HF 1056

2nd Committee Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008)

Posted on 12/22/2009 12:38 p.m.

1.1A bill for an act 1.2relating to education; providing for human services and early childhood, family, 1.3and adult education; providing for child care assistance; regulating child care 1.4providers; requiring training of early childhood staff and child care providers; 1.5providing for Head Start; authorizing boards, task forces, and advisory groups; 1.6authorizing grants; providing for studies; requiring reports; appropriating money; 1.7amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 13.46, subdivision 2; 16D.13, 1.8subdivision 3; 119A.52; 119A.535; 119B.09, subdivisions 1, 7, by adding 1.9subdivisions; 119B.12; 119B.125, subdivision 2; 119B.13, subdivisions 1, 1.103a, 6, 7; 119B.21, subdivision 5; 124D.13, subdivisions 1, 2, 11, by adding a 1.11subdivision; 124D.135, subdivisions 1, 3, 5; 124D.16, subdivision 2; 124D.175; 1.12124D.531, subdivisions 1, 4; 124D.55; 124D.56, subdivisions 1, 2, 3; 245A.10, 1.13subdivision 2; 245A.16, subdivisions 1, 3; 245C.04, subdivision 1; 245C.05, 1.14subdivisions 4, 7, by adding a subdivision; 245C.08, subdivision 2; 245C.17, by 1.15adding a subdivision; 245C.21, by adding a subdivision; 245C.23, subdivision 2; 1.16256.017, subdivisions 1, 9; 270B.14, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new 1.17law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 119A; 124D; repealing Minnesota Statutes 1.182006, sections 119B.08, subdivision 4; 124D.531, subdivision 5. 1.19BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.20ARTICLE 1 1.21HUMAN SERVICES 1.22    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 13.46, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 1.23    Subd. 2. General. (a) Unless the data is summary data or a statute specifically 1.24provides a different classification, data on individuals collected, maintained, used, or 1.25disseminated by the welfare system is private data on individuals, and shall not be 1.26disclosed except: 1.27    (1) according to section 13.05; 1.28    (2) according to court order; 1.29    (3) according to a statute specifically authorizing access to the private data; 2.1    (4) to an agent of the welfare system, including a law enforcement person, attorney, 2.2or investigator acting for it in the investigation or prosecution of a criminal or civil 2.3proceeding relating to the administration of a program; 2.4    (5) to personnel of the welfare system who require the data to verify an individual's 2.5identity; determine eligibility, amount of assistance, and the need to provide services to 2.6an individual or family across programs; evaluate the effectiveness of programs; and 2.7investigate suspected fraud; 2.8    (6) to administer federal funds or programs; 2.9    (7) between personnel of the welfare system working in the same program; 2.10    (8) to the Department of Revenue to administer and evaluate tax refund or tax credit 2.11programs and to identify individuals who may benefit from these programs. The following 2.12information may be disclosed under this paragraph: an individual's and their dependent's 2.13names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, income, addresses, and other data as 2.14required, upon request by the Department of Revenue. Disclosures by the commissioner 2.15of revenue to the commissioner of human services for the purposes described in this clause 2.16are governed by section 270B.14, subdivision 1. Tax refund or tax credit programs include, 2.17but are not limited to, the dependent care credit under section 290.067, the Minnesota 2.18working family credit under section 290.0671, the property tax refund and rental credit 2.19under section 290A.04, and the Minnesota education credit under section 290.0674; 2.20    (9) between the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education, and 2.21the Department of Employment and Economic Development for the purpose of monitoring 2.22the eligibility of the data subject for unemployment benefits, for any employment or 2.23training program administered, supervised, or certified by that agency, for the purpose of 2.24administering any rehabilitation program or child care assistance program, whether alone 2.25or in conjunction with the welfare system, or to monitor and evaluate the Minnesota 2.26family investment program new text begin or the child care assistance program new text end by exchanging data on 2.27recipients and former recipients of food support, cash assistance under chapter 256, 256D, 2.28256J, or 256K, child care assistance under chapter 119B, or medical programs under 2.29chapter 256B, 256D, or 256L; 2.30    (10) to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency if knowledge of 2.31the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the individual or other 2.32individuals or persons; 2.33    (11) data maintained by residential programs as defined in section 245A.02 may 2.34be disclosed to the protection and advocacy system established in this state according 2.35to Part C of Public Law 98-527 to protect the legal and human rights of persons with 2.36developmental disabilities or other related conditions who live in residential facilities for 3.1these persons if the protection and advocacy system receives a complaint by or on behalf 3.2of that person and the person does not have a legal guardian or the state or a designee of 3.3the state is the legal guardian of the person; 3.4    (12) to the county medical examiner or the county coroner for identifying or locating 3.5relatives or friends of a deceased person; 3.6    (13) data on a child support obligor who makes