HF 4225

1st Division Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 04/04/2022 04:41pm

A bill for an act
relating to local government; modifying grant funding and administrative
requirements for youth services and transitional housing programs; modifying
countable income provisions for recipients of housing support; requiring a study
of pregnancy and parenting among homeless youth; authorizing grants to improve
or expand emergency shelter facilities; requiring reports; appropriating money;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 145.4716, by adding a subdivision;
256E.33, subdivisions 1, 2; 256I.03, subdivision 7; 256K.45, by adding a
subdivision; Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 8, article 6, section 1,
subdivision 7.

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

ARTICLE 1

PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 145.4716, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Funding. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must prioritize providing trauma-informed,
culturally inclusive services for sexually exploited youth or youth at risk of sexual
exploitation under this section.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 256E.33, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.

(b) "Transitional housing" means housing designed for independent living and provided
to a homeless person or family at a rental rate of at least 25 percent of the family income
for a period of up to deleted text begin 24 deleted text end new text begin 36 new text end months. If a transitional housing program is associated with a
licensed facility or shelter, it must be located in a separate facility or a specified section of
the main facility where residents can be responsible for their own meals and other daily
needs.

(c) "Support services" means an assessment service that identifies the needs of individuals
for independent living and arranges or provides for the appropriate educational, social, legal,
advocacy, child care, employment, financial, health care, or information and referral services
to meet these needs.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 256E.33, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Establishment and administration.

A transitional housing program is
established to be administered by the commissioner. The commissioner may make grants
to eligible recipients or enter into agreements with community action agencies or other
public or private nonprofit agencies to make grants to eligible recipients to initiate, maintain,
or expand programs to provide transitional housing and support services for persons in need
of transitional housing, which may include up to six months of follow-up support services
for persons who complete transitional housing as they stabilize in permanent housing. The
commissioner must ensure that money appropriated to implement this section is distributed
as soon as practicable. The commissioner may make grants directly to eligible recipients.
The commissioner may new text begin extend new text end use deleted text begin up to ten percent of the appropriation available for deleted text end new text begin of new text end
this program for persons needing assistance longer than deleted text begin 24 deleted text end new text begin 36 new text end months.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 256I.03, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Countable income.

"Countable income" means all income received by an
applicant or recipient as described under section 256P.06, less any applicable exclusions or
disregards. For a recipient of any cash benefit from the SSI program new text begin who does not live in
a setting as described in section 256I.04, subdivision 2a, paragraph (b), clause (2) new text end , countable
income means the SSI benefit limit in effect at the time the person is a recipient of housing
support, less the medical assistance personal needs allowance under section 256B.35. deleted text begin If the
SSI limit or benefit is reduced for a person due to events other than receipt of additional
income, countable income means actual income less any applicable exclusions and disregards. deleted text end new text begin
If there is a reduction in a housing support recipient's benefit due to circumstances other
than receipt of additional income, applicable exclusions and disregards apply when
determining countable income. For a recipient of any cash benefit from the RSDI program,
SSI program, or veterans' programs who lives in a setting as described in section 256I.04,
subdivision 2a, paragraph (b), clause (2), countable income means 30 percent of the
recipient's total benefit amount from these programs, after applicable exclusions or disregards,
at the time the person is a recipient of housing support. For these recipients, the medical
assistance personal needs allowance, described in section 256I.04, subdivision 1, paragraph
(a), clause (2), does not apply.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 256K.45, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Awarding of grants. new text end

new text begin (a) Grants shall be awarded under this section only after
a review of the grant recipient's application materials, including past performance and
utilization of grant money. The commissioner shall not reduce an existing grant award
amount unless the commissioner first determines that the grant recipient has failed to meet
performance measures or has used grant money improperly.
new text end

new text begin (b) For grants awarded pursuant to a two-year grant contract, the commissioner shall
permit grant recipients to carry over any unexpended amount from the first contract year
to the second contract year.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 8, article 6, section 1, subdivision 7, is
amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Report.

(a) No later than February 1, 2022, the task force shall submit an initial
report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate
committees and divisions with jurisdiction over housing and preventing homelessness on
its findings and recommendations.

(b) No later than deleted text begin August 31, 2022 deleted text end new text begin December 15, 2022 new text end , the task force shall submit a final
report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate
committees and divisions with jurisdiction over housing and preventing homelessness on
its findings and recommendations.

