Minnesota House Bill HF1810

Minnesota 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/15/23
• Refer: 2/15/23

Caption

Eligibility for home and community-based services workforce development grants modified, and workforce development grant money excluded from income.

Impact

The bill seeks to alleviate financial strains on potential recipients of HCBS by ensuring that grant money does not count against them during eligibility assessments for programs such as child care assistance and food support. Notably, this move is expected to bolster the workforce in direct care by making these positions more attractive to low-income individuals. Supporters argue that reinforcing the HCBS workforce is crucial to meeting the growing demand for services in the state as the population ages.

Summary

House File 1810 aims to amend certain provisions regarding home and community-based services (HCBS) workforce development grants in Minnesota. It specifies that funds received from these grants will be excluded from the calculation of income, assets, or personal property when determining eligibility for various public assistance programs. This change is designed to reduce barriers for direct care workers who may be receiving support while also earning their incomes from these grants, thereby enabling them to provide better care for people with disabilities and the elderly.

Contention

While many agree on the necessity of supporting the HCBS workforce, some concerns have been raised regarding the implications of excluding such grant money from income calculations. Critics fear that this could complicate the eligibility process or lead to unintentional consequences in welfare dependency. Additionally, questions remain about the feasibility of how these funds will be managed and their long-term impact on public assistance budgets. Policymakers are tasked with ensuring that the benefits of HF1810 do not overshadow potential drawbacks regarding public funding sustainability.