payments to the public agency 3.7may be disclosed to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to the extent necessary to 3.8determine eligibility under section 136A.121, subdivision 2, clause (5); 3.9    (14) participant Social Security numbers and names collected by the telephone 3.10assistance program may be disclosed to the Department of Revenue to conduct an 3.11electronic data match with the property tax refund database to determine eligibility under 3.12section 237.70, subdivision 4a; 3.13    (15) the current address of a Minnesota family investment program participant 3.14may be disclosed to law enforcement officers who provide the name of the participant 3.15and notify the agency that: 3.16    (i) the participant: 3.17    (A) is a fugitive felon fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after 3.18conviction, for a crime or attempt to commit a crime that is a felony under the laws of the 3.19jurisdiction from which the individual is fleeing; or 3.20    (B) is violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under state or federal law; 3.21    (ii) the location or apprehension of the felon is within the law enforcement officer's 3.22official duties; and 3.23    (iii) the request is made in writing and in the proper exercise of those duties; 3.24    (16) the current address of a recipient of general assistance or general assistance 3.25medical care may be disclosed to probation officers and corrections agents who are 3.26supervising the recipient and to law enforcement officers who are investigating the 3.27recipient in connection with a felony level offense; 3.28    (17) information obtained from food support applicant or recipient households may 3.29be disclosed to local, state, or federal law enforcement officials, upon their written request, 3.30for the purpose of investigating an alleged violation of the Food Stamp Act, according 3.31to Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 272.1(c); 3.32    (18) the address, Social Security number, and, if available, photograph of any 3.33member of a household receiving food support shall be made available, on request, to a 3.34local, state, or federal law enforcement officer if the officer furnishes the agency with the 3.35name of the member and notifies the agency that: 3.36    (i) the member: 4.1    (A) is fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, for a 4.2crime or attempt to commit a crime that is a felony in the jurisdiction the member is fleeing; 4.3    (B) is violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under state or federal 4.4law; or 4.5    (C) has information that is necessary for the officer to conduct an official duty related 4.6to conduct described in subitem (A) or (B); 4.7    (ii) locating or apprehending the member is within the officer's official duties; and 4.8    (iii) the request is made in writing and in the proper exercise of the officer's official 4.9duty; 4.10    (19) the current address of a recipient of Minnesota family investment program, 4.11general assistance, general assistance medical care, or food support may be disclosed to 4.12law enforcement officers who, in writing, provide the name of the recipient and notify the 4.13agency that the recipient is a person required to register under section 243.166, but is not 4.14residing at the address at which the recipient is registered under section 243.166; 4.15    (20) certain information regarding child support obligors who are in arrears may be 4.16made public according to section 518A.74; 4.17    (21) data on child support payments made by a child support obligor and data on 4.18the distribution of those payments excluding identifying information on obligees may be 4.19disclosed to all obligees to whom the obligor owes support, and data on the enforcement 4.20actions undertaken by the public authority, the status of those actions, and data on the 4.21income of the obligor or obligee may be disclosed to the other party; 4.22    (22) data in the work reporting system may be disclosed under section 256.998, 4.23subdivision 7 ; 4.24    (23) to the Department of Education for the purpose of matching Department of 4.25Education student data with public assistance data to determine students eligible for free 4.26and reduced price meals, meal supplements, and free milk according to United States 4.27Code, title 42, sections 1758, 1761, 1766, 1766a, 1772, and 1773; to allocate federal and 4.28state funds that are distributed based on income of the student's family; and to verify 4.29receipt of energy assistance for the telephone assistance plan; 4.30    (24) the current address and telephone number of program recipients and emergency 4.31contacts may be released to the commissioner of health or a local board of health as 4.32defined in section 145A.02, subdivision 2, when the commissioner or local board of health 4.33has reason to believe that a program recipient is a disease case, carrier, suspect case, or at 4.34risk of illness, and the data are necessary to locate the person; 4.35    (25) to other state agencies, statewide systems, and political subdivisions of this 4.36state, including the attorney general, and agencies of other states, interstate information 5.1networks, federal agencies, and other entities as required by federal regulation or law for 5.2the administration of the child support enforcement program; 5.3    (26) to personnel of public assistance programs as defined in section 256.741, for 5.4access to the child support system database for the purpose of administration, including 5.5monitoring and evaluation of those public assistance programs; 5.6    (27) to monitor and evaluate the Minnesota