1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; making changes to child 
  1.3             care, the Minnesota family investment program, 
  1.4             long-term care, and health care; amending Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes 2002, sections 119B.011, by adding a 
  1.6             subdivision; 119B.03, subdivisions 3, 6a, by adding a 
  1.7             subdivision; 256.955, subdivisions 2, 2b; 256B.0911, 
  1.8             subdivision 4a; 256J.01, subdivision 1; 256J.08, 
  1.9             subdivisions 73, 82a; 256J.21, subdivision 3; 
  1.10            256J.415; 256J.425, subdivision 5; Minnesota Statutes 
  1.11            2003 Supplement, sections 119B.011, subdivisions 8, 
  1.12            10, 20; 119B.03, subdivision 4; 119B.05, subdivision 
  1.13            1; 119B.09, subdivision 7; 119B.12, subdivision 2; 
  1.14            119B.13, subdivisions 1, 1a; 119B.189, subdivisions 2, 
  1.15            4; 119B.19, subdivision 1; 119B.24; 119B.25, 
  1.16            subdivision 2; 245A.11, subdivision 2a; 256.01, 
  1.17            subdivision 2; 256.046, subdivision 1; 256.955, 
  1.18            subdivision 2a; 256.98, subdivision 8; 256B.06, 
  1.19            subdivision 4; 256B.0625, subdivision 9; 256B.0915, 
  1.20            subdivisions 3a, 3b; 256B.431, subdivision 32; 
  1.21            256D.03, subdivisions 3, 4; 256J.09, subdivision 3b; 
  1.22            256J.24, subdivision 5; 256J.32, subdivisions 2, 8; 
  1.23            256J.37, subdivision 9; 256J.425, subdivisions 1, 4, 
  1.24            6; 256J.46, subdivision 1; 256J.49, subdivision 4; 
  1.25            256J.515; 256J.521, subdivisions 1, 2; 256J.53, 
  1.26            subdivision 2; 256J.56; 256J.57, subdivision 1; 
  1.27            256J.626, subdivision 2; 256J.751, subdivision 2; 
  1.28            256J.95, subdivisions 1, 3, 11, 12, 19; repealing 
  1.29            Minnesota Statutes 2002, sections 119B.211; 256D.051, 
  1.30            subdivision 17; Laws 2000, chapter 489, article 1, 
  1.31            section 36. 
  1.32  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.33                             ARTICLE 1
  1.34            CHILD CARE; MINNESOTA FAMILY INVESTMENT PLAN
  1.35     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  1.36  119B.011, subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
  1.37     Subd. 8.  [COMMISSIONER.] "Commissioner" means the 
  1.38  commissioner of education human services. 
  2.1      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  2.2   119B.011, subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
  2.3      Subd. 10.  [DEPARTMENT.] "Department" means the Department 
  2.4   of Education Human Services. 
  2.5      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 119B.011, is 
  2.6   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.7      Subd. 10a.  [DIVERSIONARY WORK PROGRAM.] "Diversionary work 
  2.8   program" means the program established under section 256J.95. 
  2.9      Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  2.10  119B.011, subdivision 20, is amended to read: 
  2.11     Subd. 20.  [TRANSITION YEAR FAMILIES.] (a) "Transition year 
  2.12  families" means families who have received MFIP assistance, or 
  2.13  who were eligible to receive MFIP assistance after choosing to 
  2.14  discontinue receipt of the cash portion of MFIP assistance under 
  2.15  section 256J.31, subdivision 12, or families who have received 
  2.16  DWP assistance under section 256J.95 for at least three of the 
  2.17  last six months before losing eligibility for MFIP or DWP.  
  2.18  Transition year child care may be used to support employment or 
  2.19  job search. Transition year child care is not available to 
  2.20  families who have been disqualified from MFIP or DWP due to 
  2.21  fraud.  
  2.22     (b) Subd. 20a.  "Transition year extension year families" 
  2.23  means families who have completed their transition year of child 
  2.24  care assistance under this subdivision and who are eligible for, 
  2.25  but on a waiting list for, services under section 119B.03.  For 
  2.26  purposes of sections 119B.03, subdivision 3, and 119B.05, 
  2.27  subdivision 1, clause (2), families participating in extended 
  2.28  transition year shall not be considered transition year 
  2.29  families.  Transition year extension child care may be used to 
  2.30  support employment or a job search that meets the requirements 
  2.31  of section 119B.10 for the length of time necessary for families 
  2.32  to be moved from the basic sliding fee waiting list into the 
  2.33  basic sliding fee program.  
  2.34     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 119B.03, 
  2.35  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  2.36     Subd. 3.  [ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS.] Families that meet the 
  3.1   eligibility requirements under sections 119B.07, 119B.09, and 
  3.2   119B.10, except MFIP participants, work first 
  3.3   participants diversionary work program, and transition year 
  3.4   families are eligible for child care assistance under the basic 
  3.5   sliding fee program.  Families enrolled in the basic sliding fee 
  3.6   program shall be continued until they are no longer eligible.  
  3.7   Child care assistance provided through the child care fund is 
  3.8   considered assistance to the parent. 
  3.9      Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  3.10  119B.03, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  3.11     Subd. 4.  [FUNDING PRIORITY.] (a) First priority for child 
  3.12  care assistance under the basic sliding fee program must be 
  3.13  given to eligible non-MFIP families who do not have a high 
  3.14  school or general equivalency diploma or who need remedial and 
  3.15  basic skill courses in order to pursue employment or to pursue 
  3.16  education leading to employment and who need child care 
  3.17  assistance to participate in the education program.  Within this 
  3.18  priority, the following subpriorities must be used: 
  3.19     (1) child care needs of minor parents; 
  3.20     (2) child care needs of parents under 21 years of age; and 
  3.21     (3) child care needs of other parents within the priority 
  3.22  group described in this paragraph. 
  3.23     (b) Second priority must be given to parents who have 
  3.24  completed their MFIP or work first DWP transition year, or 
  3.25  parents who are no longer receiving or eligible for diversionary 
  3.26  work program supports. 
  3.27     (c) Third priority must be given to families who are 
  3.28  eligible for portable basic sliding fee assistance through the 
  3.29  portability pool under subdivision 9. 
  3.30     (d) Families under paragraph (b) must be added to the basic 
  3.31  sliding fee waiting list on the date they begin the transition 
  3.32  year under section 119B.011, subdivision 20, and must be moved 
  3.33  into the basic sliding fee program as soon as possible after 
  3.34  they complete their transition year.  
  3.35     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 119B.03, 
  3.36  subdivision 6a, is amended to read: 
  4.1      Subd. 6a.  [ALLOCATION DUE TO INCREASED FUNDING.] When 
  4.2   funding increases are implemented within a calendar year, every 
  4.3   county must receive an allocation at least equal and 
  4.4   proportionate to its original allocation for the same time 
  4.5   period.  The remainder of the allocation must be recalculated to 
  4.6   reflect the funding increase, according to formulas identified 
  4.7   in subdivision 6. 
  4.8      Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 119B.03, is 
  4.9   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  4.10     Subd. 6b.  [ALLOCATION DUE TO DECREASED FUNDING.] When 
  4.11  funding decreases are implemented within a calendar year, county 
  4.12  allocations must be reduced in an amount proportionate to the 
  4.13  reduction in the total allocation for the same time period.  
  4.14  This applies when a funding decrease necessitates the revision 
  4.15  of an existing calendar year allocation. 
  4.16     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  4.17  119B.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  4.18     Subdivision 1.  [ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS.] Families eligible 
  4.19  for child care assistance under the MFIP child care program are: 
  4.20     (1) MFIP participants who are employed or in job search and 
  4.21  meet the requirements of section 119B.10; 
  4.22     (2) persons who are members of transition year families 
  4.23  under section 119B.011, subdivision 20, and meet the 
  4.24  requirements of section 119B.10; 
  4.25     (3) families who are participating in employment 
  4.26  orientation or job search, or other employment or training 
  4.27  activities that are included in an approved employability 
  4.28  development plan under chapter 256K section 256J.95; 
  4.29     (4) MFIP families who are participating in work job search, 
  4.30  job support, employment, or training activities as required in 
  4.31  their job search support or employment plan, or in appeals, 
  4.32  hearings, assessments, or orientations according to chapter 
  4.33  256J; 
  4.34     (5) MFIP families who are participating in social services 
  4.35  activities under chapter 256J or 256K as required in their 
  4.36  employment plan approved according to chapter 256J or 256K; 
  5.1      (6) families who are participating in programs as required 
  5.2   in tribal contracts under section 119B.02, subdivision 2, or 
  5.3   256.01, subdivision 2; and 
  5.4      (7) families who are participating in the transition year 
  5.5   extension under section 119B.011, subdivision 20, paragraph 
  5.6   (a) 20a. 
  5.7      Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  5.8   119B.09, subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
  5.9      Subd. 7.  [DATE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE.] (a) The 
  5.10  date of eligibility for child care assistance under this chapter 
  5.11  is the later of the date the application was signed; the 
  5.12  beginning date of employment, education, or training; or the 
  5.13  date a determination has been made that the applicant is a 
  5.14  participant in employment and training services under Minnesota 
  5.15  Rules, part 3400.0080, subpart 2a, or chapter 256J or 256K.  
  5.16     (b) Payment of child care assistance for employed persons 
  5.17  on MFIP is effective the date of employment or the date of MFIP 
  5.18  eligibility, whichever is later.  Payment of child care 
  5.19  assistance for MFIP or work first DWP participants in employment 
  5.20  and training services is effective the date of commencement of 
  5.21  the services or the date of MFIP or work first DWP eligibility, 
  5.22  whichever is later.  Payment of child care assistance for 
  5.23  transition year child care must be made retroactive to the date 
  5.24  of eligibility for transition year child care. 
  5.25     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  5.26  119B.12, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  5.27     Subd. 2.  [PARENT FEE.] A family must be assessed a parent 
  5.28  fee for each service period.  A family's parent fee must be a 
  5.29  fixed percentage of its annual gross income.  Parent fees must 
  5.30  apply to families eligible for child care assistance under 
  5.31  sections 119B.03 and 119B.05.  Income must be as defined in 
  5.32  section 119B.011, subdivision 15.  The fixed percent is based on 
  5.33  the relationship of the family's annual gross income to 100 
  5.34  percent of the annual federal poverty guidelines.  Parent fees 
  5.35  must begin at 75 percent of the poverty level.  The minimum 
  5.36  parent fees for families between 75 percent and 100 percent of 
  6.1   poverty level must be $10 per month.  Parent fees must provide 
  6.2   for graduated movement to full payment. 
  6.3      Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  6.4   119B.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  6.5      Subdivision 1.  [SUBSIDY RESTRICTIONS.] The maximum rate 
  6.6   paid for child care assistance under the child care fund may not 
  6.7   exceed the 75th percentile rate for like-care arrangements in 
  6.8   the county as surveyed by the commissioner.  A rate which 
  6.9   includes a provider bonus paid under subdivision 2 or a special 
  6.10  needs rate paid under subdivision 3 may be in excess of the 
  6.11  maximum rate allowed under this subdivision.  The department 
  6.12  shall monitor the effect of this paragraph on provider rates.  
  6.13  The county shall pay the provider's full charges for every child 
  6.14  in care up to the maximum established.  The commissioner shall 
  6.15  determine the maximum rate for each type of care on an hourly, 
  6.16  full-day, and weekly basis, including special needs and 
  6.17  handicapped care.  Not less than once every two years, the 
  6.18  commissioner shall evaluate market practices for payment of 
  6.19  absences and shall establish policies for payment of absent days 
  6.20  that reflect current market practice. 
  6.21     When the provider charge is greater than the maximum 
  6.22  provider rate allowed, the parent is responsible for payment of 
  6.23  the difference in the rates in addition to any family co-payment 
  6.24  fee. 
  6.25     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  6.26  119B.13, subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 
  6.27     Subd. 1a.  [LEGAL NONLICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDER 
  6.28  RATES.] (a) Legal nonlicensed family child care providers 
  6.29  receiving reimbursement under this chapter must be paid on an 
  6.30  hourly basis for care provided to families receiving assistance. 
  6.31     (b) The maximum rate paid to legal nonlicensed family child 
  6.32  care providers must be 80 percent of the county maximum hourly 
  6.33  rate for licensed family child care providers.  In counties 
  6.34  where the maximum hourly rate for licensed family child care 
  6.35  providers is higher than the maximum weekly rate for those 
  6.36  providers divided by 50, the maximum hourly rate that may be 
  7.1   paid to legal nonlicensed family child care providers is the 
  7.2   rate equal to the maximum weekly rate for licensed family child 
  7.3   care providers divided by 50 and then multiplied by 0.80. 
  7.4      (c) A rate which includes a provider bonus paid under 
  7.5   subdivision 2 or a special needs rate paid under subdivision 3 
  7.6   may be in excess of the maximum rate allowed under this 
  7.7   subdivision. 
  7.8      (d) Legal nonlicensed family child care providers receiving 
  7.9   reimbursement under this chapter may not be paid registration 
  7.10  fees for families receiving assistance. 
  7.11     Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  7.12  119B.189, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  7.13     Subd. 2.  [INTERIM FINANCING.] "Interim financing" means 
  7.14  funding for up to 18 months: 
  7.15     (1) for activities that are necessary to receive and 
  7.16  maintain state child care licensing; 
  7.17     (2) to expand an existing child care program or to improve 
  7.18  program quality; and 
  7.19     (3) to operate for a period of six consecutive months after 
  7.20  a child care facility becomes licensed or satisfies standards of 
  7.21  the commissioner of education human services. 
  7.22     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  7.23  119B.189, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  7.24     Subd. 4.  [TRAINING PROGRAM.] "Training program" means 
  7.25  child development courses offered by an accredited postsecondary 
  7.26  institution or similar training approved by a county board or 
  7.27  the commissioner.  A training program must be a course of study 
  7.28  that teaches specific skills to meet licensing requirements or 
  7.29  requirements of the commissioner of education human services. 
  7.30     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  7.31  119B.19, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  7.32     Subdivision 1.  [DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FOR OPERATION OF 
  7.33  CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PROGRAMS.] The commissioner 
  7.34  of education human services shall distribute funds to public or 
  7.35  private nonprofit organizations for the planning, establishment, 
  7.36  expansion, improvement, or operation of child care resource and 
  8.1   referral programs under this section.  The commissioner must 
  8.2   adopt rules for programs under this section and sections 
  8.3   119B.189 and 119B.21.  The commissioner must develop a process 
  8.4   to fund organizations to operate child care resource and 
  8.5   referral programs that includes application forms, timelines, 
  8.6   and standards for renewal. 
  8.7      Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  8.8   119B.24, is amended to read: 
  8.9      119B.24 [DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.] 
  8.10     In addition to the powers and duties already conferred by 
  8.11  law, the commissioner of education human services shall: 
  8.12     (1) administer the child care fund, including the basic 
  8.13  sliding fee program authorized under sections 119B.011 to 
  8.14  119B.16; 
  8.15     (2) monitor the child care resource and referral programs 
  8.16  established under section 119B.19; and 
  8.17     (3) encourage child care providers to participate in a 
  8.18  nationally recognized accreditation system for early childhood 
  8.19  and school-age care programs.  Subject to approval by the 
  8.20  commissioner, family child care providers and early childhood 
  8.21  and school-age care programs shall be reimbursed for one-half of 
  8.22  the direct cost of accreditation fees, upon successful 
  8.23  completion of accreditation. 
  8.24     Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  8.25  119B.25, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  8.26     Subd. 2.  [GRANTS.] The commissioner shall distribute money 
  8.27  provided by this section through a grant to a nonprofit 
  8.28  corporation organized to plan, develop, and finance early 
  8.29  childhood education and child care sites.  The nonprofit 
  8.30  corporation must have demonstrated the ability to analyze 
  8.31  financing projects, have knowledge of other sources of public 
  8.32  and private financing for child care and early childhood 
  8.33  education sites, and have a relationship with the resource and 
  8.34  referral programs under section 119B.211.  The board of 
  8.35  directors of the nonprofit corporation must include members who 
  8.36  are knowledgeable about early childhood education, child care, 
  9.1   development and improvement, and financing.  The commissioners 
  9.2   of the Departments of Education Human Services and Employment 
  9.3   and Economic Development, and the commissioner of the Housing 
  9.4   Finance Agency shall advise the board on the loan program.  The 
  9.5   grant must be used to make loans to improve child care or early 
  9.6   childhood education sites, or loans to plan, design, and 
  9.7   construct or expand licensed and legal unlicensed sites to 
  9.8   increase the availability of child care or early childhood 
  9.9   education.  All loans made by the nonprofit corporation must 
  9.10  comply with section 363A.16. 
  9.11     Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  9.12  256.046, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  9.13     Subdivision 1.  [HEARING AUTHORITY.] A local agency must 
  9.14  initiate an administrative fraud disqualification hearing for 
  9.15  individuals, including child care providers caring for children 
  9.16  receiving child care assistance, accused of wrongfully obtaining 
  9.17  assistance or intentional program violations, in lieu of a 
  9.18  criminal action when it has not been pursued, in the aid to 
  9.19  families with dependent children program formerly codified in 
  9.20  sections 256.72 to 256.87, MFIP, the diversionary work program, 
  9.21  child care assistance programs, general assistance, family 
  9.22  general assistance program formerly codified in section 256D.05, 
  9.23  subdivision 1, clause (15), Minnesota supplemental aid, food 
  9.24  stamp programs, general assistance medical care, MinnesotaCare 
  9.25  for adults without children, and upon federal approval, all 
  9.26  categories of medical assistance and remaining categories of 
  9.27  MinnesotaCare except for children through age 18.  The hearing 
  9.28  is subject to the requirements of section 256.045 and the 
  9.29  requirements in Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 
  9.30  273.16, for the food stamp program and title 45, section 
  9.31  235.112, as of September 30, 1995, for the cash grant, medical 
  9.32  care programs, and child care assistance under chapter 119B. 
  9.33     Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  9.34  256.98, subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
  9.35     Subd. 8.  [DISQUALIFICATION FROM PROGRAM.] (a) Any person 
  9.36  found to be guilty of wrongfully obtaining assistance by a 
 10.1   federal or state court or by an administrative hearing 
 10.2   determination, or waiver thereof, through a disqualification 
 10.3   consent agreement, or as part of any approved diversion plan 
 10.4   under section 401.065, or any court-ordered stay which carries 
 10.5   with it any probationary or other conditions, in the Minnesota 
 10.6   family investment program, the diversionary work program, the 
 10.7   food stamp or food support program, the general assistance 
 10.8   program, the group residential housing program, or the Minnesota 
 10.9   supplemental aid program shall be disqualified from that 
 10.10  program.  In addition, any person disqualified from the 
 10.11  Minnesota family investment program shall also be disqualified 
 10.12  from the food stamp or food support program.  The needs of that 
 10.13  individual shall not be taken into consideration in determining 
 10.14  the grant level for that assistance unit:  
 10.15     (1) for one year after the first offense; 
 10.16     (2) for two years after the second offense; and 
 10.17     (3) permanently after the third or subsequent offense.  
