HF 1067 (Huntley, Hosch, Walker, and Anderson, B s2

NAMI Minnesota Legislative Update – Feb. 9, 2013

NAMI Minnesota’s Executive Director Meets with President Obama NAMI Minnesota’s executive director, Sue Abderholden, was invited to meet with President Obama and a small group of people when he was in Minneapolis on Monday. Also at the meeting was:

 Attorney General Eric Holder, US Attorney for Minnesota &  ATF Acting Director & Nominee B. Todd Jones,  Senators Franken and Klobuchar,  Congressman Ellison,  Governor Dayton,  Minneapolis Mayor Rybak,  Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau,  Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek,  University of Minnesota Police Chief Greg Hestness,  Vice President of the Northwest Area Foundation & Former Co-Chair Minneapolis' Youth Violence Prevention Initiative Gary Cunningham,  President and Executive Director of MADDADS V.J. Smith,  Employee of Accent Signage and lone survivor John Souter,  Vice President of the General Mills Foundation Ellen Luger,  Minneapolis Public Schools School Resource Officer Mike Kirchen,  Founder of Two Mothers Mary Johnson,  Tribal Health Director of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians in Northern Minnesota Oran Beaulieu,  Executive Director of Protect Minnesota Heather Martens, and  Samuel Rahamin, son of Minneapolis business owner of Accent Signage who was killed.

The meeting started out with Attorney General Holder providing some information on the President’s proposals, which include funding to improve the mental health system. He did state that we needed to be careful so as not to further stigmatize people with mental illnesses by implying that they are violent. Sue was able to provide the Attorney General with information about the school-linked mental health grants in Minnesota and the need for more intensive treatment for people experiencing their first psychotic episode. President Obama entered the room about 30 minutes after the meeting started. He went around and shook everyone’s hand and then provided some remarks. Mayor Rybak then invited different attendees to speak.

When it was her turn, Sue said, “Mr President, in 1961 President Kennedy challenged our nation to go to the moon. Eight years later we did. On February 5, 1963 he challenged our nation to develop a community mental health system and fifty years later, we’re still waiting.” She went on to talk about the importance of school-linked mental health services along with school support personnel. She thanked him for trying to increase the number of mental health professionals but that under his proposal Minnesota would only increase that number by 85 and we need more. She talked briefly about the incredible discrimination people with mental illnesses face in private insurance (although the health care exchange will help), Medicaid and Medicare, resulting in a reliance on state and local funding which is always cut during recessions. Lastly she spoke of the need to provide intensive treatment when someone experiences their first psychotic episode.

It was an incredible honor to have a NAMI Minnesota representative at the table. Following the roundtable, Sue attended a larger event where President Obama provided more formal remarks. For news coverage, click here.

Press Conference on Children’s Mental Health On Monday morning, NAMI Minnesota in collaboration with other mental health organizations, held a press conference on the need to improve the children’s mental health system. On Monday, nearly twelve bills were introduced in the House and Senate that address numerous issues facing children and their families.

Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota, began the press conference stating, “We have a children’s mental health system that is fragile and underfunded. We have parents desperate to help their children and yet face roadblocks everywhere they turn – their health plan, the health care system, the county and more. NAMI Minnesota and all the other organizations that have come here today say – enough. It’s time.”

Senators Lourey, Wiger, Alice Johnson and Sheran also spoke, noting their support as chairs of the major committees. Representatives Davnie and Mullery spoke as well expressing their support for the bills that were introduced and reiterating the need to address the problems in the children’s mental health system.

Other speakers included Steve Lepinski from Washburn Child Guidance, Dr. Chuck Schulz from the University of Minnesota, Connie Hayes Superintendent of Intermediate District 917, and Elizabeth Reum, a parent of a child who received school-linked mental health services. Also attending the press conference was Senators Eaton and Hoffman and Representative Selcer. Many thanks to all the organizations who attended to demonstrate their support, including MCCCA, MHA, CSN, MPS and Vail Place.

For press on this issue, click here.

Action Alert! Several of the children’s mental health bills will be heard in policy committees this week. NAMI members need to call their legislator if he or she serves on one of these committees and state that “I am a NAMI member and I strongly support the bills that will be heard this week to improve the children’s mental health system. Please vote ‘yes” on these important proposals.”

