1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to family and early childhood education; 
  1.3             providing for community and prevention programs; 
  1.4             promoting self-sufficiency; providing for child care; 
  1.5             establishing grant programs; appropriating money; 
  1.6             amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 12.21, 
  1.7             subdivision 3; 15.53, subdivision 2; 119A.01, 
  1.8             subdivision 3; 119A.04, subdivision 6, and by adding a 
  1.9             subdivision; 119A.13, subdivisions 2, 3, and 4; 
  1.10            119A.14; 119A.15, subdivisions 2, 5, and by adding a 
  1.11            subdivision; 119A.16; 119A.31, subdivision 1; 119B.01, 
  1.12            subdivisions 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17, and by adding 
  1.13            subdivisions; 119B.02; 119B.03, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 
  1.14            6, 7, 8, and by adding subdivisions; 119B.04; 119B.05, 
  1.15            subdivisions 1, 5, 6, and by adding a subdivision; 
  1.16            119B.07; 119B.08, subdivisions 1 and 3; 119B.09, 
  1.17            subdivisions 1, 2, and by adding subdivisions; 
  1.18            119B.10, subdivision 1; 119B.11, subdivisions 1, 3, 
  1.19            and by adding a subdivision; 119B.12; 119B.13, 
  1.20            subdivision 1, and by adding subdivisions; 119B.15; 
  1.21            119B.16, subdivision 1; 119B.18, by adding a 
  1.22            subdivision; 119B.20, subdivisions 7, 9, and 10; 
  1.23            119B.21, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 
  1.24            11; 120.05, subdivision 2; 121.11, by adding a 
  1.25            subdivision; 121.831, subdivisions 3 and 4; 121.8355, 
  1.26            subdivision 1; 121.88, subdivisions 1, 10, and by 
  1.27            adding a subdivision; 121.882, subdivision 2; 124.17, 
  1.28            subdivision 2e; 124.26, subdivision 2; 124.2601, 
  1.29            subdivisions 3, 4, 5, and 6; 124.261, subdivision 1; 
  1.30            124.2615, subdivisions 1 and 2; 124.2711, subdivisions 
  1.31            1 and 2a; 124.2713, subdivisions 6 and 8; 124.2716, 
  1.32            subdivision 3; 268.53, subdivision 5; 268.912; 
  1.33            268.913, subdivisions 2 and 4; 268.914, subdivision 1; 
  1.34            and 517.08, subdivision 1c; Laws 1996, chapter 463, 
  1.35            section 4, subdivision 2, as amended; proposing coding 
  1.36            for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 119A; and 
  1.37            119B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 
  1.38            119B.03, subdivision 7; 119B.05, subdivisions 2 and 3; 
  1.39            119B.11, subdivision 2; 119B.19, subdivision 2; 
  1.40            119B.21, subdivision 7; 121.8355, subdivision 1a; and 
  1.41            268.913, subdivision 5. 
  1.42  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.43                             ARTICLE 1
  2.1                       EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS
  2.2      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 12.21, 
  2.3   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  2.4      Subd. 3.  [SPECIFIC AUTHORITY.] In performing duties under 
  2.5   this chapter and to effect its policy and purpose, the governor 
  2.6   may: 
  2.7      (1) make, amend, and rescind the necessary orders and rules 
  2.8   to carry out the provisions of this chapter and section 216C.15 
  2.9   within the limits of the authority conferred by this section, 
  2.10  with due consideration of the plans of the federal government 
  2.11  and without complying with sections 14.001 to 14.69, but no 
  2.12  order or rule has the effect of law except as provided by 
  2.13  section 12.32; 
  2.14     (2) ensure that a comprehensive emergency operations plan 
  2.15  and emergency management program for this state are developed 
  2.16  and maintained, and are integrated into and coordinated with the 
  2.17  emergency plans of the federal government and of other states to 
  2.18  the fullest possible extent; 
  2.19     (3) in accordance with the emergency operations plan and 
  2.20  the emergency management program of this state, procure supplies 
  2.21  and equipment, institute training programs and public 
  2.22  information programs, and take all other preparatory steps, 
  2.23  including the partial or full activation of emergency management 
  2.24  organizations in advance of actual disaster to ensure the 
  2.25  furnishing of adequately trained and equipped forces of 
  2.26  emergency management personnel in time of need; 
  2.27     (4) make studies and surveys of the industries, resources, 
  2.28  and facilities in this state as may be necessary to ascertain 
  2.29  the capabilities of the state for emergency management and to 
  2.30  plan for the most efficient emergency use of those industries, 
  2.31  resources, and facilities; 
  2.32     (5) on behalf of this state, enter into mutual aid 
  2.33  arrangements or cooperative agreements with other states and 
  2.34  with Canadian provinces, and coordinate mutual aid plans between 
  2.35  political subdivisions of this state; 
  2.36     (6) delegate administrative authority vested in the 
  3.1   governor under this chapter, except the power to make rules, and 
  3.2   provide for the subdelegation of that authority; 
  3.3      (7) cooperate with the president and the heads of the armed 
  3.4   forces, the emergency management agency of the United States and 
  3.5   other appropriate federal officers and agencies, and with the 
  3.6   officers and agencies of other states in matters pertaining to 
  3.7   the emergency management of the state and nation, including the 
  3.8   direction or control of: 
  3.9      (i) emergency preparedness drills and exercises; 
  3.10     (ii) warnings and signals for drills or actual emergencies 
  3.11  and the mechanical devices to be used in connection with them; 
  3.12     (iii) shutting off water mains, gas mains, electric power 
  3.13  connections and the suspension of all other utility services; 
  3.14     (iv) the conduct of persons in the state and the movement 
  3.15  and cessation of movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic 
  3.16  during, prior, and subsequent to drills or actual emergencies; 
  3.17     (v) public meetings or gatherings; and 
  3.18     (vi) the evacuation, reception, and sheltering of persons; 
  3.19     (8) contribute to a political subdivision, within the 
  3.20  limits of the appropriation for that purpose, not more than 25 
  3.21  percent of the cost of acquiring organizational equipment that 
  3.22  meets standards established by the governor; 
  3.23     (9) formulate and execute, with the approval of the 
  3.24  executive council, plans and rules for the control of traffic in 
  3.25  order to provide for the rapid and safe movement over public 
  3.26  highways and streets of troops, vehicles of a military nature, 
  3.27  materials for national defense and war or for use in any war 
  3.28  industry, for the conservation of critical materials or for 
  3.29  emergency management purposes, and coordinate the activities of 
  3.30  the departments or agencies of the state and its political 
  3.31  subdivisions concerned directly or indirectly with public 
  3.32  highways and streets, in a manner that will best effectuate 
  3.33  those plans; 
  3.34     (10) alter or adjust by executive order, without complying 
  3.35  with sections 14.01 to 14.69, the working hours, work days and 
  3.36  work week of, and annual and sick leave provisions and payroll 
  4.1   laws regarding all state employees in the executive branch as 
  4.2   the governor deems necessary to minimize the impact of the 
  4.3   disaster or emergency, conforming the alterations or adjustments 
  4.4   to existing state laws, rules, and collective bargaining 
  4.5   agreements to the extent practicable; 
  4.6      (11) authorize the commissioner of children, families, and 
  4.7   learning to alter school schedules, curtail school activities, 
  4.8   or order schools closed without affecting state aid to schools, 
  4.9   as defined in section 120.05, and including charter schools 
  4.10  under section 120.064.  
  4.11     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 120.05, 
  4.12  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  4.13     Subd. 2.  [DEFINITIONS.] (1) Elementary school means any 
  4.14  school with building, equipment, courses of study, class 
  4.15  schedules, enrollment of pupils ordinarily in grades 1 
  4.16  prekindergarten through grade 6 or any portion thereof and staff 
  4.17  meeting the standards established by the state board of 
  4.18  education. 
  4.19     The state board of education shall not close a school or 
  4.20  deny any state aids to a district for its elementary schools 
  4.21  because of enrollment limitations classified in accordance with 
  4.22  the provisions of subdivision 2, clause (1). 
  4.23     (2) Middle school means any school other than a secondary 
  4.24  school giving an approved course of study in a minimum of three 
  4.25  consecutive grades above 4th but below 10th with building, 
  4.26  equipment, courses of study, class schedules, enrollment, and 
  4.27  staff meeting the standards established by the state board of 
  4.28  education. 
  4.29     (3) Secondary school means any school with building, 
  4.30  equipment, courses of study, class schedules, enrollment of 
  4.31  pupils ordinarily in grades 7 through 12 or any portion thereof, 
  4.32  and staff meeting the standards established by the state board 
  4.33  of education. 
  4.34     (4) A vocational center school is one serving a group of 
  4.35  secondary schools with approved areas of secondary vocational 
  4.36  training and offering vocational secondary and adult programs 
  5.1   necessary to meet local needs and meeting standards established 
  5.2   by the state board of education. 
  5.3      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.831, 
  5.4   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  5.5      Subd. 3.  [PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.] A learning readiness 
  5.6   program shall include the following: 
  5.7      (1) a comprehensive plan to anticipate and meet the needs 
  5.8   of participating families by coordinating existing social 
  5.9   services programs and by fostering collaboration among agencies 
  5.10  or other community-based organizations and programs that provide 
  5.11  a full range of flexible, family-focused services to families 
  5.12  with young children; 
  5.13     (2) a development and learning component to help children 
  5.14  develop appropriate social, cognitive, and physical skills, and 
  5.15  emotional well-being; 
  5.16     (3) health referral services to address children's medical, 
  5.17  dental, mental health, and nutritional needs; 
  5.18     (4) a nutrition component to meet children's daily 
  5.19  nutritional needs; 
  5.20     (5) parents' involvement in meeting children's educational, 
  5.21  health, social service, and other needs; 
  5.22     (6) community outreach to ensure participation by families 
  5.23  who represent the racial, cultural, and economic diversity of 
  5.24  the community; and 
  5.25     (7) community-based staff and program resources, including 
  5.26  interpreters, that reflect the racial and ethnic characteristics 
  5.27  of the children participating in the program; and 
  5.28     (8) a literacy component to ensure that the literacy needs 
  5.29  of parents are addressed through referral to and cooperation 
  5.30  with adult basic education programs and other adult literacy 
  5.31  programs. 
  5.32     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.831, 
  5.33  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  5.34     Subd. 4.  [PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS.] Learning readiness 
  5.35  programs are encouraged to: 
  5.36     (1) prepare an individualized service plan to meet each 
  6.1   child's developmental and learning needs; 
  6.2      (2) provide parent education to increase parents' 
  6.3   knowledge, understanding, skills, and experience in child 
  6.4   development and learning; 
  6.5      (3) foster substantial parent involvement that may include 
  6.6   having parents develop curriculum or serve as a paid or 
  6.7   volunteer educator, resource person, or other staff; 
  6.8      (4) identify the needs of families in the content of the 
  6.9   child's learning readiness and family literacy; 
  6.10     (5) expand collaboration with public organizations, 
  6.11  businesses, nonprofit organizations, or other private 
  6.12  organizations to develop a coordinated system of flexible, 
  6.13  family-focused services available to anticipate and meet the 
  6.14  full range of needs of all eligible children and their families; 
  6.15     (6) coordinate treatment and follow-up services for 
  6.16  children's identified physical and mental health problems; 
  6.17     (7) offer transportation for eligible children and their 
  6.18  families for whom other forms of transportation are unavailable 
  6.19  or would constitute an excessive financial burden; 
  6.20     (8) make substantial outreach efforts to assure significant 
  6.21  participation by families with the greatest needs, including 
  6.22  those families whose income level does not exceed the most 
  6.23  recent update of the poverty guidelines required by sections 652 
  6.24  and 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 
  6.25  (Public Law Number 97-35); 
  6.26     (9) use community-based, trained home visitors serving as 
  6.27  paraprofessionals to provide social support, referrals, parent 
  6.28  education, and other services; 
  6.29     (10) create community-based family resource centers and 
  6.30  interdisciplinary teams; and 
  6.31     (11) enhance the quality of family or center-based child 
  6.32  care programs by providing supplementary services and resources, 
  6.33  staff training, and assistance with children with special needs. 
  6.34     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.882, 
  6.35  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  6.36     Subd. 2.  [PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS.] Early childhood family 
  7.1   education programs are programs for children in the period of 
  7.2   life from birth to kindergarten, for the parents of such 
  7.3   children, and for expectant parents.  The programs may include 
  7.4   the following:  
  7.5      (1) programs to educate parents about the physical, mental, 
  7.6   and emotional development of children; 
  7.7      (2) programs to enhance the skills of parents in providing 
  7.8   for their children's learning and development; 
  7.9      (3) learning experiences for children and parents that 
  7.10  promote children's development; 
  7.11     (4) activities designed to detect children's physical, 
  7.12  mental, emotional, or behavioral problems that may cause 
  7.13  learning problems; 
  7.14     (5) activities and materials designed to encourage 
  7.15  self-esteem, skills, and behavior that prevent sexual and other 
  7.16  interpersonal violence; 
  7.17     (6) educational materials which may be borrowed for home 
  7.18  use; 
  7.19     (7) information on related community resources; 
  7.20     (8) programs to prevent child abuse and neglect; or 
  7.21     (9) other programs or activities to improve the health, 
  7.22  development, and learning readiness of children; or 
  7.23     (10) activities designed to maximize development during 
  7.24  infancy.  
  7.25     The programs shall not include activities for children that 
  7.26  do not require substantial involvement of the children's 
  7.27  parents.  The programs shall be reviewed periodically to assure 
  7.28  the instruction and materials are not racially, culturally, or 
  7.29  sexually biased.  The programs shall encourage parents to be 
  7.30  aware of practices that may affect equitable development of 
  7.31  children. 
  7.32     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2711, 
  7.33  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  7.34     Subdivision 1.  [REVENUE.] The revenue for early childhood 
  7.35  family education programs for a school district equals $101.25 
  7.36  for 1993 1998 and $113.50 for 1999 and later fiscal years times 
  8.1   the greater of: 
  8.2      (1) 150; or 
  8.3      (2) the number of people under five years of age residing 
  8.4   in the school district on October 1 of the previous school year. 
  8.5      Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2711, 
  8.6   subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
  8.7      Subd. 2a.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION LEVY.] To 
  8.8   obtain early childhood family education revenue, a district may 
  8.9   levy an amount equal to the tax rate of .609 .653 percent times 
  8.10  the adjusted tax capacity of the district for the year preceding 
  8.11  the year the levy is certified.  If the amount of the early 
  8.12  childhood family education levy would exceed the early childhood 
  8.13  family education revenue, the early childhood family education 
  8.14  levy shall equal the early childhood family education revenue. 
  8.15     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.912, is 
  8.16  amended to read: 
  8.17     268.912 [HEAD START PROGRAM.] 
  8.18     The department of economic security children, families, and 
  8.19  learning is the state agency responsible for administering the 
  8.20  Head Start program.  The commissioner of economic security 
  8.21  children, families, and learning may make grants to public or 
  8.22  private nonprofit agencies for the purpose of providing 
  8.23  supplemental funds for the federal Head Start program. 
  8.24     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.913, 
  8.25  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  8.26     Subd. 2.  [PROGRAM ACCOUNT 20.] "Program account 20" means 
  8.27  the federally designated and funded account limited to for 
  8.28  training and technical assistance activities. 
  8.29     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.913, 
  8.30  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  8.31     Subd. 4.  [PROGRAM ACCOUNT 26 25.] "Program account 26 25" 
  8.32  means the federally designated and funded account that can only 
  8.33  be used to provide special services to handicapped diagnosed 
  8.34  children for parent child centers. 
  8.35     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.914, 
  8.36  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  9.1      Subdivision 1.  [STATE SUPPLEMENT FOR FEDERAL GRANTEES.] 
  9.2   (a) The commissioner of economic security shall children, 
  9.3   families, and learning must distribute money appropriated for 
  9.4   that purpose to Head Start program grantees to expand 
  9.5   services and to serve additional low-income children.  Money 
  9.6   must be allocated to each project Head Start grantee in 
  9.7   existence on the effective date of Laws 1989, chapter 282.  
  9.8   Migrant and Indian reservation grantees must be initially 
  9.9   allocated money based on the grantees' share of federal funds.  
  9.10  The remaining money must be initially allocated to the remaining 
  9.11  local agencies based equally on the agencies' share of federal 
  9.12  funds and on the proportion of eligible children in the 
  9.13  agencies' service area who are not currently being served.  A 
  9.14  Head Start grantee must be funded at a per child rate equal to 
  9.15  its contracted, federally funded base level for program accounts 
  9.16  20 to 26 20, 22, and 25 at the start of the fiscal year.  In 
  9.17  allocating funds under this paragraph, the commissioner of 
  9.18  economic security must assure that each Head Start grantee is 
  9.19  allocated no less funding in any fiscal year than was allocated 
  9.20  to that grantee in fiscal year 1993.  The commissioner may 
  9.21  provide additional funding to grantees for start-up costs 
  9.22  incurred by grantees due to the increased number of children to 
  9.23  be served.  Before paying money to the grantees, the 
  9.24  commissioner shall must notify each grantee of its initial 
  9.25  allocation, how the money must be used, and the number of 
  9.26  low-income children that must be served with the allocation.  
  9.27  Each grantee must notify the commissioner of the number 
  9.28  of additional low-income children it will be able to serve.  For 
  9.29  any grantee that cannot serve additional children to utilize its 
  9.30  full allocation, the commissioner shall must reduce the 
  9.31  allocation proportionately.  Money available after the initial 
  9.32  allocations are reduced must be redistributed to eligible 
  9.33  grantees. 
  9.34     (b) Up to 11 percent of the funds appropriated annually may 
  9.35  be used to provide grants to local Head Start agencies to 
  9.36  provide funds for innovative programs designed either to target 
 10.1   Head Start resources to particular at-risk groups of children or 
 10.2   to provide services in addition to those currently allowable 
 10.3   under federal Head Start regulations.  The commissioner shall 
 10.4   must award funds for innovative programs under this paragraph on 
 10.5   a competitive basis. 
 10.6      Sec. 12.  [ADDITIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION AID; 
 10.7   FISCAL YEAR 1998.] 
 10.8      A district that complies with Minnesota Statutes, section 
 10.9   121.882, shall receive additional early childhood family 
 10.10  education aid for fiscal year 1998 equal to $10 times the 
 10.11  greater of: 
 10.12     (1) 150; or 
 10.13     (2) the number of people under five years of age residing 
 10.14  in the school district on October 1 of the previous school 
 10.15  year.  The additional early childhood family education aid may 
 10.16  be used only for early childhood family education programs. 
 10.17     Sec. 13.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION INFANT 
 10.18  DEVELOPMENT GRANT AWARDS.] 
 10.19     (a) Early childhood family education programs under 
 10.20  Minnesota Statutes, section 121.882, may apply to the 
 10.21  commissioner of children, families, and learning for a grant to 
 10.22  fund a pilot program to increase services for families of 
 10.23  infants.  Programming for infants and their families must 
 10.24  conform to the service and other requirements of the early 
 10.25  childhood family education programs.  The infant program must 
 10.26  include learning experiences for parents of infants that focus 
 10.27  on methods and information that stimulate and nurture the 
 10.28  intellectual and emotional development of infants.  Proposals 
 10.29  from programs with service areas where centralized classes are 
 10.30  not feasible or optimal, may include home visiting programs 
 10.31  under Minnesota Statutes, section 121.882, subdivision 2b. 
 10.32     (b) The eligible applicant shall submit an application in 
 10.33  the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner.  Grant 
 10.34  applicants shall describe the proposed infant and family 
 10.35  education approach.  The application must specify the program 
 10.36  components, outreach methods, targeted ages, anticipated role of 
 11.1   the home visits, if any, and how the program will encourage 
 11.2   participation by families with infants. 
 11.3      Sec. 14.  [OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES.] 
 11.4      The commissioner of children, families, and learning shall 
 11.5   review the accounts and funding for programs administered in the 
 11.6   office of community services.  The commissioner shall also 
 11.7   review the methods of distributing grants and revenue to 
 11.8   communities, programs, districts, and other organizations.  The 
 11.9   commissioner shall develop unified application forms for 
 11.10  competitive grant programs administered by the office.  The 
 11.11  commissioner shall present a proposal to the legislature on ways 
 11.12  to streamline applications, and to the extent possible, combine 
 11.13  accounts, programs, and funding streams. 
 11.14     Sec. 15.  [YEAR 2000 READY.] 
 11.15     The commissioner of children, families, and learning shall 
 11.16  ensure that any computer software or hardware that is purchased 
 11.17  with money appropriated in this act must be year 2000 ready. 
