Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Supported Decision Making topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate to extend timeline for supported‑decision‑making grants after counties report early success
Summary
Senate File 2310 would extend the time during which 2023 one‑time grant dollars for supported decision‑making (SDM) programs can be spent; Rice County and Lutheran Social Services described early successes in diverting or restoring guardianship and urged extension so the funded programs can continue.
Senate File 2310, a bill to extend the availability of one‑time grants awarded in 2023 for supported decision‑making (SDM) programs, was presented to the Senate Human Services Committee on March 12 and laid over for possible inclusion in the human services omnibus bill.
Supported decision‑making is intended as an alternative to full guardianship and helps people who might otherwise face court‑ordered guardianship retain legal rights while receiving decision supports. Senator Jerry Rasmussen described the original 2023 appropriation of $4,550,000 and said a delay in the RFP and grant award process prompted the request for additional time to spend the funds.
Megan Thomas, adult services manager for Rice County Community Services, described Rice County’s use of grant dollars to provide SDM education, training and direct social‑work supports. In under six months, Rice County reported 35 referrals, three diversions from unnecessary guardianship and one suspension of an existing guardianship to allow SDM to succeed. Thomas said SDM has saved the county legal and administrative costs associated with guardianship.
Nate Danielson of Lutheran Social Services described LSS’s SDM work statewide, including restoring rights for individuals under guardianship and preventing guardianship through hospital‑based interventions. Danielson said LSS reviewed 70 cases and met with 50 individuals as part of the grant work and achieved seven full restorations to date.
Senator Rasmussen said the bill asks DHS to extend the time horizon for spending the original appropriation so grant recipients can complete the planned work; committee members expressed support and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus appropriation process.
