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SF 1062

Direct support professional certification pilot project establishment

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Abeler and 1 co-sponsor

Minnesota authorizes a Direct Support Professional certification pilot program to standardize training and credentials for disability service workers to improve quality and workforce stability.

Author added Abeler
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Bill Summary · SF 1062

Legislative bill overview

SF 1062 establishes a pilot project in Minnesota to create a certification program for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)—workers who provide essential care and assistance to individuals with disabilities and developmental differences. The bill authorizes the state to develop, test, and evaluate certification standards and training requirements for this workforce across a limited geographic area or set of providers.

Why is this important

Direct Support Professionals are critical to Minnesota's disability services system, yet the field faces chronic workforce shortages, high turnover rates, and inconsistent training standards. A certification program could improve service quality, worker professionalization, and career pathways while potentially addressing recruitment and retention challenges in this low-wage sector.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and funding: Who bears the expense for pilot implementation, training programs, and certification administration—the state, providers, or workers—remains unclear and could affect program viability
  • Wage implications: Whether certification requirements might increase labor costs without corresponding pay increases, potentially worsening workforce shortages rather than improving them
  • Scope and standardization: Determining what skills, competencies, and training hours constitute proper certification, and whether uniform standards across diverse disability services are feasible or appropriate

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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