 11.18     Sec. 16.  [LINKED SERVICES; LITERACY; EDUCATION.] 
 11.19     The commissioner shall ensure that all early childhood, 
 11.20  community support, prevention, and family service programs 
 11.21  administered by the department of children, families, and 
 11.22  learning that receive state aid or state appropriations or are 
 11.23  eligible for grants through the department of children, 
 11.24  families, and learning must: 
 11.25     (1) develop methods to collaborate to encourage family 
 11.26  literacy; 
 11.27     (2) implement measures to link services with all programs 
 11.28  that support families and early childhood development; and 
 11.29     (3) ensure that education and educational development are a 
 11.30  program goal. 
 11.31     Sec. 17.  [REPORT SUNSET.] 
 11.32     Beginning September 15, 1997, the requirement to submit the 
 11.33  following reports expires: 
 11.34     (1) child abuse prevention trust fund disbursement plan 
 11.35  under Minnesota Statutes, section 119A.13; 
 11.36     (2) child care system report under Minnesota Statutes, 
 12.1   section 119B.24; 
 12.2      (3) community crime reduction report under Minnesota 
 12.3   Statutes, section 119A.31; 
 12.4      (4) administrative duties report under Minnesota Statutes, 
 12.5   section 119A.31; 
 12.6      (5) progress report on male responsibility grants under 
 12.7   Minnesota Statutes, section 126.84; 
 12.8      (6) school-linked services report under Minnesota Statutes, 
 12.9   section 256.995; 
 12.10     (7) state drug strategy under Minnesota Statutes, section 
 12.11  119A.26; 
 12.12     (8) chemical abuse and violence prevention council report 
 12.13  under Minnesota Statutes, section 119A.28; 
 12.14     (9) violence prevention grant report under Minnesota 
 12.15  Statutes, section 126.78; and 
 12.16     (10) Head Start report under Minnesota Statutes, section 
 12.17  268.917. 
 12.18     Sec. 18.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 12.19     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 12.20  LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
 12.21  from the general fund to the department of children, families, 
 12.22  and learning for the fiscal years designated.  
 12.23     Subd. 2.  [LEARNING READINESS PROGRAM REVENUE.] For revenue 
 12.24  for learning readiness programs according to Minnesota Statutes, 
 12.25  sections 121.831 and 124.2615: 
 12.26       $10,316,000    .....     1998
 12.27       $10,405,000    .....     1999
 12.28     The 1998 appropriation includes $949,000 for 1997 and 
 12.29  $9,367,000 for 1998. 
 12.30     The 1999 appropriation includes $1,040,000 for 1998 and 
 12.31  $9,365,000 for 1999.  
 12.32     $10,000 each year may be spent for evaluation of learning 
 12.33  readiness programs. 
 12.34     $50,000 is for a grant to Itasca county for the Greenway 
 12.35  Readiness Program.  The program must include a half-day 
 12.36  readiness program for four-year olds, an early childhood 
 13.1   component, and a resource center. 
 13.2      $30,000 is for a grant to independent school district No. 
 13.3   544, Fergus Falls, to study ways to combine all early learning 
 13.4   programs and to fund those programs. 
 13.5      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 13.6   available in the second year. 
 13.7      Subd. 3.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION AID.] For early 
 13.8   childhood family education aid according to Minnesota Statutes, 
 13.9   section 124.2711: 
 13.10       $15,618,000    .....     1998 
 13.11       $14,104,000    .....     1999
 13.12     The 1998 appropriation includes $1,361,000 for 1997 and 
 13.13  $14,257,000 for 1998.  
 13.14     The 1999 appropriation includes $1,585,000 for 1998 and 
 13.15  $12,519,000 for 1999.  
 13.16     $10,000 each year may be spent for evaluation of early 
 13.17  childhood family education programs.  
 13.18     $100,000 may be used for pilot technology grants to early 
 13.19  childhood education programs to enhance the use of technology.  
 13.20  Grants may be used to purchase, repair, or upgrade computer 
 13.21  hardware or software, and for training in the use of 
 13.22  technology.  To the extent practicable, the department shall 
 13.23  solicit donations of refurbished computers for distribution to 
 13.24  early childhood education programs. 
 13.25     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 13.26  available in the second year. 
 13.27     Subd. 4.  [HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING AID.] For 
 13.28  health and developmental screening aid according to Minnesota 
 13.29  Statutes, sections 123.702 and 123.7045: 
 13.30       $1,550,000     .....     1998 
 13.31       $1,550,000     .....     1999 
 13.32     The 1998 appropriation includes $155,000 for 1997 and 
 13.33  $1,395,000 for 1998.  
 13.34     The 1999 appropriation includes $155,000 for 1998 and 
 13.35  $1,395,000 for 1999.  
 13.36     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 14.1   available in the second year. 
 14.2      Subd. 5.  [WAY TO GROW.] For grants for existing way to 
 14.3   grow programs according to Minnesota Statutes, section 121.835:  
 14.4        $475,000       .....     1998
 14.5        $475,000       .....     1999
 14.6      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 14.7   available in the second year. 
 14.8      Subd. 6.  [PART H.] For the department of children, 
 14.9   families, and learning's share of the state's obligation under 
 14.10  Part H according to Minnesota Statutes, section 120.1701: 
 14.11       $400,000       .....     1998 
 14.12     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 14.13  available in the second year. 
 14.14     Subd. 7.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION INFANT 
 14.15  DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.] For grants to early childhood family 
 14.16  education programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 121.882, to 
 14.17  fund initiatives under section 13: 
 14.18       $2,000,000     .....     1998 
 14.19     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 14.20  available in the second year.  This is a one-time appropriation 
 14.21  and is not to be added to the permanent base. 
 14.22     Of this amount, up to two percent each year may be used to 
 14.23  administer the grant program. 
 14.24     Subd. 8.  [HEAD START PROGRAM.] For Head Start programs 
 14.25  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 268.914: 
 14.26       $18,750,000    .....     1998
 14.27       $18,750,000    .....     1999
 14.28     The commissioner may use up to two percent each year for 
 14.29  state operations. 
 14.30     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 14.31  available in the second year. 
 14.32     $1,000,000 each year must be used for competitive grants to 
 14.33  local Head Start agencies for full year programming for children 
 14.34  ages 0 to 3.  The programs must comply with applicable federal 
 14.35  Head Start performance standards.  Grantees may use state grant 
 14.36  funds to provide services in addition to those allowed under 
 15.1   federal Head Start regulations. 
 15.2      Up to $250,000 is for a matching grant to Little Earth 
 15.3   Residents Association for programming in the Neighborhood Early 
 15.4   Learning Center. 
 15.5      Sec. 19.  [REPEALER.] 
 15.6      Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 119B.03, subdivision 7; 
 15.7   119B.05, subdivisions 2 and 3; 119B.11, subdivision 2; 119B.19, 
 15.8   subdivision 2; 119B.21, subdivision 7; 121.8355, subdivision 1a; 
 15.9   and 268.913, subdivision 5, are repealed. 
 15.10     Sec. 20.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 15.11     Sections 1 and 2 apply to the 1997-1998 school year and 
 15.12  thereafter. 
 15.13     Section 7 (124.2711, subdivision 2a) is effective for 
 15.14  revenue for fiscal year 1999. 
 15.15                             ARTICLE 2
 15.16                 COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND PREVENTION 
 15.17     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 15.53, 
 15.18  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 15.19     Subd. 2.  [PERIOD OF ASSIGNMENT.] The period of individual 
 15.20  assignment or detail under an interchange program shall not 
 15.21  exceed 24 months, nor shall any person be assigned or detailed 
 15.22  for more than 24 months during any 36-month period, except when 
 15.23  the assignment or detail is made to coincide with an 
 15.24  unclassified appointment under section 15.06.  A school 
 15.25  district, a county, or a public health entity may make an 
 15.26  assignment for a period not to exceed five years if the 
 15.27  assignment is made pursuant to section 121.8355, subdivision 6.  
 15.28  Details relating to any matter covered in sections 15.51 to 
 15.29  15.57 may be the subject of an agreement between the sending and 
 15.30  receiving agencies.  Elected officials shall not be assigned 
 15.31  from a sending agency nor detailed to a receiving agency. 
 15.32     Sec. 2.  [119A.08] [NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED SERVICES FOR 
 15.33  CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.] 
 15.34     Subdivision 1.  [PILOT PROJECTS AUTHORIZED.] The 
 15.35  commissioner may establish a pilot project for family services 
 15.36  collaboratives to deliver and broker services through 
 16.1   neighborhood-based community organizations. 
 16.2      Subd. 2.  [FAMILY SERVICE COLLABORATIVE; PILOT.] (a) A 
 16.3   family services collaborative under section 121.8355 may apply 
 16.4   to the commissioner to participate in the pilot project in 
 16.5   specified geographic areas.  The selected collaborative must 
 16.6   implement the program through family service centers and 
 16.7   eligible community groups that have strong ties to a local 
 16.8   neighborhood and represent the diversity of residents and that 
 16.9   have a history of providing services in the neighborhood. 
 16.10     (b) An eligible organization must submit an application to 
 16.11  the sponsoring family services collaborative with a description 
 16.12  of areas to be served, a neighborhood presence, the needs of the 
 16.13  area, the services to be provided with associated costs and 
 16.14  resources, the intended outcomes, and the proposed methods of 
 16.15  delivering service through volunteers, including any 
 16.16  reimbursement or incentive not to exceed $200 for any service.  
 16.17  Proposed services and amounts must be listed in an 
 16.18  outcomes-based format. 
 16.19     Subd. 3.  [ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.] A participating center or 
 16.20  group may deliver, or arrange for the delivery of, needed 
 16.21  services listed in the application including assisting family 
 16.22  members to achieve the GED requirements; assisting with English 
 16.23  as a second language or citizenship classes and tests; assisting 
 16.24  with access to early childhood programs, childhood 
 16.25  immunizations, suitable child care, and home visits; and 
 16.26  assisting in crime prevention through after-school enrichment 
 16.27  activities, truancy prevention, and tutoring for academically 
 16.28  under-achieving children. 
 16.29     A collaborative that receives a grant under this section 
 16.30  shall establish procedures to ensure the quality of the services 
 16.31  paid for with grant funds and to monitor the delivery of 
 16.32  services.  
 16.33     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.13, 
 16.34  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 16.35     Subd. 2.  [ADVISORY COUNCIL.] An advisory council of 19 17 
 16.36  members is established under section 15.059.  The commissioners 
 17.1   of human services, public safety, health, and children, 
 17.2   families, and learning, and corrections shall each appoint one 
 17.3   member.  The subcommittee on committees of the senate and the 
 17.4   speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint two 
 17.5   members of their respective bodies, one from each caucus.  The 
 17.6   governor shall appoint an additional ten members who shall 
 17.7   demonstrate knowledge in the area of child abuse prevention and 
 17.8   shall represent the demographic and geographic composition of 
 17.9   the state, and to the extent possible, represent the following 
 17.10  groups:  local government, parents, racial and ethnic minority 
 17.11  communities, the religious community, professional providers of 
 17.12  child abuse prevention and treatment services, and volunteers in 
 17.13  child abuse prevention and treatment services.  The council 
 17.14  shall advise and assist the commissioner in carrying out 
 17.15  sections 119A.10 to 119A.16.  The council does not expire as 
 17.16  provided by section 15.059, subdivision 5. 
 17.17     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.13, 
 17.18  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 17.19     Subd. 3.  [PLAN FOR DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.] By June 1, 
 17.20  1987, the commissioner, assisted by the advisory council, shall 
 17.21  develop a plan to disburse money from the trust fund.  In 
 17.22  developing the plan, the commissioner shall review prevention 
 17.23  programs.  The plan must ensure that all geographic areas of the 
 17.24  state have an equal opportunity to establish prevention programs 
 17.25  and receive trust fund money.  Biennially thereafter the 
 17.26  commissioner shall send the plan to the legislature and the 
 17.27  governor by January 1 of each odd-numbered year.  
 17.28     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.13, 
 17.29  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 17.30     Subd. 4.  [RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSIONER.] (a) The 
 17.31  commissioner shall: 
 17.32     (1) provide for the coordination and exchange of 
 17.33  information on the establishment and maintenance of prevention 
 17.34  programs; 
 17.35     (2) develop and publish criteria for receiving trust fund 
 17.36  money by prevention programs; 
 18.1      (3) review, approve, and monitor the spending of trust fund 
 18.2   money by prevention programs; 
 18.3      (4) provide statewide educational and public informational 
 18.4   seminars to develop public awareness on preventing child abuse; 
 18.5   to encourage professional persons and groups to recognize 
 18.6   instances of child abuse and work to prevent them; to make 
 18.7   information on child abuse prevention available to the public 
 18.8   and to organizations and agencies; and to encourage the 
 18.9   development of prevention programs; 
 18.10     (5) establish a procedure for an annual, internal 
 18.11  evaluation of the functions, responsibilities, and performance 
 18.12  of the commissioner in carrying out Laws 1986, chapter 423.  In 
 18.13  a year in which the state plan is prepared, the evaluation must 
 18.14  be coordinated with the preparation of the state plan; 
 18.15     (6) provide technical assistance to local councils and 
 18.16  agencies working in the area of child abuse prevention; and 
 18.17     (7) accept and review grant applications beginning June 1, 
 18.18  1987. 
 18.19     (b) The commissioner shall recommend to the governor and 
 18.20  the legislature changes in state programs, statutes, policies, 
 18.21  budgets, and standards that will reduce the problems of child 
 18.22  abuse, improve coordination among state agencies that provide 
 18.23  prevention services, and improve the condition of children, 
 18.24  parents, or guardians in need of prevention program services. 
 18.25     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.14, is 
 18.26  amended to read: 
 18.27     119A.14 [LOCAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION COUNCILS.] 
 18.28     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL.] A child abuse 
 18.29  prevention council may be established in any county or group of 
 18.30  counties that was eligible to receive funds under Minnesota 
 18.31  Statutes 1986, section 145.917 as of January 1, 1986.  A council 
 18.32  organized in such a county or group of counties shall be 
 18.33  authorized by the commissioner to review programs seeking trust 
 18.34  fund money on finding that the council meets the criteria in 
 18.35  this subdivision: 
 18.36     (a) The council has submitted a plan for the prevention of 
 19.1   child abuse that includes a survey rank ordering of needed 
 19.2   programs and services, assesses the need for additional programs 
 19.3   or services, and demonstrates that standards and procedures have 
 19.4   been established to ensure that funds will be distributed and 
 19.5   used according to Laws 1986, chapter 423. 
 19.6      (b) A single-county council shall consist of: 
 19.7      (1) members of a multidisciplinary child protection team 
 19.8   which must be established under section 626.558 a minimum of 
 19.9   nine members with the majority consisting of members from the 
 19.10  community-at-large who do not represent service-providing 
 19.11  agencies.  These members shall represent the demographic and 
 19.12  geographic composition of the county and, to the extent 
 19.13  possible, represent the following groups:  parents, businesses, 
 19.14  racial and ethnic minority communities, and the faith 
 19.15  communities; and 
 19.16     (2) if necessary, enough additional members appointed by 
 19.17  the county with knowledge in the area of child abuse prevention 
 19.18  so that a majority of the council is composed of members who do 
 19.19  not represent public agencies. 
 19.20     (c) A multicounty council shall be selected by composed of 
 19.21  the combined membership of those multidisciplinary teams which 
 19.22  have been established in the counties under section 626.558 and 
 19.23  shall consist of: persons in paragraph (b). 
 19.24     (1) one representative each from local human services 
 19.25  agencies, county attorney offices, county sheriff offices, and 
 19.26  health and education agencies, chosen from among the membership 
 19.27  of all the teams; 
 19.28     (2) one representative from any other public agency group 
 19.29  represented among the combined teams; and 
 19.30     (3) enough additional members from the public who have 
 19.31  knowledge in the area of child abuse so that a majority of the 
 19.32  council is composed of members who do not represent public 
 19.33  agencies. 
 19.34     (d) In any multicounty group eligible to establish a 
 19.35  council under this subdivision, at least 50 percent of the 
 19.36  counties must have established a multidisciplinary team under 
 20.1   section 626.558 before a council may be established. 
 20.2      Subd. 2.  [REVIEW BY COUNCIL.] To be eligible to receive a 
 20.3   grant from the trust fund, an applicant must have had 
 20.4   its program application reviewed by a child abuse prevention 
 20.5   council from the applicant's geographic area found by the 
 20.6   commissioner to meet the criteria in this section.  In reviewing 
 20.7   all such programs applications, the council shall consider the 
 20.8   extent to which the applicant meets the criteria and standards 
 20.9   in Laws 1986, chapter 423, and the degree to which the program 
 20.10  meets the needs of the geographic area.  The council shall 
 20.11  provide to the advisory council its comments and recommendations 
 20.12  concerning each program application reviewed and shall provide 
 20.13  the advisory council with its prioritization by rank ordering of 
 20.14  all programs applications reviewed. 
 20.15     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.15, 
 20.16  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 20.17     Subd. 2.  [MATCHING AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.] Trust fund 
 20.18  money shall only be distributed to applicants that demonstrate 
 20.19  an ability to match at least 40 percent of the amount of trust 
 20.20  fund money requested and whose proposals meet the other 
 20.21  criteria.  The matching requirement may be met through in-kind 
 20.22  donations.  In awarding grants, the commissioner shall consider 
 20.23  the extent to which the applicant has demonstrated a willingness 
 20.24  and ability to: 
 20.25     (1) continue the prevention program or service if trust 
 20.26  fund money is eliminated or reduced; and 
 20.27     (2) provide prevention program models and consultation to 
 20.28  other organizations and communities. 
 20.29     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.15, 
 20.30  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 20.31     Subd. 5.  [LOCAL COUNCIL AS RECIPIENT OF FUNDS.] The 
 20.32  commissioner may disburse funds to a local council on the same 
 20.33  basis as to any other applicant for community education 
 20.34  purposes, or as for administrative costs in carrying out Laws 
 20.35  1986, chapter 423, if all criteria and standards are met.  Funds 
 20.36  disbursed as administrative costs to a local council must not 
 21.1   exceed five percent of total funds disbursed to the area served 
 21.2   by the local council. 
 21.3      Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.16, is 
 21.4   amended to read: 
 21.5      119A.16 [ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND OTHER DONATIONS.] 
 21.6      The commissioner may accept federal money and gifts, 
 21.7   donations, and bequests for the purposes of Laws 1986, chapter 
 21.8   423.  Money so received and proceeds from the sale of 
 21.9   promotional items, minus sales promotional costs, must be 
 21.10  deposited in the trust fund and must be made available annually 
 21.11  to the commissioner. 
 21.12     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.31, 
 21.13  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 21.14     Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAMS.] The commissioner shall, in 
 21.15  consultation with the chemical abuse and violence prevention 
 21.16  council, administer a grant program to fund community-based 
 21.17  programs that are designed to enhance the community's sense of 
 21.18  personal security and to assist the community in its crime 
 21.19  control and prevention efforts.  Examples of qualifying programs 
 21.20  include, but are not limited to, the following: 
 21.21     (1) community-based programs designed to provide services 
 21.22  for children aged 8 to 13 who are juvenile offenders or who are 
 21.23  at risk of becoming juvenile offenders.  The programs must give 
 21.24  priority to: 
 21.25     (i) juvenile restitution; 
 21.26     (ii) prearrest or pretrial diversion, including through 
 21.27  mediation; 
 21.28     (iii) probation innovation; 
 21.29     (iv) teen courts, community service; or 
 21.30     (v) post incarceration alternatives to assist youth in 
 21.31  returning to their communities; 
 21.32     (2) community-based programs designed to provide at-risk 
 21.33  children and youth aged 8 to 13 with after-school and summer 
 21.34  enrichment activities; 
 21.35     (3) community-based programs designed to discourage young 
 21.36  people from involvement in unlawful drug or street gang 
 22.1   activities such as neighborhood youth centers; 
 22.2      (4) neighborhood block clubs and innovative community-based 
 22.3   crime prevention programs; 
 22.4      (5) community- and school-based programs designed to enrich 
 22.5   the educational, cultural, or recreational opportunities of 
 22.6   at-risk children and youth, including programs designed to keep 
 22.7   at-risk youth from dropping out of school and encourage school 
 22.8   dropouts to return to school; 
 22.9      (6) community-based programs designed to intervene with 
 22.10  juvenile offenders who are identified as likely to engage in 
 22.11  repeated criminal activity in the future unless intervention is 
 22.12  undertaken; 
 22.13     (7) community-based collaboratives that coordinate multiple 
 22.14  programs and funding sources to address the needs of at-risk 
 22.15  children and youth, including, but not limited to, 
 22.16  collaboratives that address the continuum of services for 
 22.17  juvenile offenders and those who are at risk of becoming 
 22.18  juvenile offenders; 
 22.19     (8) programs that are proven successful at increasing the 
 22.20  rate of school success or the rate of post-secondary education 
 22.21  attendance for high-risk students; 
 22.22     (9) community-based programs that provide services to 
 22.23  homeless youth; 
 22.24     (10) programs designed to reduce truancy; and 
 22.25     (11) other community- and school-based crime prevention 
 22.26  programs that are innovative and encourage substantial 
 22.27  involvement by members of the community served by the program; 
 22.28     (12) community-based programs that attempt to prevent and 
 22.29  ameliorate the effects of teenage prostitution; 
 22.30     (13) programs for mentoring at-risk youth, including youth 
 22.31  at risk of gang involvement; and 
 22.32     (14) programs operated by community violence prevention 
 22.33  councils. 
