1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to health; providing for the prevention of 
  1.3             fetal alcohol syndrome; establishing intervention and 
  1.4             grant programs; requiring a study; appropriating 
  1.5             money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 
  1.6             254A.17, subdivision 1, and by adding a subdivision; 
  1.7             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.8             chapter 145. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  [145.9266] [FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME.] 
  1.11     Subdivision 1.  [PUBLIC AWARENESS.] The commissioner of 
  1.12  health shall design and implement an ongoing statewide campaign 
  1.13  to raise public awareness about fetal alcohol syndrome and other 
  1.14  effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.  The campaign shall 
  1.15  include messages directed to the general population as well as 
  1.16  culturally specific and community-based messages.  A toll-free 
  1.17  resource and referral telephone line shall be included in the 
  1.18  messages.  The commissioner of health shall conduct an 
  1.19  evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the campaign. 
  1.20     Subd. 2.  [STATEWIDE NETWORK OF FAS DIAGNOSTIC CLINICS.] A 
  1.21  statewide network of regional fetal alcohol syndrome diagnostic 
  1.22  clinics shall be developed between the department of health and 
  1.23  the University of Minnesota.  This collaboration shall be based 
  1.24  on a statewide needs assessment and shall include involvement 
  1.25  from consumers, providers, and payors.  By the end of calendar 
  1.26  year 1998, a plan shall be developed for the clinic network, and 
  1.27  shall include a comprehensive evaluation component.  Sites shall 
  2.1   be established in calendar year 1999. 
  2.2      Subd. 3.  [PROFESSIONAL TRAINING ABOUT FAS.] (a) The 
  2.3   commissioner of health, in collaboration with the board of 
  2.4   medical practice, the board of nursing, and other professional 
  2.5   boards and state agencies, shall develop curricula and materials 
  2.6   about fetal alcohol syndrome for professional training of health 
  2.7   care providers, social service providers, educators, and 
  2.8   judicial and corrections systems professionals.  The training 
  2.9   and curricula shall increase knowledge and develop practical 
  2.10  skills of professionals to help them address the needs of 
  2.11  at-risk pregnant women and the needs of individuals affected by 
  2.12  fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects and their 
  2.13  families. 
  2.14     (b) Training for health care providers shall focus on skill 
  2.15  building for screening, counseling, referral, and follow-up for 
  2.16  women using or at risk of using alcohol while pregnant.  
  2.17  Training for health care professionals shall include methods for 
  2.18  diagnosis and evaluation of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal 
  2.19  alcohol effects.  Training for education, judicial, and 
  2.20  corrections professionals shall involve effective education 
  2.21  strategies, methods to identify the behaviors and learning 
  2.22  styles of children with alcohol-related birth defects, and 
  2.23  methods to identify available referral and community resources. 
  2.24     (c) Training for social service providers shall focus on 
  2.25  resources for assessing, referring, and treating at-risk 
  2.26  pregnant women, changes in the mandatory reporting and 
  2.27  commitment laws, and resources for affected children and their 
  2.28  families.  
  2.29     Subd. 4.  [FAS COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM.] The commissioner 
  2.30  of health shall administer a grant program to provide money to 
  2.31  community organizations and coalitions to collaborate on fetal 
  2.32  alcohol syndrome prevention and intervention strategies and 
  2.33  activities.  The commissioner shall disburse grant money through 
  2.34  a request for proposal process or sole-source distribution where 
  2.35  appropriate, and shall include at least one grant award for 
  2.36  transitional skills and services for individuals with fetal 
  3.1   alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects. 
  3.2      Subd. 5.  [SCHOOL PILOT PROGRAMS.] (a) The commissioner of 
  3.3   children, families, and learning shall award up to four grants 
  3.4   to schools for pilot programs to identify and implement 
  3.5   effective educational strategies for individuals with fetal 
  3.6   alcohol syndrome and other alcohol-related birth defects.  
  3.7      (b) One grant shall be awarded in each of the following age 
  3.8   categories:  
  3.9      (1) birth to three years; 
  3.10     (2) three to five years; 
  3.11     (3) six to 12 years; and 
  3.12     (4) 13 to 18 years.  
  3.13     (c) Grant proposals must include an evaluation plan, 
  3.14  demonstrate evidence of a collaborative or multisystem approach, 
  3.15  provide parent education and support, and show evidence of a 
  3.16  child- and family-focused approach consistent with 
  3.17  research-based educational practices and other guidelines 
  3.18  developed by the department of children, families, and learning. 
