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SF1925 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Essential community supports eligibility modifications provision, essential community supports services available expansion provision, caregiver respite services grants increased funding provision, and appropriation

Related bill: HF1678

AI Generated Summary

This bill, S.F. No. 1925, proposes modifications to the Essential Community Supports (ECS) program in Minnesota. The key changes include:

  1. Expanded Eligibility:

    • Currently, ECS serves individuals 65 and older who do not qualify for nursing facility care but require community support.
    • This bill lowers the minimum age for eligibility from 65 to 60 and explicitly includes persons with dementia.
    • The bill also increases the financial eligibility threshold to individuals with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty guidelines and removes any asset limits.

  2. Expanded Services:

    • It adds new covered services under ECS, including respite care, community living assistance, and other community-based supports.
    • Service recipients will also continue to receive service coordination (capped at $600 annually).

  3. Funding for Caregiver Respite Services:

    • Appropriates $2 million per year in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the general fund for caregiver respite services grants.

  4. Federal Funding Utilization:

    • Authorizes the state to use federal matching funds to meet the demand for ECS.

In summary, the bill broadens access, expands services, removes financial barriers, and allocates new funding for caregiver respite services to enhance support for older adults and individuals with dementia living in the community.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 26, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 26, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toHuman Services
March 09, 2025SenateFloorActionAuthor added

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Additional criteria for eligibility are introduced."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specific removals but requirements for eligibility are expanded."
      ],
      "summary": "The bill modifies eligibility for essential community support services under section 256B.0922.",
      "modified": [
        "Reformulates income eligibility based on federal poverty guidelines."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "256B.0922"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This citation is referenced regarding nursing facility placement assessments.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "144.0724"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Inclusion of subdivisions for community assessment in determining eligibility."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill refers to this section for community assessment parameters.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "256B.0911"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Reference is made to this section for financial eligibility criteria for the alternative care program.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "256B.0913"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Referenced for income methodology determination.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "256B.056"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Appropriations for grants are specified."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This statute governs the caregiver respite services grants.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "256.9756"
  }
]

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