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Committee lays over bill to raise marriage-license and dissolution fees for Minnesota Family Resiliency Partnership
Summary
The committee laid over House File 1021, which would add $30 to each dissolution filing fee and $30 to each marriage license filing fee to increase funding for the Minnesota Family Resiliency Partnership. Testimony emphasized the program's services for displaced homemakers and survivors of domestic violence and presented outcome statistics.
The Committee on Judiciary, Finance, and Civil Law laid over House File 1021 after Representative Scott presented the bill proposing a $30 increase on each dissolution filing fee and each marriage license filing fee to boost funding for the statewide Minnesota Family Resiliency Partnership (MFRP).
Chair Scott told members the fee increase would not raise the total filing fee for applicants and represented the first adjustment to these designated fees in 22 years. Testifiers described the MFRP as a 45-year program serving displaced homemakers through a network of six regional partners with case management, workshops, individualized action plans and direct supports.
Jean Keenan, a program representative, said services are provided at no cost to participants at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline. Keenan cited program outcomes presented to the committee: 97 percent of participants complete their goals set at intake; those exiting programs into employment did so at an average wage of $20.38 per hour; 73 percent of participants had experienced domestic violence; 28 percent entered the program unhoused; and 71 percent had dependents. Keenan said the program uses trauma-informed, client-driven approaches and provides direct-support dollars to remove incidental barriers to employment.
Kimberly Pilgrim read a statement from a program participant, Betty Roehl, describing how the program provided life-skills workshops, career counseling, hands-on office training and support that led to college completion and employment at a livable wage.
Committee members asked about referrals and training. Keenan said the program receives referrals from domestic-violence shelters and other community partners and provides pre-employment preparation before partnering with workforce centers for job placement. Several members, including Representative Mohler and Representative Mamalou, expressed support for the bill, and members praised the program's results and return on investment cited by testifiers.
After discussion the committee laid House File 1021 over for possible inclusion in future legislation.
