Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Health Care Workforce topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bill seeks $170,000 for training to reduce turnover among direct support professionals
Summary
Senate File 25-54 would appropriate $170,000 from the Workforce Development Fund to Equitable Development Action (EDA) for training and capacity building aimed at direct support professionals (DSPs) serving people with disabilities and the elderly. Committee adopted amendment and laid the bill on the table for possible inclusion.
Senate File 25-54, sponsored by Sen. John Hoffman, would appropriate $170,000 in FY2026 from the Workforce Development Fund to Equitable Development Action (EDA) to support training, cultural competency and capacity-building for direct support professionals (DSPs) working in home-and-community-based services, assisted living and similar settings.
Sen. Hoffman framed the bill as addressing a state workforce crisis for DSPs, citing research and testimony that Minnesota faces roughly 53,000 job openings in caregiving fields and turnover rates for DSPs between 45% and 75% in some estimates. He said the average wage for DSPs is about $16.12 per hour and argued better training and retention strategies reduce emergency room visits and improve long-term health outcomes.
Jude Nadi, CEO of Equitable Development Action, said EDA’s portal and training academy curate home- and community-based services training and that funding would allow culturally appropriate, repeated training for DSPs to improve service quality and regulatory compliance. Bumi (Boomi) Simpi, an assisted-living director and business owner, testified that training tailored to immigrant workers and culturally specific care practices can reduce behavioral triggers and improve on-the-job confidence.
Committee staff recorded the appropriation as $170,000 in FY2026 from the Workforce Development Fund. The committee adopted the A1 amendment in committee and laid Senate File 25-54 on the table for possible inclusion; the hearing did not enact a final appropriation.
