MN SF742

Amends Minnesota Statutes section 144.551 to create an exception to the hospital moratorium for a specialty psychiatric hospital in Hennepin County.

Permits construction and expansion of a psychiatric hospital for up to 50 beds exclusively serving patients under 21 years of age on date of admission, increased from the previous 20-bed limitation.

Removes geographic restriction that limited the hospital to the western two-thirds of Hennepl County, allowing it anywhere within Hennepin County.

Eliminates requirement for further public interest review, citing a 2008 commissioner review of mental health needs for Minnesota and the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Effective date: May 24, 2011 (date signed by governor).