1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to homeless and runaway youth; requiring the 
  1.3             commissioner of human services to establish and 
  1.4             support a comprehensive initiative for homeless youth, 
  1.5             youth at risk of homelessness, and runaways to the 
  1.6             extent that funding is provided; providing for street 
  1.7             outreach, drop-in services, basic center shelter, and 
  1.8             transitional living programs; proposing coding for new 
  1.9             law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 257B. 
  1.10  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.11     Section 1.  [257B.02] [FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.] 
  1.12     There are hundreds of homeless youth in Minnesota every 
  1.13  night and their average age is decreasing.  Homeless and runaway 
  1.14  youth are a largely invisible population.  Many homeless and 
  1.15  runaway youth have no families or primary caregivers.  Many are 
  1.16  exploited by adults or are forced to compromise their values to 
  1.17  survive on the streets.  Homeless and runaway youth are urgently 
  1.18  in need of services to prevent extended or permanent 
  1.19  homelessness.  It is necessary to establish and support a 
  1.20  continuum of care and services directed at homeless and runaway 
  1.21  youth, including street outreach, basic center shelter, 
  1.22  transitional living programs, drop-in, and family reunification 
  1.23  services. 
  1.24     Sec. 2.  [257B.03] [DEFINITIONS.] 
  1.25     Subdivision 1.  [APPLICATION.] The definitions in this 
  1.26  section apply to this chapter.  Additionally, the terms 
  1.27  "homeless youth," "youth at risk of homelessness," and "runaway" 
  2.1   apply to any other statute or program addressing or serving 
  2.2   those populations unless defined differently therein, or unless 
  2.3   the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
  2.4      Subd. 2.  [COMMISSIONER.] "Commissioner" means the 
  2.5   commissioner of human services. 
  2.6      Subd. 3.  [HOMELESS YOUTH.] "Homeless youth" means a person 
  2.7   under the age of 22 years who is without shelter where 
  2.8   appropriate care and supervision are available, whose parent or 
  2.9   legal guardian is unable or unwilling to provide shelter and 
  2.10  care, or who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime 
  2.11  residence.  The following are not fixed, regular, and adequate 
  2.12  nighttime residences: 
  2.13     (1) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter 
  2.14  designed to provide temporary living accommodations; 
  2.15     (2) an institution that provides a temporary residence for 
  2.16  individuals intended to be institutionalized; 
  2.17     (3) transitional housing; or 
  2.18     (4) a public or private place not designed for, nor 
  2.19  ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human 
  2.20  beings. 
  2.21     "Homeless youth" does not include persons incarcerated or 
  2.22  otherwise detained under federal or state law. 
  2.23     Subd. 4.  [YOUTH AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.] "Youth at risk 
  2.24  of homelessness" means persons under the age of 22 years whose 
  2.25  status or circumstances indicate a significant danger of 
  2.26  experiencing homelessness in the near future.  Status or 
  2.27  circumstances that indicate a significant danger may include 
  2.28  youth exiting out-of-home placement, youth who were previously 
  2.29  homeless, youth whose parents or primary caregivers are or were 
  2.30  previously homeless, and runaways. 
  2.31     Subd. 5.  [RUNAWAY.] "Runaway" means an unmarried child 
  2.32  under the age of 18 years who is absent from the home of a 
  2.33  parent or other lawful placement without the consent of the 
  2.34  parent, guardian, or lawful custodian. 
  2.35     Sec. 3.  [257B.04] [HOMELESS AND RUNAWAY YOUTH INITIATIVE.] 
  2.36     Subdivision 1.  The commissioner must establish and support 
  3.1   a comprehensive initiative for homeless youth, youth at risk of 
  3.2   homelessness, and runaways by contracting with organizations and 
  3.3   agencies that provide street outreach, basic center shelter, 
  3.4   transitional living services, or family reunification services 
  3.5   to provide services to such youth, to the extent that funding is 
  3.6   provided.  The commissioner shall contract for programs that 
  3.7   ensure that voluntary services are provided to homeless youth, 
  3.8   youth at risk of homelessness, and runaways in an appropriate 
  3.9   and responsible manner.  The commissioner may adopt rules to 
  3.10  implement sections 257B.05 to 257B.08. 
  3.11     Subd. 2.  Nothing in this chapter is intended to preclude 
  3.12  homeless youth age 18 to 21 from utilizing other services or 
  3.13  programs available for homeless adults. 