  3.19     (d) Children participating in the pilot program sites may 
  3.20  be identified through child find activities or a diagnostic 
  3.21  clinic. 
  3.22     Subd. 6.  [FETAL ALCOHOL COORDINATING BOARD; DUTIES.] (a) 
  3.23  The fetal alcohol coordinating board consists of: 
  3.24     (1) the commissioners of health, human services, 
  3.25  corrections, public safety, economic security, and children, 
  3.26  families, and learning; 
  3.27     (2) the director of the office of strategic and long-range 
  3.28  planning; 
  3.29     (3) the chair of the maternal and child health advisory 
  3.30  task force established by section 145.881, or the chair's 
  3.31  designee; 
  3.32     (4) a representative of the University of Minnesota 
  3.33  academic health center, appointed by the provost; 
  3.34     (5) five members from the general public appointed by the 
  3.35  governor, one of whom must be a family member of an individual 
  3.36  with fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effect; and 
  4.1      (6) one member from the judiciary appointed by the chief 
  4.2   justice of the supreme court. 
  4.3   Terms, compensation, removal, and filling of vacancies of 
  4.4   appointed members are governed by section 15.0575.  The board 
  4.5   shall elect a chair from its membership to serve a one-year 
  4.6   term.  The commissioner of health shall provide staff and 
  4.7   consultant support for the board.  Support must be provided 
  4.8   based on an annual budget and work plan developed by the board.  
  4.9   The board shall contract with the department of health for 
  4.10  necessary administrative services.  Administrative services 
  4.11  include personnel, budget, payroll, and contract 
  4.12  administration.  The board shall adopt an annual budget and work 
  4.13  program. 
  4.14     (b) Board duties include:  
  4.15     (1) reviewing programs of state agencies that involve fetal 
  4.16  alcohol syndrome and coordinating those that are 
  4.17  interdepartmental in nature; 
  4.18     (2) providing an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
  4.19  fetal alcohol syndrome prevention and intervention strategies 
  4.20  both at a local and statewide level; 
  4.21     (3) approving on an annual basis the statewide public 
  4.22  awareness campaign as designed and implemented by the 
  4.23  commissioner of health under subdivision 1; 
  4.24     (4) reviewing fetal alcohol syndrome community grants 
  4.25  administered by the commissioner of health under subdivision 4; 
  4.26  and 
  4.27     (5) submitting a report to the governor on January 15 of 
  4.28  each odd-numbered year summarizing board operations, activities, 
  4.29  findings, and recommendations, and fetal alcohol syndrome 
  4.30  activities throughout the state. 
  4.31     (c) The board expires on January 1, 2001. 
  4.32     Subd. 7.  [FEDERAL FUNDS; CONTRACTS; DONATIONS.] The fetal 
  4.33  alcohol coordinating board may apply for, receive, and disburse 
  4.34  federal funds made available to the state by federal law or 
  4.35  rules adopted for any purpose related to the powers and duties 
  4.36  of the board.  The board shall comply with any requirements of 
  5.1   federal law, rules, and regulations in order to apply for, 
  5.2   receive, and disburse funds.  The board may contract with or 
  5.3   provide grants to public and private nonprofit entities.  The 
  5.4   board may accept donations or grants from any public or private 
  5.5   entity.  Money received by the board must be deposited in a 
  5.6   separate account in the state treasury and invested by the state 
  5.7   board of investment.  The amount deposited, including investment 
  5.8   earnings, is appropriated to the board to carry out its duties.  
  5.9   Money deposited in the state treasury shall not cancel.  
  5.10     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 254A.17, 
  5.11  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  5.12     Subdivision 1.  [MATERNAL AND CHILD SERVICE PROGRAMS.] (a) 
  5.13  The commissioner shall fund maternal and child health and social 
  5.14  service programs designed to improve the health and functioning 
  5.15  of children born to mothers using alcohol and controlled 
  5.16  substances.  Comprehensive programs shall include immediate and 
  5.17  ongoing intervention, treatment, and coordination of medical, 
  5.18  educational, and social services through a child's preschool 
  5.19  years.  Programs shall also include research and evaluation to 
  5.20  identify methods most effective in improving outcomes among this 
  5.21  high-risk population.  The commissioner shall ensure that the 
  5.22  programs are available on a statewide basis to the extent 
  5.23  possible with available funds.  
