the same equipment in the foster home; or
(2) has written documentation that the foster care provider has cared for an individual who relied on such equipment within the past six months; or
(3) has successfully completed training with the individual being placed with the provider.
For purposes of this section, a "qualified source" includes a health care professional or an individual who provides training on such equipment.
The agency supervising the foster care provider shall keep a training and skills form on file for each foster care provider and update the form annually. The agency placing the individual shall obtain a copy of the training and skills form from the foster care provider or the agency supervising the foster care provider and shall keep it and any updated information on file for the duration of the placement. The form must be made available to the parents or the primary caregiver and social worker of the individual, or the individual, whichever is applicable, in order to make an informed placement decision. The agency shall use the training and skills form developed by the commissioner of human services.
This section applies to county agencies, private child-placing agencies, and individuals who place children or adults who have a known communicable disease, as defined in section 144.4172, subdivision 2, in foster care settings licensed under this chapter.
Notwithstanding sections 144.291 to 144.298, before a county or private child-placing agency or individual places a child or adult with a known communicable disease with a licensed foster care provider, the agency or individual must:
(1) disclose to the foster care license holder the individual's communicable disease; and
(2) determine that the foster care provider has the ability to provide care to the individual.
(a) County agencies and private agencies that have been designated or licensed by the commissioner to perform licensing functions and activities under section 245A.04 and background studies for family child care under chapter 245C; to recommend denial of applicants under section 245A.05; to issue correction orders, to issue variances, and recommend a conditional license under section 245A.06, or to recommend suspending or revoking a license or issuing a fine under section 245A.07, shall comply with rules and directives of the commissioner governing those functions and with this section. The following variances are excluded from the delegation of variance authority and may be issued only by the commissioner:
(1) dual licensure of family child care and child foster care, dual licensure of child and adult foster care, and adult foster care and family child care;
(2) adult foster care maximum capacity;
(3) adult foster care minimum age requirement;
(4) child foster care maximum age requirement;
(5) variances regarding disqualified individuals except that county agencies may issue variances under section 245C.30 regarding disqualified individuals when the county is responsible for conducting a consolidated reconsideration according to sections 245C.25 and 245C.27, subdivision 2, clauses (a) and (b), of a county maltreatment determination and a disqualification based on serious or recurring maltreatment; and
(6) the required presence of a caregiver in the adult foster care residence during normal sleeping hours.
Except as provided in section 245A.14, subdivision 4, paragraph (e), a county agency must not grant a license holder a variance to exceed the maximum allowable family child care license capacity of 14 children.
(b) County agencies must report information about disqualification reconsiderations under sections 245C.25 and 245C.27, subdivision 2, paragraphs (a) and (b), and variances granted under paragraph (a), clause (5), to the commissioner at least monthly in a format prescribed by the commissioner.
(c) For family day care programs, the commissioner may authorize licensing reviews every two years after a licensee has had at least one annual review.
(d) For family adult day services programs, the commissioner may authorize licensing reviews every two years after a licensee has had at least one annual review.
(e) A license issued under this section may be issued for up to two years.
(a) The county or private agency shall conduct timely investigations of allegations of maltreatment of children or adults in programs for which the county or private agency is the commissioner's designated representative and record a disposition of each complaint in accordance with applicable law or rule. The county or private agency shall conduct similar investigations of allegations of violations of rules governing licensure of the program.
(b) If an investigation conducted under paragraph (a) results in evidence that the commissioner should deny an application or suspend, revoke, or make conditional a license, the county or private agency shall make that recommendation to the commissioner within ten working days.
The county or private agency shall not make recommendations to the commissioner regarding licensure without first conducting an inspection, and for family child care, a background study of the applicant under chapter 245C. The county or private agency must forward its recommendation to the commissioner regarding the appropriate licensing action within 20 working days of receipt of a completed application.
The county or private agency shall enforce the commissioner's orders under sections 245A.07, 245A.08, subdivision 5, and chapter 245C, according to the instructions of the commissioner. The county attorney shall assist the county agency in the enforcement and defense of the commissioner's orders under sections 245A.07, 245A.08, and chapter 245C, according to the instructions of the commissioner, unless a conflict of interest exists between the county attorney and the commissioner. For purposes of this section, a conflict of interest means that the county attorney has a direct or shared financial interest with the license holder or has a personal relationship or family relationship with a party in the licensing action.
The commissioner shall provide instruction and technical assistance to county and private agencies that are subject to this section. County and private agencies shall cooperate with the commissioner in carrying out this section by ensuring that affected employees participate in instruction and technical assistance provided by the commissioner.
The commissioner shall ensure that rules are uniformly enforced throughout the state by reviewing each county and private agency for compliance with this section and other applicable laws and rules at least every four years. County agencies that comply with this section shall be certified by the commissioner. If a county agency fails to be certified by the commissioner, the commissioner shall certify a reduction of state administrative aids in an amount up to 20 percent of the county's state portion of Children and Community Services Act funding.
