1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to children, youth, and families; establishing an African Youth Soccer
1.3 League; requiring reports; appropriating money.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. AFRICAN YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE.
1.6 Subdivision 1.Establishment.The commissioner of children, youth, and families must
1.7establish an African Youth Soccer League to ensure access to resources, facilities, and
1.8development programs for young soccer players of African descent.
1.9 Subd. 2.Local partnerships.The commissioner must partner with local schools,
1.10community centers, cities, and semiprofessional and professional soccer clubs to provide
1.11access to high-quality training facilities and soccer fields for practices and games.
1.12 Subd. 3.Coaching licenses.The commissioner must provide an opportunity and funding
1.13for coaches within the African Youth Soccer League to obtain coaching licenses through
1.14the United States Soccer Federation.
1.15 Subd. 4.Mental health.The commissioner of children, youth, and families, in
1.16collaboration with the commissioner of human services, must provide access to mental
1.17health services for youth soccer players within the African Youth Soccer League.
1.18 Subd. 5.Annual showcase.(a) Each summer, the commissioner must host an annual
1.19showcase tournament for the African Youth Soccer League.
1.20 (b) The commissioner must invite talent scouts or coaches from all of Minnesota's
1.21professional and college soccer teams, regardless of division level. The commissioner may
1.22invite talent scouts or coaches from additional professional and college teams.
1Section 1.
25-04479 as introduced03/10/25 REVISOR DTT/VJ
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 2748NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: HOFFMAN)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading03/20/2025
Referred to Health and Human Services 2.1 Subd. 6.Report.The commissioner must submit an annual report to the chairs and
2.2ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over children,
2.3youth, and families that provides the following details about the African Youth Soccer
2.4League:
2.5 (1) participation rates;
2.6 (2) financial expenditures and funding allocations;
2.7 (3) success stories, including scholarships awarded and players advancing to higher
2.8levels of competition; and
2.9 (4) the impact of soccer on mental health and overall community engagement.
2.10 Sec. 2. DIRECTION TO THE COMMISSIONER OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND
2.11FAMILIES; AFRICAN YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE DEVELOPMENT .
2.12 (a) The commissioner of children, youth, and families must develop a grant program
2.13that provides financial assistance for community-based soccer teams within the African
2.14Youth Soccer League to acquire uniforms, soccer balls, and other necessary equipment.
2.15 (b) The commissioner must develop a mentorship program that would pair youth soccer
2.16players from the African Youth Soccer League with professional and semiprofessional
2.17soccer players.
2.18 (c) The commissioner must develop a grant program that provides grants to youth soccer
2.19players within the African Youth Soccer League to help the players access higher education
2.20and professional development programs.
2.21 (d) The commissioner, in collaboration with the commissioner of public safety, must
2.22develop programs that engage at-risk youth in soccer activities within the African Youth
2.23Soccer League.
2.24 (e) The commissioner must communicate with the Fédération Internationale de Football
2.25Association, the United States Soccer Federation, and international soccer organizations,
2.26including but not limited to the Premier League and Bundesliga, to develop further
2.27opportunities for youth soccer participation and global exposure of the African Youth Soccer
2.28League.
2Sec. 2.
25-04479 as introduced03/10/25 REVISOR DTT/VJ 3.1 Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; AFRICAN YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE.
3.2 $3,700,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $3,700,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from
3.3the general fund to the commissioner of children, youth, and families to establish and oversee
3.4the African Youth Soccer League.
3Sec. 3.
25-04479 as introduced03/10/25 REVISOR DTT/VJ