This last week saw many of ARRM’s legislative priorities get official bill numbers in both the House and Senate. For those agenda items that are still without bill numbers, we anticipate having them formally introduced in the coming week. Below, please find a list of our priorities with corresponding bill numbers as well as hearings that have been scheduled.
ARRM Legislative Agenda Bill Numbers and Scheduled Hearings
- Best Life Alliance: Pending Introduction in the House and Senate
- Hearing scheduled in House Human Service Finance: Thursday, February 2nd
- Workforce Grants: HF 813/ SF XXX
- Hearing scheduled in House Human Service Policy: Monday, February 6th
- Alternative Overnight Supervision with Technology: HF 339/ SF 758
- Own Home/Individualized Home Supports with Training Changes: HF 716/SF 654
- ICF Rate Floor: HF 568/SF 756
- Hearing scheduled in House Human Services Finance: Thursday, February 2nd
- Integrated Community Supports Changes: Pending Introduction in the House and Senate
Other Legislation ARRM Supports
- Highschool credit program for employment in health care industry: HF 613/ SF XXX
- Hearing scheduled in House Education Policy: Wednesday, February 1st
As a reminder, ARRM has a bill tracking section on our website that tracks not only ARRM’s legislative priorities but other bills that will have an impact on members. You can view the bill tracking tool here and click on bills.
Details of Governor Walz’s budget proposal were released on Tuesday. We are disappointed with the lack of ongoing investments that the Governor is proposing for waiver services. ARRM issued this statement in response, calling on the Governor to prioritize waiver services, we will continue to reach out directly to his office and Department officials as well. Below is a summary of a few proposals included:
- Disability Waiver Rate System Changes
- Moves the November, 2024 adjustment to January, 2024
- Moves the July, 2026 adjustment to January 2026 and every two years after that
- Adjusts the Competitive Workforce Factor for Unit Based Services with and without programing resulting in an average 3.5% increase
- ICF Rate Proposal
- Establishes a phased in rate floor beginning at $260. Beginning January, 204 and every two years after that the floor would be increased base on Consumer Price Index data.
- PCA and CFSS adjustments
- Invests $303 million in FY 24/25 and $490 million in FY 26/27 on a variety of proposals that will impact the PCA and CFSS rates.
- Initial License Fee increase for Corporations
- Increases the initial license fee applications for new corporations from $500 to $4,200
- Direct Care and Treatment as a New Agency
- Would remove Direct Care and Treatment from the Department of Human Services and develop a new agency
- Implement Subminimum Wage Taskforce Recommendations
- Would implement the recommendations including the elimination of the subminimum wage over the next five years
Please reach out with any questions!
--Sara Grafstrom, Director of State and Federal Policy