1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to crime victims; establishing a grant program for child advocacy centers 
1.3 	that assist victims of abuse; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law 
1.4 	in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 611A.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [611A.376] CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER GRANTS.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Establishment and purpose. A grant program is established to 
1.8 	provide stable funding and ensure the continued viability of core functions relating to 
1.9 	abuse investigations, interviews, treatment, and related training. The grants ensure that 
1.10 	victims of abuse have access to safe, secure facilities and that law enforcement has access 
1.11 	to the tools necessary for the successful apprehension and conviction of predators of 
1.12 	children and vulnerable adults.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Grants. The commissioner of public safety shall award grants to child 
1.14 	advocacy centers whose primary purpose is to coordinate the investigation, treatment, and 
1.15 	management of abuse cases and to provide direct services to children and vulnerable 
1.16 	adults. Grants may be used for:
1.17 	(1) forensic interviews and child advocacy center interdisciplinary team 
1.18 	investigations, programs, and facilities;
1.19 	(2) mental health services for victims and families;
1.20 	(3) specialized medical examinations;
1.21 	(4) support and advocacy for victims and family members; and
1.22 	(5) specialized training for child advocacy center staff and interdisciplinary team 
1.23 	members.
2.1 		Subd. 3.Applications; eligibility. (a) Any public or private organization that 
2.2 	utilizes an interdisciplinary team of professionals, which includes law enforcement, 
2.3 	child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical, and advocacy representatives, to 
2.4 	investigate, treat, and manage child and vulnerable adult abuse cases, may apply to the 
2.5 	commissioner for a grant under subdivision 2.
2.6 	(b) The application shall be submitted in a form approved by the commissioner and 
2.7 	shall include evidence that the organization has:
2.8 	(1) a comfortable, private setting that is both physically and psychologically safe for 
2.9 	children, vulnerable adults, and families;
2.10 	(2) sound program, fiscal, and administrative practices;
2.11 	(3) policies, practices, and procedures that are culturally competent. For the purpose 
2.12 	of this paragraph, "culturally competent" is defined as the capacity to function in more 
2.13 	than one culture, requiring the ability to appreciate, understand, and interact with members 
2.14 	of diverse populations within the local community;
2.15 	(4) an interdisciplinary team for the investigation, treatment, and management of 
2.16 	child and vulnerable adult abuse cases;
2.17 	(5) a written set of interagency protocols for an interdisciplinary and coordinated 
2.18 	approach to the investigation of child and vulnerable adult abuse;
2.19 	(6) interviews to be conducted in a manner which is neutral and fact-finding and 
2.20 	coordinated to avoid duplicative interviewing;
2.21 	(7) specialized medical evaluation and treatment as part of the interdisciplinary team 
2.22 	response, either at the center or through coordination with a referral to another appropriate 
2.23 	medical provider;
2.24 	(8) specialized trauma-informed mental health services as part of the interdisciplinary 
2.25 	team response, either at the center or through coordination with the referral to other 
2.26 	appropriate advocacy providers;
2.27 	(9) a routine interdisciplinary case review process for the purpose of decision 
2.28 	making, problem solving, systems coordination, and information sharing concerning case 
2.29 	status and services needed by the child, vulnerable adult, or family;
2.30 	(10) a comprehensive tracking system for monitoring case progress and tracking 
2.31 	case outcomes for team members; and
2.32 	(11) a process for evaluating the effectiveness and operation of the center.
2.33 		Subd. 4.Duties of grantees. Every public or private organization that receives a 
2.34 	grant under this section shall comply with all rules of the commissioner related to the 
2.35 	administration of the grant programs.
3.1 		Subd. 5.Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
3.2 	the meanings given:
3.3 	(1) "child" means an individual under the age of 18 years; and
3.4 	(2) "vulnerable adult" has the meaning given in section 609.232, subdivision 11.

3.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.

3.6 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER GRANTS.
 3.7 	$1,500,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated 
3.8 	from the general fund to the commissioner of public safety for the following grants:
3.9 	(1) $150,000 each fiscal year to the Minnesota Children's Alliance for providing 
3.10 	services to grantees under clauses (2) and (3);
3.11 	(2) an existing center may apply for a grant under Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.12 	611A.376, not to exceed $120,000 each fiscal year; and
3.13 	(3) to the extent funds remain, organizations may apply for grants to develop or 
3.14 	establish child advocacy centers and existing centers may apply for grants to expand or 
3.15 	enhance services outlined in Minnesota Statutes, section 611A.376.
3.16 	The appropriations in this section are added to the base.