1987 c 333 s 17; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 86; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 52,53; 1991 c 142 s 3; 1992 c 513 art 9 s 16; 1993 c 338 s 9; 1997 c 248 s 32; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 14 s 24; 2002 c 375 art 1 s 18; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2003 c 15 art 1 s 33; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 28,29; 2005 c 98 art 3 s 14; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 1 s 20,21; 2007 c 147 art 3 s 3,4; 2009 c 79 art 1 s 6,7; 2009 c 142 art 2 s 20
Prior to a nonemergency placement of a child in a foster care home, the child foster care provider, licensed after July 1, 2007, must complete two hours of training that addresses the causes, symptoms, and key warning signs of mental health disorders; cultural considerations; and effective approaches for dealing with a child's behaviors. At least one hour of the annual 12-hour training requirement for foster parents must be on children's mental health issues and treatment. Training curriculum shall be approved by the commissioner of human services.
A license holder must comply with all seat belt and child passenger restraint system requirements under section 169.685.
(a) Programs licensed by the Department of Human Services under Minnesota Rules, chapter 2960, that serve a child or children under nine years of age must document training that fulfills the requirements in this subdivision.
(b) Before a license holder, staff person, or caregiver transports a child or children under age nine in a motor vehicle, the person transporting the child must satisfactorily complete training on the proper use and installation of child restraint systems in motor vehicles. Training completed under this section may be used to meet initial or ongoing training under Minnesota Rules, part 2960.3070, subparts 1 and 2.
For all providers licensed prior to July 1, 2006, the training required in this subdivision must be obtained by December 31, 2007.
(c) Training required under this section must be at least one hour in length, completed at orientation or initial training, and repeated at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the proper use of child restraint systems based on the child's size, weight, and age, and the proper installation of a car seat or booster seat in the motor vehicle used by the license holder to transport the child or children.
(d) Training under paragraph (c) must be provided by individuals who are certified and approved by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. License holders may obtain a list of certified and approved trainers through the Department of Public Safety Web site or by contacting the agency.
(e) Child care providers that only transport school age children as defined in section 245A.02, subdivision 16, in school buses as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 71, paragraphs (c) to (f), are exempt from this subdivision.
1990 c 568 art 2 s 54; 1993 c 13 art 1 s 31; 1Sp2005 c 4 art 1 s 22; 2006 c 254 s 1; 2007 c 112 s 20; 2010 c 382 s 46; 2010 c 385 s 1
(a) Applicants and license holders for chemical dependency residential and nonresidential programs must demonstrate compliance with HIV minimum standards prior to their application being complete. The HIV minimum standards contained in the HIV-1 Guidelines for chemical dependency treatment and care programs in Minnesota are not subject to rulemaking.
(b) Ninety days after April 29, 1992, the applicant or license holder shall orient all chemical dependency treatment staff and clients to the HIV minimum standards. Thereafter, orientation shall be provided to all staff and clients, within 72 hours of employment or admission to the program. In-service training shall be provided to all staff on at least an annual basis and the license holder shall maintain records of training and attendance.
(c) The license holder shall maintain a list of referral sources for the purpose of making necessary referrals of clients to HIV-related services. The list of referral services shall be updated at least annually.
(d) Written policies and procedures, consistent with HIV minimum standards, shall be developed and followed by the license holder. All policies and procedures concerning HIV minimum standards shall be approved by the commissioner. The commissioner shall provide training on HIV minimum standards to applicants.
(e) The commissioner may permit variances from the requirements in this section. License holders seeking variances must follow the procedures in section 245A.04, subdivision 9.
"Independent living assistance for youth" means a nonresidential program that provides a system of services that includes training, counseling, instruction, supervision, and assistance provided to youth according to the youth's independent living plan, when the placements in the program are made by the county agency. Services may include assistance in locating housing, budgeting, meal preparation, shopping, personal appearance, counseling, and related social support services needed to meet the youth's needs and improve the youth's ability to conduct such tasks independently. Such services shall not extend to youths needing 24-hour per day supervision and services. Youths needing a 24-hour per day program of supervision and services shall not be accepted or retained in an independent living assistance program.
(a) The license holder shall accept as clients in the independent living assistance program only youth ages 16 to 21 who are in out-of-home placement, leaving out-of-home placement, at risk of becoming homeless, or homeless.
(b) Youth who have current drug or alcohol problems, a recent history of violent behaviors, or a mental health disorder or issue that is not being resolved through counseling or treatment are not eligible to receive the services described in subdivision 1.
(c) Youth who are not employed, participating in employment training, or enrolled in an academic program are not eligible to receive transitional housing or independent living assistance.
(a) Unless an independent living plan has been developed by the local agency, the license holder shall develop a plan based on the client's individual needs that specifies objectives for the client. The services provided shall include those specified in this section. The plan shall identify the persons responsible for implementation of each part of the plan. The plan shall be reviewed as necessary, but at least annually.