  5.24     (b) The commissioner of human services shall develop models 
  5.25  for the treatment of children ages 6 to 12 who are in need of 
  5.26  chemical dependency treatment.  The commissioner shall fund at 
  5.27  least two pilot projects with qualified providers to provide 
  5.28  nonresidential treatment for children in this age group.  Model 
  5.29  programs must include a component to monitor and evaluate 
  5.30  treatment outcomes. 
  5.31     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 254A.17, is 
  5.32  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  5.33     Subd. 1b.  [INTERVENTION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM.] Within the 
  5.34  limits of money available, the commissioner of human services 
  5.35  shall fund hospital-based outreach programs targeted at women 
  5.36  who deliver children affected by prenatal alcohol or drug use.  
  6.1   The program shall help women obtain treatment, stay in recovery, 
  6.2   and plan any future pregnancies.  An advocate shall be assigned 
  6.3   to each woman in the program to provide guidance and advice with 
  6.4   respect to treatment programs, child safety and parenting, 
  6.5   housing, family planning, and any other personal issues that are 
  6.6   barriers to remaining free of chemical dependence.  The 
  6.7   commissioner shall develop an evaluation component and provide 
  6.8   centralized coordination of the evaluation process. 
  6.9      Sec. 4.  [STUDY OF EXTENT OF FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME.] 
  6.10     The commissioner of health shall conduct a study of the 
  6.11  incidence and prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome in Minnesota. 
  6.12     Sec. 5.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  6.13     Subdivision 1.  [PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION.] $5,000,000 
  6.14  is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
  6.15  health for education, prevention, and intervention activities 
  6.16  for fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects.  
  6.17     Of this appropriation, $800,000 is appropriated to the 
  6.18  commissioner of health to develop and implement a public 
  6.19  awareness campaign as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 
  6.20  145.9266, subdivision 1. 
  6.21     Subd. 2.  [REGIONAL DIAGNOSTIC CLINICS.] $400,000 is 
  6.22  appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health 
  6.23  to develop a statewide network of regional diagnostic clinics as 
  6.24  defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 145.9266, subdivision 2. 
  6.25     Subd. 3.  [PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.] $150,000 is appropriated 
  6.26  from the general fund to the commissioner of health for 
  6.27  professional training as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 
  6.28  145.9266, subdivision 3. 
  6.29     Subd. 4.  [COMMUNITY GRANTS.] $850,000 is appropriated from 
  6.30  the general fund to the commissioner of health to administer 
  6.31  community grants for fetal alcohol syndrome prevention and 
  6.32  intervention as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 145.9266, 
  6.33  subdivision 4. 
  6.34     Subd. 5.  [SCHOOL PILOT PROGRAMS.] $200,000 is appropriated 
  6.35  from the general fund to the commissioner of health for school 
  6.36  pilot programs as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 
  7.1   145.9266, subdivision 5. 
  7.2      Subd. 6.  [COORDINATING BOARD.] $350,000 is appropriated 
  7.3   from the general fund to the commissioner of health to implement 
  7.4   a fetal alcohol syndrome coordinating board as defined in 
  7.5   Minnesota Statutes, section 145.9266, subdivision 6. 
  7.6      Subd. 7.  [MATERNAL AND CHILD SERVICES.] $800,000 is 
  7.7   appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health 
  7.8   to expand maternal and child service programs under Minnesota 
  7.9   Statutes, section 254A.17, subdivision 1. 
  7.10     Subd. 8.  [INTERVENTION AND ADVOCACY.] $400,000 is 
  7.11  appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health 
  7.12  to establish an intervention and advocacy program under 
  7.13  Minnesota Statutes, section 254A.17, subdivision 1b. 
  7.14     Subd. 9.  [TREATMENT; HALFWAY HOUSES.] $850,000 is 
  7.15  appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health 
  7.16  to expand treatment services and halfway houses for pregnant 
  7.17  women and women with children.  
  7.18     Subd. 10.  [STUDY OF EXTENT OF FETAL ALCOHOL 
  7.19  SYNDROME.] $200,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  7.20  commissioner of health to study the extent of fetal alcohol 
  7.21  syndrome in Minnesota. 
  7.22     Subd. 11.  [TRANSFER.] The commissioner of health shall 
  7.23  transfer money appropriated by this section to the appropriate 
  7.24  agencies involved in implementing fetal alcohol syndrome 
  7.25  initiatives.