Start the "Minnesota Green Resilience Corps," a state program that helps young people by giving them jobs doing nature

work and making their minds healthy.

 

​The point of this law is to make a state work group that runs all year for young people (ages 18-25). This group will

teach them jobs that protect nature and keep state land safe. This program will mix outdoor work with help for mental

health to give these workers a paid way to feel better and help the environment at the same time

 

REASONS FOR THE LAW

​Subdivision 1. Fixing Two Big Problems.

Minnesota has two big problems: many young people are having mental health trouble, and our nature needs help to fight

bad weather changes (like fixing wetlands and stopping bad plants). This work group helps with both. Good work outside

is a proven way to lower worry and make people feel better about themselves.

​Subdivision 2. How the Group Will Work.

The work group will hire and pay young people good money to do important state work, like planting many new trees,

fixing lake shores, or cleaning up important wet areas. Every work crew will have a good nature expert and a licensed

mental health worker (a therapist). This mix gives the workers quick and easy mental health help while they are working.

​Subdivision 3. Jobs and Future Money.

The workers get good pay and a $5,000 money voucher for school when they finish their year of work. This makes more

people ready for jobs that protect nature for the state's future, helping the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and

other park groups find skilled workers.

 

 

WHAT WORDS MEAN

​Subdivision 1. Work Group: "Work Group" means the Minnesota Green Resilience Corps that this law starts.

​Subdivision 2. Nature Safety: "Nature Safety" means how well Minnesota's wild places (woods, lakes, fields) can stay

strong and fix themselves after bad weather, big floods, or dry times.

​Subdivision 3. Health Work Style: "Health Work Style" means giving mental health help and talking right where the work

is happening, as part of the daily team job.

 

 

PAYING FOR THE LAW

​Subdivision 1. How Much It Costs.

Starting this Work Group will cost $12 million for the first two years. This covers worker pay, tools, trucks, and the

pay for 10 team leaders, 10 mental health therapists, and 100 young workers.

​Subdivision 2. Where the Money Comes From.

The money will come from two places:

​Half (50%) will come from the state's Nature Money Fund (because this is a long-term plan to help nature).

​Half (50%) will come from the state's Health Money set aside for helping young people's minds (because this is a new

way to help them stay healthy).

​

 

SECTION V - RULES AND WHO WATCHES THE LAW

​

The boss of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will run the program and check the nature goals. The boss of the

Health Department will check that the mental health help given by the therapists is good. Work Group members who break

safety rules can be fired and will not get the school money.

 

 

​​This law will start on July 1, 2026. This gives the DNR and the Health Department one year to hire staff, make a plan,

and find the first group of young workers.