Follow the progress of the Minnesota Council on Disability’s (MCD) legislative initiatives at the State Capitol through updates from Public Policy Director Trevor Turner.
If you have public policy questions, contact Trevor Turner at Trevor.Turner@state.mn.us or 651-350-8642.
On this page:
March 15, 2024
The Minnesota Legislature has been busy this past week. It will continue to be busy as legislators and advocates push to have their bills heard before the legislative deadline, March 22. This is when all policy bills must be heard in their relevant committees in both the House and the Senate to be considered for final passage into law.
Each legislative session, MCD works with partner advocates to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Minnesota. This update covers proposals to:
- Streamline the Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) program and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
- Establish a sunset date for subminimum wages to ensure fair pay.
- Improve accessibility in higher education through the Minnesota RISE Act, lowering dropout rates among students with disabilities.
These bills reflect our commitment to:
- Promoting equity, dignity, and opportunity.
- Encouraging community engagement.
- Gaining support to advance these legislative efforts.
Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities
SF 4197 proposes two changes to the Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) program:
- Extending the premium renewal period from six months to 12 months.
- Extending the reporting period for changes in income or household size from 10 days to 30 days.
The Human Services Committee heard testimony detailing the challenges of the current system. On Wednesday, March 13, former MCD employee Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson explained that while MA-EPD has enabled her to work and earn competitive wages for nearly 15 years, the renewal process is difficult and burdensome. Every six months, she must reapply and confirm several pieces of financial information, including assets, bank accounts, and retirement plans. Brittanie recounted the stressful experience of being notified that her healthcare would not be renewed because of missing paperwork. She encouraged legislators to support SF 4197 and simplify the renewal process.
Subminimum Wage
The Department of Human Services’ proposal, SF 4399, included a requirement to phase out the use of subminimum wage and minimum wage for people with disabilities, including the end of new subminimum wage users after August 1, 2026, and a complete end for that program on August 1, 2028. The bill also includes measures to ensure that people with disabilities in certain employment programs are paid at least minimum wage.
Senator Utke proposed an amendment to delete sections of the bill that related to reducing or ending the use of 14c certificates in Minnesota. Senator Hoffman, who Chairs the committee, expressed support for this amendment, emphasizing the need for a plan to transition away from subminimum wages.
The Minnesota Council on Disability supports the phaseout timeline that was included in the original bill.
Minnesota RISE Act
Trevor Turner, Public Policy Director, testified on Thursday, March 14, to show MCD’s strong support for SF 4525. The Minnesota Rise Act – Minnesota Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower – introduced by Senator Fateh, would simplify the process for obtaining accommodations in college. In his testimony, Trevor highlighted the challenges many students face when trying to request accommodations. He cited it as a leading reason students with disabilities drop out of higher education.
Trevor noted that the MN RISE Act aligns with current disability rights laws, addresses a clear need, and is driven by student input. He encouraged committee members to support the act, emphasizing that it would lead to greater educational and vocational success.
Letters of Support
MCD supplemented our testimonies for SF 4399 and SF 4525 with letters of support.
In the letter supporting SF 4399, Public Policy Director Trevor Turner detailed ways the RISE Act supports students with disabilities. The act would:
- Expanding the criteria for accepted disability documentation.
- Require colleges to establish transparent policies regarding disability services.
His letter supporting SF 4399 argues that paying subminimum wages perpetuates economic disparities and undervalues the contributions of workers with disabilities. It also urges the committee to support the provisions phasing out subminimum wages as a step towards a more inclusive Minnesota.
News Updates
Senator Kelly Moller mentioned MCD in her legislative update. We were included among several organizations that support her bill that would make spouse and family caregivers “eligible to participate in the state-run retirement program, Secure Choice,” and save for the future.
Bill Tracker
Each session, lawmakers introduce dozens of bills that will impact the disability community. Some bills aim to improve the lives of Minnesotans with disabilities. Others contain policies that could negatively affect them. The amount of legislation introduced during session makes it a daunting task to follow the ones you might be interested in. We compile a list of disability-related bills to make it easier for you to stay informed.
Stay Connected
You can follow us on Facebook, visit our website’s public policy page, and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates.
Contact Information
If you have questions or comments about our public policy work, please contact Public Policy Director Trevor Turner at trevor.turner@state.mn.us or 651-350-8642.
February 29, 2024
On Monday, February 19, MCD Public Policy Director Trevor Turner testified at the Human Services Finance committee on the Medical Assistance for Employed People with Disabilities (MA-EPD) bill HF 3419, which is one of MCD’s 2024 public policy priorities. MA-EPD is a program that people can use if they want to work and need to continue receiving Medical Assistance for health care.
The bill prevents people from getting removed from the MA-EPD program due to the inability to pay costly monthly premiums. Folks will still need to pay their premiums, but they won’t lose health care if a month or two of premiums are missed. Currently, folks are removed from the program and lose health care benefits for missing a couple of payments.
Representative Kim Hicks introduced HF 3445, that proposes the Department of Human Services perform a continuous improvement study of access to disability services.
There was a hearing on the Guardian Task Force by the Department of Human Services Policy committee that seeks to eliminate blanket immunity for guardians. HF 3483 aims to reinstate fundamental rights for individuals under guardianship. Trevor Turner testified to MCD’s support of the bill. The Guardian Task Force bill is authored by Representative Feist.
This session focuses on educating as many people as possible and raising awareness on issues while laying the groundwork for success next year. Follow our bill tracker for details on bills introduced this session.