HF 1341

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/02/2015 01:23pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; appropriating money to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Services Division; appropriating money for services for people who are deaf,
deafblind, or hard-of-hearing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING SERVICES
DIVISION.
new text end

new text begin $750,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $750,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated from
the general fund to the commissioner of human services for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Services Division under Minnesota Statutes, section 256C.233. The funds must be used
for the following purposes:
new text end

new text begin (1) to provide linguistically and culturally appropriate psychiatric services for
children who are deaf, deafblind, or hard-of-hearing;
new text end

new text begin (2) to hire an age-related hearing loss specialist;
new text end

new text begin (3) to ensure that each regional advisory committee meets at least quarterly;
new text end

new text begin (4) to increase the number of deafblind Minnesotans receiving services;
new text end

new text begin (5) to conduct an analysis of how the regional offices and staff are distributed in
order to determine if the current distribution best serves the needs of the deaf, deafblind,
and hard-of-hearing community throughout Minnesota; and
new text end

new text begin (6) to conduct an analysis of whether services are being provided in the best and
most efficient way possible, with input from deafblind Minnesotans receiving services.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF,
DEAFBLIND, AND HARD-OF-HEARING.
new text end

new text begin $250,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated from
the general fund to the commissioner of human services for deaf and hard-of-hearing
grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 256C.261. The funds must be used to increase
the number of deafblind Minnesotans receiving services.
new text end