MN SF3359

Commissioner of human services must conduct an assessment on methods to ensure youth under the commissioner's guardianship are placed and maintained in permanent homes, with results due to legislative committees by January 15, 2011.

Assessment must examine placement costs, county/state/federal cost shares, residential placement types, average placement changes in the prior 12 months, and existing permanency service programs for the 100 oldest youth under guardianship who lack adoptive placement agreements and are not in relative/kinship care.

Assessment must identify areas needing improvement to ensure consistency among counties in the care and permanent placement of youth under the commissioner's guardianship.

Commissioner must submit proposed legislation granting greater control over permanent placement planning for these youth and recommendations for a cost-neutral pilot project involving no more than 100 youth that would reduce time between parental rights termination and permanent placement.

Pilot project recommendations must include a strategy for addressing county responsibility for placement costs.