Purpose

• The bill aims to strengthen and expand Minnesota’s senior nutrition programs. It focuses on improving the physical and mental health of seniors by promoting nutrition programs that serve older adults in their homes and communities, and by coordinating with health, long-term care, and emergency systems to support health and wellness. It also emphasizes delivering access to nutrition programs in a cost-effective and efficient way.

Key Provisions

• Food Delivery Support Account

  • Establishes a food delivery support account in the special revenue fund.
  • Funds come from existing sources and other money donated or provided by law.
  • Annually appropriates money from this account to the commissioner of human services for grants to nonprofit organizations. These grants are for transporting home-delivered meals, groceries purchased, or a combination to Minnesotans who face food insecurity and have difficulty obtaining or preparing meals due to limited mobility, disability, age, or resources.
  • Nonprofit organizations receiving grants must have a demonstrated history of providing and distributing food tailored to the populations they serve.
  • Grant funds must supplement, not replace, any state or federal funding used for prepared meals.

• Authority and Allocation

  • The Minnesota Board on Aging will allocate state nutrition support funds, food delivery support funds, and federal funds received for senior nutrition programs (congregate dining and home-delivered meals) to area agencies on aging (AAAs) following the board’s intrastate funding formula.

• Nutrition Support Services (uses of funds)

  • Funds allocated to AAAs may be used for:
  • Transportation of home-delivered meals and purchase of food and medications to seniors’ residences.
  • Expansion of home-delivered meals into unserved and underserved areas.
  • Transportation to supermarkets or grocery stores or delivery of groceries to homes.
  • Vouchers for food purchases at selected restaurants in isolated rural areas.
  • SNAP outreach.
  • Transportation of seniors to congregate dining sites.
  • Nutrition screening, assessments, and counseling as needed, performed by a licensed dietitian or nutritionist.
  • Medically tailored meals.
  • Other appropriate services and tools that support senior nutrition programs, including new service delivery models and technology.
  • Development and implementation of innovative models for delivering healthy meals through partnerships with schools, restaurants, hospitals, food shelves/pantries, farmers, and other community partners.

• Use and Transfer of Funds

  • An area agency on aging may transfer unused nutrition support funds to congregate dining services and home-delivered meals.
  • State funds provided under these provisions remain subject to federal requirements in line with the intrastate funding formula.

Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a dedicated Food Delivery Support Account with annual appropriations for grants to support transportation and delivery of meals and groceries.
• Expands authorized uses of nutrition funds to include transportation, groceries, medications, vouchers, SNAP outreach, nutrition services, and medically tailored meals, as well as new delivery models and partnerships.
• Strengthens coordination of senior nutrition programs with health, long-term care, and emergency preparedness systems.
• Requires alignment with the Minnesota Board on Aging’s intrastate funding formula.

Potential Impacts

• Increased access to nutritious meals for homebound or mobility-impaired seniors.
• Greater reach of home-delivered meals into unserved or underserved areas.
• Expanded options for obtaining groceries and medications, including transportation and grocery delivery.
• Enhanced support for seniors in rural areas via restaurant vouchers and targeted SNAP outreach.
• More comprehensive nutrition services (screening, counseling, medically tailored meals) provided by licensed professionals.
• Stronger partnerships with community organizations to deliver meals and nutrition services.

Implementation Notes

• Funding decisions are to be made annually by the Commissioner of Human Services (for grants to nonprofits) and by the Minnesota Board on Aging (for allocation to AAAs) in line with the intrastate funding formula and federal requirements.
• Nonprofits receiving grants must have a proven track record and must ensure money supplements rather than replaces existing funding for meals.

Relevant Terms - Senior nutrition programs - Area agencies on aging (AAAs) - Minnesota Board on Aging - Home-delivered meals - Congregate dining - Food delivery support account - Special revenue fund - Grantee nonprofit organizations - Food insecurity - Limited mobility - Disability - Age (older adults) - Nutrition support services - Transportation of meals and groceries - Purchased food - Medications - Medically tailored meals - SNAP outreach - Licensed dietitian or nutritionist - Unserved and underserved areas - Vouchers for restaurants (isolated rural areas) - Intrastate funding formula - Federal requirements - Collaboration with schools, restaurants, hospitals, food shelves/pantries, farmers, and community partners - Supplement vs. supplant (funding principles)