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 15.53, 
  1.7             subdivision 2; 119A.13, subdivisions 2, 3, and 4; 
  1.8             119A.14; 119A.15, subdivisions 2 and 5; 119A.16; 
  1.9             119A.31, subdivision 1; 119B.01, subdivisions 8, 9, 
  1.10            12, 16, 17, and by adding subdivisions; 119B.02; 
  1.11            119B.03, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and by adding 
  1.12            a subdivision; 119B.04; 119B.05, subdivisions 1, 5, 6, 
  1.13            and by adding a subdivision; 119B.07; 119B.08, 
  1.14            subdivisions 1 and 3; 119B.09, subdivisions 1, 2, and 
  1.15            by adding subdivisions; 119B.10, subdivision 1; 
  1.16            119B.11, subdivisions 1, 3, and by adding a 
  1.17            subdivision; 119B.13, subdivision 1; 119B.15; 119B.16, 
  1.18            subdivision 1; 119B.18, by adding a subdivision; 
  1.19            119B.20, subdivisions 7, 9, and 10; 119B.21, 
  1.20            subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11; 
  1.21            121.11, by adding a subdivision; 121.8355, subdivision 
  1.22            1; 124.17, subdivision 2e; 124.2615, subdivisions 1 
  1.23            and 2; 124.2711, subdivision 1; 268.913, subdivisions 
  1.24            2 and 4; 268.914, subdivision 1; and 517.08, 
  1.25            subdivision 1c; repealing Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
  1.26            sections 119B.03, subdivision 7; 119B.05, subdivisions 
  1.27            2 and 3; 119B.11, subdivision 2; 119B.19, subdivision 
  1.28            2; 119B.21, subdivision 7; 121.8355, subdivision 1a; 
  1.29            and 268.913, subdivision 5. 
  1.30  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.31                             ARTICLE 1 
  1.32     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 15.53, 
  1.33  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.34     Subd. 2.  [PERIOD OF ASSIGNMENT.] The period of individual 
  1.35  assignment or detail under an interchange program shall not 
  1.36  exceed 24 months, nor shall any person be assigned or detailed 
  1.37  for more than 24 months during any 36-month period, except when 
  2.1   the assignment or detail is made to coincide with an 
  2.2   unclassified appointment under section 15.06.  A school 
  2.3   district, a county, or a public health entity may make an 
  2.4   assignment for a period not to exceed five years, if the 
  2.5   assignment is made pursuant to section 121.8355, subdivision 6.  
  2.6   Details relating to any matter covered in sections 15.51 to 
  2.7   15.57 may be the subject of an agreement between the sending and 
  2.8   receiving agencies.  Elected officials shall not be assigned 
  2.9   from a sending agency nor detailed to a receiving agency. 
  2.10     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.13, 
  2.11  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  2.12     Subd. 2.  [ADVISORY COUNCIL.] An advisory council of 19 17 
  2.13  members is established under section 15.059.  The commissioners 
  2.14  of human services, public safety, health, and children, 
  2.15  families, and learning, and corrections shall each appoint one 
  2.16  member.  The subcommittee on committees of the senate and the 
  2.17  speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint two 
  2.18  members of their respective bodies, one from each caucus.  The 
  2.19  governor shall appoint an additional ten members who shall 
  2.20  demonstrate knowledge in the area of child abuse prevention and 
  2.21  shall represent the demographic and geographic composition of 
  2.22  the state, and to the extent possible, represent the following 
  2.23  groups:  local government, parents, racial and ethnic minority 
  2.24  communities, the religious community, professional providers of 
  2.25  child abuse prevention and treatment services, and volunteers in 
  2.26  child abuse prevention and treatment services.  The council 
  2.27  shall advise and assist the commissioner in carrying out 
  2.28  sections 119A.10 to 119A.16.  The council does not expire as 
  2.29  provided by section 15.059, subdivision 5. 
  2.30     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.13, 
  2.31  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  2.32     Subd. 3.  [PLAN FOR DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.] By June 1, 
  2.33  1987, the commissioner, assisted by the advisory council, shall 
  2.34  develop a plan to disburse money from the trust fund.  In 
  2.35  developing the plan, the commissioner shall review prevention 
  2.36  programs.  The plan must ensure that all geographic areas of the 
  3.1   state have an equal opportunity to establish prevention programs 
  3.2   and receive trust fund money.  Biennially thereafter the 
  3.3   commissioner shall send the plan to the legislature and the 
  3.4   governor by January 1 of each odd-numbered year.  
  3.5      Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.13, 
  3.6   subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  3.7      Subd. 4.  [RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSIONER.] (a) The 
  3.8   commissioner shall: 
  3.9      (1) provide for the coordination and exchange of 
  3.10  information on the establishment and maintenance of prevention 
  3.11  programs; 
  3.12     (2) develop and publish criteria for receiving trust fund 
  3.13  money by prevention programs; 
  3.14     (3) review, approve, and monitor the spending of trust fund 
  3.15  money by prevention programs; 
  3.16     (4) provide statewide educational and public informational 
  3.17  seminars to develop public awareness on preventing child abuse; 
  3.18  to encourage professional persons and groups to recognize 
  3.19  instances of child abuse and work to prevent them; to make 
  3.20  information on child abuse prevention available to the public 
  3.21  and to organizations and agencies; and to encourage the 
  3.22  development of prevention programs; 
  3.23     (5) establish a procedure for an annual, internal 
  3.24  evaluation of the functions, responsibilities, and performance 
  3.25  of the commissioner in carrying out Laws 1986, chapter 423.  In 
  3.26  a year in which the state plan is prepared, the evaluation must 
  3.27  be coordinated with the preparation of the state plan; 
  3.28     (6) provide technical assistance to local councils and 
  3.29  agencies working in the area of child abuse prevention; and 
  3.30     (7) accept and review grant applications beginning June 1, 
  3.31  1987. 
  3.32     (b) The commissioner shall recommend to the governor and 
  3.33  the legislature changes in state programs, statutes, policies, 
  3.34  budgets, and standards that will reduce the problems of child 
  3.35  abuse, improve coordination among state agencies that provide 
  3.36  prevention services, and improve the condition of children, 
  4.1   parents, or guardians in need of prevention program services. 
  4.2      Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.14, is 
  4.3   amended to read: 
  4.4      119A.14 [LOCAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION COUNCILS.] 
  4.5      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL.] A child abuse 
  4.6   prevention council may be established in any county or group of 
  4.7   counties that was eligible to receive funds under Minnesota 
  4.8   Statutes 1986, section 145.917 as of January 1, 1986.  A council 
  4.9   organized in such a county or group of counties shall be 
  4.10  authorized by the commissioner to review programs seeking trust 
  4.11  fund money on finding that the council meets the criteria in 
  4.12  this subdivision: 
  4.13     (a) The council has submitted a plan for the prevention of 
  4.14  child abuse that includes a survey rank ordering of needed 
  4.15  programs and services, assesses the need for additional programs 
  4.16  or services, and demonstrates that standards and procedures have 
  4.17  been established to ensure that funds will be distributed and 
  4.18  used according to Laws 1986, chapter 423. 
  4.19     (b) A single-county council shall consist of: 
  4.20     (1) members of a multidisciplinary child protection team 
  4.21  which must be established under section 626.558 a minimum of 
  4.22  nine members with the majority consisting of members from the 
  4.23  community-at-large who do not represent service-providing 
  4.24  agencies.  These members shall represent the demographic and 
  4.25  geographic composition of the county and, to the extent 
  4.26  possible, represent the following groups:  parents, businesses, 
  4.27  racial and ethnic minority communities, and the faith 
  4.28  communities; and 
  4.29     (2) if necessary, enough additional members appointed by 
  4.30  the county with knowledge in the area of child abuse prevention 
  4.31  so that a majority of the council is composed of members who do 
  4.32  not represent public agencies. 
  4.33     (c) A multicounty council shall be selected by composed of 
  4.34  the combined membership of those multidisciplinary teams which 
  4.35  have been established in the counties under section 626.558 and 
  4.36  shall consist of: persons in paragraph (b). 
  5.1      (1) one representative each from local human services 
  5.2   agencies, county attorney offices, county sheriff offices, and 
  5.3   health and education agencies, chosen from among the membership 
  5.4   of all the teams; 
  5.5      (2) one representative from any other public agency group 
  5.6   represented among the combined teams; and 
  5.7      (3) enough additional members from the public who have 
  5.8   knowledge in the area of child abuse so that a majority of the 
  5.9   council is composed of members who do not represent public 
  5.10  agencies. 
  5.11     (d) In any multicounty group eligible to establish a 
  5.12  council under this subdivision, at least 50 percent of the 
  5.13  counties must have established a multidisciplinary team under 
  5.14  section 626.558 before a council may be established. 
  5.15     Subd. 2.  [REVIEW BY COUNCIL.] To be eligible to receive a 
  5.16  grant from the trust fund, an applicant must have had 
  5.17  its program application reviewed by a child abuse prevention 
  5.18  council from the applicant's geographic area found by the 
  5.19  commissioner to meet the criteria in this section.  In reviewing 
  5.20  all such programs applications, the council shall consider the 
  5.21  extent to which the applicant meets the criteria and standards 
  5.22  in Laws 1986, chapter 423, and the degree to which the program 
  5.23  meets the needs of the geographic area.  The council shall 
  5.24  provide to the advisory council its comments and recommendations 
  5.25  concerning each program application reviewed and shall provide 
  5.26  the advisory council with its prioritization by rank ordering of 
  5.27  all programs applications reviewed. 
  5.28     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.15, 
  5.29  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  5.30     Subd. 2.  [MATCHING AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.] Trust fund 
  5.31  money shall only be distributed to applicants that demonstrate 
  5.32  an ability to match at least 40 percent of the amount of trust 
  5.33  fund money requested and whose proposals meet the other 
  5.34  criteria.  The matching requirement may be met through in-kind 
  5.35  donations.  In awarding grants, the commissioner shall consider 
  5.36  the extent to which the applicant has demonstrated a willingness 
  6.1   and ability to: 
  6.2      (1) continue the prevention program or service if trust 
  6.3   fund money is eliminated or reduced; and 
  6.4      (2) provide prevention program models and consultation to 
  6.5   other organizations and communities. 
  6.6      Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.15, 
  6.7   subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  6.8      Subd. 5.  [LOCAL COUNCIL AS RECIPIENT OF FUNDS.] The 
  6.9   commissioner may disburse funds to a local council on the same 
  6.10  basis as to any other applicant for community education 
  6.11  purposes, or as for administrative costs in carrying out Laws 
  6.12  1986, chapter 423, if all criteria and standards are met.  Funds 
  6.13  disbursed as administrative costs to a local council must not 
  6.14  exceed five percent of total funds disbursed to the area served 
  6.15  by the local council. 
  6.16     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.16, is 
  6.17  amended to read: 
  6.18     119A.16 [ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND OTHER DONATIONS.] 
  6.19     The commissioner may accept federal money and gifts, 
  6.20  donations, and bequests for the purposes of Laws 1986, chapter 
  6.21  423.  Money so received and proceeds from the sale of 
  6.22  promotional items, minus sales promotional costs, must be 
  6.23  deposited in the trust fund and must be made available annually 
  6.24  to the commissioner. 
  6.25     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.31, 
  6.26  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  6.27     Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAMS.] The commissioner shall, in 
  6.28  consultation with the chemical abuse and violence prevention 
  6.29  council, administer a grant program to fund community-based 
  6.30  programs that are designed to enhance the community's sense of 
  6.31  personal security and to assist the community in its crime 
  6.32  control and prevention efforts.  Examples of qualifying programs 
  6.33  include, but are not limited to, the following: 
  6.34     (1) community-based programs designed to provide services 
  6.35  for children aged 8 to 13 who are juvenile offenders or who are 
  6.36  at risk of becoming juvenile offenders.  The programs must give 
  7.1   priority to: 
  7.2      (i) juvenile restitution; 
  7.3      (ii) prearrest or pretrial diversion, including through 
  7.4   mediation; 
  7.5      (iii) probation innovation; 
  7.6      (iv) teen courts, community service; or 
  7.7      (v) post incarceration alternatives to assist youth in 
  7.8   returning to their communities; 
  7.9      (2) community-based programs designed to provide at-risk 
  7.10  children and youth aged 8 to 13 with after-school and summer 
  7.11  enrichment activities; 
  7.12     (3) community-based programs designed to discourage young 
  7.13  people from involvement in unlawful drug or street gang 
  7.14  activities such as neighborhood youth centers; 
  7.15     (4) neighborhood block clubs and innovative community-based 
  7.16  crime prevention programs; 
  7.17     (5) community- and school-based programs designed to enrich 
  7.18  the educational, cultural, or recreational opportunities of 
  7.19  at-risk children and youth, including programs designed to keep 
  7.20  at-risk youth from dropping out of school and encourage school 
  7.21  dropouts to return to school; 
  7.22     (6) community-based programs designed to intervene with 
  7.23  juvenile offenders who are identified as likely to engage in 
  7.24  repeated criminal activity in the future unless intervention is 
  7.25  undertaken; 
  7.26     (7) community-based collaboratives that coordinate multiple 
  7.27  programs and funding sources to address the needs of at-risk 
  7.28  children and youth, including, but not limited to, 
  7.29  collaboratives that address the continuum of services for 
  7.30  juvenile offenders and those who are at risk of becoming 
  7.31  juvenile offenders; 
  7.32     (8) programs that are proven successful at increasing the 
  7.33  rate of school success or the rate of post-secondary education 
  7.34  attendance for high-risk students; 
  7.35     (9) community-based programs that provide services to 
  7.36  homeless youth; 
  8.1      (10) programs designed to reduce truancy; and 
  8.2      (11) other community- and school-based crime prevention 
  8.3   programs that are innovative and encourage substantial 
  8.4   involvement by members of the community served by the program; 
  8.5      (12) community-based programs that attempt to prevent and 
  8.6   ameliorate the effects of teenage prostitution; and 
  8.7      (13) programs for mentoring at-risk youth, including youth 
  8.8   at risk of gang involvement. 