family investment program by 5.7exchanging data between the Departments of Human Services and Education, on 5.8recipients and former recipients of food support, cash assistance under chapter 256, 256D, 5.9256J, or 256K, child care assistance under chapter 119B, or medical programs under 5.10chapter 256B, 256D, or 256L; 5.11    (28) to evaluate child support program performance and to identify and prevent 5.12fraud in the child support program by exchanging data between the Department of Human 5.13Services, Department of Revenue under section 270B.14, subdivision 1, paragraphs (a) 5.14and (b), without regard to the limitation of use in paragraph (c), Department of Health, 5.15Department of Employment and Economic Development, and other state agencies as is 5.16reasonably necessary to perform these functions; or 5.17    (29) counties operating child care assistance programs under chapter 119B may 5.18disseminate data on program participants, applicants, and providers to the commissioner 5.19of education. 5.20    (b) Information on persons who have been treated for drug or alcohol abuse may 5.21only be disclosed according to the requirements of Code of Federal Regulations, title 5.2242, sections 2.1 to 2.67. 5.23    (c) Data provided to law enforcement agencies under paragraph (a), clause (15), 5.24(16), (17), or (18), or paragraph (b), are investigative data and are confidential or protected 5.25nonpublic while the investigation is active. The data are private after the investigation 5.26becomes inactive under section 13.82, subdivision 5, paragraph (a) or (b). 5.27    (d) Mental health data shall be treated as provided in subdivisions 7, 8, and 9, but is 5.28not subject to the access provisions of subdivision 10, paragraph (b). 5.29    For the purposes of this subdivision, a request will be deemed to be made in writing 5.30if made through a computer interface system. 5.31    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 16D.13, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 5.32    Subd. 3. Exclusion. A state agency may not charge interest under this section on 5.33overpayments of assistance benefits under the programs formerly codified in sections 5.34256.031 to 256.0361, 256.72 to 256.87, and under chapters new text begin 119B, new text end 256D new text begin , new text end and 256I, or the 5.35federal food stamp program. Notwithstanding this prohibition, any debts that have been 6.1reduced to judgment under these programs are subject to the interest charges provided 6.2under section 549.09. 6.3    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.09, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 6.4    Subdivision 1. General Eligibility requirements for all applicants for child 6.5care assistance. (a) Child care services must be available to families who need child 6.6care to find or keep employment or to obtain the training or education necessary to find 6.7employment and who: 6.8    (1) have household income less than or equal to 250 percent of the federal poverty 6.9guidelines, adjusted for family size, and meet the requirements of section 119B.05; 6.10receive MFIP assistance; and are participating in employment and training services under 6.11chapter 256J or 256K; or 6.12    (2) have household income less than or equal to 175 percent of the federal poverty 6.13guidelines, adjusted for family size, at program entry and less than 250 percent of the 6.14federal poverty guidelines, adjusted for family size, at program exit. new text begin ; or new text end 6.15     new text begin (3) have household income less than or equal to 250 percent of the federal poverty new text end 6.16 new text begin guidelines, adjusted for family size, and were a family whose child care assistance was new text end 6.17 new text begin terminated due to insufficient funds under Minnesota Rules, part 3400.0183. new text end 6.18    (b) Child care services must be made available as in-kind services. 6.19    (c) All applicants for child care assistance and families currently receiving child care 6.20assistance must be assisted and required to cooperate in establishment of paternity and 6.21enforcement of child support obligations for all children in the family as a condition 6.22of program eligibility. For purposes of this section, a family is considered to meet the 6.23requirement for cooperation when the family complies with the requirements of section 6.24256.741 . 6.25 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008. new text end 6.26    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.09, subdivision 7, is amended to read: 6.27    Subd. 7. Date of eligibility for assistance. (a) The date of eligibility for child 6.28care assistance under this chapter is the later of the date the application was signed; the 6.29beginning date of employment, education, or training; the date the infant is born for 6.30applicants to the at-home infant care program; or the date a determination has been made 6.31that the applicant is a participant in employment and training services under Minnesota 6.32Rules, part 3400.0080, subpart 2a, or chapter 256J. 6.33    (b) Payment ceases for a family under the at-home infant child care program when a 6.34family has used a total of 12 months of assistance as specified under section 119B.035. 