 10.18     The period of program disqualification shall begin on the 
 10.19  date stipulated on the advance notice of disqualification 
 10.20  without possibility of postponement for administrative stay or 
 10.21  administrative hearing and shall continue through completion 
 10.22  unless and until the findings upon which the sanctions were 
 10.23  imposed are reversed by a court of competent jurisdiction.  The 
 10.24  period for which sanctions are imposed is not subject to 
 10.25  review.  The sanctions provided under this subdivision are in 
 10.26  addition to, and not in substitution for, any other sanctions 
 10.27  that may be provided for by law for the offense involved.  A 
 10.28  disqualification established through hearing or waiver shall 
 10.29  result in the disqualification period beginning immediately 
 10.30  unless the person has become otherwise ineligible for 
 10.31  assistance.  If the person is ineligible for assistance, the 
 10.32  disqualification period begins when the person again meets the 
 10.33  eligibility criteria of the program from which they were 
 10.34  disqualified and makes application for that program. 
 10.35     (b) A family receiving assistance through child care 
 10.36  assistance programs under chapter 119B with a family member who 
 11.1   is found to be guilty of wrongfully obtaining child care 
 11.2   assistance by a federal court, state court, or an administrative 
 11.3   hearing determination or waiver, through a disqualification 
 11.4   consent agreement, as part of an approved diversion plan under 
 11.5   section 401.065, or a court-ordered stay with probationary or 
 11.6   other conditions, is disqualified from child care assistance 
 11.7   programs.  The disqualifications must be for periods of three 
 11.8   months, six months, and two years for the first, second, and 
 11.9   third offenses respectively.  Subsequent violations must result 
 11.10  in permanent disqualification.  During the disqualification 
 11.11  period, disqualification from any child care program must extend 
 11.12  to all child care programs and must be immediately applied. 
 11.13     (c) A provider caring for children receiving assistance 
 11.14  through child care assistance programs under chapter 119B is 
 11.15  disqualified from receiving payment for child care services from 
 11.16  the child care assistance program under chapter 119B when the 
 11.17  provider is found to have wrongfully obtained child care 
 11.18  assistance by a federal court, state court, or an administrative 
 11.19  hearing determination or waiver under section 256.046, through a 
 11.20  disqualification consent agreement, as part of an approved 
 11.21  diversion plan under section 401.065, or a court-ordered stay 
 11.22  with probationary or other conditions.  The disqualification 
 11.23  must be for a period of one year for the first offense and two 
 11.24  years for the second offense.  Any subsequent violation must 
 11.25  result in permanent disqualification.  The disqualification 
 11.26  period must be imposed immediately after a determination is made 
 11.27  under this paragraph.  During the disqualification period, the 
 11.28  provider is disqualified from receiving payment from any child 
 11.29  care program under chapter 119B.  
 11.30     (d) Any person found to be guilty of wrongfully obtaining 
 11.31  general assistance medical care, MinnesotaCare for adults 
 11.32  without children, and upon federal approval, all categories of 
 11.33  medical assistance and remaining categories of MinnesotaCare, 
 11.34  except for children through age 18, by a federal or state court 
 11.35  or by an administrative hearing determination, or waiver 
 11.36  thereof, through a disqualification consent agreement, or as 
 12.1   part of any approved diversion plan under section 401.065, or 
 12.2   any court-ordered stay which carries with it any probationary or 
 12.3   other conditions, is disqualified from that program.  The period 
 12.4   of disqualification is one year after the first offense, two 
 12.5   years after the second offense, and permanently after the third 
 12.6   or subsequent offense.  The period of program disqualification 
 12.7   shall begin on the date stipulated on the advance notice of 
 12.8   disqualification without possibility of postponement for 
 12.9   administrative stay or administrative hearing and shall continue 
 12.10  through completion unless and until the findings upon which the 
 12.11  sanctions were imposed are reversed by a court of competent 
 12.12  jurisdiction.  The period for which sanctions are imposed is not 
 12.13  subject to review.  The sanctions provided under this 
 12.14  subdivision are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any 
 12.15  other sanctions that may be provided for by law for the offense 
 12.16  involved. 
 12.17     Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256J.01, 
 12.18  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 12.19     Subdivision 1.  [IMPLEMENTATION OF MINNESOTA FAMILY 
 12.20  INVESTMENT PROGRAM (MFIP).] Except for section 256J.95, this 
 12.21  chapter and chapter 256K may be cited as the Minnesota family 
 12.22  investment program (MFIP).  MFIP is the statewide implementation 
 12.23  of components of the Minnesota family investment plan (MFIP) 
 12.24  authorized and formerly codified in section 256.031 and 
 12.25  Minnesota family investment plan-Ramsey County (MFIP-R) formerly 
 12.26  codified in section 256.047. 
 12.27     Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256J.08, 
 12.28  subdivision 73, is amended to read: 
 12.29     Subd. 73.  [QUALIFIED NONCITIZEN.] "Qualified noncitizen" 
 12.30  means a person: 
 12.31     (1) who was lawfully admitted for permanent residence 
 12.32  pursuant according to United States Code, title 8; 
 12.33     (2) who was admitted to the United States as a refugee 
 12.34  pursuant according to United States Code, title 8; section 1157; 
 12.35     (3) whose deportation is being withheld pursuant according 
 12.36  to United States Code, title 8, section sections 1231(b)(3), 
 13.1   1253(h), and 1641(b)(5); 
 13.2      (4) who was paroled for a period of at least one year 
 13.3   pursuant according to United States Code, title 8, section 
 13.4   1182(d)(5); 
 13.5      (5) who was granted conditional entry pursuant according to 
 13.6   United State Code, title 8, section 1153(a)(7); 
 13.7      (6) who is a Cuban or Haitian entrant as defined in section 
 13.8   501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, Unites 
 13.9   States Code, title 8, section 1641(b)(7); 
 13.10     (7) who was granted asylum pursuant according to United 
 13.11  States Code, title 8, section 1158; 
 13.12     (7) determined to be a battered noncitizen by the United 
 13.13  States Attorney General according to the Illegal Immigration 
 13.14  Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, Title V of the 
 13.15  Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Bill, Public Law 104-208; 
 13.16     (8) who is a child of a noncitizen determined to be a 
 13.17  battered noncitizen by the United States Attorney General 
 13.18  according to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility 
 13.19  Act of 1996, title V, Public Law 104-200 battered noncitizen 
 13.20  according to United States Code, title 8, section 1641(c); or 
 13.21     (9) who was admitted as a Cuban or Haitian entrant is a 
 13.22  parent or child of a battered noncitizen according to United 
 13.23  States Code, title 8, section 1641(c). 
 13.24     Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256J.08, 
 13.25  subdivision 82a, is amended to read: 
 13.26     Subd. 82a.  [SHARED HOUSEHOLD STANDARD.] "Shared household 
 13.27  standard" means the basic standard used when the household 
 13.28  includes an unrelated member.  The standard also applies to a 
 13.29  member disqualified under section 256J.425.  The cash portion of 
 13.30  the shared household standard is equal to 90 percent of the cash 
 13.31  portion of the transitional standard.  The cash portion of the 
 13.32  shared household standard plus the food portion equals the full 
 13.33  shared household standard. 
 13.34     Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 13.35  256J.09, subdivision 3b, is amended to read: 
 13.36     Subd. 3b.  [INTERVIEW TO DETERMINE REFERRALS AND SERVICES.] 
 14.1   If the applicant is not diverted from applying for MFIP, and if 
 14.2   the applicant meets the MFIP eligibility requirements, then a 
 14.3   county agency must: 
 14.4      (1) identify an applicant who is under the age of 20 
 14.5   without a high school diploma or its equivalent and explain to 
 14.6   the applicant the assessment procedures and employment plan 
 14.7   requirements under section 256J.54; 
 14.8      (2) explain to the applicant the eligibility criteria in 
 14.9   section 256J.545 for the family violence waiver, and what an 
 14.10  applicant should do to develop an employment plan; 
 14.11     (3) determine if an applicant qualifies for an exemption 
 14.12  under section 256J.56 from employment and training services 
 14.13  requirements explain that the activities and hourly requirements 
 14.14  of the employment plan may be adjusted to accommodate the 
 14.15  personal and family circumstances of applicants who meet the 
 14.16  criteria in section 256J.561, subdivision 2, paragraph (d), 
 14.17  explain how a person should report to the county agency any 
 14.18  status changes, and explain that an applicant who is exempt not 
 14.19  required to participate in employment services under section 
 14.20  256J.561 may volunteer to participate in employment and training 
 14.21  services; 
 14.22     (4) for applicants who are not exempt from the requirement 
 14.23  to attend orientation, arrange for an orientation under section 
 14.24  256J.45 and an assessment under section 256J.521; 
 14.25     (5) inform an applicant who is not exempt from the 
 14.26  requirement to attend orientation that failure to attend the 
 14.27  orientation is considered an occurrence of noncompliance with 
 14.28  program requirements and will result in an imposition of a 
 14.29  sanction under section 256J.46; and 
 14.30     (6) explain how to contact the county agency if an 
 14.31  applicant has questions about compliance with program 
 14.32  requirements. 
 14.33     Sec. 25.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256J.21, 
 14.34  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 14.35     Subd. 3.  [INITIAL INCOME TEST.] The county agency shall 
 14.36  determine initial eligibility by considering all earned and 
 15.1   unearned income that is not excluded under subdivision 2.  To be 
 15.2   eligible for MFIP, the assistance unit's countable income minus 
 15.3   the disregards in paragraphs (a) and (b) must be below the 
 15.4   transitional standard of assistance according to section 256J.24 
 15.5   for that size assistance unit. 
 15.6      (a) The initial eligibility determination must disregard 
 15.7   the following items: 
 15.8      (1) the employment disregard is 18 percent of the gross 
 15.9   earned income whether or not the member is working full time or 
 15.10  part time; 
 15.11     (2) dependent care costs must be deducted from gross earned 
 15.12  income for the actual amount paid for dependent care up to a 
 15.13  maximum of $200 per month for each child less than two years of 
 15.14  age, and $175 per month for each child two years of age and 
 15.15  older under this chapter and chapter 119B; 
 15.16     (3) all payments made according to a court order for 
 15.17  spousal support or the support of children not living in the 
 15.18  assistance unit's household shall be disregarded from the income 
 15.19  of the person with the legal obligation to pay support, provided 
 15.20  that, if there has been a change in the financial circumstances 
 15.21  of the person with the legal obligation to pay support since the 
 15.22  support order was entered, the person with the legal obligation 
 15.23  to pay support has petitioned for a modification of the support 
 15.24  order; and 
 15.25     (4) an allocation for the unmet need of an ineligible 
 15.26  spouse or an ineligible child under the age of 21 for whom the 
 15.27  caregiver is financially responsible and who lives with the 
 15.28  caregiver according to section 256J.36. 
 15.29     (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), when determining initial 
 15.30  eligibility for applicant units when at least one member has 
 15.31  received work first or MFIP in this state within four months of 
 15.32  the most recent application for MFIP, apply the disregard as 
 15.33  defined in section 256J.08, subdivision 24, for all unit members.
 15.34     After initial eligibility is established, the assistance 
 15.35  payment calculation is based on the monthly income test. 
 15.36     Sec. 26.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 16.1   256J.24, subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 16.2      Subd. 5.  [MFIP TRANSITIONAL STANDARD.] The MFIP 
 16.3   transitional standard is based on the number of persons in the 
 16.4   assistance unit eligible for both food and cash assistance 
 16.5   unless the restrictions in subdivision 6 on the birth of a child 
 16.6   apply.  The following table represents the transitional 
 16.7   standards effective October 1, 2002 2003. 
 16.8       Number of       Transitional         Cash       Food
 16.9    Eligible People     Standard           Portion    Portion
 16.10        1                $370   $371:      $250       $120 $121
 16.11        2                $658   $661:      $437       $221 $224
 16.12        3                $844   $852:      $532       $312 $320
 16.13        4                $998 $1,006:      $621       $377 $385
 16.14        5              $1,135 $1,146:      $697       $438 $449
 16.15        6              $1,296 $1,309:      $773       $523 $536
 16.16        7              $1,414 $1,428:      $850       $564 $578
 16.17        8              $1,558 $1,572:      $916       $642 $656
 16.18        9              $1,700 $1,715:      $980       $720 $735
 16.19       10              $1,836 $1,853:    $1,035       $801 $818
 16.20  over 10            add $136   $137:       $53        $83  $84
 16.21  per additional member.
 16.22     The commissioner shall annually publish in the State 
 16.23  Register the transitional standard for an assistance unit sizes 
 16.24  1 to 10 including a breakdown of the cash and food portions. 
 16.25     Sec. 27.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 16.26  256J.32, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 16.27     Subd. 2.  [DOCUMENTATION.] The applicant or participant 
 16.28  must document the information required under subdivisions 4 to 6 
 16.29  or authorize the county agency to verify the information.  The 
 16.30  applicant or participant has the burden of providing documentary 
 16.31  evidence to verify eligibility.  The county agency shall assist 
 16.32  the applicant or participant in obtaining required documents 
 16.33  when the applicant or participant is unable to do so.  The 
 16.34  county agency may accept an affidavit a signed personal 
 16.35  statement from the applicant or participant only for factors 
 16.36  specified under subdivision 8.  
 17.1      Sec. 28.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 17.2   256J.32, subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 17.3      Subd. 8.  [AFFIDAVIT PERSONAL STATEMENT.] The county agency 
 17.4   may accept an affidavit a signed personal statement from the 
 17.5   applicant or recipient participant explaining the reasons that 
 17.6   the documentation requested in subdivision 2 is unavailable as 
 17.7   sufficient documentation at the time of application or, 
 17.8   recertification, or change related to eligibility only for the 
 17.9   following factors: 
 17.10     (1) a claim of family violence if used as a basis to 
 17.11  qualify for the family violence waiver; 
 17.12     (2) information needed to establish an exception under 
 17.13  section 256J.24, subdivision 9; 
 17.14     (3) relationship of a minor child to caregivers in the 
 17.15  assistance unit; and 
 17.16     (4) citizenship status from a noncitizen who reports to be, 
 17.17  or is identified as, a victim of severe forms of trafficking in 
 17.18  persons, if the noncitizen reports that the noncitizen's 
 17.19  immigration documents are being held by an individual or group 
 17.20  of individuals against the noncitizen's will.  The noncitizen 
 17.21  must follow up with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to 
 17.22  pursue certification.  If verification that certification is 
 17.23  being pursued is not received within 30 days, the MFIP case must 
 17.24  be closed and the agency shall pursue overpayments.  The ORR 
 17.25  documents certifying the noncitizen's status as a victim of 
 17.26  severe forms of trafficking in persons, or the reason for the 
 17.27  delay in processing, must be received within 90 days, or the 
 17.28  MFIP case must be closed and the agency shall pursue 
 17.29  overpayments; and 
 17.30     (5) other documentation unavailable for reasons beyond the 
 17.31  control of the applicant or participant.  Reasonable attempts 
 17.32  must have been made to obtain the documents requested under 
 17.33  subdivision 2. 
 17.34     Sec. 29.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 17.35  256J.37, subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
 17.36     Subd. 9.  [UNEARNED INCOME.] (a) The county agency must 
 18.1   apply unearned income to the MFIP standard of need.  When 
 18.2   determining the amount of unearned income, the county agency 
 18.3   must deduct the costs necessary to secure payments of unearned 
 18.4   income.  These costs include legal fees, medical fees, and 
 18.5   mandatory deductions such as federal and state income taxes. 
 18.6      (b) The county agency must convert unearned income received 
 18.7   on a periodic basis to monthly amounts by prorating the income 
 18.8   over the number of months represented by the frequency of the 
 18.9   payments.  The county agency must begin counting the monthly 
 18.10  amount in the month the periodic payment is received and budget 
 18.11  it according to the assistance unit's budget cycle. 
 18.12     Sec. 30.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256J.415, is 
 18.13  amended to read: 
 18.14     256J.415 [NOTICE OF TIME LIMIT 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO 60-MONTH 
 18.15  TIME LIMIT EXPIRING.] 
 18.16     (a) The county agency shall mail a notice to each 
 18.17  assistance unit when the assistance unit has 12 months of TANF 
 18.18  assistance remaining and each month thereafter until the 
 18.19  60-month limit has expired.  The notice must be developed by the 
 18.20  commissioner of human services and must contain information 
 18.21  about the 60-month limit, the number of months the participant 
 18.22  has remaining, the hardship extension policy, and any other 
 18.23  information that the commissioner deems pertinent to an 
 18.24  assistance unit nearing the 60-month limit. 
 18.25     (b) For applicants who have less than 12 months remaining 
 18.26  in the 60-month time limit because the unit previously received 
 18.27  TANF assistance in Minnesota or another state, the county agency 
 18.28  shall notify the applicant of the number of months of TANF 
 18.29  remaining when the application is approved and begin the process 
 18.30  required in paragraph (a). 
 18.31     Sec. 31.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 18.32  256J.425, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 18.33     Subdivision 1.  [ELIGIBILITY.] (a) To be eligible for a 
 18.34  hardship extension, a participant in an assistance unit subject 
 18.35  to the time limit under section 256J.42, subdivision 1, must be 
 18.36  in compliance in the participant's 60th counted month.  For 
 19.1   purposes of determining eligibility for a hardship extension, a 
 19.2   participant is in compliance in any month that the participant 
 19.3   has not been sanctioned. 
 19.4      (b) If one participant in a two-parent assistance unit is 
 19.5   determined to be ineligible for a hardship extension, the county 
 19.6   shall give the assistance unit the option of disqualifying the 
 19.7   ineligible participant from MFIP.  In that case, the assistance 
 19.8   unit shall be treated as a one-parent assistance unit and the 
 19.9   assistance unit's MFIP grant shall be calculated using the 
 19.10  shared household standard under section 256J.08, subdivision 82a.
 19.11     (c) Prior to denying an extension, the county must review 
 19.12  the sanction status and determine whether the sanction is 
 19.13  appropriate or if good cause exists under section 256J.57.  If 
 19.14  the sanction was inappropriately applied or the participant is 
 19.15  granted a good cause exception before the end of month 60, the 
 19.16  participant shall be considered for an extension. 
