HF 1341

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/23/2015 03:57pm

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. This appropriation is
added to the base. The funds must be used for the following purposes:
new text end

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

new text begin (2) to ensure that each regional advisory committee meets at least quarterly;
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new text begin (3) to increase the number of deafblind Minnesotans receiving services;
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new text begin (4) in consultation with the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing
Minnesotans, to conduct an analysis of how the regional offices and staff are distributed,
operated, and funded in order to determine if the current distribution best serves the needs
of the deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing community throughout Minnesota, and to
report on the analysis and make recommendations by January 15, 2016, to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the health and human services committees in the senate and
house of representatives;
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new text begin (5) during fiscal year 2016, to provide direct services to clients and purchase
additional technology for the technology labs; and
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new text begin (6) to conduct an analysis of whether deafblind 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. This appropriation is added to
the base.
new text end