HF4626
Community first services and supports program modified.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)
Related bill: SF4698
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill seeks to update Minnesota’s Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) program to strengthen how services are planned, delivered, and funded. It emphasizes a participant-centered approach, clearer planning requirements, stronger provider qualifications, upfront financial safeguards, and more detailed oversight of training and employment changes for workers and consultants.
Key Provisions and What They Do
CFSS Service Delivery Plan (Subd.6)
- Plan must be person-centered and developed with the participant (or their representative) using a planning process.
- Must reflect services important to the participant, supports identified through functional assessments, and goals/outcomes.
- Requires a written, signed plan that specifies the selected consultation services provider, the setting, strengths/preferences, methods to meet needs, costs, and who monitors the plan.
- Includes a budget section showing the total units or dollars, monthly averages, and how funds will be used (including natural supports and both paid and unpaid supports).
- Requires risk factors and backup plans, and must be understandable to participants and supporters.
- The plan must be reviewed at least annually or when there’s a significant change, and prior to starting services when applicable.
- The plan must limit unnecessary or inappropriate care and document services, supports, and how they connect to goals.
Provider Qualifications and Duties (Sec.2)
- Agency providers and FMS providers must enroll as Medicaid providers, meet training and regulatory standards, complete background checks, and maintain records of services and expenditures.
- Prohibits agency-initiated direct marketing to potential participants or guardians.
- Requires direct provision of services by the agency/provider (no subcontracting for CFSS services) and financial solvency.
- Must bill only for actual hours and keep payroll, tax, and benefit obligations current.
- Must report maltreatment, comply with data requests, and notify the commissioner of changes in worker status or affiliation.
Enrollment Standards and Bonding (Sec.3)
- Enrollment includes documentation like contact info, surety bonds, fidelity bonds, workers’ compensation, liability insurance, and organizational details.
- Bond levels vary by agency revenue, with higher revenue requiring higher bonds; bonds are renewable and allow recovery of costs if a claim is made.
- Agencies must show financial health (e.g., payroll and financial statements) and client-related revenue-use compliance.
- Requires documentation showing the agency’s structure, policies, procedures, and a plan showing how funds will be used for wages/benefits.
Worker and Trainer Change Notifications (Secs. 4, 8)
- Requires CFSS workers to notify the commissioner within six months after ceasing employment with a CFSS provider or participant employer.
- Similarly, those providing worker training and development must notify within 30 days when they stop working for a CFSS provider or participant employer.
Consultation Services Providers (Sec.5)
- Consultation services providers must meet defined qualifications (including being under contract with the department, not acting as the FMS lead, meeting service standards, and having surety bonds).
- Must have lead professionals with specified experience (e.g., in planning, case management, care coordination, consumer education) and ensure staff receive required training.
Exemption from Consultation Services (Sec.6)
- Participants may be exempt from certain consultation services if their condition hasn’t changed significantly since the last assessment or if they’ve already had similar services recently.
- Lead agencies must document when exemptions apply and may still require consultation if documentation indicates a significant change.
Worker Training and Development (Secs.7, 11)
- The commissioner will define the scope, standards, and limits for worker training and development; costs are in addition to the CFSS service units.
- Training can include one-on-one or group instruction, tuition for related courses, and direct observation/monitoring to ensure worker competency.
- Training must be specified in the CFSS service delivery plan and documented in the participant’s file.
- There are restrictions on what counts as training (e.g., general agency training, staff salaries during training, etc., are not covered) and caps on training costs unless approved.
Uniformity with State Requirements (Sec.9)
- Managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans cannot impose stricter requirements on CFSS than the state does, specifically around service authorization amounts, provider identifiers, claims submission, and daily activity documentation.
Significant Changes from Existing Law
- Strengthened, more detailed CFSS service delivery plan requirements with a clear budget, service components, and risk management.
- Expanded and formalized provider qualifications, bonding, and financial solvency requirements for agency providers, FMS providers, and consultation services.
- Introduced or heightened reporting requirements for worker changes, affiliations, and training data.
- Added explicit exemptions from consultation services under certain conditions, with criteria and documentation requirements.
- Tightened rules around the use of CFSS funds to prioritize wages/benefits for workers (with a defined share of revenue allocated to workers’ wages and benefits).
- Created structured worker training and development requirements, including documentation, oversight, and limits on training-related costs.
- Ensured uniformity with state requirements to prevent local plans from adding restrictive or inconsistent CFSS rules.
How This Impacts Participants and Providers
- Participants will have a more clearly defined, person-centered plan with explicit budgets, goals, and evaluation timelines.
- Providers face more robust eligibility, licensing, bonding, and reporting requirements, plus stricter financial and staffing controls.
- The program emphasizes maintaining participant choice over providers while ensuring accountability through formal processes and documentation.
Practical Takeaways
- A more formal process for creating and approving CFSS service delivery plans.
- Stronger financial safeguards and background checks for providers.
- Clear rules about how funds are spent, especially the portion allocated to direct worker wages and benefits.
- New requirements for notifications when workers or trainers leave, and potential exemptions from certain consultative services if conditions don’t change significantly.
