SF 3123

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

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying MFIP provisions; eliminating and
repealing family stabilization services, the work participation bonus, and the
Workforce U pilot program; reducing appropriations; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2007 Supplement, sections 119B.05, subdivision 1; 256J.08, subdivision
65; 256J.20, subdivision 3; 256J.32, subdivision 6; 256J.521, subdivision 1;
256J.53, subdivision 2; 256J.626, subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5; 256J.95, subdivision 3;
Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 2, section 63; article 19, section 3, subdivision
4; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256J; repealing
Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 2, section 52.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 119B.05, subdivision 1, is
amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Eligible participants.

Families eligible for child care assistance
under the MFIP child care program are:

(1) MFIP participants who are employed or in job search and meet the requirements
of section 119B.10;

(2) persons who are members of transition year families under section 119B.011,
subdivision 20, and meet the requirements of section 119B.10;

(3) families who are participating in employment orientation or job search, or
other employment or training activities that are included in an approved employability
development plan under section 256J.95;

(4) MFIP families who are participating in work job search, job support,
employment, or training activities as required in their employment plan, or in appeals,
hearings, assessments, or orientations according to chapter 256J;

(5) MFIP families who are participating in social services activities under chapter
256J as required in their employment plan approved according to chapter 256J;

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end deleted text begin families who are participating in services or activities that are included in an
approved family stabilization plan under section 256J.575;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (7) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end families who are participating in programs as required in tribal contracts
under section 119B.02, subdivision 2, or 256.01, subdivision 2; and

deleted text begin (8) deleted text end new text begin (7) new text end families who are participating in the transition year extension under section
119B.011, subdivision 20a.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256J.08, subdivision 65, is
amended to read:

Subd. 65.

Participant.

(a) "Participant" includes any of the following:

(1) a person who is currently receiving cash assistance or the food portion available
through MFIP;

(2) a person who withdraws a cash or food assistance payment by electronic transfer
or receives and cashes an MFIP assistance check or food coupons and is subsequently
determined to be ineligible for assistance for that period of time is a participant, regardless
whether that assistance is repaid;

(3) the caregiver relative and the minor child whose needs are included in the
assistance payment;

(4) a person in an assistance unit who does not receive a cash and food assistance
payment because the case has been suspended from MFIP; new text begin and
new text end

(5) a person who receives cash payments under the diversionary work program
under section 256J.95 is a participant deleted text begin ; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (6) a person who receives cash payments under family stabilization services under
section 256J.575 deleted text end .

(b) "Participant" does not include a person who fails to withdraw or access
electronically any portion of the person's cash and food assistance payment by the end of
the payment month, who makes a written request for closure before the first of a payment
month and repays cash and food assistance electronically issued for that payment month
within that payment month, or who returns any uncashed assistance check and food
coupons and withdraws from the program.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256J.20, subdivision 3, is
amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Other property limitations.

To be eligible for MFIP, the equity value of
all nonexcluded real and personal property of the assistance unit must not exceed $2,000
for applicants and $5,000 for ongoing participants. The value of assets in clauses (1) to
(19) must be excluded when determining the equity value of real and personal property:

(1) a licensed vehicle up to a loan value of less than or equal to deleted text begin $15,000 deleted text end new text begin $7,500 new text end . new text begin
The county agency shall apply any excess loan value as if it were equity value to the asset
limit described in this section. new text end If the assistance unit owns more than one licensed vehicle,
new text begin the county agency shall new text end determine deleted text begin the loan value of all additional vehicles and exclude the
combined loan value of less than or equal to $7,500. The county agency shall apply any
excess loan value as if it were equity value to the asset limit described in this section, deleted text end new text begin the
vehicle with the highest loan value and count only the loan value over $7,500, new text end excluding:
(i) the value of one vehicle per physically disabled person when the vehicle is needed to
transport the disabled unit member; this exclusion does not apply to mentally disabled
people; (ii) the value of special equipment for a disabled member of the assistance unit;
and (iii) any vehicle used for long-distance travel, other than daily commuting, for the
employment of a unit member.

new text begin The county agency shall count the loan value of all other vehicles and apply this
amount as if it were equity value to the asset limit described in this section. new text end To establish the
loan value of vehicles, a county agency must use the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide,
Midwest Edition, for newer model cars. When a vehicle is not listed in the guidebook,
or when the applicant or participant disputes the loan value listed in the guidebook as
unreasonable given the condition of the particular vehicle, the county agency may require
the applicant or participant document the loan value by securing a written statement from
a motor vehicle dealer licensed under section 168.27, stating the amount that the dealer
would pay to purchase the vehicle. The county agency shall reimburse the applicant or
participant for the cost of a written statement that documents a lower loan value;

