With strong bipartisan support, the Minnesota Senate today approved a Human Services finance omnibus bill that represents the collaboration of members across the aisle. This legislation contains key provisions to increase the quality of care for Minnesotans in care settings, provide greater public accountability of state agencies, and improve vulnerable individuals’ access to vital care services.

Notable provisions of this legislation focus on expanding workforce availability in disability care settings, extending financial support for distressed nursing homes, and easing regulatory burdens on small assisted living facilities. These changes underscore a commitment to ensuring quality care for all Minnesotans.

“This legislation reflects the Senate’s dedication to the well-being of all Minnesotans,” Senator Jim Abeler (R-Anoka), Republican lead of the Senate Human Services Committee, said. “The most vulnerable among us deserve compassionate care, and this bill takes important steps to ensure just that. By working together across the aisle, we accomplish a lot of good for the people of Minnesota.”

Additionally, the Human Services finance bill focuses on strengthening accountability within the Direct Care and Treatment Agency, including a change to have the head of the Agency be appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate. This provides the public a means to hold the leader of an agency, which employs thousands, accountable for results.

“We believe in transparency and accountability, especially when it comes to agencies responsible for the well-being of our citizens,” Sen. Abeler shared. “By implementing these changes, we are providing greater public accountability in the oversight of critical care services.”

The 48-hour provision in the bill helps solve a significant issue that has kept mentally ill and potentially dangerous individuals in county jails instead of getting them into treatment where they belong. This provision allows the immediate transfer of up to 10 patients to a state-operated facility, while maintaining the priority to get the individuals into a facility that would best suit their treatment needs.

“This measure prioritizes the well-being and safety of both patients and caregivers, ensuring timely access to vital services,” Sen. Abeler said. “The new system will take into account the time a person has waited for treatment, the intensity of treatment, the safety of the person and the caregivers around them in their current environment, and others.

Though much of this legislation is beneficial for Minnesota’s care industries, it could have done more for assisted living facilities. While the bill contains some benefits for our care facilities, it adds to the burden for all assisted living facilities. The legislation also mandates new and highly specific forms of training at a time when many providers are struggling to fill the hours they have with their trained workforce. Senate Republicans offered an amendment to remove these burdensome training requirements, but Democrats refused to accept this proposal.

To address these concerns, Senate Republicans also offered an amendment to support the staffing crisis facing Minnesota’s long-term care facilities. The proposal sought to extend the temporary rate increases for nursing facilities.

“Our long-term care facilities continue to be besieged by a critical lack of staff and face an ongoing, dire emergency situation. We should be doing more to expand the workforce, not put further restraints on how they operate,” Sen. Abeler added.

Additionally, Republicans offered an amendment to support Minnesota’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS). This proposal allocates $120 million to address the funding shortfalls that have put access to EMS and ambulance services in jeopardy for millions of Minnesotans across the state. Without action, many small ambulance services will cease operations and communities will no longer be serviced by a local EMS operator.

The amendments were ruled out of order by the Senate President.