  8.9      Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, is 
  8.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  8.11     Subd. 7a.  [DEPARTMENT.] "Department" means the department 
  8.12  of children, families, and learning. 
  8.13     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
  8.14  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
  8.15     Subd. 8.  [EDUCATION PROGRAM.] "Education program" means 
  8.16  remedial or basic education or English as a second language 
  8.17  instruction, a program leading to a general equivalency or high 
  8.18  school diploma, post-secondary programs excluding 
  8.19  postbaccalaureate programs, and other education and training 
  8.20  needs as documented in an employability plan that is developed 
  8.21  by an employment and training service provider certified by the 
  8.22  commissioner of economic security or an individual designated by 
  8.23  the county to provide employment and training services.  The 
  8.24  employability plan must outline education and training needs of 
  8.25  a recipient, meet state requirements for employability plans, 
  8.26  meet the requirements of this chapter, and Minnesota Rules, 
  8.27  parts 9565.5000 3400.0010 to 9565.5200 3400.0230, and meet the 
  8.28  requirements of programs that provide federal reimbursement for 
  8.29  child care services.  
  8.30     Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
  8.31  subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
  8.32     Subd. 9.  [EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM PLAN.] "Employment program 
  8.33  plan" means employment of recipients financially eligible for 
  8.34  child care assistance, preemployment activities, or other work 
  8.35  activities approved in an employability development plan or 
  8.36  employment plan that is developed by an employment and training 
  9.1   service provider certified by the commissioner of economic 
  9.2   security or an individual designated by the county to provide 
  9.3   employment and training services.  The plans must meet the 
  9.4   requirements of this chapter, chapters 256J and 256K, Minnesota 
  9.5   Rules, parts 9565.5000 3400.0010 to 9565.5200 3400.0230, and 
  9.6   other programs that provide federal reimbursement for child care 
  9.7   services. 
  9.8      Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
  9.9   subdivision 12, is amended to read: 
  9.10     Subd. 12.  [INCOME.] "Income" means earned or unearned 
  9.11  income received by all family members 16 years or older, 
  9.12  including public assistance benefits, unless specifically 
  9.13  excluded.  The following are excluded from income:  funds used 
  9.14  to pay for health insurance premiums for family members, 
  9.15  scholarships, work-study income, and grants that cover costs for 
  9.16  tuition, fees, books, and educational supplies; student loans 
  9.17  for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and living expenses; earned 
  9.18  income tax credits; in-kind income such as food stamps, energy 
  9.19  assistance, medical assistance, and housing subsidies; income 
  9.20  from summer or part-time employment of 16-, 17-, and 18-year-old 
  9.21  full-time secondary school students; grant awards under the 
  9.22  family subsidy program; any income assigned to the public 
  9.23  authority according to section 256.741; and nonrecurring lump 
  9.24  sum income only to the extent that it is earmarked and used for 
  9.25  the purpose for which it is paid. 
  9.26     Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, is 
  9.27  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  9.28     Subd. 12a.  [MFIP.] "MFIP" means Minnesota Family 
  9.29  Investment Program permitted under Public Law Number 104-193, 
  9.30  title I, and shall be used as a synonym for AFDC for purposes of 
  9.31  child care assistance program eligibility under this chapter. 
  9.32     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
  9.33  subdivision 16, is amended to read: 
  9.34     Subd. 16.  [TRANSITION YEAR FAMILIES.] "Transition year 
  9.35  families" means families who lose have received AFDC for at 
  9.36  least three of the last six months before losing eligibility for 
 10.1   AFDC due to increased hours of employment, increased income from 
 10.2   employment or child or spousal support, or the loss of income 
 10.3   disregards due to time limitations, as provided under Public Law 
 10.4   Number 100-485.  
 10.5      Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 10.6   subdivision 17, is amended to read: 
 10.7      Subd. 17.  [CHILD CARE FUND.] "Child care fund" means a 
 10.8   program under this chapter providing:  
 10.9      (1) financial assistance for child care to parents engaged 
 10.10  in employment or education and training leading to employment; 
 10.11  and 
 10.12     (2) grants to develop, expand, and improve the access and 
 10.13  availability of child care services statewide. 
 10.14     Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.02, is 
 10.15  amended to read: 
 10.16     119B.02 [DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.] 
 10.17     The commissioner shall develop standards for county and 
 10.18  human services boards to provide child care services to enable 
 10.19  eligible families to participate in employment, training, or 
 10.20  education programs.  Within the limits of available 
 10.21  appropriations, the commissioner shall distribute money to 
 10.22  counties to reduce the costs of child care for eligible 
 10.23  families.  The commissioner shall adopt rules to govern the 
 10.24  program in accordance with this section.  The rules must 
 10.25  establish a sliding schedule of fees for parents receiving child 
 10.26  care services.  The rules shall provide that funds received as a 
 10.27  lump sum payment of child support arrearages shall not be 
 10.28  counted as income to a family in the month received but shall be 
 10.29  prorated over the 12 months following receipt and added to the 
 10.30  family income during those months.  In the rules adopted under 
 10.31  this section, county and human services boards shall be 
 10.32  authorized to establish policies for payment of child care 
 10.33  spaces for absent children, when the payment is required by the 
 10.34  child's regular provider.  The rules shall not set a maximum 
 10.35  number of days for which absence payments can be made, but 
 10.36  instead shall direct the county agency to set limits and pay for 
 11.1   absences according to the prevailing market practice in the 
 11.2   county.  County policies for payment of absences shall be 
 11.3   subject to the approval of the commissioner.  The commissioner 
 11.4   shall maximize the use of federal money in section 256.736 and 
 11.5   other programs that provide federal or state reimbursement for 
 11.6   child care services for recipients of aid to low-income families 
 11.7   with dependent children who are in education, training, job 
 11.8   search, or other activities allowed under those programs.  Money 
 11.9   appropriated under this section must be coordinated with the 
 11.10  programs that provide federal reimbursement for child care 
 11.11  services to accomplish this purpose.  Federal reimbursement 
 11.12  obtained must be allocated to the county that spent money for 
 11.13  child care that is federally reimbursable under programs that 
 11.14  provide federal reimbursement for child care services.  The 
 11.15  counties shall use the federal money to expand child care 
 11.16  services.  The commissioner may adopt rules under chapter 14 to 
 11.17  implement and coordinate federal program requirements. 
 11.18     Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 11.19  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 11.20     Subd. 3.  [ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.] Families that meet the 
 11.21  eligibility requirements under sections 119B.09, except AFDC 
 11.22  recipients, MFIP recipients, and transition year families, and 
 11.23  119B.10 are eligible for child care assistance under the basic 
 11.24  sliding fee program.  Families enrolled in the basic sliding fee 
 11.25  program as of July 1, 1990, shall be continued until they are no 
 11.26  longer eligible.  Counties shall make vendor payments to the 
 11.27  child care provider or pay the parent directly for eligible 
 11.28  child care expenses on a reimbursement basis.  Child care 
 11.29  assistance provided through the child care fund is considered 
 11.30  assistance to the parent. 
 11.31     Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 11.32  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 11.33     Subd. 4.  [FUNDING PRIORITY.] (a) First priority for child 
 11.34  care assistance under the basic sliding fee program must be 
 11.35  given to eligible non-AFDC families who do not have a high 
 11.36  school or general equivalency diploma or who need remedial and 
 12.1   basic skill courses in order to pursue employment or to pursue 
 12.2   education leading to employment.  Within this priority, the 
 12.3   following subpriorities must be used: 
 12.4      (1) child care needs of minor parents; 
 12.5      (2) child care needs of parents under 21 years of age; and 
 12.6      (3) child care needs of other parents within the priority 
 12.7   group described in this paragraph. 
 12.8      (b) Second priority must be given to parents who have 
 12.9   completed their AFDC transition year. 
 12.10     (c) Third priority must be given to families who are 
 12.11  eligible for portable basic sliding fee assistance through the 
 12.12  portability pool under subdivision 9. 
 12.13     Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 12.14  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 12.15     Subd. 5.  [REVIEW OF USE OF FUNDS; REALLOCATION.] (a) After 
 12.16  each quarter, the commissioner shall review the use of basic 
 12.17  sliding fee program allocations by county.  The commissioner may 
 12.18  reallocate unexpended or unencumbered money among those counties 
 12.19  who have expended their full allocation or may allow a county to 
 12.20  expend up to ten percent of its allocation in the subsequent 
 12.21  allocation period.  
 12.22     (b) Any unexpended money state and federal appropriations 
 12.23  from the first year of the biennium may be carried forward to 
 12.24  the second year of the biennium.  
 12.25     Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 12.26  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 12.27     Subd. 6.  [ALLOCATION FORMULA.] Beginning January 1, 
 12.28  1996, except as provided in subdivision 7, the basic sliding fee 
 12.29  state and federal funds shall be allocated on a calendar year 
 12.30  basis.  Funds shall be allocated first in amounts equal to each 
 12.31  county's guaranteed floor according to subdivision 8, with any 
 12.32  remaining available funds allocated according to the following 
 12.33  formula:  
 12.34     (a) One-third of the funds shall be allocated in proportion 
 12.35  to each county's total expenditures for the basic sliding fee 
 12.36  child care program reported during the most recent calendar year 
 13.1   completed at the time of the notice of allocation.  
 13.2      (b) One-third of the funds shall be allocated based on the 
 13.3   number of children under age 13 in each county who are enrolled 
 13.4   in general assistance medical care, medical assistance, and 
 13.5   MinnesotaCare on December 31 of the most recent calendar year 
 13.6   completed at the time of the notice of allocation. 
 13.7      (c) One-third of the funds shall be allocated based on the 
 13.8   number of children under age 13 who reside in each county, from 
 13.9   the most recent estimates of the state demographer. 
 13.10     Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 13.11  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 13.12     Subd. 7.  [SIX-MONTH ALLOCATION EXCEPTION.] For the period 
 13.13  from July 1, 1995, to December 31, 1995, every county shall 
 13.14  receive an allocation at least equal and proportionate to 
 13.15  one-half of its original allocation in state fiscal year 1995.  
 13.16  This six-month allocation shall be combined with the calendar 
 13.17  year 1996 allocation and be administered as one 18-month 
 13.18  allocation 1997, to December 31, 1998, each county shall receive 
 13.19  an amount equal to its original calendar year 1997 allocation.  
 13.20  The remaining funds shall be allocated according to the 
 13.21  following formula: 
 13.22     (a) Two-thirds of the funds shall be allocated in 
 13.23  proportion to each county's original calendar year 1997 
 13.24  allocation for the basic sliding fee program. 
 13.25     (b) One-third of the funds shall be allocated in proportion 
 13.26  to each county's most recently reported waiting list as defined 
 13.27  in section 119B.03, subdivision 2. 
 13.28     When funding increases are implemented within a calendar 
 13.29  year, every county shall receive an allocation at least equal 
 13.30  and proportionate to its original allocation for the same time 
 13.31  period.  The remainder of the allocation shall be recalculated 
 13.32  to reflect the funding increase and according to the formulas 
 13.33  identified in this subdivision and subdivision 6. 
 13.34     Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 13.35  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 13.36     Subd. 8.  [GUARANTEED FLOOR.] (a) Beginning January 1, 
 14.1   1996, each county's guaranteed floor shall equal 90 percent of 
 14.2   the allocation received in the preceding calendar year.  For the 
 14.3   calendar year 1996 allocation, the preceding calendar year shall 
 14.4   be considered to be double the six-month allocation as provided 
 14.5   for in subdivision 7.  For the period January 1, 1999, to 
 14.6   December 31, 1999, each county's guaranteed floor shall equal 
 14.7   its original calendar year 1998 allocation or its actual 
 14.8   earnings for calendar year 1998, whichever is less. 
 14.9      (b) When the amount of funds available for allocation is 
 14.10  less than the amount available in the previous year, each 
 14.11  county's previous year allocation shall be reduced in proportion 
 14.12  to the reduction in the statewide funding, for the purpose of 
 14.13  establishing the guaranteed floor.  
