MN HF1625

Commissioner of human services shall establish a school-linked substance abuse grant program for secondary school students to provide early identification, intervention, and treatment for substance use disorders.

Eligible applicants are entities or individuals licensed under chapter 245G (substance abuse treatment) or alcohol and drug counselors licensed under chapter 148F, meeting specified compliance requirements.

Allowable grant activities include identifying and diagnosing substance use disorders, delivering treatment services via telemedicine, supporting families in navigating health care and social service systems, providing student transportation, building school staff capacity, and purchasing equipment for telemedicine delivery.

Grantees must obtain all available third-party reimbursement sources and serve all students regardless of health coverage status or ability to pay; public schools are excluded as reimbursement sources.

Commissioner shall initially award grants to applicants currently providing substance use disorder treatment in secondary schools or school-linked mental health services with demonstrated capacity before issuing broader requests for proposals.

Unspecified amount from general fund appropriated in fiscal year 2022 for grants, added to the base budget.