SF 1500

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to corrections; establishing a five-year demonstration project designed
to apply best practices to improve and promote the recovery and success of
high-risk adults who frequently use costly public services such as emergency
rooms, treatment programs, jails, prisons, and detoxification facilities; combining
an innovative management and governance structure; assembling core services
currently provided separately, including housing, behavioral health, health care,
employment, and community and family reengagement; appropriating money;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 241.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [241.86] FIVE-YEAR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR
HIGH-RISK ADULTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "high-risk adult" means an
adult with a history of some combination of substance abuse, mental illness, chronic
unemployment, incarceration, or homelessness. High-risk adults are considered to be very
likely to enter or reenter state or county correctional programs or chemical or mental
health programs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin (a) The Department of Corrections shall contract with
one nonprofit entity to conduct this five-year demonstration project and document the
effectiveness of this model. Initially, the demonstration will operate in the Twin Cities
metropolitan area.
new text end

new text begin (b) The contractor must, at a minimum, meet the following criteria:
new text end

new text begin (1) be an incorporated, nonprofit organization that is capable of managing and
operating a multidisciplinary model for providing high-risk adults with housing, short-term
work, health care, behavioral health care, and community reengagement;
new text end

new text begin (2) demonstrate an ability to organize and manage an alliance of nonprofit
organizations providing services to high-risk adults;
new text end

new text begin (3) have organizational leaders with a demonstrated ability to organize, manage,
and lead service teams consisting of workers from multiple service providers that deliver
direct support to high-risk adults;
new text end

new text begin (4) have experience with providing a comprehensive set of housing, work, health
care, behavioral health care, and community reengagement services to high-risk adults; and
new text end

new text begin (5) be a recipient of foundation and other private funds for the refinement and testing
of a demonstration of this type.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Scope of the five-year demonstration project. new text end

new text begin The contractor undertaking
this five-year demonstration project shall, as part of this project:
new text end

new text begin (1) enroll up to 500 eligible high-risk adults over the five-year demonstration project
period, starting December 1, 2007, and ending December 31, 2012;
new text end

new text begin (2) using best practices derived from research and testing, provide or assist in
arranging access to services for high-risk adults enrolled in the demonstration project,
including, at a minimum, housing, behavioral health services, health care, employment,
and community and family reengagement;
new text end

new text begin (3) maximize the performance of existing services and programs by coordinating
access to and the delivery of these services; and
new text end

new text begin (4) define conditions under which enrollees are considered to be in good standing
and allowed to remain in the demonstration project. These conditions may include, but
are not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (i) living in stable and safe housing;
new text end

new text begin (ii) working and earning an income;
new text end

new text begin (iii) paying child support, if appropriate;
new text end

new text begin (iv) participating in treatment programs, if appropriate; and
new text end

new text begin (v) no arrests.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin To be eligible for enrollment in this demonstration project,
individuals must be:
new text end

new text begin (1) high-risk adults;
new text end

new text begin (2) high-risk adults in the process of being released from state correctional facilities,
county detention facilities, community-based treatment or detoxification facilities,
community corrections halfway houses, or other similar programs, or on probation; and
new text end

new text begin (3) high-risk adults willing to accept the requirements imposed on enrollees in the
demonstration project, including, but not limited to, maintaining steady employment;
paying child support, if applicable; remaining drug-free and alcohol-free, if applicable;
and no criminal activity.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Payment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall pay from grant funds for this
demonstration project, to the entity under contract, a monthly flat fee of $1,600 for every
enrollee who is in good standing in the demonstration project.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin (a) The entity shall submit annually a report to the commissioners
of corrections, human services, employment and economic development, and housing
finance and the legislature on or before January 15 of each year, beginning January 15,
2008. The report must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) the number of participants who have been enrolled and the number currently
participating in the demonstration project;
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new text begin (2) a description of the services provided to enrollees over the past year and over the
duration of the demonstration project to date;
new text end

new text begin (3) an accounting of the costs associated with the enrollees over the past year and
over the duration of the demonstration project to date; and
new text end

new text begin (4) any other information requested by the commissioners of corrections, housing,
employment and economic development, and human services and the legislature.
new text end

new text begin (b) The report shall include recommendations on improving and expanding the
project to other geographical areas of the state.
new text end

new text begin (c) The report shall include an update on the status of the independent evaluation
required in subdivision 7.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Independent evaluation. new text end

new text begin An independent evaluator selected by the
contractor conducting this five-year demonstration project, and approved by the
commissioner, must conduct an evaluation of the project. The independent evaluator must
complete and submit a report of findings and recommendations to the commissioners of
corrections, housing finance, human services, education, and employment and economic
development and the legislature. This independent evaluation must be developed and
implemented concurrently with the five-year demonstration project, beginning on
December 1, 2007. The final report to the legislature is due on or before January 15, 2013.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Sunset. new text end

new text begin This section expires December 31, 2013.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $775,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $2,800,000 in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of corrections for grants to the contractor
conducting the five-year demonstration project described in section 1, and to pay the
enrollment fees for participating high-risk adults. Grants will be used to pay the monthly
enrollee flat fee described in section 1.
new text end

new text begin (b) $100,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $150,000 in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated to
design and conduct the independent evaluation of the demonstration project described
in section 1, subdivision 7. This independent evaluation will continue for the duration
of the demonstration project, and will consider the methodologies applied, the outcomes
resulting for the population served, savings to the state and local units of government, if
any, and overall impact of the demonstration.
new text end

new text begin (c) If the appropriation for either year is insufficient, the appropriation for the other
year is available for it. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.285, the agency
must not transfer these appropriations.
new text end