Pilot project proposed to support parents with disabilities

Parents with disabilities often need help accomplishing tasks that people without disabilities take for granted, like bathing their baby or driving to a doctor’s appointment.

HF898 would establish and fund a two-year pilot project to provide support services for parents with disabilities who are eligible for personal care assistant services through Medical Assistance.

“This isn’t about babysitting. It’s not about raising the child, disciplinary action, or anything like that. This is just helping families do some of the tasks, the day-to-day tasks,” said Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake), the bill sponsor.

Rep. Rod Hamilton

HF898 was approved by the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee Thursday and referred to the House Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee.

Its companion, SF846, sponsored by Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin), awaits action by the Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee.

Personal care assistants would help parents with a disability perform a wide range of tasks associated with raising a child – including lifting and carrying young children, preparing meals, doing laundry and childproofing the home – for up to 40 hours a month.

During the pilot project, these services would be provided by personal care assistance provider agencies through two-year, state-funded grants. A one-time appropriation to fund the pilot project is called for in the bill, but the amount is unspecified.

After the pilot program’s end, or by Jan. 1, 2019, the bill would require a report from a Parenting with a Disability Advisory Committee that would be created and consist of parents and caregivers, personal care assistance providers and legislators.

The committee would also be available to advise the commissioner of human services on ways to expand and improve services to disabled parents, Hamilton said.

“We don’t have all the answers now. That’s part of the reason we got the advisory group put together, because this is something that we’re going to need continued input (on),” said Rep. Peter Fischer (DFL-Maplewood). “The eventual goal is … a new system here that’s got supportive systems that are going to keep great families together.”