HF 566

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/13/2013 02:13pm

A bill for an act
relating to jobs; establishing a jobs innovation for hard-to-employ Minnesotans
grant program; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 116J.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [116J.8748] JOBS INNOVATION FOR HARD-TO-EMPLOY
MINNESOTANS GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of employment and economic
development shall establish a grant program with the goal of creating new jobs for
long-term and chronically unemployed Minnesotans who are frequent and costly users
of state and county interventions and services. The targeted population for the grant
program includes individuals who rely heavily on government services, such as veterans,
recently incarcerated individuals, and individuals with mental health problems and
chemical addiction.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Objectives. new text end

new text begin The grant program shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide an incentive for the private employment sector to generate new
employment opportunities for the targeted population; and
new text end

new text begin (2) foster cross-agency collaboration at the state and local levels and reduce
government costs by eliminating inefficiencies and applying best practices.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Selection of grant recipients. new text end

new text begin (a) Grants under this section shall be
awarded by the commissioner of employment and economic development. Before any
grants are awarded, a committee consisting of representatives from the Departments of
Employment and Economic Development, Human Services, and Corrections, and the
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, shall meet and evaluate the grant applications and
make recommendations to the commissioner on awarding the grants.
new text end

new text begin (b) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an organization must be an
employer located in this state and must:
new text end

new text begin (1) commit to creating new full-time or part-time positions for the targeted population;
new text end

new text begin (2) demonstrate a clear plan for creating new jobs and verify that the funds will not
be used to preserve or fund existing jobs;
new text end

new text begin (3) demonstrate how a proposal will address and coordinate meeting the needs
of the targeted population, such as housing, mental and chemical health services, and
preventative health care;
new text end

new text begin (4) explain how employment opportunities will be coordinated with housing,
behavioral health, and other critical support services intended to ensure that program
participants become stable, contributing members of their communities;
new text end

new text begin (5) outline how the proposed employment strategies will reduce federal, state, and
local government costs, including public spending for shelter, food assistance, emergency
health care, incarceration, and other public safety costs; and
new text end

new text begin (6) demonstrate the capacity to deliver an integrated set of core services, including
new jobs, and the ability to track and report on the performance and results of their efforts.
new text end

new text begin (c) When making grants under this section, preference shall be given to eligible
organizations who demonstrate the ability to meet the objectives set forth in Laws 2007,
chapter 54, article 1, section 19.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Reporting requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) An organization receiving a grant under
this section must report annually to the commissioner of employment and economic
development on the number of program participants who:
new text end

new text begin (1) were employed full time or part time;
new text end

new text begin (2) made child support payments, if applicable; and
new text end

new text begin (3) avoided institutionalization or incarceration.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of employment and economic development shall submit
an annual report on the progress of the grant program by January 15 each year to the
senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over employment and
economic development.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Grant awards. new text end

new text begin Grants shall be awarded to up to three organizations
per biennium.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Match. new text end

new text begin In order to qualify for a grant, applicants must match, on a
one-to-one basis, the amount of state funds awarded with nonstate funds.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin REPORT.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of employment and economic development, in consultation with
the commissioner of management and budget, shall calculate the savings generated to the
state through reduced state spending on government services resulting from implementation
of the grant program and shall examine the feasibility of replenishing the grant program
by utilizing the anticipated savings. The commissioner of employment and economic
development must report the findings to the senate and house of representatives committees
with jurisdiction over employment and economic development by January 15, 2013.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $3,000,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2014 from the general fund to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for the grant program described
in Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8748. This appropriation does not cancel and is
available until expended.
new text end