Text of MN SF 3133 (2025)
Bill of rights establishment for people utilizing shelter
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As introduced
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A bill for an act
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relating to human services; establishing a bill of rights for people utilizing shelter;
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appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
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256K.
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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Section 1. [256K.55] BILL OF RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE UTILIZING SHELTER.
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Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
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the meanings given.
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(b) "Homeless" or "homelessness" means lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate residence.
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(c) "Homeless shelter" or "shelter" means any building, regardless of nature of ownership
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or operation or source of funding, intended for temporary indoor sleeping accommodations
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for persons who are homeless, including single adults, families, youth, or survivors of
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domestic violence or sexual assault. Homeless shelter or shelter does not include a shelter
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located on Tribal land or owned, operated, or administered by a Tribe.
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(d) "People utilizing shelter" or "people" means persons utilizing a homeless shelter in
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Minnesota.
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(e) "Service animal" has the meaning given in section 504B.113, paragraph (b).
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(f) "Support animal" has the meaning given in section 504B.113, paragraph (c).
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Subd. 2. Right to be treated with dignity and respect. (a) People utilizing shelter have
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the right to be treated with courtesy, dignity, and respect for their humanity, individuality,
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identity, and property by staff, volunteers, contractors, and agents of a shelter. People have
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the right to be treated equally and without discrimination because of their race, color,
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Section 1.
25-05029
as introduced
03/21/25
REVISOR
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SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 3133
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: FATEH)
OFFICIAL STATUS
D-PG
DATE
Introduction and first reading
04/01/2025
Referred to Health and Human Services
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ethnicity, national origin, religion, creed, citizenship status, age, disability, gender, gender
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identity, sexual orientation, employment status, source of income, personal appearance,
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status as a military veteran, marital status, familial status, medical history, need for a service
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animal or a support animal, limited English proficiency, or lack of a valid state driver's
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license, nondriver ID, or other form of government-issued identification.
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(b) Nothing in this section prohibits denial of shelter to:
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(1) a single adult by a shelter serving families only;
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(2) a family by a shelter serving single adults only;
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(3) an ineligible person by a shelter serving youths only; or
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(4) an ineligible person by a shelter serving survivors of domestic violence only.
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Subd. 3. Right to adequate facilities. People utilizing shelter have the right to be
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sheltered in facilities that are safe, clean, sanitary, and adequate to meet their temporary
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housing needs, including but not limited to sufficient and accessible restroom and shower
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facilities, sufficient space for wheelchairs and walkers, sufficient place for storage of personal
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items, and bedding and basic hygiene necessities. If a shelter serves food, people utilizing
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shelter have the right to food prepared in a safe and sanitary manner in accordance with all
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applicable health codes.
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Subd. 4. Right to reasonable accommodations. (a) People with disabilities utilizing
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shelter have the right to reasonable accommodations and modifications of policies, practices,
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and procedures, including the rights and remedies granted under the Americans with
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Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the
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Minnesota Human Rights Act. People have the right to have a service animal or a support
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animal in a shelter and space to accommodate them.
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(b) People have the right to reasonable modification of rules and policies to accommodate
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work or child care hours and schedules, emergencies, obligations to care for relatives who
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do not reside in the shelter, and other extenuating circumstances that would result in the
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need to leave or return at times other than those articulated in the shelter rules to ensure no
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person utilizing shelter is unreasonably denied entry to the shelter facility.
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(c) Shelters must take reasonable measures to:
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(1) ensure that people with limited English proficiency understand the shelter rules and
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policies and can communicate with staff; and
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(2) accommodate people with special dietary needs or religious restrictions.
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REVISOR
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Subd. 5. Right to privacy. People utilizing shelter have the right to personal privacy,
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at a minimum, when:
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(1) changing clothes;
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(2) using toilets, showers, and baths; and
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(3) during medical examination or treatment.
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Subd. 6. Right to confidentiality of records. People utilizing shelter have the right to
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have their personal, financial, health, and medical records kept private and secured. Except
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as otherwise required or allowed under law, a shelter may not release records of a person
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utilizing shelter without the person's consent.
