The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.851, to modify the rates for community first services and supports (CFSS) by establishing a new framework for calculating base wage component values and total wage component values. Effective January 1, 2026, and every two years thereafter, the commissioner will establish base wage component values based on the median wage for specific occupational classifications, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bill also introduces a new subdivision that mandates biennial updates to the competitive workforce factors, ensuring that adjustments are made based on the most recent wage data, with a cap on changes of no more than three percentage points.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific implementation components and factors that will be used to calculate payment rates, including employee benefits and retention components based on cumulative hours worked. Starting January 1, 2026, the commissioner is required to increase these implementation component values by two percentage points every two years until they reach 100 percent. The client programming and supports factor will also be updated biennially based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The commissioner is tasked with publishing the current and updated values on the department's website to ensure transparency.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 256B.851