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HF 5112

Partnerships for dental services provided in correctional facilities authorized, commissioner of corrections required to improve correctional facilities' dental services, report required, and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mohamud Noor

The bill allows the Minnesota DOC to partner with nonstate entities (including dental schools and mobile clinics) to improve inmates’ dental care and requires a report with recomme

Introduction and first reading, referred to Public Safety Finance and Policy
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Bill Summary · HF 5112

Summary of HF 5112 (2025-2026 Session) – Partnerships for dental services in correctional facilities; improvements to dental care; reporting; appropriations

Overview

HF 5112 authorizes the Minnesota Department of Corrections to explore and establish partnerships with nonstate entities to improve dental services for inmates. It directs the commissioner of corrections to evaluate specific partnership options, require a formal report with recommendations by January 15, 2027, and provides onetime and ongoing funding for improvements and evaluation.

Purpose and Intent

  • Improve the quality and accessibility of dental care for incarcerated individuals.
  • Leverage partnerships with nonstate actors to enhance preventive, restorative, periodontal, urgent, and emergency dental services.
  • Provide a mechanism for evaluating feasible partnership models and securing funding to support improvements.

Key Provisions

Section 1: Third-Party Partnerships in Correctional Facilities

  • The commissioner of corrections must identify and evaluate options to improve dental services through partnerships with nonstate entities.
  • Evaluated partnership options include: 1) Accredited schools of dentistry and schools of dental hygiene (including the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry). 2) Dental programs for the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene for students and clinical trainees under supervision of a Minnesota-licensed dentist or hygienist. 3) Mobile dental clinics.
  • By January 15, 2027, the commissioner must report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over public safety, corrections policy, and finance. The report must include:
    • Recommendations on dental partnerships that would improve services in correctional facilities.
    • Recommendations on financing a dental partnership in correctional facilities.
    • Recommendations on other legislative actions needed to improve dental services in correctional facilities.
  • The commissioner is required to improve dental services by increasing:
    • Preventative care for inmates.
    • Restorative and periodontal treatments.
    • Access to urgent and emergency dental care.

Section 2: Appropriations

  • A general fund appropriation for fiscal year 2027 to the commissioner of corrections to improve dental services in correctional facilities, focusing on preventive, restorative, periodontal care, and urgent/emergency access. The exact dollar amount is to be determined (noted as $....... in fiscal year 2027).
  • A separate general fund appropriation for fiscal year 2027 to fund the evaluation of and report on partnerships with nonstate entities to improve dental services in correctional facilities. This is a one-time appropriation (exact amount to be determined).

Affected Parties

  • Incarcerated individuals in Minnesota correctional facilities: potential improvements in dental access, preventive care, and treatment options.
  • Minnesota Department of Corrections: responsible for implementing partnerships, improvements, and reporting.
  • Accredited dental education institutions and dental hygiene programs in Minnesota (including the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry): potential partners in clinical education and service delivery.
  • Legislative committees on public safety, corrections policy, and finance: recipients of the required report and recommendations.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Evaluation of partnership options conducted by the commissioner of corrections (no specific deadline provided in the text beyond the report due date).
  • Formal reporting due by January 15, 2027 to specified legislative committees.
  • Onetime and possible ongoing funding to be appropriated in fiscal year 2027, with exact dollar amounts to be specified.

Potential Impact

  • If implemented, could expand dental care capacity in correctional facilities through partnerships, potentially reducing wait times, increasing preventive care, and improving urgent care access.
  • May create new funding streams and oversight for correctional dental services.
  • Encourages involvement of dental education institutions in correctional health services, which could offer additional training opportunities and service delivery models.

Note: The bill text indicates placeholder dollar amounts for appropriations, to be determined in the final enacted version.

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

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