 14.14     Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, is 
 14.15  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 14.16     Subd. 9.  [PORTABILITY POOL.] (a) The commissioner shall 
 14.17  establish a pool up to five percent of the annual appropriation 
 14.18  for the basic sliding fee program to provide continuous child 
 14.19  care assistance for eligible families who move between Minnesota 
 14.20  counties.  At the end of each allocation period, any unspent 
 14.21  funds in the portability pool must be added to the funds 
 14.22  available for reallocation.  If expenditures from the 
 14.23  portability pool exceed the amount of money available, the 
 14.24  reallocation pool must be reduced to cover these shortages. 
 14.25     (b) To be eligible for portable basic sliding fee 
 14.26  assistance, a family that has moved from a county in which they 
 14.27  were receiving basic sliding fee assistance to a county with a 
 14.28  waiting list for the basic sliding fee program must: 
 14.29     (1) meet the income and eligibility guidelines for the 
 14.30  basic sliding fee program; and 
 14.31     (2) must notify the new county of residence within 30 days 
 14.32  of moving and apply for basic sliding fee assistance in the new 
 14.33  county of residence. 
 14.34     (c) The receiving county must: 
 14.35     (1) accept administrative responsibility for applicants for 
 14.36  portable basic sliding fee assistance at the end of the two 
 15.1   months of assistance under the unitary residency act; 
 15.2      (2) continue basic sliding fee assistance for the lesser of 
 15.3   six months or until the family is able to receive assistance 
 15.4   under the county's regular basic sliding program; and 
 15.5      (3) notify the commissioner through the quarterly reporting 
 15.6   process of any family that meets the criteria of the portable 
 15.7   basic sliding fee assistance pool. 
 15.8      Sec. 25.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.04, is 
 15.9   amended to read: 
 15.10     119B.04 [FEDERAL AT-RISK CHILD CARE PROGRAM AND DEVELOPMENT 
 15.11  FUND.] 
 15.12     Subdivision 1.  [COMMISSIONER TO ADMINISTER PROGRAM.] The 
 15.13  commissioner of children, families, and learning is authorized 
 15.14  and directed to receive, administer, and expend funds available 
 15.15  under the at-risk child care program and development fund under 
 15.16  Public Law Number 101-508 (1) 104-193, title I.  
 15.17     Subd. 2.  [RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.] The commissioner may 
 15.18  adopt rules under chapter 14 to administer the at-risk child 
 15.19  care program and development fund.  
 15.20     Sec. 26.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, 
 15.21  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 15.22     Subdivision 1.  [ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.] Families eligible 
 15.23  for guaranteed child care assistance under the AFDC child care 
 15.24  program are: 
 15.25     (1) persons receiving services under section 256.736 
 15.26  sections 256.031 to 256.04; 
 15.27     (2) AFDC recipients who are employed or in job search and 
 15.28  meet the requirements of section 119B.10; 
 15.29     (3) persons who are members of transition year families 
 15.30  under section 119B.01, subdivision 16; 
 15.31     (4) members of the control group for the STRIDE evaluation 
 15.32  conducted by the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation; 
 15.33  and 
 15.34     (5) AFDC caretakers who are participating in the STRIDE and 
 15.35  non-STRIDE AFDC child care program; 
 15.36     (6) families who are participating in employment 
 16.1   orientation or job search, or other employment or training 
 16.2   activities that are included in an approved employability 
 16.3   development plan under chapter 256K; and 
 16.4      (7) MFIP families who are participating in employment and 
 16.5   training activities as required in their employment plan or 
 16.6   appeals, hearings, assessments, or orientation according to 
 16.7   section 256J.  Child care assistance to support preemployment 
 16.8   activities and safety plans as described in section 256J shall 
 16.9   be available according to sections 119B.01, subdivision 8, 
 16.10  121.882, 256E.08, 268.916, 611A.32, and titles IVA, IVB, IVE, 
 16.11  and XX of the Social Security Act. 
 16.12     Sec. 27.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, 
 16.13  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 16.14     Subd. 5.  [FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT.] Counties shall maximize 
 16.15  their federal reimbursement under Public Law Number 100-485 or 
 16.16  other federal reimbursement programs for money spent for persons 
 16.17  eligible under this chapter.  The commissioner shall allocate 
 16.18  any federal earnings to the county to be used to expand child 
 16.19  care services under this chapter. 
 16.20     Sec. 28.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, 
 16.21  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 16.22     Subd. 6.  [ACCESS CHILD CARE PROGRAM.] (a) Starting one 
 16.23  month after April 30, 1992, the commissioner shall reimburse 
 16.24  eligible expenditures for 2,000 family slots for AFDC caretakers 
 16.25  not eligible for services under section 256.736, who are engaged 
 16.26  in an authorized educational or job search program.  Each county 
 16.27  will receive a number of family slots based on the county's 
 16.28  proportion of the AFDC caseload.  A county must receive at least 
 16.29  two family slots.  Eligibility and reimbursement are limited to 
 16.30  the number of family slots allocated to each county.  County 
 16.31  agencies shall authorize an educational plan for each student 
 16.32  and may prioritize families eligible for this program in their 
 16.33  child care fund plan upon approval of the commissioner.  
 16.34     (b) Persons eligible for but unable to participate in the 
 16.35  JOBS (STRIDE) program because of a waiting list may be accepted 
 16.36  as a new participant, or continue to participate in the ACCESS 
 17.1   child care program if a slot is available as long as all other 
 17.2   eligibility factors are met.  Child care assistance must 
 17.3   continue under the ACCESS child care program until the 
 17.4   participant loses eligibility or is enrolled in project STRIDE. 
 17.5      (c)(1) Effective July 1, 1995, the commissioner shall 
 17.6   reclaim 90 percent of the vacant slots in each county and 
 17.7   distribute those slots to counties with waiting lists of persons 
 17.8   eligible for the ACCESS child care program.  The slots must be 
 17.9   distributed to eligible families based on the July 1, 1995, 
 17.10  waiting list placement date, first come, first served basis. 
 17.11     (2) ACCESS child care slots remaining after the waiting 
 17.12  list under clause (1) has been eliminated must be distributed to 
 17.13  eligible families on a first come, first served basis, based on 
 17.14  the client's date of request. 
 17.15     (3) The county must notify the commissioner when an ACCESS 
 17.16  slot in the county becomes available.  Notification by the 
 17.17  county must be within five calendar days of the effective date 
 17.18  of the termination of the ACCESS child care services.  The 
 17.19  resulting vacant slot must be returned to the department of 
 17.20  children, families, and learning.  The slot must then be 
 17.21  redistributed under clause (2). 
 17.22     (4) The commissioner shall consult with the task force on 
 17.23  child care and make recommendations to the 1996 legislature for 
 17.24  future distribution of the ACCESS slots under this 
 17.25  paragraph. Effective July 1, 1997, no new applicants shall be 
 17.26  accepted in the ACCESS program.  Current ACCESS participants 
 17.27  shall continue to receive assistance until July 1, 1998, if all 
 17.28  other conditions of eligibility are met. 
 17.29     Sec. 29.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, is 
 17.30  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 17.31     Subd. 7.  [CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE DIVERSION.] A one-year 
 17.32  program is established to provide assistance to participants 
 17.33  under the working family assistance program established in 
 17.34  chapter 256J who are participating in an authorized activity 
 17.35  under section 256J.03, subdivision 4, and who are eligible for 
 17.36  child care assistance according to chapter 119B as a 
 18.1   reimbursement for expenses related to the costs of education, 
 18.2   training, or transportation when all of the following conditions 
 18.3   exist: 
 18.4      (1) child care needs during participation in the authorized 
 18.5   activity are being met by a legal child care provider as defined 
 18.6   in section 119B.01, subdivision 13; 
 18.7      (2) the participant cannot reasonably arrange for the 
 18.8   education, training, or transportation costs to be met through 
 18.9   alternate arrangements; 
 18.10     (3) the child care arrangement provides a transition to a 
 18.11  stable child care and employment arrangement and does not 
 18.12  disrupt the continuity of care for children; and 
 18.13     (4) the arrangement does not exceed two months. 
 18.14     The commissioner of children, families, and learning must 
 18.15  select one county in the seven-county metropolitan area to 
 18.16  participate in the program.  Assistance must be available only 
 18.17  to residents of the selected county.  Assistance granted under 
 18.18  this subdivision must not exceed 1/12 of the average annual cost 
 18.19  of care as established for the administering county in the 
 18.20  previous state fiscal year for each authorized month.  
 18.21  Assistance under this subdivision is available to a recipient on 
 18.22  a one-time basis. 
 18.23     Sec. 30.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.07, is 
 18.24  amended to read: 
 18.25     119B.07 [USE OF MONEY.] 
 18.26     Money for persons listed in sections 119B.03, subdivision 
 18.27  3, and 119B.05, subdivision 1, shall be used to reduce the costs 
 18.28  of child care for students, including the costs of child care 
 18.29  for students while employed if enrolled in an eligible education 
 18.30  program at the same time and making satisfactory progress 
 18.31  towards completion of the program.  Counties may not limit the 
 18.32  duration of child care subsidies for a person in an employment 
 18.33  or educational program, except when the person is found to be 
 18.34  ineligible under the child care fund eligibility standards.  Any 
 18.35  limitation must be based on a person's employability plan in the 
 18.36  case of an AFDC recipient, and county policies included in the 
 19.1   child care allocation plan.  The maximum length of time a 
 19.2   student is eligible for child care assistance under the child 
 19.3   care fund for education and training shall be the equivalent of 
 19.4   48 months of full-time education, excluding basic or remedial 
 19.5   education programs needed to prepare for post-secondary 
 19.6   education or employment.  Time limitations for child care 
 19.7   assistance, as specified in Minnesota Rules, parts 9565.5000 to 
 19.8   9565.5200, do not apply to basic or remedial educational 
 19.9   programs needed to prepare for post-secondary education or 
 19.10  employment.  These programs include:  high school, general 
 19.11  equivalency diploma, and English as a second language.  Programs 
 19.12  exempt from this time limit must not run concurrently with a 
 19.13  post-secondary program.  High school students who are 
 19.14  participating in a post-secondary options program and who 
 19.15  receive a high school diploma issued by the school district are 
 19.16  exempt from the time limitations while pursuing a high school 
 19.17  diploma.  Financially eligible students who have received child 
 19.18  care assistance for one academic year shall be provided child 
 19.19  care assistance in the following academic year if funds 
 19.20  allocated under sections 119B.03 and 119B.05 are available.  If 
 19.21  an AFDC recipient who is receiving AFDC child care assistance 
 19.22  under this chapter moves to another county, continues to 
 19.23  participate in educational or training programs authorized in 
 19.24  their employability development plans, and continues to be 
 19.25  eligible for AFDC child care assistance under this chapter, the 
 19.26  AFDC caretaker must receive continued child care assistance from 
 19.27  the county responsible for their current employability 
 19.28  development plan, without interruption. 
 19.29     Sec. 31.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.08, 
 19.30  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 19.31     Subdivision 1.  [QUARTERLY REPORTS.] The commissioner shall 
 19.32  specify requirements for reports, including quarterly fiscal 
 19.33  reports, according to under the same authority as provided to 
 19.34  the commissioner of human services in section 256.01, 
 19.35  subdivision 2, paragraph (17).  Counties shall submit on forms 
 19.36  prescribed by the commissioner a quarterly financial and program 
 20.1   activity report.  The failure to submit a complete report by the 
 20.2   end of the quarter in which the report is due may result in a 
 20.3   reduction of child care fund allocations equal to the next 
 20.4   quarter's allocation.  The financial and program activity report 
 20.5   must include: 
 20.6      (1) a detailed accounting of the expenditures and revenues 
 20.7   for the program during the preceding quarter by funding source 
 20.8   and by eligibility group; 
 20.9      (2) a description of activities and concomitant 
 20.10  expenditures that are federally reimbursable under federal 
 20.11  reimbursement programs; 
 20.12     (3) a description of activities and concomitant 
 20.13  expenditures of child care money; 
 20.14     (4) information on money encumbered at the quarter's end 
 20.15  but not yet reimbursable, for use in adjusting allocations as 
 20.16  provided in section 119B.03, subdivision 5; and 
 20.17     (5) other data the commissioner considers necessary to 
 20.18  account for the program or to evaluate its effectiveness in 
 20.19  preventing and reducing participants' dependence on public 
 20.20  assistance and in providing other benefits, including 
 20.21  improvement in the care provided to children.  
