HF 1887

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/02/2017 12:48pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing a grant program to implement the child
well-being model; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 256E.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [256E.29] GRANT PROGRAM TO IMPLEMENT THE CHILD
WELL-BEING MODEL.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given them.
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new text begin (b) "Child well-being" means that a child is supported in the child's family, school, and
community to have basic competencies in the following domains:
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new text begin (1) appropriate brain development and ability to learn;
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new text begin (2) the ability to have age-appropriate social and emotional relationships with family,
peers, and community members;
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new text begin (3) psychological and behavioral development;
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new text begin (4) physical health; and
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new text begin (5) spiritual and cultural well-being, with the child as an essential participant and valued
member of the child's community.
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new text begin (c) "Local social services agency" means an agency established under section 393.01,
including local social services agencies operating under a joint powers agreement.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Innovation and improvement in child well-being grant program established.
new text end

new text begin In any biennium in which appropriations are made for the purposes of this section, the
commissioner shall award grants to up to three local social services agencies for the
development, implementation, and evaluation of projects and initiatives to promote child
well-being and achieve positive outcomes for children under the responsibility of the local
social services agency according to section 393.07, subdivision 1. Child well-being is
promoted through the following activities:
new text end

new text begin (1) meeting the child's basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter;
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new text begin (2) meeting the child's need for attachment to at least one caring and competent adult;
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new text begin (3) minimizing toxic social and biological conditions for children;
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new text begin (4) teaching, promoting, and reinforcing positive social behavior;
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new text begin (5) limiting opportunities for problem behavior;
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new text begin (6) promoting psychological flexibility and a mindful approach to pursuing values;
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new text begin (7) minimizing caregiver disruption; and
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new text begin (8) creating a child welfare system responsive to families and communities.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Process. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall develop criteria, procedures, and deadlines
to award up to three competitive grants to local social services agencies for projects and
initiatives to promote child well-being and achieve positive outcomes.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner shall approve grant applications and collaborate with grantees to
develop strategies and approaches to improve child well-being statewide, facilitating the
sharing of knowledge and expertise between counties throughout the state.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner shall collaborate with grantees to support the development and
implementation of grantee strategies and conduct ongoing evaluation of the progress of
grantee projects and initiatives.
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new text begin (d) Grants funded under this section may supplement, but shall not supplant, county,
state, or federal funds received for child welfare services.
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new text begin (e) The commissioner is authorized to waive existing requirements under state law and
rules for grant recipients under this section, if necessary to implement grant-funded projects
and initiatives, provided that the waiver does not conflict with the purposes and benefits of
existing state or federal laws relating to child welfare. No waiver shall exceed the approved
duration of a grantee project or initiative under this section.
new text end

new text begin (f) The commissioner may begin establishing grant criteria and allocating grant funds
the day following final enactment of this section. Initial grants must be awarded no later
than September 1, 2017. A grant may be awarded upon the signing of a grant contract.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Grant program criteria. new text end

new text begin (a) To receive a grant under this section, an applicant
must submit an application to the commissioner. An application must contain information
as specified by the commissioner but, at a minimum, must contain:
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new text begin (1) a description of specific plans to promote child well-being using the strategies
identified in subdivision 2; and
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new text begin (2) a description of achievable objectives, a work plan, and a timeline for implementation
and completion of projects or initiatives enabled by the grant.
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new text begin (b) In determining which local social services agencies receive grants under this section,
the commissioner shall give preference to grant applications that plan to implement more
than one strategy identified in subdivision 2, and that plan to improve competencies in more
than one domain of child well-being listed in subdivision 1, paragraph (b).
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new text begin (c) The commissioner shall award at least one grant to a local social services agency
located in an urban area and shall award at least one grant to a local social services agency
located in a rural area.
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new text begin (d) The commissioner shall award grants based on the quality of the proposal, geographic
location, and population diversity of the counties covered by the local social services agencies
applying for grants under this section.
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new text begin (e) The commissioner must award grants so that at least 25 percent of the total number
of children served by local social services agencies in the state at the time of the application
deadline would stand to benefit from the grant projects.
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new text begin (f) The commissioner shall base the amount of each grant award on the proportion of
screened-in child maltreatment reports received by each grantee in the preceding calendar
year, compared to the total number of screened-in child maltreatment reports received by
all grantees in the preceding calendar year.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Measurable outcomes. new text end

new text begin Subject to approval by the commissioner, grantees
shall establish measurable outcomes to determine the effectiveness of the activities funded
by the grants under this section. The development of measurable outcomes must be completed
before any funds are distributed under this section.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin (a) Using the outcomes established according to subdivision 5,
the commissioner shall conduct an evaluation of programs and initiatives funded under this
section no later than September 1 of each year, beginning in 2018. Grant recipients shall
cooperate with the commissioner in the evaluation and shall provide the commissioner with
the information needed to conduct the evaluation, including information on administrative
and staffing costs.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall submit a report on outcomes and the effectiveness of the
child well-being grant program to the legislative task force on child protection no later than
December 1, 2019, and by December 1 of the second year of any biennium in which grants
are made under this section.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin (a) $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of human services to administer the grant program described in Minnesota
Statutes, section 256E.29. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2019.
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new text begin (b) $33,350,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $33,350,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of human services for child protection staffing
and services under Minnesota Statutes, section 256M.41.
new text end