Committee hears bill to align home-care fine dollars and set deadlines for council appointments

Senate File 3,733, presented to the State and Local Government Committee on March 19, 2026, would update how fines collected from home-care providers are pooled and used, and it sets a defined timeline for filling vacancies on the Minnesota Department of Health Home Care and Assisted Living Advisory Council.

Sponsor testimony said the change mirrors language adopted last session for assisted living, creating consistent procedures and clearer timelines. The section at issue requires the Department of Health to appoint a qualified applicant within 60 days after receiving an application, whether the application came during the secretary of state's initial 21-day posting period or later.

Annie Simons of the Minnesota Home Care Association told the committee that existing law already allowed grants from a pooled fund to qualified applicants and that the bill simply aligns home-care rules with the assisted-living process; she said grants are open to qualified providers whether or not they were previously fined.

Committee members asked for clarification about who would benefit from the grants and whether allowing fined providers to apply undermines corrective intent. Senator Moran questioned whether fines should instead be used directly to compel corrective action for those found noncompliant. The sponsor said the intent is to provide a consistent administrative process and to ensure timely appointments to the advisory council.

The bill was laid over for possible inclusion; committee members requested follow-up materials about eligibility and program administration.