Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Human services bonding priorities set

Published (2/22/2008)
By Patty Ostberg
Share on: 



The House Health Care and Human Services Finance Division approved a $139.8 million bonding request Feb. 20.

HF2091, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Huntley (DFL-Duluth), prioritizes the division’s recommendations from high to medium. It now goes to the House Finance Committee.

High priority projects would include: asset preservation and safety and security for several Department of Human Services’ treatment centers, grants to the Hennepin County Medical Center and a Native American juvenile treatment center.

Medium priority projects would include: phase two expansion of the Moose Lake Sex Offender Treatment Facility, a multi-county chemical dependency treatment facility and correctional center, Remembering with Dignity money for grave markers and memorial monuments, and renovation to Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul.

The asset preservation, safety and security upgrades to already built facilities, and repair or demolishing of buildings at the Brainerd Regional Human Services Center are included in the governor’s recommendations. The remainder of the projects are not.

HCMC is planning a $175 million expansion and would be appropriated $28 million from the state once $146 million has been committed to the project from nonstate sources. The monies would be used for an education learning center for training rooms and labs.

Erma Vizenor, tribal chair woman for the White Earth Reservation, said the Native American juvenile treatment center would incorporate cultural and spiritual programs to help serve juveniles from all tribes in Minnesota. A former treatment center in Bemidji is now being considered as the location, she said. Under the bill, $6 million would be available to construct the facility on or near the White Earth Reservation.

The Senate companion, SF1727, sponsored by Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls), contains no bonding provisions. That bill was included in last year’s health and human services law.

Session Weekly More...


Session Weekly Home



Related Stories


At Issue: On the forefront
Minnesota looks to set the national stage for health care reform
(view full story) Published 5/30/2008

At Issue: Health reform still in play
Governor nixes months of work; supporters remain optimistic
(view full story) Published 5/16/2008

Minnesota Index
Figures and statistics on elder Minnesotans
(view full story) Published 5/2/2008

At Issue: Regulating patient safety
Hospitals sometimes choose between more nurses or rationing care
(view full story) Published 4/25/2008

At Issue: Hungry for help
Food shelf needs are growing across state
(view full story) Published 4/18/2008

At Issue: No rooms for those in crisis
Psychiatric beds are full, but solutions are as complex as the problem
(view full story) Published 3/28/2008

At Issue: An umbrella of coverage
A year in the making, health care proposal lays out an aggressive timeline
(view full story) Published 3/21/2008

At Issue: Primary care — your life depends on it
A system overhaul is needed, working on a solution
(view full story) Published 3/7/2008

Minnesota Index
Figures and statistics on health insurance in Minnesota
(view full story) Published 2/29/2008