Sec. 7. new text begin PREGNANT AND PARENTING HOMELESS YOUTH STUDY.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services must conduct a study of the prevalence of
pregnancy and parenting among homeless youth and youth who are at risk of homelessness.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall submit a final report by December 31, 2023, to the chairs
and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over human
services finance and policy.
new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING STUDY.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of health must conduct a prevalence study on youth and adult
victim survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall submit a final report by June 30, 2024, to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over human
services finance and policy.
new text end

Sec. 9. new text begin EMERGENCY SHELTER FACILITIES.
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.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Eligible applicant" means a statutory or home rule charter city, county, Tribal
government, not-for-profit corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code, or housing and redevelopment authority established under Minnesota Statutes, section
469.003.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Emergency shelter facility" or "facility" means a facility that provides a safe, sanitary,
accessible, and suitable emergency shelter for individuals and families experiencing
homelessness, regardless of whether the facility provides emergency shelter during the day,
overnight, or both.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Project criteria. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall prioritize grants under this section
for projects that improve or expand emergency shelter facility options by:
new text end

new text begin (1) adding additional emergency shelter facilities by renovating existing facilities not
currently operating as emergency shelter facilities;
new text end

new text begin (2) adding additional emergency shelter facility beds by renovating existing emergency
shelter facilities, including major projects that address an accumulation of deferred
maintenance or repair or replacement of mechanical, electrical, and safety systems and
components in danger of failure;
new text end

new text begin (3) adding additional emergency shelter facility beds through acquisition and construction
of new emergency shelter facilities; and
new text end

new text begin (4) improving the safety, sanitation, accessibility, and habitability of existing emergency
shelter facilities, including major projects that address an accumulation of deferred
maintenance or repair or replacement of mechanical, electrical, and safety systems and
components in danger of failure.
new text end

new text begin (b) A grant under this section may be used to pay for 100 percent of total project capital
expenditures, or a specified project phase, up to $10,000,000 per project.
new text end

new text begin (c) All projects funded with a grant under this section must meet all applicable state and
local building codes at the time of project completion.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner must use a competitive request for proposal process to identify
potential projects and eligible applicants on a statewide basis.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2022.
new text end

ARTICLE 2

APPROPRIATIONS

Section 1. new text begin HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are added to or, if shown in
parentheses, subtracted from the appropriations in Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter
7, article 16, to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations
are from the general fund or other named fund and are available for the fiscal years indicated
for each purpose. The figures "2022" and "2023" used in this article mean that the addition
to or subtraction from the appropriation listed under them is available for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023, respectively. Base adjustments mean the addition
to or subtraction from the base level adjustment set in Laws 2021, First Special Session
chapter 7, article 16. Supplemental appropriations and reductions to appropriations for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, are effective the day following final enactment unless a
different effective date is explicit.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2022 new text end		new text begin 2023 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 14,000,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 129,950,000 new text end

new text begin Appropriations by Fund new text end
	new text begin 2022 new text end	new text begin 2023 new text end
new text begin General new text end	new text begin 14,000,000 new text end	new text begin 129,950,000 new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Grant Programs; Children and Economic Support Grants new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin 49,450,000 new text end

new text begin (a) Transitional Housing. $2,500,000 in fiscal
year 2023 is for transitional housing programs
under Minnesota Statutes, section 256E.33.
new text end

new text begin (b) Shelter-Linked Youth Mental Health
Grants. $1,650,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for
shelter-linked youth mental health grants under
Minnesota Statutes, section 256K.46.
new text end

new text begin (c) Emergency Services Grants. $35,000,000
in fiscal year 2023 is for emergency services
grants under Minnesota Statutes, section
256E.36. The base for this appropriation is
$25,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and
$25,000,000 in fiscal year 2025. Grant
allocation balances in the first year do not
cancel but are available in the second year.
new text end

new text begin (d) Homeless Youth Act. $10,000,000 in
fiscal year 2023 is for Homeless Youth Act
grants under Minnesota Statutes, section
256K.45, subdivision 1. Grant allocation
balances in the first year do not cancel but are
available in the second year.
new text end

