1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; requiring the commissioner to update the 2007 
1.3 	legislative report on homeless youth;amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 
1.4 	256K.45, subdivision 2.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 256K.45, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 2.Homeless youth report. The commissioner shall prepare a biennial report, 
1.8 	beginning in February 2015, which provides meaningful information to the legislative 
1.9 	committees having jurisdiction over the issue of homeless youth, that includes, but is not 
1.10 	limited to: (1) a list of the areas of the state with the greatest need for services and housing 
1.11 	for homeless youth, and the level and nature of the needs identified; (2) details about grants 
1.12 	made; (3) the distribution of funds throughout the state based on population need; (4) 
1.13 	follow-up information, if available, on the status of homeless youth and whether they have 
1.14 	stable housing two years after services are provided; and (5) any other outcomes for 
1.15 	populations served to determine the effectiveness of the programs and use of funding. The 
1.16 	commissioner is exempt from preparing this report in 2019 and must instead update the 
1.17 	2007 report on homeless youth under section 2.

1.18 	Sec. 2. 2018 REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON HOMELESS YOUTH.
 1.19 		Subdivision 1.Report development. In lieu of the biennial homeless youth report under 
1.20 	Minnesota Statutes, section 256K.45, subdivision 2, the commissioner of human services 
1.21 	shall update the information in the 2007 legislative report on runaway and homeless youth. 
1.22 	In developing the updated report, the commissioner may use existing data, studies, and 
1.23 	analysis provided by state, county, and other entities including, but not limited to:
2.1 	(1) Minnesota Housing Finance Agency analysis on housing availability;
2.2 	(2) Minnesota state plan to end homelessness;
2.3 	(3) continuum of care counts of youth experiencing homelessness and assessments as 
2.4 	provided by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-required coordinated 
2.5 	entry systems;
2.6 	(4) data collected through the Department of Human Services Homeless Youth Act grant 
2.7 	program;
2.8 	(5) Wilder Research homeless study;
2.9 	(6) Voices of Youth Count sponsored by Hennepin County; and
2.10 	(7) privately funded analysis, including:
2.11 	(i) nine evidence-based principles to support youth in overcoming homelessness;
2.12 	(ii) return on investment analysis conducted for YouthLink by Foldes Consulting; and
2.13 	(iii) evaluation of Homeless Youth Act resources conducted by Rainbow Research.
2.14 		Subd. 2.Key elements; due date. (a) The report must include three key elements where 
2.15 	significant learning has occurred in the state since the 2007 report, including:
2.16 	(1) unique causes of youth homelessness;
2.17 	(2) targeted responses to youth homelessness, including significance of positive youth 
2.18 	development as fundamental to each targeted response; and
2.19 	(3) recommendations based on existing reports and analysis on what it will take to end 
2.20 	youth homelessness.
2.21 	(b) To the extent data is available, the report must include:
2.22 	(1) general accounting of the federal and philanthropic funds leveraged to support 
2.23 	homeless youth activities;
2.24 	(2) general accounting of the increase in volunteer responses to support youth 
2.25 	experiencing homelessness; and
2.26 	(3) data-driven accounting of geographic areas or distinct populations that have gaps in 
2.27 	service or are not yet served by homeless youth responses.
2.28 	(c) The commissioner of human services shall consult with  community-based providers 
2.29 	of homeless youth services and other expert stakeholders to complete the report. The 
3.1 	commissioner shall submit the report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
3.2 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over youth homelessness by February 15, 2019.