(b) The following services, or adequate access to referrals for the following services, must be made available to the targeted youth participating in the programs described in subdivision 1:
(1) counseling services for the youth and their families, if appropriate, on site, to help with problems that contributed to the homelessness or could impede making the transition to independent living;
(2) educational, vocational, or employment services;
(3) health care;
(4) transportation services including, where appropriate, assisting the child in obtaining a driver's license;
(5) money management skills training;
(6) planning for ongoing housing;
(7) social and recreational skills training; and
(8) assistance establishing and maintaining connections with the child's family and community.
The license holder shall maintain a record for each client.
(a) For each client the record maintained by the license holder shall document the following:
(1) admission information;
(2) the independent living plan;
(3) delivery of the services required of the license holder in the independent living plan;
(4) the client's progress toward obtaining the objectives identified in the independent living plan; and
(5) a termination summary after service is terminated.
(b) If the license holder manages the client's money, the record maintained by the license holder shall also include the following:
(1) written permission from the client or the client's legal guardian to manage the client's money;
(2) the reasons the license holder is to manage the client's money; and
(3) a complete record of the use of the client's money and reconciliation of the account.
The license holder, in conjunction with the county agency, shall establish a service termination plan that specifies how independent living assistance services will be terminated and the actions to be performed by the involved agencies, including necessary referrals for other ongoing services.
When a client's place of residence is provided by the license holder as part of the independent living assistance program, the place of residence is not subject to separate licensure.
In addition to the requirements of this section, providers of independent living assistance are subject to general licensing requirements of this chapter.
1997 c 248 s 33; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 11 s 11; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 30,31
The commissioner may not:
(1) issue any license under Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.0010 to 2960.0710, for the residential placement of children at a facility if the facility accepts children who reside outside of Minnesota without an agreement with the entity placing the child at the facility that obligates the entity to pay the educational and medical expenses of the child; or
(2) renew a license under Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.0010 to 2960.0710, for the residential placement of children if the facility accepts children who reside outside of Minnesota without an agreement with the entity placing the child at the facility that obligates the entity to pay the educational and medical expenses of the child.
The child care center license holder must ensure that every staff person and volunteer is given orientation training and successfully completes the training before starting assigned duties. The orientation training in this subdivision applies to volunteers who will have direct contact with or access to children and who are not under the direct supervision of a staff person. Completion of the orientation must be documented in the individual's personnel record. The orientation training must include information about:
(1) the center's philosophy, child care program, and procedures for maintaining health and safety and handling emergencies and accidents;
(2) specific job responsibilities;
(3) the behavior guidance standards in Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0055; and
(4) the reporting responsibilities in section 626.556, and Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0130.
(a) For purposes of child care centers, the director and all staff hired after July 1, 2006, shall complete and document at least two hours of child growth and development training within the first year of employment. For purposes of this subdivision, "child growth and development training" means training in understanding how children acquire language and develop physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially. Training completed under this subdivision may be used to meet the orientation training requirements under subdivision 1 and the in-service training requirements under subdivision 7.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), individuals are exempt from this requirement if they:
(1) have taken a three-credit college course on early childhood development within the past five years;
(2) have received a baccalaureate or master's degree in early childhood education or school-age child care within the past five years;
(3) are licensed in Minnesota as a prekindergarten teacher, an early childhood educator, a kindergarten to sixth grade teacher with a prekindergarten specialty, an early childhood special education teacher, or an elementary teacher with a kindergarten endorsement; or
(4) have received a baccalaureate degree with a Montessori certificate within the past five years.
All teachers and assistant teachers in a child care center governed by Minnesota Rules, parts 9503.0005 to 9503.0170, and at least one staff person during field trips and when transporting children in care, must satisfactorily complete first aid training within 90 days of the start of work, unless the training has been completed within the previous three years. The first aid training must be repeated at least every three years, documented in the person's personnel record and indicated on the center's staffing chart, and provided by an individual approved as a first aid instructor. This training may be less than eight hours.
(a) When children are present in a child care center governed by Minnesota Rules, parts 9503.0005 to 9503.0170, at least one staff person must be present in the center who has been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and in the treatment of obstructed airways. The CPR training must have been provided by an individual approved to provide CPR instruction, must be repeated at least once every three years, and must be documented in the staff person's records.
(b) CPR training may be provided for less than four hours.
(c) Persons qualified to provide CPR training shall include individuals approved as CPR instructors.
(a) License holders must document that before staff persons care for infants, they are instructed on the standards in section 245A.1435 and receive training on reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. In addition, license holders must document that before staff persons care for infants or children under school age, they receive training on the risk of shaken baby syndrome. The training in this subdivision may be provided as orientation training under subdivision 1 and in-service training under subdivision 7.
(b) Sudden infant death syndrome reduction training required under this subdivision must be at least one-half hour in length and must be completed at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the risk factors related to sudden infant death syndrome, means of reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in child care, and license holder communication with parents regarding reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
(c) Shaken baby syndrome training under this subdivision must be at least one-half hour in length and must be completed at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the risk factors related to shaken baby syndrome for infants and young children, means to reduce the risk of shaken baby syndrome in child care, and license holder communication with parents regarding reducing the risk of shaken baby syndrome.