7.1Payment of child care assistance for employed persons on MFIP is effective the date of 7.2employment or the date of MFIP eligibility, whichever is later. Payment of child care 7.3assistance for MFIP or DWP participants in employment and training services is effective 7.4the date of commencement of the services or the date of MFIP or DWP eligibility, 7.5whichever is later. Payment of child care assistance for transition year child care must be 7.6made retroactive to the date of eligibility for transition year child care. 7.7     new text begin (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), payment of child care assistance for participants new text end 7.8 new text begin eligible under section 119B.05, may only be made retroactively for a maximum of six new text end 7.9 new text begin months from the date of application for child care assistance. new text end 7.10 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2008. new text end 7.11    Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.09, is amended by adding a subdivision 7.12to read: 7.13     new text begin Subd. 11. new text end new text begin Payment of other child care expenses. new text end new text begin Payment by a source other new text end 7.14 new text begin than the family, of part or all of a family's child care expenses not payable under this new text end 7.15 new text begin chapter, does not affect the family's eligibility for child care assistance, and the amount new text end 7.16 new text begin paid is excluded from the family's income, if the funds are paid directly to the family's new text end 7.17 new text begin child care provider on behalf of the family. Child care providers who accept third-party new text end 7.18 new text begin payments must maintain family-specific documentation of payment source, amount, type new text end 7.19 new text begin of expenses, and time period covered by the payment. new text end 7.20    Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.09, is amended by adding a subdivision 7.21to read: 7.22     new text begin Subd. 13. new text end new text begin Sliding fee. new text end new text begin Child care services to families must be made available on new text end 7.23 new text begin a sliding fee basis. new text end 7.24     new text begin (a) The commissioner shall convert eligibility requirements in section 119B.09 and new text end 7.25 new text begin parent fee schedules in 119B.12 to state median income, based on a family size of three, new text end 7.26 new text begin adjusted for family size, Subd. 2(a) shall be implemented July 1, 2008. The commissioner new text end 7.27 new text begin shall report to the 2008 legislature with the necessary statutory changes to codify this new text end 7.28 new text begin conversion to state median income. new text end 7.29    Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.12, is amended to read: 7.30119B.12 SLIDING FEE SCALE. 7.31    Subdivision 1. Fee schedule. In setting the sliding fee schedule, the commissioner 7.32shall exclude from the amount of income used to determine eligibility an amount for 8.1federal and state income and Social Security taxes attributable to that income level 8.2according to federal and state standardized tax tables. The commissioner shall base the 8.3parent fee on the ability of the family to pay for child care. The fee schedule must be 8.4designed to use any available tax credits. 8.5     new text begin PARENT FEE SCHEDULE. The parent fee schedule is as follows: new text end 8.6 8.7 new text begin Income Range (as a percent of the federal new text end new text begin poverty guidelines) new text end new text begin Co-payment (as a percentage of adjusted new text end new text begin gross income) new text end 8.8 new text begin 0-74.99% new text end new text begin $0/month new text end 8.9 new text begin 75.00-99.99% new text end new text begin $5/month new text end 8.10 new text begin 100.00-104.99% new text end new text begin 2.61% new text end 8.11 new text begin 105.00-109.99% new text end new text begin 2.61% new text end 8.12 new text begin 110.00-114.99% new text end new text begin 2.61% new text end 8.13 new text begin 115.00-119.99% new text end new text begin 2.61% new text end 8.14 new text begin 120.00-124.99% new text end new text begin 2.91% new text end 8.15 new text begin 125.00-129.99% new text end new text begin 2.91% new text end 8.16 new text begin 130.00-134.99% new text end new text begin 2.91% new text end 8.17 new text begin 135.00-139.99% new text end new text begin 2.91% new text end 8.18 new text begin 140.00-144.99% new text end new text begin 3.21% new text end 8.19 new text begin 145.00-149.99% new text end new text begin 3.21% new text end 8.20 new text begin 150.00-154.99% new text end new text begin 3.21% new text end 8.21 new text begin 155.00-159.99% new text end new text begin 3.84% new text end 8.22 new text begin 160.00-164.99% new text end new text begin 3.84% new text end 8.23 new text begin 165.00-169.99% new text end new text begin 4.46% new text end 8.24 new text begin 170.00-174.99% new text end new text begin 4.76% new text end 8.25 new text begin 175.00-179.99% new text end new text begin 5.05% new text end 8.26 new text begin 180.00-184.99% new text end new text begin 5.65% new text end 8.27 new text begin 185.00-189.99% new text end new text begin 5.95% new text end 8.28 new text begin 190.00-194.99% new text end new text begin 6.24% new text end 8.29 new text begin 195.00-199.99% new text end new text begin 6.84% new text end 8.30 new text begin 200.00-204.99% new text end new text begin 7.58% new text end 8.31 new text begin 205.00-209.99% new text end new text begin 8.33% new text end 8.32 new text begin 210.00-214.99% new text end new text begin 9.20% new text end 8.33 new text begin 215.00-219.99% new text end new text begin 10.07% new text end 8.34 new text begin 220.00-224.99% new text end new text begin 10.94% new text end 8.35 new text begin 225.00-229.99% new text end new text begin 11.55% new text end 8.36 new text begin 230.00-234.99% new text end new text begin 12.16% new text end 8.37 new text begin 235.00-239.99% new text end new text begin 12.77% new text end 8.38 new text begin 240.00-244.99% new text end new text begin 13.38% new text end 8.39 new text begin 245.00-249.99% new text end new text begin 14.00% new text end 8.40 new text begin 250% new text end new text begin ineligible new text end 8.41     new text begin A family's monthly co-payment fee is the fixed percentage established for the new text end 8.42 new text begin income range multiplied by the highest possible income within that income range. new text end 9.1    Subd. 2. Parent fee. A family must be assessed a parent fee for each service period. 