 19.17     Sec. 32.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 19.18  256J.425, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 19.19     Subd. 4.  [EMPLOYED PARTICIPANTS.] (a) An assistance unit 
 19.20  subject to the time limit under section 256J.42, subdivision 1, 
 19.21  is eligible to receive assistance under a hardship extension if 
 19.22  the participant who reached the time limit belongs to: 
 19.23     (1) a one-parent assistance unit in which the participant 
 19.24  is participating in work activities for at least 30 hours per 
 19.25  week, of which an average of at least 25 hours per week every 
 19.26  month are spent participating in employment; 
 19.27     (2) a two-parent assistance unit in which the participants 
 19.28  are participating in work activities for at least 55 hours per 
 19.29  week, of which an average of at least 45 hours per week every 
 19.30  month are spent participating in employment; or 
 19.31     (3) an assistance unit in which a participant is 
 19.32  participating in employment for fewer hours than those specified 
 19.33  in clause (1), and the participant submits verification from a 
 19.34  qualified professional, in a form acceptable to the 
 19.35  commissioner, stating that the number of hours the participant 
 19.36  may work is limited due to illness or disability, as long as the 
 20.1   participant is participating in employment for at least the 
 20.2   number of hours specified by the qualified professional.  The 
 20.3   participant must be following the treatment recommendations of 
 20.4   the qualified professional providing the verification.  The 
 20.5   commissioner shall develop a form to be completed and signed by 
 20.6   the qualified professional, documenting the diagnosis and any 
 20.7   additional information necessary to document the functional 
 20.8   limitations of the participant that limit work hours.  If the 
 20.9   participant is part of a two-parent assistance unit, the other 
 20.10  parent must be treated as a one-parent assistance unit for 
 20.11  purposes of meeting the work requirements under this subdivision.
 20.12     (b) For purposes of this section, employment means: 
 20.13     (1) unsubsidized employment under section 256J.49, 
 20.14  subdivision 13, clause (1); 
 20.15     (2) subsidized employment under section 256J.49, 
 20.16  subdivision 13, clause (2); 
 20.17     (3) on-the-job training under section 256J.49, subdivision 
 20.18  13, clause (2); 
 20.19     (4) an apprenticeship under section 256J.49, subdivision 
 20.20  13, clause (1); 
 20.21     (5) supported work under section 256J.49, subdivision 13, 
 20.22  clause (2); 
 20.23     (6) a combination of clauses (1) to (5); or 
 20.24     (7) child care under section 256J.49, subdivision 13, 
 20.25  clause (7), if it is in combination with paid employment. 
 20.26     (c) If a participant is complying with a child protection 
 20.27  plan under chapter 260C, the number of hours required under the 
 20.28  child protection plan count toward the number of hours required 
 20.29  under this subdivision.  
 20.30     (d) The county shall provide the opportunity for subsidized 
 20.31  employment to participants needing that type of employment 
 20.32  within available appropriations. 
 20.33     (e) To be eligible for a hardship extension for employed 
 20.34  participants under this subdivision, a participant must be in 
 20.35  compliance for at least ten out of the 12 months the participant 
 20.36  received MFIP immediately preceding the participant's 61st month 
 21.1   on assistance.  If ten or fewer months of eligibility for TANF 
 21.2   assistance remain at the time the participant from another state 
 21.3   applies for assistance, the participant must be in compliance 
 21.4   every month.  
 21.5      (f) The employment plan developed under section 256J.521, 
 21.6   subdivision 2, for participants under this subdivision must 
 21.7   contain at least the minimum number of hours specified in 
 21.8   paragraph (a) related to employment and work activities for the 
 21.9   purpose of meeting the requirements for an extension under this 
 21.10  subdivision.  The job counselor and the participant must sign 
 21.11  the employment plan to indicate agreement between the job 
 21.12  counselor and the participant on the contents of the plan. 
 21.13     (g) Participants who fail to meet the requirements in 
 21.14  paragraph (a), without good cause under section 256J.57, shall 
 21.15  be sanctioned or permanently disqualified under subdivision 6.  
 21.16  Good cause may only be granted for that portion of the month for 
 21.17  which the good cause reason applies.  Participants must meet all 
 21.18  remaining requirements in the approved employment plan or be 
 21.19  subject to sanction or permanent disqualification.  
 21.20     (h) If the noncompliance with an employment plan is due to 
 21.21  the involuntary loss of employment, the participant is exempt 
 21.22  from the hourly employment requirement under this subdivision 
 21.23  for one month.  Participants must meet all remaining 
 21.24  requirements in the approved employment plan or be subject to 
 21.25  sanction or permanent disqualification.  This exemption is 
 21.26  available to a each participant two times in a 12-month period. 
 21.27     Sec. 33.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256J.425, 
 21.28  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 21.29     Subd. 5.  [ACCRUAL OF CERTAIN EXEMPT MONTHS.] (a) A 
 21.30  participant who received TANF assistance that counted towards 
 21.31  the federal 60-month time limit while the participant 
 21.32  was Participants who meet the criteria in clause (1), (2), or (3)
 21.33  and who are not eligible for assistance under a hardship 
 21.34  extension under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (3), shall 
 21.35  be eligible for a hardship extension for a period of time equal 
 21.36  to the number of months that were counted toward the federal 
 22.1   60-month time limit while the participant was: 
 22.2      (1) a caregiver with a child or an adult in the household 
 22.3   who meets the disability or medical criteria for home care 
 22.4   services under section 256B.0627, subdivision 1, paragraph (f), 
 22.5   or a home and community-based waiver services program under 
 22.6   chapter 256B, or meets the criteria for severe emotional 
 22.7   disturbance under section 245.4871, subdivision 6, or for 
 22.8   serious and persistent mental illness under section 245.462, 
 22.9   subdivision 20, paragraph (c), who was subject to the 
 22.10  requirements in section 256J.561, subdivision 2; 
 22.11     (2) exempt under section 256J.56, paragraph (a), clause 
 22.12  (7), from employment and training services requirements and who 
 22.13  is no longer eligible for assistance under a hardship extension 
 22.14  under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (3), is eligible for 
 22.15  assistance under a hardship extension for a period of time equal 
 22.16  to the number of months that were counted toward the federal 
 22.17  60-month time limit while the participant was exempt under 
 22.18  section 256J.56, paragraph (a), clause (7), from the employment 
 22.19  and training services requirements.; or 
 22.20     (3) exempt under section 256J.56, paragraph (a), clause 
 22.21  (3), and demonstrates at the time of the case review required 
 22.22  under section 256J.42, subdivision 6, that the participant met 
 22.23  the exemption criteria under section 256J.56, paragraph (a), 
 22.24  clause (7), during one or more months the participant was exempt 
 22.25  under section 256J.56, paragraph (a), clause (3).  Only months 
 22.26  during which the participant met the criteria under section 
 22.27  256J.56, paragraph (a), clause (7), shall be considered. 
 22.28     (b) A participant who received TANF assistance that counted 
 22.29  towards the federal 60-month time limit while the participant 
 22.30  met the state time limit exemption criteria under section 
 22.31  256J.42, subdivision 4 or 5, is eligible for assistance under a 
 22.32  hardship extension for a period of time equal to the number of 
 22.33  months that were counted toward the federal 60-month time limit 
 22.34  while the participant met the state time limit exemption 
 22.35  criteria under section 256J.42, subdivision 4 or 5. 
 22.36     (c) A participant who received TANF assistance that counted 
 23.1   towards the federal 60-month time limit while the participant 
 23.2   was exempt under section 256J.56, paragraph (a), clause (3), 
 23.3   from employment and training services requirements, who 
 23.4   demonstrates at the time of the case review required under 
 23.5   section 256J.42, subdivision 6, that the participant met the 
 23.6   exemption criteria under section 256J.56, paragraph (a), clause 
 23.7   (7), during one or more months the participant was exempt under 
 23.8   section 256J.56, paragraph (a), clause (3), before or after July 
 23.9   1, 2002, is eligible for assistance under a hardship extension 
 23.10  for a period of time equal to the number of months that were 
 23.11  counted toward the federal 60-month time limit during the time 
 23.12  the participant met the criteria under section 256J.56, 
 23.13  paragraph (a), clause (7) After the accrued months have been 
 23.14  exhausted, the county agency must determine if the assistance 
 23.15  unit is eligible for an extension under another extension 
 23.16  category in section 256J.425, subdivision 2, 3, or 4.  
 23.17     (d) At the time of the case review, a county agency must 
 23.18  explain to the participant the basis for receiving a hardship 
 23.19  extension based on the accrual of exempt months.  The 
 23.20  participant must provide documentation necessary to enable the 
 23.21  county agency to determine whether the participant is eligible 
 23.22  to receive a hardship extension based on the accrual of exempt 
 23.23  months or authorize a county agency to verify the information. 
 23.24     (e) While receiving extended MFIP assistance under this 
 23.25  subdivision, a participant is subject to the MFIP policies that 
 23.26  apply to participants during the first 60 months of MFIP, unless 
 23.27  the participant is a member of a two-parent family in which one 
 23.28  parent is extended under subdivision 3 or 4.  For two-parent 
 23.29  families in which one parent is extended under subdivision 3 or 
 23.30  4, the sanction provisions in subdivision 6, shall apply. 
 23.31     Sec. 34.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 23.32  256J.425, subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 23.33     Subd. 6.  [SANCTIONS FOR EXTENDED CASES.] (a) If one or 
 23.34  both participants in an assistance unit receiving assistance 
 23.35  under subdivision 3 or 4 are not in compliance with the 
 23.36  employment and training service requirements in sections 
 24.1   256J.521 to 256J.57, the sanctions under this subdivision 
 24.2   apply.  For a first occurrence of noncompliance, an assistance 
 24.3   unit must be sanctioned under section 256J.46, subdivision 1, 
 24.4   paragraph (c), clause (1).  For a second or third occurrence of 
 24.5   noncompliance, the assistance unit must be sanctioned under 
 24.6   section 256J.46, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (2).  For 
 24.7   a fourth occurrence of noncompliance, the assistance unit is 
 24.8   disqualified from MFIP.  If a participant is determined to be 
 24.9   out of compliance, the participant may claim a good cause 
 24.10  exception under section 256J.57, however, the participant may 
 24.11  not claim an exemption under section 256J.56.  
 24.12     (b) If both participants in a two-parent assistance unit 
 24.13  are out of compliance at the same time, it is considered one 
 24.14  occurrence of noncompliance. 
 24.15     (c) When a parent in an extended two-parent assistance unit 
 24.16  who has not used 60 months of assistance is out of compliance 
 24.17  with the employment and training service requirements in 
 24.18  sections 256J.521 to 256J.57, sanctions must be applied as 
 24.19  specified in clauses (1) and (2). 
 24.20     (1) If the assistance unit is receiving assistance under 
 24.21  subdivision 3 or 4, the assistance unit is subject to the 
 24.22  sanction policy in this subdivision. 
 24.23     (2) If the assistance unit is receiving assistance under 
 24.24  subdivision 2, the assistance unit is subject to the sanction 
 24.25  policy in section 256J.46. 
 24.26     (d) If a two-parent assistance unit is extended under 
 24.27  subdivision 3 or 4, and a parent who has not reached the 
 24.28  60-month time limit is out of compliance with the employment and 
 24.29  training services requirements in section 256J.521 to 256J.57 
 24.30  when the case is extended, the sanction in the 61st month is 
 24.31  considered the first sanction for the purposes of applying the 
 24.32  sanctions in this subdivision, except that the sanction amount 
 24.33  shall be 30 percent. 
 24.34     Sec. 35.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 24.35  256J.46, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 24.36     Subdivision 1.  [PARTICIPANTS NOT COMPLYING WITH PROGRAM 
 25.1   REQUIREMENTS.] (a) A participant who fails without good cause 
 25.2   under section 256J.57 to comply with the requirements of this 
 25.3   chapter, and who is not subject to a sanction under subdivision 
 25.4   2, shall be subject to a sanction as provided in this 
 25.5   subdivision.  Prior to the imposition of a sanction, a county 
 25.6   agency shall provide a notice of intent to sanction under 
 25.7   section 256J.57, subdivision 2, and, when applicable, a notice 
 25.8   of adverse action as provided in section 256J.31. 
 25.9      (b) A sanction under this subdivision becomes effective the 
 25.10  month following the month in which a required notice is given.  
 25.11  A sanction must not be imposed when a participant comes into 
 25.12  compliance with the requirements for orientation under section 
 25.13  256J.45 prior to the effective date of the sanction.  A sanction 
 25.14  must not be imposed when a participant comes into compliance 
 25.15  with the requirements for employment and training services under 
 25.16  sections 256J.515 to 256J.57 ten days prior to the effective 
 25.17  date of the sanction.  For purposes of this subdivision, each 
 25.18  month that a participant fails to comply with a requirement of 
 25.19  this chapter shall be considered a separate occurrence of 
 25.20  noncompliance.  If both participants in a two-parent assistance 
 25.21  unit are out of compliance at the same time, it is considered 
 25.22  one occurrence of noncompliance.  
 25.23     (c) Sanctions for noncompliance shall be imposed as follows:
 25.24     (1) For the first occurrence of noncompliance by a 
 25.25  participant in an assistance unit, the assistance unit's grant 
 25.26  shall be reduced by ten percent of the MFIP standard of need for 
 25.27  an assistance unit of the same size with the residual grant paid 
 25.28  to the participant.  The reduction in the grant amount must be 
 25.29  in effect for a minimum of one month and shall be removed in the 
 25.30  month following the month that the participant returns to 
 25.31  compliance.  
 25.32     (2) For a second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth occurrence 
 25.33  of noncompliance by a participant in an assistance unit, the 
 25.34  assistance unit's shelter costs shall be vendor paid up to the 
 25.35  amount of the cash portion of the MFIP grant for which the 
 25.36  assistance unit is eligible.  At county option, the assistance 
 26.1   unit's utilities may also be vendor paid up to the amount of the 
 26.2   cash portion of the MFIP grant remaining after vendor payment of 
 26.3   the assistance unit's shelter costs.  The residual amount of the 
 26.4   grant after vendor payment, if any, must be reduced by an amount 
 26.5   equal to 30 percent of the MFIP standard of need for an 
 26.6   assistance unit of the same size before the residual grant is 
 26.7   paid to the assistance unit.  The reduction in the grant amount 
 26.8   must be in effect for a minimum of one month and shall be 
 26.9   removed in the month following the month that the participant in 
 26.10  a one-parent assistance unit returns to compliance.  In a 
 26.11  two-parent assistance unit, the grant reduction must be in 
 26.12  effect for a minimum of one month and shall be removed in the 
 26.13  month following the month both participants return to 
 26.14  compliance.  The vendor payment of shelter costs and, if 
 26.15  applicable, utilities shall be removed six months after the 
 26.16  month in which the participant or participants return to 
 26.17  compliance.  If an assistance unit is sanctioned under this 
 26.18  clause, the participant's case file must be reviewed to 
 26.19  determine if the employment plan is still appropriate. 
 26.20     (d) For a seventh occurrence of noncompliance by a 
 26.21  participant in an assistance unit, or when the participants in a 
 26.22  two-parent assistance unit have a total of seven occurrences of 
 26.23  noncompliance, the county agency shall close the MFIP assistance 
 26.24  unit's financial assistance case, both the cash and food 
 26.25  portions, and redetermine the family's continued eligibility for 
 26.26  food support payments.  The MFIP case must remain closed for a 
 26.27  minimum of one full month.  Closure under this paragraph does 
 26.28  not make a participant automatically ineligible for food 
 26.29  support, if otherwise eligible.  Before the case is closed, the 
 26.30  county agency must review the participant's case to determine if 
 26.31  the employment plan is still appropriate and attempt to meet 
 26.32  with the participant face-to-face.  The participant may bring an 
 26.33  advocate to the face-to-face meeting.  If a face-to-face meeting 
 26.34  is not conducted, the county agency must send the participant a 
 26.35  written notice that includes the information required under 
 26.36  clause (1). 
 27.1      (1) During the face-to-face meeting, the county agency must:
 27.2      (i) determine whether the continued noncompliance can be 
 27.3   explained and mitigated by providing a needed preemployment 
 27.4   activity, as defined in section 256J.49, subdivision 13, clause 
 27.5   (9); 
 27.6      (ii) determine whether the participant qualifies for a good 
 27.7   cause exception under section 256J.57, or if the sanction is for 
 27.8   noncooperation with child support requirements, determine if the 
 27.9   participant qualifies for a good cause exemption under section 
 27.10  256.741, subdivision 10; 
 27.11     (iii) determine whether the participant qualifies for an 
 27.12  exemption under section 256J.56 or the work activities in the 
 27.13  employment plan are appropriate based on the criteria in section 
 27.14  256J.521, subdivision 2 or 3; 
 27.15     (iv) determine whether the participant qualifies for the 
 27.16  family violence waiver; 
 27.17     (v) inform the participant of the participant's sanction 
 27.18  status and explain the consequences of continuing noncompliance; 
 27.19     (vi) identify other resources that may be available to the 
 27.20  participant to meet the needs of the family; and 
 27.21     (vii) inform the participant of the right to appeal under 
 27.22  section 256J.40. 
 27.23     (2) If the lack of an identified activity or service can 
 27.24  explain the noncompliance, the county must work with the 
 27.25  participant to provide the identified activity. 
 27.26     (3) The grant must be restored to the full amount for which 
 27.27  the assistance unit is eligible retroactively to the first day 
 27.28  of the month in which the participant was found to lack 
 27.29  preemployment activities or to qualify for an exemption under 
 27.30  section 256J.56, a family violence waiver, or for a good cause 
 27.31  exemption under section 256.741, subdivision 10, or 256J.57. 
 27.32     (e) For the purpose of applying sanctions under this 
 27.33  section, only occurrences of noncompliance that occur after July 
 27.34  1, 2003, shall be considered.  If the participant is in 30 
 27.35  percent sanction in the month this section takes effect, that 
 27.36  month counts as the first occurrence for purposes of applying 
 28.1   the sanctions under this section, but the sanction shall remain 
 28.2   at 30 percent for that month. 
 28.3      (f) An assistance unit whose case is closed under paragraph 
 28.4   (d) or (g), may reapply for MFIP and shall be eligible if the 
 28.5   participant complies with MFIP program requirements and 
 28.6   demonstrates compliance for up to one month.  No assistance 
 28.7   shall be paid during this period. 
 28.8      (g) An assistance unit whose case has been closed for 
 28.9   noncompliance, that reapplies under paragraph (f), is subject to 
 28.10  sanction under paragraph (c), clause (2), for a first occurrence 
 28.11  of noncompliance.  Any subsequent occurrence of noncompliance 
 28.12  shall result in case closure under paragraph (d). 
 28.13     Sec. 36.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 28.14  256J.49, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 28.15     Subd. 4.  [EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICE PROVIDER.] 
 28.16  "Employment and training service provider" means: 
 28.17     (1) a public, private, or nonprofit employment and training 
 28.18  agency certified by the commissioner of economic security under 
 28.19  sections 268.0122, subdivision 3, and 268.871, subdivision 1, or 
 28.20  is approved under section 256J.51 and is included in the county 
 28.21  service agreement submitted under section 256J.626, subdivision 
 28.22  4; 
 28.23     (2) a public, private, or nonprofit agency that is not 
 28.24  certified by the commissioner under clause (1), but with which a 
 28.25  county has contracted to provide employment and training 
 28.26  services and which is included in the county's service agreement 
 28.27  submitted under section 256J.626, subdivision 4; or 
 28.28     (3) (2) a county agency, if the county has opted to provide 
 28.29  employment and training services and the county has indicated 
 28.30  that fact in the service agreement submitted under section 
 28.31  256J.626, subdivision 4. 