(2) the value of life insurance policies for members of the assistance unit;

(3) one burial plot per member of an assistance unit;

(4) the value of personal property needed to produce earned income, including
tools, implements, farm animals, inventory, business loans, business checking and
savings accounts used at least annually and used exclusively for the operation of a
self-employment business, and any motor vehicles if at least 50 percent of the vehicle's use
is to produce income and if the vehicles are essential for the self-employment business;

(5) the value of personal property not otherwise specified which is commonly
used by household members in day-to-day living such as clothing, necessary household
furniture, equipment, and other basic maintenance items essential for daily living;

(6) the value of real and personal property owned by a recipient of Supplemental
Security Income or Minnesota supplemental aid;

(7) the value of corrective payments, but only for the month in which the payment
is received and for the following month;

(8) a mobile home or other vehicle used by an applicant or participant as the
applicant's or participant's home;

(9) money in a separate escrow account that is needed to pay real estate taxes or
insurance and that is used for this purpose;

(10) money held in escrow to cover employee FICA, employee tax withholding,
sales tax withholding, employee worker compensation, business insurance, property rental,
property taxes, and other costs that are paid at least annually, but less often than monthly;

(11) monthly assistance payments for the current month's or short-term emergency
needs under section 256J.626, subdivision 2;

(12) the value of school loans, grants, or scholarships for the period they are
intended to cover;

(13) payments listed in section 256J.21, subdivision 2, clause (9), which are held
in escrow for a period not to exceed three months to replace or repair personal or real
property;

(14) income received in a budget month through the end of the payment month;

(15) savings from earned income of a minor child or a minor parent that are set aside
in a separate account designated specifically for future education or employment costs;

(16) the federal earned income credit, Minnesota working family credit, state and
federal income tax refunds, state homeowners and renters credits under chapter 290A,
property tax rebates and other federal or state tax rebates in the month received and the
following month;

(17) payments excluded under federal law as long as those payments are held in a
separate account from any nonexcluded funds;

(18) the assets of children ineligible to receive MFIP benefits because foster care or
adoption assistance payments are made on their behalf; and

(19) the assets of persons whose income is excluded under section 256J.21,
subdivision 2, clause (43).

Sec. 4.

new text begin [256J.295] INELIGIBILITY FOR STATE-FUNDED PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin Beginning July 1, 2008, legal noncitizens ineligible for federally funded cash or food
benefits due to 1996 changes in federal law and subsequent relevant enactments, who are
eligible for state-funded MFIP cash or food assistance, will be ineligible for state-funded
MFIP under this chapter.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256J.32, subdivision 6, is
amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Recertification.

The county agency shall recertify eligibility in an annual
face-to-face interview with the participant and verify the following:

(1) presence of the minor child in the home, if questionable;

(2) income, unless excluded, including self-employment expenses used as a
deduction or deposits or withdrawals from business accounts;

(3) assets when the value is within $200 of the asset limit;

(4) information to establish an exception under section 256J.24, subdivision 9,
if questionable; new text begin and
new text end

(5) inconsistent information, if related to eligibility deleted text begin ; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (6) whether a single caregiver household meets requirements in section 256J.575,
subdivision 3 deleted text end .

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256J.521, subdivision 1, is
amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Assessments.

(a) For purposes of MFIP employment services,
assessment is a continuing process of gathering information related to employability
for the purpose of identifying both participant's strengths and strategies for coping with
issues that interfere with employment. The job counselor must use information from the
assessment process to develop and update the employment plan under subdivision 2 or
3, as appropriate, to determine whether the participant qualifies for a family violence
waiver including an employment plan under subdivision 3 deleted text begin , and to determine whether the
participant should be referred to family stabilization services under section 256J.575 deleted text end .

