i. Vulnerable Adult Act changes

Vulnerable Adult Act changes

2022 Regular Session HF4065 Chapter 98, Article 8, Sections 37-49 Health & Human Services omnibus policy bill Effective: August 1, 2022

Short description

In what has been called phase one of the Adult Protection System (APS) redesign, the legislature made several amendments to the Vulnerable Adult Act.

Summary

The bill changes include but are not limited to the following: • Requiring counties to make public their APS case priorities so that members of the public know exactly what types of cases each county prioritizes based on their staffing • Changes definitions of caregiver and neglect so that county agencies can focus on resources rather than punishment for families struggling to care for vulnerable adults • Begins to develop a “two track” system of investigations and services to better clarify the role of an APS worker, and incentivize the “services” part of APS • Clarifying that APS multi-disciplinary teams can include any relevant person with expertise, thereby matching best practices for in this area

Implications

The changes bring and updating and accountability to the APS system, as well as changing the definition of caregiver and neglect which may help some families who are struggling to care for vulnerable adults.

Bill language

Chapter 98, Article 8, Sections 37-49: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2022/0/Session+Law/Chapter/98/