 20.22     Sec. 32.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.08, 
 20.23  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 20.24     Subd. 3.  [CHILD CARE FUND PLAN.] Effective January 1, 
 20.25  1992, the county will include the plan required under this 
 20.26  subdivision in its biennial community social services plan 
 20.27  required in this section, for the group described in section 
 20.28  256E.03, subdivision 2, paragraph (h).  For the period July 1, 
 20.29  1989, to December 31, 1991, the county shall submit separate 
 20.30  child care fund plans required under this subdivision for the 
 20.31  periods July 1, 1989, to June 30, 1990; and July 1, 1990, to 
 20.32  December 31, 1991.  The commissioner shall establish the dates 
 20.33  by which the county must submit these plans.  The county and 
 20.34  designated administering agency shall submit to the commissioner 
 20.35  an annual child care fund allocation plan.  The plan shall 
 20.36  include: 
 21.1      (1) a narrative of the total program for child care 
 21.2   services, including all policies and procedures that affect 
 21.3   eligible families and are used to administer the child care 
 21.4   funds; 
 21.5      (2) the number of families that requested a child care 
 21.6   subsidy in the previous year, the number of families receiving 
 21.7   child care assistance, the number of families on a waiting list, 
 21.8   and the number of families projected to be served during the 
 21.9   fiscal year; 
 21.10     (3) the methods used by the county to inform eligible 
 21.11  groups of the availability of child care assistance and related 
 21.12  services; 
 21.13     (4) (3) the provider rates paid for all children by 
 21.14  provider type; 
 21.15     (5) (4) the county prioritization policy for all eligible 
 21.16  groups under the basic sliding fee program and AFDC child care 
 21.17  program; and 
 21.18     (6) a report of all funds available to be used for child 
 21.19  care assistance, including demonstration of compliance with the 
 21.20  maintenance of funding effort required under section 119B.11; 
 21.21  and 
 21.22     (7) (5) other information as requested by the department to 
 21.23  ensure compliance with the child care fund statutes and rules 
 21.24  promulgated by the commissioner. 
 21.25     The commissioner shall notify counties within 60 days of 
 21.26  the date the plan is submitted whether the plan is approved or 
 21.27  the corrections or information needed to approve the plan.  The 
 21.28  commissioner shall withhold a county's allocation until it has 
 21.29  an approved plan.  Plans not approved by the end of the second 
 21.30  quarter after the plan is due may result in a 25 percent 
 21.31  reduction in allocation.  Plans not approved by the end of the 
 21.32  third quarter after the plan is due may result in a 100 percent 
 21.33  reduction in the allocation to the county.  Counties are to 
 21.34  maintain services despite any reduction in their allocation due 
 21.35  to plans not being approved. 
 21.36     Sec. 33.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, 
 22.1   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 22.2      Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL ELIGIBILITY FACTORS REQUIREMENTS 
 22.3   FOR ALL APPLICANTS FOR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.] (a) Child care 
 22.4   services must be available to families who need child care to 
 22.5   find or keep employment or to obtain the training or education 
 22.6   necessary to find employment and who: 
 22.7      (a) (1) meet the requirements of section 119B.05, receive 
 22.8   aid to families with dependent children, and are receiving 
 22.9   employment and training services under section 256.736 or the 
 22.10  state welfare reform program under Public Law Number 104-193, 
 22.11  title I; 
 22.12     (b) (2) have household income below the eligibility levels 
 22.13  for aid to families with dependent children; or 
 22.14     (c) (3) have household income within a range established by 
 22.15  the commissioner. 
 22.16     (d) (b) Child care services for the families receiving aid 
 22.17  to families with dependent children must be made available as 
 22.18  in-kind services, to cover any difference between the actual 
 22.19  cost and the amount disregarded under the aid to families with 
 22.20  dependent children program.  Child care services to families 
 22.21  whose incomes are below the threshold of eligibility for aid to 
 22.22  families with dependent children, but are not AFDC caretakers, 
 22.23  must be made available with the minimum same copayment required 
 22.24  by federal law of AFDC caretakers. 
 22.25     (c) All applicants for child care assistance and families 
 22.26  currently receiving child care assistance shall be assisted and 
 22.27  required to cooperate in establishment of paternity and 
 22.28  enforcement of child support obligations as a condition of 
 22.29  program eligibility. 
 22.30     Sec. 34.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, 
 22.31  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 22.32     Subd. 2.  [SLIDING FEE.] Child care services to families 
 22.33  with incomes in the commissioner's established range must be 
 22.34  made available on a sliding fee basis.  The lower limit of the 
 22.35  sliding fee range must be the eligibility limit for aid to 
 22.36  families with dependent children.  The upper limit of the range 
 23.1   must be neither less than 70 percent nor more than 90 percent of 
 23.2   the state median income for a family of four, adjusted for 
 23.3   family size.  
 23.4      Sec. 35.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, is 
 23.5   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 23.6      Subd. 6.  [MAXIMUM CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.] The maximum 
 23.7   amount of child care assistance a local agency may authorize in 
 23.8   a two-week period is 120 hours per child. 
 23.9      Sec. 36.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, is 
 23.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 23.11     Subd. 7.  [ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE.] The date of 
 23.12  eligibility for child care assistance under this chapter is the 
 23.13  later of the date the application was signed; the beginning date 
 23.14  of employment, education, or training; the date a determination 
 23.15  has been made that the applicant is a participant in employment 
 23.16  and training programs under section 256.736, Minnesota Rules, 
 23.17  part 3400.0080, subpart 2a, or the state welfare reform program 
 23.18  under Public Law Number 104-193, title I.  Payment of child care 
 23.19  assistance for employed persons on AFDC is effective the date of 
 23.20  employment or the date of AFDC eligibility, whichever is later.  
 23.21  Payment of child care assistance for transition year child care 
 23.22  shall be made retroactive to the date of eligibility for 
 23.23  transition year child care. 
 23.24     Sec. 37.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.10, 
 23.25  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 23.26     Subdivision 1.  [ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS SEEKING AND 
 23.27  RETAINING EMPLOYMENT.] (a) Persons who are seeking employment 
 23.28  and who are eligible for assistance under this section are 
 23.29  eligible to receive up to 240 hours of child care assistance per 
 23.30  calendar year.  
 23.31     (b) Employed persons who work at least an average of ten 20 
 23.32  hours a week and receive at least a minimum wage for all hours 
 23.33  worked are eligible for continued child care assistance.  Child 
 23.34  care assistance during employment shall be authorized as 
 23.35  provided in paragraphs (c) and (d). 
 23.36     (c) When the caregiver works for an hourly wage and the 
 24.1   hourly wage is equal to or greater than the applicable minimum 
 24.2   wage, child care assistance shall be provided for the actual 
 24.3   hours of employment, break, and meal time during the employment 
 24.4   and travel time up to two hours per day. 
 24.5      (d) When the caregiver does not work for an hourly wage, 
 24.6   child care assistance shall be provided for the lesser of: 
 24.7      (1) the amount of child care determined by dividing gross 
 24.8   earned income by the applicable minimum wage, up to one hour 
 24.9   every eight hours for meals and break time, plus up to two hours 
 24.10  per day for travel time; or 
 24.11     (2) the amount of child care equal to the actual amount of 
 24.12  child care used during employment, including break and meal time 
 24.13  during employment, and travel time up to two hours per day. 
 24.14     Sec. 38.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.11, 
 24.15  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 24.16     Subdivision 1.  [COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONS REQUIRED.] Beginning 
 24.17  July 1, 1995 1997, in addition to payments from basic sliding 
 24.18  fee child care program participants, counties each county shall 
 24.19  contribute from county tax or other sources at the a fixed local 
 24.20  match percentage calculated according to subdivision 2 equal to 
 24.21  its calendar year 1996 required county contribution reduced by 
 24.22  the administrative funding loss that would have occurred in 
 24.23  state fiscal year 1996 under section 119B.15.  The commissioner 
 24.24  shall recover funds from the county as necessary to bring county 
 24.25  expenditures into compliance with this subdivision. 
 24.26     Sec. 39.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.11, is 
 24.27  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 24.28     Subd. 2a.  [RECOVERY OF OVERPAYMENTS.] If an amount of 
 24.29  child care assistance is paid to a recipient in excess of the 
 24.30  payment due, it shall be recoverable by the county agency.  The 
 24.31  overpayment shall be recovered through recoupment as identified 
 24.32  in Minnesota Rules, part 9565.5110, subpart 11, items A and B, 
 24.33  if the family remains eligible for assistance.  If the family no 
 24.34  longer remains eligible for child care assistance, the county 
 24.35  may choose to initiate efforts to recover overpayments from the 
 24.36  family for overpayment less than $50.  When the amount of the 
 25.1   overpayment is greater than or equal to $50, the county shall 
 25.2   seek voluntary repayment of the overpayment from the family.  If 
 25.3   the county is unable to recoup the overpayment through voluntary 
 25.4   repayment, the county shall initiate civil court proceedings to 
 25.5   recover the overpayment unless the county's costs to recover the 
 25.6   overpayment will exceed the amount of the overpayment.  A family 
 25.7   with an outstanding debt under this item is not eligible for 
 25.8   child care assistance until the debt is paid in full or 
 25.9   satisfactory arrangements are made with the county to retire the 
 25.10  debt. 
 25.11     Sec. 40.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.11, 
 25.12  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 25.13     Subd. 3.  [FEDERAL MONEY; STATE RECOVERY.] The commissioner 
 25.14  shall recover from counties any state or federal money that was 
 25.15  spent for persons found to be ineligible, except if the recovery 
 25.16  is made by a county agency using any method other than 
 25.17  recoupment, the county may keep 25 percent of the recovery.  If 
 25.18  a federal audit exception is taken based on a percentage of 
 25.19  federal earnings, all counties shall pay a share proportional to 
 25.20  their respective federal earnings during the period in question. 
 25.21     Sec. 41.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.13, 
 25.22  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 25.23     Subdivision 1.  [SUBSIDY RESTRICTIONS.] Effective July 1, 
 25.24  1991, the maximum rate paid for child care assistance under the 
 25.25  child care fund is the maximum rate eligible for federal 
 25.26  reimbursement may not exceed the 75th percentile rate for 
 25.27  like-care arrangements in the county as surveyed by the 
 25.28  commissioner.  A rate which includes a provider bonus paid under 
 25.29  subdivision 2 or a special needs rate paid under subdivision 3 
 25.30  may be in excess of the maximum rate allowed under this 
 25.31  subdivision.  The department of children, families, and learning 
 25.32  shall monitor the effect of this paragraph on provider rates.  
 25.33  The county shall pay the provider's full charges for every child 
 25.34  in care up to the maximum established.  The commissioner shall 
 25.35  determine the maximum rate for each type of care, including 
 25.36  special needs and handicapped care.  
 26.1      When the provider charge is greater than the maximum 
 26.2   provider rate allowed, the parent is responsible for payment of 
 26.3   the difference in the rates in addition to any family copayment 
 26.4   fee. 
 26.5      Sec. 42.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.15, is 
 26.6   amended to read: 
 26.7      119B.15 [ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.] 
 26.8      The commissioner shall use up to one-eleventh 1/21 of the 
 26.9   state and federal funds available for the basic sliding fee 
 26.10  program and 1/21 of the state and federal funds available for 
 26.11  the AFDC child care program for payments to counties for 
 26.12  administrative expenses.  
 26.13     Sec. 43.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.16, 
 26.14  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 26.15     Subdivision 1.  [FAIR HEARING ALLOWED.] An applicant or 
 26.16  recipient adversely affected by a county agency action may 
 26.17  request a fair hearing in accordance with section 256.045, 
 26.18  subdivision 3. 
 26.19     Sec. 44.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.20, 
 26.20  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 26.21     Subd. 7.  [FACILITY IMPROVEMENT EXPENSES.] "Facility 
 26.22  improvement expenses" means funds for building improvements, 
 26.23  equipment, toys, and supplies needed to establish, expand, or 
 26.24  improve a licensed child care facility or a child care program 
 26.25  under the jurisdiction of the state a local board of education. 
 26.26     Sec. 45.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.20, 
 26.27  subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
 26.28     Subd. 9.  [MINI-GRANTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
 26.29  AWARDS.] "Mini-grants" "Technical assistance awards" means child 
 26.30  care grants to family child care providers for facility 
 26.31  improvements that are up to $1,000.  Mini-grants Awards include, 
 26.32  but are not limited to, improvements to meet licensing 
 26.33  requirements, improvements to expand a child care facility or 
 26.34  program, toys and equipment, start-up costs, staff training, and 
 26.35  development costs. 
 26.36     Sec. 46.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.20, 
 27.1   subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
 27.2      Subd. 10.  [RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PROGRAM.] "Resource and 
 27.3   referral program" means a program that provides information to 
 27.4   parents, including referrals and coordination of community child 
 27.5   care resources for parents and public or private providers of 
 27.6   care.  It also means the agency with the duties specified in 
 27.7   sections 119B.18 and 119B.19.  Services may include parent 
 27.8   education, technical assistance for providers, staff development 
 27.9   programs, and referrals to social services recruitment of new 
 27.10  providers, parent education, training, technical assistance for 
 27.11  providers, and referrals to social services. 
 27.12     Sec. 47.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 27.13  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 27.14     Subdivision 1.  [GRANTS ESTABLISHED.] The commissioner 
 27.15  shall award grants to develop child care services, including 
 27.16  child care service development grants for start-up and facility 
 27.17  improvement expenses, interim financing, resource and referral 
 27.18  programs, and staff training expenses, and grants for child care 
 27.19  resource and referral programs.  Child care services service 
 27.20  development grants may include mini-grants family child care 
 27.21  technical assistance awards up to $1,000.  The commissioner 
 27.22  shall develop a grant application form, inform county social 
 27.23  service agencies about the availability of child care services 
 27.24  grants, and set a date by which applications must be received by 
 27.25  the commissioner. 
