256.977 SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM.
    Subdivision 1. Citation. This section may be cited as the "Minnesota Senior Companion
Act."
    Subd. 2. Establishment of program. There is established a senior companion program to
engage the services of low income persons aged 60 or over to provide supportive person to
person assistance in health, education, welfare and related fields primarily to disabled adults and
elderly people living in their own homes. Senior companions may also be used to provide such
services to disabled adults and elderly persons living or receiving care in resident group homes
for dependent and neglected persons, nursing homes, private homes, or other public or private
nonprofit institutions or agencies providing care for disabled adults or elderly persons. Foster
grandparents currently serving individuals over 21 years of age pursuant to section 256.976 shall,
after July 1, 1976, be called senior companions.
    Subd. 3. Compensation. Persons serving as senior companions shall be compensated for
no more than 20 hours per week at an hourly rate not to exceed the rate established under the
Older Americans Act. In addition, senior companions shall receive such other assistance as the
Minnesota Board on Aging may prescribe. No person serving as a senior companion shall be
terminated as a result of a change in the eligibility requirements set by the Minnesota Board on
Aging, nor as a result of a change in income, marital status, or number of dependents.
    Subd. 4. Grants. The Minnesota Board on Aging may make grants-in-aid for the purchase of
senior companion services by nonprofit agencies and institutions and individuals who have access
to or responsibility for disabled adults and the elderly. Applications to provide senior companion
services to individuals in their homes shall have priority over applications to provide services to
individuals living in group homes, nursing homes, or other institutions. Applications for grants
shall be made on forms prescribed by the Minnesota Board on Aging.
Grants shall be paid as follows: 90 percent of the program expenditures authorized by the
Minnesota Board on Aging shall be paid by the state and ten percent shall be paid by local
matching funds. Grants shall be for a period of 12 months or less. Grants shall not be used to
match other state funds nor shall any person paid from grant funds be used to replace any staff
members of the grantee. Each grantee shall file a semiannual report with the Minnesota Board on
Aging at the time and containing the information as the board shall prescribe.
    Subd. 5. Rules. The Minnesota Board on Aging shall promulgate rules necessary to
implement the provisions of this section and may employ necessary assistance in performing its
administrative duties. Rules adopted shall be consistent with applicable federal guidelines.
History: 1976 c 323 s 1-2; 1986 c 444; 2005 c 56 s 1