HF 2264

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/07/2019 02:50pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing the retaining early educators through
attaining incentives now grant program; requiring reports; appropriating money;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [119B.195] RETAINING EARLY EDUCATORS THROUGH ATTAINING
INCENTIVES NOW (REETAIN) GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; purpose. new text end

new text begin The retaining early educators through attaining
incentives now (REETAIN) grant program is established to provide competitive grants to
incentivize well-trained child care professionals to stay in the workforce to create more
consistent care for children over time.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Administration. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall allocate grant funds to child care
resource and referral agencies to administer the REETAIN grant program. Up to ten percent
of grant funds may be used for administration of the grant program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin Applicants must apply for the grant program on the forms and
according to the timelines established by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) Applicants must:
new text end

new text begin (1) be licensed to provide child care or work for a licensed child care program;
new text end

new text begin (2) work directly with children at least 30 hours per week;
new text end

new text begin (3) be in their current position for at least 12 months;
new text end

new text begin (4) be willing to stay in their current position for at least 12 months after receiving a
grant under this section;
new text end

new text begin (5) have a career lattice step of five or higher;
new text end

new text begin (6) have a current membership with the Minnesota quality improvement and registry
tool; and
new text end

new text begin (7) not be a current teacher education and compensation helps scholarship recipient.
new text end

new text begin (b) Grant recipients must sign a contract agreeing to remain in their current position for
12 months.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Grant awards. new text end

new text begin Grant awards must be made annually and may be made up to
$3,500 per recipient. Grant funds may be used for program supplies, training, or personal
expenses.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must report annually to the legislative committees
with jurisdiction over child care on January 1 beginning January 1, 2021, on the number of
grants awarded and outcomes of the grant program.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; RETAINING EARLY EDUCATORS THROUGH
ATTAINING INCENTIVES NOW (REETAIN) GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin $250,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of human services for purposes of REETAIN grants under
Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.195. This appropriation is in addition to federal funding
and is added to the base.
new text end