 27.26     The commissioner may renew grants to existing resource and 
 27.27  referral agencies that have met state standards and have been 
 27.28  designated as the child care resource and referral service for a 
 27.29  particular geographical area.  The recipients of renewal grants 
 27.30  are exempt from the proposal review process. 
 27.31     Sec. 48.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 27.32  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 27.33     Subd. 2.  [DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.] (a) The commissioner 
 27.34  shall allocate grant money appropriated for child care service 
 27.35  development among the development regions designated by the 
 27.36  governor under section 462.385, as follows considering the 
 28.1   following factors for each economic development region: 
 28.2      (1) 50 percent of the child care service development grant 
 28.3   appropriation shall be allocated to the metropolitan economic 
 28.4   development region; and 
 28.5      (2) 50 percent of the child care service development grant 
 28.6   appropriation shall be allocated to economic development regions 
 28.7   other than the metropolitan economic development region. 
 28.8      (b) The following formulas shall be used to allocate grant 
 28.9   appropriations among the economic development regions:  
 28.10     (1) 50 percent of the funds shall be allocated in 
 28.11  proportion to the ratio of children under 12 years of age in 
 28.12  each economic development region to the total number of children 
 28.13  under 12 years of age in all economic development regions; and 
 28.14     (2) 50 percent of the funds shall be allocated in 
 28.15  proportion to the ratio of children under 12 years of age in 
 28.16  each economic development region to the number of licensed child 
 28.17  care spaces currently available in each economic development 
 28.18  region the number of children under 13 years of age needing 
 28.19  child care in the service area; 
 28.20     (2) the geographic area served by the agency; 
 28.21     (3) the ratio of children under 13 years of age needing 
 28.22  care to the number of licensed spaces in the service area; 
 28.23     (4) the number of licensed child care providers and 
 28.24  extended day school age child care programs in the service area; 
 28.25  and 
 28.26     (5) other related factors determined by the commissioner. 
 28.27     (c) (b) Out of the amount allocated for each economic 
 28.28  development region, the commissioner shall award grants based on 
 28.29  the recommendation of the grant review child care regional 
 28.30  advisory task force committees.  In addition, the commissioner 
 28.31  shall award no more than 75 percent of the money either to child 
 28.32  care facilities for the purpose of facility improvement or 
 28.33  interim financing or to child care workers for staff training 
 28.34  expenses.  
 28.35     (d) (c) Any funds unobligated may be used by the 
 28.36  commissioner to award grants to proposals that received funding 
 29.1   recommendations by the advisory task force regional advisory 
 29.2   committees but were not awarded due to insufficient funds.  
 29.3      (e) (d) The commissioner may allocate grants under this 
 29.4   section for a two-year period and may carry forward funds from 
 29.5   the first year as necessary. 
 29.6      Sec. 49.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 29.7   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 29.8      Subd. 3.  [CHILD CARE REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES.] Child 
 29.9   care regional advisory committees shall review and make 
 29.10  recommendations to the commissioner on applications for family 
 29.11  child care technical assistance awards and service development 
 29.12  grants under this section.  The commissioner shall appoint the 
 29.13  child care regional advisory committees in each governor's 
 29.14  economic development region.  People appointed under this 
 29.15  subdivision must represent the following constituent groups:  
 29.16  family child care providers, group center providers, parent 
 29.17  users, health services, social services, public schools, Head 
 29.18  Start, employers, and other citizens with demonstrated interest 
 29.19  in child care issues.  Members of the advisory task force with a 
 29.20  direct financial interest in a pending grant proposal may not 
 29.21  provide a recommendation or participate in the ranking of that 
 29.22  grant proposal.  Committee members may be reimbursed for their 
 29.23  actual travel, child care, and child care provider substitute 
 29.24  expenses for up to six committee meetings per year.  The child 
 29.25  care regional advisory committees shall complete their reviews 
 29.26  and forward their recommendations to the commissioner by the 
 29.27  date specified by the commissioner. 
 29.28     Sec. 50.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 29.29  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 29.30     Subd. 4.  [DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FOR CHILD CARE RESOURCE 
 29.31  AND REFERRAL PROGRAMS.] (a) The commissioner shall allocate 
 29.32  funds appropriated for child care resource and referral services 
 29.33  considering the following factors for each economic development 
 29.34  region served by the child care resource and referral agency:  
 29.35     (1) the number of children under 13 years of age needing 
 29.36  child care in the service area; 
 30.1      (2) the geographic area served by the agency; 
 30.2      (3) the ratio of children under 13 years of age needing 
 30.3   care to the number of licensed spaces in the service area; 
 30.4      (4) the number of licensed child care providers and 
 30.5   extended day school age child care programs in the service area; 
 30.6   and 
 30.7      (5) other related factors determined by the commissioner.  
 30.8      (b) The commissioner may renew grants to existing resource 
 30.9   and referral agencies that have met state standards and have 
 30.10  been designated as the child care resource and referral service 
 30.11  for a particular geographical area.  The recipients of renewal 
 30.12  grants are exempt from the proposal review process. 
 30.13     Sec. 51.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 30.14  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 30.15     Subd. 5.  [PURPOSES FOR WHICH A CHILD CARE SERVICES GRANT 
 30.16  MAY BE AWARDED.] The commissioner may award grants for any of 
 30.17  the following purposes: 
 30.18     (1) child care service development grants for the following 
 30.19  purposes: 
 30.20     (i) for creating new licensed day care facilities and 
 30.21  expanding existing facilities, including, but not limited to, 
 30.22  supplies, equipment, facility renovation, and remodeling; 
 30.23     (2) (ii) for improving licensed day care facility programs, 
 30.24  including, but not limited to, staff specialists, staff 
 30.25  training, supplies, equipment, and facility renovation and 
 30.26  remodeling.  In awarding grants for training, priority must be 
 30.27  given to child care workers caring for infants, toddlers, sick 
 30.28  children, children in low-income families, and children with 
 30.29  special needs; 
 30.30     (3) (iii) for supportive child development services 
 30.31  including, but not limited to, in-service training, curriculum 
 30.32  development, consulting specialist, resource centers, and 
 30.33  program and resource materials; 
 30.34     (4) (iv) for carrying out programs including, but not 
 30.35  limited to, staff, supplies, equipment, facility renovation, and 
 30.36  training; 
 31.1      (5) (v) for interim financing; and 
 31.2      (6) for carrying out the resource and referral program 
 31.3   services identified in section 119B.19, subdivision 3 (vi) 
 31.4   family child care technical assistance awards; 
 31.5      (2) child care resource and referral program services 
 31.6   identified in section 119B.19, subdivision 3; or 
 31.7      (3) targeted recruitment initiatives to expand and build 
 31.8   capacity of the child care system. 
 31.9      Sec. 52.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 31.10  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 31.11     Subd. 6.  [FUNDING PRIORITIES; FACILITY IMPROVEMENT AND, 
 31.12  INTERIM FINANCING, AND TRAINING GRANTS.] In evaluating 
 31.13  applications for funding and making recommendations to the 
 31.14  commissioner, the grant review advisory task force child care 
 31.15  regional advisory committees shall rank and give priority to:  
 31.16     (1) new programs or projects, or the expansion or 
 31.17  improvement of existing programs or projects in areas where a 
 31.18  demonstrated need for child care facilities has been shown, with 
 31.19  special emphasis on programs or projects in areas where there is 
 31.20  a shortage of licensed child care; 
 31.21     (2) new programs and projects, or the expansions or 
 31.22  enrichment of existing programs or projects that serve sick 
 31.23  children, infants or toddlers, children with special needs, and 
 31.24  children from low-income families, or parents needing child care 
 31.25  during nonstandard hours; 
 31.26     (3) unlicensed providers who wish to become licensed; and 
 31.27     (4) improvement of existing programs; 
 31.28     (5) child care programs seeking accreditation and child 
 31.29  care providers seeking certification; and 
 31.30     (6) entities that will use grant money for scholarships for 
 31.31  child care workers attending educational or training programs 
 31.32  sponsored by the entity. 
 31.33     Sec. 53.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 31.34  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 31.35     Subd. 8.  [ELIGIBLE GRANT RECIPIENTS.] Eligible recipients 
 31.36  of child care grants are licensed providers of child care, or 
 32.1   those in the process of being licensed, resource and referral 
 32.2   programs, or corporations or public agencies, or any combination 
 32.3   thereof.  With the exception of mini-grants, priority for child 
 32.4   care grants shall be given to grant applicants as follows: 
 32.5      (1) public and private nonprofit agencies; 
 32.6      (2) employer-based child care centers; 
 32.7      (3) for-profit child care centers; and 
 32.8      (4) family day care providers. 
 32.9      Sec. 54.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 32.10  subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
 32.11     Subd. 9.  [GRANT MATCH REQUIREMENTS.] Child care grants for 
 32.12  facility improvements, interim financing, resource and referral, 
 32.13  and staff training and development require a 25 percent local 
 32.14  match by the grant applicant.  A local match is not required for 
 32.15  a minigrant family child care technical assistance award. 
 32.16     Sec. 55.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 32.17  subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
 32.18     Subd. 10.  [CHILD CARE MINI-GRANTS FAMILY CHILD CARE 
 32.19  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AWARDS.] Mini-grants Technical assistance 
 32.20  awards for child care service development must be used by 
 32.21  the family child care provider grantee for facility 
 32.22  improvements, including, but not limited to, improvements to 
 32.23  meet licensing requirements, improvements to expand the 
 32.24  facility, toys and equipment, start-up costs, interim financing, 
 32.25  or staff training and development.  Priority for child care 
 32.26  mini-grants shall be given to grant applicants as follows: 
 32.27     (1) family day care providers; 
 32.28     (2) public and private nonprofit agencies; 
 32.29     (3) employer-based child care centers; and 
 32.30     (4) for-profit child care centers. 
 32.31     Sec. 56.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 32.32  subdivision 11, is amended to read: 
 32.33     Subd. 11.  [ADVISORY TASK FORCE.] The commissioner 
 32.34  shall may convene a statewide advisory task force which shall 
 32.35  advise the commissioner on grants and or other child care issues.
 32.36  The statewide advisory task force shall review and make 
 33.1   recommendations to the commissioner on child care resource and 
 33.2   referral grants and on statewide service development and child 
 33.3   care training grants.  Members of the advisory task force with a 
 33.4   direct financial interest in a resource and referral or a 
 33.5   statewide training proposal may not provide a recommendation or 
 33.6   participate in the ranking of that grant proposal. The following 
 33.7   constituent groups must be represented:  family child care 
 33.8   providers, center providers, parent users, health services, 
 33.9   social services, Head Start, public schools, employers, and 
 33.10  other citizens with demonstrated interest in child care issues.  
 33.11  Each regional grant review committee formed under subdivision 3, 
 33.12  shall appoint a representative to the advisory task 
 33.13  force.  Additional members may be appointed by the commissioner. 
 33.14  The commissioner may convene meetings of the task force as 
 33.15  needed.  Terms of office and removal from office are governed by 
 33.16  the appointing body.  The commissioner may compensate members 
 33.17  for their travel, child care, and child care provider substitute 
 33.18  expenses for meetings of the task force.  The members of the 
 33.19  child care advisory task force shall also meet once with the 
 33.20  interagency advisory committee on child care under section 
 33.21  256H.25. 
 33.22     Sec. 57.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.11, is 
 33.23  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 33.24     Subd. 7e.  [GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT TESTS RULES.] The 
 33.25  state board may amend rules to reflect changes in the national 
 33.26  minimum standard score for passing the General Education 
 33.27  Development (GED) tests. 
 33.28     Sec. 58.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.8355, 
 33.29  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 33.30     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] (a) In order to qualify as 
 33.31  a family services collaborative, a minimum of one school 
 33.32  district, one county, one public health entity, one community 
 33.33  action agency as defined in section 268.53, and one Head Start 
 33.34  grantee if the community action agency is not the designated 
 33.35  federal grantee for the Head Start program must agree in writing 
 33.36  to provide coordinated family services and commit resources to 
 34.1   an integrated fund.  Collaboratives are expected to have broad 
 34.2   community representation, which may include other local 
 34.3   providers, including additional school districts, counties, and 
 34.4   public health entities, other municipalities, public libraries, 
 34.5   existing culturally specific community organizations, tribal 
 34.6   entities, local health organizations, private and nonprofit 
 34.7   service providers, child care providers, local foundations, 
 34.8   community-based service groups, businesses, local transit 
 34.9   authorities or other transportation providers, community action 
 34.10  agencies under section 268.53, senior citizen volunteer 
 34.11  organizations, parent organizations, parents, and sectarian 
 34.12  organizations that provide nonsectarian services. 
 34.13     (b) Community-based collaboratives composed of 
 34.14  representatives of schools, local businesses, local units of 
 34.15  government, parents, students, clergy, health and social 
 34.16  services providers, youth service organizations, and existing 
 34.17  culturally specific community organizations may plan and develop 
 34.18  services for children and youth.  A community-based 
 34.19  collaborative must agree to collaborate with county, school 
 34.20  district, community action, and public health entities.  Their 
 34.21  services may include opportunities for children or youth to 
 34.22  improve child health and development, reduce barriers to 
 34.23  adequate school performance, improve family functioning, provide 
 34.24  community service, enhance self esteem, and develop general 
 34.25  employment skills.  