9.2A family's parent fee must be a fixed percentage of its annual gross income. Parent fees 9.3must apply to families eligible for child care assistance under sections 119B.03 and 9.4119B.05 . Income must be as defined in section 119B.011, subdivision 15. The fixed 9.5percent is based on the relationship of the family's annual gross income to 100 percent 9.6of the annual federal poverty guidelines. Parent fees must begin at 75 percent of the 9.7poverty level. The minimum parent fees for families between 75 percent and 100 percent 9.8of poverty level must be $10 new text begin $5 new text end per month. Parent fees must provide for graduated 9.9movement to full payment. Payment of part or all of a family's parent fee directly to the 9.10family's child care provider on behalf of the family by a source other than the family shall 9.11not affect the family's eligibility for child care assistance, and the amount paid shall be 9.12excluded from the family's income. Child care providers who accept third-party payments 9.13must maintain family specific documentation of payment source, amount, and time period 9.14covered by the payment. 9.15 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin (a) This section is effective July 1, 2007. new text end 9.16     new text begin (b) Effective July 1, 2008, the parent fee scale for families with incomes greater than new text end 9.17 new text begin or equal to 100 percent of FPG shall be converted to state median income for a family size new text end 9.18 new text begin of three, adjusted for family size, as directed in section 119B.09, subdivision 2(a). new text end 9.19    Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.125, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 9.20    Subd. 2. Persons who cannot be authorized. (a) A person who meets any of the 9.21conditions under paragraphs (b) to (n) must not be authorized as a legal nonlicensed 9.22family child care provider. To determine whether any of the listed conditions exist, 9.23the county must request information about the provider from the Bureau of Criminal 9.24Apprehension, the juvenile courts, and social service agencies. When one of the listed 9.25entities does not maintain information on a statewide basis, the county must contact the 9.26entity in the county where the provider resides and any other county in which the provider 9.27previously resided in the past year. For purposes of this subdivision, a finding that a 9.28delinquency petition is proven in juvenile court must be considered a conviction in state 9.29district court. If a county has determined that a provider is able to be authorized in that 9.30county, and a family in another county later selects that provider, the provider is able to 9.31be authorized in the second county without undergoing a new background investigation 9.32unless one of the following conditions exists: 9.33    (1) two years have passed since the first authorization; 9.34    (2) another person age 13 or older has joined the provider's household since the 9.35last authorization; 10.1    (3) a current household member has turned 13 since the last authorization; or 10.2    (4) there is reason to believe that a household member has a factor that prevents 10.3authorization. 10.4    (b) The person has been convicted of one of the following offenses or has admitted to 10.5committing or a preponderance of the evidence indicates that the person has committed an 10.6act that meets the definition of one of the following offenses: sections 609.185 to 609.195, 10.7murder in the first, second, or third degree; 609.2661 to 609.2663, murder of an unborn 10.8child in the first, second, or third degree; 609.322, solicitation, inducement, promotion 10.9of prostitution, or receiving profit from prostitution; 609.342 to 609.345, criminal sexual 10.10conduct in the first, second, third, or fourth degree; 609.352, solicitation of children to 10.11engage in sexual conduct; 609.365, incest; 609.377, felony malicious punishment of a 10.12child; 617.246, use of minors in sexual performance; 617.247, possession of pictorial 10.13representation of a minor; 609.2242 to 609.2243, felony domestic assault; a felony offense 10.14of spousal abuse; a felony offense of child abuse or neglect; a felony offense of a crime 10.15against children; or an attempt or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses as defined in 10.16Minnesota Statutes; or an offense in any other state or country where the elements are 10.17substantially similar to any of the offenses listed in this paragraph. 