1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; requiring a mental health 
  1.3             assessment within 72 hours of a referral; amending 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes 2000, sections 245.467, subdivision 
  1.5             1; and 245.487, subdivision 3. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 245.467, 
  1.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [CRITERIA.] Mental health services required 
  1.10  by this chapter must be:  
  1.11     (1) based, when feasible, on research findings; 
  1.12     (2) based on individual clinical needs, cultural and ethnic 
  1.13  needs, and other special needs of individuals being served; 
  1.14     (3) provided in the most appropriate, least restrictive 
  1.15  setting available to the county board; 
  1.16     (4) accessible to all age groups; 
  1.17     (5) delivered in a manner that provides accountability; 
  1.18     (6) provided by qualified individuals as required in this 
  1.19  chapter and an initial assessment conducted within 72 hours of a 
  1.20  referral for mental health services being made; 
  1.21     (7) coordinated with mental health services offered by 
  1.22  other providers; and 
  1.23     (8) provided under conditions which protect the rights and 
  1.24  dignity of the individuals being served.  
  1.25     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 245.487, 
  2.1   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  2.2      Subd. 3.  [MISSION OF CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE 
  2.3   SYSTEM.] As part of the comprehensive children's mental health 
  2.4   system established under sections 245.487 to 245.4888, the 
  2.5   commissioner of human services shall create and ensure a 
  2.6   unified, accountable, comprehensive children's mental health 
  2.7   service system that is consistent with the provision of public 
  2.8   social services for children as specified in section 256F.01 and 
  2.9   that: 
  2.10     (1) identifies children who are eligible for mental health 
  2.11  services; 
  2.12     (2) makes preventive services available to all children; 
  2.13     (3) assures access to a continuum of services that: 
  2.14     (i) educate the community about the mental health needs of 
  2.15  children; 
  2.16     (ii) address the unique physical, emotional, social, and 
  2.17  educational needs of children; 
  2.18     (iii) are coordinated with the range of social and human 
  2.19  services provided to children and their families by the 
  2.20  departments of children, families, and learning, human services, 
  2.21  health, and corrections; 
  2.22     (iv) are appropriate to the developmental needs of 
  2.23  children; and 
  2.24     (v) are sensitive to cultural differences and special 
  2.25  needs; and 
  2.26     (vi) provides an initial assessment within 72 hours of a 
  2.27  referral being made; 
  2.28     (4) includes early screening and prompt intervention to: 
  2.29     (i) identify and treat the mental health needs of children 
  2.30  in the least restrictive setting appropriate to their needs; and 
  2.31     (ii) prevent further deterioration; 
  2.32     (5) provides mental health services to children and their 
  2.33  families in the context in which the children live and go to 
  2.34  school; 
  2.35     (6) addresses the unique problems of paying for mental 
  2.36  health services for children, including: 
  3.1      (i) access to private insurance coverage; and 
  3.2      (ii) public funding; 
  3.3      (7) includes the child and the child's family in planning 
  3.4   the child's program of mental health services, unless clinically 
  3.5   inappropriate to the child's needs; and 
  3.6      (8) when necessary, assures a smooth transition from mental 
  3.7   health services appropriate for a child to mental health 
  3.8   services needed by a person who is at least 18 years of age.