MN SF2171

Establishes a home and community-based services employee scholarship and loan forgiveness grant program allowing providers to fund employee scholarships and repay qualified educational loans for staff pursuing nursing, healthcare, and assisted living director licensure.

Defines "qualified educational loan" as government, commercial, or foundation loans covering tuition, training, examinations, education expenses, and reasonable living costs related to graduate or undergraduate education.

Makes providers serving individuals 65 and older in home care, assisted living facilities, adult day care, and housing with services establishments eligible to apply for grants if they establish scholarship and loan forgiveness programs benefiting employees working at least 16 hours per week.

Requires participating providers to submit applications describing their proposed programs, budgets, employee selection criteria, and retention plans, with the commissioner determining maximum award amounts and making selections based on demonstrated workforce education needs.

Temporarily modifies nursing assistant employment requirements by allowing those hired on or after March 1, 2020, to complete competency evaluation within six months after expiration of the CMS COVID-19 blanket 1135 waiver instead of meeting prior requirements.