HF 2666

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/08/2023 12:40pm

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, Minnesota's Tribal Nations, or
nonprofit organizations to provide regular cash payments to eligible recipients in order 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 be a local government entity, Minnesota Tribal Nation, or nonprofit organization; have
the capability to provide monthly payments to eligible recipients; and 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 applicant, in its application, must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) an initial basic income program design and proposal;
new text end

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 those specific eligible recipients;
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new text begin (4) a plan for involving community members in the design of the program;
new text end

new text begin (5) a commitment to participate in the basic income community of practice under
subdivision 6;
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new text begin (6) a commitment to cooperate with an evaluator selected by the commissioner; and
new text end

new text begin (7) a plan for collecting the data required in the report under subdivision 7.
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 grant money to:
new text end

new text begin (1) design and implement a basic income grant program that meets the requirements
under this section;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide a monthly payment between $350 to $1,200 to eligible recipients under this
section for a period of 12 to 24 months, depending on the need of the recipient; and
new text end

new text begin (3) collect the information required for the report under subdivision 7.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Eligible recipients. new text end

new text begin (a) Persons eligible to receive monthly payments under
this section must be receiving public benefits or have a household income less than or equal
to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Recipients must attest to their need and to
any other eligibility requirements set by a grantee. Once enrolled, recipients will not be
required to recertify.
new text end

new text begin (b) An eligible recipient may be an individual or a family.
new text end

new text begin (c) Grantees may set other eligibility requirements for the eligible recipients it serves
under this section but must not require any other income, proof of residency or citizenship,
or identifying documentation of any recipient.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. 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.
new text end

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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin (a) Grantees must collect data and provide an annual report to the
commissioner in a manner specified by the commissioner on the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) the economic status of its recipients before and after participation in the program;
new text end

new text begin (2) the employment status of its recipients before and after participation in the program;
new text end

new text begin (3) the physical and mental health status of its recipients before and after participation
in the program;
new text end

new text begin (4) the food and housing security status of its recipients before and after participation
in the program;
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new text begin (5) the number of recipients that were able 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 that grantee.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must provide an annual report to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services
regarding the reports submitted by grantees under this section. This report must be made
available to the public.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. 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 provide evaluation of the Minnesota basic income grant program
under this section.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; MINNESOTA BASIC INCOME GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human services for the Minnesota
basic income grant program under section 1. These are onetime appropriations.
new text end

new text begin (b) $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of human services to identify the entities under section 1, subdivisions 6 and
8, and partner with those entities to provide the technical assistance, training, and evaluation
as required under section 1, subdivisions 6 and 8. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end