If your legislator is a chief or co-author on any of the bills, be sure to thank them. NAMI members are also encouraged to attend the hearings to demonstrate support for the bills and issues. The links to the list of committee members are provided below.

Here is what is being heard:

Tuesday, February 12, 2:15 PM House Health and Human Services Policy Room 200 State Office Building List of Committee Members HF359 (Laine, Dorholt, Fischer) Modifies children’s case management services so that it can be provided up to age 26. Requires the commissioner to develop recommendations for the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services hospital in Willmar. Appropriates funding for respite care, crisis services, mental health first aid training, community health worker training and school-linked mental health services. HF358 (Loeffler, Abeler, Faust, Fischer) Directs the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a survey of mental health and pediatric service providers modeled on the survey the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) conducts to evaluate Medicare vendors. Adds Clinical Care Consultation, Care Coordination and Family Psychoeducation to the Medical Assistance Benefit set. Creates a Family Peer Specialist role within children’s mental health providers. HF296 (Liebling, Dorholt, Ward, Huntley, Fischer, Sawatzky, Loeffler, Davnie, Bly, Slocum) Creates a drug formulary exception for people experiencing their first or second psychotic episode, extends case management services for children until they are age 26, appropriates funding for intensive first episode programs and to train health care and mental health care professionals on first psychotic episodes and increases funding for school-linked mental health. HF353 (Davnie, Abeler, Allen, Morgan, Ward, J.E., Slocum) Increases funding for school- linked mental health grants and sets aside some funding to assist children who have had prone restraints used on them multiple times.

Wednesday, February 13, 12-Noon Senate Committee on Health, Human Services and Housing Room 15 State Capitol List of Committee Members S.F. 270 (Sheran, Lourey, Dibble, Hoffman, Clausen) Creates a drug formulary exception for people experiencing their first or second psychotic episode, extends case management services for children until they are age 26, appropriates funding for intensive first episode programs and to train health care and mental health care professionals on first psychotic episodes and increases funding for school-linked mental health. S.F. 259 (Hoffman, J. Sheran, Wiger, Dibble, Marty) Increases funding for school-linked mental health grants and sets aside some funding to assist children who have had prone restraints used on them multiple times. S.F. 264 (Lourey, Sheran, Goodwin, Marty) Directs the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a survey of mental health and pediatric service providers modeled on the survey the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) conducts to evaluate Medicare vendors. Adds Clinical Care Consultation, Care Coordination and Family Psychoeducation to the Medical Assistance Benefit set. Creates a Family Peer Specialist role within children’s mental health providers. S.F. 265 (Sheran, Hoffman, Goodwin, Marty, Lourey) Modifies children’s case management services so that it can be provided up to age 26. Requires the commissioner to develop recommendations for the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services hospital in Willmar. Appropriates funding for respite care, crisis services, mental health first aid training, community health worker training and school-linked mental health services. S.F. 266 (Eaton, Hoffman, Marty) Creates a Mental health behavioral aide level II certification program.

Wednesday, February 13, 4 pm House Early Childhood and Youth Development Room 5 State Office Building List of Committee Members HF 357 (Mullery, Allen, Morgan, Winkler, Schomacker, Simon and Slocum) Establishes intensive early intervention services for young people experiencing their first psychotic episode and funds training for mental health and health care professionals on the identification of early psychosis.

Thursday, February 14, 10 am House Education Policy Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building List of Committee Members This is tentative and not on the schedule yet, but we believe that the following two bills may be heard: HF 354 (Selcer, Slocum, Barrett, Norton and Lillie) Clarifies that teachers who have had continuing education on the early warning signs of mental illnesses in children and adolescents may take more training on topics related to mental illnesses such as trauma, fetal alcohol, autism and more as part of their re-licensure. HF 355 (Bly, Ward, J.E. and Slocum) Requires school districts to include information on mental illnesses and mental health as part of health curriculum for students in grades 6 through 12.

Health and Human Services The House Health and Human Services Finance Committee heard a final presentation on the Governor’s budget Tuesday. DHS Deputy Commissioner Anne Barry presented on several proposals to help people currently at Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC) and the Minnesota Security Hospital (MSH) in St. Peter who no longer require that level of care to transition more quickly back into the community. She explained that this was part of the on- going effort to continue moving Minnesota’s mental health system away from an institutional model towards more community-based care.

