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Committee adopts reporting amendment and advances grant program aimed at youth aging out of foster care
Summary
The committee adopted an A3 amendment (5–4) adding metrics and reporting requirements to a competitive grant program designed to help youth aging out of foster care obtain identity documents and legal services; advocates said the program would reduce barriers for immigrant and trafficked youth.
Sen. Hemmingsen-Jaeger presented Senate File 4337 to the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee on April 7, describing a competitive grant program intended to help young people aging out of foster care obtain birth certificates, permanent-resident documentation and other legal supports.
The sponsor said the bill would appropriate "about $200,000" to create a competitive program prioritizing youth who experienced labor trafficking. Testimony from Madeline Lohman of Advocates for Human Rights and Allison Griffith of Minnesota Legal Aid underscored the complexity unaccompanied and immigrant children face when they age out of foster care and the geographic scarcity of immigration legal services outside the Twin Cities. "These children deserve our care and protection," Lohman said, asking the committee for support.
Sen. Utke offered an A3 amendment requiring the commissioner to develop metrics to measure grant effectiveness, to require grantees to provide information needed before awards are made, and to require interim and final reports to legislative chairs and ranking members. Sponsor Hemmingsen-Jaeger argued existing statutory reporting (16B.98, subd. 12) already provides disclosure for many grants and said the relationships between counties and providers are already vetted.
Debate focused on balancing oversight and administrative burden. Supporters argued the amendment would improve transparency and ensure funds are used responsibly; opponents warned of duplicative requirements and increased paperwork for already-vetted providers. The committee recorded a roll call on the A3 amendment: five yeas, four nays. The amendment was adopted and the bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion.
Action summary: Sen. Utke moved the A3 amendment; a roll call recorded five yes votes and four no votes and the motion prevailed. The committee did not take a final passage vote on the underlying appropriation.
