HF4534

Purpose

The bill would create a new program of grants to develop, build, renovate, and operate residential mental health treatment services for people with physical disabilities. The goal is to improve access to specialized mental health care in residential settings for individuals with physical disabilities. The program would be overseen by the commissioner of human services and would follow an application process.

Main Provisions

• Grants authorized (Subd.1): The commissioner of human services must award grants to organizations with proven experience in providing residential mental health treatment and specialized services for individuals with physical disabilities. Applicants must apply through a request for proposals (RFP) process.

• Use of grant money (Subd.2): Grant funds may be used for:

  • Construction or physical renovations to accommodate the needs of individuals with physical disabilities and improve accessibility
  • Ongoing facilities maintenance
  • Administrative expenses and staffing costs
  • Specialized training for staff on providing mental health treatment services to individuals with physical disabilities

• Reporting requirements (Subd.3): By December 15, 2027, the commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services. The report must include:

  • The number of grants awarded and the amounts
  • The grantees
  • The purposes for which the grants were used
  • Any relevant findings, recommendations, results, or outcomes of the grant program

Funding and Appropriation

• A onetime appropriation from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 is provided to the commissioner of human services to support these residential mental health treatment grants for individuals with physical disabilities.

Implementation Details

• The program is to be implemented in a manner consistent with the referenced statute (Minnesota Statutes section 245I.02 subdivision 34) and through a formal grant process (RFP).

Significance and Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new grant program and a one-time funding source to support residential mental health treatment services for individuals with physical disabilities.
• Creates reporting requirements to evaluate the program’s activities and outcomes after funding is awarded.
• Represents an addition to the state’s approach to financing and delivering residential mental health services for people with physical disabilities, rather than altering existing programs directly.

Timeline Highlights

• December 15, 2027: Required program reporting deadline.
• Fiscal year 2027: One-time general fund appropriation to fund the grants.

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Relevant Terms grants, commissioner of human services, residential mental health treatment services, individuals with physical disabilities, construction, renovations, accessibility, facilities maintenance, administrative expenses, staffing costs, specialized training, request for proposals (RFP), grantees, general fund, onetime appropriation, fiscal year 2027, reporting, chairs, ranking minority members, health and human services, Minnesota Statutes section 245I.02 subdivision 34