1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; modifying foster youth ombudsperson terms; modifying 
1.3 	the Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson appropriation;amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2022, section 260C.80, subdivision 1; Laws 2022, chapter 63, section 6.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 260C.80, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson. The Office of the Foster 
1.8 	Youth Ombudsperson is hereby created. The ombudsperson serves at the pleasure of the 
1.9 	governor in the unclassified service, must be selected without regard to political affiliation, 
1.10 	and must be a person highly competent and qualified to work to improve the lives of youth 
1.11 	in the foster care system, while understanding the administration and public policy related 
1.12 	to youth in the foster care system. The ombudsperson may be removed only for just cause. 
1.13 	No person may serve as the foster youth ombudsperson while holding any other public 
1.14 	office. The foster youth ombudsperson is accountable to the governor and may investigate 
1.15 	decisions, acts, and other matters related to the health, safety, and welfare of youth in foster 
1.16 	care to promote the highest attainable standards of competence, efficiency, and justice for 
1.17 	youth who are in the care of the state.

1.18 	Sec. 2. Laws 2022, chapter 63, section 6, is amended to read:
1.19 	Sec. 6. APPROPRIATION; OFFICE OF THE FOSTER YOUTH OMBUDSPERSON.
 1.20 	$775,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the Office of the 
1.21 	Foster Youth Ombudsperson for the establishment and operation of the Office of the Foster 
1.22 	Youth Ombudsperson and the Board of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson. Any unexpended 
2.1 	balance in fiscal year 2023 does not cancel and is available until June 30, 2024. The base 
2.2 	for this appropriation is $726,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $726,000 in fiscal year 2025.

2.3 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.