Minneslate Logo

SF3133 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Bill of rights establishment for people utilizing shelter

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to establish a "Bill of Rights" for individuals utilizing homeless shelters in Minnesota. It seeks to ensure these individuals are treated with respect and dignity, have access to adequate facilities, and are provided with reasonable accommodations and privacy.

Main Provisions

  • Dignity and Equality: The bill ensures that people using shelters are treated with dignity and respect, and are not discriminated against based on race, religion, gender, or other personal characteristics.

  • Adequate Facilities: It mandates that shelters must be safe, clean, sanitary, and equipped to meet residents' basic needs, including adequate restroom and shower facilities, storage space, and safe food if provided.

  • Reasonable Accommodations: People with disabilities have rights to reasonable accommodations in accordance with laws like the ADA. Shelters must also accommodate service animals and adapt rules as needed to individual circumstances.

  • Privacy: It grants individuals the right to privacy when changing clothes, using bathroom facilities, or during medical treatment.

  • Confidentiality: The bill protects the privacy of personal records and requires consent before any personal information can be shared.

  • Access to Information: Individuals must be informed of shelter rules, rights, resources, and procedures for requesting accommodations and filing grievances upon entry to the shelter.

  • Communication Rights: Residents have the right to meet privately with professionals such as attorneys and social workers.

  • Grievance Process: A confidential grievance process must be established, allowing residents to file complaints without fear of retaliation.

  • Ending Shelter Stay: The stay of a resident can only be ended under severe circumstances, such as posing a danger to others, with any actions to be taken with consideration of the situation's context and opportunity for mediation.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a codified set of rights specifically for people utilizing shelters, which provides more specific protections than previously outlined in general human rights or housing laws. It mandates homelessness-specific accommodations and grievance processes, and it formalizes procedures around ending shelter stays.

Relevant Terms

  • Homeless shelter
  • Dignity and respect
  • Discrimination
  • Reasonable accommodations
  • Privacy rights
  • Grievance procedure
  • Service and support animals
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Confidentiality and records

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 31, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 31, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toHealth and Human Services

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines terms related to service animals and support animals referenced in new legislative provisions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "504B.113",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines the term 'dangerous weapon', which is referenced in conditions for ending shelter stays.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "609.02",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 6"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Referenced in the context of actions constituting criminal sexual conduct potentially leading to ending a shelter stay.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "609.342",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Referenced in the context of actions constituting criminal sexual conduct potentially leading to ending a shelter stay.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "609.3451",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Sponsors