(b) The scope of assessment must cover at least the following areas:

(1) basic information about the participant's ability to obtain and retain employment,
including: a review of the participant's education level; interests, skills, and abilities; prior
employment or work experience; transferable work skills; child care and transportation
needs;

(2) identification of personal and family circumstances that impact the participant's
ability to obtain and retain employment, including: any special needs of the children, the
level of English proficiency, family violence issues, and any involvement with social
services or the legal system;

(3) the results of a mental and chemical health screening tool designed by the
commissioner and results of the brief screening tool for special learning needs. Screening
tools for mental and chemical health and special learning needs must be approved by the
commissioner and may only be administered by job counselors or county staff trained in
using such screening tools. The commissioner shall work with county agencies to develop
protocols for referrals and follow-up actions after screens are administered to participants,
including guidance on how employment plans may be modified based upon outcomes
of certain screens. Participants must be told of the purpose of the screens and how the
information will be used to assist the participant in identifying and overcoming barriers to
employment. Screening for mental and chemical health and special learning needs must
be completed by participants who are unable to find suitable employment after six weeks
of job search under subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and participants who are determined to
have barriers to employment under subdivision 2, paragraph (d). Failure to complete the
screens will result in sanction under section 256J.46; and

(4) a comprehensive review of participation and progress for participants who have
received MFIP assistance and have not worked in unsubsidized employment during the
past 12 months. The purpose of the review is to determine the need for additional services
and supports, including placement in subsidized employment or unpaid work experience
under section 256J.49, subdivision 13 deleted text begin , or referral to family stabilization services under
section 256J.575 deleted text end .

(c) Information gathered during a caregiver's participation in the diversionary work
program under section 256J.95 must be incorporated into the assessment process.

(d) The job counselor may require the participant to complete a professional chemical
use assessment to be performed according to the rules adopted under section 254A.03,
subdivision 3, including provisions in the administrative rules which recognize the cultural
background of the participant, or a professional psychological assessment as a component
of the assessment process, when the job counselor has a reasonable belief, based on
objective evidence, that a participant's ability to obtain and retain suitable employment
is impaired by a medical condition. The job counselor may assist the participant with
arranging services, including child care assistance and transportation, necessary to meet
needs identified by the assessment. Data gathered as part of a professional assessment
must be classified and disclosed according to the provisions in section 13.46.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256J.53, subdivision 2, is
amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Approval of postsecondary education or training.

(a) In order for a
postsecondary education or training program to be an approved activity in an employment
plan, the deleted text begin plan must include additional work activities if the education and training
activities do not meet the minimum hours required to meet the federal work participation
rate under Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, sections 261.31 and 261.35 deleted text end new text begin participant
must be working in unsubsidized employment at least 20 hours per week new text end .

(b) Participants seeking approval of a postsecondary education or training plan
must provide documentation that:

(1) the employment goal can only be met with the additional education or training;

(2) there are suitable employment opportunities that require the specific education or
training in the area in which the participant resides or is willing to reside;

(3) the education or training will result in significantly higher wages for the
participant than the participant could earn without the education or training;

(4) the participant can meet the requirements for admission into the program; and

(5) there is a reasonable expectation that the participant will complete the training
program based on such factors as the participant's MFIP assessment, previous education,
training, and work history; current motivation; and changes in previous circumstances.

new text begin (c) The hourly unsubsidized employment requirement does not apply for intensive
education or training programs lasting 12 weeks or less when full-time attendance is
required.
new text end

new text begin (d) Participants with an approved employment plan in place on July 1, 2008, which
includes more than 12 months of postsecondary education or training must be allowed to
complete that plan provided that hourly requirements in section 256J.55, subdivision 1,
and conditions specified in paragraph (b) and subdivisions 3 and 5 are met. A participant
whose case is subsequently closed for three months or less for reasons other than
noncompliance with program requirements and who returns to MFIP must be allowed to
complete that plan provided that hourly requirements in section 256J.55, subdivision 1,
and conditions specified in paragraph (b) and subdivisions 3 and 5 are met.
new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256J.626, subdivision 2, is
amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Allowable expenditures.

(a) The commissioner must restrict expenditures
under the consolidated fund to benefits and services allowed under title IV-A of the federal
Social Security Act. Allowable expenditures under the consolidated fund may include, but
are not limited to:

(1) short-term, nonrecurring shelter and utility needs that are excluded from the
definition of assistance under Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 260.31, for
families who meet the residency requirement in section 256J.12, subdivisions 1 and 1a.
Payments under this subdivision are not considered TANF cash assistance and are not
counted towards the 60-month time limit;

(2) transportation needed to obtain or retain employment or to participate in other
approved work activities deleted text begin or activities under a family stabilization plan deleted text end ;

