ADVISORY TASK FORCE ON WAIVER REIMAGINE
Subdivision 1. Membership; co-chairs.
(a) The Advisory Task Force on Waiver Reimagine consists of the following members:
(1) one member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house; (2) one member of the house of representatives, appointed by the leader of the house of representatives Democratic-Farmer-Labor caucus;
(3) one member of the senate, appointed by the senate majority leader;
(4) one member of the senate, appointed by the senate minority leader;
(5) four individuals currently receiving disability waiver services who are under the age of 65, appointed by the governor;
(6) one county employee who conducts long-term care consultation services assessments for persons under the age of 65, appointed by the Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators;
(7) one representative of the Department of Human Services with knowledge of the requirements for a provider to participate in disability waiver service programs and of the administration of benefits, appointed by the commissioner of human services;
(8) one employee of the Minnesota Council on Disability, appointed by the Minnesota Council on Disability;
(9) two representatives of disability advocacy organizations, appointed by the governor;
(10) two family members of individuals who are receiving disability waiver services, appointed by the governor;
(11) two providers of disability waiver services for persons who are under the age of 65, appointed by the governor;
(12) one employee from the Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, appointed by the ombudsman;
(13) one employee from the Olmstead Implementation Office, appointed by the director of the office;
(14) the assistant commissioner of the Department of Human Services administration that oversees disability services; and
(15) a member of the Minnesota Disability Law Center, appointed by the executive director of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid.
(b) Each appointing authority must make appointments by September 30, 2025. Appointments made by an agency or commissioner may also be made by a designee.
(c) In making task force appointments, the governor must ensure representation from greater Minnesota.
(d) The Office of Collaboration and Dispute Resolution must convene the task force.
(e) The task force members must elect co-chairs from the membership of the task force at the first task force meeting.
Subd. 2. Meetings; administrative support.
(a) The first meeting of the task force must be convened no later than November 30, 2025. The task force must meet at least quarterly. Meetings are subject to chapter 13D. The task force may meet by telephone or interactive technology consistent with section 13D.015.
(b) The Department of Human Services shall provide meeting space and administrative and research support to the task force.
Subd. 3. Duties.
(a) The task force must make findings and recommendations related to Waiver Reimagine in Minnesota, including but not limited to the following:
(1) consolidation of the existing four disability home and community-based waiver service programs into two waiver programs;
(2) budgets based on the needs of the individual that are not tied to location of services, including resources beyond those required to meet assessed needs that may be necessary for the individual to live in the least restrictive environment;
(3) criteria and processes for provider rate exceptions and individualized budget exceptions;
(4) appropriate assessments, including the MnCHOICES 2.0 assessment tool, in determining service needs and individualized budgets;
(5) covered services under each disability waiver program, including any proposed adjustments to the menu of services;
(6) service planning and authorization processes for disability waiver services;
(7) a plan of support, financial and otherwise, to live in the person's own home and in the most integrated setting as defined under Title 2 of the Americans with Disabilities Act Integration Mandate and in Minnesota's Olmstead Plan;
(8) intended and unintended outcomes of Waiver Reimagine; and
(9) other items related to Waiver Reimagine as necessary.
(b) The task force must seek input from the public, counties, persons receiving disability waiver services, families of persons receiving disability waiver services, providers, state agencies, and advocacy groups.
(c) The task force must hold public meetings to gather information to fulfill the purpose of the task force. The meetings must be accessible by remote participants.
(d) The Department of Human Services shall provide relevant data and research to the task force to facilitate the task force's work.
Subd. 4. Compensation; expenses.
Members of the task force may receive compensation and expense reimbursement as provided in section 15.059, subdivision 3.
Subd. 5. Report.
(a) The task force shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over disability waiver services no later than January 15, 2027, that describes any concerns or recommendations related to Waiver Reimagine as identified by the task force.
(b) The report required under Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 7, article 13, section 75, subdivision 4, as amended by Laws 2024, chapter 108, article 1, section 28, must be presented to the task force prior to December 15, 2026.
Subd. 6. Task force does not expire.
Notwithstanding section 15.059, subdivision 6, the task force under this section does not expire.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
