Occupational therapy services, occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants added to mental health uniform service standards, mental health services, and children's mental health grants.

HF 1044 adds occupational therapy services to Minnesota's mental health grant programs. It amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 245.4889, by explicitly including "occupational therapy services" as an eligible grant service for children with emotional disturbances. This change allows occupational therapists and assistants (defined in new sections 245I.02, subdivisions 29a-29b) to provide behavioral health services under existing children's mental health grant funding. The bill directly affects children with emotional disturbances who qualify for these grants and occupational therapy providers seeking to deliver these services through state-funded programs.