SF 1235

3rd Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:19am

A bill for an act
relating to public health; addressing youth violence as a public health problem;
coordinating and aligning prevention and intervention programs addressing risk
factors of youth violence; requiring the commissioner of health to apply for
private, state, or federal funding; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 145.

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

Section 1. new text begin [145.958] YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "at-risk youth" means
adolescents and teenagers who are likely to be a threat to the health and well-being of
themselves or others through gang involvement, alcohol and drug use, unsafe sexual
activity, dropping out of school, or through violence and other criminal activity.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Violence prevention programs for at-risk youth. new text end

new text begin (a) Community-based
violence prevention programs may apply to the commissioner of health for technical
assistance. The programs must be community-based efforts serving at-risk youth and must
work in collaboration with local schools, law enforcement agencies, faith communities,
and community groups to provide a comprehensive approach to reducing youth violence
by addressing the needs of at-risk youth.
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new text begin (b) The programs must:
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new text begin (1) ensure that there are trusted adults serving as role models and mentors for
at-risk youth;
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new text begin (2) intervene at the first signs that a youth may be at risk and strive to rehabilitate
youth who are already involved in violence;
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new text begin (3) work to strengthen families;
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new text begin (4) work with schools in order to keep students engaged and help them prepare
for higher education or job training; and
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new text begin (5) teach self-respect and respect of others so that unsafe and unhealthy behaviors
may be avoided.
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new text begin (c) Violence prevention programs may include, but are not limited to:
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new text begin (1) mentorship;
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new text begin (2) job placement and support;
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new text begin (3) youth violence prevention training;
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new text begin (4) parent and family intervention and teaching parenting skills;
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new text begin (5) school-related initiative involving police liaison officers, youth leadership, peer
mediation systems, after-school activities, and intervention in truancy cases;
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new text begin (6) chemical dependency and mental health intervention, screening, and assessment;
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new text begin (7) assisting juvenile offenders in reconnecting with families and reintegrating
into the community;
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new text begin (8) working with youth to prevent sexual violence;
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new text begin (9) working with youth to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections; and
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new text begin (10) a youth helpline and street outreach workers to connect youth with needed
services.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Coordination of prevention and intervention for programs for at-risk
youth. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of health, in collaboration with the commissioners of public
safety, human services, and education, shall identify five community-based violence
prevention programs that meet the criteria described in this section. One of these programs
identified must be serving the youth in Minneapolis, one program must be serving the
youth in St. Paul, and the remaining three programs must be serving youth in outstate
communities.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner of health shall provide technical support to these community
programs including, but not limited to, assistance in seeking and applying for federal
grants and private foundation funding.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner of health shall monitor the progress of these programs in
terms of the impact on public health and reducing juvenile violent crime, and shall identify
the effective aspects of each program in order to assist other programs in replicating
these successful aspects.
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new text begin (d) The commissioner of health shall apply for private, state, or federal funding to
support the activities described in this subdivision. This subdivision is effective upon the
availability of funding to support these activities.
new text end