1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to economic development; providing funding 
  1.3             and direction to the jobs skills partnership; 
  1.4             appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
  1.5             section 116L.04, subdivision 1, and by adding a 
  1.6             subdivision. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 116L.04, 
  1.9   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [GRANTS-IN-AID PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.] (a) 
  1.11  The partnership program may provide grants-in-aid to educational 
  1.12  or other nonprofit training institutions using the following 
  1.13  guidelines:  
  1.14     (1) the educational or other nonprofit institution is a 
  1.15  provider of training within the state in either the public or 
  1.16  private sector; 
  1.17     (2) the program involves skills training that is an area of 
  1.18  employment need; and 
  1.19     (3) preference will be given to educational or other 
  1.20  nonprofit training institutions which serve economically 
  1.21  disadvantaged people, minorities, or those who are victims of 
  1.22  economic dislocation and to businesses located in rural areas.  
  1.23     (b) A single grant to any one institution shall not exceed 
  1.24  $200,000 $400,000.  
  1.25     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 116L.04, is 
  1.26  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.1      Subd. 1a.  [PASSAGEWAYS PROGRAM.] The passageways program 
  2.2   may provide grants-in-aid for developing programs which assist 
  2.3   in the transition of persons from welfare to work.  The program 
  2.4   is to be operated by the board. 
  2.5      Passageways grants-in-aid may be awarded to educational or 
  2.6   other nonprofit training institutions for education and training 
  2.7   programs that serve public assistance recipients transitioning 
  2.8   from public assistance to employment. 
  2.9      Preference shall be given to projects that: 
  2.10     (1) provide employment with benefits paid to employees; 
  2.11     (2) provide employment where there are defined career paths 
  2.12  for trainees; 
  2.13     (3) pilot the development of an educational passageway that 
  2.14  can be used on a continuing basis for transitioning persons from 
  2.15  public assistance directly to work; and 
  2.16     (4) demonstrate the active participation of department of 
  2.17  economic security workforce centers, Minnesota state college and 
  2.18  university institutions and other educational institutions, and 
  2.19  local welfare agencies. 
  2.20     Passageways projects must demonstrate the active 
  2.21  involvement and financial commitment of private business.  
  2.22  Passageways projects must be matched with cash or in-kind 
  2.23  contributions on at least a one-to-one ratio by participating 
  2.24  private business. 
  2.25     A single grant to any one institution shall not exceed 
  2.26  $200,000. 
  2.27     Sec. 3.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  2.28     (a) $7,500,000 in fiscal year 1998 and $7,500,000 in fiscal 
  2.29  year 1999 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.30  commissioner of trade and economic development for the purpose 
  2.31  of job skills partnership program under Minnesota Statutes, 
  2.32  section 116L.04, subdivision 1. 
  2.33     (b) $3,000,000 in fiscal year 1998 and $3,000,000 in fiscal 
  2.34  year 1999 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.35  commissioner of trade and economic development for the purpose 
  2.36  of job skills partnership passageways program under Minnesota 
  3.1   Statutes, section 116L.04, subdivision 1a.