1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; changing the requirement
1.3 	for employment services for participants with children
1.4 	under 12 weeks old; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004,
1.5 	section 256J.561, subdivision 3.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 256J.561,
1.8 	subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.9 		Subd. 3.Child under 12 weeks of age.  (a) A participant
1.10 	who has a natural born child who is less than 12 weeks of age
1.11 	who meets the criteria in clauses (1) and (2) this paragraph is
1.12 	not required to participate in employment services until the
1.13 	child reaches 12 weeks of age.  To be eligible for this
1.14 	provision, the following conditions must be met:
1.15 	(1) the child must have been born within ten months of the
1.16 	caregiver's application for the diversionary work program or
1.17 	MFIP; and 
1.18 	(2) the assistance unit must not have already used this
1.19 	provision or the previously allowed child under age one
1.20 	exemption.  However, an assistance unit that has an approved
1.21 	child under age one exemption at the time this provision becomes
1.22 	effective may continue to use that exemption until the child
1.23 	reaches one year of age.
1.24 	(b) The provision in paragraph (a) ends the first full
1.25 	month after the child reaches 12 weeks of age.  This provision
2.1 	is available only once in a caregiver's lifetime.  In a
2.2 	two-parent household, only one parent shall be allowed to use
2.3 	this provision.  The participant and job counselor must meet
2.4 	within ten days after the child reaches 12 weeks of age to
2.5 	revise the participant's employment plan.
2.6 	
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2005,
2.7 	and supersedes any contrary provision in the diversionary work
2.8 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 256J.95.