2002 Minnesota Statutes

     119A.12 Trust fund. 

    Subdivision 1.    Creation of trust fund.  A children's 
 trust fund for the prevention of child abuse is established as 
 an account in the state treasury.  The commissioner of finance 
 shall credit to the trust fund all amounts received under 
 sections 119A.16 and 144.226, subdivision 3, and shall ensure 
 that trust fund money is invested under section 11A.25.  All 
 money earned by the trust fund must be credited to the trust 
 fund.  The trust fund earns its proportionate share of the total 
 annual state investment income. 

    Subd. 2.    Availability of funds for disbursement.  
 Until the total amount of assets in the trust fund exceeds 
 $20,000,000, not more than 60 percent of the gross amount 
 contributed to the trust fund each year under section 144.226, 
 subdivision 3, plus 100 percent of all earnings credited to the 
 trust fund the previous fiscal year, are available for 
 disbursement.  When the commissioner of finance certifies that 
 the assets in the trust fund exceed $20,000,000, only the annual 
 earnings and the funds received under section 119A.16 that are 
 credited to the trust fund are available for disbursement.  

    Subd. 3.    Exception.  Notwithstanding subdivision 2, 
 money received under section 119A.16 may be disbursed in its 
 entirety.  This money must not be taken into account when 
 calculating the annual contributions to the trust fund under 
 this section. 

    Subd. 4.    Authority to disburse funds.  The 
 commissioner 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. 5.    Plan for disbursement of funds.  The 
 commissioner shall develop a plan to disburse money from the 
 trust fund.  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. 6.    Operational costs.  $120,000 each year is 
 appropriated from the children's trust fund to the special 
 revenue fund for administration and indirect costs of the 
 children's trust fund program. 

    Subd. 7.    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, including programs that 
 provide support for adolescent parents, fathering education 
 programs, and other prevention activities designed to prevent 
 teen pregnancy; 

    (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 3; 1991 c 292 art 8 s 25; 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; 1Sp2001 c 3 art 2 s 1-4,17