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 funds exist or become available; providing 
  1.7             for street outreach and drop-in services, emergency 
  1.8             shelter services, and transitional living programs; 
  1.9             proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.10            chapter 257B. 
  1.11  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.12     Section 1.  [257B.03] [DEFINITIONS.] 
  1.13     Subdivision 1.  [APPLICATION.] The definitions in this 
  1.14  section apply to this chapter.  Additionally, the terms 
  1.15  "homeless youth," "youth at risk of homelessness," and "runaway" 
  1.16  apply to any other statute or program addressing or serving 
  1.17  those populations unless defined differently therein, or unless 
  1.18  the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
  1.19     Subd. 2.  [COMMISSIONER.] "Commissioner" means the 
  1.20  commissioner of human services. 
  1.21     Subd. 3.  [HOMELESS YOUTH.] "Homeless youth" means a person 
  1.22  under the age of 21 years who is without shelter where 
  1.23  appropriate care and supervision are available, whose parent or 
  1.24  legal guardian is unable or unwilling to provide shelter and 
  1.25  care, or who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime 
  1.26  residence.  The following are not fixed, regular, and adequate 
  1.27  nighttime residences: 
  1.28     (1) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter 
  2.1   designed to provide temporary living accommodations; 
  2.2      (2) an institution that provides a temporary residence for 
  2.3   individuals intended to be institutionalized; 
  2.4      (3) transitional housing; or 
  2.5      (4) a public or private place not designed for, nor 
  2.6   ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human 
  2.7   beings. 
  2.8      Homeless youth does not include persons incarcerated or 
  2.9   otherwise detained under federal or state law. 
  2.10     Subd. 4.  [YOUTH AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.] "Youth at risk 
  2.11  of homelessness" means persons under the age of 21 years whose 
  2.12  status or circumstances indicate a significant danger of 
  2.13  experiencing homelessness in the near future.  Status or 
  2.14  circumstances that indicate a significant danger may include 
  2.15  youth exiting out-of-home placement, youth who were previously 
  2.16  homeless, youth whose parents or primary caregivers are or were 
  2.17  previously homeless, and runaways. 
  2.18     Subd. 5.  [RUNAWAY.] "Runaway" means an unmarried child 
  2.19  under the age of 18 years who is absent from the home of a 
  2.20  parent or other lawful placement without the consent of the 
  2.21  parent, guardian, or lawful custodian. 
  2.22     Sec. 3.  [257B.04] [HOMELESS AND RUNAWAY YOUTH INITIATIVE.] 
  2.23     Subdivision 1.  The commissioner has responsibility for 
  2.24  developing a comprehensive initiative for homeless youth, youth 
  2.25  at risk of homelessness, and runaways.  The commissioner shall 
  2.26  contract with organizations and public and private agencies that 
  2.27  provide street outreach, emergency shelter services, 
  2.28  transitional living services, or family reunification services 
  2.29  to provide services to such youth, to the extent that funds 
  2.30  exist or become available.  The commissioner shall contract for 
  2.31  programs that ensure that voluntary services are provided to 
  2.32  homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness, and runaways in 
  2.33  an appropriate and responsible manner. 
  2.34     Subd. 2.  Nothing in this chapter relieves counties from 
  2.35  existing responsibilities to provide services for homeless 
  2.36  youth, youth at risk of homelessness, or runaways under section 
  3.1   626.556, chapter 256E, or other applicable laws. 
  3.2      Subd. 3.  Nothing in this chapter is intended to preclude 
  3.3   homeless youth ages 18 to 21 from utilizing other services or 
  3.4   programs available for homeless adults. 