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Subd. 7. Right to know about shelter rules and available resources. Upon admission
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to a shelter, or as soon as practicable thereafter, every person utilizing shelter must be offered
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a notice in writing or provided in a method that is accessible to the person that include:
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(1) the rules of the shelter, including any potential exclusions or exceptions, and a staff
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person to whom questions or concerns can be directed;
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(2) a list of the rights enumerated in this section and, if requested, a full copy of this
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section;
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(3) the shelter's procedures for requesting accommodations under subdivision 4;
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(4) the shelter's grievance procedure, which also must be filed with the office of economic
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opportunity of the Department of Human Services; and
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(5) a list of, and contact information for, public and private resources, including
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organizations providing:
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(i) mental, physical, and chemical health care;
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(ii) case management, housing, or employment services; and
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(iii) assistance accessing public benefits.
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Subd. 8. Right to meet with attorneys, advocates, and others. People utilizing shelter
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have the right to meet and communicate privately with attorneys, advocates, clergy,
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physicians, medical providers, social workers, and other professionals. The meetings must
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be allowed at reasonable hours, and immediately in an emergency, consistent with any
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physical limitations of the shelter facility.
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Subd. 9. Right to complain. People utilizing shelter have the right to file grievances
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with the shelter provider or any relevant government entity regarding treatment of a person
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REVISOR
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or the services provided by the shelter. A person may file a confidential grievance either
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verbally or in writing. Shelters must establish a confidential grievance procedure that includes
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identification of to whom a confidential complaint can be made. Shelters may not retaliate
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in any way against the person filing the grievance.
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Subd. 10. Ending shelter stay or services. (a) A shelter manager or staff may end the
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stay of a person utilizing shelter if the shelter determines that the person poses a danger to
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shelter staff or other inhabitants based on a credible report that the person committed an act
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that would constitute criminal sexual conduct under sections 609.342 to 609.3451, inflicted
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or attempted to inflict bodily harm upon another, or used or threatened to use a dangerous
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weapon as defined in section 609.02, subdivision 6. In all other cases, ending a person's
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stay in shelter can occur only in the most severe circumstances.
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(b) Shelters must exercise judgment before ending a person's stay in shelter. Before
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ending the person's stay, the shelter must:
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(1) give the person the right to explain or refute the allegations that form the basis for
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ending the person's stay;
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(2) examine all extenuating circumstances, including but not limited to:
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(i) the person's age and any known or apparent mental health conditions; and
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(ii) whether ending the person's stay in shelter in dangerous weather conditions will
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jeopardize the life, health, or safety of the person;
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(3) have the situation reviewed by a minimum of three shelter staff; and
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(4) provide opportunity for mediation or conflict resolution.
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(c) A person whose shelter stay has involuntarily been ended has the right to be provided
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with written documentation of the reason that the stay was ended; the date that the stay
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ends; and the procedure to file a grievance or, if applicable, appeal.
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Subd. 11. No effect on other rights. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
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eliminate, limit, or modify any rights of people utilizing shelter, including rights of notice
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or appeal, granted under any other provision of law.
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EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026, except subdivision 7,
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clause (5), is effective January 1, 2026.
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Section 1.
25-05029
as introduced
03/21/25
REVISOR
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Sec. 2. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER; BILL OF RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE
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UTILIZING SHELTER.
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No later than January 1, 2026, the commissioner of human services, in consultation with
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relevant state and local agencies, including the Minnesota Interagency Council on
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Homelessness and nonprofit organizations serving or advocating for individuals and families
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who are experiencing homelessness, must develop a list of resources required to be distributed
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under Minnesota Statutes, section 256K.55, subdivision 7, clause (5).
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Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; BILL OF RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE UTILIZING
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SHELTER.
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$....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
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human services to develop the list of resources required to be distributed under Minnesota
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Statutes, section 256K.55, subdivision 7, clause (5). This is a onetime appropriation.
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Sec. 3.
25-05029
as introduced
03/21/25
REVISOR
XX/LN