One element of this proposal seeks to increase the share of funding counties have to pay for serving people in these facilities after they no longer require such intensive treatment and are ready to move out. Deputy Commissioner Barry said that the goal was to more aggressively transition people back into the community and ensure that other people who may need the level of care provided at AMRTC or MSH can access that care sooner.

The committee took public testimony about the Governor’s budget proposals on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Both days featured numerous testifiers speaking out in favor of increased funding for the mental health system. On Wednesday, Anne Henry from the Disability Law Center expressed support for increasing School-Linked Mental Health grants as well as initiatives to help people to transition out of Anoka and the security hospital.

Children’s Hospital expressed support for children’s mental health programs, especially the adding care coordination as a benefit under Medical Assistance. Mary Regan from the Minnesota Council of Child Caring Agencies expressed disappointment that the legislature is not doing more to support homeless youth and raised concerns about the Northstar proposal which would increase foster care rates for some children but decrease financial support for children with the highest needs. Alexandria Fitzsimmons from the Children’s Defense Fund testified in support of funding for children’s mental health as well.

On Thursday, Ed Eide from the Mental Health Association testified stating their support for increased mental health funding but voiced concerns with the Department’s Olmstead Plan. Trisha Stark with the MN Psychological Association expressed her support for the investments in children’s mental health and increases in MA reimbursement and urged them to expand the consultation services to psychologists along with increasing funding for housing with supports. Mary Krinkie with the MN Hospital Association expressed support for the MA expansion, increase in hospital rates and increased funding for mental health services.

Jodi Harpstead from Lutheran Social Services talked about the need for $8 million for the Homeless Youth Act. Jennifer Sorenson representing the MN Home Care Association stated their support for the increased funds for mental health. Judith Brumfield testified against the increased share for counties for care provided at Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center and St. Peter and also expressed support for school-linked mental health services. She was representing the MN Association of County Social Services Administrators and the Association of MN counties.

Jonathon Watson with the MN Association of Community Health Centers mentioned the problem they have not being able to bill for both a health care and mental health visit on the same day. Rep Huntley stated that this is what is wrong with our health care system – you get penalized for doing the right thing and pledged to look into it this session.

Sue Abderholden from NAMI also testified, delivering the same message as she did in the Senate. She did note that we face a conundrum – private plans can discriminate and not cover mental health treatment, Medical Assistance (MA) doesn’t pay for Anoka or St Peter, the counties are supposed to develop services under the Children and Adult Mental Health Services Acts but say it’s the state’s role. DHS is the state mental health authority but they say it’s the county’s role. “So who is responsible?” she asked.

Bills to expand eligibility for Medical Assistance (MA) continued their march through the committee process in both the House and Senate this week. HF 9 (Huntley) and SF 5 (Sheran) would expand Medical Assistance (MA) eligibility to adults without children with incomes up to 138% of federal poverty guidelines (~$15,000 for a single person) beginning January 1, 2014.

HF 9 cleared the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday evening and is now headed for the House floor. It was amended to align more closely with the language in the Senate version of the bill and an earlier change was removed that would have required eligibility to be scaled back if the Federal government did not provide the funding promised to serve this population. SF 5 was approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Finance Division on Wednesday morning and is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee.

HF 107 (Moran) cleared the House Early Childhood and Youth Development Committee on Tuesday and will be heard next in Health and Human Services Finance Committee. This bill would increase the limit on child care absent days from 10 to 25 or 10 consecutive full-days and allow children with documented medical conditions or children who have a parent or sibling with a documented medical condition to exceed the limit on absent days.

For those interested in legislation related to autism, two bills are schedule for hearings in House committee next week. The House Commerce Committee will hear HF 181 (Norton) on Wednesday, which would require health plans to cover services for autism. On Thursday the House Jobs and Economic Development committee will take up HF 395 (Norton) which would create a supported employment pilot project in Olmsted County for people with Autism.

Gun Violence Prevention This past week was “Gun Week” in the House Public Safety committee. The committee chair, Rep. Michael Paymar, allotted 15 minutes for the mental health community to present concerns with certain bills and about the need to avoid increased discrimination toward people with mental illnesses. In addition to NAMI Minnesota, testifiers included Trisha Stark from the Minnesota Psychological Association, Patti Bitney-Starke from the Mental Health Consumer Survivor Network of Minnesota and Stefano LoVerso from Vail Place.