 22.34     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.11, is 
 22.35  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 22.36     Subd. 7e.  [GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT TESTS RULES.] The 
 23.1   state board may amend rules to reflect changes in the national 
 23.2   minimum standard score for passing the General Education 
 23.3   Development (GED) tests. 
 23.4      Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.88, 
 23.5   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 23.6      Subdivision 1.  [AUTHORIZATION.] Each school board may 
 23.7   initiate a community education program in its district and 
 23.8   provide for the general supervision of the program.  Each board 
 23.9   may, as it considers appropriate, employ community education 
 23.10  directors and coordinators staff to further the purposes of the 
 23.11  community education program.  
 23.12     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.88, is 
 23.13  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 23.14     Subd. 2a.  [COMMUNITY EDUCATION DIRECTOR.] (a) Except as 
 23.15  provided under paragraphs (b) and (c), each board shall employ a 
 23.16  licensed community education director.  The board shall submit 
 23.17  the name of the person who is serving as director of community 
 23.18  education under this section on the district's annual community 
 23.19  education report to the commissioner. 
 23.20     (b) A board may apply to the commissioner under Minnesota 
 23.21  Rules, part 3512.3500, subpart 9, for authority to use an 
 23.22  individual who is not licensed as a community education director.
 23.23     (c) A board of a district with a total population of 2,000 
 23.24  or less may identify an employee who holds a valid Minnesota 
 23.25  principal or superintendent license under Minnesota Rules, 
 23.26  chapter 3512, to serve as director of community education.  To 
 23.27  be eligible for an exception under this paragraph, the board 
 23.28  shall certify in writing to the commissioner that the district 
 23.29  has not placed a licensed director of community education on 
 23.30  unrequested leave. 
 23.31     Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.88, 
 23.32  subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
 23.33     Subd. 10.  [EXTENDED DAY PROGRAMS.] (a) A school board may 
 23.34  offer, as part of a community education program, an extended day 
 23.35  program for children from kindergarten through grade 6 for the 
 23.36  purpose of expanding students' learning opportunities.  A 
 24.1   program must include the following: 
 24.2      (1) adult supervised programs while school is not in 
 24.3   session; 
 24.4      (2) parental involvement in program design and direction; 
 24.5      (3) partnerships with the K-12 system, and other public, 
 24.6   private, or nonprofit entities; and 
 24.7      (4) opportunities for trained secondary school pupils to 
 24.8   work with younger children in a supervised setting as part of a 
 24.9   community service program. 
 24.10     (b) The district may charge a sliding fee based upon family 
 24.11  income for extended day programs.  The district may receive 
 24.12  money from other public or private sources for the extended day 
 24.13  program.  The school board of the district shall develop 
 24.14  standards for school age child care programs.  Districts with 
 24.15  programs in operation before July 1, 1990, must adopt standards 
 24.16  before October 1, 1991.  All other districts must adopt 
 24.17  standards within one year after the district first offers 
 24.18  services under a program authorized by this subdivision.  The 
 24.19  state board of education may not adopt rules for extended day 
 24.20  programs. 
 24.21     (c) The district shall maintain a separate account within 
 24.22  the community services fund for all funds related to the 
 24.23  extended day program. 
 24.24     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.17, 
 24.25  subdivision 2e, is amended to read: 
 24.26     Subd. 2e.  [AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP, PUPILS AGE 21 OR 
 24.27  OVER.] The average daily membership for pupils age 21 or over, 
 24.28  is equal to the ratio of the number of yearly hours that the 
 24.29  pupil is in membership to the number of instructional hours in 
 24.30  the district's regular school year.  A pupil enrolled in the 
 24.31  graduation incentives program under section 126.22, subdivision 
 24.32  2, paragraph (b), for more than the number of instructional 
 24.33  hours in the district's regular school year may be counted as 
 24.34  more than one pupil in average daily membership. 
 24.35     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.26, 
 24.36  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 25.1      Subd. 2.  [ACCOUNTS; REVENUE; AID.] Each district, group of 
 25.2   districts, or private nonprofit organization providing adult 
 25.3   basic education programs shall establish and maintain accounts 
 25.4   separate from all other district accounts for the receipt and 
 25.5   disbursement of all funds related to these programs.  All 
 25.6   revenue received pursuant to this section shall be utilized 
 25.7   solely for the purposes of adult basic education programs.  In 
 25.8   no case shall federal and state aid plus levy equal more than 
 25.9   100 percent of the actual cost of providing these programs. 
 25.10     Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2601, 
 25.11  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 25.12     Subd. 3.  [AID REVENUE.] Adult basic education aid revenue 
 25.13  for each approved program equals 65 percent of the general 
 25.14  education formula allowance times the number of full-time 
 25.15  equivalent students in its adult basic education program. 
 25.16     Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2601, 
 25.17  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 25.18     Subd. 4.  [LEVY.] To obtain adult basic education revenue, 
 25.19  a district with an eligible program may levy an amount not to 
 25.20  exceed the amount raised by .12 percent times the adjusted tax 
 25.21  capacity of the district for the preceding year. 
 25.22     Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2601, 
 25.23  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 25.24     Subd. 5.  [REVENUE AID.] Adult basic education revenue aid 
 25.25  is equal to the sum of difference between an approved program's 
 25.26  adult basic education aid revenue and its adult basic education 
 25.27  levy.  If the district does not levy the full amount permitted, 
 25.28  the adult education aid must be reduced in proportion to the 
 25.29  actual amount levied. 
 25.30     Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2601, 
 25.31  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 25.32     Subd. 6.  [AID GUARANTEE.] (a) For fiscal year 1994, any 
 25.33  adult basic education program that receives less state aid under 
 25.34  subdivisions 3 and 7 than from the aid formula for fiscal year 
 25.35  1992 shall receive the amount of aid it received in fiscal year 
 25.36  1992. 
 26.1      (b) For 1995 and later, 1996, and 1997 fiscal years, an 
 26.2   adult basic education program that receives aid shall receive at 
 26.3   least the amount of aid it received in fiscal year 1992 under 
 26.4   subdivisions 3 and 7, plus aid equal to the amount of revenue 
 26.5   that would have been raised for taxes payable in 1994 under 
 26.6   Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 124.2601, subdivision 4, minus 
 26.7   the amount raised under subdivision 4. 
 26.8      (c) For fiscal year 1998, any adult basic education program 
 26.9   that receives less state aid than in fiscal year 1997 shall 
 26.10  receive additional aid equal to 80 percent of the difference 
 26.11  between its 1997 aid and the amount of aid under subdivision 5.  
 26.12  For fiscal year 1999 and later, additional aid under this 
 26.13  paragraph must be reduced by 20 percent each year. 
 26.14     Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.261, 
 26.15  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 26.16     Subdivision 1.  [AID ELIGIBILITY.] For fiscal year years 
 26.17  1996 1998 and later, adult high school graduation aid for 
 26.18  eligible pupils age 21 or over, equals 65 percent of the general 
 26.19  education formula allowance times 1.30 times the average daily 
 26.20  membership under section 124.17, subdivision 2e.  For 1997 and 
 26.21  later fiscal years, adult high school graduation aid per 
 26.22  eligible pupil equals the amount established by the commissioner 
 26.23  of children, families, and learning, in consultation with the 
 26.24  commissioner of finance, based on the appropriation for this 
 26.25  program.  Adult high school graduation aid must be paid in 
 26.26  addition to any other aid to the district.  Pupils age 21 or 
 26.27  over may not be counted by the district for any purpose other 
 26.28  than adult high school graduation aid. 
 26.29     Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2713, 
 26.30  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 26.31     Subd. 6.  [COMMUNITY EDUCATION LEVY.] To obtain community 
 26.32  education revenue, a district may levy the amount raised by a 
 26.33  tax rate of 1.1 1.09 percent times the adjusted net tax capacity 
 26.34  of the district.  If the amount of the community education levy 
 26.35  would exceed the community education revenue, the community 
 26.36  education levy shall be determined according to subdivision 6a. 
 27.1      Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2713, 
 27.2   subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 27.3      Subd. 8.  [USES OF GENERAL REVENUE.] (a) General community 
 27.4   education revenue may be used for: 
 27.5      (1) nonvocational, recreational, and leisure time 
 27.6   activities and programs; 
 27.7      (2) programs for adults with disabilities, if the programs 
 27.8   and budgets are approved by the department of children, 
 27.9   families, and learning; 
 27.10     (3) adult basic education programs, according to section 
 27.11  124.26; 
 27.12     (4) summer programs for elementary and secondary pupils; 
 27.13     (5) implementation of a youth development plan; 
 27.14     (6) implementation of a youth service program; 
 27.15     (7) early childhood family education programs, according to 
 27.16  section 121.882; and 
 27.17     (8) extended day programs, according to section 121.88, 
 27.18  subdivision 10. 
 27.19     (9) In addition to money from other sources, a district may 
 27.20  use up to ten percent of its community education revenue for 
 27.21  equipment that is used exclusively in community education 
 27.22  programs.  This revenue may be used only for the following 
 27.23  purposes:  
 27.24     (i) to purchase or lease computers and related materials; 
 27.25     (ii) to purchase or lease equipment for instructional 
 27.26  programs; and 
 27.27     (iii) to purchase textbooks and library books. 
 27.28     (b) General community education revenue must not be used to 
 27.29  subsidize the direct activity costs for adult enrichment 
 27.30  programs.  Direct activity costs include, but are not limited 
 27.31  to, the cost of the activity leader or instructor, cost of 
 27.32  materials, or transportation costs. 
 27.33     Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2716, 
 27.34  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 27.35     Subd. 3.  [EXTENDED DAY LEVY.] To obtain extended day 
 27.36  revenue, a school district may levy an amount equal to the 
 28.1   district's extended day revenue as defined in subdivision 2 
 28.2   multiplied by the lesser of one, or the ratio of the quotient 
 28.3   derived by dividing the adjusted net tax capacity of the 
 28.4   district for the year before the year the levy is certified by 
 28.5   the actual pupil units in the district for the school year to 
 28.6   which the levy is attributable, to $3,700 $3,767.  
 28.7      Sec. 25.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.53, 
 28.8   subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 28.9      Subd. 5.  [FUNCTIONS; POWERS.] A community action agency 
 28.10  shall:  
 28.11     (a) Plan systematically for an effective community action 
 28.12  program; develop information as to the problems and causes of 
 28.13  poverty in the community; determine how much and how effectively 
 28.14  assistance is being provided to deal with those problems and 
 28.15  causes; and establish priorities among projects, activities and 
 28.16  areas as needed for the best and most efficient use of 
 28.17  resources; 
 28.18     (b) Encourage agencies engaged in activities related to the 
 28.19  community action program to plan for, secure, and administer 
 28.20  assistance available under section 268.52 or from other sources 
 28.21  on a common or cooperative basis; provide planning or technical 
 28.22  assistance to those agencies; and generally, in cooperation with 
 28.23  community agencies and officials, undertake actions to improve 
 28.24  existing efforts to reduce poverty, such as improving day-to-day 
 28.25  communications, closing service gaps, focusing resources on the 
 28.26  most needy, and providing additional opportunities to low-income 
 28.27  individuals for regular employment or participation in the 
 28.28  programs or activities for which those community agencies and 
 28.29  officials are responsible; 
 28.30     (c) Initiate and sponsor projects responsive to needs of 
 28.31  the poor which are not otherwise being met, with particular 
 28.32  emphasis on providing central or common services that can be 
 28.33  drawn upon by a variety of related programs, developing new 
 28.34  approaches or new types of services that can be incorporated 
 28.35  into other programs, and filling gaps pending the expansion or 
 28.36  modification of those programs; 
 29.1      (d) Establish effective procedures by which the poor and 
 29.2   area residents concerned will be enabled to influence the 
 29.3   character of programs affecting their interests, provide for 
 29.4   their regular participation in the implementation of those 
 29.5   programs, and provide technical and other support needed to 
 29.6   enable the poor and neighborhood groups to secure on their own 
 29.7   behalf available assistance from public and private sources; 
 29.8      (e) Join with and encourage business, labor and other 
 29.9   private groups and organizations to undertake, together with 
 29.10  public officials and agencies, activities in support of the 
 29.11  community action program which will result in the additional use 
 29.12  of private resources and capabilities, with a view to developing 
 29.13  new employment opportunities, stimulating investment that will 
 29.14  have a measurable impact on reducing poverty among residents of 
 29.15  areas of concentrated poverty, and providing methods by which 
 29.16  residents of those areas can work with private groups, firms, 
 29.17  and institutions in seeking solutions to problems of common 
 29.18  concern.  
 29.19     Community action agencies, the Minnesota migrant council, 
 29.20  and the Indian reservations, may enter into cooperative 
 29.21  purchasing agreements and self-insurance programs with local 
 29.22  units of government.  Nothing in this section expands or limits 
 29.23  the current private or public nature of a local community action 
 29.24  agency. 
 29.25     (f) Adopt policies that require the agencies to refer area 
 29.26  residents and community action program constituents to education 
 29.27  programs that increase literacy, improve parenting skills, and 
 29.28  address the needs of children from families in poverty.  These 
 29.29  programs include, but are not limited to, early childhood family 
 29.30  education programs, adult basic education programs, and other 
 29.31  life-long learning opportunities.  The agencies and agency 
 29.32  programs, including Head Start, shall collaborate with child 
 29.33  care and other early childhood education programs to ensure 
 29.34  smooth transitions to work for parents. 
 29.35     Sec. 26.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 517.08, 
 29.36  subdivision 1c, is amended to read: 
 30.1      Subd. 1c.  [DISPOSITION OF LICENSE FEE.] Of the marriage 
 30.2   license fee collected pursuant to subdivision 1b, the court 
 30.3   administrator shall pay $55 to the state treasurer to be 
 30.4   deposited as follows: 
 30.5      (1) $50 in the general fund; 
 30.6      (2) $3 in the special revenue fund to be appropriated to 
 30.7   the commissioner of human services children, families, and 
 30.8   learning for supervised visitation facilities under section 
 30.9   256F.09; and 
 30.10     (3) $2 in the special revenue fund to be appropriated to 
 30.11  the commissioner of health for developing and implementing the 
 30.12  MN ENABL program under section 145.9255. 
 30.13     Sec. 27.  Laws 1996, chapter 463, section 4, subdivision 2, 
 30.14  as amended by Laws 1997, chapter 3, section 1, is amended to 
 30.15  read: 
 30.16  Subd. 2.  Youth Initiative Grants                    16,000,000 
 30.17  For grants to local government units to 
 30.18  design, furnish, equip, acquire, 
 30.19  demolish, repair, replace, or construct 
 30.20  parks and, recreation buildings and 
 30.21  school buildings to provide youth, with 
 30.22  preference for youth in grades four 
 30.23  through eight, with regular enrichment 
 30.24  activities during nonschool hours, 
 30.25  including after school, evenings, 
 30.26  weekends, and school vacation periods, 
 30.27  and that will provide equal access and 
 30.28  programming for girls.  The buildings 
 30.29  may be leased to nonprofit community 
 30.30  organizations, subject to Minnesota 
 30.31  Statutes, section 16A.695, for the same 
 30.32  purposes.  Enrichment programs include 
 30.33  academic enrichment, homework 
 30.34  assistance, computer and technology 
 30.35  use, arts and cultural activities, 
 30.36  clubs, school-to-work and work force 
 30.37  development, athletic, and recreational 
 30.38  activities.  Grants must be used to 
 30.39  expand the number of children 
 30.40  participating in enrichment programs or 
 30.41  improve the quality or range of program 
 30.42  offerings.  The facilities must be 
 30.43  fully available for programming 
 30.44  sponsored by youth-serving nonprofit 
 30.45  and community groups, or school, 
 30.46  county, or city programs, for maximum 
 30.47  hours after school, evenings, weekends, 
 30.48  summers, and other school vacation 
 30.49  periods.  Priority must be given to 
 30.50  proposals that demonstrate 
 30.51  collaboration among private, nonprofit, 
 30.52  and public agencies, including regional 
 30.53  entities dealing with at-risk youth, 
 30.54  and community and parent organizations 
 30.55  in arranging for programming, staffing, 
 31.1   transportation, and equipment.  All 
 31.2   proposals must include an inventory of 
 31.3   existing facilities and an assessment 
 31.4   of programming needs in the community. 
 31.5   (a) Enrichment grants within the
 31.6   city of Minneapolis                                   5,000,000
 31.7   Of this amount, at least $2,500,000 
 31.8   must be used in the neighborhoods of 
 31.9   the Near North, Hawthorne, Sumner- 
 31.10  Glenwood-Harrison, Powderhorn, Central, 
 31.11  Whittier, and Phillips. 
 31.12  (b) Enrichment grants within the 
 31.13  city of St. Paul                                      5,000,000
 31.14  Of this amount, at least $2,500,000 
 31.15  must be used in the neighborhoods of 
 31.16  Summit-University, Thomas-Dale, North 
 31.17  End, Payne-Phalen, Daytons Bluff, and 
 31.18  the West Side. 
 31.19  The remaining $2,500,000 is available 
 31.20  citywide, with priority for some of the 
 31.21  remaining amount given to proposals by 
 31.22  public/private partnerships currently 
 31.23  offering after-school enrichment 
 31.24  programs in low-income areas in 
 31.25  conjunction with a neighborhood-based 
 31.26  organization.  Up to $100,000 of the 
 31.27  remaining $2,500,000 may be used to 
 31.28  develop urban sports facilities for 
 31.29  at-risk inner city youth, including 
 31.30  those older than eighth grade. 
 31.31  (c) Enrichment grants outside 
 31.32  of the cities of Minneapolis 
 31.33  and St. Paul                                         6,000,000
 31.34  Priority must be given to school 
 31.35  attendance areas with high 
 31.36  concentrations of children eligible for 
 31.37  free or reduced school lunch and to 
 31.38  government units demonstrating a 
 31.39  commitment to collaborative youth 
 31.40  efforts. 
 31.41  $500,000 is to the city of Bloomington 
 31.42  for after school enrichment activities 
 31.43  in the northeast Bloomington study area.
 31.44  The commissioner of children, families, 
 31.45  and learning must make a grant of at 
 31.46  least $1,000,000 to a school district 
 31.47  that is a part of a collaborative 
 31.48  effort that has at least two other 
 31.49  school districts, is multicultural and 
 31.50  multijurisdictional, and has previously 
 31.51  received a facility planning grant for 
 31.52  collaborative purposes. 
 31.53  (d) Each grant must be matched by $1 
 31.54  from local sources for each $2 of state 
 31.55  money.  In-kind contributions of 
 31.56  facilities may be used for the local 
 31.57  match.  The value of in-kind 
 31.58  contributions must be determined by the 
 31.59  commissioner of finance.  
 31.60  (e) Preference must be given to 
 32.1   projects for which at least ten percent 
 32.2   of the youth initiative grant is 
 32.3   expended using youthbuild under 
 32.4   Minnesota Statutes, sections 268.361 to 
 32.5   268.367, or other youth employment and 
 32.6   training programs, for the labor 
 32.7   portion of the construction.  Eligible 
 32.8   programs must consult with appropriate 
 32.9   labor organizations to deliver 
 32.10  education and training. 
 32.11     Sec. 28.  [MINNESOTA ADOLESCENT PARENTING GRANT PROGRAM.] 
 32.12     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A grant program is 
 32.13  established to provide school-based, comprehensive, 
 32.14  community-linked programs for ensuring the long-term 
 32.15  self-sufficiency of adolescent families and the development and 
 32.16  school readiness of their children. 
 32.17     Subd. 2.  [DEFINITION.] For purposes of this section, 
 32.18  "pregnancy prevention" means preventing pregnancies from 
 32.19  occurring and does not include abortion services. 
 32.20     Subd. 3.  [GOALS.] The goals of the adolescent parenting 
 32.21  grant programs are to: 
 32.22     (1) assist pregnant and parenting adolescents to make 
 32.23  significant gains in school attendance, attainment of state 
 32.24  graduation standards, and acquisition of school-to-career 
 32.25  skills; 
 32.26     (2) prevent child abuse and neglect by improving the 
 32.27  parenting and communication skills of pregnant and parenting 
 32.28  adolescents; 
 32.29     (3) reduce long-term welfare dependency among adolescent 
 32.30  parents; and 
 32.31     (4) improve the outcomes for adolescent parents and their 
 32.32  children in the number of healthy births; pregnancy prevention; 
 32.33  cognitive, social, linguistic, and emotional development; 
 32.34  immunization rates; access to primary health care; and school 
 32.35  readiness. 