10.18    (c) Less than 15 years have passed since the discharge of the sentence imposed for 10.19the offense and the person has received a felony conviction for one of the following 10.20offenses, or the person has admitted to committing or a preponderance of the evidence 10.21indicates that the person has committed an act that meets the definition of a felony 10.22conviction for one of the following offenses: sections 609.20 to 609.205, manslaughter in 10.23the first or second degree; 609.21, criminal vehicular homicide; 609.215, aiding suicide 10.24or aiding attempted suicide; 609.221 to 609.2231, assault in the first, second, third, or 10.25fourth degree; 609.224, repeat offenses of fifth degree assault; 609.228, great bodily 10.26harm caused by distribution of drugs; 609.2325, criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult; 10.27609.2335 , financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult; 609.235, use of drugs to injure or 10.28facilitate a crime; 609.24, simple robbery; 617.241, repeat offenses of obscene materials 10.29and performances; 609.245, aggravated robbery; 609.25, kidnapping; 609.255, false 10.30imprisonment; 609.2664 to 609.2665, manslaughter of an unborn child in the first or 10.31second degree; 609.267 to 609.2672, assault of an unborn child in the first, second, or third 10.32degree; 609.268, injury or death of an unborn child in the commission of a crime; 609.27, 10.33coercion; 609.275, attempt to coerce; 609.324, subdivision 1, other prohibited acts, minor 10.34engaged in prostitution; 609.3451, repeat offenses of criminal sexual conduct in the fifth 10.35degree; 609.378, neglect or endangerment of a child; 609.52, theft; 609.521, possession of 10.36shoplifting gear; 609.561 to 609.563, arson in the first, second, or third degree; 609.582, 11.1burglary in the first, second, third, or fourth degree; 609.625, aggravated forgery; 609.63, 11.2forgery; 609.631, check forgery, offering a forged check; 609.635, obtaining signature 11.3by false pretenses; 609.66, dangerous weapon; 609.665, setting a spring gun; 609.67, 11.4unlawfully owning, possessing, or operating a machine gun; 609.687, adulteration; 609.71, 11.5riot; 609.713, terrorist threats; 609.749, harassment, stalking; 260C.301, termination of 11.6parental rights; 152.021 to 152.022 and 152.0262, controlled substance crime in the first 11.7or second degree; 152.023, subdivision 1, clause (3) or (4), or 152.023, subdivision 2, 11.8clause (4), controlled substance crime in third degree; 152.024, subdivision 1, clause 11.9(2), (3), or (4), controlled substance crime in fourth degree; 617.23, repeat offenses of 11.10indecent exposure; an attempt or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses as defined in 11.11Minnesota Statutes; or an offense in any other state or country where the elements are 11.12substantially similar to any of the offenses listed in this paragraph. 11.13    (d) Less than ten years have passed since the discharge of the sentence imposed for 11.14the offense and the person has received a gross misdemeanor conviction for one of the 11.15following offenses or the person has admitted to committing or a preponderance of the 11.16evidence indicates that the person has committed an act that meets the definition of a gross 11.17misdemeanor conviction for one of the following offenses: sections 609.224, fifth degree 11.18assault; 609.2242 to 609.2243, domestic assault; 518B.01, subdivision 14, violation of 11.19an order for protection; 609.3451, fifth degree criminal sexual conduct; 609.746, repeat 11.20offenses of interference with privacy; 617.23, repeat offenses of indecent exposure; 11.21617.241 , obscene materials and performances; 617.243, indecent literature, distribution; 11.22617.293 , disseminating or displaying harmful material to minors; 609.71, riot; 609.66, 11.23dangerous weapons; 609.749, harassment, stalking; 609.224, subdivision 2, paragraph 11.24(c), fifth degree assault against a vulnerable adult by a caregiver; 609.23, mistreatment 11.25of persons confined; 609.231, mistreatment of residents or patients; 609.2325, criminal 11.26abuse of a vulnerable adult; 609.2335, financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult; 11.27609.233 , criminal neglect of a vulnerable adult; 609.234, failure to report maltreatment of 11.28a vulnerable adult; 609.72, subdivision 3, disorderly conduct against a vulnerable adult; 11.29609.265 , abduction; 609.378, neglect or endangerment of a child; 609.377, malicious 11.30punishment of a child; 609.324, subdivision 1a, other prohibited acts, minor engaged 11.31in prostitution; 609.33, disorderly house; 609.52, theft; 609.582, burglary in the first, 11.32second, third, or fourth degree; 609.631, check forgery, offering a forged check; 609.275, 11.33attempt to coerce; an attempt or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses as defined in 11.34Minnesota Statutes; or an offense in any other state or country where the elements are 11.35substantially similar to any of the offenses listed in this paragraph. 12.1    (e) Less than seven years have passed since the discharge of the sentence imposed 12.2for the offense and the person has received a misdemeanor conviction for one of the 12.3following offenses or the person has admitted to committing or a preponderance of 12.4the evidence indicates that the person has committed an act that meets the definition 12.5of a misdemeanor conviction for one of the following offenses: sections 609.224, fifth 12.6degree assault; 609.2242, domestic assault; 518B.01, violation of an order for protection; 12.7609.3232 , violation of an order for protection; 609.746, interference with privacy; 609.79, 12.8obscene or harassing telephone calls; 609.795, letter, telegram, or package opening, 12.9harassment; 617.23, indecent exposure; 609.2672, assault of an unborn child, third degree; 12.10617.293 , dissemination and display of harmful materials to minors; 609.66, dangerous 12.11weapons; 609.665, spring guns; an attempt or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses 12.12as defined in Minnesota Statutes; or an offense in any other state or country where the 12.13elements are substantially similar to any of the offenses listed in this paragraph. 