1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act; 
1.3 	requiring a report on case management and other social services; requiring a 
1.4 	report on the reduced Medicaid reimbursements; amending Laws 2005, First 
1.5 	Special Session chapter 4, article 7, section 59; proposing coding for new law 
1.6 	in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256K.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. [256K.60] RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT.
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) The definitions of this subdivision apply to this 
1.10 	section. 
1.11 	(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.
1.12 	(c) "Homeless youth" means a person 21 years or younger who is unaccompanied 
1.13 	by a parent or guardian and is without shelter where appropriate care and supervision are 
1.14 	available, whose parent or legal guardian is unable or unwilling to provide shelter and 
1.15 	care, or who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The following are 
1.16 	not fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residences: 
1.17 	(1) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary 
1.18 	living accommodations;
1.19 	(2) an institution publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide 
1.20 	temporary living accommodations;
1.21 	(3) transitional housing;
1.22 	(4) a temporary placement with a peer, friend, or family member that has not offered 
1.23 	permanent residence, a residential lease, or temporary lodging for more than 30 days; or
1.24 	(5) a public or private place not designed for, nor ordinarily used as, a regular 
1.25 	sleeping accommodation for human beings. 
2.1 	Homeless youth does not include persons incarcerated or otherwise detained under 
2.2 	federal or state law.
2.3 	(d) "Youth at risk of homelessness" means a person 21 years or younger whose status 
2.4 	or circumstances indicate a significant danger of experiencing homelessness in the near 
2.5 	future. Status or circumstances that indicate a significant danger may include youth exiting 
2.6 	out-of-home placements, youth who previously were homeless, youth whose parents or 
2.7 	primary caregivers are or were previously homeless, youth who are exposed to abuse and 
2.8 	neglect in their homes, youth who experience conflict with parents due to chemical or 
2.9 	alcohol dependency, mental health disabilities, or other disabilities, and runaways.
2.10 	(e) "Runaway" means an unmarried child under the age of 18 years who is absent 
2.11 	from the home of a parent or guardian or other lawful placement without the consent of 
2.12 	the parent, guardian, or lawful custodian.
2.13 		Subd. 2.Homeless and runaway youth initiative. (a) The commissioner shall 
2.14 	develop a comprehensive initiative for homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness, 
2.15 	and runaways. The commissioner shall contract with organizations and public and private 
2.16 	agencies, including faith-based organizations, to provide street outreach, emergency 
2.17 	shelter services, drop-in services, family mediation counseling and conflict resolution, 
2.18 	transitional living services, case management services, life skills training, and family 
2.19 	reunification services to youth, to the extent that funds exist or become available. The 
2.20 	programs must be culturally competent to serve specific populations and must provide 
2.21 	voluntary services to homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness, and runaways in an 
2.22 	appropriate and responsible manner.
2.23 	(b) The commissioner shall plan for and coordinate services for homeless, runaway, 
2.24 	and at-risk youth. The commissioner may provide support services required to achieve 
2.25 	the objectives and goals of the initiative.
2.26 	(c) Nothing in this section relieves counties from existing responsibilities to provide 
2.27 	services for homeless youth, youth at risk of being homeless, or runaways under section 
2.28 	626.556, chapter 256E, or other applicable laws.
2.29 	(d) Nothing in this section is intended to preclude homeless youth ages 18 to 21 from 
2.30 	utilizing other services or programs available to homeless adults.
2.31 		Subd. 3.Street and community outreach and drop-in program. Youth drop-in 
2.32 	centers must provide walk-in access to crisis intervention and on-going supportive services 
2.33 	including one-to-one case management services on a self-referral basis. Street and 
2.34 	community outreach programs must locate, contact, and provide information, referrals, 
2.35 	and services to homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness, and runaways. Information, 
2.36 	referrals, and services provided may include, but are not limited to:
3.1 	(1) family reunification services;
3.2 	(2) conflict resolution or mediation counseling;
3.3 	(3) assistance in obtaining temporary emergency shelter;
3.4 	(4) assistance in obtaining food, clothing, medical care, or mental health counseling;
3.5 	(5) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance abuse, sexually transmitted 
3.6 	diseases, and pregnancy;
3.7 	(6) referrals to other agencies that provide support to services to homeless youth, 
3.8 	youth at risk of homelessness, and runaways;
3.9 	(7) assistance with education, employment, and independent living skills;
3.10 	(8) after-care services;
3.11 	(9) specialized services for highly vulnerable runaways and homeless youth, 
3.12 	including teen parents, emotionally disturbed and mentally ill youth, and sexually 
3.13 	exploited youth; and
3.14 	(10) homelessness prevention.
3.15 		Subd. 4.Emergency shelter program. (a) Emergency shelter programs must 
3.16 	provide homeless youth and runaways with referral and walk-in access to emergency, 
3.17 	short-term residential care. The program shall provide homeless youth and runaways with 
3.18 	safe, dignified shelter, including private shower facilities, beds, and at least one meal each 
3.19 	day, and shall assist a runaway with reunification with the family or legal guardian when 
3.20 	required or appropriate.
3.21 	(b) The services provided at emergency shelters may include, but are not limited to:
3.22 	(1) family reunification services;
3.23 	(2) individual, family, and group counseling;
3.24 	(3) assistance obtaining clothing;
3.25 	(4) access to medical and dental care and mental health counseling;
3.26 	(5) education and employment services;
3.27 	(6) recreational activities;
3.28 	(7) advocacy and referral services;
3.29 	(8) independent living skills training;
3.30 	(9) after-care and follow-up services;
3.31 	(10) transportation; and
3.32 	(11) homelessness prevention.
3.33 		Subd. 5.Supportive housing and transitional living programs. Transitional 
3.34 	living programs must help homeless youth and youth at risk of homelessness to find and 
3.35 	maintain safe, dignified housing. The program may also provide rental assistance and 
4.1 	related supportive services, or refer youth to other organizations or agencies that provide 
4.2 	such services.  Services provided may include, but are not limited to:
4.3 	(1) educational assessment and referrals to educational programs;
4.4 	(2) career planning, employment, work skill training, and independent living skills 
4.5 	training;
4.6 	(3) job placement;
4.7 	(4) budgeting and money management;
4.8 	(5) assistance in securing housing appropriate to needs and income;
4.9 	(6) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance abuse, sexually transmitted 
4.10 	diseases, and pregnancy;
4.11 	(7) referral for medical services or chemical dependency treatment;
4.12 	(8) parenting skills;
4.13 	(9) self-sufficiency support services or life skill training;
4.14 	(10) after-care and follow-up services; and
4.15 	(11) homelessness prevention.

