Minnesota Legislature
HF 3204
as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act;
establishing a pilot project for youth during out-of-school time; requiring a
report from the commissioner of education on out-of-school time opportunities
for youth ages ten to 15; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256K.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
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[256K.50] RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Findings and needs. new text end
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There are hundreds of homeless youth in
Minnesota every night and many come from homes of abuse and neglect or have been
abandoned. Homeless and runaway youth are largely an invisible population. Many
homeless and runaway youth have no families or primary caregivers. Many are exploited
by adults or are forced to compromise their values to survive on the streets. Homeless
and runaway youth are in need of outreach, crisis intervention, adult mentorship, family
reunification, safe drop-in spaces, shelter, housing, case management services, and life
skills training. It is necessary to offer a continuum of care and services directed at
homeless and runaway youth.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
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(a) The definitions of this subdivision apply to this section.
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(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.
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(c) "Homeless youth" means a person 21 years or younger who is without shelter
where appropriate care and supervision are available, whose parent or legal guardian
is unable or unwilling to provide shelter and care, or who lacks a fixed, regular, and
adequate nighttime residence. The following are not fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime
residences:
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(1) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary
living accommodations;
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(2) an institution publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide
temporary living accommodations;
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(3) transitional housing;
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(4) a temporary placement with a peer, friend, or family member that has not offered
permanent residence, a residential lease, or temporary lodging for more than 30 days; or
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(5) a public or private place not designed for, nor ordinarily used as, a regular
sleeping accommodation for human beings.
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Homeless youth does not include persons incarcerated or otherwise detained under
federal or state law.
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(d) "Youth at risk of homelessness" means a person 21 years or younger whose
status or circumstances indicate a significant danger of experiencing homelessness in the
near future. Status or circumstances that indicate a significant danger may include youth
exiting out-of-home placements, youth who previously were homeless, youth whose
parents or primary caregivers are or were previously homeless, and runaways.
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(e) "Runaway" means an unmarried child under the age of 18 years who is absent
from the home of a parent or guardian or other lawful placement without the consent of
the parent, guardian, or lawful custodian.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Homeless and runaway youth initiative. new text end
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(a) The commissioner shall
develop a comprehensive initiative for homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness,
and runaways. The commissioner shall provide funding to counties to contract with
organizations and public and private agencies, including faith-based organizations, to
provide street outreach, emergency shelter services, drop-in services, family mediation
counseling and conflict resolution, transitional living services, case management services,
life skills training, and family reunification services to youth, to the extent that funds
exist or become available. The programs must be culturally competent to serve specific
populations and must provide voluntary services to homeless youth, youth at risk of
homelessness, and runaways in an appropriate and responsible manner.
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(b) The commissioner shall plan for and coordinate services for homeless, runaway,
and at-risk youth. The commissioner may provide support services required to achieve
the objectives and goals of the initiative.
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(c) Nothing in this section relieves counties from existing responsibilities to provide
services for homeless youth, youth at risk of being homeless, or runaways under section
626.556, chapter 256E, or other applicable laws.
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(d) Nothing in this section is intended to preclude homeless youth ages 18 to 21 from
utilizing other services or programs available to homeless adults.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Street and community outreach and drop-in program. new text end
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Street and
community outreach programs must locate, contact, and provide information, referrals,
and services to homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness, and runaways. Information,
referrals, and services provided may include, but are not limited to:
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(1) family reunification services;
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(2) conflict resolution or mediation counseling;
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(3) assistance in obtaining temporary emergency shelter;
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(4) assistance in obtaining food, clothing, medical care, or mental health counseling;
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(5) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance abuse, sexually transmitted
diseases, and pregnancy;
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(6) referrals to other agencies that provide support to services to homeless youth,
youth at risk of homelessness, and runaways;
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(7) assistance with education, employment, and independent living skills;
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(8) after-care services;
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(9) specialized services for highly vulnerable runaways and homeless youth,
including teen parents, emotionally disturbed and mentally ill youth, and sexually
exploited youth; and
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(10) homelessness prevention.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Emergency shelter program. new text end
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(a) Emergency shelter programs must
provide homeless youth and runaways with referral and walk-in access to emergency,
short-term residential care. The program shall provide homeless youth and runaways with
safe, dignified shelter, including private shower facilities, beds, and at least one meal each
day, and shall assist a runaway with reunification with the family or legal guardian when
required or appropriate.
