HF 2666

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/04/2024 03:42pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing a Minnesota basic income grant program;
requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin MINNESOTA BASIC INCOME GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services must establish a
competitive grant program for local government entities, Tribal governments, and nonprofit
organizations to provide regular cash payments to eligible recipients to disrupt poverty,
build wealth, advance equity, and support a recipient's basic needs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligible applicants. new text end

new text begin To be eligible for a grant under this section, applicants
must:
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new text begin (1) be a local government entity, a Tribal government, or a nonprofit organization;
new text end

new text begin (2) have the capability to provide monthly payments to eligible recipients; and
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new text begin (3) meet the requirements under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Applications. new text end

new text begin Entities seeking grants under this section must apply to the
commissioner. The grant application must include:
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new text begin (1) an initial basic income program design and proposal meeting the requirements under
subdivisions 4 and 6;
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new text begin (2) a plan to identify eligible recipients the applicant intends to serve under this section;
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new text begin (3) a rationale for identifying the specific eligible recipients;
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new text begin (4) a plan for involving impacted community members in the design of the program;
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new text begin (5) a commitment to participate in the basic income community of practice under
subdivision 7;
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new text begin (6) a commitment to cooperate with an evaluator selected by the commissioner; and
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new text begin (7) a plan for collecting the data required in the report under subdivision 8.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Grant activities. new text end

new text begin Grantees must use the grant money to:
new text end

new text begin (1) design and implement a basic income grant program based on the needs of the
impacted community that meets the requirements under this section;
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new text begin (2) provide a monthly payment of at least $500 each month to eligible recipients under
this section for a period of at least 18 months; and
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new text begin (3) collect the information required for the report under subdivision 8.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Stipends not to be considered income. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding any law to the
contrary, cash stipends under this section must not be considered income, assets, or personal
property for purposes of determining eligibility or recertifying eligibility for:
new text end

new text begin (1) child care assistance programs under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B;
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new text begin (2) general assistance, Minnesota supplemental aid, and food support under Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 256D;
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new text begin (3) housing support under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256I;
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new text begin (4) the Minnesota family investment program and diversionary work program under
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256J; and
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new text begin (5) economic assistance programs under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256P.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must not consider cash stipends under this section as income or
assets for medical assistance under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.056, subdivision 1a,
paragraph (a); 3; or 3c.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Eligible recipients. new text end

new text begin (a) To be eligible to receive monthly payments under this
section, a recipient must attest to the recipient's need and must be receiving public benefits
or have a household income less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline.
Once enrolled, recipients must not be required to recertify.
new text end

new text begin (b) An eligible recipient may be an individual or a family.
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new text begin (c) Grantees may set other eligibility requirements for recipients but must not require
any other income, proof of residency or citizenship, or identifying documentation of any
recipient.
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new text begin (d) Grantees may identify priority populations, which may include families; individuals
or youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness; individuals with low-income wanting to
acquire more training, job skills, or education; or individuals and families who have recently
relocated to Minnesota from other states or countries.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Basic income community of practice. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must establish
a basic income community of practice to provide regular training and technical assistance
to grantees.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner must identify at least one independent entity to lead the basic
income community of practice under this subdivision and to provide training and technical
assistance to grantees.
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new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin (a) Each grantee must collect data from its recipients before and
after participation in the program on the following:
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new text begin (1) economic status;
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new text begin (2) employment status;
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new text begin (3) status of physical and mental health;
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new text begin (4) status of food and housing security;
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new text begin (5) ability to enroll in further education due to participation in the program; and
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new text begin (6) any other relevant information identified by the grantee.
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new text begin (b) Grantees must provide an annual report to the commissioner on the data collected
under paragraph (a) in a manner prescribed by the commissioner.
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new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Evaluator. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must identify at least one independent,
research-based entity to evaluate the program under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The commissioner, in cooperation with grantees under this section,
shall submit a final report on findings regarding the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the
Minnesota basic income grant program to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over human services by January 15, 2027. The
report must maintain the anonymity of individuals who participate in the program.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; MINNESOTA BASIC INCOME GRANT PROGRAM.
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new text begin (a) $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of human services for the Minnesota basic income grant program. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2028.
new text end

new text begin (b) Of the amount appropriated in paragraph (a), the commissioner of human services
may use up to $3,000,000 for outreach, technical assistance, training, and evaluation.
new text end