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HF1853 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Civil Commitment Coordinating Division established in the office of the attorney general, grants provided, and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF1492

AI Generated Summary

This bill proposes the establishment of a Civil Commitment Coordinating Division within the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office to oversee and improve the civil commitment process. It outlines duties for a civil commitment coordinator to provide guidance, technical assistance, advocacy, and data analysis related to engagement services, outpatient civil commitment, and provisional discharge.

Key Provisions:

  1. Civil Commitment Coordinating Division (Sec. 8.37):

    • A civil commitment coordinator is appointed by the Attorney General.
    • Responsible for providing best practices, technical assistance, advocacy, data collection, analysis, and a public awareness campaign.
    • Administers diversion study grants and engagement services grants.

  2. Civil Commitment Advisory Committee:

    • Established to advise the civil commitment coordinator.
    • Membership includes representatives from the Attorney General’s Office, courts, counties, treatment providers, and individuals with lived experience.

  3. Diversion Studies (Sec. 8.38):

    • Counties must conduct studies to assess their ability to divert individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, or substance use disorders from the criminal justice system into treatment.
    • The civil commitment coordinator sets guidelines and data reporting requirements.
    • Counties must submit reports by October 1, 2027, and every two years thereafter.
    • A statewide report is due April 1, 2028, and every two years after.

  4. Diversion Study Grants:

    • Allows counties to apply for funding to conduct diversion studies.
    • Counties receiving grants must develop action plans to increase diversion efforts.

  5. Engagement Services, Outpatient Civil Commitment, & Provisional Discharge Grants (Sec. 8.39):

    • Funding for counties to expand resources and services.
    • Grants can fund:
      • Outreach and education for engagement service staff.
      • Additional prepetition screening staff.
      • Community-based treatment programs and crisis teams.
      • Supervision of individuals on provisional discharge.
    • Grantees must report outcomes data on individuals served.

  6. Evaluation & Reports:

    • The civil commitment coordinator evaluates grant-funded programs.
    • Reports on program effectiveness and trends are due every two years starting in 2028.

  7. Appropriations:

    • Grants and administrative costs will be funded through state appropriations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Purpose:

This bill aims to improve civil commitment outcomes, divert individuals from the criminal justice system to treatment, increase statewide service capacity, and ensure accountability through data collection and reporting.

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Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 02, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toState Government Finance and Policy
March 04, 2025HouseFloorActionAuthor added

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This section provides definitions applicable to civil commitment processes.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification on the applicability and scope of definitions."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "253B.02"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Describes the services available for civil commitment engagements.",
      "modified": [
        "Includes detailed guidelines on engagement services."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "253B.041"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines procedures and options available to courts during civil commitment.",
      "modified": [
        "Details on outpatient commitment and provisional discharge."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "253B.09"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Discusses the conditions and process for provisional discharge from civil commitment.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies the monitoring and assessment of provisionally discharged individuals."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "253B.15"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Governs data practices in the State of Minnesota.",
      "modified": [
        "Ensures that data handled is compliant with chapter 13."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Relates to the initiation of the prepetition screening process for civil commitment.",
      "modified": [
        "Assesses the impact of engagement on the screening process."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "253B.07"
  }
]

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