Purpose

The bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services to create draft language that would codify, in Minnesota statutes, the standards and requirements for integrated community supports. These standards are to reflect what is described in federally approved plans related to brain injury, disability inclusion, and the waiver programs for community alternative care and developmental disabilities.

Main Provisions

• The commissioner must develop draft legislative language to put the standards and requirements for integrated community supports into Minnesota Statutes, using the federally approved portions of the brain injury, disability inclusion, community alternative care, and developmental disabilities waiver plans as the basis.
• The drafting must be done in consultation with specific stakeholder groups and individuals who receive or may receive integrated community supports.

Stakeholder Consultation

• Required consultation with:
  • Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM)
  • Residential Providers Association of Minnesota
  • Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators
  • People with disabilities who currently or potentially receive integrated community supports
• The commissioner must ensure a broad representation of active and potential providers and service recipients.
• The consultation process must be transparent and provide meaningful input opportunities.

Timeline

• The commissioner must submit the draft legislative language to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance by January 1, 2026.

Significance and Potential Impact

• This bill would create a formal statutory framework for integrated community supports, aligning state law with the standards in federally approved waiver plans.
• It emphasizes broad stakeholder input and transparency in developing the statutory language.
• It does not immediately change current programs but sets up the process to codify the standards into law.

Next Steps

• After the draft language is prepared and submitted by January 1, 2026, the legislature can review and consider enacting the codified standards through the normal statutory process.

Relevant Terms integrated community supports; Minnesota Statutes; brain injury; community access for disability inclusion; community alternative care; developmental disabilities waiver plans; federally approved; stakeholders; Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota; Residential Providers Association of Minnesota; Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators; draft language; health and human services policy and finance; chairs; ranking minority members; January 1, 2026; transparency; input.