(3) direct and administrative costs of staff to deliver employment services for
MFIP, the diversionary work program, deleted text begin or family stabilization services; deleted text end to administer
financial assistance deleted text begin ; deleted text end new text begin , new text end and to provide specialized services intended to assist hard-to-employ
participants to transition to work deleted text begin or transition from family stabilization services to MFIP deleted text end ;

(4) costs of education and training including functional work literacy and English as
a second language;

(5) cost of work supports including tools, clothing, boots, telephone service, and
other work-related expenses;

(6) county administrative expenses as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title
45, section 260(b);

(7) services to parenting and pregnant teens;

(8) supported work;

(9) wage subsidies;

(10) child care needed for MFIP deleted text begin , the deleted text end new text begin or new text end diversionary work program deleted text begin , or family
stabilization services deleted text end participants to participate in social services;

(11) child care to ensure that families leaving MFIP or diversionary work program
will continue to receive child care assistance from the time the family no longer qualifies
for transition year child care until an opening occurs under the basic sliding fee child
care program; new text begin and new text end

(12) services to help noncustodial parents who live in Minnesota and have minor
children receiving MFIP or DWP assistance, but do not live in the same household as the
child, obtain or retain employment deleted text begin ; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (13) services to help families participating in family stabilization services achieve
the greatest possible degree of self-sufficiency deleted text end .

(b) Administrative costs that are not matched with county funds as provided in
subdivision 8 may not exceed 7.5 percent of a county's or 15 percent of a tribe's allocation
under this section. The commissioner shall define administrative costs for purposes of
this subdivision.

(c) The commissioner may waive the cap on administrative costs for a county or tribe
that elects to provide an approved supported employment, unpaid work, or community
work experience program for a major segment of the county's or tribe's MFIP population.
The county or tribe must apply for the waiver on forms provided by the commissioner. In
no case shall total administrative costs exceed the TANF limits.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256J.626, subdivision 3, is
amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Eligibility for services.

Families with a minor child, a pregnant woman,
or a noncustodial parent of a minor child receiving assistance, with incomes below 200
percent of the federal poverty guideline for a family of the applicable size, are eligible
for services funded under the consolidated fund. Counties and tribes must give priority
to families currently receiving MFIP deleted text begin , the deleted text end new text begin or new text end diversionary work program, deleted text begin or family
stabilization services, deleted text end and families at risk of receiving MFIP or diversionary work
program.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256J.626, subdivision 4,
is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

County and tribal biennial service agreements.

(a) Effective January 1,
2004, and each two-year period thereafter, each county and tribe must have in place an
approved biennial service agreement related to the services and programs in this chapter.
In counties with a city of the first class with a population over 300,000, the county must
consider a service agreement that includes a jointly developed plan for the delivery of
employment services with the city. Counties may collaborate to develop multicounty,
multitribal, or regional service agreements.

(b) The service agreements will be completed in a form prescribed by the
commissioner. The agreement must include:

(1) a statement of the needs of the service population and strengths and resources
in the community;

(2) numerical goals for participant outcomes measures to be accomplished during
the biennial period. The commissioner may identify outcomes from section 256J.751,
subdivision 2, as core outcomes for all counties and tribes;

(3) strategies the county or tribe will pursue to achieve the outcome targets.
Strategies must include specification of how funds under this section will be used and may
include community partnerships that will be established or strengthened; new text begin and
new text end

(4) deleted text begin strategies the county or tribe will pursue under family stabilization services; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end other items prescribed by the commissioner in consultation with counties and
tribes.

(c) The commissioner shall provide each county and tribe with information needed
to complete an agreement, including: (1) information on MFIP cases in the county or
tribe; (2) comparisons with the rest of the state; (3) baseline performance on outcome
measures; and (4) promising program practices.

(d) The service agreement must be submitted to the commissioner by October 15,
2003, and October 15 of each second year thereafter. The county or tribe must allow
a period of not less than 30 days prior to the submission of the agreement to solicit
comments from the public on the contents of the agreement.

(e) The commissioner must, within 60 days of receiving each county or tribal service
agreement, inform the county or tribe if the service agreement is approved. If the service
agreement is not approved, the commissioner must inform the county or tribe of any
revisions needed prior to approval.

(f) The service agreement in this subdivision supersedes the plan requirements
of section 116L.88.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256J.626, subdivision 5, is
amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Innovation projects.

