2000 Minnesota Statutes

     119A.13 Disbursement of funds for child abuse prevention.

    Subdivision 1.    Authority to disburse funds.  The 
 commissioner, with the advice and consent of the advisory 
 council established under this section, may disburse trust fund 
 money to any public or private nonprofit agency to fund a child 
 abuse prevention program.  State funds appropriated for child 
 maltreatment prevention grants may be transferred to the 
 children's trust fund special revenue account and are available 
 to carry out this section. 

    Subd. 2.    Advisory council.  An advisory council of 17 
 members is established under section 15.059.  The commissioners 
 of human services, health, and children, families, and learning 
 shall each appoint one member.  The subcommittee on committees 
 of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives 
 shall each appoint two members of their respective bodies, one 
 from each caucus.  The governor shall appoint an additional ten 
 members who shall demonstrate knowledge in the area of child 
 abuse prevention and shall represent the demographic and 
 geographic composition of the state, and to the extent possible, 
 represent the following groups:  local government, parents, 
 racial and ethnic minority communities, the religious community, 
 professional providers of child abuse prevention services, and 
 volunteers in child abuse prevention services.  The council 
 shall advise and assist the commissioner in carrying out 
 sections 119A.10 to 119A.16.  The council does not expire as 
 provided by section 15.059, subdivision 5. 

    Subd. 3.    Plan for disbursement of funds.  By June 1, 
 1987, the commissioner, assisted by the advisory council, shall 
 develop a plan to disburse money from the trust fund.  In 
 developing the plan, the commissioner shall review prevention 
 programs.  The plan must ensure that all geographic areas of the 
 state have an equal opportunity to establish prevention programs 
 and receive trust fund money.  

    Subd. 4.    Responsibilities of commissioner.  (a) The 
 commissioner shall: 

    (1) provide for the coordination and exchange of 
 information on the establishment and maintenance of prevention 
 programs; 

    (2) develop and publish criteria for receiving trust fund 
 money by prevention programs; 

    (3) review, approve, and monitor the spending of trust fund 
 money by prevention programs; 

    (4) provide statewide educational and public informational 
 seminars to develop public awareness on preventing child abuse; 
 to encourage professional persons and groups to recognize 
 instances of child abuse and work to prevent them; to make 
 information on child abuse prevention available to the public 
 and to organizations and agencies; and to encourage the 
 development of prevention programs; 

    (5) establish a procedure for an annual, internal 
 evaluation of the functions, responsibilities, and performance 
 of the commissioner in carrying out Laws 1986, chapter 423; 

    (6) provide technical assistance to local councils and 
 agencies working in the area of child abuse prevention; and 

    (7) accept and review grant applications beginning June 1, 
 1987. 

    (b) The commissioner shall recommend to the governor 
 changes in state programs, statutes, policies, budgets, and 
 standards that will reduce the problems of child abuse, improve 
 coordination among state agencies that provide prevention 
 services, and improve the condition of children, parents, or 
 guardians in need of prevention program services. 

    HIST: 1986 c 423 s 4; 1987 c 358 s 113; 1Sp1987 c 4 art 2 s 6; 
 1988 c 629 s 57; 1989 c 119 s 1; 1991 c 292 art 8 s 9,25; 1992 c 
 515 s 2; 1Sp1993 c 1 art 3 s 31; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1997 c 
 7 art 2 s 8,9; 1997 c 162 art 2 s 3-5 

*   NOTE:  See section 15.059, subdivision 5a, for expiration 
*of the child abuse prevention advisory council.