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Committee backs laying over bill to fund Care Portal expansion connecting families with local supports
Summary
A bill to fund Care Portaltechnology that connects child welfare professionals to churches, nonprofits and volunteers was amended and laid over for possible inclusion after testimony about local impacts and planned county expansion.
The House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee on March 19 adopted an authorA1 amendment and laid over House File 18-24, which would provide one-time state funding to expand Care Portal's care-sharing technology across Minnesota.
Care Portalis a web tool that lets child-serving professionals submit vetted requests on behalf of families in crisis; the requests are then shared with a network of churches, businesses and local organizations that can meet tangible needs, testified Tim Herroff, Minnesota area director for Care Portal.
The bill as amended specifies that child welfare professionals will submit requests to Care Portal through a third-party technology portal rather than submitting directly through the Department, Representative Ray Rauer said. The author's amendment, A1, was adopted by voice vote.
Care Portal seeks $300,000 in fiscal year 2025 and $500,000 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 in the version of the bill discussed in committee. Herroff said the organization would supplement state funding with approximately 30 percent private contributions, and the one-time appropriation would fund staff to onboard county requesting agencies and responders.
Herroff told the committee Care Portal started in Olmsted County four years ago and has expanded to Anoka, Hennepin and parts of Ramsey Counties. He reported the program has served more than 3,200 Minnesota children and estimated the economic impact at more than $1.3 million.
Committee members asked about private fundraising and fiscal details. Herroff identified private philanthropy (he named the Sauer Family Foundation as a supporter) and said Care Portal had raised about $175,000 in private donations in the current year.
The chair moved that House File 18-24, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the committee's omnibus bill; the motion carried by voice vote and the bill was laid over.
Committee action leaves the bill available for the omnibus process; legislators and staff signaled follow-up on county selection methodology and implementation details.
Votes at a glance: A1 amendment adopted by voice vote; HF 18-24 laid over for possible inclusion.
