1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act; 
1.3 	establishing a pilot project for youth during out-of-school time; requiring a 
1.4 	report from the commissioner of education on out-of-school time opportunities 
1.5 	for youth ages ten to 18; appropriating money;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.50] RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT.
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Findings and needs. There are hundreds of homeless youth in 
1.10 	Minnesota every night and many come from homes of abuse and neglect or have been 
1.11 	abandoned. Homeless and runaway youth are largely an invisible population. Many 
1.12 	homeless and runaway youth have no families or primary caregivers. Many are exploited 
1.13 	by adults or are forced to compromise their values to survive on the streets. Homeless 
1.14 	and runaway youth are in need of outreach, crisis intervention, adult mentorship, family 
1.15 	reunification, safe drop-in spaces, shelter, housing, case management services, and life 
1.16 	skills training. It is necessary to offer a continuum of care and services directed at 
1.17 	homeless and runaway youth.
1.18 		Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) The definitions of this subdivision apply to this section. 
1.19 	(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.
1.20 	(c) "Homeless youth" means a person 21 years or younger who is unaccompanied 
1.21 	by a parent or guardian and is without shelter where appropriate care and supervision are 
1.22 	available, whose parent or legal guardian is unable or unwilling to provide shelter and 
1.23 	care, or who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The following are 
1.24 	not fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residences: 
2.1 	(1) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary 
2.2 	living accommodations;
2.3 	(2) an institution publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide 
2.4 	temporary living accommodations;
2.5 	(3) transitional housing;
2.6 	(4) a temporary placement with a peer, friend, or family member that has not offered 
2.7 	permanent residence, a residential lease, or temporary lodging for more than 30 days; or
2.8 	(5) a public or private place not designed for, nor ordinarily used as, a regular 
2.9 	sleeping accommodation for human beings. 
2.10 	Homeless youth does not include persons incarcerated or otherwise detained under 
2.11 	federal or state law.
2.12 	(d) "Youth at risk of homelessness" means a person 21 years or younger whose status 
2.13 	or circumstances indicate a significant danger of experiencing homelessness in the near 
2.14 	future. Status or circumstances that indicate a significant danger may include youth exiting 
2.15 	out-of-home placements, youth who previously were homeless, youth whose parents or 
2.16 	primary caregivers are or were previously homeless, youth who are exposed to abuse and 
2.17 	neglect in their homes, youth who experience conflict with parents due to chemical or 
2.18 	alcohol dependency, mental health disabilities, or other disabilities, and runaways.
2.19 	(e) "Runaway" means an unmarried child under the age of 18 years who is absent 
2.20 	from the home of a parent or guardian or other lawful placement without the consent of 
2.21 	the parent, guardian, or lawful custodian.
2.22 		Subd. 3.Homeless and runaway youth initiative. (a) The commissioner shall 
2.23 	develop a comprehensive initiative for homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness, 
2.24 	and runaways. The commissioner shall provide funding to counties to contract with 
2.25 	organizations and public and private agencies, including faith-based organizations, to 
2.26 	provide street outreach, emergency shelter services, drop-in services, family mediation 
2.27 	counseling and conflict resolution, transitional living services, case management services, 
2.28 	life skills training, and family reunification services to youth, to the extent that funds 
2.29 	exist or become available. The programs must be culturally competent to serve specific 
2.30 	populations and must provide voluntary services to homeless youth, youth at risk of 
2.31 	homelessness, and runaways in an appropriate and responsible manner.
2.32 	(b) The commissioner shall plan for and coordinate services for homeless, runaway, 
2.33 	and at-risk youth. The commissioner may provide support services required to achieve 
2.34 	the objectives and goals of the initiative.
3.1 	(c) Nothing in this section relieves counties from existing responsibilities to provide 
3.2 	services for homeless youth, youth at risk of being homeless, or runaways under section 
3.3 	626.556, chapter 256E, or other applicable laws.
3.4 	(d) Nothing in this section is intended to preclude homeless youth ages 18 to 21 from 
3.5 	utilizing other services or programs available to homeless adults.
3.6 		Subd. 4.Street and community outreach and drop-in program. Youth drop-in 
3.7 	centers must provide walk-in access to crisis intervention and ongoing supportive services 
3.8 	including one-to-one case management services on a self-referral basis. Street and 
3.9 	community outreach programs must locate, contact, and provide information, referrals, 
3.10 	and services to homeless youth, youth at risk of homelessness, and runaways. Information, 
3.11 	referrals, and services provided may include, but are not limited to:
3.12 	(1) family reunification services;
3.13 	(2) conflict resolution or mediation counseling;
3.14 	(3) assistance in obtaining temporary emergency shelter;
3.15 	(4) assistance in obtaining food, clothing, medical care, or mental health counseling;
3.16 	(5) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance abuse, sexually transmitted 
3.17 	diseases, and pregnancy;
3.18 	(6) referrals to other agencies that provide support to services to homeless youth, 
3.19 	youth at risk of homelessness, and runaways;
3.20 	(7) assistance with education, employment, and independent living skills;
3.21 	(8) after-care services;
3.22 	(9) specialized services for highly vulnerable runaways and homeless youth, 
3.23 	including teen parents, emotionally disturbed and mentally ill youth, and sexually 
3.24 	exploited youth; and
3.25 	(10) homelessness prevention.
3.26 		Subd. 5.Emergency shelter program. (a) Emergency shelter programs must 
3.27 	provide homeless youth and runaways with referral and walk-in access to emergency, 
3.28 	short-term residential care. The program shall provide homeless youth and runaways with 
3.29 	safe, dignified shelter, including private shower facilities, beds, and at least one meal each 
3.30 	day, and shall assist a runaway with reunification with the family or legal guardian when 
3.31 	required or appropriate.
3.32 	(b) The services provided at emergency shelters may include, but are not limited to:
3.33 	(1) family reunification services;
3.34 	(2) individual, family, and group counseling;
3.35 	(3) assistance obtaining clothing;
3.36 	(4) access to medical and dental care and mental health counseling;
4.1 	(5) education and employment services;
4.2 	(6) recreational activities;
4.3 	(7) advocacy and referral services;
4.4 	(8) independent living skills training;
4.5 	(9) after-care and follow-up services;
4.6 	(10) transportation; and
4.7 	(11) homelessness prevention.
4.8 		Subd. 6.Supportive housing and transitional living programs. Supportive 
4.9 	housing and transitional living programs must help homeless youth and youth at risk of 
4.10 	homelessness to find and maintain safe, dignified housing. The program may also provide 
4.11 	rental assistance and related supportive services, or refer youth to other organizations or 
4.12 	agencies that provide such services.  Services provided may include, but are not limited to:
4.13 	(1) educational assessment and referrals to educational programs;
4.14 	(2) career planning, employment, work skill training, and independent living skills 
4.15 	training;
4.16 	(3) job placement;
4.17 	(4) budgeting and money management;
4.18 	(5) assistance in securing housing appropriate to needs and income;
4.19 	(6) counseling regarding violence, prostitution, substance abuse, sexually transmitted 
4.20 	diseases, and pregnancy;
4.21 	(7) referral for medical services or chemical dependency treatment;
4.22 	(8) parenting skills;
4.23 	(9) self-sufficiency support services or life skill training;
4.24 	(10) after-care and follow-up services; and
4.25 	(11) homelessness prevention.

