HF 3201

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/22/2025 11:20 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to corrections; providing for county grants for jail diversion programs;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 641.155,
subdivisions 2, 3, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 641.155, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Discharge plans for people with serious and persistent mental illnesses.

A
person with a serious and persistent mental illness, as defined in section 245.462, subdivision
20, paragraph (c), who has been convicted and sentenced to serve three or more months and
is being released from a county jail or county regional jail shall be referred to the appropriate
staff in the county deleted text begin human services department deleted text end at least 60 days before being released. The
deleted text begin county human services department must complete a deleted text end discharge plan new text begin must be completed new text end with
the prisoner no less than 14 days before release deleted text begin that deleted text end new text begin and new text end may include:

(1) providing assistance in filling out an application for medical assistance or
MinnesotaCare;

(2) making a referral for case management as outlined under section 245.467, subdivision
4;

(3) providing assistance in obtaining a state photo identification;

(4) securing a timely appointment with a psychiatrist or other appropriate community
mental health providers; and

(5) providing prescriptions for a 30-day supply of all necessary medications.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 641.155, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

deleted text begin Reentry coordination deleted text end new text begin Jail diversion new text end programs.

A county may establish a
program to new text begin divert people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders from arrest or
incarceration and to new text end provide services and assist prisoners with reentering the community.
deleted text begin Reentry deleted text end Services may include but are not limited to:

(1) providing assistance in meeting the basic needs of the prisoner immediately after
release, including but not limited to provisions for transportation, clothing, food, and shelter;

(2) providing assistance in filling out an application for medical assistance or
MinnesotaCare;

(3) providing assistance in obtaining a state photo identification;

(4) providing assistance in obtaining prescriptions for all necessary medications;

(5) coordinating services with the local county services agency or the social services
agency in the county where the prisoner is a resident; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(6) coordinating services with a community mental health or substance use disorder
provider deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (7) providing assistance in obtaining officer-involved community-based care coordination
under section 256B.0625, subdivision 56a.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 641.155, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Jail diversion grant program. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of corrections, in
consultation with the commissioner of human services and counties, shall create a grant
program for counties to establish and maintain jail diversion programs. Grant money may
be used to provide the services in subdivision 3, discharge planning, and for staff time,
including hiring new staff.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall solicit counties interested in creating a jail diversion program
and develop a formula to equitably distribute grant money. The commissioner of corrections
may prioritize grant money for counties that develop partnerships with:
new text end

new text begin (1) mobile crisis teams under section 256B.0624; or
new text end

new text begin (2) local community providers for mental health services in jail.
new text end

new text begin (c) Grantees shall provide data required by the commissioner to the commissioner for
the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the jail diversion grant program. Qualitative
data may also be collected to demonstrate outcomes. The commissioner must consult with
grantees to develop ongoing outcome measures for program capacity and performance. The
commissioner must make information on outcome measures for the program available to
the public and update the information annually.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated to the
commissioner of corrections for the jail diversion grant program. The base for this
appropriation is $....... in fiscal year 2028 and each year thereafter.
new text end