  3.14     Sec. 4.  [257B.05] [STREET OUTREACH.] 
  3.15     The commissioner must contract for street outreach 
  3.16  programs.  A street outreach program should locate, contact, and 
  3.17  provide information, referrals, and services to homeless youth, 
  3.18  youth at risk of homelessness, and runaways.  Information, 
  3.19  referrals, and services provided may include: 
  3.20     (1) family reunification services; 
  3.21     (2) assistance in obtaining temporary shelter; 
  3.22     (3) assistance in obtaining food, clothing, and medical 
  3.23  care; 
  3.24     (4) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance 
  3.25  abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy; 
  3.26     (5) referrals to other agencies that provide support 
  3.27  services to homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness, and 
  3.28  runaways; and 
  3.29     (6) homelessness prevention. 
  3.30     Sec. 5.  [257B.06] [DROP-IN SERVICES.] 
  3.31     The commissioner must contract for drop-in service 
  3.32  centers.  The centers should provide services to any homeless 
  3.33  youth, youth at risk of homelessness, or runaways that request 
  3.34  services.  Information and services provided may include: 
  3.35     (1) family reunification services; 
  3.36     (2) assistance in obtaining temporary shelter; 
  4.1      (3) assistance in obtaining food, clothing, and medical 
  4.2   care; 
  4.3      (4) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance 
  4.4   abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy; 
  4.5      (5) referrals to other agencies that provide support 
  4.6   services to homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness, and 
  4.7   runaways; 
  4.8      (6) assistance with education, employment, and independent 
  4.9   living skills; 
  4.10     (7) follow-up and after-care services; 
  4.11     (8) specialized services for highly vulnerable runaways and 
  4.12  homeless youth, including teen parents, emotionally disturbed 
  4.13  and mentally ill youth, and youth involved in prostitution; and 
  4.14     (9) homelessness prevention. 
  4.15     Sec. 6.  [257B.07] [BASIC CENTER SHELTER.] 
  4.16     Subdivision 1.  [SCOPE.] The commissioner must contract for 
  4.17  basic center shelter programs.  The programs must provide 
  4.18  homeless youth and runaways with referral and walk-in access to 
  4.19  emergency, short-term residential care.  The programs should 
  4.20  provide homeless youth and runaways with safe, dignified shelter 
  4.21  and should help reunite runaways with their parents or legal 
  4.22  guardians when required or appropriate in accordance with 
  4.23  subdivision 3. 
  4.24     Subd. 2.  [SERVICES PROVIDED.] The services provided at the 
  4.25  basic center shelter may include: 
  4.26     (1) family reunification services; 
  4.27     (2) individual, family, and group counseling; 
  4.28     (3) providing food; 
  4.29     (4) providing clothing; 
  4.30     (5) access to medical and dental care; 
  4.31     (6) education and employment services; 
  4.32     (7) recreation activities; 
  4.33     (8) advocacy and referral services; 
  4.34     (9) independent living skills training; 
  4.35     (10) after-care and follow-up services; 
  4.36     (11) transportation; and 
  5.1      (12) homelessness prevention. 
  5.2      Subd. 3.  [PARENTAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION.] A 
  5.3   basic center shelter and its agents, employees, and volunteers 
  5.4   must comply with court orders, section 626.556, chapter 260C, 
  5.5   and all other applicable laws.  In any event, unless other legal 
  5.6   requirements require earlier or different notification or 
  5.7   actions, a basic center shelter must attempt to notify a 
  5.8   runaway's parent or legal guardian of the runaway's location and 
  5.9   status within 72 hours.  The notification must include a 
  5.10  description of the runaway's physical and emotional condition 
  5.11  and the circumstances surrounding the runaway's admission to the 
  5.12  basic center shelter, unless there are compelling reasons not to 
  5.13  provide the parent or legal guardian with this information.  
  5.14  Compelling reasons may include circumstances in which the 
  5.15  runaway is or has been a victim of child abuse, neglect, sexual 
  5.16  exploitation, or abandonment. 
  5.17     Sec. 7.  [257B.08] [TRANSITIONAL LIVING.] 
  5.18     The commissioner must contract for transitional living 
  5.19  programs.  Transitional living programs should help homeless 
  5.20  youth and youth at risk of homelessness find and maintain safe, 
  5.21  dignified housing.  The programs should also provide related 
  5.22  supportive services, or should refer youth to other 
  5.23  organizations or agencies that provide such services.  The 
  5.24  program should be available to an individual for up to 24 
  5.25  consecutive months.  Services provided may include: 
  5.26     (1) education assessments and referrals to educational 
  5.27  programs; 
  5.28     (2) career planning, employment, and independent living 
  5.29  skills training; 
  5.30     (3) job placement; 
  5.31     (4) budgeting and money management; 
  5.32     (5) assistance in securing housing appropriate to needs and 
  5.33  income; 
  5.34     (6) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance 
  5.35  abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy; 
  5.36     (7) referral for medical services or chemical dependency 
  6.1   treatment; 
  6.2      (8) parenting skills; 
  6.3      (9) after-care and follow-up services; and 
  6.4      (10) homelessness prevention.