Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to improve mental health services for children in Minnesota by addressing funding gaps, establishing crisis stabilization facilities, and creating a legislative task force to enhance the licensing and regulation of children's residential facilities. It also focuses on services for youth with sexual behavior concerns and aims to ensure trauma-responsive and culturally appropriate practices.

Main Provisions

• Children's Mental Health Services: The bill directs county boards to develop systems for providing affordable and locally available mental health services for children. It mandates coordination of these services with other local agencies such as social services, education, and health to make them cost-effective and accessible.

• Licensing and Regulation: It requires creating licensing rules for facilities that treat youth with sexual behavior concerns. The commissioner of human services will develop these regulations.

• Crisis Stabilization: Establishes crisis stabilization facilities for children to immediately address their mental health needs.

• Legislative Task Force: A task force will be established to review and propose specific licensing standards for children's residential facilities. This task force will consist of various stakeholders, including government officials, county employees, service providers, and community members.

• Funding and Support: The bill addresses funding gaps in mental health projects and residential facilities for children and requires rulemaking for financial studies and reports on the utilization of funds.

• Screening and Assessment: It includes measures for mental health screenings and needs assessments for children in residential treatment, detention facilities, and those involved in the juvenile justice system. The results are to remain private and be compliant with state and federal laws.

Significant Changes

• Licensing Moratorium Adjustments: Modifies the restrictions on licensing for certain child and adult foster care settings, with exceptions provided for certain circumstances, like compliance with federal acts or local needs.

• Facility Regulations: Directs modifications to existing rules regarding restrictive procedures and trauma-informed care, ensuring the practices are culturally appropriate.

• Capacity Management: Grants the commissioner authority to manage the capacity of licensed children's residential treatment facilities statewide, allowing adjustments without increasing overall capacity.

Relevant Terms

• Children's mental health services
• Crisis stabilization facility
• Youth with sexual behavior concerns
• Children's residential facilities
• Licensing standards
• Trauma-responsive and culturally appropriate practices
• Mental health screening and assessment
• Licensing moratorium
• Legislative task force