(d) The commissioner shall make available for viewing a video presentation on the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children. The video presentation must be part of the orientation and annual in-service training of licensed child care center staff persons caring for children under school age. The commissioner shall provide to child care providers and interested individuals, at cost, copies of a video approved by the commissioner of health under section 144.574 on the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children.
(a) A license holder must comply with all seat belt and child passenger restraint system requirements under section 169.685.
(b) Child care centers that serve a child or children under nine years of age must document training that fulfills the requirements in this subdivision.
(1) Before a license holder transports a child or children under age nine in a motor vehicle, the person placing the child or children in a passenger restraint must satisfactorily complete training on the proper use and installation of child restraint systems in motor vehicles. Training completed under this subdivision may be used to meet orientation training under subdivision 1 and in-service training under subdivision 7.
(2) Training required under this subdivision must be at least one hour in length, completed at orientation, and repeated at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the proper use of child restraint systems based on the child's size, weight, and age, and the proper installation of a car seat or booster seat in the motor vehicle used by the license holder to transport the child or children.
(3) Training required under this subdivision must be provided by individuals who are certified and approved by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. License holders may obtain a list of certified and approved trainers through the Department of Public Safety Web site or by contacting the agency.
(4) Child care providers that only transport school-age children as defined in section 245A.02, subdivision 16, in child care buses as defined in section 169.448, subdivision 1, paragraph (e), are exempt from this subdivision.
(a) A license holder must ensure that an annual in-service training plan is developed and carried out and that it meets the requirements in clauses (1) to (7). The in-service training plan must:
(1) be consistent with the center's child care program plan;
(2) meet the training needs of individual staff persons as specified in each staff person's annual evaluation report;
(3) provide training, at least one-fourth of which is by a resource not affiliated with the license holder;
(4) include Minnesota Rules, parts 9503.0005 to 9503.0170, relevant to the staff person's position and must occur within two weeks of initial employment;
(5) provide that at least one-half of the annual in-service training completed by a staff person each year pertains to the age of children for which the person is providing care;
(6) provide that no more than four hours of each annual in-service training requirement relate to administration, finances, and records training for a teacher, assistant teacher, or aide; and
(7) provide that the remainder of the in-service training requirement be met by participation in training in child growth and development; learning environment and curriculum; assessment and planning for individual needs; interactions with children; families and communities; health, safety, and nutrition; and program planning and evaluation.
(b) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the meanings given them.
(1) "Child growth and development training" has the meaning given it in subdivision 2, paragraph (a).
(2) "Learning environment and curriculum" means training in establishing an environment that provides learning experiences to meet each child's needs, capabilities, and interests, including early childhood education methods or theory, recreation, sports, promoting creativity in the arts, arts and crafts methods or theory, and early childhood special education methods or theory.
(3) "Assessment and planning for individual needs" means training in observing and assessing what children know and can do in order to provide curriculum and instruction that addresses their developmental and learning needs, including children with special needs.
(4) "Interactions with children" means training in establishing supportive relationships with children and guiding them as individuals and as part of a group, including child study techniques and behavior guidance.
(5) "Families and communities" means training in working collaboratively with families, agencies, and organizations to meet children's needs and to encourage the community's involvement, including family studies and parent involvement.
(6) "Health, safety, and nutrition" means training in establishing and maintaining an environment that ensures children's health, safety, and nourishment, including first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, child nutrition, and child abuse and neglect prevention.
(7) "Program planning and evaluation" means training in establishing, implementing, evaluating, and enhancing program operations.
(c) The director and all program staff persons must annually complete a number of hours of in-service training equal to at least two percent of the hours for which the director or program staff person is annually paid, unless one of the following is applicable.
(1) A teacher at a child care center must complete one percent of working hours of in-service training annually if the teacher:
(i) possesses a baccalaureate or master's degree in early childhood education or school-age care;
(ii) is licensed in Minnesota as a prekindergarten teacher, an early childhood educator, a kindergarten to sixth grade teacher with a prekindergarten specialty, an early childhood special education teacher, or an elementary teacher with a kindergarten endorsement; or
(iii) possesses a baccalaureate degree with a Montessori certificate.
(2) A teacher or assistant teacher at a child care center must complete one and one-half percent of working hours of in-service training annually if the individual is:
(i) a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse with experience working with infants;
(ii) possesses a Montessori certificate, a technical college certificate in early childhood development, or a child development associate certificate; or
(iii) possesses an associate of arts degree in early childhood education, a baccalaureate degree in child development, or a technical college diploma in early childhood development.
(d) The number of required training hours may be prorated for individuals not employed full time or for an entire year.
(e) The annual in-service training must be completed within the calendar year for which it was required. In-service training completed by staff persons is transferable upon a staff person's change in employment to another child care program.
(f) The license holder must ensure that, when a staff person completes in-service training, the training is documented in the staff person's personnel record. The documentation must include the date training was completed, the goal of the training and topics covered, trainer's name and organizational affiliation, trainer's signed statement that training was successfully completed, and the director's approval of the training.