 32.36     Subd. 4.  [ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.] The following students are 
 32.37  eligible for support services under the adolescent parenting 
 32.38  grant program: 
 32.39     (1) a student enrolled in a school district with an 
 32.40  approved adolescent parenting program who is age 21 or younger 
 33.1   and who is an expectant parent, custodial parent, or 
 33.2   noncustodial parent; and 
 33.3      (2) a child of a student covered by clause (1) who is under 
 33.4   the age of five and is not yet enrolled in kindergarten. 
 33.5      Subd. 5.  [GRANT APPLICATION.] A school district, group of 
 33.6   school districts, alternative learning programs approved by the 
 33.7   commissioner, or family service collaboratives may apply for an 
 33.8   adolescent parenting program grant to the commissioner of 
 33.9   children, families, and learning.  The application must include 
 33.10  a detailed description of the program, including a description 
 33.11  of the population to be served by the program, a description of 
 33.12  the community agency or agencies collaborating with the site to 
 33.13  provide support services, an explanation of how each of the 
 33.14  program components will contribute to achieving program 
 33.15  outcomes, the number of pupils to be served by the pilot 
 33.16  program, a detailed budget that demonstrates the capacity to 
 33.17  achieve the program's goals, and a comprehensive evaluation plan 
 33.18  for measuring progress toward achieving the program's goals. 
 33.19     Subd. 6.  [PROGRAM COMPONENTS.] An adolescent parenting 
 33.20  program must include: 
 33.21     (1) a high quality educational program provided in the 
 33.22  least restrictive environment that includes strategies to ensure 
 33.23  access to educational services, including flexible attendance 
 33.24  policies and class scheduling, and grants academic credit for 
 33.25  all work completed; 
 33.26     (2) to the extent possible, collaboration with other 
 33.27  governmental agencies and community-based organizations to 
 33.28  provide on-site support services, including child care; 
 33.29     (3) an individualized learning plan for each eligible 
 33.30  student that includes career goals; 
 33.31     (4) assurance of compliance with requirements of Public Law 
 33.32  Number 92-318, title IX, prohibiting discrimination against 
 33.33  students due to their pregnant or parenting status; 
 33.34     (5) courses in parent education and life skills; 
 33.35     (6) accountability measures for student performance linked 
 33.36  to graduation standards; 
 34.1      (7) professional development opportunities on adolescent 
 34.2   pregnancy and parenting issues and strategies to achieve 
 34.3   academic success with this student population; 
 34.4      (8) a system to document that adolescent parenting and 
 34.5   prevention support funds were used to provide support services 
 34.6   to eligible students; 
 34.7      (9) a comprehensive assessment of the district's adolescent 
 34.8   pregnancy prevention programs and recommendations for 
 34.9   improvements; 
 34.10     (10) a system for collecting and reporting specific student 
 34.11  data, including goals and outcome measurements; and 
 34.12     (11) a program advisory council, which may consist of an 
 34.13  existing local council. 
 34.14     Subd. 7.  [PROGRAM EVALUATION AND TESTIMONY.] The 
 34.15  commissioner of children, families, and learning shall conduct 
 34.16  an evaluation of the adolescent parenting program after one year 
 34.17  of implementation.  The commissioner shall evaluate the 
 34.18  program's impact on school attendance, academic achievement, 
 34.19  graduation rates, parenting skills, health, and other outcomes 
 34.20  that may be identified by the commissioner.  The commissioner 
 34.21  shall provide testimony on the evaluation results to the 
 34.22  children, families, and learning committees of the legislature 
 34.23  by January 15, 1999. 
 34.24     Sec. 29.  [CITIZENSHIP PROMOTION PROGRAM.] 
 34.25     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A statewide citizenship 
 34.26  promotion program is established to assist legal immigrants 
 34.27  eligible to apply for United States citizenship.  The program 
 34.28  must consist of workshops designed to assist with citizenship 
 34.29  application procedures, citizenship and English for citizenship 
 34.30  classes, video citizenship instruction, and public education and 
 34.31  information. 
 34.32     Subd. 2.  [GRANTS APPLICATION.] The commissioner of 
 34.33  children, families, and learning shall award grants to public or 
 34.34  nonprofit organizations to operate the citizenship promotion 
 34.35  program.  Grants targeted for ethnic and geographic groups of 
 34.36  immigrants must be approximately proportional to the number of 
 35.1   immigrants eligible to apply for naturalization in the group and 
 35.2   the level of program activities necessary to assist a particular 
 35.3   group to attain citizenship.  The organizations may include 
 35.4   community-based ethnic or religious groups, school districts, 
 35.5   post-secondary institutions, community action agencies, family 
 35.6   service collaboratives, workforce development centers, and 
 35.7   advocacy groups. 
 35.8      (a) To be eligible to receive a grant, an organization must:
 35.9      (1) have documented experience in programs specifically 
 35.10  designed for immigrant and refugee populations; 
 35.11     (2) provide access to legal counseling; 
 35.12     (3) provide bilingual teaching for preliterate, vulnerable 
 35.13  populations and for those eligible for waiver of the English 
 35.14  requirements; 
 35.15     (4) have facilities accessible to physically handicapped 
 35.16  learners; 
 35.17     (5) ensure that no more than five percent of grant funds 
 35.18  will be used for administration; and 
 35.19     (6) have a system for fiscal accounting and reporting. 
 35.20     (b) Grant applications must include: 
 35.21     (1) demonstrated organizational experience in English or 
 35.22  citizenship instruction; 
 35.23     (2) population target goals for attaining citizenship; 
 35.24     (3) proposed class sizes and schedules; 
 35.25     (4) outreach and recruitment plans; and 
 35.26     (5) staff expertise description and training plans. 
 35.27     (c) Grants to operate application procedure workshops and 
 35.28  to expand citizenship and English for citizenship classes must 
 35.29  be awarded by September 15, 1997, with initial funding to target 
 35.30  services to legal immigrants who have lost eligibility for 
 35.31  federal SSI and Food Stamp programs. 
 35.32     Subd. 3.  [PROGRAM COMPONENTS.] The citizenship promotion 
 35.33  program must include: 
 35.34     (1) a public education program that prepares and 
 35.35  distributes information about citizenship eligibility 
 35.36  requirements, application procedures, test requirements, and 
 36.1   opportunities for assistance; 
 36.2      (2) workshops to assist applicants for naturalization with 
 36.3   the application process.  Applications must be screened for 
 36.4   completeness and legal advice must be available to applicants 
 36.5   before applications are submitted to the United States 
 36.6   Immigration and Naturalization Service.  Participants in 
 36.7   workshops must be screened for English proficiency and, upon 
 36.8   request, enrolled in appropriate classes to prepare for the 
 36.9   examination; 
 36.10     (3) support for existing classes for citizenship and 
 36.11  English for citizenship and identification of new providers in 
 36.12  underserved areas of the state.  Classes must be supported and 
 36.13  offered in native languages for those able to take the 
 36.14  citizenship test in their native language.  Within the limits of 
 36.15  available funding, transportation, child care, and interpreter 
 36.16  services must be provided; and 
 36.17     (4) a video instruction series to provide citizenship 
 36.18  education throughout the state. 
 36.19     Subd. 4.  [ADVISORY TASK FORCE.] The commissioner may 
 36.20  create an advisory task force under section 15.014 to advise the 
 36.21  commissioner on the citizenship promotion program.  Members of 
 36.22  the advisory task force must not participate in grant 
 36.23  discussions in which they have a proposal for funding. 
 36.24     Subd. 5.  [TESTIMONY.] The commissioner shall present 
 36.25  testimony by February 1, 1998, to the family and early childhood 
 36.26  education budget division in the senate and the family and early 
 36.27  childhood education finance division in the house of 
 36.28  representatives that summarizes the program activities, 
 36.29  outcomes, and recommendations regarding the need for 
 36.30  continuation. 
 36.31     Sec. 30.  [COOPERATIVE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE AND 
 36.32  ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS.] 
 36.33     Subdivision 1.  [NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.] 
 36.34  Any school district, or adult basic education consortium that 
 36.35  receives revenue under Minnesota Statutes, section 124.2601, 
 36.36  must collaborate with community-based organizations and 
 37.1   nonprofit organizations within its district or region that have 
 37.2   demonstrated the capacity to deliver English as a second 
 37.3   language or citizenship programming.  The district or consortium 
 37.4   must consider an organization to have demonstrated the capacity 
 37.5   to deliver programming if the organization has past experience 
 37.6   or meets the criteria in subdivision 2.  No more than eight 
 37.7   percent of the total funds provided by a school district or an 
 37.8   adult basic education consortium to a nonprofit or 
 37.9   community-based organization under this section, may be used for 
 37.10  the administrative costs of providing English as a second 
 37.11  language, adult basic education, or citizenship programs. 
 37.12     Subd. 2.  [ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.] A community-based 
 37.13  organization or nonprofit organization without past experience 
 37.14  providing adult basic education services under Minnesota 
 37.15  Statutes, section 124.2601, must demonstrate that it has met the 
 37.16  following criteria: 
 37.17     (1) be legally established as a nonprofit organization; 
 37.18     (2) have facilities that are accessible to all learners; 
 37.19     (3) have an established system for fiscal accounting and 
 37.20  reporting that is consistent with the department of children, 
 37.21  families, and learning's ABE completion report; 
 37.22     (4) employ a licensed teacher; and 
 37.23     (5) require all instructional staff to complete the 
 37.24  Minnesota Literacy Council's 12-hour training session. 
 37.25     Sec. 31.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 37.26     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 37.27  LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
 37.28  from the general fund to the department of children, families, 
 37.29  and learning for the fiscal years designated. 
 37.30     Subd. 2.  [FAMILY COLLABORATIVES.] For family 
 37.31  collaboratives according to Laws 1995, First Special Session 
 37.32  chapter 3, article 4, section 29, subdivision 10: 
 37.33       $7,500,000     .....     1998
 37.34       $7,000,000     .....     1999
 37.35     Of the appropriation, $150,000 each year is for grants 
 37.36  targeted to assist in providing collaborative children's library 
 38.1   service programs.  To be eligible, a family collaborative grant 
 38.2   recipient must collaborate with at least one public library and 
 38.3   one children's or family organization.  The public library must 
 38.4   involve the regional public library system and multitype library 
 38.5   system to which it belongs in the planning and provide for an 
 38.6   evaluation of the program. 
 38.7      Of the amount for the family services collaborative in St. 
 38.8   Paul, $50,000 may be used for a grant for neighborhood-based 
 38.9   services under section 2.  
 38.10     No more than 2.5 percent of the appropriation is available 
 38.11  to the state to administer and evaluate the grant program. 
 38.12     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 38.13  available in the second year. 
 38.14     Subd. 3.  [COMMUNITY EDUCATION AID.] For community 
 38.15  education aid according to Minnesota Statutes, section 124.2713: 
 38.16       $1,828,000     .....     1998 
 38.17       $1,619,000     .....     1999
 38.18     The 1998 appropriation includes $236,000 for 1997 and 
 38.19  $1,592,000 for 1998.  
 38.20     The 1999 appropriation includes $175,000 for 1998 and 
 38.21  $1,444,000 for 1999.  
 38.22     Any balance the first year does not cancel but is available 
 38.23  in the second year. 
 38.24     Subd. 4.  [ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM AID.] For 
 38.25  adults with disabilities programs according to Minnesota 
 38.26  Statutes, section 124.2715: 
 38.27       $710,000       .....     1998 
 38.28       $710,000       .....     1999 
 38.29     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 38.30  available in the second year. 
 38.31     Of this amount, $40,000 each year may be used for pilot 
 38.32  programs in regions of the state that don't currently have 
 38.33  programs for adults with disabilities.  These programs may not 
 38.34  levy for fiscal year 1999 or later.  This is a one-time 
 38.35  appropriation and is not added to the base. 
 38.36     Subd. 5.  [HEARING-IMPAIRED ADULTS.] For programs for 
 39.1   hearing-impaired adults according to Minnesota Statutes, section 
 39.2   121.201: 
 39.3        $70,000        .....     1998
 39.4        $70,000        .....     1999
 39.5      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 39.6   available in the second year. 
 39.7      Subd. 6.  [VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATION GRANTS.] For 
 39.8   violence prevention education grants according to Minnesota 
 39.9   Statutes, section 126.78: 
 39.10       $1,500,000     .....     1998
 39.11       $1,500,000     .....     1999
 39.12     Of the amount each year, $50,000 is for program 
 39.13  administration. 
 39.14     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 39.15  available in the second year. 
 39.16     Subd. 7.  [MALE RESPONSIBILITY.] For male responsibility 
 39.17  grants: 
 39.18       $250,000       .....     1998
 39.19       $250,000       .....     1999
 39.20     The commissioner of children, families, and learning may 
 39.21  enter into cooperative agreements with the commissioner of human 
 39.22  services to access federal money for child support and paternity 
 39.23  education programs. 
 39.24     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 39.25  available in the second year. 
 39.26     Subd. 8.  [ABUSED CHILDREN.] For abused children programs 
 39.27  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119A.21: 
 39.28       $1,048,000     .....     1998 
 39.29       $1,079,000     .....     1999
 39.30     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 39.31  available in the second year. 
 39.32     Subd. 9.  [DRUG POLICY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.] 
 39.33  For drug policy, violence prevention, and family visitation 
 39.34  programs: 
 39.35       $3,000,000     .....     1998
 39.36       $3,000,000     .....     1999
 40.1      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 40.2   available in the second year. 
 40.3      Up to $400,000 each year is for grants for mentoring 
 40.4   at-risk youth.  Of the fiscal year 1998 appropriation, up to 
 40.5   $138,000 and of the fiscal year 1999 appropriation up to 
 40.6   $100,000 is for grants under Laws 1995, chapter 226, article 3, 
 40.7   section 62.  
 40.8      Up to $75,000 each year is for grants to community-based 
 40.9   violence prevention councils. 
 40.10     Subd. 10.  [CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND.] For children's trust 
 40.11  fund according to Minnesota Statutes, sections 119A.12 and 
 40.12  119A.13: 
 40.13       $247,000       .....     1998
 40.14       $247,000       .....     1999
 40.15     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 40.16  available in the second year. 
 40.17     Subd. 11.  [AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT GRANTS.] For after 
 40.18  school enrichment grants according to Laws 1996, chapter 412, 
 40.19  article 4, section 30: 
 40.20       $4,907,000     .....     1998
 40.21       $4,907,000     .....     1999
 40.22     The commissioner may use up to three percent of this 
 40.23  appropriation to provide technical assistance to community 
 40.24  organizations. 
 40.25     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 40.26  available in the second year. 
 40.27     For fiscal year 1998, the commissioner may award grantees 
 40.28  one additional year of funding up to the grant award in fiscal 
 40.29  year 1997.  For fiscal year 1999 and beyond, the appropriation 
 40.30  must be used to award grants on a competitive basis. 
 40.31     Subd. 12.  [ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED DRIVER.] (a) For grants with 
 40.32  funds received under Minnesota Statutes, section 171.29, 
 40.33  subdivision 2, paragraph (b), clause (4): 
 40.34       $200,000       .....     1998
 40.35       $200,000       .....     1999
 40.36     (b) These appropriations are from the alcohol-impaired 
 41.1   driver account of the special revenue fund to the department of 
 41.2   children, families, and learning for chemical abuse prevention 
 41.3   grants.  
 41.4      (c) Up to $200,000 each year may be used for chemical abuse 
 41.5   prevention grants to provide a match for at least two community 
 41.6   collaborative projects for children and youth developed by a 
 41.7   regional organization established under Minnesota Statutes. 
 41.8      The regional organization must include a broad 
 41.9   cross-section of public and private sector community 
 41.10  representatives to address specific community needs of children 
 41.11  and youth.  A regional organization that receives a grant must 
 41.12  provide a two-to-one match of nonstate dollars. 
 41.13     Subd. 13.  [EXTENDED DAY AID.] For extended day aid 
 41.14  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 124.2716: 
 41.15       $347,000       .....     1998 
 41.16       $304,000       .....     1999
 41.17     The 1998 appropriation includes $37,000 for 1997 and 
 41.18  $310,000 for 1998. 
 41.19     The 1999 appropriation includes $34,000 for 1998 and 
 41.20  $270,000 for 1999. 
 41.21     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 41.22  available in the second year. 
 41.23     Subd. 14.  [ADOLESCENT PARENTING GRANTS.] For adolescent 
 41.24  parenting grants under section 28: 
 41.25       $800,000       .....     1998 
 41.26     Any balance the first year does not cancel but is available 
 41.27  in the second year.  This money is available for fiscal years 
 41.28  1998 and 1999. 
 41.29     The commissioner shall make grants under this section to 
 41.30  two metropolitan area school districts and two nonmetropolitan 
 41.31  adolescent parenting programs. 
 41.32     Where applicable, the department shall assure the 
 41.33  coordination of male responsibility grants, the Minnesota 
 41.34  adolescent parenting program, ENABL, and any federal resources 
 41.35  available to serve pregnant or parenting adolescents or programs 
 41.36  for the prevention of pregnancy.  Pregnancy prevention means to 
 42.1   prevent pregnancies from occurring, and does not include 
 42.2   abortion referral or services.  
 42.3      This appropriation is available for fiscal years 1998 and 
 42.4   1999 only.  Up to 2.5 percent of the appropriation is available 
 42.5   for administrative costs. 
 42.6      Subd. 15.  [LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION.] For the lead hazard 
 42.7   reduction program in Minnesota Statutes, section 268.92: 
 42.8        $200,000       .....     1998
 42.9      The appropriation is available for the biennium ending June 
 42.10  30, 1999.  
 42.11     Of this amount, 25 percent is for a grant to the city of St.
 42.12  Louis Park to conduct lead testing and cleanup in the 
 42.13  residential neighborhoods contaminated by an industrial lead 
 42.14  site.  The remaining amount is for a nonprofit organization that 
 42.15  is currently operating the CLEARCorps lead hazard reduction 
 42.16  project and is willing to expand its geographic service area.  
 42.17     Subd. 16.  [CITIZENSHIP PROMOTION PROGRAM.] For the 
 42.18  citizenship promotion program under section 29: 
 42.19       $1,000,000     .....     1998 
 42.20     Of this appropriation, up to 2.5 percent each year may be 
 42.21  used for administrative costs.  Any balance in the first year 
 42.22  does not cancel but is available the second year. 
 42.23     Subd. 17.  [CHILD GUIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM.] For the 
 42.24  southwest and west central service cooperative to operate the 
 42.25  Willmar child guide prevention program for children in 
 42.26  kindergarten through grade 8 in independent school district No. 
 42.27  347, Willmar: 
 42.28       $250,000       .....     1998
 42.29     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 42.30  available in the second year. 
 42.31     Subd. 18.  [ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AID.] For adult basic 
 42.32  education aid according to Minnesota Statutes, section 124.26 in 
 42.33  fiscal year 1998 and Minnesota Statutes, section 124.2601 in 
 42.34  fiscal year 1999:  
 42.35       $12,474,000    .....    1998
 42.36       $12,473,000    .....    1999 
 43.1      The 1998 appropriation includes $837,000 for 1997 and 
 43.2   $11,637,000 for 1998.  
 43.3      The 1999 appropriation includes $1,293,000 for 1998 and 
 43.4   $11,180,000 for 1999.  
 43.5      $75,000 each year is for the adult basic education 
 43.6   technology project to design, implement, and evaluate the use of 
 43.7   online technology applications for adult learners.  A working 
 43.8   group representing adult basic education programs with 
 43.9   demonstrated skills in technology applications must work 
 43.10  collaboratively on the technology project.  The project must 
 43.11  include an electronic curriculum that is consistent with the 
 43.12  Minnesota graduation standards.  The project must also identify 
 43.13  and implement methods to transfer the curriculum and online 
 43.14  methods to adult basic education providers and provide effective 
 43.15  staff development.  Any balance in the first year does not 
 43.16  cancel but is available in the second year.  This is a one-time 
 43.17  appropriation and is not to be added to the base. 
 43.18     $75,000 each year is for a grant to a public television 
 43.19  station that serves rural areas of Minnesota to provide GED 
 43.20  programming to aid immigrants and others who lack a high school 
 43.21  diploma to obtain a GED in order to continue their education.  
 43.22  Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available 
 43.23  in the second year.  This is a one-time appropriation and is not 
 43.24  to be added to the base. 
 43.25     Subd. 19.  [ADULT GRADUATION AID.] For adult graduation aid 
 43.26  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 124.261: 
 43.27       $2,550,000     .....     1998
 43.28       $2,550,000     .....     1999
 43.29     The 1998 appropriation includes $224,000 for 1997 and 
 43.30  $2,326,000 for 1998.  
 43.31     The 1999 appropriation includes $258,000 for 1998 and 
 43.32  $2,292,000 for 1999.  
 43.33     Subd. 20.  [GED TESTS.] For payment of 60 percent of the 
 43.34  costs of GED tests according to Laws 1993, chapter 224, article 
 43.35  4, section 44, subdivision 10: 
 43.36       $125,000       .....     1998
 44.1        $125,000       .....     1999
 44.2      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 44.3   available in the second year. 