Beginning January 1, 2005, no more than $3,000,000
of the funds annually appropriated to the commissioner for use in the consolidated fund
shall be available to the commissioner for projects testing innovative approaches to
improving outcomes for MFIP participants, deleted text begin family stabilization services participants, deleted text end and
persons at risk of receiving MFIP as detailed in subdivision 3. Projects shall be targeted to
geographic areas with poor outcomes as specified in section 256J.751, subdivision 5, or to
subgroups within the MFIP case load who are experiencing poor outcomes.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 256J.95, subdivision 3, is
amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Eligibility for diversionary work program.

(a) Except for the categories
of family units listed below, all family units who apply for cash benefits and who
meet MFIP eligibility as required in sections 256J.11 to 256J.15 are eligible and must
participate in the diversionary work program. Family units that are not eligible for the
diversionary work program include:

(1) child only cases;

(2) a single-parent family unit that includes a child under 12 weeks of age. A parent
is eligible for this exception once in a parent's lifetime and is not eligible if the parent
has already used the previously allowed child under age one exemption from MFIP
employment services;

(3) a minor parent without a high school diploma or its equivalent;

(4) an 18- or 19-year-old caregiver without a high school diploma or its equivalent
who chooses to have an employment plan with an education option;

(5) a caregiver age 60 or over;

(6) family units with a caregiver who received DWP benefits in the 12 months prior
to the month the family applied for DWP, except as provided in paragraph (c);

(7) family units with a caregiver who received MFIP within the 12 months prior to
the month the family unit applied for DWP;

(8) a family unit with a caregiver who received 60 or more months of TANF
assistance; new text begin and
new text end

(9) a family unit with a caregiver who is disqualified from DWP or MFIP due to
fraud deleted text begin ; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (10) refugees as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, chapter IV, section
444.43, who arrived in the United States in the 12 months prior to the date of application
for family cash assistance deleted text end .

(b) A two-parent family must participate in DWP unless both caregivers meet the
criteria for an exception under paragraph (a), clauses (1) through (5), or the family unit
includes a parent who meets the criteria in paragraph (a), clause (6), (7), (8), or (9).

(c) Once DWP eligibility is determined, the four months run consecutively. If a
participant leaves the program for any reason and reapplies during the four-month period,
the county must redetermine eligibility for DWP.

Sec. 13.

Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 2, section 63, is amended to read:

Sec. 63. REPEALER.

(a) Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 119B.08, subdivision 4; 256J.29; and
256J.626, subdivision 9, are repealed.

(b) deleted text begin Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256J.37, subdivision 3b, deleted text end deleted text begin is repealed effective
February 1, 2008. deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end Laws 1997, chapter 8, section 1, is repealed.

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (c) new text end Minnesota Rules, part 9560.0102, subpart 2, item C, is repealed.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively from February 1, 2008.
new text end

Sec. 14.

Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 19, section 3, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:

Subd. 4. Children and Economic Assistance Grants

The amounts that may be spent from this
appropriation for each purpose are as follows:

(a) MFIP/DWP Grants

Appropriations by Fund
General	62,069,000	62,405,000
Federal TANF	75,904,000	80,841,000

(b) Support Services Grants

Appropriations by Fund
General	8,715,000	8,715,000
Federal TANF	113,429,000	115,902,000

TANF Prior Appropriation Cancellation.
Notwithstanding Laws 2001, First Special
Session chapter 9, article 17, section
2, subdivision 11, paragraph (b), any
unexpended TANF funds appropriated to the
commissioner to contract with the Board of
Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities, to provide tuition waivers to
employees of health care and human service
providers that are members of qualifying
consortia operating under Minnesota
Statutes, sections 116L.10 to 116L.15, must
cancel at the end of fiscal year 2007.

MFIP Pilot Program. Of the TANF
appropriation, $100,000 in fiscal year 2008
deleted text begin and $750,000 in fiscal year 2009 are deleted text end new text begin is new text end for a
grant to the Stearns-Benton Employment and
Training Council for the Workforce U pilot
program. deleted text begin Base level funding for this program
shall be $750,000 in 2010 and $0 in 2011. deleted text end

Supported Work. (1) Of the TANF
appropriation, $5,468,000 in fiscal year
2008 and $7,291,000 in fiscal year
2009 are for supported work for MFIP
participants, to be allocated to counties
and tribes based on the criteria under
clauses (2) and (3). Paid transitional work
experience and other supported employment
under this rider provides a continuum of
employment assistance, including outreach
and recruitment, program orientation
and intake, testing and assessment, job
development and marketing, preworksite
training, supported worksite experience, job
coaching, and postplacement follow-up, in
addition to extensive case management and
referral services. * (The preceding text "and
$7,291,000 in fiscal year 2009" was indicated
as vetoed by the governor.)

