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HF 1278

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 04/26/2021 11:00pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to early childhood programs; establishing a task force on early care and
education affordability and workforce compensation; requiring a report;
appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION
FOR ALL FAMILIES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Goal. new text end

new text begin It is the goal of the state for all families to have access to affordable,
high-quality early care and education, for children from birth up to age five, that enriches,
nurtures, and supports children and their families. The goal will be achieved by:
new text end

new text begin (1) creating a system under which no family pays more than seven percent of its income
for early care and education;
new text end

new text begin (2) ensuring that a child's access to high-quality early care and education is not determined
by the child's race, income, or zip code; and
new text end

new text begin (3) increasing compensation and professional development opportunities for the early
care and education workforce.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Great Start for All Minnesota Children Task Force; establishment. new text end

new text begin The
Great Start for All Minnesota Children Task Force is established to develop strategies that
will meet the goal identified in subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force shall consist of the following 19 voting
members, appointed by the governor or governor's designee, except as otherwise specified:
new text end

new text begin (1) two members of the house of representatives, appointed first from the majority party
by the speaker of the house and second from the minority party by the minority leader. One
of the members must represent a district outside of the seven-county metropolitan area, and
one member must represent a district that includes the seven-county metropolitan area. The
appointment by the minority leader must ensure that the requirement for geographic diversity
in appointments is met;
new text end

new text begin (2) two members of the senate, appointed first from the majority party by the majority
leader and second from the minority party by the minority leader. One of the members must
represent a district outside of the seven-county metropolitan area, and one member must
represent a district that includes the seven-county metropolitan area. The appointment by
the minority leader must ensure that the requirement for geographic diversity in appointments
is met;
new text end

new text begin (3) one individual who is the director of a licensed child care center with at least 50
percent of its enrolled children eligible for or currently receiving public assistance for early
care and education;
new text end

new text begin (4) two individuals who are license holders of family child care programs, one from
greater Minnesota and one from the seven-county metropolitan area;
new text end

new text begin (5) one individual who is both a licensed early childhood teacher and a member of a
licensed early childhood educator union;
new text end

new text begin (6) two parents of children under the age of five who are enrolled in early care and
education programs, one parent from greater Minnesota and one parent from the seven-county
metropolitan area;
new text end

new text begin (7) one representative of an organization that organizes licensed child care centers and
employees;
new text end

new text begin (8) one representative from the statewide child care resource and referral network, known
as Child Care Aware;
new text end

new text begin (9) one representative of a trade organization representing the interests of licensed child
care centers;
new text end

new text begin (10) one representative of a federally recognized tribe;
new text end

new text begin (11) one representative from the Minnesota Association of County Social Service
Administrators;
new text end

new text begin (12) one nationally recognized expert in early care and education financing;
new text end

new text begin (13) one representative from an association representing business interests;
new text end

new text begin (14) one representative of a statewide advocacy organization that supports and promotes
early childhood education and welfare; and
new text end

new text begin (15) one representative from the Children's Cabinet.
new text end

new text begin (b) One representative from each of the following state agencies shall serve as a nonvoting
member of the task force who participates in meetings and provides data and information
to the task force upon request:
new text end

new text begin (1) the Department of Education;
new text end

new text begin (2) the Department of Employment and Economic Development;
new text end

new text begin (3) the Department of Health;
new text end

new text begin (4) the Department of Human Services;
new text end

new text begin (5) the Department of Labor and Industry;
new text end

new text begin (6) the Department of Management and Budget; and
new text end

new text begin (7) the Department of Revenue.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Administration. new text end

new text begin (a) The governor must select a chair or cochairs for the task
force from among the voting members. The first task force meeting shall be convened by
the chair or cochairs and held no later than September 1, 2021. Thereafter, the chair or
cochairs shall convene the task force at least monthly and may convene other meetings as
necessary. The chair or cochairs shall convene meetings in a manner to allow for access
from diverse geographic locations in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (b) Members of the task force shall be compensated according to Minnesota Statutes,
section 15.059, subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner of management and budget shall provide staff and administrative
services for the task force.
new text end

