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HF 4534

Grants established for residential mental health treatment programs that serve individuals with physical disabilities, report required, and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Howard

The bill would create a one-time General Fund grant program to fund residential mental health treatment facilities and services for people with physical disabilities, including con

Introduction and first reading, referred to Human Services Finance and Policy
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Bill Summary · HF 4534

Summary of HF 4534 (2025-2026) – Residential Mental Health Treatment Grants for Individuals with Physical Disabilities

Overview

HF 4534 proposes to create a grant program within the Minnesota Department of Human Services to support residential mental health treatment services specifically for individuals with physical disabilities. The bill authorizes construction, renovation, ongoing operations, staffing, and specialized staff training, and requires reporting on program outcomes. It includes a onetime appropriation from the General Fund in FY 2027 to fund these grants.

  • Session/Bill: 94th Legislature, HF 4534
  • Jurisdiction: Minnesota
  • Introduced: March 2026
  • Sponsors: Primary sponsor (unlisted in summary); Co-sponsor Mike Howard
  • Committee: Referred to Human Services Finance and Policy

1) Main Purpose and Intent

  • To establish a grant program that funds residential mental health treatment services for people who have physical disabilities.
  • Aims to expand capacity by developing new programs, and by constructing or renovating facilities to improve accessibility and specialized care.
  • To ensure facilities and staff are equipped to deliver mental health treatment tailored to individuals with physical disabilities.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

Section: Grants for Residential Mental Health Treatment Services

  • Grants Authorized: The Commissioner of Human Services may award grants to:
    • Develop new programs.
    • Build or renovate facilities.
    • Provide residential mental health treatment services for individuals with physical disabilities.
  • Eligible Applicants: Organizations with demonstrated experience in:
    • Providing mental health treatment in residential settings (as defined in Minnesota Statutes, §245I.02, subd. 34).
    • Providing specialized services for individuals with physical disabilities.
  • Application Process: The Commissioner must develop a Request for Proposals (RFP); grant applicants must apply using the form and process prescribed by the Commissioner.

Subsection: Uses of Grant Money

Grant funds may be used for:
1. Construction or physical renovations to accommodate physical disabilities and improve accessibility.
2. Ongoing facilities maintenance costs.
3. Administrative expenses and staffing costs.
4. Specialized staff training on delivering mental health treatment to individuals with physical disabilities.

Subsection: Reporting Requirement

  • By December 15, 2027, the Commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services.
  • The report must include:
    • Number of grants awarded and the amounts of each grant.
    • List of grantees.
    • Purposes for which grants were used.
    • Relevant findings, recommendations, results, or outcomes of the grant program.

Section: Appropriation

  • Funding: A one-time General Fund appropriation for FY 2027 to the Commissioner of Human Services for these grants.
  • The exact dollar amount is not specified in the bill text provided (denoted by $.......).

3) Who Would Be Affected

  • Primary: Individuals with physical disabilities who require residential mental health treatment services.
  • Service Providers: Organizations with demonstrated experience in residential mental health treatment and in serving individuals with physical disabilities; potential grantees include non-profits, health systems, or other qualified entities.
  • State Agencies: Minnesota Department of Human Services, which would administer the grants, oversee compliance, and produce the mandated report.
  • Legislative Stakeholders: Health and human services committees and their chairs/ranking minority members, who would receive the program report.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Application Timeline: The bill requires the commissioner to issue an RFP and accept grant applications in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. Specific dates are not provided in the text.
  • Reporting Timeline: A formal program report is due by December 15, 2027.
  • Funding Timeline: The appropriation is identified as a one-time funding for FY 2027; ongoing annual appropriations are not specified. The bill notes it as a one-time appropriation.
  • Program Duration: Based on the bill language, the program is contingent on the requested appropriations and the competitive grant process; the statute does not specify a long-term funding horizon beyond the FY 2027 one-time appropriation.

5) Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Could increase access to specialized residential mental health treatment for people with physical disabilities.
  • May improve accessibility and quality of care through facility renovations and targeted staff training.
  • Availability of funds depends on the appropriated amount (not yet specified) and the success of the RFP process.
  • The effectiveness of the program will be assessed in the required 2027 report, including outcomes and grantee results.

If you’d like, I can add a plain-language FAQ or compare this bill to existing Minnesota statutes on residential mental health programs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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