(2) A county or tribe is eligible to receive an
allocation under this rider if:

(i) the county or tribe is not meeting the
federal work participation rate;

(ii) the county or tribe has participants who
are required to perform work activities under
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256J, but are not
meeting hourly work requirements; and

(iii) the county or tribe has assessed
participants who have completed six weeks
of job search or are required to perform
work activities and are not meeting the
hourly requirements, and the county or tribe
has determined that the participant would
benefit from working in a supported work
environment.

(3) A county or tribe may also be eligible for
funds in order to contract for supplemental
hours of paid work at the participant's child's
place of education, child care location, or the
child's physical or mental health treatment
facility or office. This grant to counties and
tribes is specifically for MFIP participants
who need to work up to five hours more
per week in order to meet the hourly work
requirement, and the participant's employer
cannot or will not offer more hours to the
participant.

Work Study. Of the TANF appropriation,
$750,000 each year are to the commissioner
to contract with the Minnesota Office of
Higher Education for the biennium beginning
July 1, 2007, for work study grants under
Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.233,
specifically for low-income individuals who
receive assistance under Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 256J, and for grants to opportunities
industrialization centers. * (The preceding
text beginning "Work Study. Of the TANF
appropriation," was indicated as vetoed by
the governor.)

Integrated Service Projects. $2,500,000
in fiscal year 2008 deleted text begin and $2,500,000 in fiscal
year 2009 are deleted text end new text begin is new text end appropriated from the TANF
fund to the commissioner to continue to
fund the existing integrated services projects
for MFIP families, and if funding allows,
additional similar projects.

Base Adjustment. The TANF base for fiscal
year 2010 is $115,902,000 and for fiscal year
2011 is $115,152,000.

(c) MFIP Child Care Assistance Grants

General

74,654,000

71,951,000

(d) Basic Sliding Fee Child Care Assistance Grants

General

42,995,000

45,008,000

Base Adjustment. The general fund base
is $44,881,000 for fiscal year 2010 and
$44,852,000 for fiscal year 2011.

At-Home Infant Care Program. No
funding shall be allocated to or spent on
the at-home infant care program under
Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.035.

(e) Child Care Development Grants

General

4,390,000

6,390,000

Prekindergarten Exploratory Projects. Of
the general fund appropriation, $2,000,000
the first year and $4,000,000 the second
year are for grants to the city of St. Paul,
Hennepin County, and Blue Earth County to
establish scholarship demonstration projects
to be conducted in partnership with the
Minnesota Early Learning Foundation to
promote children's school readiness. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2009.

Child Care Services Grants. Of this
appropriation, $500,000 each year are for
the purpose of providing child care services
grants under Minnesota Statutes, section
119B.21, subdivision 5. This appropriation
is for the 2008-2009 biennium only, and does
not increase the base funding.

Early Childhood Professional
Development System. Of this appropriation,
$500,000 each year are for purposes of the
early childhood professional development
system, which increases the quality and
continuum of professional development
opportunities for child care practitioners.
This appropriation is for the 2008-2009
biennium only, and does not increase the
base funding.

Base Adjustment. The general fund base
is $1,515,000 for each of fiscal years 2010
and 2011.

(f) Child Support Enforcement Grants

General

11,038,000

3,705,000

Child Support Enforcement. $7,333,000
for fiscal year 2008 is to make grants to
counties for child support enforcement
programs to make up for the loss under the
2005 federal Deficit Reduction Act of federal
matching funds for federal incentive funds
passed on to the counties by the state.

This appropriation is available until June 30,
2009.

(g) Children's Services Grants

Appropriations by Fund
General	63,647,000	71,147,000
Health Care Access	250,000	-0-
TANF	240,000	340,000

Grants for Programs Serving Young
Parents. Of the TANF fund appropriation,
$140,000 each year is for a grant to a program
or programs that provide comprehensive
services through a private, nonprofit agency
to young parents in Hennepin County who
have dropped out of school and are receiving
public assistance. The program administrator
shall report annually to the commissioner on
skills development, education, job training,
and job placement outcomes for program
participants.

County Allocations for Rate Increases.
County Children and Community Services
Act allocations shall be increased by
$197,000 effective October 1, 2007, and
$696,000 effective October 1, 2008, to help
counties pay for the rate adjustments to
day training and habilitation providers for
participants paid by county social service
funds. Notwithstanding the provisions of
Minnesota Statutes, section 256M.40, the
allocation to a county shall be based on
the county's proportion of social services
spending for day training and habilitation
services as determined in the most recent
social services expenditure and grant
reconciliation report.