new text begin (d) The task force shall expire upon submission of the final report required under
subdivision 9.
new text end

new text begin (e) The duties of the task force in this section shall be transferred to an applicable state
agency if specifically authorized under law to carry out such duties.
new text end

new text begin (f) The task force is subject to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Plan development. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force must develop a plan to achieve the goal
outlined in subdivision 1 by 2031. The plan must incorporate strategies that:
new text end

new text begin (1) create a system under which no family pays more than seven percent of its income
for early care and education;
new text end

new text begin (2) ensure that a child's access to high-quality early care and education is not determined
by the child's race, income, or zip code; and
new text end

new text begin (3) increase compensation to at least a livable wage and increase professional development
opportunities for the early care and education workforce.
new text end

new text begin (b) Development of the strategies must incorporate or otherwise take into account the
factors identified in subdivisions 6 and 7.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Affordable, high-quality early care and education. new text end

new text begin In developing the plan
under subdivision 5, the task force must:
new text end

new text begin (1) identify the benefit mechanisms and infrastructure under which families will access
financial assistance so early care and education is affordable;
new text end

new text begin (2) describe how the plan will be administered, including the roles for state agencies,
local government agencies, and community-based organizations;
new text end

new text begin (3) consider how provider payment rates will be determined and updated under a seven
percent cap; and
new text end

new text begin (4) consider how the state can develop and implement diverse methods of assessing and
monitoring developmental and achievement benchmarks in early care and education settings
to assess kindergarten readiness.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Workforce compensation. new text end

new text begin In developing the plan under subdivision 5, the
task force must:
new text end

new text begin (1) endeavor to preserve and increase racial and ethnic equity and diversity in the early
care and education workforce and recognize the value of cultural competency and
multilingualism;
new text end

new text begin (2) include a salary floor that supports recruitment and retention of a qualified workforce
in every early care and education setting;
new text end

new text begin (3) consider the need for and development of a mechanism that ties provider
reimbursement rates to employee wages;
new text end

new text begin (4) increase compensation to incentivize advancements in relevant higher education
credentials, training, years of experience, and credential equivalencies, including certified
demonstrations of competencies developed through apprenticeships, peer learning models,
and community-based training; and
new text end

new text begin (5) set compensation for providers by reference to compensation for licensed early
childhood teachers, and consider differentiating base compensation for:
new text end

new text begin (i) varying levels of responsibility, including but not limited to center directors, assistant
directors, lead teachers, assistant teachers, paraprofessionals, family child license holders,
second adult caregivers, substitutes, and helpers; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) different geographic areas of the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Implementation timeline. new text end

new text begin The task force must develop an implementation
timeline for the plan developed under subdivision 5 that phases in the plan over a period of
no more than six years, beginning in July 2025 and finishing no later than July 2031. In
developing the implementation timeline, the task force must consider:
new text end

new text begin (1) how to simultaneously apply the seven percent cap to as many families as possible
while minimizing disruptions in the availability and cost of currently available early care
and education arrangements;
new text end

new text begin (2) the capacity for the state to increase the availability of different types of early care
and education settings from which a family may choose;
new text end

new text begin (3) how the inability to afford and access early care and education settings
disproportionately affects certain populations; and
new text end

new text begin (4) how to provide additional targeted investments for early care and education providers
serving a high proportion of families currently eligible for or receiving public assistance
for early care and education.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Required reports. new text end

new text begin By July 1, 2022, the task force must submit to the governor
and committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over early childhood programs preliminary
findings and draft implementation plans pursuant to the plan required under subdivision 5.
By February 1, 2023, the task force must submit to the governor and committees of the
legislature with jurisdiction over early childhood programs final recommendations and
implementation plans pursuant to subdivision 5.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; GREAT START FOR ALL MINNESOTA CHILDREN
TASK FORCE.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2022 and $....... in fiscal year 2023 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of management and budget for the Great Start for All Minnesota
Children Task Force.
new text end