4.16 	Sec. 2. Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 4, article 7, section 59, is amended to 
4.17 	read:
4.18 	Sec. 59.  REPORT TO LEGISLATURE.
4.19 	The commissioner shall report to the legislature by  December 15, 2006, on the 
4.20 	redesign of case management services.  In preparing the report, the commissioner 
4.21 	shall consult with  representatives for consumers, consumer advocates, counties, labor 
4.22 	organizations representing county social service workers, and  service providers.  The 
4.23 	report shall include draft legislation  for case management changes that will:  
4.24 	(1) streamline administration;  
4.25 	(2) improve consumer access to case management services;  
4.26 	(3) address the use of a comprehensive universal assessment  protocol for persons 
4.27 	seeking community supports;  
4.28 	(4) establish case management performance measures;  
4.29 	(5) provide for consumer choice of the case management  service vendor; and  
4.30 	(6) provide a method of payment for case management  services that is cost-effective 
4.31 	and best supports the draft  legislation in clauses (1) to (5).  

4.32 	Sec. 3. IMPACT ON REDUCED MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS.
 4.33 	The commissioner of human services shall report to the chair of the house Health 
4.34 	Policy and Finance Committee and the chairs of the senate Health and Family Security 
5.1 	Committee and Health and Human Services Budget Division by December 1, 2006, on the 
5.2 	impact of reduced Medicaid reimbursements resulting from the federal Deficit Reduction 
5.3 	Act of 2005. The report shall include options to restore lost revenues and ensure the 
5.4 	continuation of targeted case management and other affected social services.

5.5 	Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION.
 5.6 	$....... is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2007, from the general 
5.7 	fund to the commissioner of human services for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 
5.8 	256K.50.

5.9 	Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 5.10 	Sections 2 and 3 are effective the day following final enactment.