SF2042

This bill, Minnesota Senate File No. 2042, directs the Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to conduct a statewide needs assessment on the availability of out-of-school and youth programming for individuals 21 years of age and younger.

Key Provisions:

1. Evaluation of Programs: The commissioner must assess existing state, county, and city programs, including funding sources and the populations they serve.
   
2. Financial Assessment: A comprehensive list of state and local public programs and their funding mechanisms must be compiled.
   
3. Community Engagement: The process must involve youth, families, program providers, community organizations, and experts to identify barriers, gaps, and recommendations for improvement.
   
4. Report Deadline: Findings and policy recommendations to expand access and quality of youth programming must be reported to legislative committee chairs and ranking minority members by February 15, 2026.
   
5. Appropriation: A one-time appropriation from the general fund is allocated in fiscal year 2026 to support the assessment and report.
   

Overall, this bill aims to enhance access and quality of after-school and youth programs through data collection, community input, and policy recommendations.