1997 Minnesota Statutes

CHAPTER 116L. Minnesota job skills partnership

     116L.01 Definitions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Generally.  For the purposes of 
 sections 116L.01 to 116L.05 the terms defined in this section 
 have the meanings given them.  

    Subd. 2.    Partnership.  "Partnership" means the 
 Minnesota job skills partnership created by section 116L.02.  

    Subd. 3.    Board.  "Board" means the partnership board 
 created by section 116L.03.  

    HIST: 1983 c 334 s 1,7; 1987 c 384 art 13 s 27; 1987 c 386 art 
 10 s 8; 1987 c 401 s 36; 1989 c 335 art 1 s 270 

     116L.02 Job skills partnership program. 

    The Minnesota job skills partnership program is created to 
 act as a catalyst to bring together employers with specific 
 training needs with educational or other nonprofit institutions 
 which can design programs to fill those needs.  The partnership 
 shall work closely with employers to train and place workers in 
 identifiable positions as well as assisting educational or other 
 nonprofit institutions in developing training programs that 
 coincide with current and future employer requirements.  The 
 partnership shall provide grants to educational or other 
 nonprofit institutions for the purpose of training displaced 
 workers.  A participating business must match the grant-in-aid 
 made by the Minnesota job skills partnership.  The match may be 
 in the form of funding, equipment, or faculty. 

    HIST: 1983 c 334 s 2,7; 1987 c 384 art 3 s 27; 1987 c 386 art 
 10 s 1,8; 1987 c 401 s 36; 1989 c 335 art 1 s 164,270 

     116L.03 Board. 

    Subdivision 1.    Members.  The partnership shall be 
 governed by a board of 11 directors.  

    Subd. 2.    Appointment.  The Minnesota job skills 
 partnership board consists of:  eight members appointed by the 
 governor, the commissioner of trade and economic development, 
 the commissioner of economic security, and the chancellor, or 
 the chancellor's designee, of the Minnesota state colleges and 
 universities.  If the chancellor makes a designation under this 
 subdivision, the designee must have experience in technical 
 education.  

    Subd. 3.    Qualifications.  Members must have expertise 
 in, and be representative of the following fields of education, 
 job skills training, labor, business, and government.  

    Subd. 4.    Chair.  The chair shall be appointed by the 
 governor.  

    Subd. 5.    Terms.  The terms of appointed members shall 
 be for four years except for the initial appointments.  The 
 initial appointments of the governor shall have the following 
 terms:  two members each for one, two, three, and four years.  

    Subd. 6. Repealed, 1987 c 386 art 10 s 7; 1987 c 401 s 
 39 

    Subd. 7.    Offices.  The department of trade and 
 economic development shall provide staff and administrative 
 services for the board.  

    HIST: 1983 c 289 s 115 subd 1; 1983 c 334 s 3,7; 1984 c 544 s 
 84; 1984 c 642 s 3; 1Sp1985 c 14 art 9 s 5,75; 1986 c 444; 1987 
 c 312 art 1 s 26 subd 2; 1987 c 384 art 3 s 27; 1987 c 386 art 
 10 s 2-5,8; 1987 c 401 s 36; 1989 c 335 art 1 s 165,166,270; 
 1991 c 345 art 1 s 74; 1993 c 363 s 1,2; 1994 c 483 s 1; 1995 c 
 212 art 4 s 64; 1996 c 395 s 6,7 

     116L.04 Partnership power. 

    Subdivision 1.    Partnership program.  (a) The 
 partnership program may provide grants-in-aid to educational or 
 other nonprofit training institutions using the following 
 guidelines:  

    (1) the educational or other nonprofit institution is a 
 provider of training within the state in either the public or 
 private sector; 

    (2) the program involves skills training that is an area of 
 employment need; and 

    (3) preference will be given to educational or other 
 nonprofit training institutions which serve economically 
 disadvantaged people, minorities, or those who are victims of 
 economic dislocation and to businesses located in rural areas.  

    (b) A single grant to any one institution shall not exceed 
 $400,000.  

    Subd. 1a.    Pathways program.  The pathways program may 
 provide grants-in-aid for developing programs which assist in 
 the transition of persons from welfare to work.  The program is 
 to be operated by the board.  The board shall consult and 
 coordinate with the Job Training Partnership Act, Title II-A, 
 program administrators at the department of economic security to 
 design and provide services for temporary assistance for needy 
 families recipients. 