  3.5      Sec. 4.  [257B.05] [STREET OUTREACH AND DROP-IN SERVICES.] 
  3.6      Street outreach and drop-in services programs under 
  3.7   contract must be able to locate, contact, and provide 
  3.8   information, referrals, and services to homeless youth, youth at 
  3.9   risk of homelessness, and runaways.  Information, referrals, and 
  3.10  services provided may include, but are not limited to: 
  3.11     (1) family reunification services; 
  3.12     (2) assistance in obtaining temporary shelter; 
  3.13     (3) assistance in obtaining food, clothing, and medical 
  3.14  care; 
  3.15     (4) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance 
  3.16  abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy; 
  3.17     (5) referrals to other agencies that provide support 
  3.18  services to homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness, and 
  3.19  runaways; 
  3.20     (6) assistance with education, employment, and independent 
  3.21  living skills; 
  3.22     (7) follow-up and after-care services; 
  3.23     (8) specialized services for highly vulnerable runaways and 
  3.24  homeless youth, including teen parents, emotionally disturbed 
  3.25  and mentally ill youth, and youth involved in prostitution; and 
  3.26     (9) homelessness prevention. 
  3.27     Sec. 5.  [257B.06] [EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES.] 
  3.28     Subdivision 1.  [SCOPE.] Emergency shelter programs under 
  3.29  contract must provide homeless youth and runaways with referral 
  3.30  and walk-in access to emergency, short-term residential care.  
  3.31  The programs should provide homeless youth and runaways with 
  3.32  safe, dignified shelter and should help reunite runaways with 
  3.33  their parents or legal guardians when required or appropriate in 
  3.34  accordance with subdivision 3. 
  3.35     Subd. 2.  [SERVICES PROVIDED.] The services provided at 
  3.36  emergency shelters may include, but are not limited to: 
  4.1      (1) family reunification services; 
  4.2      (2) individual, family, and group counseling; 
  4.3      (3) providing food; 
  4.4      (4) providing clothing; 
  4.5      (5) access to medical and dental care; 
  4.6      (6) education and employment services; 
  4.7      (7) recreation activities; 
  4.8      (8) advocacy and referral services; 
  4.9      (9) independent living skills training; 
  4.10     (10) after-care and follow-up services; 
  4.11     (11) transportation; and 
  4.12     (12) homelessness prevention. 
  4.13     Subd. 3.  [PARENTAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION.] An 
  4.14  emergency shelter and its agents, employees, and volunteers must 
  4.15  comply with court orders, section 626.556, chapter 260C, and all 
  4.16  other applicable laws.  In any event, unless other legal 
  4.17  requirements require earlier or different notification or 
  4.18  actions, an emergency shelter must attempt to notify a runaway's 
  4.19  parent or legal guardian of the runaway's location and status 
  4.20  within 72 hours.  The notification must include a description of 
  4.21  the runaway's physical and emotional condition and the 
  4.22  circumstances surrounding the runaway's admission to the 
  4.23  emergency shelter, unless there are compelling reasons not to 
  4.24  provide the parent or legal guardian with this information.  
  4.25  Compelling reasons may include circumstances in which the 
  4.26  runaway is or has been a victim of child abuse, neglect, sexual 
  4.27  exploitation, or abandonment. 
  4.28     Sec. 6.  [257B.07] [TRANSITIONAL LIVING.] 
  4.29     Transitional living programs under contract must be able to 
  4.30  help homeless youth and youth at risk of homelessness find and 
  4.31  maintain safe, dignified housing.  The programs should also 
  4.32  provide related supportive services, or should refer youth to 
  4.33  other organizations or agencies that provide such services.  The 
  4.34  program should be available to an individual for up to 24 
  4.35  consecutive months.  Services provided may include, but are not 
  4.36  limited to: 
  5.1      (1) education assessments and referrals to educational 
  5.2   programs; 
  5.3      (2) career planning, employment, and independent living 
  5.4   skills training; 
  5.5      (3) job placement; 
  5.6      (4) budgeting and money management; 
  5.7      (5) assistance in securing housing appropriate to needs and 
  5.8   income; 
  5.9      (6) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance 
  5.10  abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy; 
  5.11     (7) referral for medical services or chemical dependency 
  5.12  treatment; 
  5.13     (8) parenting skills; 
  5.14     (9) after-care and follow-up services; and 
  5.15     (10) homelessness prevention.