 44.4      Sec. 32. [REPEALER.] 
 44.5      Section 29 is repealed June 30, 1999. 
 44.6                              ARTICLE 3
 44.7                      SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAMS
 44.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.01, 
 44.9   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 44.10     Subd. 3.  [PURPOSE.] The purpose in creating the department 
 44.11  is to increase the capacity of Minnesota communities to 
 44.12  measurably improve the well-being of children and families by: 
 44.13     (1) coordinating and integrating state funded and locally 
 44.14  administered family and children programs; 
 44.15     (2) improving flexibility in the design, funding, and 
 44.16  delivery of programs affecting children and families; 
 44.17     (3) providing greater focus on strategies designed to 
 44.18  prevent problems affecting the well-being of children and 
 44.19  families; 
 44.20     (4) enhancing local decision making, collaboration, and the 
 44.21  development of new governance models; 
 44.22     (5) improving public accountability through the provision 
 44.23  of research, information, and the development of measurable 
 44.24  program outcomes; 
 44.25     (6) increasing the capacity of communities to respond to 
 44.26  the whole child by improving the ability of families to gain 
 44.27  access to services; 
 44.28     (7) encouraging all members of a community to nurture all 
 44.29  the children in the community; and 
 44.30     (8) supporting parents in their dual roles as breadwinners 
 44.31  and parents; and 
 44.32     (9) reducing the condition of poverty for families and 
 44.33  children through comprehensive, community-based strategies. 
 44.34     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.04, 
 44.35  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 44.36     Subd. 6.  [FUNDING FOR TRANSFERRED PROGRAMS.] State 
 45.1   appropriations for programs transferred under this section may 
 45.2   not be used to replace appropriations for K-12 programs.  State 
 45.3   and federal appropriations for programs under subdivision 5a, 
 45.4   transferred from the department of economic security, may not be 
 45.5   used to replace, supplement, or supplant federal or state 
 45.6   appropriations for any other program in the department. 
 45.7      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.04, is 
 45.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 45.9      Subd. 7.  [GRANTEES OF TRANSFERRED PROGRAMS.] Except as 
 45.10  provided in Minnesota Rules, chapter 3350, the commissioner 
 45.11  shall not reduce the number of organizations or eliminate 
 45.12  specific types of organizations that are eligible to directly 
 45.13  apply for grants made by programs transferred from the 
 45.14  department of economic security after January 1, 1997. 
 45.15     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.15, is 
 45.16  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 45.17     Subd. 5a.  [EXCLUDED PROGRAMS.] Programs transferred to the 
 45.18  department of children, families, and learning from the 
 45.19  department of economic security may not be included in the 
 45.20  consolidated funding account and are ineligible for local 
 45.21  consolidation.  The commissioner may not apply for federal 
 45.22  waivers to include these programs in funding consolidation 
 45.23  initiatives.  The programs include the following: 
 45.24     (1) programs for the homeless under sections 268.365, 
 45.25  268.38, and 268.39; 
 45.26     (2) emergency energy assistance and energy conservation 
 45.27  programs under sections 4.071 and 268.371; 
 45.28     (3) weatherization programs under section 268.37; 
 45.29     (4) foodshelf programs under section 268.55 and the 
 45.30  emergency food assistance program; and 
 45.31     (5) lead abatement programs under section 268.92. 
 45.32     Sec. 5.  [WORKER PARTICIPATION COMMITTEES.] 
 45.33     Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, 
 45.34  subdivision 6, the worker participation committees established 
 45.35  under Laws 1995, First Special Session chapter 3, article 16, 
 45.36  section 10, subdivision 3, do not expire until June 30, 1999. 
 46.1      Sec. 6.  [LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE; REPORT OF 
 46.2   FINDINGS.] 
 46.3      The commissioner who administers the low-income energy 
 46.4   assistance program shall identify potential revenue sources for 
 46.5   the low-income energy assistance program.  This must be done, to 
 46.6   the extent possible, in cooperation with the commissioner of 
 46.7   revenue, the commissioner of public service, the public 
 46.8   utilities commission, members representing the industry 
 46.9   including the delivered fuel industry, rural electric 
 46.10  cooperatives, regulated utilities, municipal utilities, and 
 46.11  representatives of low-income energy advocates and other 
 46.12  consumer advocates.  By January 31, 1998, the commissioner shall 
 46.13  make recommendations to the appropriate legislative committees 
 46.14  on potential sources of revenue to provide assistance to 
 46.15  low-income energy consumers including, but not limited to: 
 46.16     (1) a surcharge on summer delivered fuel fills; 
 46.17     (2) all fuels charge; 
 46.18     (3) margin over rack programs; 
 46.19     (4) revenue-based and Btu-based wires charges; and 
 46.20     (5) general revenue funds. 
 46.21     Sec. 7.  [EMERGENCY SERVICES GRANTS.] 
 46.22     Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] (a) The definitions in this 
 46.23  subdivision apply to this section. 
 46.24     (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of children, 
 46.25  families, and learning. 
 46.26     (c) "Eligible organization" means a local governmental unit 
 46.27  or nonprofit organization providing or seeking to provide 
 46.28  emergency services for homeless persons. 
 46.29     (d) "Emergency services" means: 
 46.30     (1) providing emergency shelter for homeless persons; and 
 46.31     (2) assisting homeless persons in obtaining essential 
 46.32  services, including: 
 46.33     (i) access to permanent housing; 
 46.34     (ii) medical and psychological help; 
 46.35     (iii) employment counseling and job placement; 
 46.36     (iv) substance abuse treatment; 
 47.1      (v) financial assistance available from other programs; 
 47.2      (vi) emergency child care; 
 47.3      (vii) transportation; and 
 47.4      (viii) other services needed to stabilize housing.  
 47.5      Subd. 2.  [PROGRAM ESTABLISHED; PURPOSE.] An emergency 
 47.6   services grant program is established to provide homeless 
 47.7   persons essential services and emergency shelter in safe, 
 47.8   sanitary, and decent facilities.  The grant program is to help 
 47.9   eligible organizations improve the quality of existing shelters, 
 47.10  make available other emergency housing, meet the operating and 
 47.11  maintenance costs of shelters, and provide essential services to 
 47.12  homeless persons.  The program shall be administered by the 
 47.13  commissioner. 
 47.14     Subd. 3.  [DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS.] The commissioner shall 
 47.15  make grants so as to ensure that emergency services are 
 47.16  available to meet the needs of homeless persons statewide. 
 47.17     Subd. 4.  [MATCHING FUNDS.] The commissioner may require a 
 47.18  grantee to match the grant amount with $1 of nonstate funds for 
 47.19  every $2 of grant funds.  The match may be in-kind, including 
 47.20  the value of volunteer time, or in cash, or a combination of the 
 47.21  two. 
 47.22     Subd. 5.  [APPLICATIONS.] An eligible organization may 
 47.23  apply to the commissioner for a grant to initiate, maintain, or 
 47.24  expand a program providing emergency services for homeless 
 47.25  persons.  The commissioner shall determine the timing and form 
 47.26  of the application for the program. 
 47.27     Subd. 6.  [CRITERIA FOR GRANT AWARDS.] The commissioner 
 47.28  shall award grants based on the following criteria: 
 47.29     (1) that the application is for a grant to provide 
 47.30  emergency services; 
 47.31     (2) evidence of the applicant's need for state assistance 
 47.32  and of the need for the particular emergency services to be 
 47.33  funded; and 
 47.34     (3) long-range plans for future funding if the need 
 47.35  continues to exist for the emergency services. 
 47.36     Subd. 7.  [PROGRAM INFORMATION.] In order to collect 
 48.1   uniform data to measure better the nature and extent of the need 
 48.2   for emergency services, grant recipients shall collect and make 
 48.3   available to the commissioner the following information: 
 48.4      (1) the number of persons who seek emergency shelter and 
 48.5   where they are seeking shelter; 
 48.6      (2) the number of persons for whom shelter is provided and 
 48.7   where, by age, sex, and whether as an individual or part of a 
 48.8   family; 
 48.9      (3) the reasons for seeking assistance; 
 48.10     (4) the length of stay; 
 48.11     (5) the reasons for leaving the shelter; and 
 48.12     (6) the demand for essential services. 
 48.13     Sec. 8.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 48.14     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 48.15  LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
 48.16  from the general fund to the department of children, families, 
 48.17  and learning for the fiscal years designated. 
 48.18     Subd. 2.  [MINNESOTA ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY GRANTS.] For 
 48.19  Minnesota economic opportunity grants: 
 48.20       $9,000,000     .....     1998
 48.21       $9,000,000     .....     1999
 48.22     Of this appropriation, the commissioner may use up to 5.4 
 48.23  percent each year for state operations. 
 48.24     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 48.25  available in the second year. 
 48.26     Subd. 3.  [TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS.] For transitional 
 48.27  housing programs according to Minnesota Statutes, section 268.38:
 48.28       $1,728,000     .....     1998
 48.29       $1,728,000     .....     1999
 48.30     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 48.31  available in the second year. 
 48.32     Of this appropriation, up to five percent each year may be 
 48.33  used for administrative costs.  A portion of this appropriation 
 48.34  may be used for the emergency services grant program under 
 48.35  section 7. 
 48.36     Subd. 4.  [FOOD BANK PROGRAM.] For foodshelf programs 
 49.1   according to Minnesota Statutes, section 268.55: 
 49.2        $1,250,000     .....     1998
 49.3        $1,250,000     .....     1999
 49.4      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 49.5   available in the second year. 
 49.6      Subd. 5.  [EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE.] For emergency food 
 49.7   assistance according to Laws 1995, chapter 224, section 5, 
 49.8   subdivision 3: 
 49.9        $97,000        .....     1998 
 49.10       $97,000        .....     1999 
 49.11     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 49.12  available in the second year. 
 49.13     Subd. 6.  [TRANSFERS; WEATHERIZATION; ENERGY 
 49.14  ASSISTANCE.] For the biennium ending June 30, 1999, the 
 49.15  commissioner shall transfer to the low-income home 
 49.16  weatherization program at least five percent of the money 
 49.17  received under the low-income home energy assistance block grant 
 49.18  in each year of the biennium and shall spend all of the 
 49.19  transferred money during the year of the transfer or the year 
 49.20  following the transfer.  Up to 1.63 percent of the transferred 
 49.21  money may be used by the commissioner for administrative 
 49.22  purposes. 
 49.23     For the biennium ending June 30, 1999, no more than 1.63 
 49.24  percent of money remaining under the low-income home energy 
 49.25  assistance program after transfers to the weatherization program 
 49.26  may be used by the commissioner for administrative purposes. 
 49.27                             ARTICLE 4 
 49.28                             CHILD CARE 
 49.29     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, is 
 49.30  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 49.31     Subd. 7a.  [DEPARTMENT.] "Department" means the department 
 49.32  of children, families, and learning. 
 49.33     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 49.34  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 49.35     Subd. 8.  [EDUCATION PROGRAM.] "Education program" means 
 49.36  remedial or basic education or English as a second language 
 50.1   instruction, a program leading to a general equivalency or high 
 50.2   school diploma, post-secondary programs excluding 
 50.3   postbaccalaureate programs, and other education and training 
 50.4   needs as documented in an employability employment plan that is 
 50.5   developed by an employment and training service provider 
 50.6   certified by the commissioner of economic security or an 
 50.7   individual designated by the county to provide employment and 
 50.8   training services, as defined in subdivision 9.  The 
 50.9   employability employment plan must outline education and 
 50.10  training needs of a recipient, meet state requirements 
 50.11  for employability employment plans, meet the requirements 
 50.12  of this chapter, and Minnesota Rules, parts 9565.5000 3400.0010 
 50.13  to 9565.5200 3400.0230, and meet the requirements of programs 
 50.14  that provide federal reimbursement for child care services.  
 50.15     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 50.16  subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
 50.17     Subd. 9.  [EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM PLAN.] "Employment program 
 50.18  plan" means employment of recipients financially eligible for 
 50.19  child care assistance, preemployment activities, or other work 
 50.20  activities approved in an employability development, job search 
 50.21  support plan, or employment plan that is developed by the county 
 50.22  agency, if it is acting as an employment and training service 
 50.23  provider, or by an employment and training service provider 
 50.24  certified by the commissioner of economic security or an 
 50.25  individual designated by the county to provide employment and 
 50.26  training services.  The plans and designation of a service 
 50.27  provider must meet the requirements of this chapter and chapter 
 50.28  256J or chapter 256K, Minnesota Rules, parts 9565.5000 3400.0010 
 50.29  to 9565.5200 3400.0230, and other programs that provide federal 
 50.30  reimbursement for child care services. 
 50.31     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 50.32  subdivision 12, is amended to read: 
 50.33     Subd. 12.  [INCOME.] "Income" means earned or unearned 
 50.34  income received by all family members 16 years or older, 
 50.35  including public assistance cash benefits, unless specifically 
 50.36  excluded.  The following are excluded from income:  funds used 
 51.1   to pay for health insurance premiums for family members, 
 51.2   Supplemental Security Income, scholarships, work-study income, 
 51.3   and grants that cover costs for tuition, fees, books, and 
 51.4   educational supplies; student loans for tuition, fees, books, 
 51.5   supplies, and living expenses; earned income tax credits; 
 51.6   in-kind income such as food stamps, energy assistance, medical 
 51.7   assistance, and housing subsidies; income from summer or 
 51.8   part-time employment of 16-, 17-, and 18-year-old full-time 
 51.9   secondary school students; earned income of full or part-time 
 51.10  secondary school students up to the age of 19, including summer 
 51.11  employment; grant awards under the family subsidy program; and 
 51.12  nonrecurring lump sum income only to the extent that it is 
 51.13  earmarked and used for the purpose for which it is paid; and any 
 51.14  income assigned to the public authority according to section 
 51.15  256.74 or section 256.741, if enacted. 
 51.16     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, is 
 51.17  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 51.18     Subd. 12a.  [MFIP-S.] "MFIP-S" means the Minnesota family 
 51.19  investment program-statewide, the state's TANF program under 
 51.20  Public Law Number 104-193, Title I. 
 51.21     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 51.22  subdivision 15, is amended to read: 
 51.23     Subd. 15.  [AFDC.] "AFDC" means the aid to families with 
 51.24  dependent children program under sections 256.72 to 256.87; the 
 51.25  MFIP program under sections 256.031 to 256.0361 and 256.0475 to 
 51.26  256.049; the MFIP-S program under chapter 256J; and the work 
 51.27  first program under chapter 256K, whichever program is in effect.
 51.28     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 51.29  subdivision 16, is amended to read: 
 51.30     Subd. 16.  [TRANSITION YEAR FAMILIES.] "Transition year 
 51.31  families" means families who lose have received AFDC for at 
 51.32  least three of the last six months before losing eligibility for 
 51.33  AFDC due to increased hours of employment, increased income from 
 51.34  employment or child or spousal support, or the loss of income 
 51.35  disregards due to time limitations, as provided under Public Law 
 51.36  Number 100-485.  
 52.1      Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 52.2   subdivision 17, is amended to read: 
 52.3      Subd. 17.  [CHILD CARE FUND.] "Child care fund" means a 
 52.4   program under this chapter providing:  
 52.5      (1) financial assistance for child care to parents engaged 
 52.6   in employment or the short-term provision of at-home infant care 
 52.7   for their own child or education and training leading to 
 52.8   employment; and 
 52.9      (2) grants to develop, expand, and improve the access and 
 52.10  availability of child care services statewide. 
 52.11     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.02, is 
 52.12  amended to read: 
 52.13     119B.02 [DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.] 
 52.14     The commissioner shall develop standards for county and 
 52.15  human services boards to provide child care services to enable 
 52.16  eligible families to participate in employment, training, or 
 52.17  education programs.  Within the limits of available 
 52.18  appropriations, the commissioner shall distribute money to 
 52.19  counties to reduce the costs of child care for eligible 
 52.20  families.  The commissioner shall adopt rules to govern the 
 52.21  program in accordance with this section.  The rules must 
 52.22  establish a sliding schedule of fees for parents receiving child 
 52.23  care services.  The rules shall provide that funds received as a 
 52.24  lump sum payment of child support arrearages shall not be 
 52.25  counted as income to a family in the month received but shall be 
 52.26  prorated over the 12 months following receipt and added to the 
 52.27  family income during those months.  In the rules adopted under 
 52.28  this section, county and human services boards shall be 
 52.29  authorized to establish policies for payment of child care 
 52.30  spaces for absent children, when the payment is required by the 
 52.31  child's regular provider.  The rules shall not set a maximum 
 52.32  number of days for which absence payments can be made, but 
 52.33  instead shall direct the county agency to set limits and pay for 
 52.34  absences according to the prevailing market practice in the 
 52.35  county.  County policies for payment of absences shall be 
 52.36  subject to the approval of the commissioner.  The commissioner 
 53.1   shall maximize the use of federal money in section 256.736 and 
 53.2   other programs that provide federal or state reimbursement for 
 53.3   child care services for recipients of aid to low-income families 
 53.4   with dependent children who are in education, training, job 
 53.5   search, or other activities allowed under those programs.  Money 
 53.6   appropriated under this section must be coordinated with the 
 53.7   programs that provide federal reimbursement for child care 
 53.8   services to accomplish this purpose.  Federal reimbursement 
 53.9   obtained must be allocated to the county that spent money for 
 53.10  child care that is federally reimbursable under programs that 
 53.11  provide federal reimbursement for child care services.  The 
 53.12  counties shall use the federal money to expand child care 
 53.13  services.  The commissioner may adopt rules under chapter 14 to 
 53.14  implement and coordinate federal program requirements. 
 53.15     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 53.16  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 53.17     Subd. 3.  [ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.] Families that meet the 
 53.18  eligibility requirements under sections 119B.09, except AFDC 
 53.19  recipients, MFIP recipients, and transition year families, and 
 53.20  119B.10 are eligible for child care assistance under the basic 
 53.21  sliding fee program.  Families enrolled in the basic sliding fee 
 53.22  program as of July 1, 1990, shall be continued until they are no 
 53.23  longer eligible.  Counties shall make vendor payments to the 
 53.24  child care provider or pay the parent directly for eligible 
 53.25  child care expenses on a reimbursement basis.  Child care 
 53.26  assistance provided through the child care fund is considered 
 53.27  assistance to the parent. 
 53.28     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 53.29  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 53.30     Subd. 4.  [FUNDING PRIORITY.] (a) First priority for child 
 53.31  care assistance under the basic sliding fee program must be 
 53.32  given to eligible non-AFDC families who do not have a high 
 53.33  school or general equivalency diploma or who need remedial and 
 53.34  basic skill courses in order to pursue employment or to pursue 
 53.35  education leading to employment.  Within this priority, the 
 53.36  following subpriorities must be used: 
 54.1      (1) child care needs of minor parents; 
 54.2      (2) child care needs of parents under 21 years of age; and 
 54.3      (3) child care needs of other parents within the priority 
 54.4   group described in this paragraph. 
 54.5      (b) Second priority must be given to parents who have 
 54.6   completed their AFDC transition year. 
 54.7      (c) Third priority must be given to families who are 
 54.8   eligible for portable basic sliding fee assistance through the 
 54.9   portability pool under section 119B.03, subdivision 9. 
 54.10     Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 54.11  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 54.12     Subd. 5.  [REVIEW OF USE OF FUNDS; REALLOCATION.] (a) After 
 54.13  each quarter, the commissioner shall review the use of basic 
 54.14  sliding fee program allocations by county.  The commissioner may 
 54.15  reallocate unexpended or unencumbered money among those counties 
 54.16  who have expended their full allocation or may allow a county to 
 54.17  expend up to ten percent of its allocation in the subsequent 
 54.18  allocation period.  
 54.19     (b) Any unexpended money state and federal appropriations 
 54.20  from the first year of the biennium may be carried forward to 
 54.21  the second year of the biennium.  
 54.22     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 54.23  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 54.24     Subd. 6.  [ALLOCATION FORMULA.] Beginning January 1, 
 54.25  1996, except as provided in subdivision 7, the basic sliding fee 
 54.26  state and federal funds shall be allocated on a calendar year 
 54.27  basis.  Funds shall be allocated first in amounts equal to each 
 54.28  county's guaranteed floor according to subdivision 8, with any 
 54.29  remaining available funds allocated according to the following 
 54.30  formula:  
 54.31     (a) One-third of the funds shall be allocated in proportion 
 54.32  to each county's total expenditures for the basic sliding fee 
 54.33  child care program reported during the most recent calendar year 
 54.34  completed at the time of the notice of allocation.  
 54.35     (b) One-third of the funds shall be allocated based on the 
 54.36  number of children under age 13 in each county who are enrolled 
 55.1   in general assistance medical care, medical assistance, and 
 55.2   MinnesotaCare on December 31 of the most recent calendar year 
 55.3   completed at the time of the notice of allocation. 
 55.4      (c) One-third of the funds shall be allocated based on the 
 55.5   number of children under age 13 who reside in each county, from 
 55.6   the most recent estimates of the state demographer. 