    Pathways grants-in-aid may be awarded to educational or 
 other nonprofit training institutions for education and training 
 programs that serve public assistance recipients transitioning 
 from public assistance to employment. 

    Preference shall be given to projects that: 

    (1) provide employment with benefits paid to employees; 

    (2) provide employment where there are defined career paths 
 for trainees; 

    (3) pilot the development of an educational pathway that 
 can be used on a continuing basis for transitioning persons from 
 public assistance directly to work; and 

    (4) demonstrate the active participation of department of 
 economic security workforce centers, Minnesota state college and 
 university institutions and other educational institutions, and 
 local welfare agencies. 

    Pathways projects must demonstrate the active involvement 
 and financial commitment of private business.  Pathways projects 
 must be matched with cash or in-kind contributions on at least a 
 one-to-one ratio by participating private business. 

    A single grant to any one institution shall not exceed 
 $200,000. 

    The board shall annually, by March 31, report to the 
 commissioners of economic security and trade and economic 
 development on pathways programs, including the number of public 
 assistance recipients participating in the program, the number 
 of participants placed in employment, the salary and benefits 
 they receive, and the state program costs per participant. 

    Subd. 2.    Information.  The board may collect and 
 disseminate information concerning areas of projected employment 
 need.  The board may also prepare and publish studies, organize 
 conferences, and conduct special projects which will increase 
 knowledge and communication in the areas of employment need, 
 skills training, and education.  

    Subd. 3. Repealed, 1987 c 403 art 2 s 164 

    HIST: 1983 c 334 s 4,7; 1Sp1985 c 14 art 9 s 6; 1987 c 384 art 
 3 s 27; 1987 c 386 art 10 s 8; 1987 c 401 s 36; 1989 c 335 art 1 
 s 167,270; 1997 c 200 art 1 s 58,59 

     116L.05 Funding. 

    Subdivision 1.    Federal job training funds.  The board 
 may use federal job training program moneys and is authorized to 
 receive those funds.  

    Subd. 2.    Grants, gifts.  The board may accept gifts 
 and grants of any type from any source.  

    Subd. 3.    Use of funds.  The job skills partnership 
 board may use up to six percent of any funds it receives, 
 regardless of the source, for activities authorized under 
 section 116L.04, subdivision 2. 

    HIST: 1983 c 334 s 5,7; 1987 c 384 art 3 s 27; 1987 c 386 art 
 10 s 8; 1987 c 401 s 36; 1989 c 335 art 1 s 270; 1993 c 363 s 3 

     116L.06 Hire education loan program. 

    Subdivision 1.    Fund uses.  The job skills partnership 
 board may make loans to Minnesota employers to train persons for 
 jobs in Minnesota.  The loans must be used to train current and 
 prospective employees of an employer for specific jobs with the 
 employer.  

    Subd. 2.    Loan process.  The board shall establish a 
 schedule and competitive process for accepting loan 
 applications.  The board shall evaluate loan applications. 

    Subd. 3.    Loan priority.  The board shall give 
 priority to loans that provide training for jobs that are 
 permanent, provide health coverage and other fringe benefits, 
 and have a career or job path with prospects for wage increases. 

    Subd. 4.    Loan terms.  Loans may be secured or 
 unsecured, shall be for a term of no more than two years, and 
 shall bear no interest.  The maximum amount of a loan is 
 $250,000.  A loan origination fee of up to two percent of the 
 principal of the loan may be charged.  An employer may have only 
 one outstanding loan.  The loans shall contain such other 
 standard commercial loan terms as the board deems appropriate. 

    Subd. 5.    Loan uses.  Loans must be used by an 
 employer to obtain the most cost-effective training available 
 from public or private training institutions.  An employer must 
 document to the board the process the employer has utilized to 
 ensure that the proposed loan is used to acquire the most 
 cost-effective training and provide a training plan. 

    Subd. 6.    Packaging loans.  The board may package a 
 grant it makes under section 116L.04 with a loan under this 
 section.  

    Subd. 7.    Loan repayments.  Loan repayments and loan 
 origination fees shall be retained by the board for board 
 programs. 

    HIST: 1997 c 200 art 1 s 60