1st Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/09/2017 07:45am
A bill for an act
relating to state government funding; establishing a pilot program to test an
alternative financing model for young families receiving public assistance by
removing funding barriers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
new text begin
The commissioners of human services, health, education,
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, and management and budget, hereinafter, executive
branch team, shall develop and implement a pilot that will test an alternative financing
model for the distribution of publicly funded benefits. The executive branch team shall work
with two counties, one metro and one outstate, selected by the commissioner of human
services. The pilot program is from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2020. The executive branch
team must determine the waivers that are necessary to implement the pilot program, and
work with the counties to apply, receive approval, and secure necessary federal waivers and
administrative waivers.
new text end
new text begin
The pilot program must reduce the historical
separation between the state funds and systems affecting families who are receiving public
assistance. The pilot program shall eliminate, where possible, funding restrictions to allow
a more comprehensive approach to the needs of the families in the pilot program, and focus
on upstream, prevention-oriented supports and interventions.
new text end
new text begin
Pilot program participants must:
new text end
new text begin
(1) be 26 years of age or younger with a minimum of one child;
new text end
new text begin
(2) voluntarily agree to participate in the pilot program;
new text end
new text begin
(3) be eligible for, applying for, or receiving public benefits including but not limited
to housing assistance, education supports, employment supports, child care, transportation
supports, medical assistance, earned income tax credit, or the child care tax credit; and
new text end
new text begin
(4) be enrolled in an education program that is focused on obtaining a career that will
likely result in a livable wage.
new text end
new text begin
For purposes of the pilot
program, the MHFA shall allocate 100 housing vouchers to pilot program sites, if they are
available. If vouchers are not available, the state will appropriate funds so pilot program
sites are provided with 100 vouchers for program participants.
new text end
new text begin
The outcomes measures for the pathways to prosperity include:
new text end
new text begin
(1) improvement in the affordability, safety, and permanence of suitable housing;
new text end
new text begin
(2) improvement in family functioning and stability, including in the areas of behavioral
health, incarceration, involvement with the child welfare system, or equivalent indicators;
new text end
new text begin
(3) secure educational gains for parent and specifically for children from early childhood
through high school, including absentee reduction, preschool readiness scores, third-grade
reading competency, graduation, GPA, and standardized test improvement;
new text end
new text begin
(4) improvement in attachment to the workforce of one or both adults, including enhanced
job stability; wage gains; career advancement; progress in career preparation; or an equivalent
combination of these or related measures; and
new text end
new text begin
(5) improvement in health access and health outcomes for parents and children.
new text end
new text begin
The counties shall work with a third-party evaluator
to establish a random sample to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program based on
the outcomes under subdivision 5. Pilot program counties shall report back to the legislature
each year by February 1 with an update on the progress of the pilot program. The final report
on the pilot program is due January 1, 2021.
new text end