1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to family law; appropriating money for a grant to NorthPoint Health and 
1.3 	Wellness Center for coparent services.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; NORTHPOINT HEALTH AND WELLNESS 
1.6 	CENTER.
 1.7 	(a) $200,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from 
1.8 	the general fund to the commissioner of human services for a grant to NorthPoint Health 
1.9 	and Wellness Center (NorthPoint). NorthPoint must use the grant money to offer coparent 
1.10 	services to unmarried parents who are in the process of establishing paternity. The coparent 
1.11 	services must include the following:
1.12 	(1) a process to identify unmarried parents who are in the process of establishing 
1.13 	paternity;
1.14 	(2) coparenting workshops for the unmarried parents;
1.15 	(3) assistance to the unmarried parents in developing a parenting plan that specifies 
1.16 	parenting time for the father, child support obligations, and how decisions will be made 
1.17 	regarding the child's education, medical needs, and religious upbringing;
1.18 	(4) an assessment of social service needs for each parent; and
1.19 	(5) additional social service support, including support related to employment, education, 
1.20 	and housing.
2.1 	(b) The parenting plan assistance under paragraph (a) must include the option of using 
2.2 	private mediation.
2.3 	(c) The coparent workshops required under paragraph (a) must focus at a minimum on 
2.4 	(i) the benefits to the child of having both a mother and a father involved in a child's life, 
2.5 	(ii) promoting both parents' participation in a child's life, (iii) building coparenting and 
2.6 	communication skills, (iv) information on establishing paternity, (v) assisting parents in 
2.7 	developing a parenting plan, and (vi) educating participants on how to foster nonresident 
2.8 	fathers' continued involvement in a child's life.