This bill amends various sections of Minnesota Statutes concerning children's mental health programs and nonemergency medical transportation services. It introduces provisions to assist families in accessing mental health services and mandates that nonemergency medical transportation providers offer assisted transport to clients aged 20 and younger who qualify for unassisted transport, unless declined by the client or their guardian. The bill also establishes new reimbursement rates for nonemergency medical transportation services for clients under 21 and ensures compliance with specific transportation standards for managed care and county-based purchasing plans, including a fuel adjustment when fuel prices exceed $3 per gallon. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2026.

Additionally, the bill revises statutes related to children's therapeutic services by adding new definitions and service components, including "transition to community living services," which focuses on maintaining contact between providers and clients and facilitating their integration into families and communities. It updates the list of covered services to include "children's day treatment" and "transition to community living services," while removing "mental health service plan development." The bill also allocates funds for school-linked behavioral health grants for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to enhance access to behavioral health services in schools, ultimately aiming to improve the delivery of mental health services to children and ensure better continuity of care.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 245.4901, 256B.0625, 256B.0943