This bill establishes the Legislative Commission on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, composed of 12 legislative members appointed by chamber leaders, including committee chairs and ranking minority members. The commission will also have the authority to elect up to four nonvoting former legislators with experience in disability services. Its responsibilities include developing expertise on the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, reviewing relevant state and county data, and making legislative recommendations. Additionally, the commission will oversee counties selected as data-based disability service reform sites, ensuring their plans are data-driven and community-focused.

The bill introduces exceptions to the licensing moratorium for adult foster care and community residential settings in counties with approved disability services reform plans, allowing for new licenses and the continuation of existing ones without the risk of delicensing, provided all requirements are met. It also clarifies conditions for granting new intermediate care facility licenses in relation to county reform plans. Furthermore, it protects licenses and certifications for intermediate care facilities from involuntary decertification, mandates consultation with the commission before modifying certain services, and allocates funding to support the commission and county reform initiatives, totaling $600,000 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for grants and $300,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $600,000 in fiscal year 2027 for administrative purposes.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 245A.03, 252.291