Bill > HF728

This bill modifies the standards for out-of-home respite care services for children in Minnesota, establishing new requirements for providing these services in unlicensed residential settings. Under the new provisions, licensed home and community-based services providers can offer respite care in an unlicensed residential setting only if specific conditions are met, including completed background studies, a case manager's assessment of the residential setting, authorization from the child's legal representative, and several operational restrictions. These restrictions include serving no more than four children at a time, ensuring individual bedrooms, preventing services to children and adults over 21 in the same residence, limiting service duration to 46 calendar days per year (with no more than ten consecutive days), and requiring all non-service individuals in the residence to be employees of the license holder with completed background studies. The bill also mandates documentation of background studies, service dates, residential assessments, and legal representative approvals. The new regulations do not apply to children in foster care, and a child may not receive out-of-home respite care in more than two unlicensed residential settings in a calendar year. The bill is set to become effective on January 1, 2026, or upon federal approval, whichever occurs later.

Labor and Employment

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF0728&ssn=0&y=2025