1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; providing for a program to engage Hmong and Southeast 
1.3 	Asian children and families in accessing early childhood care and education, 
1.4 	early childhood health and developmental screening, and reading assessments; 
1.5 	appropriating money.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. PROGRAM TO ENGAGE HMONG AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN 
1.8 	CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN ACCESSING EARLY CHILDHOOD 
1.9 	RESOURCES.
 1.10 	(a) $....... in fiscal year 2016 and $....... in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated from 
1.11 	the general fund to the commissioner of education to fund a program to provide Hmong, 
1.12 	Burmese/Karen, Bhutanese, and other groups of Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees 
1.13 	in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and other communities with concentrated Hmong and Southeast 
1.14 	Asian populations with outreach workers to help:
1.15 	(1) increase children and families' access to available financial and program resources 
1.16 	for early childhood care and education, early childhood health and developmental 
1.17 	screening, and early reading assessments for English learners;
1.18 	(2) provide the translation and interpretation services needed to obtain and complete 
1.19 	application materials for early childhood care and education, early childhood health and 
1.20 	developmental screening, and early reading assessments; and
1.21 	(3) establish and sustain a parent leadership committee to provide parents and 
1.22 	families with the knowledge, skills, and other resources they need to be active partners 
1.23 	in their homes and communities.
1.24 	Any funds unexpended in fiscal year 2016 do not cancel but carry forward into 
1.25 	the next fiscal year.
2.1 	(b) The commissioner of education must report to the legislative committees having 
2.2 	jurisdiction over education by February 1, 2017, on improved outcomes resulting from 
2.3 	this program.

2.4 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2015.