SF 1286

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/23/2017 09:35am

A bill for an act
relating to family law; appropriating money for a grant to NorthPoint Health and
Wellness Center for coparent services.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; NORTHPOINT HEALTH AND WELLNESS
CENTER.
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new text begin (a) $200,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from
the general fund to the commissioner of human services for a grant to NorthPoint Health
and Wellness Center (NorthPoint). NorthPoint must use the grant money to offer coparent
services to unmarried parents who are in the process of establishing paternity. The coparent
services must include the following:
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new text begin (1) a process to identify unmarried parents who are in the process of establishing
paternity;
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new text begin (2) coparenting workshops for the unmarried parents;
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new text begin (3) assistance to the unmarried parents in developing a parenting plan that specifies
parenting time for the father, child support obligations, and how decisions will be made
regarding the child's education, medical needs, and religious upbringing;
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new text begin (4) an assessment of social service needs for each parent; and
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new text begin (5) additional social service support, including support related to employment, education,
and housing.
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new text begin (b) The parenting plan assistance under paragraph (a) must include the option of using
private mediation.
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new text begin (c) The coparent workshops required under paragraph (a) must focus at a minimum on
(i) the benefits to the child of having both a mother and a father involved in a child's life,
(ii) promoting both parents' participation in a child's life, (iii) building coparenting and
communication skills, (iv) information on establishing paternity, (v) assisting parents in
developing a parenting plan, and (vi) educating participants on how to foster nonresident
fathers' continued involvement in a child's life.
new text end