HF 1328

2nd Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:48am

A bill for an act
relating to public health; addressing youth violence as a public health problem;
coordinating and aligning prevention and intervention programs addressing risk
factors of youth violence; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 145.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [145.958] YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "at-risk youth" means
adolescents and teenagers who are likely to be a threat to the health and well-being of
themselves or others through gang involvement, alcohol and drug use, unsafe sexual
activity, dropping out of school, or through violence and other criminal activity.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Violence prevention programs for at-risk youth. new text end

new text begin (a) Community-based
violence prevention programs may apply to the commissioner of health for technical
assistance. The programs must be community-based efforts serving at-risk youth and must
work in collaboration with local schools, law enforcement agencies, faith communities,
and community groups to provide a comprehensive approach to reducing youth violence
by addressing the needs of at-risk youth.
new text end

new text begin (b) The programs must:
new text end

new text begin (1) ensure that there are trusted adults serving as role models and mentors for
at-risk youth;
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new text begin (2) intervene at the first signs that a youth may be at risk and strive to rehabilitate
youth who are already involved in violence;
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new text begin (3) work to strengthen families;
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new text begin (4) work with schools in order to keep students engaged and help them prepare
for higher education or job training; and
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new text begin (5) teach self-respect and respect of others so that unsafe and unhealthy behaviors
may be avoided.
new text end

new text begin (c) Violence prevention programs may include, but are not limited to mentorship; job
placement and support; youth violence prevention training; parent and family intervention
and teaching parenting skills; school-related initiative involving police liaison officers,
youth leadership, peer mediation systems, after-school activities, and intervention in
truancy cases; chemical dependency and mental health intervention, screening, and
assessment; assisting juvenile offenders in reconnecting with families and reintegrating
into the community; working with youth to prevent sexual violence; working with youth
to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases; and a youth helpline and street
outreach workers to connect youth with needed services.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Coordination of prevention and intervention for programs for at-risk
youth. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of health, in collaboration with the commissioners of public
safety, human services, and education, shall identify five community-based violence
prevention programs that meet the criteria described in this section. One of these programs
identified must be serving the youth in Minneapolis, one program must be serving the
youth in St. Paul, and the remaining three programs must be serving youth in communities
outside the metro area.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of health shall provide technical support, within existing
department resources, to these community programs including, but not limited to,
assistance in seeking and applying for federal grants and private foundation funding.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner of health shall monitor the progress of these programs in
terms of the impact on public health and reducing juvenile violent crime, and shall identify
the effective aspects of each program in order to assist other programs in replicating
these successful aspects.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner of health must apply to the Office of Justice Programs for
funding under the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program, authorized as part of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
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new text begin (e) Paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) are effective contingent upon availability of funding
to support these activities.
new text end