This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256B.4914, to revise the disability waiver rate system by removing respite services from the list of applicable services and introducing a new subdivision for a competitive workforce factor adjustment, which will be updated biennially starting January 1, 2024. The bill also includes provisions for the commissioner of human services to notify the revisor of statutes upon receiving federal approval for these changes. Additionally, it repeals previous subdivisions related to respite services and the reporting of the competitive workforce factor, while updating the base wage index and standard component value adjustments based on more current wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Furthermore, the bill requires that the report on the competitive workforce factor includes specific recommendations based on the latest wage data for direct care staff and comparable occupations, categorized by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes. It restricts the commissioner from recommending changes to the competitive workforce factor that exceed two percentage points from its current value and mandates that if the analysis shows a zero or negative competitive workforce factor, the commissioner must recommend a factor of zero. Overall, the bill aims to improve the rate-setting process for disability waivers, ensuring that compensation aligns with current workforce needs and wage standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 256B.4914