(a) The training required of licensed child care center staff must include training in the cultural dynamics of early childhood development and child care. The cultural dynamics and disabilities training and skills development of child care providers must be designed to achieve outcomes for providers of child care that include, but are not limited to:
(1) an understanding and support of the importance of culture and differences in ability in children's identity development;
(2) understanding the importance of awareness of cultural differences and similarities in working with children and their families;
(3) understanding and support of the needs of families and children with differences in ability;
(4) developing skills to help children develop unbiased attitudes about cultural differences and differences in ability;
(5) developing skills in culturally appropriate caregiving; and
(6) developing skills in appropriate caregiving for children of different abilities.
(b) Curriculum for cultural dynamics and disability training shall be approved by the commissioner.
(c) The commissioner shall amend current rules relating to the training of the licensed child care center staff to require cultural dynamics training. Timelines established in the rule amendments for complying with the cultural dynamics training requirements must be based on the commissioner's determination that curriculum materials and trainers are available statewide.
(d) For programs caring for children with special needs, the license holder shall ensure that any additional staff training required by the child's individual child care program plan required under Minnesota Rules, part 9503.0065, subpart 3, is provided.
(a) License holders, caregivers, and substitutes must comply with the training requirements in this section.
(b) Helpers who assist with care on a regular basis must complete six hours of training within one year after the date of initial employment.
(a) For purposes of family and group family child care, the license holder and each adult caregiver who provides care in the licensed setting for more than 30 days in any 12-month period shall complete and document at least two hours of child growth and development training within the first year of licensure. For purposes of this subdivision, "child growth and development training" means training in understanding how children acquire language and develop physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), individuals are exempt from this requirement if they:
(1) have taken a three-credit course on early childhood development within the past five years;
(2) have received a baccalaureate or master's degree in early childhood education or school-age child care within the past five years;
(3) are licensed in Minnesota as a prekindergarten teacher, an early childhood educator, a kindergarten to grade 6 teacher with a prekindergarten specialty, an early childhood special education teacher, or an elementary teacher with a kindergarten endorsement; or
(4) have received a baccalaureate degree with a Montessori certificate within the past five years.
(a) When children are present in a family child care home governed by Minnesota Rules, parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445, at least one staff person must be present in the home who has been trained in first aid. The first aid training must have been provided by an individual approved to provide first aid instruction. First aid training may be less than eight hours and persons qualified to provide first aid training include individuals approved as first aid instructors.
(b) A family child care provider is exempt from the first aid training requirements under this subdivision related to any substitute caregiver who provides less than 30 hours of care during any 12-month period.
(c) Video training reviewed and approved by the county licensing agency satisfies the training requirement of this subdivision.
(a) When children are present in a family child care home governed by Minnesota Rules, parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445, at least one staff person must be present in the home who has been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and in the treatment of obstructed airways. The CPR training must have been provided by an individual approved to provide CPR instruction, must be repeated at least once every three years, and must be documented in the staff person's records.
(b) A family child care provider is exempt from the CPR training requirement in this subdivision related to any substitute caregiver who provides less than 30 hours of care during any 12-month period.
(c) Video training reviewed and approved by the county licensing agency satisfies the training requirement of this subdivision.
(a) License holders must document that before staff persons, caregivers, and helpers assist in the care of infants, they are instructed on the standards in section 245A.1435 and receive training on reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. In addition, license holders must document that before staff persons, caregivers, and helpers assist in the care of infants and children under school age, they receive training on reducing the risk of shaken baby syndrome. The training in this subdivision may be provided as initial training under subdivision 1 or ongoing annual training under subdivision 7.
(b) Sudden infant death syndrome reduction training required under this subdivision must be at least one-half hour in length and must be completed at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the risk factors related to sudden infant death syndrome, means of reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in child care, and license holder communication with parents regarding reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
(c) Shaken baby syndrome training required under this subdivision must be at least one-half hour in length and must be completed at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the risk factors related to shaken baby syndrome, means of reducing the risk of shaken baby syndrome in child care, and license holder communication with parents regarding reducing the risk of shaken baby syndrome.
(d) Training for family and group family child care providers must be approved by the county licensing agency.
(e) The commissioner shall make available for viewing by all licensed child care providers a video presentation on the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children. The video presentation shall be part of the initial and ongoing annual training of licensed child care providers, caregivers, and helpers caring for children under school age. The commissioner shall provide to child care providers and interested individuals, at cost, copies of a video approved by the commissioner of health under section 144.574 on the dangers associated with shaking infants and young children.
(a) A license holder must comply with all seat belt and child passenger restraint system requirements under section 169.685.
(b) Family and group family child care programs licensed by the Department of Human Services that serve a child or children under nine years of age must document training that fulfills the requirements in this subdivision.
(1) Before a license holder, staff person, caregiver, or helper transports a child or children under age nine in a motor vehicle, the person placing the child or children in a passenger restraint must satisfactorily complete training on the proper use and installation of child restraint systems in motor vehicles. Training completed under this subdivision may be used to meet initial training under subdivision 1 or ongoing training under subdivision 7.