NAMI Minnesota’s executive director, Sue Abderholden, testified about the need to unlink mental illnesses and violence. She told the committee that mental illnesses are common, and that only 5% of violent acts, including shootings, are committed by people with mental illnesses. She stated that targeting people who live with serious mental illnesses is unlikely to have a significant impact on reducing gun violence, but that it is likely to increase stigma and discrimination, as well as cause people to delay even longer in accessing mental health care.

Sue also reminded the committee that it is difficult to access adequate mental health care for many reasons, from shortages of mental health professionals to problems with health plans covering mental health care either inadequately or not at all. She added that Minnesota needs to improve early identification of and intervention for mental illnesses through programs designed to treat people experiencing their first episode of psychosis, and by strengthening the mental health system by funding school-linked mental health services, care coordination, supportive housing and more.

NAMI’s criminal justice director, Anna McLafferty, testified that, in the corrections field, mental illnesses are not considered when measuring someone’s risk of recidivism because the research simply doesn’t show enough of a direct link between mental illnesses and crime—violent or not. She asked the committee to consider other ways to positively impact people living with mental illnesses, including funding for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, mental health courts and release planning from correctional facilities. She closed with a request that the committee not hone in on people with mental illnesses any more than the law already does with respect to gun possession.

While NAMI Minnesota does not have a position generally on gun policies, it has decided to work to make sure that no bills are passed that would single out people with mental illnesses in a discriminatory way. Thus, NAMI does have serious concerns with two bills presented last week and are working with the authors and gun violence prevention advocates to amend them to address our concerns.

One of those bills, HF 237 (Paymar) expands gun ineligibility from anyone who has been civilly committed to anyone who has been “confined” or committed. NAMI has pointed out that “confined” is not defined in the bill. If “confined” is interpreted to mean transport holds placed by law enforcement officers—a likely interpretation—then the bill is problematic because transport holds can be placed for many reasons, and someone placed on a hold does not necessarily pose a risk of harm to self or others. Moreover, expanding gun ineligibility for being placed on a hold punishes people for seeking help. For example, if someone calls 911 because they feel suicidal and then agrees to be transported to the hospital, they would be placed on a hold and lose eligibility for gun possession.

HF 240 (Schoen) allows a chief of police or sheriff to require that a gun permit applicant who has had past police contacts indicating dangerous or violent behavior, chemical dependency, serious mental illness or a physical condition involving mental incompetence obtain a letter from a physician and/or mental health professional affirming that the applicant would not be likely to be violent or a danger to self or others. NAMI is concerned that this bill singles out people with mental illnesses, since the vast majority of people with mental illnesses never pose a risk of harm to others.

The letter requirement in HF 240 is also a concern for several reasons. First, people would need to pay out-of-pocket for the letter(s). Second, many doctors and mental health professionals would not write such letters to avoid liability. Third, forcing doctors and mental health professionals to say “yes” or “no” to writing a letter would undermine the doctor-patient or therapeutic relationship. Finally, mental health professionals are already stretched thin, and this additional work would not be guaranteed to have an effect on the chief’s or sheriff’s decision.

NAMI agrees that law enforcement and gun dealers should be required to check civil commitment records, findings that someone is incompetent to stand trial and verdicts of not guilty by reason of mental illness. That information is already readily available to the public, and all of these records are preceded by court deliberations where the person has legal representation.

NAMI also supports HF 184 (Winkler), which allows people to voluntarily add themselves to a registry of people ineligible for guns. Many people NAMI has talked to would add themselves to such a registry—assuming it was absolutely not available to public audiences like landlords, employers, and so on. NAMI does not, however, support any kind of broader registry of people with mental illnesses. Such a registry would discourage people from seeking treatment when they need it, and it would take rights away from a class of people without any kind of due process.

Finally, NAMI is satisfied with HF 285 (Lesch), which clarifies that people who have had a stay of civil commitment are ineligible for gun possession. To receive a stay of commitment, a court must have already determined that someone meets the standard for commitment, so NAMI does not have the same due process concerns with this bill as we do with HF 237. Additionally, existing case law has already established that people who have received a stay of commitment are ineligible for gun possession, so this bill simply clarifies that in the statute.

