1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing a demonstration project to provide 
1.3 	employment opportunities for persons with disabilities; requiring a report; 
1.4 	appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.5 	chapter 256C.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. [256C.31] DEMONSTRATION PROJECT; EMPLOYMENT 
1.8 	OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Demonstration project established. The commissioner of human 
1.10 	services shall establish a demonstration project to provide employment opportunities for 
1.11 	persons with disabilities that removes disincentives for persons with disabilities to obtain 
1.12 	employment or increase their income. Under the demonstration project, a person with 
1.13 	disabilities may obtain employment, accept a raise or promotion, or increase the number 
1.14 	of hours worked; keep a portion of the increased income earned from the employment, 
1.15 	raise or promotion, or additional hours; and maintain eligibility for any public assistance 
1.16 	programs and Minnesota health care programs serving the person when the person begins 
1.17 	participation in the demonstration project. The commissioner shall establish eligibility 
1.18 	requirements and income reporting requirements for the project. The commissioner shall 
1.19 	operate the project within the limits of available appropriations.
1.20 		Subd. 2.Sliding fee scale. The commissioner shall establish a sliding fee scale for 
1.21 	persons participating in the demonstration project whose income, because of increased 
1.22 	employment, exceeds the income limits for public assistance programs or Minnesota 
1.23 	health care programs serving persons participating in the project. The sliding fee scale 
1.24 	shall require a person participating in the project to pay a monthly co-payment equal to 50 
1.25 	percent of the amount by which the person's income exceeds the income limits for the 
2.1 	public assistance or Minnesota health care program serving the person when the person 
2.2 	begins participation in the demonstration project. The commissioner shall determine 
2.3 	co-payment amounts for persons participating in the demonstration project every six 
2.4 	months, beginning six months after a person enrolls in the project. A person whose 
2.5 	income does not exceed the income limits applicable to that person shall not pay any 
2.6 	co-payments under this section.
2.7 		Subd. 3.Consultation required. The commissioner shall consult with the Council 
2.8 	on Disability and the commissioner of employment and economic development on the 
2.9 	development and implementation of the demonstration project and shall ensure that there 
2.10 	are no duplications of services.
2.11 		Subd. 4.Report to legislature. The commissioner shall report to the legislature by 
2.12 	January 15, 2017, and every two years thereafter, on the structure and operation of the 
2.13 	demonstration project, the number of persons participating in the demonstration project, 
2.14 	the average amount of additional income a person participating in the project keeps from 
2.15 	the person's employment or increased employment due to project participation, and the 
2.16 	feasibility of expanding the project to serve additional persons.

2.17 	Sec. 2. FEDERAL WAIVER OR APPROVAL.
 2.18 	The commissioner of human services shall seek all federal waivers or approvals 
2.19 	needed to implement the demonstration project to provide employment opportunities for 
2.20 	persons with disabilities under Minnesota Statutes, section 256C.31.

2.21 	Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
2.22 	PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
 2.23 	$....... in fiscal year 2016 and $....... in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated from the 
2.24 	general fund to the commissioner of human services to establish a demonstration project 
2.25 	to provide employment opportunities for persons with disabilities under Minnesota 
2.26 	Statutes, section 256C.31.