MN SF2944

HealthForce Minnesota at Winona State University must develop a pilot project establishing the Minnesota Direct Care Service Corps to attract postsecondary students to work as personal care assistants or direct support professionals using financial incentives that increase each semester.

Pilot sites must include one postsecondary institution in the seven-county metropolitan area and at least one institution outside the metropolitan area, with preference for one site in northern Minnesota and one in southern Minnesota if multiple non-metropolitan sites are selected.

HealthForce Minnesota must contract with a third party to evaluate the pilot project's impact on health care costs, retention of personal care assistants, and patient and provider satisfaction, including tracking participant numbers, hours of care provided, and semester-to-semester retention.

HealthForce Minnesota must report evaluation findings by January 6, 2025 to the chairs and ranking members of legislative committees with jurisdiction over human services policy and finance.

$500,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human services for a grant to HealthForce Minnesota, with up to $25,000 available for administrative costs as a onetime appropriation.