12.14    (f) The person has been identified by the child protection agency in the county where 12.15the provider resides or a county where the provider has resided or by the statewide child 12.16protection database as a person found by a preponderance of evidence under section 12.17626.556 to be responsible for physical or sexual abuse of a child within the last seven years. 12.18    (g) The person has been identified by the adult protection agency in the county 12.19where the provider resides or a county where the provider has resided or by the statewide 12.20adult protection database as the person responsible for abuse or neglect of a vulnerable 12.21adult within the last seven years. 12.22    (h) The person has refused to give written consent for disclosure of criminal history 12.23records. 12.24    (i) The person has been denied a family child care license or has received a fine or a 12.25sanction as a licensed child care provider that has not been reversed on appeal. 12.26    (j) The person has a family child care licensing disqualification that has not been 12.27set aside. 12.28    (k) The person has admitted or a county has found that there is a preponderance of 12.29evidence that fraudulent information was given to the county for child care assistance 12.30application purposes or was used in submitting child care assistance bills for payment. 12.31    (l) The person has been convicted of the crime of theft by wrongfully obtaining 12.32public assistance new text begin or has been found guilty of wrongfully obtaining public assistance by a new text end 12.33 new text begin federal court, state court, or an administrative hearing determination or waiver, through a new text end 12.34 new text begin disqualification consent agreement, as part of an approved diversion plan under section new text end 12.35 new text begin 401.065, or a court-ordered stay with probationary or other conditions new text end . 13.1    (m) The person has a household member age 13 or older who has access to children 13.2during the hours that care is provided and who meets one of the conditions listed in 13.3paragraphs (b) to (l). 13.4    (n) The person has a household member ages ten to 12 who has access to children 13.5during the hours that care is provided; information or circumstances exist which provide 13.6the county with articulable suspicion that further pertinent information may exist showing 13.7the household member meets one of the conditions listed in paragraphs (b) to (l); and the 13.8household member actually meets one of the conditions listed in paragraphs (b) to (l). 13.9    Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 13.10    Subdivision 1. Subsidy restrictions. (a) Beginning July 1, 2006 new text begin 2007 new text end , the 13.11maximum rate paid for child care assistance in any county or multicounty region under the 13.12child care fund shall be the rate for like-care arrangements in the county effective January new text begin new text end 13.13 new text begin July new text end 1, 2006, increased by six new text begin two new text end percent. 13.14    (b) Rate changes shall be implemented for services provided in September 2006 new text begin new text end 13.15 new text begin 2007 new text end unless a participant eligibility redetermination or a new provider agreement is 13.16completed between July 1, 2006 new text begin 2007 new text end , and August 31, 2006 new text begin 2007 new text end . 13.17    As necessary, appropriate notice of adverse action must be made according to 13.18Minnesota Rules, part 3400.0185, subparts 3 and 4. 13.19    New cases approved on or after July 1, 2006 new text begin 2007 new text end , shall have the maximum rates 13.20under paragraph (a), implemented immediately. 13.21    (c) Not less than once every two years, the commissioner shall survey rates 13.22charged by child care providers in Minnesota to determine the 75th percentile for 13.23like-care arrangements in counties. When the commissioner determines that, using the 13.24commissioner's established protocol, the number of providers responding to the survey is 13.25too small to determine the 75th percentile rate for like-care arrangements in a county or 13.26multicounty region, the commissioner may establish the 75th percentile maximum rate 13.27based on like-care arrangements in a county, region, or category that the commissioner 13.28deems to be similar. 13.29    (d) A rate which includes a special needs rate paid under subdivision 3 new text begin or under new text end 13.30 new text begin a school readiness service agreement paid under section 30 new text end may be in excess of the 13.31maximum rate allowed under this subdivision. 