Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee backs regional plan to expand placements for county-involved youth with complex needs
Summary
Senate File 2349 would create or support a regional approach and a coordinating board for counties to improve placements and crisis stabilization services for county-involved youth with complex behavioral and mental-health needs.
Senator Kelly Champion presented Senate File 2349 and an A1 amendment, describing a regional, county-led approach to improve placement and treatment options for county-involved youth with complex mental-health and behavioral needs. The committee adopted the A1 amendment by voice vote.
Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Lundy testified the county is opening a 13‑bed youth crisis stabilization center for short stays of 30 to 45 days, scheduled to open late this summer, and that the bill reflects multi-county recommendations to address gaps in placement and crisis capacity.
"This bill is a result of counties coming together to identify legislative changes needed to provide youth in our care with appropriate placement and treatment options across the continuum," Lundy said.
Senators discussed fiscal constraints and whether the bill’s proposed statutory tasking requires state funding. Senator Abler suggested counties could convene a task force without a legislative appropriation; Lundy said the bill would help alleviate some costs but would not fully fund county facilities, which some counties are already financing. Members also discussed attempting to secure federal funds but cautioned federal support may be uncertain.
The committee laid Senate File 2349 over for possible inclusion in an omnibus package and adopted the A1 amendment; no roll-call vote was recorded on final passage.