 55.7      Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 55.8   subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 55.9      Subd. 7.  [SIX-MONTH ALLOCATION EXCEPTION.] For the period 
 55.10  from July 1, 1995, to December 31, 1995, every county shall 
 55.11  receive an allocation at least equal and proportionate to 
 55.12  one-half of its original allocation in state fiscal year 1995.  
 55.13  This six-month allocation shall be combined with the calendar 
 55.14  year 1996 allocation and be administered as one 18-month 
 55.15  allocation. 1997, to December 31, 1998, each county must receive 
 55.16  an amount equal to its original calendar year 1997 allocation.  
 55.17  The remaining funds must be allocated according to the following 
 55.18  formula: 
 55.19     (a) Two-thirds of the funds must be allocated in proportion 
 55.20  to each county's original calendar year 1997 allocation for the 
 55.21  basic sliding fee program. 
 55.22     (b) One-third of the funds must be allocated in proportion 
 55.23  to each county's most recently reported waiting list as defined 
 55.24  in section 119B.03, subdivision 2. 
 55.25     When funding increases are implemented within a calendar 
 55.26  year, every county must receive an allocation at least equal and 
 55.27  proportionate to its original allocation for the same time 
 55.28  period.  The remainder of the allocation must be recalculated to 
 55.29  reflect the funding increase and according to the formulas 
 55.30  identified in subdivision 6 and this subdivision. 
 55.31     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 55.32  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 55.33     Subd. 8.  [GUARANTEED FLOOR.] (a) Beginning January 1, 
 55.34  1996, each county's guaranteed floor shall equal 90 percent of 
 55.35  the allocation received in the preceding calendar year.  For the 
 55.36  calendar year 1996 allocation, the preceding calendar year shall 
 56.1   be considered to be double the six-month allocation as provided 
 56.2   for in subdivision 7.  For the period January 1, 1999, to 
 56.3   December 31, 1999, each county's guaranteed floor must be equal 
 56.4   to its original calendar year 1998 allocation or its actual 
 56.5   earnings for calendar year 1998, whichever is less. 
 56.6      (b) When the amount of funds available for allocation is 
 56.7   less than the amount available in the previous year, each 
 56.8   county's previous year allocation shall be reduced in proportion 
 56.9   to the reduction in the statewide funding, for the purpose of 
 56.10  establishing the guaranteed floor.  
 56.11     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, is 
 56.12  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 56.13     Subd. 9.  [PORTABILITY POOL.] (a) The commissioner shall 
 56.14  establish a pool of up to five percent of the annual 
 56.15  appropriation for the basic sliding fee program to provide 
 56.16  continuous child care assistance for eligible families who move 
 56.17  between Minnesota counties.  At the end of each allocation 
 56.18  period, any unspent funds in the portability pool must be added 
 56.19  to the funds available for reallocation.  If expenditures from 
 56.20  the portability pool exceed the amount of money available, the 
 56.21  reallocation pool must be reduced to cover these shortages. 
 56.22     (b) To be eligible for portable basic sliding fee 
 56.23  assistance, a family that has moved from a county in which it 
 56.24  was receiving basic sliding fee assistance to a county with a 
 56.25  waiting list for the basic sliding fee program must: 
 56.26     (1) meet the income and eligibility guidelines for the 
 56.27  basic sliding fee program; and 
 56.28     (2) notify the new county of residence within 30 days of 
 56.29  moving and apply for basic sliding fee assistance in the new 
 56.30  county of residence. 
 56.31     (c) The receiving county must: 
 56.32     (1) accept administrative responsibility for applicants for 
 56.33  portable basic sliding fee assistance at the end of the two 
 56.34  months of assistance under the unitary residency act; 
 56.35     (2) continue basic sliding fee assistance for the lesser of 
 56.36  six months or until the family is able to receive assistance 
 57.1   under the county's regular basic sliding program; and 
 57.2      (3) notify the commissioner through the quarterly reporting 
 57.3   process of any family that meets the criteria of the portable 
 57.4   basic sliding fee assistance pool. 
 57.5      Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, is 
 57.6   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 57.7      Subd. 10.  [APPLICATION; ENTRY POINTS.] Two or more methods 
 57.8   of applying for the basic sliding fee program must be available 
 57.9   to applicants in each county.  To meet the requirements of this 
 57.10  subdivision, a county may provide alternative methods of 
 57.11  applying for assistance, including, but not limited to, a mail 
 57.12  application, or application sites that are located outside of 
 57.13  government offices. 
 57.14     Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.04, is 
 57.15  amended to read: 
 57.16     119B.04 [FEDERAL AT-RISK CHILD CARE PROGRAM AND DEVELOPMENT 
 57.17  FUND.] 
 57.18     Subdivision 1.  [COMMISSIONER TO ADMINISTER PROGRAM.] The 
 57.19  commissioner of children, families, and learning is authorized 
 57.20  and directed to receive, administer, and expend funds available 
 57.21  under the at-risk child care program and development fund under 
 57.22  Public Law Number 101-508 (1) 104-193, Title I.  
 57.23     Subd. 2.  [RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.] The commissioner may 
 57.24  adopt rules under chapter 14 to administer the at-risk child 
 57.25  care program and development fund.  
 57.26     Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, 
 57.27  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 57.28     Subdivision 1.  [ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.] Families eligible 
 57.29  for guaranteed child care assistance under the AFDC child care 
 57.30  program are: 
 57.31     (1) persons receiving services under section 256.736 
 57.32  sections 256.031 to 256.04; 
 57.33     (2) AFDC recipients who are employed or in job search and 
 57.34  meet the requirements of section 119B.10; 
 57.35     (3) persons who are members of transition year families 
 57.36  under section 119B.01, subdivision 16; 
 58.1      (4) members of the control group for the STRIDE evaluation 
 58.2   conducted by the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation; 
 58.3   and 
 58.4      (5) AFDC caretakers who are participating in the STRIDE and 
 58.5   non-STRIDE AFDC child care program; 
 58.6      (6) families who are participating in employment 
 58.7   orientation or job search, or other employment or training 
 58.8   activities that are included in an approved employability 
 58.9   development plan under chapter 256K; and 
 58.10     (7) MFIP-S families who are participating in work 
 58.11  activities as required in their job search support or employment 
 58.12  plan, or in appeals, hearings, assessments, or orientations 
 58.13  according to chapter 256J.  Child care assistance to support 
 58.14  work activities as described in section 256J.49 must be 
 58.15  available according to sections 119B.01, subdivision 8, 121.882, 
 58.16  256E.08, 268.916, and 611A.32 and titles IVA, IVB, IVE, and XX 
 58.17  of the Social Security Act. 
 58.18     Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, 
 58.19  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 58.20     Subd. 5.  [FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT.] Counties shall maximize 
 58.21  their federal reimbursement under Public Law Number 100-485 or 
 58.22  other federal reimbursement programs for money spent for persons 
 58.23  eligible under this chapter.  The commissioner shall allocate 
 58.24  any federal earnings to the county to be used to expand child 
 58.25  care services under this chapter. 
 58.26     Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, 
 58.27  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 58.28     Subd. 6.  [ACCESS CHILD CARE PROGRAM.] (a) Starting one 
 58.29  month after April 30, 1992, the commissioner shall reimburse 
 58.30  eligible expenditures for 2,000 family slots for AFDC caretakers 
 58.31  not eligible for services under section 256.736, who are engaged 
 58.32  in an authorized educational or job search program.  Each county 
 58.33  will receive a number of family slots based on the county's 
 58.34  proportion of the AFDC caseload.  A county must receive at least 
 58.35  two family slots.  Eligibility and reimbursement are limited to 
 58.36  the number of family slots allocated to each county.  County 
 59.1   agencies shall authorize an educational plan for each student 
 59.2   and may prioritize families eligible for this program in their 
 59.3   child care fund plan upon approval of the commissioner.  
 59.4      (b) Persons eligible for but unable to participate in the 
 59.5   JOBS (STRIDE) program because of a waiting list may be accepted 
 59.6   as a new participant, or continue to participate in the ACCESS 
 59.7   child care program if a slot is available as long as all other 
 59.8   eligibility factors are met.  Child care assistance must 
 59.9   continue under the ACCESS child care program until the 
 59.10  participant loses eligibility or is enrolled in project STRIDE. 
 59.11     (c)(1) Effective July 1, 1995, the commissioner shall 
 59.12  reclaim 90 percent of the vacant slots in each county and 
 59.13  distribute those slots to counties with waiting lists of persons 
 59.14  eligible for the ACCESS child care program.  The slots must be 
 59.15  distributed to eligible families based on the July 1, 1995, 
 59.16  waiting list placement date, first come, first served basis. 
 59.17     (2) ACCESS child care slots remaining after the waiting 
 59.18  list under clause (1) has been eliminated must be distributed to 
 59.19  eligible families on a first come, first served basis, based on 
 59.20  the client's date of request. 
 59.21     (3) The county must notify the commissioner when an ACCESS 
 59.22  slot in the county becomes available.  Notification by the 
 59.23  county must be within five calendar days of the effective date 
 59.24  of the termination of the ACCESS child care services.  The 
 59.25  resulting vacant slot must be returned to the department of 
 59.26  children, families, and learning.  The slot must then be 
 59.27  redistributed under clause (2). 
 59.28     (4) The commissioner shall consult with the task force on 
 59.29  child care and make recommendations to the 1996 legislature for 
 59.30  future distribution of the ACCESS slots under this 
 59.31  paragraph. Effective July 1, 1997, no new applicants may be 
 59.32  accepted in the ACCESS program.  Current ACCESS participants 
 59.33  shall continue to receive assistance until July 1, 1998, if all 
 59.34  other conditions of eligibility are met. 
 59.35     Sec. 22.  [119B.061] [AT-HOME INFANT CHILD CARE PROGRAM.] 
 59.36     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] Beginning July 1, 1998, a 
 60.1   family receiving or eligible to receive assistance under the 
 60.2   basic sliding fee program is eligible for assistance for a 
 60.3   parent to provide short-term child care for the family's infant 
 60.4   child.  An eligible family must meet the eligibility factors 
 60.5   under section 119B.09, the income criteria under section 
 60.6   119B.12, and the requirements of this section.  The commissioner 
 60.7   shall establish a pool of up to seven percent of the annual 
 60.8   appropriation for the basic sliding fee program to provide 
 60.9   assistance under the at-home infant child care program.  At the 
 60.10  end of the fiscal year, any unspent funds must be used for 
 60.11  assistance under the basic sliding fee program. 
 60.12     Subd. 2.  [ELIGIBLE FAMILIES.] A family with an infant 
 60.13  under the age of one year is eligible for assistance if: 
 60.14     (1) the family is not receiving MFIP-S, other cash 
 60.15  assistance, or other child care assistance; 
 60.16     (2) the family has not previously received the one-year 
 60.17  exemption from the work requirement for infant care under the 
 60.18  MFIP-S program; 
 60.19     (3) the family has not previously received a life-long 
 60.20  total of 12 months of assistance under this section; and 
 60.21     (4) the family is participating in the basic sliding fee 
 60.22  program or, for the first child in a family, provides 
 60.23  verification of employment at the time of application and meets 
 60.24  the program requirements. 
 60.25     Subd. 4.  [ELIGIBLE PARENT.] Only one parent, in a 
 60.26  two-parent family, is eligible for assistance.  The eligible 
 60.27  parent must: 
 60.28     (1) be over the age of 18; 
 60.29     (2) provide full-time care for the child in the child's 
 60.30  home; and 
 60.31     (3) provide child care for any other children in the family 
 60.32  that are eligible for child care. 
 60.33     Subd. 3.  [ASSISTANCE.] (a) A family is limited to a 
 60.34  lifetime total of 12 months of assistance under this section.  
 60.35  The maximum rate of assistance must be at 75 percent of the rate 
 60.36  established under section 119B.13 for care of infants in 
 61.1   licensed family day care in the applicant's county of 
 61.2   residence.  Assistance must be calculated to reflect the copay 
 61.3   requirement and the family's income level. 
 61.4      (b) A participating family must continue to report income 
 61.5   and other family changes as specified in the county's plan under 
 61.6   section 119B.08, subdivision 3.  The family must treat any 
 61.7   assistance received under this section as unearned income. 
 61.8      (c) Participation in the at-home infant child care program 
 61.9   must be considered participation in the basic sliding fee 
 61.10  program for purposes of continuing eligibility under section 
 61.11  119B.03, subdivision 3. 
 61.12     (d) A family that receives assistance under this section is 
 61.13  ineligible for the one-year exemption from work requirements 
 61.14  under the MFIP-S program. 
 61.15     Subd. 4.  [IMPLEMENTATION.] By July 1, 1998, the 
 61.16  commissioner shall implement the at-home infant child care 
 61.17  program under this section.  The commissioner shall evaluate 
 61.18  this program and report the impact to the legislature by January 
 61.19  1, 2000.  The evaluation must include data on the number of 
 61.20  families participating in the program; the number of families 
 61.21  continuing to pursue employment or education while participating 
 61.22  in the program; the average income of families prior to, during, 
 61.23  and after participation in the program; family size; and single 
 61.24  parent and two-parent status. 
 61.25     Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, is 
 61.26  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 61.27     Subd. 7.  [CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE DIVERSION.] A one-year 
 61.28  program is established to provide assistance to participants 
 61.29  under the working family assistance program established in 
 61.30  chapter 256J who are participating in an authorized activity 
 61.31  under section 256J.03, subdivision 4, and who are eligible for 
 61.32  child care assistance according to chapter 119B as a 
 61.33  reimbursement for expenses related to the costs of education, 
 61.34  training, or transportation when all of the following conditions 
 61.35  exist: 
 61.36     (1) child care needs during participation in the authorized 
 62.1   activity are being met by a legal child care provider as defined 
 62.2   in section 119B.01, subdivision 13; 
 62.3      (2) the participant cannot reasonably arrange for the 
 62.4   education, training, or transportation costs to be met through 
 62.5   alternate arrangements; 
 62.6      (3) the child care arrangement provides a transition to a 
 62.7   stable child care and employment arrangement and does not 
 62.8   disrupt the continuity of care for children; and 
 62.9      (4) the arrangement does not exceed two months. 
 62.10     The commissioner shall select one county in the 
 62.11  seven-county metropolitan area to participate in the program.  
 62.12  Assistance must be available only to residents of the selected 
 62.13  county.  Assistance granted under this subdivision must not 
 62.14  exceed 1/12 of the average annual cost of care as established 
 62.15  for the administering county in the previous state fiscal year 
 62.16  for each authorized month.  Assistance under this subdivision is 
 62.17  available to a recipient on a one-time basis. 
 62.18     Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.07, is 
 62.19  amended to read: 
 62.20     119B.07 [USE OF MONEY.] 
 62.21     Money for persons listed in sections 119B.03, subdivision 
 62.22  3, and 119B.05, subdivision 1, shall be used to reduce the costs 
 62.23  of child care for students, including the costs of child care 
 62.24  for students while employed if enrolled in an eligible education 
 62.25  program at the same time and making satisfactory progress 
 62.26  towards completion of the program.  Counties may not limit the 
 62.27  duration of child care subsidies for a person in an employment 
 62.28  or educational program, except when the person is found to be 
 62.29  ineligible under the child care fund eligibility standards.  Any 
 62.30  limitation must be based on a person's employability plan in the 
 62.31  case of an AFDC recipient, and county policies included in the 
 62.32  child care allocation plan.  The maximum length of time a 
 62.33  student is eligible for child care assistance under the child 
 62.34  care fund for education and training is no more than the time 
 62.35  necessary to complete the credit requirements for an associate 
 62.36  or baccalaureate degree as determined by the educational 
 63.1   institution, excluding basic or remedial education programs 
 63.2   needed to prepare for post-secondary education or employment.  
 63.3   To be eligible, the student must be in good standing and be 
 63.4   making satisfactory progress toward the degree.  Time 
 63.5   limitations for child care assistance, as specified in Minnesota 
 63.6   Rules, parts 9565.5000 to 9565.5200, do not apply to basic or 
 63.7   remedial educational programs needed to prepare for 
 63.8   post-secondary education or employment.  These programs 
 63.9   include:  high school, general equivalency diploma, and English 
 63.10  as a second language.  Programs exempt from this time limit must 
 63.11  not run concurrently with a post-secondary program.  High school 
 63.12  students who are participating in a post-secondary options 
 63.13  program and who receive a high school diploma issued by the 
 63.14  school district are exempt from the time limitations while 
 63.15  pursuing a high school diploma.  Financially eligible students 
 63.16  who have received child care assistance for one academic year 
 63.17  shall be provided child care assistance in the following 
 63.18  academic year if funds allocated under sections 119B.03 and 
 63.19  119B.05 are available.  If an AFDC recipient who is receiving 
 63.20  AFDC child care assistance under this chapter moves to another 
 63.21  county, continues to participate in educational or training 
 63.22  programs authorized in their employability development plans, 
 63.23  and continues to be eligible for AFDC child care assistance 
 63.24  under this chapter, the AFDC caretaker must receive continued 
 63.25  child care assistance from the county responsible for their 
 63.26  current employability development plan, without interruption. 
 63.27     Sec. 25.  [119B.075] [RESERVE ACCOUNT.] 
 63.28     A reserve account must be created within the general fund 
 63.29  for all unexpended basic sliding fee child care, TANF child 
 63.30  care, or other child care funds under the jurisdiction of the 
 63.31  commissioner.  Any funds for those purposes that are unexpended 
 63.32  at the end of a biennium must be deposited in this reserve 
 63.33  account, and may be appropriated on an ongoing basis by the 
 63.34  commissioner for basic sliding fee child care or TANF child care.
 63.35     Sec. 26.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.08, 
 63.36  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 64.1      Subdivision 1.  [QUARTERLY REPORTS.] The commissioner shall 
 64.2   specify requirements for reports, including quarterly fiscal 
 64.3   reports, according to under the same authority as provided to 
 64.4   the commissioner of human services in section 256.01, 
 64.5   subdivision 2, paragraph (17).  Counties shall submit on forms 
 64.6   prescribed by the commissioner a quarterly financial and program 
 64.7   activity report.  The failure to submit a complete report by the 
 64.8   end of the quarter in which the report is due may result in a 
 64.9   reduction of child care fund allocations equal to the next 
 64.10  quarter's allocation.  The financial and program activity report 
 64.11  must include: 
 64.12     (1) a detailed accounting of the expenditures and revenues 
 64.13  for the program during the preceding quarter by funding source 
 64.14  and by eligibility group; 
 64.15     (2) a description of activities and concomitant 
 64.16  expenditures that are federally reimbursable under federal 
 64.17  reimbursement programs; 
 64.18     (3) a description of activities and concomitant 
 64.19  expenditures of child care money; 
 64.20     (4) information on money encumbered at the quarter's end 
 64.21  but not yet reimbursable, for use in adjusting allocations as 
 64.22  provided in section 119B.03, subdivision 5; and 
 64.23     (5) other data the commissioner considers necessary to 
 64.24  account for the program or to evaluate its effectiveness in 
 64.25  preventing and reducing participants' dependence on public 
 64.26  assistance and in providing other benefits, including 
 64.27  improvement in the care provided to children.  
 64.28     Sec. 27.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.08, 
 64.29  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 64.30     Subd. 3.  [CHILD CARE FUND PLAN.] Effective January 1, 
 64.31  1992, the county will include the plan required under this 
 64.32  subdivision in its biennial community social services plan 
 64.33  required in this section, for the group described in section 
 64.34  256E.03, subdivision 2, paragraph (h).  For the period July 1, 
 64.35  1989, to December 31, 1991, the county shall submit separate 
 64.36  child care fund plans required under this subdivision for the 
 65.1   periods July 1, 1989, to June 30, 1990; and July 1, 1990, to 
 65.2   December 31, 1991.  The commissioner shall establish the dates 
 65.3   by which the county must submit these plans.  The county and 
 65.4   designated administering agency shall submit to the commissioner 
 65.5   an annual child care fund allocation plan.  The plan shall 
 65.6   include: 
 65.7      (1) a narrative of the total program for child care 
 65.8   services, including all policies and procedures that affect 
 65.9   eligible families and are used to administer the child care 
 65.10  funds; 
 65.11     (2) the number of families that requested a child care 
 65.12  subsidy in the previous year, the number of families receiving 
 65.13  child care assistance, the number of families on a waiting list, 
 65.14  and the number of families projected to be served during the 
 65.15  fiscal year; 
 65.16     (3) the methods used by the county to inform eligible 
 65.17  groups of the availability of child care assistance and related 
 65.18  services; 
 65.19     (4) (3) the provider rates paid for all children by 
 65.20  provider type; 
 65.21     (5) (4) the county prioritization policy for all eligible 
 65.22  groups under the basic sliding fee program and AFDC child care 
 65.23  program; and 
 65.24     (6) a report of all funds available to be used for child 
 65.25  care assistance, including demonstration of compliance with the 
 65.26  maintenance of funding effort required under section 119B.11; 
 65.27  and 
 65.28     (7) (5) other information as requested by the department to 
 65.29  ensure compliance with the child care fund statutes and rules 
 65.30  promulgated by the commissioner. 