All of these bills were laid over for possible inclusion in the Public Safety Omnibus bill. We will keep you posted as we learn more. For more coverage of these hearings check out stories in the Star Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio.

Criminal Justice On Wednesday, the House Housing Policy and Finance Committee heard a presentation on the Governor’s budget proposals related to housing from Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) Commissioner Mary Tingerthal and Assistant Commissioner Tanya Ore. They highlighted the governor’s recommendation for $1 million to establish a rental assistance pilot project for people who have been incarcerated to help support successful reintegration into the community and to reduce recidivism. Lack of stable housing is one of the biggest barriers people face when leaving jail or prison, and this program would help at least some people leaving meet their housing needs following incarceration.

Also on Wednesday, the House Judiciary Finance and Policy Committee gave its approval to HF 90 (Hilstrom) and sent it onto the full House for consideration. The bill gives prosecutors more discretion and options when charging someone who is accused of exploiting a vulnerable adult (see the January 20 Legislative Update for a complete description of the bill).

Education Report Released on Seclusion and Restraints The Department of Education released its required report to the legislature on the use of seclusion and restraints in the school and how to reduce them. NAMI Minnesota’s executive director served on the task force. For background, remember that NAMI Minnesota was able to pass legislation back in 2009 to restrict the use of these procedures in schools. Schools had two years to get ready to implement the law and it went into effect in 2011. There were some questions during the 2011 and 2012 sessions regarding the use of prone restraints (only the type that does not restrict breathing) and so they are banned except in emergencies under current law until 2013.

It should be clearly noted that NAMI Minnesota does not support the use of prone restraints. However, in discussion with parents it is clear that banning them all together before alternatives are in place would be perilous. Why? Because in order to keep a student safe from him or herself or others schools can a) call police, b) put a child on homebound, or c) use reasonable force. The use of reasonable force does not require informing families or any training.

The recommendations of the report are to 1) Support PBIS, 2) Clarify definitions such as emergency and physical holding, 3) Imposing an age limit, 4) Requiring medical clearance, 5) Improve data reporting to the state, 5) Expand the responsibilities of the local review committees.

Since this legislation first passed, much has improved. No schools came forward to say that this legislation should be repealed and all school representatives on the task force expressed an interest and commitment to reducing the use of seclusion and restraints in our schools.

A bill is being prepared for introduction that will change the current law to reflect the consensus of the task force. To read the full report, click here. A Minnesota Public Radio story about the report can be found here.

Bill Introductions House HF 285 (Lesch, Schoen, Savick) (Companion to SF 235) Referred to and heard in Public Safety, laid over for possible inclusion in the Public Safety omnibus bill. Clarifies that people who have had a stay of commitment are ineligible for gun possession (which has already been established by the courts).

HF 296 (Liebling; Dorholt; Ward, J.A.; Huntley; Fischer; Sawatzky; Loeffler; Davnie; Bly and Slocum) (Companion to SF 270) Referred to the Health and Human Services Policy Committee. Creates a drug formulary exception for people experiencing their first or second psychotic episode, extends case management services for children until they are age 26, appropriates funding for intensive first episode programs and to train health care and mental health care professionals on first psychotic episodes and increases funding for school-linked mental health.

HF 353 (Davnie; Abeler; Allen; Morgan; Ward, J.E. and Slocum) (Companion to SF 259) Referred to the Health and Human Services Policy Committee. Increases funding for school- linked mental health grants and sets aside some funding to assist children who have had prone restraints used on them multiple times. This is a NAMI Bill.

HF 354 (Selcer; Slocum; Barrett; Norton and Lillie) (Companion to SF 260) Referred to the Education Policy Committee. Clarifies that teachers who have had continuing education on the early warning signs of mental illnesses in children and adolescents may take more training on topics related to mental illnesses such as trauma, fetal alcohol, autism and more as part of their re-licensure. This is a NAMI Bill.

HF 355 (Bly; Ward, J.E. and Slocum) (Companion to SF 261) Referred to the Education Policy Committee. Requires school districts to include information on mental illnesses and mental health as part of health curriculum for students in grades 6 through 12. This is a NAMI Bill.