 28.32     Notwithstanding section 268.871, an employment and training 
 28.33  services provider meeting this definition may deliver employment 
 28.34  and training services under this chapter. 
 28.35     Sec. 37.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 28.36  256J.515, is amended to read: 
 29.1      256J.515 [OVERVIEW OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES.] 
 29.2      During the first meeting with participants, job counselors 
 29.3   must ensure that an overview of employment and training services 
 29.4   is provided that: 
 29.5      (1) stresses the necessity and opportunity of immediate 
 29.6   employment; 
 29.7      (2) outlines the job search resources offered; 
 29.8      (3) outlines education or training opportunities available; 
 29.9      (4) describes the range of work activities, including 
 29.10  activities under section 256J.49, subdivision 13, clause (18), 
 29.11  that are allowable under MFIP to meet the individual needs of 
 29.12  participants; 
 29.13     (5) explains the requirements to comply with an employment 
 29.14  plan; 
 29.15     (6) explains the consequences for failing to comply; 
 29.16     (7) explains the services that are available to support job 
 29.17  search and work and education; and 
 29.18     (8) provides referral information about shelters and 
 29.19  programs for victims of family violence, and the time limit 
 29.20  exemption, and waivers of regular employment and training 
 29.21  requirements for family violence victims. 
 29.22     Failure to attend the overview of employment and training 
 29.23  services without good cause results in the imposition of a 
 29.24  sanction under section 256J.46. 
 29.25     An applicant who requests and qualifies for a family 
 29.26  violence waiver is exempt from attending a group overview.  
 29.27  Information usually presented in an overview must be covered 
 29.28  during the development of an employment plan under section 
 29.29  256J.521, subdivision 3. 
 29.30     Sec. 38.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 29.31  256J.521, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 29.32     Subdivision 1.  [ASSESSMENTS.] (a) For purposes of MFIP 
 29.33  employment services, assessment is a continuing process of 
 29.34  gathering information related to employability for the purpose 
 29.35  of identifying both participant's strengths and strategies for 
 29.36  coping with issues that interfere with employment.  The job 
 30.1   counselor must use information from the assessment process to 
 30.2   develop and update the employment plan under subdivision 2 or 3, 
 30.3   as appropriate, and to determine whether the participant 
 30.4   qualifies for a family violence waiver including an employment 
 30.5   plan under subdivision 3. 
 30.6      (b) The scope of assessment must cover at least the 
 30.7   following areas: 
 30.8      (1) basic information about the participant's ability to 
 30.9   obtain and retain employment, including:  a review of the 
 30.10  participant's education level; interests, skills, and abilities; 
 30.11  prior employment or work experience; transferable work skills; 
 30.12  child care and transportation needs; 
 30.13     (2) identification of personal and family circumstances 
 30.14  that impact the participant's ability to obtain and retain 
 30.15  employment, including:  any special needs of the children, the 
 30.16  level of English proficiency, family violence issues, and any 
 30.17  involvement with social services or the legal system; 
 30.18     (3) the results of a mental and chemical health screening 
 30.19  tool designed by the commissioner and results of the brief 
 30.20  screening tool for special learning needs.  Screening tools for 
 30.21  mental and chemical health and special learning needs must be 
 30.22  approved by the commissioner and may only be administered by job 
 30.23  counselors or county staff trained in using such screening 
 30.24  tools.  The commissioner shall work with county agencies to 
 30.25  develop protocols for referrals and follow-up actions after 
 30.26  screens are administered to participants, including guidance on 
 30.27  how employment plans may be modified based upon outcomes of 
 30.28  certain screens.  Participants must be told of the purpose of 
 30.29  the screens and how the information will be used to assist the 
 30.30  participant in identifying and overcoming barriers to 
 30.31  employment.  Screening for mental and chemical health and 
 30.32  special learning needs must be completed by participants who are 
 30.33  unable to find suitable employment after six weeks of job search 
 30.34  under subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and participants who are 
 30.35  determined to have barriers to employment under subdivision 2, 
 30.36  paragraph (d).  Failure to complete the screens will result in 
 31.1   sanction under section 256J.46; and 
 31.2      (4) a comprehensive review of participation and progress 
 31.3   for participants who have received MFIP assistance and have not 
 31.4   worked in unsubsidized employment during the past 12 months.  
 31.5   The purpose of the review is to determine the need for 
 31.6   additional services and supports, including placement in 
 31.7   subsidized employment or unpaid work experience under section 
 31.8   256J.49, subdivision 13. 
 31.9      (c) Information gathered during a caregiver's participation 
 31.10  in the diversionary work program under section 256J.95 must be 
 31.11  incorporated into the assessment process. 
 31.12     (d) The job counselor may require the participant to 
 31.13  complete a professional chemical use assessment to be performed 
 31.14  according to the rules adopted under section 254A.03, 
 31.15  subdivision 3, including provisions in the administrative rules 
 31.16  which recognize the cultural background of the participant, or a 
 31.17  professional psychological assessment as a component of the 
 31.18  assessment process, when the job counselor has a reasonable 
 31.19  belief, based on objective evidence, that a participant's 
 31.20  ability to obtain and retain suitable employment is impaired by 
 31.21  a medical condition.  The job counselor may assist the 
 31.22  participant with arranging services, including child care 
 31.23  assistance and transportation, necessary to meet needs 
 31.24  identified by the assessment.  Data gathered as part of a 
 31.25  professional assessment must be classified and disclosed 
 31.26  according to the provisions in section 13.46. 
 31.27     Sec. 39.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 31.28  256J.521, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 31.29     Subd. 2.  [EMPLOYMENT PLAN; CONTENTS.] (a) Based on the 
 31.30  assessment under subdivision 1, the job counselor and the 
 31.31  participant must develop an employment plan that includes 
 31.32  participation in activities and hours that meet the requirements 
 31.33  of section 256J.55, subdivision 1.  The purpose of the 
 31.34  employment plan is to identify for each participant the most 
 31.35  direct path to unsubsidized employment and any subsequent steps 
 31.36  that support long-term economic stability.  The employment plan 
 32.1   should be developed using the highest level of activity 
 32.2   appropriate for the participant.  Activities must be chosen from 
 32.3   clauses (1) to (6), which are listed in order of preference.  
 32.4   Notwithstanding this order of preference for activities, 
 32.5   priority must be given for activities related to a family 
 32.6   violence waiver when developing the employment plan.  The 
 32.7   employment plan must also list the specific steps the 
 32.8   participant will take to obtain employment, including steps 
 32.9   necessary for the participant to progress from one level of 
 32.10  activity to another, and a timetable for completion of each 
 32.11  step.  Levels of activity include: 
 32.12     (1) unsubsidized employment; 
 32.13     (2) job search; 
 32.14     (3) subsidized employment or unpaid work experience; 
 32.15     (4) unsubsidized employment and job readiness education or 
 32.16  job skills training; 
 32.17     (5) unsubsidized employment or unpaid work experience and 
 32.18  activities related to a family violence waiver or preemployment 
 32.19  needs; and 
 32.20     (6) activities related to a family violence waiver or 
 32.21  preemployment needs. 
 32.22     (b) Participants who are determined to possess sufficient 
 32.23  skills such that the participant is likely to succeed in 
 32.24  obtaining unsubsidized employment must job search at least 30 
 32.25  hours per week for up to six weeks and accept any offer of 
 32.26  suitable employment.  The remaining hours necessary to meet the 
 32.27  requirements of section 256J.55, subdivision 1, may be met 
 32.28  through participation in other work activities under section 
 32.29  256J.49, subdivision 13.  The participant's employment plan must 
 32.30  specify, at a minimum:  (1) whether the job search is supervised 
 32.31  or unsupervised; (2) support services that will be provided; and 
 32.32  (3) how frequently the participant must report to the job 
 32.33  counselor.  Participants who are unable to find suitable 
 32.34  employment after six weeks must meet with the job counselor to 
 32.35  determine whether other activities in paragraph (a) should be 
 32.36  incorporated into the employment plan.  Job search activities 
 33.1   which are continued after six weeks must be structured and 
 33.2   supervised. 
 33.3      (c) Beginning July 1, 2004, activities and hourly 
 33.4   requirements in the employment plan may be adjusted as necessary 
 33.5   to accommodate the personal and family circumstances of 
 33.6   participants identified under section 256J.561, subdivision 2, 
 33.7   paragraph (d).  Participants who no longer meet the provisions 
 33.8   of section 256J.561, subdivision 2, paragraph (d), must meet 
 33.9   with the job counselor within ten days of the determination to 
 33.10  revise the employment plan. 
 33.11     (d) Participants who are determined to have barriers to 
 33.12  obtaining or retaining employment that will not be overcome 
 33.13  during six weeks of job search under paragraph (b) must work 
 33.14  with the job counselor to develop an employment plan that 
 33.15  addresses those barriers by incorporating appropriate activities 
 33.16  from paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (6).  The employment plan 
 33.17  must include enough hours to meet the participation requirements 
 33.18  in section 256J.55, subdivision 1, unless a compelling reason to 
 33.19  require fewer hours is noted in the participant's file. 
 33.20     (e) The job counselor and the participant must sign the 
 33.21  employment plan to indicate agreement on the contents.  Failure 
 33.22  to develop or comply with activities in the plan, or voluntarily 
 33.23  quitting suitable employment without good cause, will result in 
 33.24  the imposition of a sanction under section 256J.46. 
 33.25     (f) Employment plans must be reviewed at least every three 
 33.26  months to determine whether activities and hourly requirements 
 33.27  should be revised. 
 33.28     Sec. 40.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 33.29  256J.53, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 33.30     Subd. 2.  [APPROVAL OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION OR 
 33.31  TRAINING.] (a) In order for a postsecondary education or 
 33.32  training program to be an approved activity in an employment 
 33.33  plan, the participant must be working in unsubsidized employment 
 33.34  at least 20 hours per week. 
 33.35     (b) Participants seeking approval of a postsecondary 
 33.36  education or training plan must provide documentation that: 
 34.1      (1) the employment goal can only be met with the additional 
 34.2   education or training; 
 34.3      (2) there are suitable employment opportunities that 
 34.4   require the specific education or training in the area in which 
 34.5   the participant resides or is willing to reside; 
 34.6      (3) the education or training will result in significantly 
 34.7   higher wages for the participant than the participant could earn 
 34.8   without the education or training; 
 34.9      (4) the participant can meet the requirements for admission 
 34.10  into the program; and 
 34.11     (5) there is a reasonable expectation that the participant 
 34.12  will complete the training program based on such factors as the 
 34.13  participant's MFIP assessment, previous education, training, and 
 34.14  work history; current motivation; and changes in previous 
 34.15  circumstances. 
 34.16     (c) The hourly unsubsidized employment requirement may be 
 34.17  reduced does not apply for intensive education or training 
 34.18  programs lasting 12 weeks or less when full-time attendance is 
 34.19  required. 
 34.20     (d) Participants with an approved employment plan in place 
 34.21  on July 1, 2003, which includes more than 12 months of 
 34.22  postsecondary education or training shall be allowed to complete 
 34.23  that plan provided that hourly requirements in section 256J.55, 
 34.24  subdivision 1, and conditions specified in paragraph (b), and 
 34.25  subdivisions 3 and 5 are met.  A participant whose case is 
 34.26  subsequently closed for three months or less for reasons other 
 34.27  than noncompliance with program requirements and who return to 
 34.28  MFIP shall be allowed to complete that plan provided that hourly 
 34.29  requirements in section 256J.55, subdivision 1, and conditions 
 34.30  specified in paragraph (b) and subdivisions 3 and 5 are met. 
 34.31     Sec. 41.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 34.32  256J.56, is amended to read: 
 34.33     256J.56 [EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES COMPONENT; 
 34.34  EXEMPTIONS.] 
 34.35     (a) An MFIP Paragraphs (b) and (c) apply only to an MFIP 
 34.36  participant who was exempt from participating in employment 
 35.1   services as of June 30, 2004, has not been required to develop 
 35.2   an employment plan under section 256J.561, and continues to 
 35.3   qualify for an exemption under this section.  All exemptions 
 35.4   under this section expire at the time of the participant's 
 35.5   recertification.  No new exemptions shall be granted under this 
 35.6   section after June 30, 2004. 
 35.7      (b) A participant is exempt from the requirements of 
 35.8   sections 256J.515 to 256J.57 if the participant belongs 
 35.9   continues to belong to any of the following groups: 
 35.10     (1) participants who are age 60 or older; 
 35.11     (2) participants who are suffering from a permanent or 
 35.12  temporary illness, injury, or incapacity which has been 
 35.13  certified by a qualified professional when the illness, injury, 
 35.14  or incapacity is expected to continue for more than 30 days and 
 35.15  prevents the person from obtaining or retaining employment.  
 35.16  Persons in this category with a temporary illness, injury, or 
 35.17  incapacity must be reevaluated at least quarterly; 
 35.18     (3) participants whose presence in the home is required as 
 35.19  a caregiver because of the illness, injury, or incapacity of 
 35.20  another member in the assistance unit, a relative in the 
 35.21  household, or a foster child in the household when the illness 
 35.22  or incapacity and the need for a person to provide assistance in 
 35.23  the home has been certified by a qualified professional and is 
 35.24  expected to continue for more than 30 days; 
 35.25     (4) women who are pregnant, if the pregnancy has resulted 
 35.26  in an incapacity that prevents the woman from obtaining or 
 35.27  retaining employment, and the incapacity has been certified by a 
 35.28  qualified professional; 
 35.29     (5) caregivers of a child under the age of one year who 
 35.30  personally provide full-time care for the child.  This exemption 
 35.31  may be used for only 12 months in a lifetime.  In two-parent 
 35.32  households, only one parent or other relative may qualify for 
 35.33  this exemption; 
 35.34     (6) participants experiencing a personal or family crisis 
 35.35  that makes them incapable of participating in the program, as 
 35.36  determined by the county agency.  If the participant does not 
 36.1   agree with the county agency's determination, the participant 
 36.2   may seek certification from a qualified professional, as defined 
 36.3   in section 256J.08, that the participant is incapable of 
 36.4   participating in the program. 
 36.5      Persons in this exemption category must be reevaluated 
 36.6   every 60 days.  A personal or family crisis related to family 
 36.7   violence, as determined by the county or a job counselor with 
 36.8   the assistance of a person trained in domestic violence, should 
 36.9   not result in an exemption, but should be addressed through the 
 36.10  development or revision of an employment plan under section 
 36.11  256J.521, subdivision 3; or 
 36.12     (7) caregivers with a child or an adult in the household 
 36.13  who meets the disability or medical criteria for home care 
 36.14  services under section 256B.0627, subdivision 1, paragraph (f), 
 36.15  or a home and community-based waiver services program under 
 36.16  chapter 256B, or meets the criteria for severe emotional 
 36.17  disturbance under section 245.4871, subdivision 6, or for 
 36.18  serious and persistent mental illness under section 245.462, 
 36.19  subdivision 20, paragraph (c).  Caregivers in this exemption 
 36.20  category are presumed to be prevented from obtaining or 
 36.21  retaining employment. 
 36.22     A caregiver who is exempt under clause (5) must enroll in 
 36.23  and attend an early childhood and family education class, a 
 36.24  parenting class, or some similar activity, if available, during 
 36.25  the period of time the caregiver is exempt under this section.  
 36.26  Notwithstanding section 256J.46, failure to attend the required 
 36.27  activity shall not result in the imposition of a sanction. 
 36.28     (b) (c) The county agency must provide employment and 
 36.29  training services to MFIP participants who are exempt under this 
 36.30  section, but who volunteer to participate.  Exempt volunteers 
 36.31  may request approval for any work activity under section 
 36.32  256J.49, subdivision 13.  The hourly participation requirements 
 36.33  for nonexempt participants under section 256J.55, subdivision 1, 
 36.34  do not apply to exempt participants who volunteer to participate.
 36.35     (c) (d) This section expires on June 30, 2004 2005. 
 36.36     Sec. 42.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 37.1   256J.57, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 37.2      Subdivision 1.  [GOOD CAUSE FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY.] The 
 37.3   county agency shall not impose the sanction under section 
 37.4   256J.46 if it determines that the participant has good cause for 
 37.5   failing to comply with the requirements of sections 256J.515 to 
 37.6   256J.57.  Good cause exists when: 
 37.7      (1) appropriate child care is not available; 
 37.8      (2) the job does not meet the definition of suitable 
 37.9   employment; 
 37.10     (3) the participant is ill or injured; 
 37.11     (4) a member of the assistance unit, a relative in the 
 37.12  household, or a foster child in the household is ill and needs 
 37.13  care by the participant that prevents the participant from 
 37.14  complying with the employment plan; 
 37.15     (5) the parental caregiver participant is unable to secure 
 37.16  necessary transportation; 
 37.17     (6) the parental caregiver participant is in an emergency 
 37.18  situation that prevents compliance with the employment plan; 
 37.19     (7) the schedule of compliance with the employment plan 
 37.20  conflicts with judicial proceedings; 
 37.21     (8) a mandatory MFIP meeting is scheduled during a time 
 37.22  that conflicts with a judicial proceeding or a meeting related 
 37.23  to a juvenile court matter, or a participant's work schedule; 
 37.24     (9) the parental caregiver participant is already 
 37.25  participating in acceptable work activities; 
 37.26     (10) the employment plan requires an educational program 
 37.27  for a caregiver under age 20, but the educational program is not 
 37.28  available; 
 37.29     (11) activities identified in the employment plan are not 
 37.30  available; 
 37.31     (12) the parental caregiver participant is willing to 
 37.32  accept suitable employment, but suitable employment is not 
 37.33  available; or 
 37.34     (13) the parental caregiver participant documents other 
 37.35  verifiable impediments to compliance with the employment plan 
 37.36  beyond the parental caregiver's participant's control. 
 38.1      The job counselor shall work with the participant to 
 38.2   reschedule mandatory meetings for individuals who fall under 
 38.3   clauses (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8). 
 38.4      Sec. 43.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 38.5   256J.626, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 38.6      Subd. 2.  [ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURES.] (a) The commissioner 
 38.7   must restrict expenditures under the consolidated fund to 
 38.8   benefits and services allowed under title IV-A of the federal 
 38.9   Social Security Act.  Allowable expenditures under the 
 38.10  consolidated fund may include, but are not limited to: 
 38.11     (1) short-term, nonrecurring shelter and utility needs that 
 38.12  are excluded from the definition of assistance under Code of 
 38.13  Federal Regulations, title 45, section 260.31, for families who 
 38.14  meet the residency requirement in section 256J.12, subdivisions 
 38.15  1 and 1a.  Payments under this subdivision are not considered 
 38.16  TANF cash assistance and are not counted towards the 60-month 
 38.17  time limit; 
 38.18     (2) transportation needed to obtain or retain employment or 
 38.19  to participate in other approved work activities; 
 38.20     (3) direct and administrative costs of staff to deliver 
 38.21  employment services for MFIP or the diversionary work program, 
 38.22  to administer financial assistance, and to provide specialized 
 38.23  services intended to assist hard-to-employ participants to 
 38.24  transition to work; 
 38.25     (4) costs of education and training including functional 
 38.26  work literacy and English as a second language; 
 38.27     (5) cost of work supports including tools, clothing, boots, 
 38.28  and other work-related expenses; 
 38.29     (6) county administrative expenses as defined in Code of 
 38.30  Federal Regulations, title 45, section 260(b); 
 38.31     (7) services to parenting and pregnant teens; 
 38.32     (8) supported work; 
 38.33     (9) wage subsidies; 
 38.34     (10) child care needed for MFIP or diversionary work 
 38.35  program participants to participate in social services; 
 38.36     (11) child care to ensure that families leaving MFIP or 
 39.1   diversionary work program will continue to receive child care 
 39.2   assistance from the time the family no longer qualifies for 
 39.3   transition year child care until an opening occurs under the 
 39.4   basic sliding fee child care program; and 
 39.5      (12) services to help noncustodial parents who live in 
 39.6   Minnesota and have minor children receiving MFIP or DWP 
 39.7   assistance, but do not live in the same household as the child, 
 39.8   obtain or retain employment. 