Privatized Adoption Grants. Federal
reimbursement for privatized adoption grant
and foster care recruitment grant expenditures
is appropriated to the commissioner for
adoption grants and foster care and adoption
administrative purposes.

Adoption Assistance Incentive Grants.
Federal funds available during fiscal year
2008 and fiscal year 2009 for the adoption
incentive grants are appropriated to the
commissioner for these purposes.

Adoption Assistance and Relative Custody
Assistance. The commissioner may transfer
unencumbered appropriation balances for
adoption assistance and relative custody
assistance between fiscal years and between
programs.

Children's Mental Health Grants. Of the
general fund appropriation, $5,913,000 in
fiscal year 2008 and $6,825,000 in fiscal year
2009 are for children's mental health grants.
The purpose of these grants is to increase and
maintain the state's children's mental health
service capacity, especially for school-based
mental health services. The commissioner
shall require grantees to utilize all available
third party reimbursement sources as a
condition of using state grant funds. At
least 15 percent of these funds shall be
used to encourage efficiencies through early
intervention services. At least another 15
percent shall be used to provide respite care
services for children with severe emotional
disturbance at risk of out-of-home placement.

Mental Health Crisis Services. Of the
general fund appropriation, $2,528,000 in
fiscal year 2008 and $2,850,000 in fiscal year
2009 are for statewide funding of children's
mental health crisis services. Providers must
utilize all available funding streams.

Children's Mental Health Evidence-Based
and Best Practices. Of the general fund
appropriation, $375,000 in fiscal year 2008
and $750,000 in fiscal year 2009 are for
children's mental health evidence-based and
best practices including, but not limited
to: Adolescent Integrated Dual Diagnosis
Treatment services; school-based mental
health services; co-location of mental
health and physical health care, and; the
use of technological resources to better
inform diagnosis and development of
treatment plan development by mental
health professionals. The commissioner
shall require grantees to utilize all available
third-party reimbursement sources as a
condition of using state grant funds.

Culturally Specific Mental Health
Treatment Grants. Of the general fund
appropriation, $75,000 in fiscal year 2008
and $300,000 in fiscal year 2009 are for
children's mental health grants to support
increased availability of mental health
services for persons from cultural and
ethnic minorities within the state. The
commissioner shall use at least 20 percent
of these funds to help members of cultural
and ethnic minority communities to become
qualified mental health professionals and
practitioners. The commissioner shall assist
grantees to meet third-party credentialing
requirements and require them to utilize all
available third-party reimbursement sources
as a condition of using state grant funds.

Mental Health Services for Children with
Special Treatment Needs. Of the general
fund appropriation, $50,000 in fiscal year
2008 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2009 are
for children's mental health grants to support
increased availability of mental health
services for children with special treatment
needs. These shall include, but not be limited
to: victims of trauma, including children
subjected to abuse or neglect, veterans and
their families, and refugee populations;
persons with complex treatment needs, such
as eating disorders; and those with low
incidence disorders.

MFIP and Children's Mental Health
Pilot Project. Of the TANF appropriation,
$100,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $200,000
in fiscal year 2009 are to fund the MFIP
and children's mental health pilot project.
Of these amounts, up to $100,000 may be
expended on evaluation of this pilot.

Prenatal Alcohol or Drug Use. Of the
general fund appropriation, $75,000 each
year is to award grants beginning July 1,
2007, to programs that provide services
under Minnesota Statutes, section 254A.171,
in Pine, Kanabec, and Carlton Counties. This
appropriation shall become part of the base
appropriation.

Base Adjustment. The general fund base
is $62,572,000 in fiscal year 2010 and
$62,575,000 in fiscal year 2011.

(h) Children and Community Services Grants

General

101,369,000

69,208,000

Base Adjustment. The general fund base
is $69,274,000 in each of fiscal years 2010
and 2011.

Targeted Case Management Temporary
Funding. (a) Of the general fund
appropriation, $32,667,000 in fiscal year
2008 is transferred to the targeted case
management contingency reserve account in
the general fund to be allocated to counties
and tribes affected by reductions in targeted
case management federal Medicaid revenue
as a result of the provisions in the federal
Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Public Law
109-171.

