SF 1128

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:18am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; continuing and expanding the homeless outreach grant
program; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 299A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [299A.201] HOMELESS OUTREACH GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grant program. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety shall administer
a grant program to connect people experiencing homelessness to housing and services for
purposes of reducing recidivism and promoting stronger communities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grant recipients. new text end

new text begin The commissioner, in consultation with the director
of ending long-term homelessness and the Office of Economic Opportunity of the
Department of Human Services, shall award grants to agencies and local government
entities prepared to offer homeless outreach services to work with people with serious
mental illness or chemical dependency. Grant recipients must be qualified to work with
racially and culturally diverse populations.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Project design. new text end

new text begin Projects eligible for grants under this section must do
the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide outreach services that may be targeted to, but are not limited to, people
experiencing long-term homelessness and homeless people who have had repeated
interactions with law enforcement;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide outreach services that will provide intervention strategies linking people
to housing and services as an alternative to arrest;
new text end

new text begin (3) provide a plan to connect people experiencing homelessness to services for
which they may be eligible, such as Supplemental Security Income, veterans benefits,
health care, housing assistance, and long-term support programs for those with significant
barriers to living on their own;
new text end

new text begin (4) demonstrate partnership or collaboration with local law enforcement, which may
include joint application for homeless outreach grants, joint sharing in administration of
the grant, development of protocol defining when outreach workers are called upon,
and shared training opportunities;
new text end

new text begin (5) promote community collaboration with local and county governments, social
services providers, mental health crisis providers, and other community organizations
that address homelessness;
new text end

new text begin (6) provide a plan to leverage resources from the entities listed in clause (5) and other
private sources to accomplish the goal of moving people into housing and services; and
new text end

new text begin (7) provide a plan to measure and evaluate the program's effectiveness in connecting
people experiencing homelessness to housing and services and reducing the use of public
safety, corrections, and emergency resources.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Annual reports. new text end

new text begin Grant recipients shall report to the commissioner
by June 30 of each year on the services and programs provided, expenditures of
grant money, and an evaluation of the program's success in connecting individuals
experiencing homelessness to housing and services, and reducing the use of public safety,
corrections, and emergency resources. The commissioner shall independently evaluate
the effectiveness of the grant recipients in achieving the goals of the program and report
the results of this evaluation and other information on the grant program to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives divisions having
jurisdiction over criminal justice funding by January 15 of each year.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $1,000,000 is appropriated to the commissioner of public safety from the general
fund for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2011, to implement Minnesota Statutes,
section 299A.201. This appropriation is added to the department's base budget. The
commissioner shall use this money to continue to fund the three existing homeless
outreach programs funded by Laws 2007, chapter 54, article 1, section 10, subdivision 6,
and for grants to two new programs in greater Minnesota.
new text end