 39.9      (b) Administrative costs that are not matched with county 
 39.10  funds as provided in subdivision 8 may not exceed 7.5 percent of 
 39.11  a county's or 15 percent of a tribe's reimbursement allocation 
 39.12  under this section.  The commissioner shall define 
 39.13  administrative costs for purposes of this subdivision. 
 39.14     Sec. 44.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 39.15  256J.751, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 39.16     Subd. 2.  [QUARTERLY COMPARISON REPORT.] The commissioner 
 39.17  shall report quarterly to all counties on each county's 
 39.18  performance on the following measures: 
 39.19     (1) percent of MFIP caseload working in paid employment; 
 39.20     (2) percent of MFIP caseload receiving only the food 
 39.21  portion of assistance; 
 39.22     (3) number of MFIP cases that have left assistance; 
 39.23     (4) federal participation requirements as specified in 
 39.24  Title 1 of Public Law 104-193; 
 39.25     (5) median placement wage rate; 
 39.26     (6) caseload by months of TANF assistance; 
 39.27     (7) percent of MFIP and Diversionary Work Program (DWP) 
 39.28  cases off cash assistance or working 30 or more hours per week 
 39.29  at one-year, two-year, and three-year follow-up points from a 
 39.30  baseline quarter.  This measure is called the self-support 
 39.31  index.  Twice annually, the commissioner shall report an 
 39.32  expected range of performance for each county, county grouping, 
 39.33  and tribe on the self-support index.  The expected range shall 
 39.34  be derived by a statistical methodology developed by the 
 39.35  commissioner in consultation with the counties and tribes.  The 
 39.36  statistical methodology shall control differences across 
 40.1   counties in economic conditions and demographics of the MFIP and 
 40.2   DWP case load; and 
 40.3      (8) the MFIP work participation rate, defined as the 
 40.4   participation requirements specified in title 1 of Public Law 
 40.5   104-193 applied to all MFIP cases except child only cases and 
 40.6   cases exempt under section 256J.56. 
 40.7      Sec. 45.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 40.8   256J.95, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 40.9      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHING A DIVERSIONARY WORK PROGRAM 
 40.10  (DWP).] (a) The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
 40.11  Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, establishes 
 40.12  block grants to states for temporary assistance for needy 
 40.13  families (TANF).  TANF provisions allow states to use TANF 
 40.14  dollars for nonrecurrent, short-term diversionary benefits.  The 
 40.15  diversionary work program established on July 1, 2003, is 
 40.16  Minnesota's TANF program to provide short-term diversionary 
 40.17  benefits to eligible recipients of the diversionary work program.
 40.18     (b) The goal of the diversionary work program is to provide 
 40.19  short-term, necessary services and supports to families which 
 40.20  will lead to unsubsidized employment, increase economic 
 40.21  stability, and reduce the risk of those families needing longer 
 40.22  term assistance, under the Minnesota family investment program 
 40.23  (MFIP). 
 40.24     (c) When a family unit meets the eligibility criteria in 
 40.25  this section, the family must receive a diversionary work 
 40.26  program grant and is not eligible for MFIP. 
 40.27     (d) A family unit is eligible for the diversionary work 
 40.28  program for a maximum of four consecutive months only once in a 
 40.29  12-month period.  The 12-month period begins at the date of 
 40.30  application or the date eligibility is met, whichever is later.  
 40.31  During the four-month period four consecutive months, family 
 40.32  maintenance needs as defined in subdivision 2, shall be vendor 
 40.33  paid, up to the cash portion of the MFIP standard of need for 
 40.34  the same size household.  To the extent there is a balance 
 40.35  available between the amount paid for family maintenance needs 
 40.36  and the cash portion of the transitional standard, a personal 
 41.1   needs allowance of up to $70 per DWP recipient in the family 
 41.2   unit shall be issued.  The personal needs allowance payment plus 
 41.3   the family maintenance needs shall not exceed the cash portion 
 41.4   of the MFIP standard of need.  Counties may provide supportive 
 41.5   and other allowable services funded by the MFIP consolidated 
 41.6   fund under section 256J.626 to eligible participants during the 
 41.7   four-month diversionary period. 
 41.8      Sec. 46.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 41.9   256J.95, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 41.10     Subd. 3.  [ELIGIBILITY FOR DIVERSIONARY WORK PROGRAM.] (a) 
 41.11  Except for the categories of family units listed below, all 
 41.12  family units who apply for cash benefits and who meet MFIP 
 41.13  eligibility as required in sections 256J.11 to 256J.15 are 
 41.14  eligible and must participate in the diversionary work program.  
 41.15  Family units that are not eligible for the diversionary work 
 41.16  program include: 
 41.17     (1) child only cases; 
 41.18     (2) a single-parent family unit that includes a child under 
 41.19  12 weeks of age.  A parent is eligible for this exception once 
 41.20  in a parent's lifetime and is not eligible if the parent has 
 41.21  already used the previously allowed child under age one 
 41.22  exemption from MFIP employment services; 
 41.23     (3) a minor parent without a high school diploma or its 
 41.24  equivalent; 
 41.25     (4) a caregiver an 18 or 19 years of age year old caregiver 
 41.26  without a high school diploma or its equivalent who chooses to 
 41.27  have an employment plan with an education option; 
 41.28     (5) a caregiver age 60 or over; 
 41.29     (6) family units with a parent caregiver who received DWP 
 41.30  benefits within a 12-month period as defined in subdivision 1, 
 41.31  paragraph (d) in the 12 months prior to the month the family 
 41.32  applied for DWP, except as provided in paragraph (c); and 
 41.33     (7) family units with a parent caregiver who received MFIP 
 41.34  within the past 12 months prior to the month the family unit 
 41.35  applied for DWP; 
 41.36     (8) a family unit with a caregiver who received 60 or more 
 42.1   months of TANF assistance; and 
 42.2      (9) a family unit with a caregiver who is disqualified from 
 42.3   DWP or MFIP due to fraud. 
 42.4      (b) A two-parent family must participate in DWP unless both 
 42.5   parents caregivers meet the criteria for an exception under 
 42.6   paragraph (a), clauses (1) through (5), or the family unit 
 42.7   includes a parent who meets the criteria in paragraph (a), 
 42.8   clause (6) or, (7), (8), or (9). 
 42.9      (c) Once DWP eligibility is determined, the four months run 
 42.10  consecutively.  If a participant leaves the program for any 
 42.11  reason and reapplies during the four-month period, the county 
 42.12  must redetermine eligibility for DWP. 
 42.13     Sec. 47.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 42.14  256J.95, subdivision 11, is amended to read: 
 42.15     Subd. 11.  [UNIVERSAL PARTICIPATION REQUIRED.] (a) All DWP 
 42.16  caregivers, except caregivers who meet the criteria in paragraph 
 42.17  (d), are required to participate in DWP employment services.  
 42.18  Except as specified in paragraphs (b) and (c), employment plans 
 42.19  under DWP must, at a minimum, meet the requirements in section 
 42.20  256J.55, subdivision 1. 
 42.21     (b) A caregiver who is a member of a two-parent family that 
 42.22  is required to participate in DWP who would otherwise be 
 42.23  ineligible for DWP under subdivision 3 may be allowed to develop 
 42.24  an employment plan under section 256J.521, subdivision 2, 
 42.25  paragraph (c), that may contain alternate activities and reduced 
 42.26  hours.  
 42.27     (c) A participant who has is a victim of family violence 
 42.28  waiver shall be allowed to develop an employment plan under 
 42.29  section 256J.521, subdivision 3.  A claim of family violence 
 42.30  must be documented by the applicant or participant by providing 
 42.31  a sworn statement which is supported by collateral documentation 
 42.32  in section 256J.545, paragraph (b). 
 42.33     (d) One parent in a two-parent family unit that has a 
 42.34  natural born child under 12 weeks of age is not required to have 
 42.35  an employment plan until the child reaches 12 weeks of age 
 42.36  unless the family unit has already used the exclusion under 
 43.1   section 256J.561, subdivision 2, or the previously allowed child 
 43.2   under age one exemption under section 256J.56, paragraph (a), 
 43.3   clause (5). 
 43.4      (e) The provision in paragraph (d) ends the first full 
 43.5   month after the child reaches 12 weeks of age.  This provision 
 43.6   is allowable only once in a caregiver's lifetime.  In a 
 43.7   two-parent household, only one parent shall be allowed to use 
 43.8   this category. 
 43.9      (f) The participant and job counselor must meet within ten 
 43.10  working days after the child reaches 12 weeks of age to revise 
 43.11  the participant's employment plan.  The employment plan for a 
 43.12  family unit that has a child under 12 weeks of age that has 
 43.13  already used the exclusion in section 256J.561 or the previously 
 43.14  allowed child under age one exemption under section 256J.56, 
 43.15  paragraph (a), clause (5), must be tailored to recognize the 
 43.16  caregiving needs of the parent. 
 43.17     Sec. 48.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 43.18  256J.95, subdivision 12, is amended to read: 
 43.19     Subd. 12.  [CONVERSION OR REFERRAL TO MFIP.] (a) If at any 
 43.20  time during the DWP application process or during the four-month 
 43.21  DWP eligibility period, it is determined that a participant is 
 43.22  unlikely to benefit from the diversionary work program, the 
 43.23  county shall convert or refer the participant to MFIP as 
 43.24  specified in paragraph (d).  Participants who are determined to 
 43.25  be unlikely to benefit from the diversionary work program must 
 43.26  develop and sign an employment plan.  Participants who meet any 
 43.27  one of the criteria in paragraph (b) shall be considered to be 
 43.28  unlikely to benefit from DWP, provided the necessary 
 43.29  documentation is available to support the determination. 
 43.30     (b) A participant who: 
 43.31     (1) has been determined by a qualified professional as 
 43.32  being unable to obtain or retain employment due to an illness, 
 43.33  injury, or incapacity that is expected to last at least 60 days; 
 43.34     (2) is required in the home as a caregiver because of the 
 43.35  illness, injury, or incapacity, of a family member, or a 
 43.36  relative in the household, or a foster child, and the illness, 
 44.1   injury, or incapacity and the need for a person to provide 
 44.2   assistance in the home has been certified by a qualified 
 44.3   professional and is expected to continue more than 60 days; 
 44.4      (3) is determined by a qualified professional as being 
 44.5   needed in the home to care for a child or adult meeting the 
 44.6   special medical criteria in section 256J.425 256J.561, 
 44.7   subdivision 2, paragraph (d), clause (3); 
 44.8      (4) is pregnant and is determined by a qualified 
 44.9   professional as being unable to obtain or retain employment due 
 44.10  to the pregnancy; or 
 44.11     (5) has applied for SSI or RSDI SSDI. 
 44.12     (c) In a two-parent family unit, both parents must be 
 44.13  determined to be unlikely to benefit from the diversionary work 
 44.14  program before the family unit can be converted or referred to 
 44.15  MFIP. 
 44.16     (d) A participant who is determined to be unlikely to 
 44.17  benefit from the diversionary work program shall be converted to 
 44.18  MFIP and, if the determination was made within 30 days of the 
 44.19  initial application for benefits, no additional application form 
 44.20  is required.  A participant who is determined to be unlikely to 
 44.21  benefit from the diversionary work program shall be referred to 
 44.22  MFIP and, if the determination is made more than 30 days after 
 44.23  the initial application, the participant must submit a program 
 44.24  change request form.  The county agency shall process the 
 44.25  program change request form by the first of the following month 
 44.26  to ensure that no gap in benefits is due to delayed action by 
 44.27  the county agency.  In processing the program change request 
 44.28  form, the county must follow section 256J.32, subdivision 1, 
 44.29  except that the county agency shall not require additional 
 44.30  verification of the information in the case file from the DWP 
 44.31  application unless the information in the case file is 
 44.32  inaccurate, questionable, or no longer current. 
 44.33     (e) The county shall not request a combined application 
 44.34  form for a participant who has exhausted the four months of the 
 44.35  diversionary work program, has continued need for cash and food 
 44.36  assistance, and has completed, signed, and submitted a program 
 45.1   change request form within 30 days of the fourth month of the 
 45.2   diversionary work program.  The county must process the program 
 45.3   change request according to section 256J.32, subdivision 1, 
 45.4   except that the county agency shall not require additional 
 45.5   verification of information in the case file unless the 
 45.6   information is inaccurate, questionable, or no longer current.  
 45.7   When a participant does not request MFIP within 30 days of the 
 45.8   diversionary work program benefits being exhausted, a new 
 45.9   combined application form must be completed for any subsequent 
 45.10  request for MFIP. 
 45.11     Sec. 49.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 45.12  256J.95, subdivision 19, is amended to read: 
 45.13     Subd. 19.  [RECOVERY OF DWP OVERPAYMENTS AND 
 45.14  UNDERPAYMENTS.] When DWP benefits are subject to overpayments 
 45.15  and underpayments.  Anytime an overpayment or an ATM error 
 45.16  underpayment is determined for DWP, the overpayment correction 
 45.17  shall be recouped or calculated using prospective budgeting.  
 45.18  Corrections shall be determined based on the policy in section 
 45.19  256J.34, subdivision 1, paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), and 
 45.20  subdivision (3), paragraph (b), clause (1).  ATM errors must be 
 45.21  recovered as specified in section 256J.38, subdivision 5.  DWP 
 45.22  overpayments are not subject to cross program recoupment. 
 45.23     Sec. 50.  [REPEALER.] 
 45.24     (a) Minnesota Statutes 2002, sections 119B.211 and 
 45.25  256D.051, subdivision 17, are repealed. 
 45.26     (b) Laws 2000, chapter 489, article 1, section 36, is 
 45.27  repealed. 
 45.28                             ARTICLE 2
 45.29                           LONG-TERM CARE 
 45.30     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 45.31  245A.11, subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
 45.32     Subd. 2a.  [ADULT FOSTER CARE LICENSE CAPACITY.] (a) An 
 45.33  adult foster care license holder may have a maximum license 
 45.34  capacity of five if all persons in care are age 55 or over and 
 45.35  do not have a serious and persistent mental illness or a 
 45.36  developmental disability.  
 46.1      (b) The commissioner may grant variances to paragraph (a) 
 46.2   to allow a foster care provider with a licensed capacity of five 
 46.3   persons to admit an individual under the age of 55 if the 
 46.4   variance complies with section 245A.04, subdivision 9, and 
 46.5   approval of the variance is recommended by the county in which 
 46.6   the licensed foster care provider is located. 
 46.7      (c) The commissioner may grant variances to paragraph (a) 
 46.8   to allow the use of a fifth bed for emergency crisis services 
 46.9   for a person with serious and persistent mental illness or a 
 46.10  developmental disability, regardless of age, if the variance 
 46.11  complies with section 245A.04, subdivision 9, and approval of 
 46.12  the variance is recommended by the county in which the licensed 
 46.13  foster care provider is located. 
 46.14     (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the commissioner may 
 46.15  issue an adult foster care license with a capacity of five 
 46.16  adults when the capacity is recommended by the county licensing 
 46.17  agency of the county in which the facility is located and if the 
 46.18  recommendation verifies that: 
 46.19     (1) the facility meets the physical environment 
 46.20  requirements in the adult foster care licensing rule; 
 46.21     (2) the five-bed living arrangement is specified for each 
 46.22  resident in the resident's: 
 46.23     (i) individualized plan of care; 
 46.24     (ii) individual service plan under section 256B.092, 
 46.25  subdivision 1b, if required; or 
 46.26     (iii) individual resident placement agreement under 
 46.27  Minnesota Rules, part 9555.5105, subpart 19, if required; 
 46.28     (3) the license holder obtains written and signed informed 
 46.29  consent from each resident or resident's legal representative 
 46.30  documenting the resident's informed choice to living in the home 
 46.31  and that the resident's refusal to consent would not have 
 46.32  resulted in service termination; and 
 46.33     (4) the facility was licensed for adult foster care before 
 46.34  March 1, 2003. 
 46.35     (e) The commissioner shall not issue a new adult foster 
 46.36  care license under paragraph (d) after June 30, 2005.  The 
 47.1   commissioner shall allow a facility with an adult foster care 
 47.2   license issued under paragraph (d) before June 30, 2005, to 
 47.3   continue with a capacity of five or six adults if the license 
 47.4   holder continues to comply with the requirements in paragraph 
 47.5   (d). 
 47.6      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256B.0911, 
 47.7   subdivision 4a, is amended to read: 
 47.8      Subd. 4a.  [PREADMISSION SCREENING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO 
 47.9   NURSING FACILITY ADMISSIONS.] (a) All applicants to Medicaid 
 47.10  certified nursing facilities, including certified boarding care 
 47.11  facilities, must be screened prior to admission regardless of 
 47.12  income, assets, or funding sources for nursing facility care, 
 47.13  except as described in subdivision 4b.  The purpose of the 
 47.14  screening is to determine the need for nursing facility level of 
 47.15  care as described in paragraph (d) and to complete activities 
 47.16  required under federal law related to mental illness and mental 
 47.17  retardation as outlined in paragraph (b). 
 47.18     (b) A person who has a diagnosis or possible diagnosis of 
 47.19  mental illness, mental retardation, or a related condition must 
 47.20  receive a preadmission screening before admission regardless of 
 47.21  the exemptions outlined in subdivision 4b, paragraph (b), to 
 47.22  identify the need for further evaluation and specialized 
 47.23  services, unless the admission prior to screening is authorized 
 47.24  by the local mental health authority or the local developmental 
 47.25  disabilities case manager, or unless authorized by the county 
 47.26  agency according to Public Law 100-508 101-508.  
 47.27     The following criteria apply to the preadmission screening: 
 47.28     (1) the county must use forms and criteria developed by the 
 47.29  commissioner to identify persons who require referral for 
 47.30  further evaluation and determination of the need for specialized 
 47.31  services; and 
 47.32     (2) the evaluation and determination of the need for 
 47.33  specialized services must be done by: 
 47.34     (i) a qualified independent mental health professional, for 
 47.35  persons with a primary or secondary diagnosis of a serious 
 47.36  mental illness; or 
 48.1      (ii) a qualified mental retardation professional, for 
 48.2   persons with a primary or secondary diagnosis of mental 
 48.3   retardation or related conditions.  For purposes of this 
 48.4   requirement, a qualified mental retardation professional must 
 48.5   meet the standards for a qualified mental retardation 
 48.6   professional under Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, 
 48.7   section 483.430. 