(2) Training required under this subdivision must be at least one hour in length, completed at initial training, and repeated at least once every five years. At a minimum, the training must address the proper use of child restraint systems based on the child's size, weight, and age, and the proper installation of a car seat or booster seat in the motor vehicle used by the license holder to transport the child or children.
(3) Training under this subdivision must be provided by individuals who are certified and approved by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. License holders may obtain a list of certified and approved trainers through the Department of Public Safety Web site or by contacting the agency.
(c) Child care providers that only transport school-age children as defined in section 245A.02, subdivision 19, paragraph (f), in child care buses as defined in section 169.448, subdivision 1, paragraph (e), are exempt from this subdivision.
For purposes of family and group family child care, the license holder and each primary caregiver must complete eight hours of training each year. For purposes of this subdivision, a primary caregiver is an adult caregiver who provides services in the licensed setting for more than 30 days in any 12-month period. Ongoing training subjects must be selected from the following areas:
(1) "child growth and development training" has the meaning given in subdivision 2, paragraph (a);
(2) "learning environment and curriculum" includes training in establishing an environment and providing activities that provide learning experiences to meet each child's needs, capabilities, and interests;
(3) "assessment and planning for individual needs" includes training in observing and assessing what children know and can do in order to provide curriculum and instruction that addresses their developmental and learning needs, including children with special needs and bilingual children or children for whom English is not their primary language;
(4) "interactions with children" includes training in establishing supportive relationships with children, guiding them as individuals and as part of a group;
(5) "families and communities" includes training in working collaboratively with families and agencies or organizations to meet children's needs and to encourage the community's involvement;
(6) "health, safety, and nutrition" includes training in establishing and maintaining an environment that ensures children's health, safety, and nourishment, including child abuse, maltreatment, prevention, and reporting; home and fire safety; child injury prevention; communicable disease prevention and control; first aid; and CPR; and
(7) "program planning and evaluation" includes training in establishing, implementing, evaluating, and enhancing program operations.
(a) The training required of family and group family child care providers and staff must include training in the cultural dynamics of early childhood development and child care. The cultural dynamics and disabilities training and skills development of child care providers must be designed to achieve outcomes for providers of child care that include, but are not limited to:
(1) an understanding and support of the importance of culture and differences in ability in children's identity development;
(2) understanding the importance of awareness of cultural differences and similarities in working with children and their families;
(3) understanding and support of the needs of families and children with differences in ability;
(4) developing skills to help children develop unbiased attitudes about cultural differences and differences in ability;
(5) developing skills in culturally appropriate caregiving; and
(6) developing skills in appropriate caregiving for children of different abilities.
The commissioner shall approve the curriculum for cultural dynamics and disability training.
(b) The provider must meet the training requirement in section 245A.14, subdivision 11, paragraph (a), clause (4), to be eligible to allow a child cared for at the family child care or group family child care home to use the swimming pool located at the home.
All license holders serving vulnerable adults shall establish and enforce written policies and procedures related to suspected or alleged maltreatment, and shall orient clients and mandated reporters who are under the control of the license holder to these procedures, as defined in section 626.5572, subdivision 16.
(a) License holders must establish policies and procedures allowing but not mandating the internal reporting of alleged or suspected maltreatment. License holders shall ensure that the policies and procedures on internal reporting:
(1) meet all the requirements identified for the optional internal reporting policies and procedures in section 626.557, subdivision 4a; and
(2) identify the primary and secondary person or position to whom internal reports may be made and the primary and secondary person or position responsible for forwarding internal reports to the common entry point as defined in section 626.5572, subdivision 5. The secondary person must be involved when there is reason to believe that the primary person was involved in the alleged or suspected maltreatment.
(b) The license holder shall:
(1) establish and maintain policies and procedures to ensure that an internal review is completed and that corrective action is taken as necessary to protect the health and safety of vulnerable adults when the facility has reason to know that an internal or external report of alleged or suspected maltreatment has been made. The review must include an evaluation of whether related policies and procedures were followed, whether the policies and procedures were adequate, whether there is a need for additional staff training, whether the reported event is similar to past events with the vulnerable adults or the services involved, and whether there is a need for corrective action by the license holder to protect the health and safety of vulnerable adults. Based on the results of this review, the license holder must develop, document, and implement a corrective action plan designed to correct current lapses and prevent future lapses in performance by individuals or the license holder, if any.
(2) identify the primary and secondary person or position who will ensure that, when required, internal reviews are completed. The secondary person shall be involved when there is reason to believe that the primary person was involved in the alleged or suspected maltreatment; and
(3) document and make internal reviews accessible to the commissioner upon the commissioner's request. The documentation provided to the commissioner by the license holder may consist of a completed checklist that verifies completion of each of the requirements of the review.
(c) The license holder shall provide an orientation to the internal and external reporting procedures to all persons receiving services. The orientation shall include the telephone number for the license holder's common entry point as defined in section 626.5572, subdivision 5. If applicable, the person's legal representative must be notified of the orientation. The program shall provide this orientation for each new person within 24 hours of admission, or for persons who would benefit more from a later orientation, the orientation may take place within 72 hours.
