Senior nutrition programs modification

A bill for an act

relating to human services; modifying senior nutrition programs; amending

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256.9752, as amended.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256.9752, as amended by Laws 2025, First

Special Session chapter 9, article 1, sections 6 and 7, is amended to read:

256.9752 SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

Subdivision 1.

Program goals.

It is the goal of all
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area
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agencies on aging and senior

nutrition programs to support the physical and mental health of
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seniors
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older adults
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living

in the community by:

(1) promoting nutrition programs that serve
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senior citizens
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older adults
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in their homes

and communities;
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and
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(2) providing, within the limit of funds available, the support services that will enable
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the senior citizen
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each older adult
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to access nutrition programs in the most cost-effective

and efficient manner
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.
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; and
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(3) coordinating with health and long-term care systems, emergency preparedness

systems, and other systems and stakeholders that support the health and wellness of older

adults.

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Subd. 1a.

Food delivery support account; appropriation.

(a) A food delivery support

account is established in the special revenue fund. The account consists of funds under

section
174.49, subdivision 2
, and as provided by law and any other money donated, allotted,

transferred, or otherwise provided to the account.

(b) Money in the account is annually appropriated to the commissioner of human services

for grants to nonprofit organizations to provide transportation of home-delivered meals,

groceries, purchased food, or a combination, to Minnesotans who are experiencing food

insecurity and have difficulty obtaining or preparing meals due to limited mobility, disability,

age, or resources to prepare their own meals. A nonprofit organization must have a

demonstrated history of providing and distributing food customized for the population that

they serve.

(c) Grant funds under this subdivision must supplement, but not supplant, any state or

federal funding used to provide prepared meals to Minnesotans experiencing food insecurity.

Subd. 2.

Authority.

The Minnesota Board on Aging shall allocate to area agencies on

aging the state
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nutrition support and food delivery support funds
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and
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the
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federal funds
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which
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that
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are received for
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the
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senior nutrition programs
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of congregate dining and home-delivered

meals
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in a manner consistent with the board's intrastate funding formula.

Subd. 3.

Nutrition support services.

(a) Funds allocated to an area agency on aging

for nutrition support services may be used for the following
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, as determined appropriate by

the area agency on aging to address the needs of older adults in the agency's planning and

service area
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:

(1) transportation of home-delivered meals and purchased food and medications to the

residence of
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a senior citizen
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an older adult
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;

(2) expansion of home-delivered meals into unserved and underserved areas;

(3) transportation
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of older adults
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to
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supermarkets
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grocery stores
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or delivery of groceries
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from supermarkets
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to homes
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of older adults
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;

(4) vouchers for food purchases at selected restaurants in isolated rural areas;

(5) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach;

(6) transportation of
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seniors
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older adults
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to congregate dining sites;

(7) nutrition screening assessments and counseling as needed by individuals with special

dietary needs, performed by a licensed dietitian or nutritionist;

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(8) medically tailored meals;

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(8)
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(9)
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other appropriate services
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which
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and tools that
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support senior nutrition programs,

including new service delivery models
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and technology
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; and

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(9)
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(10) development and implementation of
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innovative models
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of providing
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to provide
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healthy and nutritious
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meals to seniors
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food to older adults
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, including through partnerships

with schools, restaurants,
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hospitals, food shelves and food pantries, farmers,
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and other

community partners.

(b) An area agency on aging may transfer unused funding for nutrition support services

to fund congregate dining services and home-delivered meals.

(c) State funds under this subdivision are subject to federal requirements in accordance

with the Minnesota Board on Aging's intrastate funding formula.