1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; requiring the Department of Transportation to study 
1.3 	transportation for unaccompanied minors for accessing mental health services; 
1.4 	requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. TRANSPORTATION FOR MINORS ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH 
1.7 	SERVICES; REPORT.
 1.8 	(a) The commissioner of transportation must study how to ensure safe and quality 
1.9 	transportation for unaccompanied minors accessing mental health services, including day 
1.10 	treatment, related mental health care, and treatment services.
1.11 	(b) The commissioner must work with the Department of Education, the Department of 
1.12 	Human Services, and other appropriate state agencies to identify:
1.13 	(1) how to ensure the safety and quality of unaccompanied minors being transported to 
1.14 	mental health services;
1.15 	(2) how to ensure positive and safe interactions with a driver;
1.16 	(3) how to leverage Medicaid funds to provide transportation; and
1.17 	(4) how to engage and leverage managed care organizations as payers.
1.18 	(c) The report must include:
1.19 	(1) the number of unaccompanied minors receiving transportation from any source for 
1.20 	mental health services;
2.1 	(2) a description of the population of unaccompanied minors that require transportation 
2.2 	services to access mental health services, including a description of the population's unique 
2.3 	vulnerabilities due to age and health care needs;
2.4 	(3) an assessment of the financial implications for transportation services, based on the 
2.5 	unmet need and how the current system expends funding through the medical assistance 
2.6 	nonemergency medical transportation services provided to the target population;
2.7 	(4) a statement regarding the immediate and projected long-term benefit of meeting 
2.8 	mental health needs of children and youth; and
2.9 	(5) an outline of the safety liability and concerns that would result if an updated system 
2.10 	to meet the unique needs of unaccompanied minors is not developed.
2.11 	(d) The report must be submitted to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
2.12 	senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over transportation, 
2.13 	education, and human services by January 15, 2019.

2.14 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.15 	$...... is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of transportation for 
2.16 	the purposes of the study required in section 1.