The bill proposes significant modifications to the Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) system within Minnesota's state-operated human services. Key changes include the establishment of classification alignment for DCT employees, updates to patient consent procedures for medical treatments, and revisions to voluntary patient transfer protocols. It introduces new data requirements and clarifies the process for addressing challenges related to the accuracy of data maintained by the DCT sex offender program. Notably, the term "human services" is replaced with "the Direct Care and Treatment executive board" in the context of property claims, and a designee for data practices compliance within the DCT sex offender program is added. The definition of "medical data" is refined to exclude data collected by DCT, and provisions are included to allow DCT to disclose data without restrictions under certain circumstances.

Additionally, the bill enhances privacy protections by clarifying that DCT is not obligated to share data with federal law enforcement unless mandated by law. It allows for the conversion of unclassified DCT employees to classified service without a salary reduction and expands the definition of "patient" in the consent process for medical procedures. The bill also modifies provisions related to the transfer and readmission of patients in secure treatment facilities, extending timeframes for voluntary return based on medical conditions. These changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 3.7381, 13.04, 13.384, 13.46, 182.6545, 253B.03, 253B.18