1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing a Homeless Youth Task Force.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. HOMELESS YOUTH TASK FORCE.
 1.5 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioner of human services shall establish 
1.6 	and provide staffing for a task force regarding the homelessness of youth in Minnesota.
1.7 		Subd. 2.Duties. The Homeless Youth Task Force shall study:
1.8 	(1) the causes and effects of homelessness and ways to ameliorate or eradicate them;
1.9 	(2) issues which interconnect with homeless youth, such as mental health, chemical 
1.10 	dependency, trafficking of youth whether for sex or other purposes, exiting from the 
1.11 	foster care system, proper cognitive brain development for both IQ and executive 
1.12 	functions as well as for noncognitive functions, physical health, gangs, parent training, 
1.13 	and intervention; and
1.14 	(3) any other issues the commissioner deems appropriate, after consulting with the 
1.15 	chair and ranking minority members of the Early Childhood and Youth Development 
1.16 	Committee in the house of representatives and the chair and ranking minority members of 
1.17 	the Health and Human Services Policy Committee in the senate.
1.18 		Subd. 3.Membership. The Homeless Youth Task Force shall include:
1.19 	(1) representatives from state agencies which address issues related to homeless 
1.20 	youth;
1.21 	(2) representatives from the court system;
1.22 	(3) children in need of protection;
1.23 	(4) law enforcement;
2.1 	(5) individuals or members of private agencies who have experience in delinquency, 
2.2 	housing issues, social work, or education systems; 
2.3 	(6) faculty or staff at institutions of higher education who have knowledge of issues 
2.4 	affecting homeless youth; and
2.5 	(7) representatives from counties.
2.6 		Subd. 4.Report. The Homeless Youth Task Force shall issue a report by December 
2.7 	1, 2013, with preliminary findings and suggestions for possible action by the legislature in 
2.8 	2014, and shall issue a final report by November 1, 2014.
2.9 		Subd. 5.Statewide visible child plan. The commissioners of education, health, 
2.10 	housing finance, and human services shall jointly prepare a statewide plan to improve the 
2.11 	well-being of children who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness, especially 
2.12 	young children. The plan shall also address issues experienced by children in families 
2.13 	who are at risk of homelessness or who are living in unstable housing. In preparing the 
2.14 	plan, the commissioners shall utilize the recommendations of the Minnesota Visible Child 
2.15 	Work Group authorized in Laws 2012, chapter 247, article 3, section 27. The statewide 
2.16 	plan shall be presented to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over education, 
2.17 	health, housing finance, and human services by September 1, 2014.