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S.F. No. 1235 - Addressing Youth Violence as a Public Health Problem (Second Engrossment)
Author: Senator John Marty
Prepared by: Chris Turner, Senate Research (651/296-4350)
Date: May 8, 2009

Section 1, subdivision 1 defines "at-risk youth" as adolescents and teenagers who are likely to be a threat to the health and well-being of themselves or others through gang involvement, alcohol and drug use, unsafe sexual activity, dropping out of school, or through violence and other criminal activity.

Subdivision 2 allows certain community-based violence prevention programs to apply to the Commissioner of Health for technical assistance. The programs must be community-based efforts serving at-risk youth and must work in collaboration with local schools, law enforcement agencies, and community groups to provide a comprehensive approach to reducing youth violence by addressing the needs of at-risk youth.

Subdivision 3 requires the Commissioner of Health, in collaboration with the Commissioners of Public Safety, Human Services, and Education to identify five community-based violence prevention programs that meet the criteria described in this section. One of the programs must be serving the youth in Minneapolis, one must be serving the youth in St. Paul, and the remaining three programs must be serving youth in outstate communities.

The Commissioner of Health shall provide technical support to these community programs including, but not limited to, assistance in seeking and applying for federal grants and private foundation funding.

The commissioner shall monitor the progress of these programs in terms of the impact on public health and reducing juvenile violent crime, and shall identify the effective aspects of each program in order to assist other programs in replicating these successful aspects.

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