(b) Contingent upon (1) publication by the
federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services of final regulations implementing
the targeted case management provisions
of the federal Deficit Reduction Act of
2005, Public Law 109-171, or (2) the
issuance of a finding by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services of federal
Medicaid overpayments for targeted case
management expenditures, up to $32,667,000
is appropriated to the commissioner of human
services. Prior to distribution of funds, the
commissioner shall estimate and certify the
amount by which the federal regulations or
federal disallowance will reduce targeted
case management Medicaid revenue over the
2008-2009 biennium.

(c) Within 60 days of a contingency described
in paragraph (b), the commissioner shall
distribute the grants proportionate to each
affected county or tribe's targeted case
management federal earnings for calendar
year 2005, not to exceed the lower of (1) the
amount of the estimated reduction in federal
revenue or (2) $32,667,000.

(d) These funds are available in either year of
the biennium. Counties and tribes shall use
these funds to pay for social service-related
costs, but the funds are not subject to
provisions of the Children and Community
Services Act grant under Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 256M.

(e) This appropriation shall be available to
pay counties and tribes for expenses incurred
on or after July 1, 2007. The appropriation
shall be available until expended.

(i) General Assistance Grants

General

37,876,000

38,253,000

General Assistance Standard. The
commissioner shall set the monthly standard
of assistance for general assistance units
consisting of an adult recipient who is
childless and unmarried or living apart
from parents or a legal guardian at $203.
The commissioner may reduce this amount
according to Laws 1997, chapter 85, article
3, section 54.

Emergency General Assistance. The
amount appropriated for emergency general
assistance funds is limited to no more
than $7,889,812 in fiscal year 2008 and
$7,889,812 in fiscal year 2009. Funds
to counties must be allocated by the
commissioner using the allocation method
specified in Minnesota Statutes, section
256D.06.

(j) Minnesota Supplemental Aid Grants

General

30,505,000

30,812,000

Emergency Minnesota Supplemental
Aid Funds. The amount appropriated for
emergency Minnesota supplemental aid
funds is limited to no more than $1,100,000
in fiscal year 2008 and $1,100,000 in fiscal
year 2009. Funds to counties must be
allocated by the commissioner using the
allocation method specified in Minnesota
Statutes, section 256D.46.

(k) Group Residential Housing Grants

General

91,069,000

98,671,000

People Incorporated. Of the general fund
appropriation, $460,000 each year is to
augment community support and mental
health services provided to individuals
residing in facilities under Minnesota
Statutes, section 256I.05, subdivision 1m.

(l) Other Children and Economic Assistance Grants

General	20,183,000	16,333,000
Federal TANF	1,500,000	1,500,000

Base Adjustment. The general fund base
shall be $16,033,000 in fiscal year 2010 and
$15,533,000 in fiscal year 2011. The TANF
base shall be $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2010
and $1,181,000 in fiscal year 2011.

Homeless and Runaway Youth. Of the
general fund appropriation, $500,000 each
year are for the Runaway and Homeless
Youth Act under Minnesota Statutes, section
256K.45. Funds shall be spent in each area
of the continuum of care to ensure that
programs are meeting the greatest need. This
is a onetime appropriation.

Long-Term Homelessness. Of the general
fund appropriation, $1,500,000 each year are
for implementation of programs to address
long-term homelessness. This is a onetime
appropriation.

Minnesota Community Action Grants. (a)
Of the general fund appropriation, $250,000
each year is for the purposes of Minnesota
community action grants under Minnesota
Statutes, sections 256E.30 to 256E.32. This
is a onetime appropriation.

(b) Of the TANF appropriation, $1,500,000
each year is for community action agencies
for auto repairs, auto loans, and auto purchase
grants to individuals who are eligible to
receive benefits under Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 256J, or who have lost eligibility
for benefits under Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 256J, due to earnings in the prior 12
months. Base level funding for this activity
shall be $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2010
and $1,181,000 in fiscal year 2011. * (The
preceding text beginning "(b) Of the TANF
appropriation," was indicated as vetoed by
the governor.)

(c) Money appropriated under paragraphs (a)
and (b) that is not spent in the first year does
not cancel but is available for the second
year.

Sec. 15. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin (a) new text end new text begin Laws 2007, chapter 147, article 2, section 52, new text end new text begin is repealed effective July 1, 2008.
new text end

new text begin (b) new text end new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, sections 119B.011, subdivision 13a;
256J.575; and 256J.621, new text end new text begin are repealed.
new text end