HF 356 (Newton; Erickson, S.; Selcer; Davnie; Bernardy and Lillie) (Companion to SF 262) Referred to the Education Policy Committee. Increases the safe schools levy to hire more school support personnel and allows safe schools funds to be used to collaborate with mental health professionals. Funds Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). This is a NAMI Bill.

HF 357 (Mullery; Allen; Morgan; Winkler; Schomacker; Simon and Slocum) (Companion to SF 263) Referred to the Early Childhood and Youth Development Policy Committee. Establishes intensive early intervention services for young people experiencing their first psychotic episode and funds training for mental health and health care professionals on the identification of early psychosis. This is a NAMI Bill.

HF 358 (Loeffler; Abeler; Faust and Fischer) (Companion to SF 264) Referred to the Health and Human Services Policy Committee. Directs the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a survey of mental health and pediatric service providers modeled on the survey the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) conducts to evaluate Medicare vendors. Adds Clinical Care Consultation, Care Coordination and Family Psychoeducation to the Medical Assistance Benefit set. Creates a Family Peer Specialist role within children’s mental health providers. This is a NAMI Bill.

HF 359 (Laine; Dorholt and Fischer) (Companion to SF 265) Referred to the Health and Human Services Policy Committee. Modifies children’s case management services so that it can be provided up to age 26. Requires the commissioner to develop recommendations for the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services hospital in Willmar. Appropriates funding for respite care, crisis services, mental health first aid training, community health worker training and school-linked mental health services. This is a NAMI Bill.

HF 360 (Morgan and Fischer) (Companion to SF 266) Referred to the Health and Human Services Policy Committee. Creates a mental health behavioral aide level II certification program. This is a NAMI Bill.

HF 361 (Slocum) (Companion to SF 269) Referred to the Education Policy Committee. Streamlines current care and treatment education laws so that there are not barriers to children and youth accessing the treatment that they need while continuing their education. This is a NAMI Bill.

HF 362 (Halverson, Moran, Abeler, Mack and Clark) (Companion to SF 267) Referred to the Early Childhood and Youth Development Committee. Allows parents on MFIP to receive child care subsidies while attending mental health treatment appointments. This is a NAMI Bill.

HF 363 (Benson J. and Slocum) Referred to the Education Policy Committee. Establishes minimum ratios for students per school counselors.

HF 387 (Dorholt and Norton) Referred to the Health and Human Services Finance Committee. Increases payment rates for psychologists.

HF 392 (Melin; Cornish; Woodard; Lesch; S. Johnson; Simonson; R. Dehn; M. Murphy; McNamara; Pugh; Moran; Urdahl and Abeler) (Companion to SF 286) Referred to the Early Childhood and Youth Development Policy Committee. Makes 16 and 17-year-old juvenile court records private except in cases where the prosecutor or court requests a public hearing due to the seriousness of the alleged offense.

HF 394 (Fritz, Abeler and Allen) (Companion to SF 291) Referred to the Health and Human Services Policy Committee. Makes the Commissioner of Human Services rather than counties responsible for placement decisions and funding the room and board for residential treatment for children with mental illnesses. This is a NAMI bill.

HF 395 (Norton; Benson, M.; Mahoney and Liebling) Referred to the Jobs and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee. Creates a supported employment pilot project in Olmsted County for people with Autism.

HF 396 (Benson J.; Selcer and Winkler) (Companion to SF 153) Referred to the Health and Human Services Finance Committee. Appropriates 3,750,000 in bonding money for expansion and renovation of St. David's Center for Child and Family Development to provide early childhood education and respite care, children's mental health services, pediatric and other interventions for children who are at risk for poor developmental outcomes or maltreatment.

HF 427 (Laine; Ward, J.E.; Loeffler; Brynaert; Bernardy; Clark; Bly; Hausman; Johnson, S.; Masin; McNamar; Anzelc; Fritz; Slocum; Benson, J.; Melin; Erhardt; Allen; Winkler and Davnie) (Companion to SF 44) Referred to the Health and Human Services Policy Committee. Reduces the cost that may be charged why a patient requests copies of medical records from 75 cents to 10 cents.

Senate SF 235 (Latz; Ortman; Dibble and Champion) (Companion to HF 285) Referred to the Judiciary Committee. Clarifies that people who have had a stay of commitment are ineligible for gun possession (which has already been established by the courts).