4.26 	Sec. 2. REPORT ON OUT-OF-SCHOOL CARE FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN 
4.27 	THE AGES OF TEN TO 18.
 4.28 	The commissioner of education, in consultation with the commissioners of human 
4.29 	services and public safety, shall provide a report to the legislature by January 20, 2007, 
4.30 	which surveys and analyzes out-of-school time opportunities for children ages ten to 18. 
4.31 	The commissioner must gather representative information from urban, suburban, and 
4.32 	rural areas regarding where children go after their school day is over and during school 
4.33 	breaks. Further, the commissioner shall communicate with members of the community, 
4.34 	parents of children ages ten to 18, child care providers, middle school personnel, and other 
4.35 	interested individuals to gather information and develop positive, supervised out-of-school 
5.1 	alternatives for children ages ten to 18, in order to reduce the incidence of sexual activity, 
5.2 	underage drinking and smoking, use of illegal substances, and other criminal activity.

5.3 	Sec. 3. OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH DURING OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME.
 5.4 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. A competitive statewide after-school enrichment 
5.5 	grant program is established to provide implementation grants to community or nonprofit 
5.6 	organizations, to political subdivisions, or to school-based programs. The commissioner 
5.7 	of education shall develop criteria for after-school enrichment programs.
5.8 		Subd. 2.Program outcomes. The expected outcomes of the after-school 
5.9 	enrichment programs are to:
5.10 	(1) increase the number of children participating in adult-supervised programs 
5.11 	in nonschool hours;
5.12 	(2) increase the number of youth engaged in community services and other activities 
5.13 	designed to support character improvement, strengthen families, and instill community 
5.14 	values;
5.15 	(3) increase skills in technology, the arts, sports, and other activities;
5.16 	(4) reduce the amount of juvenile crime;
5.17 	(5) increase and support the academic achievement and character development of 
5.18 	adolescent parents;
5.19 	(6) increase school attendance and reduce the number of school suspensions; and
5.20 	(7) support academic achievement, including the areas of reading and math.
5.21 		Subd. 3.Plan. An applicant shall develop a plan for an after-school enrichment 
5.22 	program for youth. The plan must include:
5.23 	(1) collaboration with and leverage of existing community resources that have 
5.24 	demonstrated effectiveness;
5.25 	(2) outreach to children and youth;
5.26 	(3) involvement of local governments, including park and recreation boards or 
5.27 	schools, unless no government agency is appropriate; and
5.28 	(4) community control over the design of the enrichment program and identification 
5.29 	of the sources of nonpublic funding.
5.30 		Subd. 4.Plan approval; grants. An applicant shall submit a plan developed under 
5.31 	subdivision 3 to the commissioner for approval. The commissioner shall award a grant for 
5.32 	the implementation of an approved plan.

5.33 	Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION.
 6.1 	$....... is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2007, from the general 
6.2 	fund to the commissioner of human services for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 
6.3 	256K.50.
6.4 	$....... is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund 
6.5 	to the commissioner of education for the purposes of section 3.