The bill establishes a three-year pilot project for direct support professional certification in Minnesota, led by the commissioner of human services in collaboration with various partners, including the Office of Higher Education and local counties. The project aims to implement a direct support curriculum that meets specific training requirements and leads to the credential of certified direct support professionals. The curriculum will consist of at least 80 hours of instruction over a minimum of eight weeks and will be based on established competencies for the direct service workforce. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for scholarships to support individuals pursuing this certification, as well as enhanced payment rates for services provided by certified professionals in covered programs.

The bill also mandates the development of accreditation criteria for postsecondary institutions wishing to offer direct support professional programs and requires an independent evaluation of the pilot project to assess its effectiveness and economic impact. The evaluation will inform potential strategies for statewide expansion of the program. A report summarizing the evaluation and accreditation criteria must be submitted to legislative committees within six months of the pilot's completion. The bill appropriates funds from the general fund for the pilot project, including a specific grant for the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living to assist in its implementation.