 65.31     The commissioner shall notify counties within 60 days of 
 65.32  the date the plan is submitted whether the plan is approved or 
 65.33  the corrections or information needed to approve the plan.  The 
 65.34  commissioner shall withhold a county's allocation until it has 
 65.35  an approved plan.  Plans not approved by the end of the second 
 65.36  quarter after the plan is due may result in a 25 percent 
 66.1   reduction in allocation.  Plans not approved by the end of the 
 66.2   third quarter after the plan is due may result in a 100 percent 
 66.3   reduction in the allocation to the county.  Counties are to 
 66.4   maintain services despite any reduction in their allocation due 
 66.5   to plans not being approved. 
 66.6      Sec. 28.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, 
 66.7   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 66.8      Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL ELIGIBILITY FACTORS REQUIREMENTS 
 66.9   FOR ALL APPLICANTS FOR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.] (a) Child care 
 66.10  services must be available to families who need child care to 
 66.11  find or keep employment or to obtain the training or education 
 66.12  necessary to find employment and who: 
 66.13     (a) (1) meet the requirements of section 119B.05; receive 
 66.14  aid to families with dependent children, MFIP-S, or work first, 
 66.15  whichever is in effect; and are receiving employment and 
 66.16  training services under section 256.736 or chapter 256J or 256K; 
 66.17     (b) (2) have household income below the eligibility levels 
 66.18  for aid to families with dependent children; or 
 66.19     (c) (3) have household income within a range established by 
 66.20  the commissioner. 
 66.21     (d) (b) Child care services for the families receiving aid 
 66.22  to families with dependent children must be made available as 
 66.23  in-kind services, to cover any difference between the actual 
 66.24  cost and the amount disregarded under the aid to families with 
 66.25  dependent children program.  Child care services to families 
 66.26  whose incomes are below the threshold of eligibility for aid to 
 66.27  families with dependent children, but are not AFDC caretakers, 
 66.28  must be made available with the minimum same copayment required 
 66.29  by federal law of AFDC caretakers or MFIP-S caregivers. 
 66.30     (c) All applicants for child care assistance and families 
 66.31  currently receiving child care assistance must be assisted and 
 66.32  required to cooperate in establishment of paternity and 
 66.33  enforcement of child support obligations as a condition of 
 66.34  program eligibility.  For purposes of this section, a family is 
 66.35  considered to meet the requirement for cooperation when the 
 66.36  family complies with the requirements of section 256.741, if 
 67.1   enacted. 
 67.2      Sec. 29.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, 
 67.3   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 67.4      Subd. 2.  [SLIDING FEE.] Child care services to families 
 67.5   with incomes in the commissioner's established range must be 
 67.6   made available on a sliding fee basis.  The lower limit of the 
 67.7   sliding fee range must be the eligibility limit for aid to 
 67.8   families with dependent children.  The upper limit of the range 
 67.9   must be neither less than 70 percent nor more than 90 percent of 
 67.10  the state median income for a family of four, adjusted for 
 67.11  family size.  
 67.12     Sec. 30.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, is 
 67.13  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 67.14     Subd. 6.  [MAXIMUM CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.] The maximum 
 67.15  amount of child care assistance a local agency may authorize in 
 67.16  a two-week period is 120 hours per child. 
 67.17     Sec. 31.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, is 
 67.18  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 67.19     Subd. 7.  [ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE.] The date of 
 67.20  eligibility for child care assistance under this chapter is the 
 67.21  later of the date the application was signed; the beginning date 
 67.22  of employment, education, or training; or the date a 
 67.23  determination has been made that the applicant is a participant 
 67.24  in employment and training services under Minnesota Rules, part 
 67.25  3400.0080, subpart 2a, section 256.736, or chapter 256J or 
 67.26  256K.  The date of eligibility for the basic sliding fee at-home 
 67.27  infant child care program is the later of the date the infant is 
 67.28  born or, in a county with a basic sliding fee wait list, the 
 67.29  date the family applies for at-home infant child care.  Payment 
 67.30  ceases for a family under the at-home infant child care program 
 67.31  when a family has used a total of 12 months of assistance as 
 67.32  specified under section 119B.061.  Payment of child care 
 67.33  assistance for employed persons on AFDC is effective the date of 
 67.34  employment or the date of AFDC eligibility, whichever is later.  
 67.35  Payment of child care assistance for MFIP-S or work first 
 67.36  participants in employment and training services is effective 
 68.1   the date of commencement of the services or the date of MFIP-S 
 68.2   or work first eligibility, whichever is later.  Payment of child 
 68.3   care assistance for transition year child care must be made 
 68.4   retroactive to the date of eligibility for transition year child 
 68.5   care. 
 68.6      Sec. 32.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, is 
 68.7   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 68.8      Subd. 8.  [NO EMPLOYEE-EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIPS.] Receipt of 
 68.9   federal, state, or local funds by a child care provider either 
 68.10  directly or through a parent who is a child care assistance 
 68.11  recipient does not establish an employee-employer relationship 
 68.12  between the child care provider and the county or state. 
 68.13     Sec. 33.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.10, 
 68.14  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 68.15     Subdivision 1.  [ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS SEEKING AND 
 68.16  RETAINING EMPLOYMENT.] (a) Persons who are seeking employment 
 68.17  and who are eligible for assistance under this section are 
 68.18  eligible to receive up to 240 hours of child care assistance per 
 68.19  calendar year.  
 68.20     (b) Employed persons who work at least an average of ten 20 
 68.21  hours a week and receive at least a minimum wage for all hours 
 68.22  worked are eligible for continued child care assistance.  Child 
 68.23  care assistance during employment must be authorized as provided 
 68.24  in paragraphs (c) and (d). 
 68.25     (c) When the caregiver works for an hourly wage and the 
 68.26  hourly wage is equal to or greater than the applicable minimum 
 68.27  wage, child care assistance shall be provided for the actual 
 68.28  hours of employment, break, and meal time during the employment 
 68.29  and travel time up to two hours per day. 
 68.30     (d) When the caregiver does not work for an hourly wage, 
 68.31  child care assistance must be provided for the lesser of: 
 68.32     (1) the amount of child care determined by dividing gross 
 68.33  earned income by the applicable minimum wage, up to one hour 
 68.34  every eight hours for meals and break time, plus up to two hours 
 68.35  per day for travel time; or 
 68.36     (2) the amount of child care equal to the actual amount of 
 69.1   child care used during employment, including break and meal time 
 69.2   during employment, and travel time up to two hours per day. 
 69.3      Sec. 34.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.11, 
 69.4   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 69.5      Subdivision 1.  [COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONS REQUIRED.] Beginning 
 69.6   July 1, 1995 1997, in addition to payments from basic sliding 
 69.7   fee child care program participants, counties each county shall 
 69.8   contribute from county tax or other sources at the a fixed local 
 69.9   match percentage calculated according to subdivision 2 equal to 
 69.10  its calendar year 1996 required county contribution reduced by 
 69.11  the administrative funding loss that would have occurred in 
 69.12  state fiscal year 1996 under section 119B.15.  The commissioner 
 69.13  shall recover funds from the county as necessary to bring county 
 69.14  expenditures into compliance with this subdivision. 
 69.15     Sec. 35.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.11, is 
 69.16  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 69.17     Subd. 2a.  [RECOVERY OF OVERPAYMENTS.] An amount of child 
 69.18  care assistance paid to a recipient in excess of the payment due 
 69.19  is recoverable by the county agency.  The overpayment must be 
 69.20  recovered through recoupment as identified in Minnesota Rules, 
 69.21  part 9565.5110, subpart 11, items A and B, if the family remains 
 69.22  eligible for assistance.  If the family no longer remains 
 69.23  eligible for child care assistance, the county may choose to 
 69.24  initiate efforts to recover overpayments from the family for 
 69.25  overpayment less than $50.  If the overpayment is greater than 
 69.26  or equal to $50, the county shall seek voluntary repayment of 
 69.27  the overpayment from the family.  If the county is unable to 
 69.28  recoup the overpayment through voluntary repayment, the county 
 69.29  shall initiate civil court proceedings to recover the 
 69.30  overpayment unless the county's costs to recover the overpayment 
 69.31  will exceed the amount of the overpayment.  A family with an 
 69.32  outstanding debt under this subdivision is not eligible for 
 69.33  child care assistance until the debt is paid in full or 
 69.34  satisfactory arrangements are made with the county to retire the 
 69.35  debt. 
 69.36     Sec. 36.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.11, 
 70.1   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 70.2      Subd. 3.  [FEDERAL MONEY; STATE RECOVERY.] The commissioner 
 70.3   shall recover from counties any state or federal money that was 
 70.4   spent for persons found to be ineligible, except if the recovery 
 70.5   is made by a county agency using any method other than 
 70.6   recoupment, the county may keep 25 percent of the recovery.  If 
 70.7   a federal audit exception is taken based on a percentage of 
 70.8   federal earnings, all counties shall pay a share proportional to 
 70.9   their respective federal earnings during the period in question. 
 70.10     Sec. 37.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.12, is 
 70.11  amended to read: 
 70.12     119B.12 [SLIDING FEE SCALE.] 
 70.13     Subdivision 1.  [FEE SCHEDULE.] In setting the sliding fee 
 70.14  schedule, the commissioner shall exclude from the amount of 
 70.15  income used to determine eligibility an amount for federal and 
 70.16  state income and social security taxes attributable to that 
 70.17  income level according to federal and state standardized tax 
 70.18  tables.  The commissioner shall base the parent fee on the 
 70.19  ability of the family to pay for child care.  The fee schedule 
 70.20  must be designed to use any available tax credits. 
 70.21     Subd. 2.  [PARENT FEE.] A family's monthly parent fee must 
 70.22  be a fixed percentage of its annual gross income.  Parent fees 
 70.23  must apply to families eligible for child care assistance under 
 70.24  sections 119B.03 and 119B.05.  Income must be as defined in 
 70.25  section 119B.01, subdivision 12.  The fixed percent is based on 
 70.26  the relationship of the family's annual gross income to 100 
 70.27  percent of state median income.  Beginning January 1, 1998, 
 70.28  parent fees must begin at 75 percent of the poverty level.  The 
 70.29  minimum parent fees for families between 75 percent and 100 
 70.30  percent of poverty level must be $5 per month.  Parent fees for 
 70.31  families with incomes at or above the poverty level must not 
 70.32  decrease due to the addition of family members after the 
 70.33  family's initial eligibility determination.  Parent fees must be 
 70.34  established in rule and must provide for graduated movement to 
 70.35  full payment. 
 70.36     Sec. 38.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.13, 
 71.1   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 71.2      Subdivision 1.  [SUBSIDY RESTRICTIONS.] Effective July 1, 
 71.3   1991, the maximum rate paid for child care assistance under the 
 71.4   child care fund is the maximum rate eligible for federal 
 71.5   reimbursement.  The rate may not exceed the 75th percentile rate 
 71.6   for like-care arrangements in the county as surveyed by the 
 71.7   commissioner.  A rate which includes a provider bonus paid under 
 71.8   subdivision 2 or a special needs rate paid under subdivision 3 
 71.9   may be in excess of the maximum rate allowed under this 
 71.10  subdivision.  The department of children, families, and learning 
 71.11  shall monitor the effect of this paragraph on provider rates.  
 71.12  The county shall pay the provider's full charges for every child 
 71.13  in care up to the maximum established.  The commissioner shall 
 71.14  determine the maximum rate for each type of care, including 
 71.15  special needs and handicapped care.  Not less than once every 
 71.16  two years, the county shall evaluate rates for payment of absent 
 71.17  spaces and shall establish policies for payment of absent days 
 71.18  that reflect current market practice.  
 71.19     When the provider charge is greater than the maximum 
 71.20  provider rate allowed, the parent is responsible for payment of 
 71.21  the difference in the rates in addition to any family copayment 
 71.22  fee. 
 71.23     Sec. 39.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.13, is 
 71.24  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 71.25     Subd. 8.  [PROVIDER NOTICE.] The county shall inform both 
 71.26  the family receiving assistance under chapter 119B and the child 
 71.27  care provider of the payment amount and how and when payment 
 71.28  will be received.  If the county sends a family a notice that 
 71.29  child care assistance will be terminated, the county shall 
 71.30  inform the provider that unless the family requests to continue 
 71.31  to receive assistance pending an appeal, child care payments 
 71.32  will no longer be made.  The notice to the vendor must not 
 71.33  contain any private data on the family or information on why 
 71.34  payment will no longer be made. 
 71.35     Sec. 40.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.13, is 
 71.36  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 72.1      Subd. 9.  [PROVIDER PAYMENTS.] Counties shall make vendor 
 72.2   payments to the child care provider or pay the parent directly 
 72.3   for eligible child care expenses.  If payments for child care 
 72.4   assistance are made to providers, the provider shall bill the 
 72.5   county for services provided within ten days of the end of the 
 72.6   month of service.  If bills are submitted in accordance with the 
 72.7   provisions of subdivision 6, a county shall issue payment to the 
 72.8   provider of child care under the child care fund within 30 days 
 72.9   of receiving an invoice from the provider.  Counties may 
 72.10  establish policies that make payments on a more frequent basis.  
 72.11  A county's payment policies must be included in the county's 
 72.12  child care plan under section 119B.08, subdivision 3. 
 72.13     Sec. 41.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.15, is 
 72.14  amended to read: 
 72.15     119B.15 [ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.] 
 72.16     The commissioner shall use up to one-eleventh 1/21 of the 
 72.17  state and federal funds available for the basic sliding fee 
 72.18  program and 1/21 of the state and federal funds available for 
 72.19  the AFDC child care program for payments to counties for 
 72.20  administrative expenses.  
 72.21     Sec. 42.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.16, 
 72.22  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 72.23     Subdivision 1.  [FAIR HEARING ALLOWED.] An applicant or 
 72.24  recipient adversely affected by a county agency action may 
 72.25  request a fair hearing in accordance with section 256.045, 
 72.26  subdivision 3. 
 72.27     Sec. 43.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.18, is 
 72.28  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 72.29     Subd. 3.  [CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING LOANS.] 
 72.30  The commissioner shall establish a child development education 
 72.31  and training loan program to be administered by the regional 
 72.32  child care resource and referral programs.  The commissioner 
 72.33  shall establish application procedures, eligibility criteria, 
 72.34  terms, and other conditions necessary to make educational loans 
 72.35  under this section.  A single applicant may not receive more 
 72.36  than $1,500 per year under this program.  All or part of the 
 73.1   loan may be forgiven if the applicant continues to provide child 
 73.2   care services for a period of 12 months following the completion 
 73.3   of all courses paid for by the educational loan. 
 73.4      Sec. 44.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.20, 
 73.5   subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 73.6      Subd. 7.  [FACILITY IMPROVEMENT EXPENSES.] "Facility 
 73.7   improvement expenses" means funds for building improvements, 
 73.8   equipment, appropriate technology and software, toys, and 
 73.9   supplies needed to establish, expand, or improve a licensed 
 73.10  child care facility or a child care program under the 
 73.11  jurisdiction of the state a local board of education. 
 73.12     Sec. 45.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.20, 
 73.13  subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
 73.14     Subd. 9.  [MINI-GRANTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
 73.15  AWARDS.] "Mini-grants" "Technical assistance awards" means child 
 73.16  care grants to family child care providers for facility 
 73.17  improvements that are up to $1,000.  Mini-grants Awards include, 
 73.18  but are not limited to, improvements to meet licensing 
 73.19  requirements, improvements to expand a child care facility or 
 73.20  program, appropriate technology and software, toys and 
 73.21  equipment, start-up costs, staff training, and development costs.
 73.22     Sec. 46.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.20, 
 73.23  subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
 73.24     Subd. 10.  [RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PROGRAM.] "Resource and 
 73.25  referral program" means a program that provides information to 
 73.26  parents, including referrals and coordination of community child 
 73.27  care resources for parents and public or private providers of 
 73.28  care.  It also means the agency with the duties specified in 
 73.29  sections 119B.18 and 119B.19.  Services may include parent 
 73.30  education, technical assistance for providers, staff development 
 73.31  programs, and referrals to social services recruitment of new 
 73.32  providers, parent education, training, technical assistance for 
 73.33  providers, and referrals to social services. 
 73.34     Sec. 47.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 73.35  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 73.36     Subdivision 1.  [GRANTS ESTABLISHED.] The commissioner 
 74.1   shall award grants to develop child care services, including 
 74.2   child care service development grants for start-up and facility 
 74.3   improvement expenses, interim financing, resource and referral 
 74.4   programs, and staff training expenses, and grants for child care 
 74.5   resource and referral programs.  Child care services service 
 74.6   development grants may include mini-grants family child care 
 74.7   technical assistance awards up to $1,000.  The commissioner 
 74.8   shall develop a grant application form, inform county social 
 74.9   service agencies about the availability of child care services 
 74.10  grants, and set a date by which applications must be received by 
 74.11  the commissioner. 
 74.12     The commissioner may renew grants to existing resource and 
 74.13  referral agencies that have met state standards and have been 
 74.14  designated as the child care resource and referral service for a 
 74.15  particular geographical area.  The recipients of renewal grants 
 74.16  are exempt from the proposal review process. 
 74.17     Sec. 48.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 74.18  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 74.19     Subd. 2.  [DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.] (a) The commissioner 
 74.20  shall allocate grant money appropriated for child care service 
 74.21  development among the development regions designated by the 
 74.22  governor under section 462.385, as follows considering the 
 74.23  following factors for each economic development region: 
 74.24     (1) 50 percent of the child care service development grant 
 74.25  appropriation shall be allocated to the metropolitan economic 
 74.26  development region; and 
 74.27     (2) 50 percent of the child care service development grant 
 74.28  appropriation shall be allocated to economic development regions 
 74.29  other than the metropolitan economic development region. 
 74.30     (b) The following formulas shall be used to allocate grant 
 74.31  appropriations among the economic development regions:  
 74.32     (1) 50 percent of the funds shall be allocated in 
 74.33  proportion to the ratio of children under 12 years of age in 
 74.34  each economic development region to the total number of children 
 74.35  under 12 years of age in all economic development regions; and 
 74.36     (2) 50 percent of the funds shall be allocated in 
 75.1   proportion to the ratio of children under 12 years of age in 
 75.2   each economic development region to the number of licensed child 
 75.3   care spaces currently available in each economic development 
 75.4   region 
 75.5      (1) the number of children under 13 years of age needing 
 75.6   child care in the service area; 
 75.7      (2) the geographic area served by the agency; 
 75.8      (3) the ratio of children under 13 years of age needing 
 75.9   child care to the number of licensed spaces in the service area; 
 75.10     (4) the number of licensed child care providers and 
 75.11  extended day school age child care programs in the service area; 
 75.12  and 
 75.13     (5) other related factors determined by the commissioner. 
 75.14     (c) (b) Out of the amount allocated for each economic 
 75.15  development region, the commissioner shall award grants based on 
 75.16  the recommendation of the grant review child care regional 
 75.17  advisory task force committees.  In addition, the commissioner 
 75.18  shall award no more than 75 percent of the money either to child 
 75.19  care facilities for the purpose of facility improvement or 
 75.20  interim financing or to child care workers for staff training 
 75.21  expenses.  
 75.22     (d) (c) Any funds unobligated may be used by the 
 75.23  commissioner to award grants to proposals that received funding 
 75.24  recommendations by the advisory task force regional advisory 
 75.25  committees but were not awarded due to insufficient funds.  
 75.26     (e) (d) The commissioner may allocate grants under this 
 75.27  section for a two-year period and may carry forward funds from 
 75.28  the first year as necessary. 
 75.29     Sec. 49.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 75.30  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 75.31     Subd. 3.  [CHILD CARE REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES.] Child 
 75.32  care regional advisory committees shall review and make 
 75.33  recommendations to the commissioner on applications for family 
 75.34  child care technical assistance awards and service development 
 75.35  grants under this section.  The commissioner shall appoint the 
 75.36  child care regional advisory committees in each governor's 
 76.1   economic development region.  People appointed under this 
 76.2   subdivision must represent the following constituent groups:  
 76.3   family child care providers, group center providers, parent 
 76.4   users, health services, social services, public schools, Head 
 76.5   Start, employers, and other citizens with demonstrated interest 
 76.6   in child care issues.  Members of the advisory task force with a 
 76.7   direct financial interest in a pending grant proposal may not 
 76.8   provide a recommendation or participate in the ranking of that 
 76.9   grant proposal.  Committee members may be reimbursed for their 
 76.10  actual travel, child care, and child care provider substitute 
 76.11  expenses for up to six committee meetings per year.  The child 
 76.12  care regional advisory committees shall complete their reviews 
 76.13  and forward their recommendations to the commissioner by the 
 76.14  date specified by the commissioner. 