 48.8      (c) The local county mental health authority or the state 
 48.9   mental retardation authority under Public Law Numbers 100-203 
 48.10  and 101-508 may prohibit admission to a nursing facility if the 
 48.11  individual does not meet the nursing facility level of care 
 48.12  criteria or needs specialized services as defined in Public Law 
 48.13  Numbers 100-203 and 101-508.  For purposes of this section, 
 48.14  "specialized services" for a person with mental retardation or a 
 48.15  related condition means active treatment as that term is defined 
 48.16  under Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 483.440 
 48.17  (a)(1). 
 48.18     (d) The determination of the need for nursing facility 
 48.19  level of care must be made according to criteria developed by 
 48.20  the commissioner.  In assessing a person's needs, consultation 
 48.21  team members shall have a physician available for consultation 
 48.22  and shall consider the assessment of the individual's attending 
 48.23  physician, if any.  The individual's physician must be included 
 48.24  if the physician chooses to participate.  Other personnel may be 
 48.25  included on the team as deemed appropriate by the county. 
 48.26     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 48.27  256B.0915, subdivision 3a, is amended to read: 
 48.28     Subd. 3a.  [ELDERLY WAIVER COST LIMITS.] (a) The monthly 
 48.29  limit for the cost of waivered services to an individual elderly 
 48.30  waiver client shall be the weighted average monthly nursing 
 48.31  facility rate of the case mix resident class to which the 
 48.32  elderly waiver client would be assigned under Minnesota Rules, 
 48.33  parts 9549.0050 to 9549.0059, less the recipient's maintenance 
 48.34  needs allowance as described in subdivision 1d, paragraph (a), 
 48.35  until the first day of the state fiscal year in which the 
 48.36  resident assessment system as described in section 256B.437 for 
 49.1   nursing home rate determination is implemented.  Effective on 
 49.2   the first day of the state fiscal year in which the resident 
 49.3   assessment system as described in section 256B.437 for nursing 
 49.4   home rate determination is implemented and the first day of each 
 49.5   subsequent state fiscal year, the monthly limit for the cost of 
 49.6   waivered services to an individual elderly waiver client shall 
 49.7   be the rate of the case mix resident class to which the waiver 
 49.8   client would be assigned under Minnesota Rules, parts 9549.0050 
 49.9   to 9549.0059, in effect on the last day of the previous state 
 49.10  fiscal year, adjusted by the greater of any legislatively 
 49.11  adopted home and community-based services cost-of-living 
 49.12  percentage rate increase or any legislatively adopted the 
 49.13  average statewide percent rate percentage increase for in 
 49.14  nursing facilities facility payment rates. 
 49.15     (b) If extended medical supplies and equipment or 
 49.16  environmental modifications are or will be purchased for an 
 49.17  elderly waiver client, the costs may be prorated for up to 12 
 49.18  consecutive months beginning with the month of purchase.  If the 
 49.19  monthly cost of a recipient's waivered services exceeds the 
 49.20  monthly limit established in paragraph (a), the annual cost of 
 49.21  all waivered services shall be determined.  In this event, the 
 49.22  annual cost of all waivered services shall not exceed 12 times 
 49.23  the monthly limit of waivered services as described in paragraph 
 49.24  (a).  
 49.25     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 49.26  256B.0915, subdivision 3b, is amended to read: 
 49.27     Subd. 3b.  [COST LIMITS FOR ELDERLY WAIVER APPLICANTS WHO 
 49.28  RESIDE IN A NURSING FACILITY.] (a) For a person who is a nursing 
 49.29  facility resident at the time of requesting a determination of 
 49.30  eligibility for elderly waivered services, a monthly conversion 
 49.31  limit for the cost of elderly waivered services may be 
 49.32  requested.  The monthly conversion limit for the cost of elderly 
 49.33  waiver services shall be the resident class assigned under 
 49.34  Minnesota Rules, parts 9549.0050 to 9549.0059, for that resident 
 49.35  in the nursing facility where the resident currently resides 
 49.36  until July 1 of the state fiscal year in which the resident 
 50.1   assessment system as described in section 256B.437 for nursing 
 50.2   home rate determination is implemented.  Effective on July 1 of 
 50.3   the state fiscal year in which the resident assessment system as 
 50.4   described in section 256B.437 for nursing home rate 
 50.5   determination is implemented, the monthly conversion limit for 
 50.6   the cost of elderly waiver services shall be the per diem 
 50.7   nursing facility rate as determined by the resident assessment 
 50.8   system as described in section 256B.437 for that resident in the 
 50.9   nursing facility where the resident currently resides multiplied 
 50.10  by 365 and divided by 12, less the recipient's maintenance needs 
 50.11  allowance as described in subdivision 1d.  The initially 
 50.12  approved conversion rate may be adjusted by the greater of any 
 50.13  subsequent legislatively adopted home and community-based 
 50.14  services cost-of-living percentage rate increase or any 
 50.15  subsequent legislatively adopted the average statewide 
 50.16  percentage rate increase for in nursing facilities facility 
 50.17  payment rates.  The limit under this subdivision only applies to 
 50.18  persons discharged from a nursing facility after a minimum 
 50.19  30-day stay and found eligible for waivered services on or after 
 50.20  July 1, 1997.  
 50.21     (b) The following costs must be included in determining the 
 50.22  total monthly costs for the waiver client: 
 50.23     (1) cost of all waivered services, including extended 
 50.24  medical supplies and equipment and environmental modifications; 
 50.25  and 
 50.26     (2) cost of skilled nursing, home health aide, and personal 
 50.27  care services reimbursable by medical assistance.  
 50.28     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 50.29  256B.431, subdivision 32, is amended to read: 
 50.30     Subd. 32.  [PAYMENT DURING FIRST 90 DAYS.] (a) For rate 
 50.31  years beginning on or after July 1, 2001, the total payment rate 
 50.32  for a facility reimbursed under this section, section 256B.434, 
 50.33  or any other section for the first 90 paid days after admission 
 50.34  shall be: 
 50.35     (1) for the first 30 paid days, the rate shall be 120 
 50.36  percent of the facility's medical assistance rate for each case 
 51.1   mix class; 
 51.2      (2) for the next 60 paid days after the first 30 paid days, 
 51.3   the rate shall be 110 percent of the facility's medical 
 51.4   assistance rate for each case mix class; 
 51.5      (3) beginning with the 91st paid day after admission, the 
 51.6   payment rate shall be the rate otherwise determined under this 
 51.7   section, section 256B.434, or any other section; and 
 51.8      (4) payments under this paragraph apply to admissions 
 51.9   occurring on or after July 1, 2001, and before July 1, 2003, and 
 51.10  to resident days occurring before July 30, 2003. 
 51.11     (b) For rate years beginning on or after July 1, 2003, the 
 51.12  total payment rate for a facility reimbursed under this section, 
 51.13  section 256B.434, or any other section shall be: 
 51.14     (1) for the first 30 calendar days after admission, the 
 51.15  rate shall be 120 percent of the facility's medical assistance 
 51.16  rate for each RUG class; 
 51.17     (2) beginning with the 31st calendar day after admission, 
 51.18  the payment rate shall be the rate otherwise determined under 
 51.19  this section, section 256B.434, or any other section; and 
 51.20     (3) payments under this paragraph apply to admissions 
 51.21  occurring on or after July 1, 2003. 
 51.22     (c) Effective January 1, 2004, the enhanced rates under 
 51.23  this subdivision shall not be allowed if a resident has resided 
 51.24  during the previous 30 calendar days in: 
 51.25     (1) the same nursing facility; 
 51.26     (2) a nursing facility owned or operated by a related 
 51.27  party; or 
 51.28     (3) a nursing facility or part of a facility that closed or 
 51.29  was in the process of closing. 
 51.30                             ARTICLE 3
 51.31                            HEALTH CARE
 51.32     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 51.33  256.01, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 51.34     Subd. 2.  [SPECIFIC POWERS.] Subject to the provisions of 
 51.35  section 241.021, subdivision 2, the commissioner of human 
 51.36  services shall carry out the specific duties in paragraphs (a) 
 52.1   through (aa): 
 52.2      (1) (a) Administer and supervise all forms of public 
 52.3   assistance provided for by state law and other welfare 
 52.4   activities or services as are vested in the commissioner.  
 52.5   Administration and supervision of human services activities or 
 52.6   services includes, but is not limited to, assuring timely and 
 52.7   accurate distribution of benefits, completeness of service, and 
 52.8   quality program management.  In addition to administering and 
 52.9   supervising human services activities vested by law in the 
 52.10  department, the commissioner shall have the authority to: 
 52.11     (a) (1) require county agency participation in training and 
 52.12  technical assistance programs to promote compliance with 
 52.13  statutes, rules, federal laws, regulations, and policies 
 52.14  governing human services; 
 52.15     (b) (2) monitor, on an ongoing basis, the performance of 
 52.16  county agencies in the operation and administration of human 
 52.17  services, enforce compliance with statutes, rules, federal laws, 
 52.18  regulations, and policies governing welfare services and promote 
 52.19  excellence of administration and program operation; 
 52.20     (c) (3) develop a quality control program or other 
 52.21  monitoring program to review county performance and accuracy of 
 52.22  benefit determinations; 
 52.23     (d) (4) require county agencies to make an adjustment to 
 52.24  the public assistance benefits issued to any individual 
 52.25  consistent with federal law and regulation and state law and 
 52.26  rule and to issue or recover benefits as appropriate; 
 52.27     (e) (5) delay or deny payment of all or part of the state 
 52.28  and federal share of benefits and administrative reimbursement 
 52.29  according to the procedures set forth in section 256.017; 
 52.30     (f) (6) make contracts with and grants to public and 
 52.31  private agencies and organizations, both profit and nonprofit, 
 52.32  and individuals, using appropriated funds; and 
 52.33     (g) (7) enter into contractual agreements with federally 
 52.34  recognized Indian tribes with a reservation in Minnesota to the 
 52.35  extent necessary for the tribe to operate a federally approved 
 52.36  family assistance program or any other program under the 
 53.1   supervision of the commissioner.  The commissioner shall consult 
 53.2   with the affected county or counties in the contractual 
 53.3   agreement negotiations, if the county or counties wish to be 
 53.4   included, in order to avoid the duplication of county and tribal 
 53.5   assistance program services.  The commissioner may establish 
 53.6   necessary accounts for the purposes of receiving and disbursing 
 53.7   funds as necessary for the operation of the programs. 
 53.8      (2) (b) Inform county agencies, on a timely basis, of 
 53.9   changes in statute, rule, federal law, regulation, and policy 
 53.10  necessary to county agency administration of the programs. 
 53.11     (3) (c) Administer and supervise all child welfare 
 53.12  activities; promote the enforcement of laws protecting 
 53.13  handicapped, dependent, neglected and delinquent children, and 
 53.14  children born to mothers who were not married to the children's 
 53.15  fathers at the times of the conception nor at the births of the 
 53.16  children; license and supervise child-caring and child-placing 
 53.17  agencies and institutions; supervise the care of children in 
 53.18  boarding and foster homes or in private institutions; and 
 53.19  generally perform all functions relating to the field of child 
 53.20  welfare now vested in the State Board of Control. 
 53.21     (4) (d) Administer and supervise all noninstitutional 
 53.22  service to handicapped persons, including those who are visually 
 53.23  impaired, hearing impaired, or physically impaired or otherwise 
 53.24  handicapped.  The commissioner may provide and contract for the 
 53.25  care and treatment of qualified indigent children in facilities 
 53.26  other than those located and available at state hospitals when 
 53.27  it is not feasible to provide the service in state hospitals. 
 53.28     (5) (e) Assist and actively cooperate with other 
 53.29  departments, agencies and institutions, local, state, and 
 53.30  federal, by performing services in conformity with the purposes 
 53.31  of Laws 1939, chapter 431. 
 53.32     (6) (f) Act as the agent of and cooperate with the federal 
 53.33  government in matters of mutual concern relative to and in 
 53.34  conformity with the provisions of Laws 1939, chapter 431, 
 53.35  including the administration of any federal funds granted to the 
 53.36  state to aid in the performance of any functions of the 
 54.1   commissioner as specified in Laws 1939, chapter 431, and 
 54.2   including the promulgation of rules making uniformly available 
 54.3   medical care benefits to all recipients of public assistance, at 
 54.4   such times as the federal government increases its participation 
 54.5   in assistance expenditures for medical care to recipients of 
 54.6   public assistance, the cost thereof to be borne in the same 
 54.7   proportion as are grants of aid to said recipients. 
 54.8      (7) (g) Establish and maintain any administrative units 
 54.9   reasonably necessary for the performance of administrative 
 54.10  functions common to all divisions of the department. 
 54.11     (8) (h) Act as designated guardian of both the estate and 
 54.12  the person of all the wards of the state of Minnesota, whether 
 54.13  by operation of law or by an order of court, without any further 
 54.14  act or proceeding whatever, except as to persons committed as 
 54.15  mentally retarded.  For children under the guardianship of the 
 54.16  commissioner whose interests would be best served by adoptive 
 54.17  placement, the commissioner may contract with a licensed 
 54.18  child-placing agency or a Minnesota tribal social services 
 54.19  agency to provide adoption services.  A contract with a licensed 
 54.20  child-placing agency must be designed to supplement existing 
 54.21  county efforts and may not replace existing county programs, 
 54.22  unless the replacement is agreed to by the county board and the 
 54.23  appropriate exclusive bargaining representative or the 
 54.24  commissioner has evidence that child placements of the county 
 54.25  continue to be substantially below that of other counties.  
 54.26  Funds encumbered and obligated under an agreement for a specific 
 54.27  child shall remain available until the terms of the agreement 
 54.28  are fulfilled or the agreement is terminated. 
 54.29     (9) (i) Act as coordinating referral and informational 
 54.30  center on requests for service for newly arrived immigrants 
 54.31  coming to Minnesota. 
 54.32     (10) (j) The specific enumeration of powers and duties as 
 54.33  hereinabove set forth shall in no way be construed to be a 
 54.34  limitation upon the general transfer of powers herein contained. 
 54.35     (11) (k) Establish county, regional, or statewide schedules 
 54.36  of maximum fees and charges which may be paid by county agencies 
 55.1   for medical, dental, surgical, hospital, nursing and nursing 
 55.2   home care and medicine and medical supplies under all programs 
 55.3   of medical care provided by the state and for congregate living 
 55.4   care under the income maintenance programs. 
 55.5      (12) (l) Have the authority to conduct and administer 
 55.6   experimental projects to test methods and procedures of 
 55.7   administering assistance and services to recipients or potential 
 55.8   recipients of public welfare.  To carry out such experimental 
 55.9   projects, it is further provided that the commissioner of human 
 55.10  services is authorized to waive the enforcement of existing 
 55.11  specific statutory program requirements, rules, and standards in 
 55.12  one or more counties.  The order establishing the waiver shall 
 55.13  provide alternative methods and procedures of administration, 
 55.14  shall not be in conflict with the basic purposes, coverage, or 
 55.15  benefits provided by law, and in no event shall the duration of 
 55.16  a project exceed four years.  It is further provided that no 
 55.17  order establishing an experimental project as authorized by the 
 55.18  provisions of this section shall become effective until the 
 55.19  following conditions have been met: 
 55.20     (a) (1) the secretary of health and human services of the 
 55.21  United States has agreed, for the same project, to waive state 
 55.22  plan requirements relative to statewide uniformity.; and 
 55.23     (b) (2) a comprehensive plan, including estimated project 
 55.24  costs, shall be approved by the Legislative Advisory Commission 
 55.25  and filed with the commissioner of administration.  
 55.26     (13) (m) According to federal requirements, establish 
 55.27  procedures to be followed by local welfare boards in creating 
 55.28  citizen advisory committees, including procedures for selection 
 55.29  of committee members. 
 55.30     (14) (n) Allocate federal fiscal disallowances or sanctions 
 55.31  which are based on quality control error rates for the aid to 
 55.32  families with dependent children program formerly codified in 
 55.33  sections 256.72 to 256.87, medical assistance, or food stamp 
 55.34  program in the following manner:  
 55.35     (a) (1) one-half of the total amount of the disallowance 
 55.36  shall be borne by the county boards responsible for 
 56.1   administering the programs.  For the medical assistance and the 
 56.2   AFDC program formerly codified in sections 256.72 to 256.87, 
 56.3   disallowances shall be shared by each county board in the same 
 56.4   proportion as that county's expenditures for the sanctioned 
 56.5   program are to the total of all counties' expenditures for the 
 56.6   AFDC program formerly codified in sections 256.72 to 256.87, and 
 56.7   medical assistance programs.  For the food stamp program, 
 56.8   sanctions shall be shared by each county board, with 50 percent 
 56.9   of the sanction being distributed to each county in the same 
 56.10  proportion as that county's administrative costs for food stamps 
 56.11  are to the total of all food stamp administrative costs for all 
 56.12  counties, and 50 percent of the sanctions being distributed to 
 56.13  each county in the same proportion as that county's value of 
 56.14  food stamp benefits issued are to the total of all benefits 
 56.15  issued for all counties.  Each county shall pay its share of the 
 56.16  disallowance to the state of Minnesota.  When a county fails to 
 56.17  pay the amount due hereunder, the commissioner may deduct the 
 56.18  amount from reimbursement otherwise due the county, or the 
 56.19  attorney general, upon the request of the commissioner, may 
 56.20  institute civil action to recover the amount due.; and 
 56.21     (b) (2) notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 
 56.22  (a) clause (1), if the disallowance results from knowing 
 56.23  noncompliance by one or more counties with a specific program 
 56.24  instruction, and that knowing noncompliance is a matter of 
 56.25  official county board record, the commissioner may require 
 56.26  payment or recover from the county or counties, in the manner 
 56.27  prescribed in paragraph (a) clause (1), an amount equal to the 
 56.28  portion of the total disallowance which resulted from the 
 56.29  noncompliance, and may distribute the balance of the 
 56.30  disallowance according to paragraph (a) clause (1).  
 56.31     (15) (o) Develop and implement special projects that 
 56.32  maximize reimbursements and result in the recovery of money to 
 56.33  the state.  For the purpose of recovering state money, the 
 56.34  commissioner may enter into contracts with third parties.  Any 
 56.35  recoveries that result from projects or contracts entered into 
 56.36  under this paragraph shall be deposited in the state treasury 
 57.1   and credited to a special account until the balance in the 
 57.2   account reaches $1,000,000.  When the balance in the account 
 57.3   exceeds $1,000,000, the excess shall be transferred and credited 
 57.4   to the general fund.  All money in the account is appropriated 
 57.5   to the commissioner for the purposes of this paragraph. 