SF 259 (Hoffman; Sheran; Wiger; Dibble and Marty) (Companion to HF 353) Referred to the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee. Increases funding for school-linked mental health grants and sets aside some funding to assist children who have had prone restraints used on them multiple times. This is a NAMI Bill.

SF 260 (Dahle; Hoffman; Franzen; Wiger and Marty) (Companion to HF 354) Referred to the Education Committee. Clarifies that teachers who have had continuing education on the early warning signs of mental illnesses in children and adolescents may take more training on topics related to mental illnesses such as trauma, fetal alcohol, autism and more as part of their re- licensure. This is a NAMI Bill.

SF 261 (Torres Ray; Wiger and Marty) (Companion to HF 355) Referred to the Education Committee. Requires school districts to include information on mental illnesses and mental health as part of health curriculum for students in grades 6 through 12. This is a NAMI Bill.

SF 262 (Johnson; Wiklund; Hoffman; Nelson and Marty) (Companion to HF 356) Referred to the Education Committee. Increases the safe schools levy to hire more school support personnel and allows safe schools funds to be used to collaborate with mental health professionals. Funds Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). This is a NAMI Bill.

SF 263 (Sheran; Dibble; Goodwin; Marty and Lourey) (Companion to HF 357) Referred to the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee. Establishes intensive early intervention services for young people experiencing their first psychotic episode and funds training for mental health and health care professionals on the identification of early psychosis. This is a NAMI Bill.

SF 264 (Lourey; Sheran; Goodwin and Marty) (Companion to HF 358) Referred to the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee. Directs the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a survey of mental health and pediatric service providers modeled on the survey the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) conducts to evaluate Medicare vendors. Adds Clinical Care Consultation, Care Coordination and Family Psychoeducation to the Medical Assistance Benefit set. Creates a Family Peer Specialist role within children’s mental health providers. This is a NAMI Bill.

SF 265 (Sheran; Hoffman; Goodwin; Marty and Lourey) (Companion to HF 359) Referred to the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee. Modifies children’s case management services so that it can be provided up to age 26. Requires the commissioner to develop recommendations for the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services hospital in Willmar. Appropriates funding for respite care, crisis services, mental health first aid training, community health worker training and school-linked mental health services. This is a NAMI Bill.

SF 266 (Eaton; Hoffman and Marty) (Companion to SF 360) Referred to the Health and Human Services Policy Committee. Creates a mental health behavioral aide level II certification program. This is a NAMI Bill.

SF 267 (Clausen; Hayden; Goodwin; Marty and Lourey) (Companion to HF 362) Referred to the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee. Allows parents on MFIP to receive child care subsidies while attending mental health treatment appointments. This is a NAMI Bill.

SF 269 (Torres Ray) (Companion to HF 361) Referred to the Education Committee. Streamlines current care and treatment education laws so that there are not barriers to children and youth accessing the treatment that they need while continuing their education. This is a NAMI Bill.

SF 270 (Sheran; Lourey; Dibble; Hoffman and Clausen) (Companion to HF 296) Referred to the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee. Creates a drug formulary exception for people experiencing their first or second psychotic episode, extends case management services for children until they are age 26, appropriates funding for intensive first episode programs and to train health care and mental health care professionals on first psychotic episodes and increases funding for school-linked mental health.

SF 286 (Latz; Ortman; Hall and Hayden) (Companion to HF 392) Referred to the Judiciary Committee. Makes 16 and 17-year-old juvenile court records private except in cases where the prosecutor or court requests a public hearing due to the seriousness of the alleged offense.

SF 288 (Pederson J.) Referred to the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee. Eliminates an administrative rule requiring counties to concur when placing a child in foster care in a different county.

SF 291 (Hayden) (Companion to HF 394) Referred to the Health and Human Services Finance Division. Makes the Commissioner of Human Services rather than counties responsible for placement decisions and funding the room and board for residential treatment for children with mental illnesses. This is a NAMI bill.

SF 314 (Eaton; Senjem; Sheran; Metzen and Clausen) (Companion to HF 181) Referred to the Commerce Committee. Requires health plans to cover the diagnosis, evaluation, assessment and medically necessary care of autism spectrum disorders for any plans offered, sold, issued or renewed after August 1, 2013. This includes applied behavior analysis, intensive early intervention behavior therapy or intervention and Lovaas therapy.