HF 900

1st Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/17/2021 01:35pm

A bill for an act
relating to homelessness; establishing a task force on shelter resident rights and
shelter provider practices; requiring reports; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin TASK FORCE ON SHELTER RESIDENT RIGHTS AND SHELTER
PROVIDER PRACTICES.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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new text begin (b) "Director" means the state director of the Minnesota Interagency Council on
Homelessness.
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new text begin (c) "Homeless" or "homelessness" means lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime
residence.
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new text begin (d) "Resident" means a person residing in a shelter, including all members of a family
unit.
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new text begin (e) "Shelter" means an indoor sleeping and sanitary dwelling, whether in a fixed or
rotating location, intended for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, provided
by a unit of government, a nonprofit organization, or a place of worship. Shelter includes
rooms in hotels or motels paid for by a unit of government or nonprofit organization and
daytime accommodations for individuals or families for whom shelter is provided only
overnight.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin A task force on shelter resident rights and shelter provider
practices is established to:
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new text begin (1) examine experiences of, and issues facing, shelter residents;
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new text begin (2) examine issues facing, and practices of, shelter providers;
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new text begin (3) develop a bill of rights for, and standards of treatment of, individuals and families
residing in shelters;
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new text begin (4) develop shelter provider standards of practice; and
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new text begin (5) examine the establishment of government oversight and registration of the provision
of shelter in Minnesota.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force consists of the following members appointed
by the director:
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new text begin (1) the commissioner of corrections, or a designee;
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new text begin (2) the commissioner of health, or a designee;
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new text begin (3) the commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, or a designee;
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new text begin (4) the commissioner of human rights, or a designee;
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new text begin (5) the commissioner of human services, or a designee;
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new text begin (6) the commissioner of public safety, or a designee;
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new text begin (7) the commissioner of transportation, or a designee;
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new text begin (8) the commissioner of veterans affairs, or a designee;
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new text begin (9) five individuals who have experienced homelessness and resided in a shelter in the
seven-county metropolitan area;
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new text begin (10) five individuals who have experienced homelessness and resided in a shelter in
greater Minnesota;
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new text begin (11) at least one individual who has experienced homelessness and has chosen to remain
unsheltered;
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new text begin (12) one representative from Street Voices of Change;
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new text begin (13) one representative from Freedom from the Streets;
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new text begin (14) one representative from the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing;
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new text begin (15) one representative from the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless;
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new text begin (16) one representative from the National Association of Mental Illness Minnesota;
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new text begin (17) one representative from the Autism Society of Minnesota;
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new text begin (18) one representative from Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis;
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new text begin (19) one representative from the Minnesota Community Action Partnership;
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new text begin (20) two representatives from organizations that advocate on behalf of persons with
disabilities, one of whom must be from an organization that advocates on behalf of persons
with traumatic brain injuries;
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new text begin (21) one representative from an organization that represents homeless veterans;
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new text begin (22) one representative from an organization that represents persons who reside or have
resided in a shelter who are survivors of domestic or sexual violence;
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new text begin (23) one representative from an organization that provides health care for the homeless;
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new text begin (24) one representative from an organization that provides homeless outreach services;
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new text begin (25) one representative from a civil legal services organization that provides legal
representation and advice to persons experiencing homelessness and residing in a shelter;
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new text begin (26) 11 representatives of shelter providers, including:
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new text begin (i) a shelter provider located in the seven-county metropolitan area;
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new text begin (ii) a shelter provider located in greater Minnesota;
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new text begin (iii) a winter shelter provider;
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new text begin (iv) a cold weather shelter provider;
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new text begin (v) a shelter provider serving single adults;
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new text begin (vi) a shelter provider serving families;
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new text begin (vii) a shelter provider serving survivors of domestic abuse or sexual violence;
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new text begin (viii) a shelter provider serving youth;
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new text begin (ix) a shelter provider that utilizes apartments, hotels, or motels;
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new text begin (x) a shelter provider that uses rotating spaces; and
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new text begin (xi) a congregate shelter provider;
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new text begin (27) two representatives from the League of Cities, one of whom represents cities in the
seven-county metropolitan area and one of whom represents cities in greater Minnesota;
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new text begin (28) two representatives from the Association of Minnesota Counties, one of whom
represents counties in the seven-county metropolitan area and one of whom represents
counties in greater Minnesota;
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new text begin (29) one representative from the Heading Home Minnesota Funders Collaborative; and
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new text begin (30) one representative from Hospitality Minnesota.
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new text begin (b) Appointments must be made no later than July 1, 2021.
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new text begin (c) Task force members shall serve without compensation, except for members who are
individuals who have experienced homelessness and resided in a shelter or who are
individuals representing shelter providers. Members eligible for compensation shall receive
expenses as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 6.
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new text begin (d) Vacancies shall be filled by the director consistent with the qualifications of the
vacating member required by this subdivision.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Meetings; officers. new text end

