1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; providing an exemption from a licensing moratorium; 
1.3 	establishing certification requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, 
1.4 	section 245A.03, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, 
1.5 	section 245A.03, subdivision 7.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 245A.03, is amended by adding a 
1.8 	subdivision to read:
1.9 		Subd. 6a.Adult foster care homes serving people with mental illness; 
1.10 	certification. (a) The commissioner of human services shall develop a certification 
1.11 	process for adult foster care homes licensed under this chapter and Minnesota Rules, parts 
1.12 	9555.5105 to 9555.6265, that serve people with mental illness where the home is not the 
1.13 	primary residence of the license holder. When an adult foster care license holder becomes 
1.14 	certified, the certification shall be included in the license information. The certification 
1.15 	process shall be developed with input from advocates, mental health professionals, and 
1.16 	adult foster care providers.
1.17 	(b) As part of the certification process, the commissioner shall require that:
1.18 	(1) staff working in the adult foster care home receive training on the following 
1.19 	topics:
1.20 	(i) mental health diagnoses;
1.21 	(ii) mental health crisis response and de-escalation techniques;
1.22 	(iii) recovery from mental illness;
1.23 	(iv) treatment options including evidence-based practices;
1.24 	(v) medications and their side effects;
1.25 	(vi) co-occurring substance abuse and health conditions; and
2.1 	(vii) other topics as determined by the commissioner; and
2.2 	(2) a mental health professional, as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 18, 
2.3 	provides oversight of the adult foster care home.
2.4 	(c) The commissioner shall develop certification requirements by January 1, 2013.

2.5 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 245A.03, subdivision 7, is 
2.6 	amended to read:
2.7 		Subd. 7.Licensing moratorium. (a) The commissioner shall not issue an 
2.8 	initial license for child foster care licensed under Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.3000 to 
2.9 	2960.3340, or adult foster care licensed under Minnesota Rules, parts 9555.5105 to 
2.10 	9555.6265, under this chapter for a physical location that will not be the primary residence 
2.11 	of the license holder for the entire period of licensure. If a license is issued during this 
2.12 	moratorium, and the license holder changes the license holder's primary residence away 
2.13 	from the physical location of the foster care license, the commissioner shall revoke the 
2.14 	license according to section 245A.07. Exceptions to the moratorium include:
2.15 	(1) foster care settings that are required to be registered under chapter 144D;
2.16 	(2) foster care licenses replacing foster care licenses in existence on May 15, 2009, 
2.17 	and determined to be needed by the commissioner under paragraph (b);
2.18 	(3) new foster care licenses determined to be needed by the commissioner under 
2.19 	paragraph (b) for the closure of a nursing facility, ICF/MR, or regional treatment center, or 
2.20 	restructuring of state-operated services that limits the capacity of state-operated facilities;
2.21 	(4) new foster care licenses determined to be needed by the commissioner under 
2.22 	paragraph (b) for persons requiring hospital level care; or
2.23 	(5) new foster care licenses determined to be needed by the commissioner for the 
2.24 	transition of people from personal care assistance to the home and community-based 
2.25 	services.
2.26 	(b) The commissioner shall determine the need for newly licensed foster care homes 
2.27 	as defined under this subdivision. As part of the determination, the commissioner shall 
2.28 	consider the availability of foster care capacity in the area in which the licensee seeks to 
2.29 	operate, and the recommendation of the local county board. The determination by the 
2.30 	commissioner must be final. A determination of need is not required for a change in 
2.31 	ownership at the same address.
2.32 	(c) Residential settings that would otherwise be subject to the moratorium established 
2.33 	in paragraph (a), that are in the process of receiving an adult or child foster care license as 
2.34 	of July 1, 2009, shall be allowed to continue to complete the process of receiving an adult 
3.1 	or child foster care license. For this paragraph, all of the following conditions must be met 
3.2 	to be considered in the process of receiving an adult or child foster care license:
3.3 	(1) participants have made decisions to move into the residential setting, including 
3.4 	documentation in each participant's care plan;
3.5 	(2) the provider has purchased housing or has made a financial investment in the 
3.6 	property;
3.7 	(3) the lead agency has approved the plans, including costs for the residential setting 
3.8 	for each individual;
3.9 	(4) the completion of the licensing process, including all necessary inspections, is 
3.10 	the only remaining component prior to being able to provide services; and
3.11 	(5) the needs of the individuals cannot be met within the existing capacity in that 
3.12 	county.
3.13 	To qualify for the process under this paragraph, the lead agency must submit 
3.14 	documentation to the commissioner by August 1, 2009, that all of the above criteria are 
3.15 	met.
3.16 	(d) The commissioner shall study the effects of the license moratorium under this 
3.17 	subdivision and shall report back to the legislature by January 15, 2011. This study shall 
3.18 	include, but is not limited to the following:
3.19 	(1) the overall capacity and utilization of foster care beds where the physical location 
3.20 	is not the primary residence of the license holder prior to and after implementation 
3.21 	of the moratorium;
3.22 	(2) the overall capacity and utilization of foster care beds where the physical 
3.23 	location is the primary residence of the license holder prior to and after implementation 
3.24 	of the moratorium; and
3.25 	(3) the number of licensed and occupied ICF/MR beds prior to and after 
3.26 	implementation of the moratorium.
3.27 	(e) When a foster care recipient moves out of a foster home that is not the primary 
3.28 	residence of the license holder according to section 256B.49, subdivision 15, paragraph 
3.29 	(f), the county shall immediately inform the Department of Human Services Licensing 
3.30 	Division, and the department shall immediately decrease the licensed capacity for the 
3.31 	home. A decreased licensed capacity according to this paragraph is not subject to appeal 
3.32 	under this chapter.
3.33 	(f) Residential settings that would otherwise be subject to the decreased license 
3.34 	capacity established in paragraph (e) shall be exempt under the following circumstances:
3.35 	(1) the license holder is:
4.1 	(i) a provider of assertive community treatment (ACT) or adult rehabilitative mental 
4.2 	health services (ARMHS) as defined in section 256B.0623;
4.3 	(ii) a mental health center certified under Minnesota Rules, parts 9520.0750 to 
4.4 	9520.0870;
4.5 	(iii) a mental health clinic certified under Minnesota Rules, parts 9520.0750 to 
4.6 	9520.0870; or
4.7 	(iv) a provider of intensive residential treatment services (IRTS) licensed under 
4.8 	Minnesota Rules, parts 9520.0500 to 9520.0670; or
4.9 	(2) the license holder is certified under the requirements in subdivision 6a.