new text begin (e) Pregnant and Parenting Homeless Youth
Study. $300,000 in fiscal year 2023 is to fund
a study of the prevalence of pregnancy and
parenting among homeless youth and youth
who are at risk of homelessness. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until
June 30, 2024.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Safe Harbor Grants new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin 5,500,000 new text end

new text begin Safe Harbor Grants. new text end new text begin $5,500,000 in fiscal
year 2023 is for safe harbor grants to fund
street outreach, emergency shelter, and
transitional and long-term housing beds for
sexually exploited youth and youth at risk of
exploitation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Emergency Shelter Facilities new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin 75,000,000 new text end

new text begin Emergency Shelter Facilities. new text end new text begin $75,000,000
in fiscal year 2023 is for grants to eligible
applicants for the acquisition of property, site
preparation, including demolition, predesign,
design, construction, renovation, furnishing,
and equipping of emergency shelter facilities
in accordance with emergency shelter facilities
project criteria in this act. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30,
2025.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Heading Home Ramsey Continuum of Care new text end

new text begin 8,000,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin Heading Home Ramsey Continuum of Care. new text end new text begin
(a) $8,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 is for a grant
to fund and support Heading Home Ramsey
Continuum of Care. This is a onetime
appropriation. The grant shall be used for:
new text end

new text begin (1) maintaining funding for a 100-bed family
shelter that had been funded by CARES Act
money;
new text end

new text begin (2) maintaining funding for an existing
100-bed single room occupancy shelter and
developing a replacement single-room
occupancy shelter for housing up to 100 single
adults; and
new text end

new text begin (3) maintaining current day shelter
programming that had been funded with
CARES Act money and developing a
replacement for current day shelter facilities.
new text end

new text begin (b) Ramsey County may use up to ten percent
of this appropriation for administrative
expenses.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner shall make available
the grant funds under this section by May 1,
2022.
new text end

new text begin (d) The unencumbered balance in the first year
does not cancel but is available until June 30,
2025.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end new text begin Hennepin County Funding for Serving Homeless Persons new text end

new text begin 6,000,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin Hennepin County Funding for Serving
Homeless Persons. new text end new text begin (a) $6,000,000 in fiscal
year 2022 is for a grant to fund and support
Hennepin County shelters and services for
persons experiencing homelessness. This is a
onetime appropriation. Of this appropriation:
new text end

new text begin (1) up to $4,000,000 in matching grant funding
is to design, construct, equip, and furnish
Simpson Housing Services shelter facility in
the city of Minneapolis; and
new text end

new text begin (2) up to $2,000,000 is to maintain current
shelter and homeless response programming
that had been funded with federal funding
from the CARES Act of the American Rescue
Plan Act, including:
new text end

new text begin (i) shelter operations and services to maintain
services at Avivo Village, including a shelter
comprised of 100 private dwellings and the
American Indian Community Development
Corporation Homeward Bound 50-bed shelter;
new text end

new text begin (ii) shelter operations and services to maintain
shelter services 24 hours per day, seven days
per week;
new text end

new text begin (iii) housing-focused case management; and
new text end

new text begin (iv) shelter diversion services.
new text end

new text begin (b) Hennepin County may contract with
eligible nonprofit organizations and local and
Tribal governmental units to provide services
under the grant program.
new text end

new text begin (c) The unencumbered balance in the first year
does not cancel but is available until June 30,
2025.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 2,000,000 new text end

new text begin Appropriations by Fund new text end
	new text begin 2022 new text end	new text begin 2023 new text end
new text begin General new text end	new text begin -0- new text end	new text begin 2,000,000 new text end

new text begin (a) Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking
Study. $300,000 in fiscal year 2023 is to fund
a prevalence study on youth and adult victim
survivors of sexual exploitation and
trafficking. This is a onetime appropriation
and is available until June 30, 2024.
new text end

new text begin (b) Safe Harbor Grants. $1,000,000 in fiscal
year 2023 is for grants to fund supportive
services including but not limited to legal
services, mental health therapy, substance use
disorder counseling, and case management for
sexually exploited youth or youth at risk of
sexual exploitation under Minnesota Statutes,
section 145.4716.
new text end

new text begin (c) Safe Harbor Regional Navigators.
$700,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for safe harbor
regional navigators under Minnesota Statutes,
section 145.4717.
new text end