St. Paul, MN – Today, the Minnesota House unanimously passed SF4399, the Human Service Policy Conference Committee report. The historic 2023 legislative session budget surplus allowed lawmakers to offer resources and support to our most vulnerable Minnesotans. The 2024 legislation builds on this work.
“Lawmakers are charged with protecting vulnerable Minnesotans, and this legislation makes progress caring for those most at risk,” said Rep. Peter Fischer (DFL-Maplewood), chair of the House Human Services Policy Committee. “This bipartisan legislation clarifies several items in last year’s bill, which makes improvements for Minnesotans with disabilities, those in recovery from substance use disorder, and recipients who rely on waiver services.”
Among the legislation highlights:
- Guarantees people with disabilities get to stay in their communities while they live in group homes by exempting certain facilities.
- Modernizes deaf and hard-of-hearing statutes.
- Provides for increased transparency in nursing home related party transactions.
- Modifies behavioral health licensing and eligibility.
- Ensures opioid treatment programs are responsive to workforce shortages and availability of counselors.
- Modifies sober homes requirements so all residents can use medications for opioid use disorders and co-occuring mental health diagnoses.
- Prohibits the classification or treatment of recovery peers as independent contractors.
Video of the floor session is available on the House Public Information Services YouTube channel.
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