HF 42

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/25/2021 07:33pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; appropriating money for emergency services, isolation
spaces, and housing support.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY SERVICES.
new text end

new text begin (a) $9,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of human services for emergency services grants under Minnesota Statutes,
section 256E.36. Grant money may be used to:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide housing that promotes health and safety or to isolate homeless individuals
exposed to COVID-19 or who are experiencing a respiratory illness, including grant money
to provide additional shelter space, to purchase vouchers for the cost of a motel or hotel
room, or to fund other housing options. Vouchers for the cost of a motel or hotel room must
not be issued to motels or hotels that receive funding from another source for the cost of
the same motel or hotel room for the same date;
new text end

new text begin (2) purchase hygiene, sanitation, and cleaning supplies to comply with Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention guidance on sanitation and personal protective equipment;
and
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new text begin (3) hire staff necessary to protect the health and wellness of program recipients, to
increase the number of persons served, or to provide staffing when workers are quarantined
or cannot work because they are caring for someone with COVID-19.
new text end

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the commissioner of human services
may allocate money to programs, providers, and organizations providing or seeking to
provide services to individuals experiencing homelessness through a single fiscal agent
chosen by the commissioner of human services.
new text end

new text begin (c) Grant applicants must describe how the applicants intend to use grant money for the
purposes listed in paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3). Grant money may be used by grant
recipients for the activities listed in paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3).
new text end

new text begin (d) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2021, or until 60 days
after expiration of the peacetime emergency declared by the governor in an executive order
that relates to the infectious disease known as COVID-19, whichever occurs earlier. Any
unexpended amounts that are not obligated by that date shall cancel to the general fund.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; ISOLATION SPACES.
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new text begin (a) $4,306,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of human services to establish and maintain isolation spaces for suspected
or confirmed COVID-19-positive individuals who are experiencing homelessness or who
cannot safely isolate at home and who do not require a hospital level of care.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of human services may enter into contracts or directly purchase
goods or services necessary to provide isolation spaces or services related to establishing
or maintaining such spaces. The commissioner of human services may enter into contracts
under this paragraph with local units of government as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section
4A.07, subdivision 1, paragraph (a); tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations.
new text end

new text begin (c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the commissioner of human services
may:
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new text begin (1) allocate funding to maintain and extend existing contracts for isolation spaces entered
into with Coronavirus Relief Funds awarded as a result of 2020 Legislative Advisory
Commission order number 48; and
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new text begin (2) enter into new contracts with eligible entities under Minnesota Statutes, section
12.36.
new text end

new text begin (d) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2021, or until 60 days
after expiration of the peacetime emergency declared by the governor in an executive order
that relates to the infectious disease known as COVID-19, whichever occurs earlier. Any
unexpended amounts that are not obligated by that date shall cancel to the general fund.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; HOUSING SUPPORT.
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new text begin (a) $4,235,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of human services to increase room and board rates under Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 256I, by 10.7 percent for purposes of maintaining access to room and board, including
activities necessary to comply with federal and state health and safety guidance in response
to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (b) Prior to July 1, 2021, providers must submit documentation to the commissioner of
human services demonstrating increased funding was used for needs related to COVID-19
for the time period during which the money appropriated under this section was expended.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end