new text begin (a) The director shall convene the first meeting of the task
force no later than August 15, 2021, and shall provide physical or virtual meeting space as
necessary for the task force to conduct its work.
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new text begin (b) At its first meeting, the task force shall elect a chair and vice-chair from among the
task force members and may elect other officers as necessary.
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new text begin (c) The task force shall meet according to a schedule determined by the members or
upon the call of its chair. The task force shall meet as often as necessary to accomplish the
duties under subdivision 5.
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new text begin (d) Meetings of the task force are subject to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force must seek input from:
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new text begin (1) individuals who are experiencing or who have experienced homelessness and reside
or have resided in a shelter;
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new text begin (2) providers of shelter, including winter shelter, cold weather shelter, family shelter,
youth shelter, and shelter for survivors of domestic abuse or sexual violence; providers who
are funded by state, city, or local governments; providers who operate with nonpublic funds;
providers who provide shelter in urban and suburban areas; providers who provide shelter
in greater Minnesota; and providers of shelter in apartments, hotels, and motels; and
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new text begin (3) any other persons or organizations with experience or expertise in homelessness,
homeless outreach, or homeless prevention.
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new text begin (b) The task force must:
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new text begin (1) conduct research into and analyze establishing government oversight and registration
of homeless shelters in Minnesota; and
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new text begin (2) identify and analyze policies, rights, and responsibilities of shelter residents and
shelter providers regarding, at a minimum:
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new text begin (i) the treatment of shelter residents with dignity and respect, including but not limited
to addressing conflict resolution, ensuring cultural sensitivity, engaging people with mental
illnesses, implementing crisis response, and providing trauma-informed services;
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new text begin (ii) shelter terminations and appeals;
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new text begin (iii) remedies for and enforcement of shelter resident rights violations and illegal
terminations;
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new text begin (iv) time limits on residency and policies on temporary absences;
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new text begin (v) security and personal safety of shelter residents;
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new text begin (vi) staffing ratios;
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new text begin (vii) appropriate, adequate, and safe storage and protection of resident property and
personal information during a resident's stay and following a resident's exit from shelter;
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new text begin (viii) maintaining family units intact while in shelter;
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new text begin (ix) preventing discrimination based on race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin,
citizenship, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, marital status, veteran
status, immigration status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, religion, or
age;
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new text begin (x) seizure of persons and property;
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new text begin (xi) the expectation of the resident's personal property privacy;
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new text begin (xii) access to emergency and nonemergency medical and dental care;
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new text begin (xiii) access to hygiene and sanitary products;
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new text begin (xiv) maintenance of cleanliness of the facilities;
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new text begin (xv) accommodations for a resident's nontraditional work hours and schedules,
circumstances involving members of the resident's immediate family who do not reside in
the shelter, and other extenuating life circumstances;
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new text begin (xvi) reasonable accommodations for residents with disabilities, including residents with
physical, developmental, and communication challenges, persons whose primary language
is not English, and persons with food and other allergies or dietary restrictions;
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new text begin (xvii) the provision of information regarding shelter policies, procedures, rules,
restrictions, and notices of eviction;
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new text begin (xviii) the filing of grievances; and
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new text begin (xix) the provision of case management, referral, and other supports regarding housing,
supportive housing, mental health, physical health, substance abuse, government assistance,
and employment services and resources.
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new text begin (c) The task force must review the application of housing support payments under
Minnesota Statutes, section 256I.06, for shelter purposes and personal allowance policies
to determine how residents can retain a maximum amount of their income.
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new text begin (d) The task force shall develop recommendations for the establishment of a statewide
shelter call line to ensure that all residents are receiving adequate service in a shelter. The
task force shall evaluate the appropriate state agency, nonprofit organization, or other entity
to house and operate the call line and the funding necessary to establish and maintain the
ongoing operation of the call line.
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new text begin (e) The task force may examine any other related issues consistent with this section.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Administrative support. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency must provide
administrative support and meeting space for the task force.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin (a) No later than February 1, 2022, the task force shall submit an initial
report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate
committees and divisions with jurisdiction over housing and preventing homelessness on
the findings and recommendations for:
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new text begin (1) legislation establishing:
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new text begin (i) a bill of rights for, and uniform standards of treatment of, individuals and families
residing in a shelter;
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new text begin (ii) shelter provider standards of practice; and
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new text begin (iii) a statewide shelter call line; and
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new text begin (2) the establishment of government oversight and registration of the provision of shelter
in Minnesota.
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new text begin (b) No later than August 31, 2022, the task force shall submit a final report to the chairs
and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and
divisions with jurisdiction over housing and preventing homelessness on the findings and
recommendations listed in paragraph (a).
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new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The task force expires the day following submission of the final
report under subdivision 7.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2021.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; TASK FORCE ON SHELTER RESIDENT RIGHTS
AND SHELTER PROVIDER PRACTICES.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to implement the task force on shelter resident
rights and shelter provider practices.
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