 57.6      (16) (p) Have the authority to make direct payments to 
 57.7   facilities providing shelter to women and their children 
 57.8   according to section 256D.05, subdivision 3.  Upon the written 
 57.9   request of a shelter facility that has been denied payments 
 57.10  under section 256D.05, subdivision 3, the commissioner shall 
 57.11  review all relevant evidence and make a determination within 30 
 57.12  days of the request for review regarding issuance of direct 
 57.13  payments to the shelter facility.  Failure to act within 30 days 
 57.14  shall be considered a determination not to issue direct payments.
 57.15     (17) (q) Have the authority to establish and enforce the 
 57.16  following county reporting requirements:  
 57.17     (a) (1) the commissioner shall establish fiscal and 
 57.18  statistical reporting requirements necessary to account for the 
 57.19  expenditure of funds allocated to counties for human services 
 57.20  programs.  When establishing financial and statistical reporting 
 57.21  requirements, the commissioner shall evaluate all reports, in 
 57.22  consultation with the counties, to determine if the reports can 
 57.23  be simplified or the number of reports can be reduced.; 
 57.24     (b) (2) the county board shall submit monthly or quarterly 
 57.25  reports to the department as required by the commissioner.  
 57.26  Monthly reports are due no later than 15 working days after the 
 57.27  end of the month.  Quarterly reports are due no later than 30 
 57.28  calendar days after the end of the quarter, unless the 
 57.29  commissioner determines that the deadline must be shortened to 
 57.30  20 calendar days to avoid jeopardizing compliance with federal 
 57.31  deadlines or risking a loss of federal funding.  Only reports 
 57.32  that are complete, legible, and in the required format shall be 
 57.33  accepted by the commissioner.; 
 57.34     (c) (3) if the required reports are not received by the 
 57.35  deadlines established in clause (b) (2), the commissioner may 
 57.36  delay payments and withhold funds from the county board until 
 58.1   the next reporting period.  When the report is needed to account 
 58.2   for the use of federal funds and the late report results in a 
 58.3   reduction in federal funding, the commissioner shall withhold 
 58.4   from the county boards with late reports an amount equal to the 
 58.5   reduction in federal funding until full federal funding is 
 58.6   received.; 
 58.7      (d) (4) a county board that submits reports that are late, 
 58.8   illegible, incomplete, or not in the required format for two out 
 58.9   of three consecutive reporting periods is considered 
 58.10  noncompliant.  When a county board is found to be noncompliant, 
 58.11  the commissioner shall notify the county board of the reason the 
 58.12  county board is considered noncompliant and request that the 
 58.13  county board develop a corrective action plan stating how the 
 58.14  county board plans to correct the problem.  The corrective 
 58.15  action plan must be submitted to the commissioner within 45 days 
 58.16  after the date the county board received notice of 
 58.17  noncompliance.; 
 58.18     (e) (5) the final deadline for fiscal reports or amendments 
 58.19  to fiscal reports is one year after the date the report was 
 58.20  originally due.  If the commissioner does not receive a report 
 58.21  by the final deadline, the county board forfeits the funding 
 58.22  associated with the report for that reporting period and the 
 58.23  county board must repay any funds associated with the report 
 58.24  received for that reporting period.; 
 58.25     (f) (6) the commissioner may not delay payments, withhold 
 58.26  funds, or require repayment under paragraph (c) clause (3) or 
 58.27  (e) (5) if the county demonstrates that the commissioner failed 
 58.28  to provide appropriate forms, guidelines, and technical 
 58.29  assistance to enable the county to comply with the 
 58.30  requirements.  If the county board disagrees with an action 
 58.31  taken by the commissioner under paragraph (c) clause (3) or 
 58.32  (e) (5), the county board may appeal the action according to 
 58.33  sections 14.57 to 14.69.; and 
 58.34     (g) (7) counties subject to withholding of funds under 
 58.35  paragraph (c) clause (3) or forfeiture or repayment of funds 
 58.36  under paragraph (e) clause (5) shall not reduce or withhold 
 59.1   benefits or services to clients to cover costs incurred due to 
 59.2   actions taken by the commissioner under paragraph (c) clause (3) 
 59.3   or (e) (5). 
 59.4      (18) (r) Allocate federal fiscal disallowances or sanctions 
 59.5   for audit exceptions when federal fiscal disallowances or 
 59.6   sanctions are based on a statewide random sample for the foster 
 59.7   care program under title IV-E of the Social Security Act, United 
 59.8   States Code, title 42, in direct proportion to each county's 
 59.9   title IV-E foster care maintenance claim for that period. 
 59.10     (19) (s) Be responsible for ensuring the detection, 
 59.11  prevention, investigation, and resolution of fraudulent 
 59.12  activities or behavior by applicants, recipients, and other 
 59.13  participants in the human services programs administered by the 
 59.14  department. 
 59.15     (20) (t) Require county agencies to identify overpayments, 
 59.16  establish claims, and utilize all available and cost-beneficial 
 59.17  methodologies to collect and recover these overpayments in the 
 59.18  human services programs administered by the department. 
 59.19     (21) (u) Have the authority to administer a drug rebate 
 59.20  program for drugs purchased pursuant to the prescription drug 
 59.21  program established under section 256.955 after the 
 59.22  beneficiary's satisfaction of any deductible established in the 
 59.23  program.  The commissioner shall require a rebate agreement from 
 59.24  all manufacturers of covered drugs as defined in section 
 59.25  256B.0625, subdivision 13.  Rebate agreements for prescription 
 59.26  drugs delivered on or after July 1, 2002, must include rebates 
 59.27  for individuals covered under the prescription drug program who 
 59.28  are under 65 years of age.  For each drug, the amount of the 
 59.29  rebate shall be equal to the rebate as defined for purposes of 
 59.30  the federal rebate program in United States Code, title 42, 
 59.31  section 1396r-8(c)(1) 1396r-8.  The manufacturers must provide 
 59.32  full payment within 30 days of receipt of the state invoice for 
 59.33  the rebate within the terms and conditions used for the federal 
 59.34  rebate program established pursuant to section 1927 of title XIX 
 59.35  of the Social Security Act.  The manufacturers must provide the 
 59.36  commissioner with any information necessary to verify the rebate 
 60.1   determined per drug.  The rebate program shall utilize the terms 
 60.2   and conditions used for the federal rebate program established 
 60.3   pursuant to section 1927 of title XIX of the Social Security Act.
 60.4      (22) (v) Have the authority to administer the federal drug 
 60.5   rebate program for drugs purchased under the medical assistance 
 60.6   program as allowed by section 1927 of title XIX of the Social 
 60.7   Security Act and according to the terms and conditions of 
 60.8   section 1927.  Rebates shall be collected for all drugs that 
 60.9   have been dispensed or administered in an outpatient setting and 
 60.10  that are from manufacturers who have signed a rebate agreement 
 60.11  with the United States Department of Health and Human Services. 
 60.12     (23) (w) Have the authority to administer a supplemental 
 60.13  drug rebate program for drugs purchased under the medical 
 60.14  assistance program.  The commissioner may enter into 
 60.15  supplemental rebate contracts with pharmaceutical manufacturers 
 60.16  and may require prior authorization for drugs that are from 
 60.17  manufacturers that have not signed a supplemental rebate 
 60.18  contract.  Prior authorization of drugs shall be subject to the 
 60.19  provisions of section 256B.0625, subdivision 13. 
 60.20     (24) (x) Operate the department's communication systems 
 60.21  account established in Laws 1993, First Special Session chapter 
 60.22  1, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, to manage shared 
 60.23  communication costs necessary for the operation of the programs 
 60.24  the commissioner supervises.  A communications account may also 
 60.25  be established for each regional treatment center which operates 
 60.26  communications systems.  Each account must be used to manage 
 60.27  shared communication costs necessary for the operations of the 
 60.28  programs the commissioner supervises.  The commissioner may 
 60.29  distribute the costs of operating and maintaining communication 
 60.30  systems to participants in a manner that reflects actual usage. 
 60.31  Costs may include acquisition, licensing, insurance, 
 60.32  maintenance, repair, staff time and other costs as determined by 
 60.33  the commissioner.  Nonprofit organizations and state, county, 
 60.34  and local government agencies involved in the operation of 
 60.35  programs the commissioner supervises may participate in the use 
 60.36  of the department's communications technology and share in the 
 61.1   cost of operation.  The commissioner may accept on behalf of the 
 61.2   state any gift, bequest, devise or personal property of any 
 61.3   kind, or money tendered to the state for any lawful purpose 
 61.4   pertaining to the communication activities of the department.  
 61.5   Any money received for this purpose must be deposited in the 
 61.6   department's communication systems accounts.  Money collected by 
 61.7   the commissioner for the use of communication systems must be 
 61.8   deposited in the state communication systems account and is 
 61.9   appropriated to the commissioner for purposes of this section. 
 61.10     (25) (y) Receive any federal matching money that is made 
 61.11  available through the medical assistance program for the 
 61.12  consumer satisfaction survey.  Any federal money received for 
 61.13  the survey is appropriated to the commissioner for this 
 61.14  purpose.  The commissioner may expend the federal money received 
 61.15  for the consumer satisfaction survey in either year of the 
 61.16  biennium. 
 61.17     (26) (z) Incorporate cost reimbursement claims from First 
 61.18  Call Minnesota and Greater Twin Cities United Way into the 
 61.19  federal cost reimbursement claiming processes of the department 
 61.20  according to federal law, rule, and regulations.  Any 
 61.21  reimbursement received is appropriated to the commissioner and 
 61.22  shall be disbursed to First Call Minnesota and Greater Twin 
 61.23  Cities United Way according to normal department payment 
 61.24  schedules. 
 61.25     (27) (aa) Develop recommended standards for foster care 
 61.26  homes that address the components of specialized therapeutic 
 61.27  services to be provided by foster care homes with those services.
 61.28     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256.955, 
 61.29  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 61.30     Subd. 2.  [DEFINITIONS.] (a) For purposes of this section, 
 61.31  the following definitions apply. 
 61.32     (b) "Health plan" has the meaning provided in section 
 61.33  62Q.01, subdivision 3. 
 61.34     (c) "Health plan company" has the meaning provided in 
 61.35  section 62Q.01, subdivision 4. 
 61.36     (d) "Qualified individual" means an individual who meets 
 62.1   the requirements described in subdivision 2a or 2b, and: 
 62.2      (1) who is not determined eligible for medical assistance 
 62.3   according to section 256B.0575, who is not determined eligible 
 62.4   for medical assistance or general assistance medical care 
 62.5   without a spenddown, or who is not enrolled in MinnesotaCare; 
 62.6      (2) is not enrolled in prescription drug coverage under a 
 62.7   health plan; 
 62.8      (3) is not enrolled in prescription drug coverage under a 
 62.9   Medicare supplement plan, as defined in sections 62A.31 to 
 62.10  62A.44, or policies, contracts, or certificates that supplement 
 62.11  Medicare issued by health maintenance organizations or those 
 62.12  policies, contracts, or certificates governed by section 1833 or 
 62.13  1876 of the federal Social Security Act, United States Code, 
 62.14  title 42, section 1395, et seq., as amended; 
 62.15     (4) has not had coverage described in clauses (2) and (3) 
 62.16  for at least four months prior to application for the program; 
 62.17  and 
 62.18     (5) is a permanent resident of Minnesota as defined in 
 62.19  section 256L.09. 
 62.20     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 62.21  256.955, subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
 62.22     Subd. 2a.  [ELIGIBILITY.] An individual satisfying the 
 62.23  following requirements and the requirements described in 
 62.24  subdivision 2, paragraph (d), is eligible for the prescription 
 62.25  drug program: 
 62.26     (1) is at least 65 years of age or older; and 
 62.27     (2) is eligible as a qualified Medicare beneficiary 
 62.28  according to section 256B.057, subdivision 3 or 3a, or is 
 62.29  eligible under section 256B.057, subdivision 3 or 3a, and is 
 62.30  also eligible for medical assistance or general assistance 
 62.31  medical care with a spenddown as defined in section 256B.056, 
 62.32  subdivision 5. 
 62.33     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256.955, 
 62.34  subdivision 2b, is amended to read: 
 62.35     Subd. 2b.  [ELIGIBILITY.] Effective July 1, 2002, an 
 62.36  individual satisfying the following requirements and the 
 63.1   requirements described in subdivision 2, paragraph (d), is 
 63.2   eligible for the prescription drug program: 
 63.3      (1) is under 65 years of age; and 
 63.4      (2) is eligible as a qualified Medicare beneficiary 
 63.5   according to section 256B.057, subdivision 3 or 3a or is 
 63.6   eligible under section 256B.057, subdivision 3 or 3a and is also 
 63.7   eligible for medical assistance or general assistance medical 
 63.8   care with a spenddown as defined in section 256B.056, 
 63.9   subdivision 5. 
 63.10     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 63.11  256B.06, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 63.12     Subd. 4.  [CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS.] (a) Eligibility for 
 63.13  medical assistance is limited to citizens of the United States, 
 63.14  qualified noncitizens as defined in this subdivision, and other 
 63.15  persons residing lawfully in the United States. 
 63.16     (b) "Qualified noncitizen" means a person who meets one of 
 63.17  the following immigration criteria: 
 63.18     (1) admitted for lawful permanent residence according to 
 63.19  United States Code, title 8; 
 63.20     (2) admitted to the United States as a refugee according to 
 63.21  United States Code, title 8, section 1157; 
 63.22     (3) granted asylum according to United States Code, title 
 63.23  8, section 1158; 
 63.24     (4) granted withholding of deportation according to United 
 63.25  States Code, title 8, section 1253(h); 
 63.26     (5) paroled for a period of at least one year according to 
 63.27  United States Code, title 8, section 1182(d)(5); 
 63.28     (6) granted conditional entrant status according to United 
 63.29  States Code, title 8, section 1153(a)(7); 
 63.30     (7) determined to be a battered noncitizen by the United 
 63.31  States Attorney General according to the Illegal Immigration 
 63.32  Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, title V of the 
 63.33  Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Bill, Public Law 104-200; 
 63.34     (8) is a child of a noncitizen determined to be a battered 
 63.35  noncitizen by the United States Attorney General according to 
 63.36  the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act 
 64.1   of 1996, title V, of the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations 
 64.2   Bill, Public Law 104-200; or 
 64.3      (9) determined to be a Cuban or Haitian entrant as defined 
 64.4   in section 501(e) of Public Law 96-422, the Refugee Education 
 64.5   Assistance Act of 1980. 
 64.6      (c) All qualified noncitizens who were residing in the 
 64.7   United States before August 22, 1996, who otherwise meet the 
 64.8   eligibility requirements of this chapter, are eligible for 
 64.9   medical assistance with federal financial participation. 
 64.10     (d) All qualified noncitizens who entered the United States 
 64.11  on or after August 22, 1996, and who otherwise meet the 
 64.12  eligibility requirements of this chapter, are eligible for 
 64.13  medical assistance with federal financial participation through 
 64.14  November 30, 1996. 
 64.15     Beginning December 1, 1996, qualified noncitizens who 
 64.16  entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996, and who 
 64.17  otherwise meet the eligibility requirements of this chapter are 
 64.18  eligible for medical assistance with federal participation for 
 64.19  five years if they meet one of the following criteria: 
 64.20     (i) refugees admitted to the United States according to 
 64.21  United States Code, title 8, section 1157; 
 64.22     (ii) persons granted asylum according to United States 
 64.23  Code, title 8, section 1158; 
 64.24     (iii) persons granted withholding of deportation according 
 64.25  to United States Code, title 8, section 1253(h); 
 64.26     (iv) veterans of the United States armed forces with an 
 64.27  honorable discharge for a reason other than noncitizen status, 
 64.28  their spouses and unmarried minor dependent children; or 
 64.29     (v) persons on active duty in the United States armed 
 64.30  forces, other than for training, their spouses and unmarried 
 64.31  minor dependent children. 
 64.32     Beginning December 1, 1996, qualified noncitizens who do 
 64.33  not meet one of the criteria in items (i) to (v) are eligible 
 64.34  for medical assistance without federal financial participation 
 64.35  as described in paragraph (j). 
 64.36     (e) Noncitizens who are not qualified noncitizens as 
 65.1   defined in paragraph (b), who are lawfully residing in the 
 65.2   United States and who otherwise meet the eligibility 
 65.3   requirements of this chapter, are eligible for medical 
 65.4   assistance under clauses (1) to (3).  These individuals must 
 65.5   cooperate with the Immigration and Naturalization Service to 
 65.6   pursue any applicable immigration status, including citizenship, 
 65.7   that would qualify them for medical assistance with federal 
 65.8   financial participation. 
 65.9      (1) Persons who were medical assistance recipients on 
 65.10  August 22, 1996, are eligible for medical assistance with 
 65.11  federal financial participation through December 31, 1996. 
 65.12     (2) Beginning January 1, 1997, persons described in clause 
 65.13  (1) are eligible for medical assistance without federal 
 65.14  financial participation as described in paragraph (j). 
 65.15     (3) Beginning December 1, 1996, persons residing in the 
 65.16  United States prior to August 22, 1996, who were not receiving 
 65.17  medical assistance and persons who arrived on or after August 
 65.18  22, 1996, are eligible for medical assistance without federal 
 65.19  financial participation as described in paragraph (j). 
 65.20     (f) Nonimmigrants who otherwise meet the eligibility 
 65.21  requirements of this chapter are eligible for the benefits as 
 65.22  provided in paragraphs (g) to (i).  For purposes of this 
 65.23  subdivision, a "nonimmigrant" is a person in one of the classes 
 65.24  listed in United States Code, title 8, section 1101(a)(15). 
 65.25     (g) Payment shall also be made for care and services that 
 65.26  are furnished to noncitizens, regardless of immigration status, 
 65.27  who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements of this chapter, 
 65.28  if such care and services are necessary for the treatment of an 
 65.29  emergency medical condition, except for organ transplants and 
 65.30  related care and services and routine prenatal care.  
 65.31     (h) For purposes of this subdivision, the term "emergency 
 65.32  medical condition" means a medical condition that meets the 
 65.33  requirements of United States Code, title 42, section 1396b(v). 
 65.34     (i) Pregnant noncitizens who are undocumented or 
 65.35  nonimmigrants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements 
 65.36  of this chapter, are eligible for medical assistance payment 
 66.1   without federal financial participation for care and services 
 66.2   through the period of pregnancy, and 60 days postpartum, except 
 66.3   for labor and delivery.  
 66.4      (j) Qualified noncitizens as described in paragraph (d), 
 66.5   and all other noncitizens lawfully residing in the United States 
 66.6   as described in paragraph (e), who are ineligible for medical 
 66.7   assistance with federal financial participation and who 
 66.8   otherwise meet the eligibility requirements of chapter 256B and 
 66.9   of this paragraph, are eligible for medical assistance without 
 66.10  federal financial participation.  Qualified noncitizens as 
 66.11  described in paragraph (d) are only eligible for medical 
 66.12  assistance without federal financial participation for five 
 66.13  years from their date of entry into the United States.  
