Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

House passes policy changes sought by Department of Health

Clarifying home care regulations, strengthening vulnerable adult protections and streamlining food stand regulations are among the changes that would be implemented under a bill passed 122-0 by the House Thursday.

Sponsored by Rep. Nick Zerwas (R-Elk River), HF3142, as amended, would implement a package of policy changes sought by the Department of Health to resolve issues encountered or simplify commonly used processes. The bill now goes to the Senate where Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato) is the sponsor.

The bill would allow the department to temporarily suspend a home care provider’s license after severe violations or when a clear risk of a severe violation exists. Currently, the department issues a correction order and gives the provider time to try to fix the issue.

The bill would enact several minor changes and clarifications to the home care provider laws and prevent temporary home care provider licenses from remaining valid for the entire duration of their one-year term despite the provider not meeting substantial compliance standards.

An amendment successfully offered by Zerwas would provide home care workers legal protections for dispensing medical cannabis as part of their duties, similar to medical facilities.

Rep. Diane Loeffler (DFL-Mpls) successfully amended the bill so the department could coordinate a statewide response plan to any emergence of the Zika virus in Minnesota and seek federal funding to support those efforts. The department would perform monitoring of hospitals and mosquito populations for any cases of Zika virus.

Loeffler emphasized none of the species of mosquitos known to carry the Zika virus have been found in Minnesota yet, but the amendment is meant to get the state prepared against a possible incident.

The bill would also:

  • modify requirements for mailing notices and testing related to hearing instrument dispensers;
  • clarify it is the original license that must be posted by a food and beverage service establishment, youth camp, hotel, motel, lodging establishment, public pool or resort;
  • no longer require mobile food units, food carts, and seasonal temporary food stand to post state-issued decals; and

allow a special event food stand to operate for no more than 10 total days within the food stand’s license period. Such stands are now allowed to operate for no more than 10 days per year over no more than three times, or three separate events.


Related Articles


Priority Dailies

Minnesota’s projected budget surplus balloons to $3.7 billion, but fiscal pressure still looms
(House Photography file photo) Just as Minnesota has experienced a warmer winter than usual, so has the state’s budget outlook warmed over the past few months. On Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget...
Legislative leaders announce 2024 committee deadlines
(House Photography file photo) Legislators and the public officially know the timeline for getting bills through the House committee process during the upcoming 2024 session. Here are the two deadlines fo...

Minnesota House on Twitter