HF 3635

as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to child advocacy centers; establishing 
  1.3             grants for child advocacy centers that provide certain 
  1.4             core functions; appropriating money.  
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [APPROPRIATION; GRANTS FOR CHILD ADVOCACY 
  1.7   CENTERS.] 
  1.8      $1,100,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  1.9   commissioner of public safety for grants to child advocacy 
  1.10  centers under section 2.  This appropriation is available until 
  1.11  June 30, 2005. 
  1.12     Sec. 2.  [GRANTS; PURPOSE; CRITERIA.] 
  1.13     Subdivision 1.  [PURPOSE.] Grants under this section are 
  1.14  provided to stabilize funding and ensure the continued viability 
  1.15  of core functions relating to child maltreatment investigations, 
  1.16  interviews, treatment, and related training.  The grants will 
  1.17  ensure that child victims of abuse will have access to safe, 
  1.18  secure facilities and that law enforcement will have access to 
  1.19  the tools necessary for the successful apprehension and 
  1.20  conviction of child predators.  The grants will ensure that 
  1.21  important government duties relating to the protection of 
  1.22  children are not ignored and subjected to unstable, irregular 
  1.23  funding sources.  The grants will provide funding for state 
  1.24  mandates relating to child maltreatment reporting and assessment.
  1.25     Subd. 2.  [CRITERIA.] (a) Grants must be to child advocacy 
  2.1   centers that have been established on or before July 1, 2001, 
  2.2   and are full member organizations of the National Children's 
  2.3   Alliance. 
  2.4      (b) Grant awards may be used for: 
  2.5      (1) child interview or investigation programs and 
  2.6   facilities; 
  2.7      (2) coordination of or referral for support services; or 
  2.8      (3) related statewide training programs. 
  2.9      (c) To be eligible for a grant, a child advocacy center 
  2.10  must provide the following core services: 
  2.11     (1) support and services for alleged child abuse victims 
  2.12  and their families; 
  2.13     (2) coordination of investigations of child abuse by 
  2.14  providing a location for forensic interviews; 
  2.15     (3) promoting the coordination of services for children 
  2.16  alleged to have been abused; 
  2.17     (4) forensic medical examinations; 
  2.18     (5) mental health and related support services; 
  2.19     (6) court advocacy; and 
  2.20     (7) consultation and training of multidisciplinary child 
  2.21  protection teams.