1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; authorizing family connections 
  1.3             aid; establishing a family connections demonstration 
  1.4             site; appropriating money. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND LEARNING.] The 
  1.8   following sums are appropriated from the general fund to the 
  1.9   commissioner of children, families, and learning in the fiscal 
  1.10  years indicated. 
  1.11     Subd. 2.  [FAMILY CONNECTIONS AID.] For family connections 
  1.12  aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 124.276: 
  1.13       $1,000,000     .....     1998
  1.14       $1,000,000     .....     1999
  1.15     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
  1.16  available in the second year. 
  1.17     Aid must be paid to all school districts with an approved 
  1.18  plan that meets the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, sections 
  1.19  125.70 to 125.705. 
  1.20     Subd. 3.  [FAMILY CONNECTIONS DEMONSTRATION SITE.] For a 
  1.21  grant to a school district to serve as a family connections 
  1.22  demonstration site: 
  1.23       $50,000     .....     1998
  1.24       $50,000     .....     1999
  1.25     The purpose of the demonstration site is to communicate the 
  2.1   benefits of the family connections program to other school 
  2.2   districts and to help demonstrate how to implement the program.  
  2.3   This appropriation may be used for staff time, replication of 
  2.4   materials, site visits, and for demonstrations. 
  2.5      Subd. 4.  [FAMILY CONNECTIONS RESEARCH STUDY.] For a 
  2.6   research study of the effectiveness of the family connections 
  2.7   program: 
  2.8        $100,000     .....     1998
  2.9      The demonstration site, the county, and the department of 
  2.10  children, families, and learning must research the 
  2.11  cost-effectiveness of the family connections program as an early 
  2.12  resource and referral system for families, facilitating parent 
  2.13  involvement, and early intervention in the development and 
  2.14  learning of the student.  The department of children, families, 
  2.15  and learning, the county, and the demonstration site must report 
  2.16  the results of the research study to the commissioner of 
  2.17  children, families, and learning. 
  2.18     This appropriation is available until June 30, 1999.