 34.26     (c) Members of the governing bodies of political 
 34.27  subdivisions involved in the establishment of a family services 
 34.28  collaborative shall select representatives of the 
 34.29  nongovernmental entities listed in paragraph (a) to serve on the 
 34.30  governing board of a collaborative.  The governing body members 
 34.31  of the political subdivisions shall select one or more 
 34.32  representatives of the nongovernmental entities within the 
 34.33  family service collaborative. 
 34.34     Sec. 59.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.17, 
 34.35  subdivision 2e, is amended to read: 
 34.36     Subd. 2e.  [AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP, PUPILS AGE 21 OR 
 35.1   OVER.] The average daily membership for pupils age 21 or over, 
 35.2   is equal to the ratio of the number of yearly hours that the 
 35.3   pupil is in membership to the number of instructional hours in 
 35.4   the district's regular school year.  A pupil enrolled in the 
 35.5   graduation incentives program under section 126.22, subdivision 
 35.6   2, paragraph (b), for more than the number of instructional 
 35.7   hours in the district's regular school year may be counted as 
 35.8   more than one pupil in average daily membership. 
 35.9      Sec. 60.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2615, 
 35.10  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 35.11     Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAM REVIEW AND APPROVAL.] By February 
 35.12  15, 1992, for the 1991-1992 school year or by January 1 of May 1 
 35.13  preceding subsequent school years, a district must submit to the 
 35.14  commissioners of children, families, and learning, and health, 
 35.15  human services, and economic security:  
 35.16     (1) a description of the services to be provided; 
 35.17     (2) a plan to ensure children at greatest risk receive 
 35.18  appropriate services; 
 35.19     (3) a description of procedures and methods to be used to 
 35.20  coordinate public and private resources to maximize use of 
 35.21  existing community resources, including school districts, health 
 35.22  care facilities, government agencies, neighborhood 
 35.23  organizations, and other resources knowledgeable in early 
 35.24  childhood development; 
 35.25     (4) comments about the district's proposed program by the 
 35.26  advisory council required by section 121.831, subdivision 7; and 
 35.27     (5) agreements with all participating service providers.  
 35.28     Each commissioner may review and comment on the program, 
 35.29  and make recommendations to the commissioner of children, 
 35.30  families, and learning, within 30 days of receiving the plan. 
 35.31     Sec. 61.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2615, 
 35.32  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 35.33     Subd. 2.  [AMOUNT OF AID.] (a) A district is eligible to 
 35.34  receive learning readiness aid if the program plan as required 
 35.35  by subdivision 1 has been approved by the commissioner of 
 35.36  children, families, and learning.  The aid is equal to: 
 36.1      (1) $200 for fiscal year 1992 and $300 for fiscal year 1993 
 36.2   times the number of eligible four-year old children residing in 
 36.3   the district, as determined according to section 124.2711, 
 36.4   subdivision 2; plus 
 36.5      (2) $100 for fiscal year 1992 and $300 for fiscal year 1993 
 36.6   times the result of; 
 36.7      (3) the ratio of the number of pupils enrolled in the 
 36.8   school district from families eligible for the free or reduced 
 36.9   school lunch program to the total number of pupils enrolled in 
 36.10  the school district; times 
 36.11     (4) the number of children in clause (1). 
 36.12     (b) For fiscal year 1994 1998 and thereafter, a district 
 36.13  shall receive learning readiness aid equal to: 
 36.14     (1) the number of eligible four-year old children in the 
 36.15  district times the ratio of 50 percent of the total learning 
 36.16  readiness aid for that year to the total number of eligible 
 36.17  four-year old children reported to the commissioner for that 
 36.18  year; plus 
 36.19     (2) the number of participating eligible children times the 
 36.20  ratio of 15 percent of the total learning readiness aid for that 
 36.21  year to the total number of participating eligible children for 
 36.22  that year; plus 
 36.23     (3) the number of pupils enrolled in the school district 
 36.24  from families eligible for the free or reduced school lunch 
 36.25  program times the ratio of 35 50 percent of the total learning 
 36.26  readiness aid for that year to the total number of pupils in the 
 36.27  state from families eligible for the free or reduced school 
 36.28  lunch program. 
 36.29     Sec. 62.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.913, 
 36.30  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 36.31     Subd. 2.  [PROGRAM ACCOUNT 20.] "Program account 20" means 
 36.32  the federally designated and funded account limited to for 
 36.33  training and technical assistance activities. 
 36.34     Sec. 63.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.913, 
 36.35  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 36.36     Subd. 4.  [PROGRAM ACCOUNT 26 25.] "Program account 26 25" 
 37.1   means the federally designated and funded account that can only 
 37.2   be used to provide special services to handicapped diagnosed 
 37.3   children for parent child centers. 
 37.4      Sec. 64.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.914, 
 37.5   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 37.6      Subdivision 1.  [STATE SUPPLEMENT FOR FEDERAL GRANTEES.] 
 37.7   (a) The commissioner of economic security shall distribute money 
 37.8   appropriated for that purpose to Head Start program grantees to 
 37.9   expand services to and to serve additional low-income children.  
 37.10  Money must be allocated to each project Head Start grantee in 
 37.11  existence on the effective date of Laws 1989, chapter 282.  
 37.12  Migrant and Indian reservation grantees must be initially 
 37.13  allocated money based on the grantees' share of federal funds.  
 37.14  The remaining money must be initially allocated to the remaining 
 37.15  local agencies based equally on the agencies' share of federal 
 37.16  funds and on the proportion of eligible children in the 
 37.17  agencies' service area who are not currently being served.  A 
 37.18  Head Start grantee must be funded at a per child rate equal to 
 37.19  its contracted, federally funded base level for program accounts 
 37.20  20 to 26, 22, and 25 at the start of the fiscal year.  In 
 37.21  allocating funds under this paragraph, the commissioner of 
 37.22  economic security must assure that each Head Start grantee is 
 37.23  allocated no less funding in any fiscal year than was allocated 
 37.24  to that grantee in fiscal year 1993.  The commissioner may 
 37.25  provide additional funding to grantees for start-up costs 
 37.26  incurred by grantees due to the increased number of children to 
 37.27  be served.  Before paying money to the grantees, the 
 37.28  commissioner shall notify each grantee of its initial 
 37.29  allocation, how the money must be used, and the number of 
 37.30  low-income children that must be served with the allocation.  
 37.31  Each grantee must notify the commissioner of the number of 
 37.32  additional low-income children it will be able to serve.  For 
 37.33  any grantee that cannot serve additional children to its full 
 37.34  allocation, the commissioner shall reduce the allocation 
 37.35  proportionately.  Money available after the initial allocations 
 37.36  are reduced must be redistributed to eligible grantees. 
 38.1      (b) Up to 11 percent of the funds appropriated annually may 
 38.2   be used to provide grants to local Head Start agencies to 
 38.3   provide funds for innovative programs designed either to target 
 38.4   Head Start resources to particular at-risk groups of children or 
 38.5   to provide services in addition to those currently allowable 
 38.6   under federal Head Start regulations.  The commissioner shall 
 38.7   award funds for innovative programs under this paragraph on a 
 38.8   competitive basis. 
 38.9      Sec. 65.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.] 
 38.10     The Minnesota Institute for Early Childhood Professional 
 38.11  Development shall make recommendations by January 15, 1998, 
 38.12  related to the qualifications for child care center staff and 
 38.13  family child care providers to the commissioners of human 
 38.14  services and children, families, and learning and the Minnesota 
 38.15  state legislature.  Recommendations must be made in the 
 38.16  following areas: 
 38.17     (1) whether the procedures for licensing individuals should 
 38.18  be separated from the licensing of the program and physical 
 38.19  plant of child care centers and homes; 
 38.20     (2) what entity would be the most appropriate to issue 
 38.21  individual licenses; 
 38.22     (3) core competencies which are based on the age of the 
 38.23  children served and type of provider; and 
 38.24     (4) the amount of preservice training, experience, and 
 38.25  in-service training for child care providers.  
 38.26     Sec. 66.  [REPEALER.] 
 38.27     Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 119B.03, subdivision 7; 
 38.28  119B.05, subdivisions 2 and 3; 119B.11, subdivision 2; 119B.19, 
 38.29  subdivision 2; 119B.21, subdivision 7; 121.8355, subdivision 1a; 
 38.30  and 268.913, subdivision 5, are repealed. 
 38.31                             ARTICLE 2
 38.32                          EARLY CHILDHOOD
 38.33     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2711, 
 38.34  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 38.35     Subdivision 1.  [REVENUE.] The revenue for early childhood 
 38.36  family education programs for a school district equals $101.25 
 39.1   for 1993 1998 and $112.70 for 1999 and later fiscal years times 
 39.2   the greater of: 
 39.3      (1) 150; or 
 39.4      (2) the number of people under five years of age residing 
 39.5   in the school district on October 1 of the previous school year. 
 39.6      Sec. 2.  [ADDITIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION AID; 
 39.7   FISCAL YEAR 1998.] 
 39.8      If a district complies with the provisions of Minnesota 
 39.9   Statutes, section 121.882, it shall receive additional early 
 39.10  childhood family education aid for fiscal year 1998 equal to 
 39.11  $6.70 times the greater of: 
 39.12     (1) 150; or 
 39.13     (2) the number of people under five years of age residing 
 39.14  in the school district on October 1 of the previous school 
 39.15  year.  The additional early childhood family education aid may 
 39.16  be used only for early childhood family education programs. 
 39.17     Sec. 3.  [MINNESOTA ADOLESCENT PARENTING PROGRAM GRANT.] 
 39.18     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A grant program is 
 39.19  established to provide school-based, comprehensive 
 39.20  community-linked programs for ensuring the long-term 
 39.21  self-sufficiency of adolescent families and the development and 
 39.22  school readiness of their children. 
 39.23     Subd. 1a.  [DEFINITION.] For purposes of this section, 
 39.24  pregnancy prevention means to prevent pregnancies from 
 39.25  occurring, and does not include abortion services. 
 39.26     Subd. 2.  [GOALS.] The goals of the adolescent parenting 
 39.27  grant programs are to: 
 39.28     (1) assist pregnant and parenting adolescents to make 
 39.29  significant gains in school attendance, attainment of state 
 39.30  graduation standards, and acquisition of school to career 
 39.31  skills; 
 39.32     (2) prevent child abuse and neglect by improving the 
 39.33  parenting and communication skills of pregnant and parenting 
 39.34  adolescents; 
 39.35     (3) reduce long-term welfare dependency among adolescent 
 39.36  parents; and 
 40.1      (4) improve the outcomes for adolescent parents and their 
 40.2   children in the number of healthy births; pregnancy prevention; 
 40.3   cognitive, social, linguistic, and emotional development; 
 40.4   immunization rates; access to primary health care; and school 
 40.5   readiness. 
 40.6      Subd. 3.  [ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.] The following students are 
 40.7   eligible for support services under the adolescent parenting 
 40.8   grant program: 
 40.9      (1) any student enrolled in a school district with an 
 40.10  approved adolescent parenting program who is age 21 or younger 
 40.11  and who is an expectant parent, custodial parent, or 
 40.12  noncustodial parent; and 
 40.13     (2) any child of a student as defined in clause (1) who is 
 40.14  under the age of five and is not yet enrolled in kindergarten. 
 40.15     Subd. 4.  [GRANT APPLICATION.] A school district, group of 
 40.16  school districts, alternative learning programs approved by the 
 40.17  commissioner, or family service collaboratives may apply for an 
 40.18  adolescent parenting program grant to the commissioner of 
 40.19  children, families, and learning.  The application shall include 
 40.20  a detailed description of the program, including a description 
 40.21  of the population to be served by the program, a description of 
 40.22  the community agency or agencies collaborating with the site to 
 40.23  provide support services, an explanation of how each of the 
 40.24  program components will contribute to achieving program 
 40.25  outcomes, the number of pupils to be served by the pilot 
 40.26  program, a detailed budget that demonstrates the capacity to 
 40.27  achieve the program's goals, and a comprehensive evaluation plan 
 40.28  for measuring progress toward achieving the program's goals. 
