HF4287

Purpose

• Clarify and update how adult foster care licensing is defined in Minnesota law.
• Align licensing definitions with requirements for services, operation, and the people who provide care.

Main Provisions

• Definition of “Foster care for adults”: A program that operates 24 hours a day and serves functionally impaired adults. It provides food, lodging, protection, supervision, and management of household services in a residence, in addition to services outlined in an individual service plan under Minnesota Rules part 9555.5105 subpart 1.18.1.
• Definition of “Family adult foster care home”: An adult foster care home that is licensed by the Department of Human Services, is the license holder’s primary residence, and in which the license holder is the primary caregiver delivering the services described in the foster care for adults definition.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Reframes and tightens how adult foster care programs and family (home) settings are defined for licensing purposes.
• Introduces explicit requirements that the care setting operates around an individual service plan and follows specified Minnesota Rules.
• Emphasizes that a family adult foster care home must be the license holder’s primary residence and that the license holder serves as the primary caregiver.

Practical Implications

• Providers who operate adult foster care programs or family adult foster care homes may need to ensure their operations meet the 24-hour requirement, the stated services, and the link to individual service plans and state rules.
• The definitions bolster licensing clarity and may affect who qualifies as a licensed provider and what settings qualify as family adult foster care homes.

Terminology and Concepts (Key Terms from the Bill)

• Foster care for adults
• Adult foster care program
• Family adult foster care home
• Primary residence
• Primary caregiver
• Department of Human Services
• Individual service plan
• Minnesota Rules part 9555.5105 subpart 1.18.1
• Licensing requirements
• Functionally impaired adults
• Food, lodging, protection, supervision, household services management

Relevant Terms - Foster care for adults - Adult foster care program - Family adult foster care home - Primary residence - Primary caregiver - Department of Human Services - Individual service plan - Minnesota Rules 9555.5105 subpart 1.18.1 - Licensing - Functionally impaired adults - 24 hours - Residential care - Services (food, lodging, protection, supervision, household management)