1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; expanding a quality assurance system to include 
1.3 	additional service recipients; removing sunset dates; appropriating money; 
1.4 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 256B.095; 256B.0951, subdivision 
1.5 	1.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256B.095, is amended to read:
1.8 	256B.095 QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM ESTABLISHED.
1.9 	(a) Effective July 1, 1998, a quality assurance system for persons with developmental 
1.10 	disabilities, which includes an alternative quality assurance licensing system for programs, 
1.11 	is established in Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, 
1.12 	Steele, Wabasha, and Winona Counties for the purpose of improving the quality of 
1.13 	services provided to persons with developmental disabilities. A county, at its option, may 
1.14 	choose to have all programs for persons with developmental disabilities located within 
1.15 	the county licensed under chapter 245A using standards determined under the alternative 
1.16 	quality assurance licensing system or may continue regulation of these programs under the 
1.17 	licensing system operated by the commissioner. The project expires on June 30, 2009.
1.18 	(b) Effective July 1, 2003, a county not listed in paragraph (a) may apply to 
1.19 	participate in the quality assurance system established under paragraph (a). The 
1.20 	commission established under section 256B.0951 may, at its option, allow additional 
1.21 	counties to participate in the system.
1.22 	(c) Effective July 1, 2003, any county or group of counties not listed in paragraph (a) 
1.23 	may establish a quality assurance system under this section. A new system established 
1.24 	under this section shall have the same rights and duties as the system established 
2.1 	under paragraph (a). A new system shall be governed by a commission under section 
2.2 	256B.0951. The commissioner shall appoint the initial commission members based 
2.3 	on recommendations from advocates, families, service providers, and counties in the 
2.4 	geographic area included in the new system. Counties that choose to participate in a 
2.5 	new system shall have the duties assigned under section 256B.0952. The new system 
2.6 	shall establish a quality assurance process under section 256B.0953. The provisions of 
2.7 	section 256B.0954 shall apply to a new system established under this paragraph. The 
2.8 	commissioner shall delegate authority to a new system established under this paragraph 
2.9 	according to section 256B.0955.
2.10 	(d) Effective July 1, 2007, the quality assurance system may be expanded to include 
2.11 	programs for persons with disabilities and older adults.

2.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256B.0951, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.13 		Subdivision 1.Membership. The Quality Assurance Commission is established. 
2.14 	The commission consists of at least 14 but not more than 21 members as follows: at 
2.15 	least three but not more than five members representing advocacy organizations; at 
2.16 	least three but not more than five members representing consumers, families, and their 
2.17 	legal representatives; at least three but not more than five members representing service 
2.18 	providers; at least three but not more than five members representing counties; and the 
2.19 	commissioner of human services or the commissioner's designee. The first commission 
2.20 	shall establish membership guidelines for the transition and recruitment of membership for 
2.21 	the commission's ongoing existence. Members of the commission who do not receive a 
2.22 	salary or wages from an employer for time spent on commission duties may receive a per 
2.23 	diem payment when performing commission duties and functions. All members may be 
2.24 	reimbursed for expenses related to commission activities. Notwithstanding the provisions 
2.25 	of section 15.059, subdivision 5, the commission expires on June 30, 2009.

2.26 	Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION.
 2.27 	$....... is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human services 
2.28 	for the biennium beginning July 1, 2007, for the purposes of section 1.