HF 2402

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/15/2016 08:46am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying child care assistance; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2014, sections 119B.011, subdivisions 20, 20a; 119B.10, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 119B.011, subdivision 20, is amended to
read:

Subd. 20.

Transition year families.

"Transition year families" means families who
have received MFIP assistance, or who were eligible to receive MFIP assistance after
choosing to discontinue receipt of the cash portion of MFIP assistance under section
256J.31, subdivision 12, or families who have received DWP assistance under section
256J.95 for at least three of the last six months before losing eligibility for MFIP or DWP.
Transition year child care may be used to support employment new text begin , registered apprenticeship
programs as defined in section 178.011, subdivision 4, new text end or job search. Transition year child
care is not available to families who have been disqualified from MFIP or DWP due
to fraud.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 119B.011, subdivision 20a, is amended to read:

Subd. 20a.

Transition year extension families.

"Transition year extension
families" means families who have completed their transition year of child care assistance
under this subdivision and who are eligible for, but on a waiting list for, services under
section 119B.03. For purposes of sections 119B.03, subdivision 3, and 119B.05,
subdivision 1, clause (2), families participating in extended transition year shall not be
considered transition year families. Transition year extension child care may be used to
support employment new text begin , registered apprenticeship programs as defined in section 178.011,
subdivision 4, new text end or a job search that meets the requirements of section 119B.10 for the
length of time necessary for families to be moved from the basic sliding fee waiting list
into the basic sliding fee program.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 119B.10, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Assistance for persons seeking and retaining employment.

(a)
Persons who are seeking employment and who are eligible for assistance under this
section are eligible to receive up to 240 hours of child care assistance per calendar year.

(b) Employed persons who work at least an average of 20 hours and full-time students
who work at least an average of ten hours a week and receive at least a minimum wage
for all hours worked are eligible for continued child care assistance for employment. For
purposes of this section, work-study programs must be counted as employment. Child care
assistance during employment must be authorized as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d).

(c) When the person works for an hourly wage and the hourly wage is equal to or
greater than the applicable minimum wage, child care assistance shall be provided for the
actual hours of employment, break, and mealtime during the employment and travel time
up to two hours per day.

(d) When the person does not work for an hourly wage, child care assistance must be
provided for the lesser of:

(1) the amount of child care determined by dividing gross earned income by the
applicable minimum wage, up to one hour every eight hours for meals and break time,
plus up to two hours per day for travel time; or

(2) the amount of child care equal to the actual amount of child care used during
employment, including break and mealtime during employment, and travel time up to
two hours per day.

new text begin (e) Persons who are eligible for assistance under this section may participate in a
registered apprenticeship program as defined in section 178.011, subdivision 4. Child care
assistance shall be provided for the actual hours of the apprenticeship, break, mealtime
during the apprenticeship, and travel time up to two hours per day. The commissioner
shall consult with the commissioner of labor and industry to confirm the person is actively
participating in a registered apprenticeship program during the period of time for which
assistance is received.
new text end