1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to human services; establishing a direct support professional certification
1.3 pilot project; requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PILOT
1.6PROJECT.
1.7 Subdivision 1.Establishment.The commissioner of human services shall establish a
1.8three-year direct support professional certification pilot project in partnership with the
1.9commissioner of the Office of Higher Education, Anoka County, Dakota County, the
1.10Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, and willing postsecondary institutions to
1.11implement a direct support curriculum leading to the credential of certified direct support
1.12professionals.
1.13 Subd. 2.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
1.14meanings given.
1.15 (b) "Covered program" means a program to provide direct support services funded in
1.16whole or in part by the state of Minnesota, including the community first services and
1.17supports program under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.85; consumer-directed community
1.18supports and extended state plan personal care assistance services available under programs
1.19established pursuant to home and community-based service waivers authorized under section
1.201915(c) of the Social Security Act, including but not limited to Minnesota Statutes, sections
1.21256B.092 and 256B.49, and chapter 256S, and the alternative care program under Minnesota
1.22Statutes, section 256B.0913; the personal care assistance program under Minnesota Statutes,
1.23section 256B.0659; and any similar program that may provide similar services in the future.
1Section 1.
25-02246 as introduced01/29/25 REVISOR AGW/VJ
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1062NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: HOFFMAN)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/06/2025
Referred to Human Services 2.1 (c) "Direct support" means assistance with activities of daily living, assistance with
2.2instrumental activities of daily living, provision of home and community-based services,
2.3and other similar, long-term services and supports provided to a person age 65 or older or
2.4to a person with a disability to meet the person's daily living needs and ensure that the person
2.5may adequately function in the person's home and have safe access to the community.
2.6 Subd. 3.Curriculum requirements.The direct support curriculum implemented as a
2.7component of the pilot project must meet or exceed the training requirements under
2.8Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.85, subdivision 16, paragraph (e), and be based on the
2.9validated results of the National Direct Services Workforce Resource Center's Core
2.10Competencies for Direct Service Workforce Project. The curriculum must consist of at least
2.1180 total hours of instruction and training provided over the course of no less than eight
2.12weeks.
2.13 Subd. 4.Scholarships.From the money appropriated under this section, the commissioner
2.14of human services shall establish an interagency agreement with the commissioner of the
2.15Office of Higher Education to provide direct support professional certification scholarships
2.16that include a work stipend of $20 per hour for 80 hours of instruction.
2.17 Subd. 5.Certification.(a) Individuals who successfully complete the direct support
2.18professional certification curriculum must be certified as direct support professionals and
2.19must receive the credential of certified direct support professional.
2.20 (b) Individuals who successfully complete the direct support professional certification
2.21curriculum meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.85, subdivision 16,
2.22paragraph (e).
2.23 (c) With federal approval, services provided by a certified direct support professional
2.24in a covered program must receive an enhanced rate of 118.75 percent of the medical
2.25assistance rate otherwise paid. The commissioner must submit a complete request for federal
2.26approval of this paragraph by October 1, 2025.
2.27 (d) Any provider receiving an enhanced rate under this section must comply with
2.28Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.85, subdivision 7a, paragraph (b).
2.29 (e) The creation of eligibility criteria for an enhanced rate under this section does not
2.30constitute a change in a term or condition for individual providers as defined in Minnesota
2.31Statutes, section 256B.0711, and is not subject to the state's obligation to meet and negotiate
2.32under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 179A. A change in the rate for services within covered
2.33programs under this section does not constitute a change in a term or condition for individual
2Section 1.
25-02246 as introduced01/29/25 REVISOR AGW/VJ 3.1providers in covered programs and is not subject to the state's obligation to meet and negotiate
3.2under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 179A.
3.3 Subd. 6.Accreditation criteria development.Participating postsecondary institutions
3.4must collaborate with the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living to create continuity
3.5of educational programming and to develop accreditation criteria that provides guidance to
3.6other postsecondary institutions who wish to develop and implement a direct support
3.7professional certificate program on their own campuses. The Metropolitan Center for
3.8Independent Living, in cooperation with the commissioner of human services and local
3.9pilot counties, shall facilitate coordination among the postsecondary institutions located
3.10within the pilot counties.
3.11 Subd. 7.Evaluation.The commissioner of human services shall hire an independent
3.12program evaluator to prepare an evaluation of the pilot project. The evaluation must include
3.13how effective the pilot project was in addressing the direct care workforce needs of people
3.14in Anoka and Dakota Counties who rely upon direct support, an economic analysis of the
3.15economic contribution of the direct support professional certification pilot project to Anoka
3.16and Dakota Counties, an analysis of potential strategies for expanding the pilot project to
3.17the entire state, a fiscal estimate for statewide expansion, and an estimate of the economic
3.18impact of a statewide program.
3.19 Subd. 8.Report.The commissioner must submit the evaluation required under
3.20subdivision 7 and the program accreditation criteria developed according to subdivision 6
3.21to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
3.22over higher education and medical assistance long-term services and supports. The
3.23commissioner must submit the evaluation and accreditation criteria within six months
3.24following the completion of the pilot project.
3.25 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
3.26 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL
3.27CERTIFICATION PILOT PROJECT.
3.28 $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
3.29human services for the direct support professional certification pilot project. Of this amount,
3.30$150,000 is for a grant to the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living for its role in
3.31developing and coordinating the implementation of the pilot project. This is a onetime
3.32appropriation and is available until June 30, 2029.
3Sec. 2.
25-02246 as introduced01/29/25 REVISOR AGW/VJ