HF 639

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/02/2023 04:21pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing the community solutions for healthy child
development grant program; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 145.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [145.9285] COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY CHILD
DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health shall establish the community
solutions for healthy child development grant program. The purposes of the program are
to:
new text end

new text begin (1) improve child development outcomes as related to the well-being of children of color
and American Indian children from prenatal to grade 3 and their families, including but not
limited to the goals outlined by the Department of Human Service's early childhood systems
reform effort for: early learning; health and well-being; economic security; and safe, stable,
nurturing relationships and environments by funding community-based solutions for
challenges that are identified by the affected community;
new text end

new text begin (2) reduce racial disparities in children's health and development, from prenatal to grade
3; and
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new text begin (3) promote racial and geographic equity.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Commissioner's duties. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall:
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new text begin (1) develop a request for proposals for the healthy child development grant program in
consultation with the Community Solutions Advisory Council;
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new text begin (2) provide outreach, technical assistance, and program development support to increase
capacity for new and existing service providers in order to better meet statewide needs,
particularly in greater Minnesota and areas where services to reduce health disparities have
not been established;
new text end

new text begin (3) review responses to requests for proposals, in consultation with the Community
Solutions Advisory Council, and award grants under this section;
new text end

new text begin (4) ensure communication with the ethnic councils, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council,
and the Children's Cabinet on the request for proposal process;
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new text begin (5) establish a transparent and objective accountability process, in consultation with the
Community Solutions Advisory Council, that is focused on outcomes that grantees agree
to achieve;
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new text begin (6) provide grantees with access to data to assist grantees in establishing and
implementing effective community-led solutions;
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new text begin (7) maintain data on outcomes reported by grantees; and
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new text begin (8) contract with an independent third-party entity to evaluate the success of the grant
program and to build the evidence base for effective community solutions in reducing health
disparities of children of color and American Indian children from prenatal to grade 3.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Community Solutions Advisory Council; establishment; duties;
compensation. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the Center of Health Equity and
the department's Maternal and Child Health Section, shall appoint a 12-member Community
Solutions Advisory Council as follows:
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new text begin (1) two members representing the African Heritage community;
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new text begin (2) two members representing the Latino community;
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new text begin (3) two members representing the Asian-Pacific Islander community;
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new text begin (4) two members representing the American Indian community;
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new text begin (5) two parents of children of color or who are American Indian with children under
nine years of age;
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new text begin (6) one member with research or academic expertise in racial equity and healthy child
development; and
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new text begin (7) one member representing an organization that advocates on behalf of communities
of color or American Indians.
new text end

new text begin (b) At least three of the 12 members of the advisory council must come from outside
the seven-county metropolitan area.
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new text begin (c) The Community Solutions Advisory Council shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) advise the commissioner on the development of the request for proposals for
community solutions healthy child development grants. In advising the commissioner, the
council must consider how to build on the capacity of communities to promote child and
family well-being and address social determinants of healthy child development;
new text end

new text begin (2) review responses to requests for proposals and advise the commissioner on the
selection of grantees and grant awards;
new text end

new text begin (3) advise the commissioner on the establishment of a transparent and objective
accountability process focused on outcomes the grantees agree to achieve;
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new text begin (4) advise the commissioner on ongoing oversight and necessary support in the
implementation of the program; and
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new text begin (5) support the commissioner on other racial equity and early childhood grant efforts.
new text end

new text begin (d) Each advisory council member shall be compensated in accordance with section
15.059, subdivision 3.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Eligible grantees. new text end

new text begin Organizations eligible to receive grant funding under this
section include:
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new text begin (1) organizations or entities that work with communities of color and American Indian
communities;
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new text begin (2) Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations as defined in section 658P of the Child Care
and Development Block Grant Act of 1990; and
new text end

new text begin (3) organizations or entities focused on supporting healthy child development.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Strategic consideration and priority of proposals; eligible populations;
grant awards. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the Community Solutions
Advisory Council, shall develop a request for proposals for healthy child development
grants. In developing the proposals and awarding the grants, the commissioner shall consider
building on the capacity of communities to promote child and family well-being and address
social determinants of healthy child development. Proposals must focus on increasing racial
equity and healthy child development and reducing health disparities experienced by children
of color and American Indian children from prenatal to grade 3 and their families.
new text end

new text begin (b) In awarding the grants, the commissioner shall provide strategic consideration and
give priority to proposals from:
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new text begin (1) organizations or entities led by people of color and serving communities of color;
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new text begin (2) organizations or entities led by American Indians and serving American Indians,
including Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations;
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new text begin (3) organizations or entities with proposals focused on healthy development from prenatal
to age three;
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new text begin (4) organizations or entities with proposals focusing on multigenerational solutions;
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new text begin (5) organizations or entities located in or with proposals to serve communities located
in counties that are moderate to high risk according to the Wilder Research Risk and Reach
Report; and
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new text begin (6) community-based organizations that have historically served communities of color
and American Indians and have not traditionally had access to state grant funding.
new text end

new text begin The advisory council may recommend additional strategic considerations and priorities to
the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (c) The first round of grants must be awarded no later than April 15, 2024. Grants must
be awarded annually thereafter. Grants are awarded for a period of three years.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Geographic distribution of grants. new text end

new text begin The commissioner and the advisory council
shall ensure that grant funds are prioritized and awarded to organizations and entities that
are within counties that have a higher proportion of people of color and American Indians
than the state average, to the extent possible.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin Grantees must report grant program outcomes to the commissioner on
the forms and according to the timelines established by the commissioner.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY CHILD
DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of health for the community solutions for healthy
child development grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 145.9285.
new text end