SF 969

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/07/2019 02:58pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying school-linked mental health grants; requiring
a report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section
245.4889, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 245.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 245.4889, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Establishment and authority.

(a) The commissioner is authorized to
make grants from available appropriations to assist:

(1) counties;

(2) Indian tribes;

(3) children's collaboratives under section 124D.23 or 245.493; or

(4) mental health service providers.

(b) The following services are eligible for grants under this section:

(1) services to children with emotional disturbances as defined in section 245.4871,
subdivision 15, and their families;

(2) transition services under section 245.4875, subdivision 8, for young adults under
age 21 and their families;

(3) respite care services for children with severe emotional disturbances who are at risk
of out-of-home placement;

(4) children's mental health crisis services;

(5) mental health services for people from cultural and ethnic minorities;

(6) children's mental health screening and follow-up diagnostic assessment and treatment;

(7) services to promote and develop the capacity of providers to use evidence-based
practices in providing children's mental health services;

(8) school-linked mental health services deleted text begin , including transportation for children receiving
school-linked mental health services when school is not in session deleted text end new text begin under section 245.4901 new text end ;

(9) building evidence-based mental health intervention capacity for children birth to age
five;

(10) suicide prevention and counseling services that use text messaging statewide;

(11) mental health first aid training;

(12) training for parents, collaborative partners, and mental health providers on the
impact of adverse childhood experiences and trauma and development of an interactive
website to share information and strategies to promote resilience and prevent trauma;

(13) transition age services to develop or expand mental health treatment and supports
for adolescents and young adults 26 years of age or younger;

(14) early childhood mental health consultation;

(15) evidence-based interventions for youth at risk of developing or experiencing a first
episode of psychosis, and a public awareness campaign on the signs and symptoms of
psychosis;

(16) psychiatric consultation for primary care practitioners; and

(17) providers to begin operations and meet program requirements when establishing a
new children's mental health program. These may be start-up grants.

(c) Services under paragraph (b) must be designed to help each child to function and
remain with the child's family in the community and delivered consistent with the child's
treatment plan. Transition services to eligible young adults under this paragraph must be
designed to foster independent living in the community.

new text begin (d) As a condition of receiving grant funds, a grantee shall obtain all available third-party
reimbursement sources, if applicable.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [245.4901] SCHOOL-LINKED MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services shall establish a
school-linked mental health grant program to provide early identification and intervention
for students with mental health needs and to build the capacity of schools to support students
with mental health needs in the classroom.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligible applicants. new text end

new text begin An eligible applicant for school-linked mental health grants
is an entity that is:
new text end

new text begin (1) certified under Minnesota Rules, parts 9520.0750 to 9520.0870;
new text end

new text begin (2) a community mental health center under section 256B.0625, subdivision 5;
new text end

new text begin (3) an Indian health service facility or a facility owned and operated by a tribe or tribal
organization operating under United States Code, title 25, section 5321;
new text end

new text begin (4) a provider of children's therapeutic services and supports as defined in section
256B.0943; or
new text end

new text begin (5) enrolled in medical assistance as a mental health or substance use disorder provider
agency and employs at least two full-time equivalent mental health professionals as defined
in section 245.4871, subdivision 27, clauses (1) to (6), or two alcohol and drug counselors
licensed or exempt from licensure under chapter 148F who are qualified to provide clinical
services to children and families.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Allowable grant activities and related expenses. new text end

new text begin (a) Allowable grant activities
and related expenses may include but are not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) identifying and diagnosing mental health conditions of students;
new text end

new text begin (2) delivering mental health treatment and services to students and their families,
including via telemedicine consistent with section 256B.0625, subdivision 3b;
new text end

new text begin (3) supporting families in meeting their child's needs, including navigating health care,
social service, and juvenile justice systems;
new text end

new text begin (4) providing transportation for students receiving school-linked mental health services
when school is not in session;
new text end

new text begin (5) building the capacity of schools to meet the needs of students with mental health
concerns, including school staff development activities for licensed and nonlicensed staff;
and
new text end

new text begin (6) purchasing equipment, connection charges, on-site coordination, set-up fees, and
site fees in order to deliver school-linked mental health services via telemedicine.
new text end

new text begin (b) Grantees shall obtain all available third-party reimbursement sources as a condition
of receiving a grant. For purposes of this grant program, a third-party reimbursement source
excludes a public school as defined in section 120A.20, subdivision 1. Grantees shall serve
students regardless of health coverage status or ability to pay.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Data collection and outcome measurement. new text end

new text begin Grantees shall provide data to
the commissioner for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the school-linked mental
health grant program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Specialized grants. new text end

new text begin (a) Specialized grants must be made available to eligible
applicants under subdivision 2 serving a public school program that provides instruction to
students in a setting of federal instructional level 4 or higher and is operated by:
new text end

new text begin (1) a school district or charter school;
new text end

new text begin (2) an intermediate school district organized under section 136D.01;
new text end

new text begin (3) a service cooperative organized under section 123A.21, subdivision 1, paragraph
(a), clause (2); or
new text end

new text begin (4) a special education cooperative or other cooperative unit under section 123A.24,
subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (b) In addition to allowable grant expenses under subdivision 3, grant funds awarded
under this subdivision may be used to develop innovative therapeutic teaching models.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner must prioritize grants for applicants that have more than 25 percent
of average daily membership served in a setting of federal instructional level 4.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER; IMPROVING SCHOOL-LINKED
MENTAL HEALTH GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services, in collaboration with the commissioner of
education, representatives from the education community, mental health providers, and
advocates, shall assess the school-linked mental health grant program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 245.4901, and develop recommendations for improvements. The assessment
must include but is not limited to the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) promoting stability among current grantees and school partners;
new text end

new text begin (2) assessing the minimum number of full-time equivalents needed per school site to
effectively carry out the program;
new text end

new text begin (3) developing a funding formula that promotes sustainability and consistency across
grant cycles;
new text end

new text begin (4) reviewing current data collection and evaluation; and
new text end

new text begin (5) analyzing the impact on outcomes when a school has a school-linked mental health
program, a multi-tier system of supports, and sufficient school support personnel to meet
the needs of students.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall provide a report of the findings of the assessment and
recommendations, including any necessary statutory changes, to the legislative committees
with jurisdiction over mental health and education by January 15, 2020.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2020 and $....... in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of human services for school-linked mental health grants
under Minnesota Statutes, section 245.4901, subdivisions 1 to 4. This appropriation is added
to the base.
new text end

new text begin (b) $....... in fiscal year 2020 and $....... in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of education for transfer to the commissioner of human
services for school-linked mental health grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 245.4901,
subdivision 5. This appropriation is added to the base and is available until expended.
new text end