1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; modifying use of personal sick leave benefits; 
1.3 	establishing an Internet-based caregiver support program; appropriating money; 
1.4 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 181.9413; 256B.0917, by adding a 
1.5 	subdivision.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 181.9413, is amended to read:
1.8 	181.9413 SICK ~~OR INJURED CHILD CARE~~ LEAVE BENEFITS; USE TO 
1.9 	CARE FOR CERTAIN RELATIVES.
1.10 	(a) An employee may use personal sick leave benefits provided by the employer for 
1.11 	absences due to an illness of or injury to the employee's child, spouse, sibling, parent, 
1.12 	grandparent, or stepparent  for such reasonable periods as the employee's attendance ~~with~~ 
1.13 	~~the child~~ may be necessary, on the same terms upon which the employee is able to use 
1.14 	sick leave benefits for the employee's own illness or injury. This section applies only to 
1.15 	personal sick leave benefits payable to the employee from the employer's general assets.
1.16 	(b) For purposes of this section, "personal sick leave benefits" means time accrued 
1.17 	and available to an employee to be used as a result of absence from work due to personal 
1.18 	illness or injury, but does not include short-term or long-term disability or other salary 
1.19 	continuation benefits.

1.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2006, and applies to sick 
1.21 	leave used on or after that date.

1.22 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 256B.0917, is amended by adding a 
1.23 	subdivision to read:
2.1 		Subd. 6a.Internet-based caregiver support program. The Minnesota Board on 
2.2 	Aging shall develop and implement an Internet-based caregiver support program. The 
2.3 	goal of the program shall be to provide family caregivers with the information and tools 
2.4 	needed to self-manage, plan, purchase, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the day-to-day 
2.5 	activities and care outcomes of family members to whom they provide care. The program 
2.6 	must complement Internet-based information services that are currently available. The 
2.7 	program must include the following components:
2.8 	(1) direct connectivity to statewide systems, including, but not limited to, Senior 
2.9 	LinkAge Line, MinnesotaHelp.info, RxConnect, and long-term care consultation and to 
2.10 	vendors and providers of goods and services, including, but not limited to, respite care, 
2.11 	coach services, pharmaceutical vendors, medical supply vendors, grocers, personal care 
2.12 	vendors, and electronic assistive technology vendors;
2.13 	(2) access to online resources, including connectivity to daily living and clinical 
2.14 	monitoring devices and audio and visual contact between the care recipient, the caregiver, 
2.15 	services providers, and others for tracking or conducting service visits, care meetings, and 
2.16 	other service provisions;
2.17 	(3) message boards related to caregiver news, information, and events;
2.18 	(4) data collection, including surveys, and reporting and registration functions as 
2.19 	required by state and federal programs; and
2.20 	(5) an individual data profile accessible by designated parties to view, add, share, or 
2.21 	edit information as needed to support informal caregiving.

2.22 	Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION.
 2.23 	$100,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human 
2.24 	services in fiscal year 2007 for the purposes of section 2.