MN HF3711

Requires the commissioner to conduct background studies on volunteers aged 13 and older living in households providing out-of-home respite services for children, with license holders maintaining documentation that all household members 13 and older are volunteers.

Establishes that out-of-home respite services for children must be provided in licensed settings unless specific exemption conditions are met.

Allows unlicensed settings for respite services only if all background studies are completed, case managers conduct annual assessments, legal representatives visit and authorize the residence annually, and the license holder maintains substantial compliance with no conditional, suspended, or revoked licenses in the previous 24 months.

Limits unlicensed respite services to no more than four children at a time (with siblings allowed to share one bedroom), prohibits services to children and adults over 21 in the same residence simultaneously, and caps services at 46 calendar days per family per year with a maximum of 10 consecutive days unless commissioner approves an exception.

Restricts children to receiving out-of-home respite services in no more than two unlicensed residential settings per calendar year and exempts children placed in licensed foster care settings from these requirements.