 40.29     Subd. 5.  [PROGRAM COMPONENTS.] An adolescent parenting 
 40.30  program must include: 
 40.31     (1) a high quality educational program provided in the 
 40.32  least restrictive environment that includes strategies to ensure 
 40.33  access to educational services, including flexible attendance 
 40.34  policies and class scheduling, and grants academic credit for 
 40.35  all work completed; 
 40.36     (2) to the extent possible, collaboration with other 
 41.1   governmental agencies and community-based organizations to 
 41.2   provide on-site support services, including child care; 
 41.3      (3) an individualized learning plan for each eligible 
 41.4   student that includes career goals; 
 41.5      (4) assurance of compliance with requirements of Public Law 
 41.6   Number 92-318, title IX, prohibiting discrimination against 
 41.7   students due to their pregnant or parenting status; 
 41.8      (5) courses in parent education and life skills; 
 41.9      (6) accountability measures for student performance linked 
 41.10  to graduation standards; 
 41.11     (7) professional development opportunities on adolescent 
 41.12  pregnancy and parenting issues and strategies to achieve 
 41.13  academic success with this student population; 
 41.14     (8) a system to document that adolescent parenting and 
 41.15  prevention support funds were used to provide support services 
 41.16  to eligible students; 
 41.17     (9) a comprehensive assessment of the district's adolescent 
 41.18  pregnancy prevention programs and recommendations for 
 41.19  improvements; 
 41.20     (10) a system for collecting and reporting specific student 
 41.21  data, including goals and outcome measurements; and 
 41.22     (11) a program advisory council, which may consist of an 
 41.23  existing local council. 
 41.24     Subd. 6.  [PROGRAM EVALUATION AND REPORT.] The commissioner 
 41.25  of children, families, and learning must conduct an evaluation 
 41.26  of the adolescent parenting program after one year of 
 41.27  implementation.  The commissioner must evaluate the program's 
 41.28  impact on school attendance, academic achievement, graduation 
 41.29  rates, parenting skills, health, and other outcomes that may be 
 41.30  identified by the commissioner.  The commissioner must report on 
 41.31  the evaluation results to the chairs of the children, families, 
 41.32  and learning committees of the legislature by January 15, 1999. 
 41.33     Sec. 4.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 41.34     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 41.35  LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
 41.36  from the general fund to the department of children, families, 
 42.1   and learning for the fiscal years designated.  
 42.2      Subd. 2.  [PART H.] For the department of children, 
 42.3   families, and learning's share of the state's obligation under 
 42.4   Part H according to Minnesota Statutes, section 120.1701: 
 42.5        $400,000       .....     1998 
 42.6      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 42.7   available in the second year. 
 42.8      Subd. 3.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION AID.] For early 
 42.9   childhood family education aid according to Minnesota Statutes, 
 42.10  section 124.2711: 
 42.11       $14,554,000    .....     1998 
 42.12       $13,668,000    .....     1999
 42.13     The 1998 appropriation includes $1,357,000 for 1997 and 
 42.14  $13,197,000 for 1998.  
 42.15     The 1999 appropriation includes $1,466,000 for 1998 and 
 42.16  $12,202,000 for 1999.  
 42.17     $10,000 each year may be spent for evaluation of early 
 42.18  childhood family education programs.  
 42.19     Subd. 4.  [HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING AID.] For 
 42.20  health and developmental screening aid according to Minnesota 
 42.21  Statutes, sections 123.702 and 123.7045: 
 42.22       $1,550,000     .....     1998 
 42.23       $1,550,000     .....     1999 
 42.24     The 1998 appropriation includes $155,000 for 1997 and 
 42.25  $1,395,000 for 1998.  
 42.26     The 1999 appropriation includes $155,000 for 1998 and 
 42.27  $1,395,000 for 1999.  
 42.28     Subd. 5.  [LEARNING READINESS PROGRAM REVENUE.] For revenue 
 42.29  for learning readiness programs according to Minnesota Statutes, 
 42.30  sections 121.831 and 124.2615: 
 42.31       $10,316,000    .....     1998
 42.32       $10,405,000    .....     1999
 42.33     The 1998 appropriation includes $949,000 for 1997 and 
 42.34  $9,367,000 for 1998. 
 42.35     The 1999 appropriation includes $1,040,000 for 1998 and 
 42.36  $9,365,000 for 1999.  
 43.1      $10,000 each year may be spent for evaluation of learning 
 43.2   readiness programs. 
 43.3      Subd. 6.  [WAY TO GROW.] For grants for existing way to 
 43.4   grow programs according to Minnesota Statutes, section 121.835:  
 43.5        $475,000       .....     1998
 43.6        $475,000       .....     1999
 43.7      Subd. 7.  [HEAD START PROGRAM.] For Head Start programs 
 43.8   according to Minnesota Statutes, section 268.914: 
 43.9        $20,006,000    .....     1998
 43.10       $20,006,000    .....     1999
 43.11     The commissioner may use up to two percent each year for 
 43.12  state operations. 
 43.13     Subd. 8.  [ADOLESCENT PARENTING GRANT.] For adolescent 
 43.14  parenting grants pursuant to section 4: 
 43.15       $1,000,000     .....     1998 
 43.16     Any balance the first year does not cancel but is available 
 43.17  in the second year.  This money is available for 1998-1999 
 43.18  only.  Up to $750,000 is for grants to Minnesota school 
 43.19  districts, area learning centers, or family service 
 43.20  collaboratives for adolescent parenting services.  The 
 43.21  commissioner must include in the criteria for grant awards the 
 43.22  number of enrolled students who are custodial, noncustodial, or 
 43.23  expectant parents.  A grant to a single school site may not 
 43.24  exceed $50,000. 
 43.25     Up to $250,000 is for grants to school-based early 
 43.26  childhood programs in Minnesota school districts for services to 
 43.27  children of adolescent parents who remain enrolled in a public 
 43.28  school district. 
 43.29     A grant to a single early childhood site may not exceed 
 43.30  $25,000. 
 43.31     The commissioner shall make grants under this section to 
 43.32  the Minneapolis school district and at least two nonmetropolitan 
 43.33  adolescent parenting programs. 
 43.34     Where applicable, the department shall assure the 
 43.35  coordination of male responsibility grants, the Minnesota 
 43.36  adolescent parenting program, MN ENABL, and any federal 
 44.1   resources available to serve pregnant or parenting adolescents 
 44.2   or programs for the prevention of pregnancy. 
 44.3                              ARTICLE 3
 44.4                  COMMUNITY AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS
 44.5      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 517.08, 
 44.6   subdivision 1c, is amended to read: 
 44.7      Subd. 1c.  [DISPOSITION OF LICENSE FEE.] Of the marriage 
 44.8   license fee collected pursuant to subdivision 1b, the court 
 44.9   administrator shall pay $55 to the state treasurer to be 
 44.10  deposited as follows: 
 44.11     (1) $50 in the general fund; 
 44.12     (2) $3 in the special revenue fund to be appropriated to 
 44.13  the commissioner of human services children, families, and 
 44.14  learning for supervised visitation facilities under section 
 44.15  256F.09; and 
 44.16     (3) $2 in the special revenue fund to be appropriated to 
 44.17  the commissioner of health for developing and implementing the 
 44.18  MN ENABL program under section 145.9255. 
 44.19     Sec. 2.  [CITIZENSHIP PROMOTION PROGRAM.] 
 44.20     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A statewide citizenship 
 44.21  promotion program is established to assist legal immigrants 
 44.22  eligible to apply for United States citizenship.  The program 
 44.23  must consist of workshops designed to assist with citizenship 
 44.24  application procedures, citizenship and English for citizenship 
 44.25  classes, video citizenship instruction, and public education and 
 44.26  information. 
 44.27     Subd. 2.  [GRANTS APPLICATION.] The commissioner of 
 44.28  children, families, and learning shall award grants to public or 
 44.29  nonprofit organizations to operate the citizenship promotion 
 44.30  program.  Grants targeted for ethnic and geographic groups of 
 44.31  immigrants must be approximately proportional to the number of 
 44.32  immigrants eligible to apply for naturalization in the group and 
 44.33  the level of program activities necessary to assist a particular 
 44.34  group to attain citizenship.  The organizations may include 
 44.35  community-based ethnic or religious groups, school districts, 
 44.36  post-secondary institutions, community action agencies, family 
 45.1   service collaboratives, workforce development centers, and 
 45.2   advocacy groups. 
 45.3      (a) To be eligible to receive a grant, an organization must:
 45.4      (1) have documented experience in programs specifically 
 45.5   designed for immigrant and refugee populations; 
 45.6      (2) provide access to legal counseling; 
 45.7      (3) provide bilingual teaching for preliterate, vulnerable 
 45.8   populations and for those eligible for waiver of the English 
 45.9   requirements; 
 45.10     (4) have facilities accessible to physically handicapped 
 45.11  learners; 
 45.12     (5) ensure that no more than five percent of grant funds 
 45.13  will be used for administration; and 
 45.14     (6) have a system for fiscal accounting and reporting. 
 45.15     (b) Grant applications must include: 
 45.16     (1) demonstrated organizational experience in English or 
 45.17  citizenship instruction; 
 45.18     (2) population target goals for attaining citizenship; 
 45.19     (3) proposed class sizes and schedules; 
 45.20     (4) outreach and recruitment plans; and 
 45.21     (5) staff expertise description and training plans. 
 45.22     (c) Grants to operate application procedure workshops and 
 45.23  to expand citizenship and English for citizenship classes must 
 45.24  be awarded by September 15, 1997, with initial funding to target 
 45.25  services to legal immigrants who have lost eligibility for 
 45.26  federal SSI and Food Stamp programs. 
 45.27     Subd. 3.  [CENTRAL OFFICES.] The commissioner must award a 
 45.28  grant to an organization as referenced in subdivision 2 for the 
 45.29  establishment of a central coordinating office by August 15, 
 45.30  1997.  The office must include a citizenship resource library 
 45.31  containing class curricula, lesson plans, instructor training 
 45.32  guides, and other resource materials.  Staff must be responsible 
 45.33  for statewide communication, instructor and volunteer 
 45.34  recruitment and training, issuance of requests for proposals, 
 45.35  and initial screening of proposals for funding. 
 45.36     Subd. 4.  [PROGRAM COMPONENTS.] The citizenship promotion 
 46.1   program must include: 
 46.2      (1) a public education program that prepares and 
 46.3   distributes information about citizenship eligibility 
 46.4   requirements, application procedures, test requirements, and 
 46.5   opportunities for assistance; 
 46.6      (2) workshops to assist applicants for naturalization with 
 46.7   the application process.  Applications must be screened for 
 46.8   completeness and legal advice must be available to applicants 
 46.9   before applications are submitted to the United States 
 46.10  Immigration and Naturalization Service.  Participants in 
 46.11  workshops must be screened for English proficiency and, upon 
 46.12  request, enrolled in appropriate classes to prepare for the 
 46.13  examination; 
 46.14     (3) support for existing classes for citizenship and 
 46.15  English for citizenship and identification of new providers in 
 46.16  underserved areas of the state.  Classes must be supported and 
 46.17  offered in native languages for those able to take the 
 46.18  citizenship test in their native language.  Within the limits of 
 46.19  available funding, transportation, child care, and interpreter 
 46.20  services must be provided; and 
 46.21     (4) a video instruction series to provide citizenship 
 46.22  education throughout the state. 
 46.23     Subd. 5.  [ADVISORY TASK FORCE.] The commissioner may 
 46.24  create an advisory task force under section 15.014 to advise the 
 46.25  commissioner on the citizenship promotion program.  Members of 
 46.26  the advisory task force must not participate in grant 
 46.27  discussions in which they have a proposal for funding. 
 46.28     Subd. 6.  [TESTIMONY.] The commissioner shall present 
 46.29  testimony by February 1, 1998, to the family and early childhood 
 46.30  education budget division in the senate and the family and early 
 46.31  childhood education finance division in the house of 
 46.32  representatives that summarizes the program activities, 
 46.33  outcomes, and recommendations regarding the need for 
 46.34  continuation. 
 46.35     Sec. 3.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 46.36     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 47.1   LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
 47.2   from the general fund to the department of children, families, 
 47.3   and learning for the fiscal years designated. 
 47.4      Subd. 2.  [ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AID.] For adult basic 
 47.5   education aid according to Minnesota Statutes, sections 124.26 
 47.6   in fiscal year 1998 and 124.2601 in fiscal year 1999:  
 47.7        $11,209,000    .....     1998
 47.8        $11,524,000    .....     1999 
 47.9      The 1998 appropriation includes $837,000 for 1997 and 
 47.10  $10,372,000 for 1998.  
 47.11     The 1999 appropriation includes $1,152,000 for 1998 and 
 47.12  $10,372,000 for 1999.  
 47.13     Up to $199,000 each year may be used for contracts with 
 47.14  private, nonprofit organizations for approved programs.  
 47.15     Subd. 3.  [ADULT GRADUATION AID.] For adult graduation aid 
 47.16  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 124.261: 
 47.17       $2,290,000     .....     1998
 47.18       $2,295,000     .....     1999
 47.19     The 1998 appropriation includes $224,000 for 1997 and 
 47.20  $2,066,000 for 1998.  
 47.21     The 1999 appropriation includes $230,000 for 1998 and 
 47.22  $2,065,000 for 1999.  
 47.23     Subd. 4.  [ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED DRIVER.] (a) For grants with 
 47.24  funds received under Minnesota Statutes, section 171.29, 
 47.25  subdivision 2, paragraph (b), clause (4): 
 47.26       $514,000       .....     1998
 47.27       $514,000       .....     1999
 47.28     (b) These appropriations are from the alcohol-impaired 
 47.29  driver account of the special revenue fund.  Any funds credited 
 47.30  for the department of children, families, and learning to the 
 47.31  alcohol-impaired driver account of the special revenue fund in 
 47.32  excess of the amounts appropriated in this subdivision are 
 47.33  appropriated to the department of children, families, and 
 47.34  learning and available in fiscal year 1998 and fiscal year 1999. 
