HF 444

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 01/25/2023 05:27pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying the Homeless Youth Act; appropriating
money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256K.45, by adding a
subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256K.45, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Awarding of grants. new text end

new text begin 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. 2. new text begin TITLE.
new text end

new text begin This act shall be known as the "Pathway Home Act."
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Emergency services grants. new text end

new text begin $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and
$20,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of human services to provide emergency services grants under Minnesota Statutes, section
256E.36. Grant allocation balances in the first year do not cancel but are available in the
second year. The base appropriation for this purpose is $35,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and
$35,000,000 in fiscal year 2027.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Homeless Management Information System. new text end

new text begin $250,000 in fiscal year 2024
and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of human services to assist with the ongoing maintenance and improvement
of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The base appropriation for this
purpose is $1,140,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,140,000 in fiscal year 2027.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Homeless Youth Act grants. new text end

new text begin $12,500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $12,500,000
in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human
services for the grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 256K.45, subdivision 1. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2027. The base appropriation for this purpose is
$20,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2027.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Homeless youth; chosen family grants. new text end

new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 is
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human services for grants to
providers serving homeless youth and youth at risk of homelessness in Minnesota to establish
or expand services that formalize situations where a caring adult whom a youth considers
chosen family allows the youth to stay at the adult's residence to avoid being homeless. 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 Transitional housing programs. new text end

new text begin $4,500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $4,500,000
in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human
services for transitional housing programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 256E.33.
new text end

Sec. 4. 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 Appropriation. new text end

new text begin (a) $150,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner 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 subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin (b) Of the amount in paragraph (a), $....... is for the commissioner to administer the
emergency shelter facilities grants under this section.
new text end

new text begin (c) Of the amount in paragraph (a), notwithstanding subdivision 3, up to $4,000,000 is
to design, construct, equip, and furnish the Simpson Housing Services shelter facility in the
city of Minneapolis.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. 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;
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; and
new text end

new text begin (5) improving access to emergency shelter facilities that provide culturally appropriate
shelter and gender-inclusive shelter.
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. At least 40 percent of the
appropriation under this section must be awarded to projects located in greater Minnesota.
If the commissioner does not receive sufficient eligible funding requests from greater
Minnesota to award at least 40 percent of the appropriation under this section to projects in
greater Minnesota, the commissioner may award the remaining funds to other eligible
projects.
new text end

new text begin (e) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2028.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2023.
new text end