Relevant Terms
- CFSS (Community First Services and Supports)
- service delivery plan
- person-centered planning
- consultation services provider
- agencyprovider
- FMS provider (Financial Management Services)
- lead agency
- case manager
- care coordinator
- budget model
- service authorization
- units
- remote supports
- risk factors
- backup plans
- worker training and development
- wages and benefits
- surety bond
- fidelity bond
- workers’ compensation
- payroll taxes
- marketing restrictions
- self-directed program
- vendor fiscal-employer agent model
- data requests
- Universal compliance/uniformity
Relevant Terms - CFSS - service delivery plan - person-centered - consultation services - agencyprovider - FMS provider - lead agency - case manager - care coordinator - budget - units - risk management - worker training - wages and benefits - bonds - background checks - reporting - exemptions - self-directed program - uniformity
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 25, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Human Services Finance and Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Specifies that the CFSS service delivery plan must be developed through a person-centered planning process and reflect services important to the participant, identified goals, and costs.",
"Requires annual review or review upon reassessment or significant change in the participant's condition."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends CFSS service delivery plan requirements in subdivision 6, detailing the components and process for developing and evaluating the plan.",
"modified": [
"Revises the contents and format expectations for the CFSS service delivery plan."
]
},
"citation": "256B.85",
"subdivision": "6"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Cross-references the CFSS service delivery plan to content identified in the support plan under 256B.092.1b and 256S.10."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References to CFSS plan content in relation to sections 256B.092 subdivision 1b and 256S.10 regarding support plans.",
"modified": [
"Links CFSS plan requirements to other statutory plan provisions."
]
},
"citation": "256B.092",
"subdivision": "1b"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to 256S.10 within CFSS plan requirements.",
"modified": [
"Incorporates reference to 256S.10 into the CFSS service delivery plan requirements."
]
},
"citation": "256S.10",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Enables enrollment as a Minnesota Health Care Programs provider and requires compliance with provider standards and training.",
"Requires background checks, documentation of services and expenditures, payroll tax compliance, and prohibition on agency-initiated marketing to participants or guardians."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines qualifications and duties for agency providers and FMS providers under CFSS.",
"modified": [
"Expands duties and regulatory compliance for CFSS agencies and FMS providers."
]
},
"citation": "256B.85",
"subdivision": "10"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requires CFSS agency providers to provide enrollment information including contact information and surety bond coverage.",
"Sets bond amounts based on Medicaid revenue ranges and requires renewal and bond recovery processes."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Enrollment requirements for CFSS agency providers (added in 2025 Supplement).",
"modified": [
"Adds detailed enrollment documentation and bonding requirements."
]
},
"citation": "256B.85",
"subdivision": "12"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Within six months of a support worker no longer being employed or affiliated, CFSS providers must notify the commissioner.",
"Within 30 days after a worker training and development provider is no longer employed, notification is required."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "New subdivision requiring notice of change of employment for CFSS providers.",
"modified": [
"Imposes reporting obligations on CFSS providers regarding changes in employment."
]
},
"citation": "256B.85",
"subdivision": "16b"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Specifies qualifications and requirements for consultation services providers, including bonding, experience, and other regulatory standards.",
"Requires contract with the department and enrollment as MA provider; no affiliation with lead agency or CFSS vendor."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Consultation services provider requirements (added in 2025 Supplement).",
"modified": [
"Establishes standards for consultation service providers within CFSS."
]
},
"citation": "256B.85",
"subdivision": "17a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Defines scope, cost, and delivery of worker training and development services.",
"Specifies that these services are in addition to assessed service units or budget and outlines requirements for providers."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Worker training and development services; scope and funding (added in subdivision 18a).",
"modified": [
"Detailing of what worker training and development services must cover and how they are provided."
]
},
"citation": "256B.85",
"subdivision": "18a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requires notification within 30 days when an individual providing worker training and development is no longer employed or affiliated with CFSS providers or participant employers."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Worker training and development notice of change of employment (added subdivision 18c).",
"modified": [
"Adds employment-change reporting specific to trainer personnel."
]
},
"citation": "256B.85",
"subdivision": "18c"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Clarifies that plans must not impose more restrictive CFSS requirements than those set by the commissioner, including service authorization amounts, provider IDs, claims submission, and time documentation."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Uniformity with state requirements for CFSS across managed care and county-based purchasing plans.",
"modified": [
"Promotes consistency of CFSS requirements across managed care and county-based purchasing plans."
]
},
"citation": "256B.85",
"subdivision": "27"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Cites CFSS-related labor market reporting requirements described in 256B.4912."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References labor market reporting requirements related to CFSS.",
"modified": [
"Links CFSS provider duties to broader labor market reporting rules."
]
},
"citation": "256B.4912",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Notes that CFSS providers must comply with background study requirements under chapter 245C."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Background study requirements for CFSS-related providers referenced to chapter 245C.",
"modified": [
"Integrates 245C background study obligations into CFSS provider qualifications."
]
},
"citation": "245C",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requires maltreatment reporting in alignment with 626.557."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Maltreatment reporting obligations referenced in CFSS provisions.",
"modified": [
"Links CFSS provider responsibilities to mandatory maltreatment reporting."
]
},
"citation": "626.557",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Acknowledges applicability of Chapter 260E in CFSS-related maltreatment and provider obligations."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Chapter 260E referenced in CFSS childcare and safeguarding provisions.",
"modified": [
"Incorporates 260E cross-reference into CFSS program requirements."
]
},
"citation": "260E",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Notes that an agency decision is final when appeal rights are exhausted or time to appeal has expired under 256B.064."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Agency decision finality framework referenced in CFSS context.",
"modified": [
"Connects CFSS debt decisions to the statutory appeal framework."
]
},
"citation": "256B.064",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"References section 179A.54, relating to collective bargaining agreements, in CFSS provider context."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Collective bargaining considerations referenced for CFSS providers.",
"modified": [
"Aligns CFSS provider compensation and bargaining considerations with state labor relations law."
]
},
"citation": "179A.54",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Cites the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (chapter 13) as applicable to CFSS data requests and protection."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Minnesota Government Data Practices Act cross-reference.",
"modified": [
"Integrates data privacy provisions into CFSS information handling."
]
},
"citation": "chapter 13",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee