MRCI CDS believes strongly in keeping our clients, representatives, workers, and families informed of legislation that can impact their finances, care, and lives. With that goal in mind, we have complied this update highlighting important legislation and information regarding Minnesota’s 2021 Legislative year.
PCA Rate Reform
Senate File 497 Author Senator Utke and House File 663 Author Representative Lippert.
In the 2020 legislative session, a Coalition group of participants, advocates, disability law advocates and providers worked with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to create the PCA Rate Reform bill. The PCA Rate Reform bill would put a natural rate increase to the PCA program based off factors like the cost of living and labor market statistics in the State of Minnesota. Passing this bill would require providers to pass along the natural rate increases to the PCA. The Coalition worked with lead authors Senator Relph and Representative Lippert to get this very important bill passed but due to COVID-19, progress was halted.
Once again, in 2021, the Coalition group of participants, advocates, disability law advocates and providers are working with Representative Lippert and Senator Utke to get this bill heard in both the House and the Senate. More to come as the Coalition continues through the session. If you would like more information on the PCA Rate Reform bill, please visit the Facebook page for the PCA Rate Coalition.
SEIU Collective Bargaining Contract
In June 2021 the SEIU contract will expire, SEIU along with their membership have worked with the Department of Human Services and the Governor’s office to negotiate the new contract that will span from July of 2021 to June of 2023. The 2-year contract has met a tentative agreement that will result in a wage increase, additional Paid Time Off (PTO) and more paid holidays. The programs that fall under the collective bargaining agreement are PCA Choice, CDCS and CSG. If you would like more information on SEIU please visit their website. You can also learn more about the Tentative Agreement from this MPR News Article.
January Budget
On January 26, 2021, Governor Walz released his budget recommendations for the 2-year biennium of 2021-2023. The budget has information as to where the Governor plans to spend certain dollars across the State of Minnesota. The Legislative session of 2021 is a spending year, currently there are 1700 bills awaiting bill numbers. Once those bills have numbers, hearings in the House and Senate will take place to utilize the funds the Governor has in the state’s budget.
MRCI CDS will continue to provide updates on legislative changes, and you can stay informed by signing up for our monthly newsletter.
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