 47.35     (c) Up to $226,000 each year may be used by the department 
 47.36  of children, families, and learning to contract for services to 
 48.1   school districts stressing the dangers of driving after 
 48.2   consuming alcohol.  No more than five percent of this amount may 
 48.3   be used for administrative costs by the contract recipients. 
 48.4      (d) Up to $88,000 each year may be used for grants to 
 48.5   support student-centered programs to discourage driving after 
 48.6   consuming alcohol. 
 48.7      (e) Up to $200,000 and any additional funds each year may 
 48.8   be used for chemical abuse prevention grants.  This amount must 
 48.9   be used for grants to provide a match for at least two community 
 48.10  collaborative projects for children and youth developed by a 
 48.11  regional organization established under Minnesota Statutes. 
 48.12     The regional organization must include a broad 
 48.13  cross-section of public and private sector community 
 48.14  representatives to address specific community needs of children 
 48.15  and youth.  The regional organization that receives a grant must 
 48.16  provide a two-to-one match of nonstate dollars. 
 48.17     Subd. 5.  [GED TESTS.] For payment of 60 percent of the 
 48.18  costs of GED tests according to Laws 1993, chapter 224, article 
 48.19  4, section 44, subdivision 10: 
 48.20       $125,000       .....     1998
 48.21       $125,000       .....     1999
 48.22     Subd. 6.  [VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATION GRANTS.] For 
 48.23  violence prevention education grants according to Minnesota 
 48.24  Statutes, section 126.78: 
 48.25       $1,500,000     .....     1998
 48.26       $1,500,000     .....     1999
 48.27     Of the amount each year, $50,000 is for program 
 48.28  administration. 
 48.29     Subd. 7.  [MALE RESPONSIBILITY.] For male responsibility 
 48.30  and fathering grants according to Minnesota Statutes, section 
 48.31  126.84: 
 48.32       $375,000       .....     1998
 48.33       $375,000       .....     1999
 48.34     The commissioner of children, families, and learning may 
 48.35  enter into cooperative agreements with the commissioner of human 
 48.36  services to access federal money for child support and paternity 
 49.1   education programs. 
 49.2      Where applicable, the department shall assure the 
 49.3   coordination of male responsibility grants, the Minnesota 
 49.4   adolescent parenting program, MN ENABL, and any federal 
 49.5   resources available to serve pregnant or parenting adolescents 
 49.6   or programs for the prevention of pregnancy. 
 49.7      Subd. 8.  [AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT GRANTS.] For after 
 49.8   school enrichment grants according to Laws 1996, chapter 412, 
 49.9   article 4, section 30: 
 49.10       $4,298,000     .....     1998
 49.11       $4,650,000     .....     1999
 49.12     The commissioner may use up to five percent of this 
 49.13  appropriation to provide technical assistance and evaluation to 
 49.14  community organizations. 
 49.15     Subd. 9.  [ABUSED CHILDREN.] For abused children programs 
 49.16  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119A.21: 
 49.17       $1,048,000     .....     1998 
 49.18       $1,079,000     .....     1999
 49.19     Subd. 10.  [DRUG POLICY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.] 
 49.20  For drug policy and violence prevention programs according to 
 49.21  Minnesota Statutes, sections 119A.25 to 119A.33; and for 
 49.22  visitation facilities according to Minnesota Statutes, sections 
 49.23  256.09 and 517.08, subdivision 1c: 
 49.24       $2,912,000     .....     1998
 49.25       $2,980,000     .....     1999
 49.26     Of the appropriation, $500,000 each year is for the 
 49.27  children's cabinet for grants for mentoring at-risk youth. 
 49.28     Of the fiscal year 1998 appropriation, up to $150,000 may 
 49.29  be used for a grant to the Grant Hussey Foundation for 
 49.30  implementation of Project Protect.  Any balance in the first 
 49.31  year does not cancel but is available in the second year. 
 49.32     $192,000 is appropriated from the state government special 
 49.33  revenue fund to the commissioner of children, families, and 
 49.34  learning for visitation facilities under Minnesota Statutes, 
 49.35  sections 256F.09 and 517.08, subdivision 1c.  $96,000 is 
 49.36  available for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and 
 50.1   $96,000 is available for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 
 50.2   1998.  Any unencumbered balance remaining in the first year does 
 50.3   not cancel and is available in the second year. 
 50.4      Subd. 11.  [CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND.] For children's trust 
 50.5   fund according to Minnesota Statutes, sections 119A.12 and 
 50.6   119A.13: 
 50.7        $247,000       .....     1998
 50.8        $247,000       .....     1999
 50.9      Subd. 12.  [ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM AID.] For 
 50.10  adults with disabilities programs according to Minnesota 
 50.11  Statutes, section 124.2715: 
 50.12       $670,000       .....     1998 
 50.13       $670,000       .....     1999 
 50.14     Subd. 13.  [COMMUNITY EDUCATION AID.] For community 
 50.15  education aid according to Minnesota Statutes, section 124.2713: 
 50.16       $1,828,000     .....     1998 
 50.17       $1,619,000     .....     1999
 50.18     The 1998 appropriation includes $236,000 for 1997 and 
 50.19  $1,592,000 for 1998.  
 50.20     The 1999 appropriation includes $175,000 for 1998 and 
 50.21  $1,444,000 for 1999.  
 50.22     Subd. 14.  [EXTENDED DAY AID.] For extended day aid 
 50.23  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 124.2716: 
 50.24       $347,000       .....     1998 
 50.25       $304,000       .....     1999
 50.26     The 1998 appropriation includes $37,000 for 1997 and 
 50.27  $310,000 for 1998. 
 50.28     The 1999 appropriation includes $34,000 for 1998 and 
 50.29  $270,000 for 1999. 
 50.30     Subd. 15.  [FAMILY COLLABORATIVES.] For family 
 50.31  collaboratives according to Laws 1995, First Special Session 
 50.32  chapter 3, article 4, section 29, subdivision 10: 
 50.33       $7,500,000     .....     1998
 50.34       $7,500,000     .....     1999
 50.35     Of the appropriation, $150,000 each year is for grants 
 50.36  targeted to assist in providing collaborative children's library 
 51.1   service programs.  To be eligible, a family collaborative grant 
 51.2   recipient must collaborate with at least one public library and 
 51.3   one children's or family organization.  The public library must 
 51.4   involve the regional public library system and multitype library 
 51.5   system to which it belongs in the planning and provide for an 
 51.6   evaluation of the program. 
 51.7      No more than 2.5 percent of the appropriation is available 
 51.8   to the state to administer and evaluate the grant program. 
 51.9      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 51.10  available in the second year. 
 51.11     Subd. 16.  [HEARING-IMPAIRED ADULTS.] For programs for 
 51.12  hearing-impaired adults according to Minnesota Statutes, section 
 51.13  121.201: 
 51.14       $70,000        .....     1998
 51.15       $70,000        .....     1999
 51.16     Subd. 17.  [CITIZENSHIP PROMOTION PROGRAM.] For the 
 51.17  citizenship promotion program according to section 2: 
 51.18       $1,800,000     .....     1998 
 51.19     Of the appropriation, no more than $150,000 may be used for 
 51.20  the purposes of section 2, subdivision 3.  Any balance in the 
 51.21  first year does not cancel but is available the second year. 
 51.22     Subd. 18.  [CHILD GUIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM.] For the 
 51.23  southwest and west central service cooperative to operate the 
 51.24  Willmar child guide prevention program for children in 
 51.25  kindergarten through grade 8 in independent school district No. 
 51.26  347, Willmar: 
 51.27       $357,000       .....     1998
 51.28     Sec. 4.  [REPEALER.] 
 51.29     Section 2 is repealed June 30, 1999. 
 51.30                             ARTICLE 4
 51.31                          SELF-SUFFICIENCY
 51.32     Section 1.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 51.33     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 51.34  LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
 51.35  from the general fund to the department of children, families, 
 51.36  and learning for the fiscal years designated. 
 52.1      Subd. 2.  [MINNESOTA ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY GRANTS.] For 
 52.2   Minnesota economic opportunity grants according to Minnesota 
 52.3   Statutes, section 268.52: 
 52.4        $10,000,000    .....     1998
 52.5        $10,000,000    .....     1999
 52.6      Of this appropriation, the commissioner may use up to 5.7 
 52.7   percent each year for state operations. 
 52.8      Subd. 3.  [TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS.] For transitional 
 52.9   housing programs according to Minnesota Statutes, section 268.38:
 52.10       $2,035,000     .....     1998
 52.11       $2,035,000     .....     1999
 52.12     Subd. 4.  [EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE.] For emergency food 
 52.13  assistance according to Laws 1995, chapter 224, section 5, 
 52.14  subdivision 3: 
 52.15       $97,000        .....     1998
 52.16       $97,000        .....     1999
 52.17     Subd. 5.  [FOOD BANK PROGRAM.] For foodshelf programs 
 52.18  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 268.55: 
 52.19       $1,500,000     .....     1998
 52.20       $1,500,000     .....     1999
 52.21                             ARTICLE 5
 52.22                             CHILD CARE
 52.23     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.18, is 
 52.24  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 52.25     Subd. 3.  [CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING LOANS.] 
 52.26  The commissioner shall establish a child development education 
 52.27  and training loan program to be administered by the regional 
 52.28  child care resource and referral programs.  The commissioner 
 52.29  shall establish application procedures, eligibility criteria, 
 52.30  terms, and other conditions necessary to make educational loans 
 52.31  under this section.  A single applicant may not receive more 
 52.32  than $1,500 per year under this program.  All or part of the 
 52.33  loan may be forgiven if the applicant continues to provide child 
 52.34  care services for a period of 12 months following the completion 
 52.35  of all courses paid for by the educational loan. 
 52.36     Sec. 2.  [REPORT.] 
 53.1      The commissioner shall report to the family and early 
 53.2   childhood education budget division of the senate and the family 
 53.3   and early childhood education finance division of the house of 
 53.4   representatives by January 15, 1998, on the child development 
 53.5   education and training loan program. 
 53.6      Sec. 3.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 53.7      Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 53.8   LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
 53.9   from the general fund to the department of children, families, 
 53.10  and learning for the fiscal years designated.  The commissioner 
 53.11  shall encourage the use of child care dollars for the 
 53.12  development of collaborative partnerships with Head Start. 
 53.13     Subd. 2.  [BASIC SLIDING FEE CHILD CARE.] For child care 
 53.14  assistance according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03: 
 53.15       $41,751,000    .....     1998 
 53.16       $50,751,000    .....     1999
 53.17     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 53.18  available the second year. 
 53.19     Subd. 3.  [TANF CHILD CARE.] For child care assistance 
 53.20  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.05: 
 53.21       $34,331,000    .....     1998 
 53.22       $64,838,000    .....     1999
 53.23     Up to $1,000,000 of the fiscal year 1998 appropriation may 
 53.24  be used for grants in article 1, section 29. 
 53.25     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 53.26  available in the second year. 
 53.27     Subd. 4.  [CHILD CARE ADMINISTRATION.] For administration 
 53.28  of child care assistance programs according to Minnesota 
 53.29  Statutes, sections 119B.03 and 119B.05, and development programs 
 53.30  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.21: 
 53.31       $1,029,000     .....     1998 
 53.32       $1,029,000     .....     1999
 53.33     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 53.34  available in the second year. 
 53.35     Subd. 5.  [CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT.] For child care 
 53.36  development grants according to Minnesota Statutes, section 
 54.1   119B.21: 
 54.2        $4,865,000     .....     1998
 54.3        $1,865,000     .....     1999
 54.4      Of the fiscal year 1998 appropriation, up to $1,000,000 is 
 54.5   for the purposes of section 1 and for the following grants: 
 54.6      (1) a grant to the Minnesota licensed family child care 
 54.7   association for statewide implementation of the family child 
 54.8   care mentorship model developed by the association; 
 54.9      (2) a grant to the Minnesota child care apprentice/mentor 
 54.10  program to modify the apprentice/mentor program for statewide 
 54.11  implementation through the child care careers program of the 
 54.12  community/technical college system; 
 54.13     (3) a grant to expand project impact, which prepares child 
 54.14  care providers and staff who are members of a community of 
 54.15  color, as that term is defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 
 54.16  257.076, subdivision 3, to meet or exceed the education and 
 54.17  experience requirements of assistant teachers, teachers, and 
 54.18  family day care providers in licensed child care programs; 
 54.19     (4) expansion of the Minnesota child care apprentice/mentor 
 54.20  program, which prepares child care center staff to meet or 
 54.21  exceed the education and experience requirements of teachers in 
 54.22  licensed child care centers; and 
 54.23     (5) education and training loans made by the regional child 
 54.24  care resource and referral programs under the loan program 
 54.25  established in section 1.  No more than 2.5 percent of this 
 54.26  appropriation may be used for administration of the loan program.
 54.27     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 54.28  available in the second year.