By Ariana King, Graduate Assistant at CASCW

MIFPA Bill PASSED

On March 16, 2023, MIFPA modifications included in bills SF667/HF1071 were presented to and approved by Governor Walz. Representative Keeler, herself an Indigenous community member, and Senator Kunesh, of Native descent, were key figures in the bill’s passage.

Updates on Bill(s)

QPI Funding

HF1672/SF1638

Quality Parenting Initiative funding given and money appropriated

  • House
    • 2/13/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy
    • 3/6/2023- Acomb added as author
  •  Senate
    • 2/13/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services

Trust for Kids in Care / Survivor Benefits

HF2467/SF2464

Trust established for current and recent foster children receiving benefits and other income, report required, and money appropriated.

  • House
    • 3/2/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy
    • 3/9/2023- Norris added as author
    • 3/13/2023- Lillie added as author
  •  Senate
    • 3/2/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services
    • 3/20/2023- Abeler added as author

Human Services Bill

HF2900/SF2966

A brief summary of several items (not all) included in the bill:

Foster Youth

  • Creates a grant program to fund independent living services and a beyond 21 grant program funds for basic well-being and housing needs, only determined by youth themselves
  • Requires a transition plan for all youth aging out of care ages 21+
  • Adds information under child protection related to non caregiver sex trafficking
  • Requires the commissioner of human services to develop a plan to preserve and increase accessibility to income and resources for children in care (such as SSI/death benefits)

Housing

  • Establishes a grant program to increase housing stability for unaccompanied minors experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness and not currently receiving child welfare services
  • Street and community outreach and drop-in programs are expanded to include youth at risk of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

Mental Health

  • Creates “Community resource centers”
  • Establishes a grant program for evidence-informed interventions for youth and young adults at risk of developing a mood disorder
  • Creates a pilot to promote access to crisis response services and reduce psychiatric hospitalizations and out-of-home placement services for children
  • House
    • 3/15/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Rules and Legislative Administration
    • 3/16/2023- Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to Health Finance and Policy
  •  Senate
    • 3/16/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Health and Human Services

Task Force on Pregnancy Health and Substance Use Disorders

HF2099/SF2139

Task Force on Pregnancy Health and Substance Use Disorders establishment that would begin its work in October 2023

  • Develops standards for when healthcare workers should test for prenatal substance exposure 
  • Makes recommendations to increase access to family-centered substance use disorder treatment 
  • Aims to reduce racial disparities in negative impacts when pregnant people screen positive for substances. Finding of an exposure for many substances can trigger a mandatory CPS report 
  • Wants to allow discretion for prenatal healthcare providers to not report a parent if they participate in prenatal care
  • House
    • 2/21/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Human Services Policy
    • 3/2/2023- To adopt and re-refer to State and Local Government Finance and Policy
    • 3/13/2023- Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Health Finance and Policy; Kraft added as author
  •  Senate
    • 2/27/2023- Introduction and first reading, referred to Human Services
    • 3/15/2023- To pass as amended and re-refer to Health and Human Services