MN SF4399

Transfers authority from the Department of Human Services to the Direct Care and Treatment executive board for settling property damage claims of $7,000 or less for state institution patients

Excludes Direct Care and Treatment data from the "medical data" definition under Minnesota's Data Practices Act, allowing the agency to follow its own data disclosure rules separate from health record restrictions

Authorizes Direct Care and Treatment to convert certain unclassified employees (hired under a 1997 pilot program) into classified state service, with no salary reduction at conversion

Expands procedures for obtaining medical consent for patients in state-operated treatment programs who lack decision-making capacity, allowing the executive medical director to authorize treatment when no health care agent or proper relative can be located, with periodic capacity reviews required at least every six months

Extends voluntary patient return periods for those transferred out of secure treatment facilities from 60 days to 90 days for psychiatric conditions and up to six months for nonpsychiatric medical conditions, effective July 1, 2026