 66.14     (k) Beginning October 1, 2003, persons who are receiving 
 66.15  care and rehabilitation services from a nonprofit center 
 66.16  established to serve victims of torture and are otherwise 
 66.17  ineligible for medical assistance under this chapter or general 
 66.18  assistance medical care under section 256D.03 are eligible for 
 66.19  medical assistance without federal financial participation.  
 66.20  These individuals are eligible only for the period during which 
 66.21  they are receiving services from the center.  Individuals 
 66.22  eligible under this paragraph shall not be required to 
 66.23  participate in prepaid medical assistance. 
 66.24     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 66.25  256B.0625, subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
 66.26     Subd. 9.  [DENTAL SERVICES.] (a) Medical assistance covers 
 66.27  dental services.  Dental services include, with prior 
 66.28  authorization, fixed bridges that are cost-effective for persons 
 66.29  who cannot use removable dentures because of their medical 
 66.30  condition.  
 66.31     (b) Coverage of dental services for adults age 21 and over 
 66.32  who are not pregnant is subject to a $500 annual benefit limit 
 66.33  and covered services are limited to:  
 66.34     (1) diagnostic and preventative services; 
 66.35     (2) basic restorative services; and 
 66.36     (3) emergency services. 
 67.1      Emergency services, dentures, and extractions related to 
 67.2   dentures are not included in the $500 annual benefit limit. 
 67.3      Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 67.4   256D.03, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 67.5      Subd. 3.  [GENERAL ASSISTANCE MEDICAL CARE; ELIGIBILITY.] 
 67.6   (a) General assistance medical care may be paid for any person 
 67.7   who is not eligible for medical assistance under chapter 256B, 
 67.8   including eligibility for medical assistance based on a 
 67.9   spenddown of excess income according to section 256B.056, 
 67.10  subdivision 5, or MinnesotaCare as defined in paragraph (b), 
 67.11  except as provided in paragraph (c), and: 
 67.12     (1) who is receiving assistance under section 256D.05, 
 67.13  except for families with children who are eligible under 
 67.14  Minnesota family investment program (MFIP), or who is having a 
 67.15  payment made on the person's behalf under sections 256I.01 to 
 67.16  256I.06; or 
 67.17     (2) who is a resident of Minnesota; and 
 67.18     (i) who has gross countable income not in excess of 75 
 67.19  percent of the federal poverty guidelines for the family size, 
 67.20  using a six-month budget period and whose equity in assets is 
 67.21  not in excess of $1,000 per assistance unit.  Exempt assets, the 
 67.22  reduction of excess assets, and the waiver of excess assets must 
 67.23  conform to the medical assistance program in section 256B.056, 
 67.24  subdivision 3, with the following exception:  the maximum amount 
 67.25  of undistributed funds in a trust that could be distributed to 
 67.26  or on behalf of the beneficiary by the trustee, assuming the 
 67.27  full exercise of the trustee's discretion under the terms of the 
 67.28  trust, must be applied toward the asset maximum; or 
 67.29     (ii) who has gross countable income above 75 percent of the 
 67.30  federal poverty guidelines but not in excess of 175 percent of 
 67.31  the federal poverty guidelines for the family size, using a 
 67.32  six-month budget period, whose equity in assets is not in excess 
 67.33  of the limits in section 256B.056, subdivision 3c, and who 
 67.34  applies during an inpatient hospitalization.  
 67.35     (b) General assistance medical care may not be paid for 
 67.36  applicants or recipients who meet all eligibility requirements 
 68.1   of MinnesotaCare as defined in sections 256L.01 to 256L.16, and 
 68.2   are adults with dependent children under 21 whose gross family 
 68.3   income is equal to or less than 275 percent of the federal 
 68.4   poverty guidelines. 
 68.5      (c) For applications received on or after October 1, 2003, 
 68.6   eligibility may begin no earlier than the date of application.  
 68.7   For individuals eligible under paragraph (a), clause (2), item 
 68.8   (i), a redetermination of eligibility must occur every 12 
 68.9   months.  Individuals are eligible under paragraph (a), clause 
 68.10  (2), item (ii), only during inpatient hospitalization but may 
 68.11  reapply if there is a subsequent period of inpatient 
 68.12  hospitalization.  Beginning January 1, 2000, Minnesota health 
 68.13  care program applications completed by recipients and applicants 
 68.14  who are persons described in paragraph (b), may be returned to 
 68.15  the county agency to be forwarded to the Department of Human 
 68.16  Services or sent directly to the Department of Human Services 
 68.17  for enrollment in MinnesotaCare.  If all other eligibility 
 68.18  requirements of this subdivision are met, eligibility for 
 68.19  general assistance medical care shall be available in any month 
 68.20  during which a MinnesotaCare eligibility determination and 
 68.21  enrollment are pending.  Upon notification of eligibility for 
 68.22  MinnesotaCare, notice of termination for eligibility for general 
 68.23  assistance medical care shall be sent to an applicant or 
 68.24  recipient.  If all other eligibility requirements of this 
 68.25  subdivision are met, eligibility for general assistance medical 
 68.26  care shall be available until enrollment in MinnesotaCare 
 68.27  subject to the provisions of paragraph (e). 
 68.28     (d) The date of an initial Minnesota health care program 
 68.29  application necessary to begin a determination of eligibility 
 68.30  shall be the date the applicant has provided a name, address, 
 68.31  and Social Security number, signed and dated, to the county 
 68.32  agency or the Department of Human Services.  If the applicant is 
 68.33  unable to provide a name, address, Social Security number, and 
 68.34  signature when health care is delivered due to a medical 
 68.35  condition or disability, a health care provider may act on an 
 68.36  applicant's behalf to establish the date of an initial Minnesota 
 69.1   health care program application by providing the county agency 
 69.2   or Department of Human Services with provider identification and 
 69.3   a temporary unique identifier for the applicant.  The applicant 
 69.4   must complete the remainder of the application and provide 
 69.5   necessary verification before eligibility can be determined.  
 69.6   The county agency must assist the applicant in obtaining 
 69.7   verification if necessary.  
 69.8      (e) County agencies are authorized to use all automated 
 69.9   databases containing information regarding recipients' or 
 69.10  applicants' income in order to determine eligibility for general 
 69.11  assistance medical care or MinnesotaCare.  Such use shall be 
 69.12  considered sufficient in order to determine eligibility and 
 69.13  premium payments by the county agency. 
 69.14     (f) General assistance medical care is not available for a 
 69.15  person in a correctional facility unless the person is detained 
 69.16  by law for less than one year in a county correctional or 
 69.17  detention facility as a person accused or convicted of a crime, 
 69.18  or admitted as an inpatient to a hospital on a criminal hold 
 69.19  order, and the person is a recipient of general assistance 
 69.20  medical care at the time the person is detained by law or 
 69.21  admitted on a criminal hold order and as long as the person 
 69.22  continues to meet other eligibility requirements of this 
 69.23  subdivision.  
 69.24     (g) General assistance medical care is not available for 
 69.25  applicants or recipients who do not cooperate with the county 
 69.26  agency to meet the requirements of medical assistance.  
 69.27     (h) In determining the amount of assets of an individual 
 69.28  eligible under paragraph (a), clause (2), item (i), there shall 
 69.29  be included any asset or interest in an asset, including an 
 69.30  asset excluded under paragraph (a), that was given away, sold, 
 69.31  or disposed of for less than fair market value within the 60 
 69.32  months preceding application for general assistance medical care 
 69.33  or during the period of eligibility.  Any transfer described in 
 69.34  this paragraph shall be presumed to have been for the purpose of 
 69.35  establishing eligibility for general assistance medical care, 
 69.36  unless the individual furnishes convincing evidence to establish 
 70.1   that the transaction was exclusively for another purpose.  For 
 70.2   purposes of this paragraph, the value of the asset or interest 
 70.3   shall be the fair market value at the time it was given away, 
 70.4   sold, or disposed of, less the amount of compensation received.  
 70.5   For any uncompensated transfer, the number of months of 
 70.6   ineligibility, including partial months, shall be calculated by 
 70.7   dividing the uncompensated transfer amount by the average 
 70.8   monthly per person payment made by the medical assistance 
 70.9   program to skilled nursing facilities for the previous calendar 
 70.10  year.  The individual shall remain ineligible until this fixed 
 70.11  period has expired.  The period of ineligibility may exceed 30 
 70.12  months, and a reapplication for benefits after 30 months from 
 70.13  the date of the transfer shall not result in eligibility unless 
 70.14  and until the period of ineligibility has expired.  The period 
 70.15  of ineligibility begins in the month the transfer was reported 
 70.16  to the county agency, or if the transfer was not reported, the 
 70.17  month in which the county agency discovered the transfer, 
 70.18  whichever comes first.  For applicants, the period of 
 70.19  ineligibility begins on the date of the first approved 
 70.20  application. 
 70.21     (i) When determining eligibility for any state benefits 
 70.22  under this subdivision, the income and resources of all 
 70.23  noncitizens shall be deemed to include their sponsor's income 
 70.24  and resources as defined in the Personal Responsibility and Work 
 70.25  Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, title IV, Public Law 
 70.26  104-193, sections 421 and 422, and subsequently set out in 
 70.27  federal rules. 
 70.28     (j) Undocumented noncitizens and nonimmigrants are 
 70.29  ineligible for general assistance medical care, except an 
 70.30  individual eligible under paragraph (a), clause (4), remains 
 70.31  eligible through September 30, 2003.  For purposes of this 
 70.32  subdivision, a nonimmigrant is an individual in one or more of 
 70.33  the classes listed in United States Code, title 8, section 
 70.34  1101(a)(15), and an undocumented noncitizen is an individual who 
 70.35  resides in the United States without the approval or 
 70.36  acquiescence of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. 
 71.1      (k) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 
 71.2   noncitizen who is ineligible for medical assistance due to the 
 71.3   deeming of a sponsor's income and resources, is ineligible for 
 71.4   general assistance medical care. 
 71.5      (l) Effective July 1, 2003, general assistance medical care 
 71.6   emergency services end.  
 71.7      Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
 71.8   256D.03, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 71.9      Subd. 4.  [GENERAL ASSISTANCE MEDICAL CARE; SERVICES.] 
 71.10  (a)(i) For a person who is eligible under subdivision 3, 
 71.11  paragraph (a), clause (2), item (i), general assistance medical 
 71.12  care covers, except as provided in paragraph (c): 
 71.13     (1) inpatient hospital services; 
 71.14     (2) outpatient hospital services; 
 71.15     (3) services provided by Medicare certified rehabilitation 
 71.16  agencies; 
 71.17     (4) prescription drugs and other products recommended 
 71.18  through the process established in section 256B.0625, 
 71.19  subdivision 13; 
 71.20     (5) equipment necessary to administer insulin and 
 71.21  diagnostic supplies and equipment for diabetics to monitor blood 
 71.22  sugar level; 
 71.23     (6) eyeglasses and eye examinations provided by a physician 
 71.24  or optometrist; 
 71.25     (7) hearing aids; 
 71.26     (8) prosthetic devices; 
 71.27     (9) laboratory and X-ray services; 
 71.28     (10) physician's services; 
 71.29     (11) medical transportation except special transportation; 
 71.30     (12) chiropractic services as covered under the medical 
 71.31  assistance program; 
 71.32     (13) podiatric services; 
 71.33     (14) dental services and dentures, subject to the 
 71.34  limitations specified in section 256B.0625, subdivision 9; 
 71.35     (15) outpatient services provided by a mental health center 
 71.36  or clinic that is under contract with the county board and is 
 72.1   established under section 245.62; 
 72.2      (16) day treatment services for mental illness provided 
 72.3   under contract with the county board; 
 72.4      (17) prescribed medications for persons who have been 
 72.5   diagnosed as mentally ill as necessary to prevent more 
 72.6   restrictive institutionalization; 
 72.7      (18) psychological services, medical supplies and 
 72.8   equipment, and Medicare premiums, coinsurance and deductible 
 72.9   payments; 
 72.10     (19) medical equipment not specifically listed in this 
 72.11  paragraph when the use of the equipment will prevent the need 
 72.12  for costlier services that are reimbursable under this 
 72.13  subdivision; 
 72.14     (20) services performed by a certified pediatric nurse 
 72.15  practitioner, a certified family nurse practitioner, a certified 
 72.16  adult nurse practitioner, a certified obstetric/gynecological 
 72.17  nurse practitioner, a certified neonatal nurse practitioner, or 
 72.18  a certified geriatric nurse practitioner in independent 
 72.19  practice, if (1) the service is otherwise covered under this 
 72.20  chapter as a physician service, (2) the service provided on an 
 72.21  inpatient basis is not included as part of the cost for 
 72.22  inpatient services included in the operating payment rate, and 
 72.23  (3) the service is within the scope of practice of the nurse 
 72.24  practitioner's license as a registered nurse, as defined in 
 72.25  section 148.171; 
 72.26     (21) services of a certified public health nurse or a 
 72.27  registered nurse practicing in a public health nursing clinic 
 72.28  that is a department of, or that operates under the direct 
 72.29  authority of, a unit of government, if the service is within the 
 72.30  scope of practice of the public health nurse's license as a 
 72.31  registered nurse, as defined in section 148.171; and 
 72.32     (22) telemedicine consultations, to the extent they are 
 72.33  covered under section 256B.0625, subdivision 3b.  
 72.34     (ii) Effective October 1, 2003, for a person who is 
 72.35  eligible under subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (2), item 
 72.36  (ii), general assistance medical care coverage is limited to 
 73.1   inpatient hospital services, including physician services 
 73.2   provided during the inpatient hospital stay.  A $1,000 
 73.3   deductible is required for each inpatient hospitalization.  
 73.4      (b) Gender reassignment surgery and related services are 
 73.5   not covered services under this subdivision unless the 
 73.6   individual began receiving gender reassignment services prior to 
 73.7   July 1, 1995.  
 73.8      (c) In order to contain costs, the commissioner of human 
 73.9   services shall select vendors of medical care who can provide 
 73.10  the most economical care consistent with high medical standards 
 73.11  and shall where possible contract with organizations on a 
 73.12  prepaid capitation basis to provide these services.  The 
 73.13  commissioner shall consider proposals by counties and vendors 
 73.14  for prepaid health plans, competitive bidding programs, block 
 73.15  grants, or other vendor payment mechanisms designed to provide 
 73.16  services in an economical manner or to control utilization, with 
 73.17  safeguards to ensure that necessary services are provided.  
 73.18  Before implementing prepaid programs in counties with a county 
 73.19  operated or affiliated public teaching hospital or a hospital or 
 73.20  clinic operated by the University of Minnesota, the commissioner 
 73.21  shall consider the risks the prepaid program creates for the 
 73.22  hospital and allow the county or hospital the opportunity to 
 73.23  participate in the program in a manner that reflects the risk of 
 73.24  adverse selection and the nature of the patients served by the 
 73.25  hospital, provided the terms of participation in the program are 
 73.26  competitive with the terms of other participants considering the 
 73.27  nature of the population served.  Payment for services provided 
 73.28  pursuant to this subdivision shall be as provided to medical 
 73.29  assistance vendors of these services under sections 256B.02, 
 73.30  subdivision 8, and 256B.0625.  For payments made during fiscal 
 73.31  year 1990 and later years, the commissioner shall consult with 
 73.32  an independent actuary in establishing prepayment rates, but 
 73.33  shall retain final control over the rate methodology.  
 73.34     (d) Recipients eligible under subdivision 3, paragraph (a), 
 73.35  clause (2), item (i), shall pay the following co-payments for 
 73.36  services provided on or after October 1, 2003: 
 74.1      (1) $3 per nonpreventive visit.  For purposes of this 
 74.2   subdivision, a visit means an episode of service which is 
 74.3   required because of a recipient's symptoms, diagnosis, or 
 74.4   established illness, and which is delivered in an ambulatory 
 74.5   setting by a physician or physician ancillary, chiropractor, 
 74.6   podiatrist, nurse midwife, advanced practice nurse, audiologist, 
 74.7   optician, or optometrist; 
 74.8      (2) $25 for eyeglasses; 
 74.9      (3) $25 for nonemergency visits to a hospital-based 
 74.10  emergency room; 
 74.11     (4) $3 per brand-name drug prescription and $1 per generic 
 74.12  drug prescription, subject to a $20 per month maximum for 
 74.13  prescription drug co-payments.  No co-payments shall apply to 
 74.14  antipsychotic drugs when used for the treatment of mental 
 74.15  illness; and 
 74.16     (5) 50 percent coinsurance on basic restorative dental 
 74.17  services.  
 74.18     (e) Co-payments shall be limited to one per day per 
 74.19  provider for nonpreventive visits, eyeglasses, and nonemergency 
 74.20  visits to a hospital-based emergency room.  Recipients of 
 74.21  general assistance medical care are responsible for all 
 74.22  co-payments in this subdivision.  The general assistance medical 
 74.23  care reimbursement to the provider shall be reduced by the 
 74.24  amount of the co-payment, except that reimbursement for 
 74.25  prescription drugs shall not be reduced once a recipient has 
 74.26  reached the $20 per month maximum for prescription drug 
 74.27  co-payments.  The provider collects the co-payment from the 
 74.28  recipient.  Providers may not deny services to recipients who 
 74.29  are unable to pay the co-payment, except as provided in 
 74.30  paragraph (f). 
 74.31     (f) If it is the routine business practice of a provider to 
 74.32  refuse service to an individual with uncollected debt, the 
 74.33  provider may include uncollected co-payments under this 
 74.34  section.  A provider must give advance notice to a recipient 
 74.35  with uncollected debt before services can be denied. 
 74.36     (g) Any county may, from its own resources, provide medical 
 75.1   payments for which state payments are not made. 
 75.2      (h) Chemical dependency services that are reimbursed under 
 75.3   chapter 254B must not be reimbursed under general assistance 
 75.4   medical care. 
 75.5      (i) The maximum payment for new vendors enrolled in the 
 75.6   general assistance medical care program after the base year 
 75.7   shall be determined from the average usual and customary charge 
 75.8   of the same vendor type enrolled in the base year. 
 75.9      (j) The conditions of payment for services under this 
 75.10  subdivision are the same as the conditions specified in rules 
 75.11  adopted under chapter 256B governing the medical assistance 
 75.12  program, unless otherwise provided by statute or rule. 
 75.13     (k) Inpatient and outpatient payments shall be reduced by 
 75.14  five percent, effective July 1, 2003.  This reduction is in 
 75.15  addition to the five percent reduction effective July 1, 2003, 
 75.16  and incorporated by reference in paragraph (i).  
 75.17     (l) Payments for all other health services except 
 75.18  inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy services shall be reduced by 
 75.19  five percent, effective July 1, 2003.  
 75.20     (m) Payments to managed care plans shall be reduced by five 
 75.21  percent for services provided on or after October 1, 2003. 
 75.22     (n) A hospital receiving a reduced payment as a result of 
 75.23  this section may apply the unpaid balance toward satisfaction of 
 75.24  the hospital's bad debts.