(d) The license holder shall post a copy of the internal and external reporting policies and procedures, including the telephone number of the common entry point as defined in section 626.5572, subdivision 5, in a prominent location in the program and have it available upon request to mandated reporters, persons receiving services, and the person's legal representatives.
(a) A license holder that provides services to adults who are excluded from the definition of vulnerable adult under section 626.5572, subdivision 21, paragraph (a), clause (2), must determine whether the person is a vulnerable adult under section 626.5572, subdivision 21, paragraph (a), clause (4). This determination must be made within 24 hours of:
(1) admission to the licensed program; and
(2) any incident that:
(i) was reported under section 626.557; or
(ii) would have been required to be reported under section 626.557, if one or more of the adults involved in the incident had been vulnerable adults.
(b) Upon determining that a person receiving services is a vulnerable adult under section 626.5572, subdivision 21, paragraph (a), clause (4), all requirements relative to vulnerable adults under this chapter and section 626.557 must be met by the license holder.
All license holders shall establish and enforce ongoing written program abuse prevention plans and individual abuse prevention plans as required under section 626.557, subdivision 14.
(a) The scope of the program abuse prevention plan is limited to the population, physical plant, and environment within the control of the license holder and the location where licensed services are provided. In addition to the requirements in section 626.557, subdivision 14, the program abuse prevention plan shall meet the requirements in clauses (1) to (5).
(1) The assessment of the population shall include an evaluation of the following factors: age, gender, mental functioning, physical and emotional health or behavior of the client; the need for specialized programs of care for clients; the need for training of staff to meet identified individual needs; and the knowledge a license holder may have regarding previous abuse that is relevant to minimizing risk of abuse for clients.
(2) The assessment of the physical plant where the licensed services are provided shall include an evaluation of the following factors: the condition and design of the building as it relates to the safety of the clients; and the existence of areas in the building which are difficult to supervise.
(3) The assessment of the environment for each facility and for each site when living arrangements are provided by the agency shall include an evaluation of the following factors: the location of the program in a particular neighborhood or community; the type of grounds and terrain surrounding the building; the type of internal programming; and the program's staffing patterns.
(4) The license holder shall provide an orientation to the program abuse prevention plan for clients receiving services. If applicable, the client's legal representative must be notified of the orientation. The license holder shall provide this orientation for each new person within 24 hours of admission, or for persons who would benefit more from a later orientation, the orientation may take place within 72 hours.
(5) The license holder's governing body shall review the plan at least annually using the assessment factors in the plan and any substantiated maltreatment findings that occurred since the last review. The governing body shall revise the plan, if necessary, to reflect the review results.
(6) A copy of the program abuse prevention plan shall be posted in a prominent location in the program and be available upon request to mandated reporters, persons receiving services, and legal representatives.
(b) In addition to the requirements in section 626.557, subdivision 14, the individual abuse prevention plan shall meet the requirements in clauses (1) and (2).
(1) The plan shall include a statement of measures that will be taken to minimize the risk of abuse to the vulnerable adult when the individual assessment required in section 626.557, subdivision 14, paragraph (b), indicates the need for measures in addition to the specific measures identified in the program abuse prevention plan. The measures shall include the specific actions the program will take to minimize the risk of abuse within the scope of the licensed services, and will identify referrals made when the vulnerable adult is susceptible to abuse outside the scope or control of the licensed services. When the assessment indicates that the vulnerable adult does not need specific risk reduction measures in addition to those identified in the program abuse prevention plan, the individual abuse prevention plan shall document this determination.
(2) An individual abuse prevention plan shall be developed for each new person as part of the initial individual program plan or service plan required under the applicable licensing rule. The review and evaluation of the individual abuse prevention plan shall be done as part of the review of the program plan or service plan. The person receiving services shall participate in the development of the individual abuse prevention plan to the full extent of the person's abilities. If applicable, the person's legal representative shall be given the opportunity to participate with or for the person in the development of the plan. The interdisciplinary team shall document the review of all abuse prevention plans at least annually, using the individual assessment and any reports of abuse relating to the person. The plan shall be revised to reflect the results of this review.
The license holder shall ensure that each new mandated reporter, as defined in section 626.5572, subdivision 16, who is under the control of the license holder, receives an orientation within 72 hours of first providing direct contact services as defined in section 245C.02, subdivision 11, to a vulnerable adult and annually thereafter. The orientation and annual review shall inform the mandated reporters of the reporting requirements and definitions in sections 626.557 and 626.5572, the requirements of this section, the license holder's program abuse prevention plan, and all internal policies and procedures related to the prevention and reporting of maltreatment of individuals receiving services.