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(b) The services provided at emergency shelters may include, but are not limited to:
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(1) family reunification services;
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(2) individual, family, and group counseling;
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(3) assistance obtaining clothing;
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(4) access to medical and dental care and mental health counseling;
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(5) education and employment services;
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(6) recreational activities;
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(7) advocacy and referral services;
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(8) independent living skills training;
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(9) after-care and follow-up services;
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(10) transportation; and
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(11) homelessness prevention.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end
new text begin Transitional living programs. new text end
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Transitional living programs must help
homeless youth and youth at risk of homelessness to find and maintain safe, dignified
housing. The program may also provide rental assistance and related supportive services,
or refer youth to other organizations or agencies that provide such services. The program
may be available to an individual for up to 24 consecutive months. Services provided
may include, but are not limited to:
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(1) educational assessment and referrals to educational programs;
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(2) career planning, employment, work skill training, and independent living skills
training;
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(3) job placement;
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(4) budgeting and money management;
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(5) assistance in securing housing appropriate to needs and income;
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(6) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance abuse, sexually transmitted
diseases, and pregnancy;
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(7) referral for medical services or chemical dependency treatment;
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(8) parenting skills;
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(9) self-sufficiency support services or life skill training;
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(10) after-care and follow-up services; and
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(11) homelessness prevention.
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Sec. 2. new text begin REPORT ON OUT-OF-SCHOOL CARE FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN
THE AGES OF TEN TO 15.
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The commissioner of education, in consultation with the commissioners of human
services and public safety, shall provide a report to the legislature by January 20, 2007,
which surveys and analyzes out-of-school time opportunities for children ages ten to
15. The commissioner must gather information from urban, suburban, and rural areas
regarding where children go after their school day is over. Further, the commissioner
shall communicate with members of the community, parents of children ages ten to 15,
child care providers, middle school personnel, and other interested individuals to gather
information and develop positive, supervised out-of-school alternatives for children ages
ten to 15, in order to reduce the incidence of sexual activity, underage drinking and
smoking, use of illegal substances, and other criminal activity.
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Sec. 3. new text begin OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH DURING OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Authorization. new text end
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The commissioner of education shall approve up to
four pilot programs that provide out-of-school time opportunities for youth ages ten to
15. The programs must be located in at least one rural and one urban community, and the
other programs must be in school districts where there are few, if any, out-of-school time
opportunities for youth. The commissioner shall provide grants to the approved programs.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Program components. new text end
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The program must provide a positive youth
community for youth ages ten to 15 and must include adult supervision.
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In developing the youth community, the program may include:
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(1) youth-mentoring-youth opportunities;
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(2) youth-tutoring-youth opportunities;
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(3) advocacy roles for youth;
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(4) youth field trips;
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(5) discussion groups on age-appropriate topics;
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(6) recreational or physical activities; and
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(7) other youth opportunities for learning and development.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Applications. new text end
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An interested program provider may apply to the
commissioner for a grant to establish, maintain, or expand a program providing
out-of-school supervised opportunities for youth. The application must include:
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(1) a proposal for the provision of services;
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(2) a proposed budget;
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(3) evidence of the need of the applicant for state assistance and of the need for the
particular program; and
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(4) a plan for the collection of data to be used for program evaluation done by
the commissioner.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Program information. new text end
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In order to collect data to better measure the nature
and extent of the need for out-of-school opportunities, grant recipients must collect and
make available to the commissioner the following information:
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(1) the average number of youth participating in out-of-school opportunities per
week;
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(2) reasons for seeking out-of-school opportunities;
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(3) popular or preferred components of the program, according to the youth, and
why those components are popular or preferred;
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(4) the need for support services and what type; and
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(5) other program information that the grant recipient determines is important in
developing statewide out-of-school opportunities for youth.
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Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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$....... is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2007, from the general
fund to the commissioner of human services for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section
256K.50.
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