HF 2573

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/06/2023 11:40am

A bill for an act
relating to early childhood; establishing an early childhood apprenticeship program;
appropriating money for an apprenticeship program, an early childhood workforce
compensation task force, early childhood workforce development scholarships,
and for grants to postsecondary institutions to improve early childhood program
curricula; requiring reports; 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.252] EARLY CHILDHOOD APPRENTICESHIP 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 human services shall establish an
apprenticeship program to provide paid opportunities for early childhood workers to learn
from and consult with professionals in the early childhood field.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
definitions given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Early childhood program" means a licensed child care center, a licensed family or
group family child care home, a public prekindergarten program, or a certified,
license-exempt child care center.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Mentor" means an individual currently employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week
in an early childhood program who meets the qualifications of teacher under Minnesota
Rules, part 9503.0032.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligibility for an apprenticeship. new text end

new text begin To be eligible for an apprenticeship under
this section, an applicant must be:
new text end

new text begin (1) at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent;
new text end

new text begin (2) enrolled in a course of study toward an associate's degree in early childhood;
new text end

new text begin (3) currently employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week in an early childhood
program with a mentor on site; and
new text end

new text begin (4) the recipient of a TEACH scholarship, under section 119B.251.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Grants to apprentices. new text end

new text begin An apprentice may receive up to $10,000 for
participation in the program under this section, provided the apprentice complies with the
following program requirements:
new text end

new text begin (1) participate in monthly meetings with a mentor;
new text end

new text begin (2) meet early childhood competencies identified in Minnesota's Knowledge and
Competency Framework for early childhood professionals, as observed by a mentor; and
new text end

new text begin (3) continue to pursue a course of study toward an associate's degree in early childhood.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Stipends for mentors. new text end

new text begin A mentor shall receive $4,000 for each apprentice
mentored under this section, provided the mentor complies with the following requirements:
new text end

new text begin (1) meet at least monthly with each apprentice;
new text end

new text begin (2) observe each apprentice at least once each school term; and
new text end

new text begin (3) complete eight weeks of mentor training and additional training on observation. The
training shall be free of charge to mentors.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Stipends for early childhood programs. new text end

new text begin (a) An early childhood program shall
receive $5,000 for the first apprentice and $2,500 for each additional apprentice hosted
under this section, provided the early childhood program complies with the following
requirements:
new text end

new text begin (1) sponsor each apprentice's TEACH scholarship under section 119B.251;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide each apprentice at least three hours a week of paid release time for
coursework;
new text end

new text begin (3) allow mentors to do on-site observations of apprentices; and
new text end

new text begin (4) agree to increase each apprentice's wages according to a wage scale determined by
the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) An early childhood program may not host more than three apprentices at one site in
a 12-month period.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin RECOGNIZING COMPARABLE COMPETENCIES TO ACHIEVE
COMPARABLE COMPENSATION TASK FORCE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The Recognizing Comparable Competencies to Achieve
Comparable Compensation Task Force is established to develop methods for incorporating
competencies and experiences, as well as educational attainment, into a compensation model
for the early childhood workforce.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force shall consist of the following members,
appointed by the governor:
new text end

new text begin (1) two individuals who are directors of a licensed child care center, one from greater
Minnesota and one from the seven-county metropolitan area;
new text end

new text begin (2) 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 (3) three individuals who are early childhood educators, one who works in a licensed
child care center, one who works in a public-school-based early childhood program, and
one who works in a Head Start program or a community education program;
new text end

new text begin (4) one representative of a federally recognized Tribe who has expertise in the early care
and education system;
new text end

new text begin (5) one representative from the Children's Cabinet;
new text end

new text begin (6) two parents of children under five years of age, one parent whose child attends a
private early care and education program and one parent whose child attends a public
program. One parent under this clause must be from greater Minnesota, and the other parent
must be from the seven-county metropolitan area; and
new text end

new text begin (7) four individuals who have expertise in early childhood workforce issues.
new text end

new text begin (b) The governor must select a chair or cochairs for the task force from among the
members. The first task force meeting must be convened by the chair or cochairs and held
no later than September 1, 2023. 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 (c) Compensation of task force members, filling of task force vacancies, and removal
of task force members are governed by Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force must develop a compensation framework for the
early childhood workforce that incorporates competencies and experiences, as well as
educational attainment.
new text end

new text begin (b) In developing the compensation framework required under this subdivision, the task
force must:
new text end

new text begin (1) identify competencies and experiences to incorporate into the framework, including
but not limited to multilingualism and previous work experience in a direct care setting;
and
new text end

new text begin (2) propose mechanisms for including the compensation framework in the state's early
childhood programs and services.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Administration. new text end

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

new text begin (b) The task force expires upon submission of the final report required under subdivision
5.
new text end

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

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Required reports. new text end

new text begin By December 1, 2024, the task force must submit its
preliminary findings to the governor and the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over early childhood programs. By January 15,
2025, the task force must submit the compensation framework and proposed mechanisms
for incorporating the framework into the state's early childhood programs and services to
the governor and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
with jurisdiction over early childhood programs.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; EARLY CHILDHOOD APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 and $....... in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of human services for the early childhood apprenticeship program
under Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.252.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION; EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $250,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from
the general fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for competitive
grants to Minnesota postsecondary institutions. The grants must be used to improve the
curricula of the recipient institution's early childhood education programs by incorporating
or conforming to the Minnesota knowledge and competency frameworks for early child
professionals. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (b) By December 1, 2024, and again by December 1, 2025, the commissioner must
submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
with jurisdiction over early childhood education through grade 12 and higher education
finance and policy about grants awarded under this section. The report must include the
following information for the previous fiscal year:
new text end

new text begin (1) the number of grant applications received;
new text end

new text begin (2) the criteria applied by the commissioner for evaluating applications;
new text end

new text begin (3) the number of grants awarded, the grant recipients, and amounts;
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new text begin (4) early childhood education curricular reforms proposed by each recipient institution;
new text end

new text begin (5) grant outcomes for each recipient institution;
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new text begin (6) an evaluation of the grant program, its successes and challenges, and recommendations
to the legislature regarding the program; and
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new text begin (7) other information identified by the commissioner as outcome indicators.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner may use no more than three percent of the amount transferred
under this section to administer the grant program.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin APPROPRIATION; RECOGNIZING COMPARABLE COMPETENCIES
TO ACHIEVE COMPARABLE COMPENSATION TASK FORCE.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 and $....... in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of human services for the Recognizing Comparable Competencies
to Achieve Comparable Compensation Task Force.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin APPROPRIATION; WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS.
new text end

new text begin $500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the
general fund to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for
workforce development scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.38. The amounts
appropriated in this section must be dedicated exclusively to students enrolled in early
childhood programs and are in addition to any amounts directed to students enrolled in early
childhood programs from other appropriations for the workforce development scholarship
program.
new text end