Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

HF 2143

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

Line numbers 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11

A bill for an act
relating to human services; requiring the commissioner to establish a kinship
support program for grandparents and relatives caring for related children.

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

Section 1. new text begin KINSHIP SUPPORT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services shall establish, with the assistance of
and in consultation with the Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association, a program for
grandparents and relatives who are raising children who are related to them that provides
seamless financial and support services to grandparents and relatives raising related
children whose parents do not live in the same home.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall include in the program the following components,
subject to federal approval, if necessary:
new text end

new text begin (1) a basic child-only grant allowing the kinship child to be categorically eligible for
MFIP, cash assistance, medical and dental insurance, free school lunch, and food support
for children living in kinship homes without the parents;
new text end

new text begin (2) the use of TANF or maintenance of effort funds for all school-required fees,
respite, and child care expenses;
new text end

new text begin (3) a grant that follows the child, is administered according to the individual child's
income, and is without consideration of parental child support;
new text end

new text begin (4) an individual evaluation of each child living with a kinship caregiver. For
purposes of this requirement, an evaluation of children in the same home as one unit is
not sufficient;
new text end

new text begin (5) hands-on assistance through the application process to help kinship families find
other assistance, based on need, that may be available to the child, such as SSDI, Social
Security, waivered services, child care, respite, tutoring, and required school activities
reimbursement;
new text end

new text begin (6) a specific color-coded section on the TANF application for the kinship child-only
grant, which clearly pinpoints necessary information; and
new text end

new text begin (7) a continuation of benefits in the event of a transfer of legal custody from kinship
caregiver to another designated kinship caregiver.
new text end

new text begin (c) Children who are living with a kinship caregiver and the kinship caregiver
are eligible for this program. For purposes of this program, kinship caregiver includes
the following relationships: grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, sibling, stepfamily, or
godparent, and the caregiver who has legal custody or is a de facto third-party custodian as
defined in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 257C.
new text end