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The Minnesota Senior Federation has an active group of volunteer citizen lobbyists. The following is a partial list of legislation the Senior Federation is following at the state legislature to give you an idea of the bills introduced this session that are important to seniors. If you’re interested in becoming active in our legislative efforts, contact the MnSF public policy director, Lee Graczyk, at 651/645-0261. HF207 - Criminal Neglect of Vulnerable Adults. Creates stronger penalties for criminal neglect of a vulnerable adult. HF219 - Employee Personal Sick Leave. Expands use of personal sick leave to care for spouse, parent, sibling, grandparent or step parent. HF245/SF769 - Adult Foster Care By Relatives Reimbursement. Allowing a provider of adult foster care to a related individual to be reimbursed by the Elderly Waiver Program or Alternative Care Program without restriction of suffering a financial hardship as a result of providing the care. Changes the age of the related individual from 65 and older to 18 and older. HF259 - Grandparent Visitation Rights. Expands visitation rights for grandparents when the court deems it would be in the best interest of the child; specifies mediation when not mutually agreed. HF313 - Family Home Care Tax Credit. Establishes a home care tax credit of up to $2,400 per year for certain families that meet a defined “caregiver burden” score. Requires a visit by a LTC consultant to establish eligibility. HF444/SF314 - Senior Nutrition Programs and Grants. Restores senior nutrition funding of $822,000 to the base; provides senior nutrition grants to serve certain populations; $200,000 added to base for each following year. HF791- Remedies for abuse, neglect and other actions against vulnerable adults, providing certain remedies for neglect, abuse and other actions against incapacitated and vulnerable adults. HF842/SF888 - Omnibus Health and Human Services Budget. This is the jacketing of the governor’s H&HS budget bill, amending provisions relating to child care; children and family; licensing; health care; continuing care; mental health; health insurance. HF971/SF848 - Funding for Senior Volunteer Programs. Appropriating $2,030,000 each biennium for each of three senior volunteer programs (Senior Companion, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Foster Grandparent). HF1170/SF1172 - Living-at-Home/Block Nurse Program. Increasing and indexing grant amounts for living-at-home/block nurse programs; increasing number of living-at home/block nurse programs; providing funding for grant administration and technical assistance. HF1249 - Independent Living Technology Income Tax Credit. Creating a tax credit for 25 percent of the cost of personal in-home technology for ongoing independence, up to a credit maximum of $500 per individual taxpayer or $1,000 for a married couple. HF1357/SF1280 - Low Income Heating Assistance. Providing funding for low-income heating assistance. HF1401/SF196 - Reverse Mortgage Incentive Program. Provides housing and public service program incentives when a reverse mortgage is used to support an eligible person’s ability to remain in their own home en lieu of nursing facility care. HF1580 - Adult Foster Care. Modifying adult foster care and family adult day services license requirements. HF1587/SF1465 - Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans. Add six ombudsman for LTC in HCBS settings. HF1721/SF1535 - Dementia Care Provider Training. Requiring initial and continuing training in dementia care and mental illness care for certain direct care staff; requiring employers to maintain training records; establishing employee access to training records. HF1805 - Living-At-Home/Block Nurse Base Funding. Adds nine programs to base. Full text of bills and other information are available at: |
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