 76.15     Sec. 50.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 76.16  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 76.17     Subd. 4.  [DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FOR CHILD CARE RESOURCE 
 76.18  AND REFERRAL PROGRAMS.] (a) The commissioner shall allocate 
 76.19  funds appropriated for child care resource and referral services 
 76.20  considering the following factors for each economic development 
 76.21  region served by the child care resource and referral agency:  
 76.22     (1) the number of children under 13 years of age needing 
 76.23  child care in the service area; 
 76.24     (2) the geographic area served by the agency; 
 76.25     (3) the ratio of children under 13 years of age needing 
 76.26  care to the number of licensed spaces in the service area; 
 76.27     (4) the number of licensed child care providers and 
 76.28  extended day school age child care programs in the service area; 
 76.29  and 
 76.30     (5) other related factors determined by the commissioner.  
 76.31     (b) The commissioner may renew grants to existing resource 
 76.32  and referral agencies that have met state standards and have 
 76.33  been designated as the child care resource and referral service 
 76.34  for a particular geographical area.  The recipients of renewal 
 76.35  grants are exempt from the proposal review process. 
 76.36     Sec. 51.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 77.1   subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 77.2      Subd. 5.  [PURPOSES FOR WHICH A CHILD CARE SERVICES GRANT 
 77.3   MAY BE AWARDED.] The commissioner may award grants for any of 
 77.4   the following purposes: 
 77.5      (1) child care service development grants for the following 
 77.6   purposes: 
 77.7      (i) for creating new licensed day care facilities and 
 77.8   expanding existing facilities, including, but not limited to, 
 77.9   supplies, equipment, facility renovation, and remodeling; 
 77.10     (2) (ii) for improving licensed day care facility programs, 
 77.11  including, but not limited to, staff specialists, staff 
 77.12  training, supplies, equipment, and facility renovation and 
 77.13  remodeling.  In awarding grants for training, priority must be 
 77.14  given to child care workers caring for infants, toddlers, sick 
 77.15  children, children in low-income families, and children with 
 77.16  special needs; 
 77.17     (3) (iii) for supportive child development services 
 77.18  including, but not limited to, in-service training, curriculum 
 77.19  development, consulting specialist, resource centers, and 
 77.20  program and resource materials; 
 77.21     (4) (iv) for carrying out programs including, but not 
 77.22  limited to, staff, supplies, equipment, facility renovation, and 
 77.23  training; 
 77.24     (5) (v) for interim financing; and 
 77.25     (6) for carrying out the resource and referral program 
 77.26  services identified in section 119B.19, subdivision 3 (vi) 
 77.27  family child care technical assistance awards; and 
 77.28     (vii) for capacity building through the purchase of 
 77.29  appropriate technology and software, and staff training to 
 77.30  create, enhance, and maintain financial systems for facilities; 
 77.31     (2) child care resource and referral program services 
 77.32  identified in section 119B.19, subdivision 3; or 
 77.33     (3) targeted recruitment initiatives to expand and build 
 77.34  capacity of the child care system. 
 77.35     Sec. 52.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 77.36  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 78.1      Subd. 6.  [FUNDING PRIORITIES; FACILITY IMPROVEMENT AND, 
 78.2   INTERIM FINANCING, AND TRAINING GRANTS.] In evaluating 
 78.3   applications for funding and making recommendations to the 
 78.4   commissioner, the grant review advisory task force child care 
 78.5   regional advisory committees shall rank and give priority to:  
 78.6      (1) new programs or projects, or the expansion or 
 78.7   improvement of existing programs or projects in areas where a 
 78.8   demonstrated need for child care facilities has been shown, with 
 78.9   special emphasis on programs or projects in areas where there is 
 78.10  a shortage of licensed child care; 
 78.11     (2) new programs and projects, or the expansions or 
 78.12  enrichment of existing programs or projects that serve sick 
 78.13  children, infants or toddlers, children with special needs, and 
 78.14  children from low-income families, or parents needing child care 
 78.15  during nonstandard hours; 
 78.16     (3) unlicensed providers who wish to become licensed; and 
 78.17     (4) improvement of existing programs; 
 78.18     (5) child care programs seeking accreditation and child 
 78.19  care providers seeking certification; and 
 78.20     (6) entities that will use grant money for scholarships for 
 78.21  child care workers attending educational or training programs 
 78.22  sponsored by the entity. 
 78.23     Sec. 53.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 78.24  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 78.25     Subd. 8.  [ELIGIBLE GRANT RECIPIENTS.] Eligible recipients 
 78.26  of child care grants are licensed providers of child care, or 
 78.27  those in the process of being licensed, resource and referral 
 78.28  programs, or corporations or public agencies, or any combination 
 78.29  thereof.  With the exception of mini-grants, priority for child 
 78.30  care grants shall be given to grant applicants as follows: 
 78.31     (1) public and private nonprofit agencies; 
 78.32     (2) employer-based child care centers; 
 78.33     (3) for-profit child care centers; and 
 78.34     (4) family day care providers. 
 78.35     Sec. 54.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 78.36  subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
 79.1      Subd. 9.  [GRANT MATCH REQUIREMENTS.] Child care grants for 
 79.2   facility improvements, interim financing, resource and referral, 
 79.3   and staff training and development require a 25 percent local 
 79.4   match by the grant applicant.  A local match is not required for 
 79.5   a minigrant family child care technical assistance award. 
 79.6      Sec. 55.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 79.7   subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
 79.8      Subd. 10.  [CHILD CARE MINI-GRANTS FAMILY CHILD CARE 
 79.9   TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AWARDS.] Mini-grants Technical assistance 
 79.10  awards for child care service development must be used by 
 79.11  the family child care provider grantee for facility 
 79.12  improvements, including, but not limited to, improvements to 
 79.13  meet licensing requirements, improvements to expand the 
 79.14  facility, toys and equipment, start-up costs, interim financing, 
 79.15  or staff training and development.  Priority for child care 
 79.16  mini-grants shall be given to grant applicants as follows: 
 79.17     (1) family day care providers; 
 79.18     (2) public and private nonprofit agencies; 
 79.19     (3) employer-based child care centers; and 
 79.20     (4) for-profit child care centers. 
 79.21     Sec. 56.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 79.22  subdivision 11, is amended to read: 
 79.23     Subd. 11.  [ADVISORY TASK FORCE.] The commissioner 
 79.24  shall may convene a statewide advisory task force which shall 
 79.25  advise the commissioner on grants and or other child care issues.
 79.26  The statewide advisory task force shall review and make 
 79.27  recommendations to the commissioner on child care resource and 
 79.28  referral grants and on statewide service development and child 
 79.29  care training grants.  Members of the advisory task force with a 
 79.30  direct financial interest in a resource and referral or a 
 79.31  statewide training proposal may not provide a recommendation or 
 79.32  participate in the ranking of that grant proposal.  The 
 79.33  following constituent groups must be represented:  family child 
 79.34  care providers, center providers, parent users, health services, 
 79.35  social services, Head Start, public schools, employers, and 
 79.36  other citizens with demonstrated interest in child care issues.  
 80.1   Each regional grant review committee formed under subdivision 3, 
 80.2   shall appoint a representative to the advisory task 
 80.3   force.  Additional members may be appointed by the commissioner. 
 80.4   The commissioner may convene meetings of the task force as 
 80.5   needed.  Terms of office and removal from office are governed by 
 80.6   the appointing body.  The commissioner may compensate members 
 80.7   for their travel, child care, and child care provider substitute 
 80.8   expenses for meetings of the task force.  The members of the 
 80.9   child care advisory task force shall also meet once with the 
 80.10  interagency advisory committee on child care under section 
 80.11  256H.25. 
 80.12     Sec. 57.  [119B.25] [CHILD CARE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.] 
 80.13     Subdivision 1.  [PURPOSE.] The purpose of this section is 
 80.14  to enhance and expand child care sites, to encourage private 
 80.15  investment in child care and early childhood education sites, to 
 80.16  promote availability of quality, affordable child care 
 80.17  throughout Minnesota, and to provide for cooperation between 
 80.18  private nonprofit child care organizations, family child care 
 80.19  and center providers and the department. 
 80.20     Subd. 2.  [GRANTS.] The commissioner shall distribute money 
 80.21  provided by this section through a grant to a nonprofit 
 80.22  corporation organized to plan, develop, and finance early 
 80.23  childhood education and child care sites.  The nonprofit 
 80.24  corporation must have demonstrated the ability to analyze 
 80.25  financing projects, have knowledge of other sources of public 
 80.26  and private financing for child care and early childhood 
 80.27  education sites, and have a relationship with the resource and 
 80.28  referral programs under section 119B.18.  The board of directors 
 80.29  of the nonprofit corporation must include members who are 
 80.30  knowledgeable about early childhood education, child care, 
 80.31  development and improvement, and financing.  The commissioners 
 80.32  of the departments of children, families, and learning and trade 
 80.33  and economic development, and the commissioner of the housing 
 80.34  finance agency shall advise the board on the loan program.  The 
 80.35  grant must be used to make loans to improve child care or early 
 80.36  childhood education sites, or loans to plan, design, and 
 81.1   construct or expand licensed and legal unlicensed sites to 
 81.2   increase the availability of child care or early childhood 
 81.3   education.  All loans made by the nonprofit corporation must 
 81.4   comply with section 363.03, subdivision 8. 
 81.5      Subd. 3.  [FINANCING PROGRAM.] A nonprofit corporation that 
 81.6   receives a grant under this section shall use the money to: 
 81.7      (1) establish a revolving loan fund to make loans to 
 81.8   existing, expanding, and new licensed and legal unlicensed child 
 81.9   care and early childhood education sites; 
 81.10     (2) establish a fund to guarantee private loans to improve 
 81.11  or construct a child care or early childhood education site; 
 81.12     (3) establish a fund to provide forgivable loans or grants 
 81.13  to match all or part of a loan made under this section; and 
 81.14     (4) establish a fund as a reserve against bad debt.  
 81.15     The nonprofit corporation shall establish the terms and 
 81.16  conditions for loans and loan guarantees including, but not 
 81.17  limited to, interest rates, repayment agreements, private match 
 81.18  requirements, and conditions for loan forgiveness.  The 
 81.19  nonprofit corporation shall establish a minimum interest rate 
 81.20  for loans to ensure that necessary loan administration costs are 
 81.21  covered.  The nonprofit corporation may use interest earnings 
 81.22  for administrative expenses. 
 81.23     Subd. 4.  [REPORTING.] A nonprofit corporation that 
 81.24  receives a grant under this section shall: 
 81.25     (1) annually report by September 30 to the commissioner the 
 81.26  purposes for which the money was used in the past fiscal year, 
 81.27  including a description of projects supported by the financing, 
 81.28  an account of loans made during the calendar year, the financing 
 81.29  program's assets and liabilities, and an explanation of 
 81.30  administrative expenses; and 
 81.31     (2) annually submit to the commissioner a copy of the 
 81.32  report of an independent audit performed in accordance with 
 81.33  generally accepted accounting practices and auditing standards. 
 81.34     Sec. 58.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.8355, 
 81.35  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 81.36     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] (a) In order to qualify as 
 82.1   a family services collaborative, a minimum of one school 
 82.2   district, one county, one public health entity, one community 
 82.3   action agency as defined in section 268.53, and one Head Start 
 82.4   grantee if the community action agency is not the designated 
 82.5   federal grantee for the Head Start program must agree in writing 
 82.6   to provide coordinated family services and commit resources to 
 82.7   an integrated fund.  Collaboratives are expected to have broad 
 82.8   community representation, which may include other local 
 82.9   providers, including additional school districts, counties, and 
 82.10  public health entities, other municipalities, public libraries, 
 82.11  existing culturally specific community organizations, tribal 
 82.12  entities, local health organizations, private and nonprofit 
 82.13  service providers, child care providers, local foundations, 
 82.14  community-based service groups, businesses, local transit 
 82.15  authorities or other transportation providers, community action 
 82.16  agencies under section 268.53, senior citizen volunteer 
 82.17  organizations, parent organizations, parents, and sectarian 
 82.18  organizations that provide nonsectarian services. 
 82.19     (b) Community-based collaboratives composed of 
 82.20  representatives of schools, local businesses, local units of 
 82.21  government, parents, students, clergy, health and social 
 82.22  services providers, youth service organizations, and existing 
 82.23  culturally specific community organizations may plan and develop 
 82.24  services for children and youth.  A community-based 
 82.25  collaborative must agree to collaborate with county, school 
 82.26  district, community action, and public health entities.  Their 
 82.27  services may include opportunities for children or youth to 
 82.28  improve child health and development, reduce barriers to 
 82.29  adequate school performance, improve family functioning, provide 
 82.30  community service, enhance self esteem, and develop general 
 82.31  employment skills.  
 82.32     (c) Members of the governing bodies of political 
 82.33  subdivisions involved in the establishment of a family services 
 82.34  collaborative shall select representatives of the 
 82.35  nongovernmental entities listed in paragraph (a) to serve on the 
 82.36  governing board of a collaborative.  The governing body members 
 83.1   of the political subdivisions shall select one or more 
 83.2   representatives of the nongovernmental entities within the 
 83.3   family service collaborative. 
 83.4      Sec. 59.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2615, 
 83.5   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 83.6      Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAM REVIEW AND APPROVAL.] By February 
 83.7   15, 1992, for the 1991-1992 school year or by January 1 of May 1 
 83.8   preceding subsequent school years, a district must submit to the 
 83.9   commissioners of children, families, and learning, and health, 
 83.10  human services, and economic security:  
 83.11     (1) a description of the services to be provided; 
 83.12     (2) a plan to ensure children at greatest risk receive 
 83.13  appropriate services; 
 83.14     (3) a description of procedures and methods to be used to 
 83.15  coordinate public and private resources to maximize use of 
 83.16  existing community resources, including school districts, health 
 83.17  care facilities, government agencies, neighborhood 
 83.18  organizations, and other resources knowledgeable in early 
 83.19  childhood development; 
 83.20     (4) comments about the district's proposed program by the 
 83.21  advisory council required by section 121.831, subdivision 7; and 
 83.22     (5) agreements with all participating service providers.  
 83.23     Each commissioner may review and comment on the program, 
 83.24  and make recommendations to the commissioner of children, 
 83.25  families, and learning, within 30 days of receiving the plan. 
 83.26     Sec. 60.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2615, 
 83.27  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 83.28     Subd. 2.  [AMOUNT OF AID.] (a) A district is eligible to 
 83.29  receive learning readiness aid if the program plan as required 
 83.30  by subdivision 1 has been approved by the commissioner of 
 83.31  children, families, and learning.  The aid is equal to: 
 83.32     (1) $200 for fiscal year 1992 and $300 for fiscal year 1993 
 83.33  times the number of eligible four-year old children residing in 
 83.34  the district, as determined according to section 124.2711, 
 83.35  subdivision 2; plus 
 83.36     (2) $100 for fiscal year 1992 and $300 for fiscal year 1993 
 84.1   times the result of; 
 84.2      (3) the ratio of the number of pupils enrolled in the 
 84.3   school district from families eligible for the free or reduced 
 84.4   school lunch program to the total number of pupils enrolled in 
 84.5   the school district; times 
 84.6      (4) the number of children in clause (1). 
 84.7      (b) For fiscal year 1994 1998 and thereafter, a district 
 84.8   shall receive learning readiness aid equal to: 
 84.9      (1) the number of eligible four-year old children in the 
 84.10  district times the ratio of 50 percent of the total learning 
 84.11  readiness aid for that year to the total number of eligible 
 84.12  four-year old children reported to the commissioner for that 
 84.13  year; plus 
 84.14     (2) the number of participating eligible children times the 
 84.15  ratio of 15 percent of the total learning readiness aid for that 
 84.16  year to the total number of participating eligible children for 
 84.17  that year; plus 
 84.18     (3) the number of pupils enrolled in the school district 
 84.19  from families eligible for the free or reduced school lunch 
 84.20  program times the ratio of 35 50 percent of the total learning 
 84.21  readiness aid for that year to the total number of pupils in the 
 84.22  state from families eligible for the free or reduced school 
 84.23  lunch program. 
 84.24     Sec. 61.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.] 
 84.25     The Minnesota Institute for Early Childhood Professional 
 84.26  Development shall make recommendations by January 15, 1998, 
 84.27  related to the qualifications for child care center staff and 
 84.28  family child care providers to the commissioners of human 
 84.29  services and children, families, and learning and the Minnesota 
 84.30  state legislature.  Recommendations must be made in the 
 84.31  following areas: 
 84.32     (1) whether the procedures for licensing individuals should 
 84.33  be separated from the licensing of the program and physical 
 84.34  plant of child care centers and homes; 
 84.35     (2) which entity would be the most appropriate to issue 
 84.36  individual licenses; 
 85.1      (3) core competencies which are based on the age of the 
 85.2   children served and type of provider; and 
 85.3      (4) the amount of preservice training, experience, and 
 85.4   in-service training for child care providers.  
 85.5      Sec. 62.  [UNIVERSAL APPLICATION FORM; BASIC SLIDING FEE 
 85.6   PROGRAM.] 
 85.7      The commissioner of children, families, and learning shall 
 85.8   develop a universal application form for the basic sliding fee 
 85.9   program.  The commissioner shall make the form available to all 
 85.10  counties.  Counties may use the universal application form to 
 85.11  implement a mail application process for the basic sliding fee 
 85.12  program. 
 85.13     Sec. 63.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 85.14     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 85.15  LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
 85.16  from the general fund to the department of children, families, 
 85.17  and learning for the fiscal years designated.  The commissioner 
 85.18  shall encourage the use of child care dollars for the 
 85.19  development of collaborative partnerships with Head Start and 
 85.20  early childhood family education. 
 85.21     Subd. 2.  [BASIC SLIDING FEE CHILD CARE.] For child care 
 85.22  assistance according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03: 
 85.23       $41,751,000    .....     1998 
 85.24       $50,751,000    .....     1999
 85.25     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 85.26  available the second year. 
 85.27     Of this appropriation, the department shall allocate the 
 85.28  amount necessary to administer the at-home child care program 
 85.29  under section 22. 
 85.30     Subd. 3.  [TANF CHILD CARE.] For child care assistance 
 85.31  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.05: 
 85.32       $34,331,000    .....     1998 
 85.33       $64,838,000    .....     1999
 85.34     Up to $500,000 of the fiscal year 1998 appropriation may be 
 85.35  used for grants under section 23. 
 85.36     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 86.1   available in the second year. 
 86.2      Subd. 4.  [CHILD CARE ADMINISTRATION.] For administration 
 86.3   of child care assistance programs according to Minnesota 
 86.4   Statutes, sections 119B.03 and 119B.05, and development programs 
 86.5   according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.21: 
 86.6          $826,000     .....     1998 
 86.7          $232,000     .....     1999
 86.8      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 86.9   available in the second year. 
 86.10     Of the fiscal year 1998 appropriation, $594,000 is a 
 86.11  one-time appropriation and is not to be added to the permanent 
 86.12  base. 
 86.13     Subd. 5.  [CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT.] For child care 
 86.14  development grants according to Minnesota Statutes, section 
 86.15  119B.21: 
 86.16       $5,865,000     .....     1998
 86.17       $1,865,000     .....     1999
 86.18     Of the fiscal year 1998 appropriation, up to $2,000,000 is 
 86.19  for the following grants: 
 86.20     (1) a grant to the Minnesota licensed family child care 
 86.21  association for statewide implementation of the family child 
 86.22  care mentorship model developed by the association; 
 86.23     (2) a grant to the Minnesota child care apprentice/mentor 
 86.24  program to modify the apprentice/mentor program for statewide 
 86.25  implementation through the child care careers program of the 
 86.26  community/technical college system; 
 86.27     (3) a grant to expand project impact, which prepares child 
 86.28  care providers and staff who are members of a community of 
 86.29  color, as that term is defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 
 86.30  257.076, subdivision 3, to meet or exceed the education and 
 86.31  experience requirements of assistant teachers, teachers, and 
 86.32  family day care providers in licensed child care programs; 
 86.33     (4) expansion of the Minnesota child care apprentice/mentor 
 86.34  program, which prepares child care center staff to meet or 
 86.35  exceed the education and experience requirements of teachers in 
 86.36  licensed child care centers; 
 87.1      (5) grants to the regional child care resource and referral 
 87.2   programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.18, and 
 87.3   education and training loans made by the regional child care 
 87.4   resource and referral programs under the loan program 
 87.5   established in section 119B.18.  No more than 2.5 percent of 
 87.6   this appropriation may be used for administration of the loan 
 87.7   program; and 
 87.8      (6) a grant to a nonprofit corporation under Minnesota 
 87.9   Statutes, section 119B.25.  Up to five percent of the grant may 
 87.10  be used by the department and the nonprofit corporation to 
 87.11  administer the loan program including costs associated with 
 87.12  setting up an information system to administer child care and 
 87.13  early childhood education facility loans.