(a) The commissioner of human services shall seek federal funding to design, implement, maintain, and evaluate the common entry point for reports of suspected maltreatment made under Minnesota Statutes, section 626.557. The purpose of the federal grant funds is to establish a common entry point with a statewide toll-free telephone number and Web site-based system to report known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
(b) A common entry point must be operated in a manner that enables the common entry point staff to:
(1) operate under Minnesota Statutes, section 626.557, subdivision 9, paragraph (b); and subdivision 9a;
(2) when appropriate, refer calls that do not allege the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult to other organizations that might better resolve the reporter's concerns; and
(3) immediately identify and locate prior reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
(c) A common entry point must be operated in a manner that enables the commissioner of human services to:
(1) track critical steps in the investigative process to ensure compliance with all requirements for all reports;
(2) maintain data to facilitate the production of aggregate statistical reports for monitoring patterns of abuse, neglect, or exploitation;
(3) serve as a resource for the evaluation, management, and planning of preventative and remedial services for vulnerable adults who have been subject to abuse, neglect, or exploitation;
(4) set standards, priorities, and policies to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the common entry point; and
(5) develop a system to manage consumer complaints related to the common entry point.
(d) The commissioner of human services may take the actions necessary to design and implement the common entry point in paragraph (a). Funds awarded by the federal government for the purposes of this section are appropriated to the commissioner of human services.
Except for family child care settings and foster care for children in the license holder's residence, license holders serving children shall:
(1) establish and maintain policies and procedures to ensure that an internal review is completed and that corrective action is taken if necessary to protect the health and safety of children in care when the facility has reason to know that an internal or external report of alleged or suspected maltreatment has been made. The review must include an evaluation of whether:
(i) related policies and procedures were followed;
(ii) the policies and procedures were adequate;
(iii) there is a need for additional staff training;
(iv) the reported event is similar to past events with the children or the services involved; and
(v) there is a need for corrective action by the license holder to protect the health and safety of children in care.
Based on the results of this review, the license holder must develop, document, and implement a corrective action plan designed to correct current lapses and prevent future lapses in performance by individuals or the license holder, if any;
(2) identify the primary and secondary person or position who will ensure that, when required, internal reviews are completed. The secondary person shall be involved when there is reason to believe that the primary person was involved in the alleged or suspected maltreatment; and
(3) document that the internal review has been completed and provide documentation showing the review was completed to the commissioner upon the commissioner's request. The documentation provided to the commissioner by the license holder may consist of a completed checklist that verifies completion of each of the requirements of the review.
(a) Child care centers licensed under this chapter and Minnesota Rules, chapter 9503, must develop a risk reduction plan that assesses the general risks to children served by the child care center. The license holder must establish procedures to minimize identified risks, train staff on the procedures, and annually review the procedures.
(b) The risk reduction plan must include an assessment of risk to children the center serves or intends to serve based on the following:
(1) an assessment of the risk presented by the vulnerability of the children served, including an evaluation of the following factors: age, developmental functioning, and the physical and emotional health of children the program serves or intends to serve;
(2) an assessment of the risks presented by the physical plant where the licensed services are provided, including an evaluation of the following factors: the condition and design of the facility and its outdoor space, bathrooms, storage areas, and accessibility of medications and cleaning products that are harmful to children when children are not supervised, doors where finger pinching may occur, and the existence of areas that are difficult to supervise; and
(3) an assessment of the risks presented by the environment for each facility and for each site, including an evaluation of the following factors: the type of grounds and terrain surrounding the building and the proximity to hazards, busy roads, and publicly accessed businesses.
(c) The risk reduction plan must include a statement of measures that will be taken to minimize the risk of harm presented to children. At a minimum, the risk reduction plan must address the following:
(1) a general description of supervision, programming, and reference to the policies and procedures developed and implemented to address the risks identified in the assessment required under paragraph (b) related to the general population served, the physical plant, and environment;
(2) in addition to any program-specific risks identified in paragraph (b), the plan must include or refer to policies and procedures developed and implemented to minimize the risk of harm or injury to children, including:
(i) closing children's fingers in doors, including cabinet doors;
(ii) leaving children in the community without supervision;
(iii) children leaving the facility without supervision;
(iv) caregiver dislocation of children's elbows;
(v) burns from hot food or beverages, whether served to children or being consumed by caregivers, and the devices used to warm food and beverages;
(vi) injuries from equipment, such as scissors and glue guns;
(vii) sunburn;
(viii) feeding children foods to which they are allergic;
(ix) children falling from changing tables; and
(x) children accessing dangerous items or chemicals or coming into contact with residue from harmful cleaning products; and
(3) the plan shall prohibit the accessibility of hazardous items to children.
(a) The license holder shall ensure that all mandated reporters, as defined in section 626.556, subdivision 3, who are under the control of the license holder, receive an orientation to the risk reduction plan prior to first providing unsupervised direct contact services, as defined in section 245C.02, subdivision 11, to children, not to exceed 14 days from the first supervised direct contact, and annually thereafter.
(b) The license holder must review the risk reduction plan annually. When conducting the review, the license holder must consider incidents that have occurred in the center since the last review, including:
(1) the assessment factors in the plan;
(2) the internal reviews conducted under this section, if any;
(3) substantiated maltreatment findings, if any; and
(4) incidents that caused injury or harm to a child, if any, that occurred since the last review.
Following any change to the risk reduction plan, the license holder must inform mandated reporters, under the control of the license holder, of the changes in the risk reduction plan.
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes