This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 145.4718, to require the director of child sex trafficking prevention to submit a program evaluation every odd-numbered year to the legislature. The previous requirement for the first evaluation to be completed by June 30, 2015, and for evaluations to be submitted every two years thereafter has been deleted. Instead, the director is now mandated to provide an updated evaluation to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over health and public safety.

The evaluation will assess whether the program effectively reaches intended victims and whether support services for sexually exploited youth are available, accessible, and adequate. Additionally, the evaluation will consider outcomes such as the identification of sexually exploited youth, coordination of investigations, access to services and housing, and the effectiveness of these services. It will also examine how penalties under section 609.3241 are assessed, collected, and distributed to ensure proper funding for investigation, prosecution, and victim services aimed at combating sexual exploitation of youth.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 145.4718