MN HF844

Creates the Quality Self-Directed Services Workforce Council composed of recipients of direct support services, their representatives, and members from disability and aging councils to advise on workforce quality, recruitment, and retention.

Establishes individual providers as state employees for purposes of collective bargaining under Chapter 179A, allowing them to organize and negotiate on compensation rates, benefits, grievance procedures, training funding, and orientation programs.

Requires the Department of Human Services to offer all participants in covered programs (Community First Services, Consumer Directed Community Supports, personal care assistance, and similar state-funded programs) the option to employ individual providers selected by and working under their direction.

Mandates the Commissioner of Human Services to establish compensation rates, maintain public registries of qualified individual providers, provide orientation and training programs, conduct background checks, and ensure all covered programs comply with these requirements by September 1, 2013.

Protects participants' rights to select, hire, supervise, and terminate individual providers regardless of any collective bargaining agreements, and prohibits individual providers from striking under essential employee restrictions.