1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; requiring the commissioner to update the 2007 
1.3 	legislative report on runaway and homeless youth.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. 2021 REPORT TO LEGISLATURE ON RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS 
1.6 	YOUTH.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Report development. The commissioner of human services shall update 
1.8 	the information in the 2007 legislative report on runaway and homeless youth. In developing 
1.9 	the updated report, the commissioner must use existing data, studies, and analysis provided 
1.10 	by state, county, and other entities including:
1.11 	(1) Minnesota Housing Finance Agency analysis on housing availability;
1.12 	(2) Minnesota state plan to end homelessness;
1.13 	(3) continuum of care counts of youth experiencing homelessness and assessments as 
1.14 	provided by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) required coordinated 
1.15 	entry systems;
1.16 	(4) biannual Department of Human Services report on the Homeless Youth Act;
1.17 	(5) Wilder Research homeless study;
1.18 	(6) Voices of Youth Count sponsored by Hennepin County; and
1.19 	(7) privately funded analysis, including:
1.20 	(i) nine evidence-based principles to support youth in overcoming homelessness;
2.1 	(ii) return on investment analysis conducted for YouthLink by Foldes Consulting; and
2.2 	(iii) evaluation of Homeless Youth Act resources conducted by Rainbow Research.
2.3 		Subd. 2.Key elements; due date. (a) The report must include three key elements where 
2.4 	significant learning has occurred in the state since the 2007 report, including:
2.5 	(1) unique causes of youth homelessness;
2.6 	(2) targeted responses to youth homelessness, including significance of positive youth 
2.7 	development as fundamental to each targeted response; and
2.8 	(3) recommendations based on existing reports and analysis on what it will take to end 
2.9 	youth homelessness.
2.10 	(b) To the extent data is available, the report must include:
2.11 	(1) general accounting of the federal and philanthropic funds leveraged to support 
2.12 	homeless youth activities;
2.13 	(2) general accounting of the increase in volunteer responses to support youth 
2.14 	experiencing homelessness; and
2.15 	(3) data-driven accounting of geographic areas or distinct populations that have gaps in 
2.16 	service or are not yet served by homeless youth responses.
2.17 	(c) The commissioner of human services shall consult with and incorporate the expertise 
2.18 	of community-based providers of homeless youth services and other expert stakeholders to 
2.19 	complete the report. The commissioner shall submit the report to the chairs and ranking 
2.20 	minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over youth homelessness 
2.21 	by December 15, 2021.