13.32    (e) The department shall monitor the effect of this paragraph on provider rates. The 13.33county shall pay the provider's full charges for every child in care up to the maximum 13.34established. The commissioner shall determine the maximum rate for each type of care 14.1on an hourly, full-day, and weekly basis, including special needs and disability care. new text begin The new text end 14.2 new text begin half-day rates are effective beginning July 1, 2008. new text end 14.3    (f) When the provider charge is greater than the maximum provider rate allowed, 14.4the parent is responsible for payment of the difference in the rates in addition to any 14.5family co-payment fee. 14.6     new text begin (g) All maximum provider rate changes shall be implemented on the Monday new text end 14.7 new text begin following the effective date of the maximum provider rate. new text end 14.8    Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.13, subdivision 3a, is amended to read: 14.9    Subd. 3a. Provider rate differential for accreditation. A family child care 14.10provider or child care center shall be paid a 15 percent differential above the maximum 14.11rate established in subdivision 1, up to the actual provider rate, if the provider or center 14.12holds a current early childhood development credential or is accredited. For a family 14.13child care provider, early childhood development credential and accreditation includes 14.14an individual who has earned a child development associate degree, new text begin a child development new text end 14.15 new text begin associate credential, new text end a diploma in child development from a Minnesota state technical 14.16college, or a bachelor's new text begin or post baccalaureate new text end degree in early childhood education from 14.17an accredited college or university, or who is accredited by the National Association for 14.18Family Child Care or the Competency Based Training and Assessment Program. For a 14.19child care center, accreditation includes accreditation by the National Association for the 14.20Education of Young Children, the Council on Accreditation, the National Early Childhood 14.21Program Accreditation, the National School-Age Care Association, or the National Head 14.22Start Association Program of Excellence. For Montessori programs, accreditation includes 14.23the American Montessori Society, Association of Montessori International-USA, or the 14.24National Center for Montessori Education. 14.25    Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.13, subdivision 6, is amended to read: 14.26    Subd. 6. Provider payments. (a) Counties or the state shall make vendor payments 14.27to the child care provider or pay the parent directly for eligible child care expenses. 14.28    (b) If payments for child care assistance are made to providers, the provider shall 14.29bill the county for services provided within ten days of the end of the service period. If 14.30bills are submitted within ten days of the end of the service period, a county or the state 14.31shall issue payment to the provider of child care under the child care fund within 30 days 14.32of receiving a bill from the provider. Counties or the state may establish policies that 14.33make payments on a more frequent basis. 15.1    (c) All bills new text begin If a provider has received an authorization of care and has been issued a new text end 15.2 new text begin billing form for an eligible family, the bill new text end must be submitted within 60 days of the last 15.3date of service on the bill. A county may pay a bill submitted more than 60 days after 15.4the last date of service if the provider shows good cause why the bill was not submitted 15.5within 60 days. Good cause must be defined in the county's child care fund plan under 15.6section 119B.08, subdivision 3, and the definition of good cause must include county 15.7error. A county may not pay any bill submitted more than a year after the last date of 15.8service on the bill. 15.9     new text begin (d) If a provider provided care for a time period without receiving an authorization new text end 15.10 new text begin of care and a billing form for an eligible family, payment of child care assistance may only new text end 15.11 new text begin be made retroactively for a maximum of six months from the date the provider is issued an new text end 15.12 new text begin authorization of care and a billing form. new text end 15.13    (d) new text begin (e) new text end A county may stop payment issued to a provider or may refuse to pay a 15.14bill submitted by a provider if: 15.15    (1) the provider admits to intentionally giving the county materially false information 15.16on the provider's billing forms; or 15.17    (2) a county finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the provider intentionally 15.18gave the county materially false information on the provider's billing forms. 15.19    (e) new text begin (f) new text end A county's payment policies must be included in the county's child care plan 15.20under section 119B.08, subdivision 3. If payments are made by the state, in addition to 15.21being in compliance with this subdivision, the payments must be made in compliance 15.22with section 16A.124. 15.23    Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.13, subdivision 7, is amended to read: 15.24    Subd. 7. Absent days. (a) Child care providers may not be reimbursed for more 15.25than 25 full-day absent days per child, excluding holidays, in a fiscal year, or for more 15.26than ten consecutive full-day absent days, unless the child has a documented medical 15.27condition that causes more frequent absences. new text begin Absences due to a documented medical new text end 15.28 new text begin condition of a parent or sibling who lives in the same residence as the child receiving new text end 15.29 new text begin child care assistance do not count against the 25-day absent day limit in a fiscal year. new text end 15.30Documentation of medical conditions must be on the forms and submitted according to 15.31the timelines established by the commissioner. new text begin A public health nurse or school nurse new text end 15.32 new text begin may verify the illness in lieu of a medical practitioner. If a provider sends a child home new text end 15.33 new text begin early due to a medical reason including, but not limited to, fever or contagious illness, new text end 15.34 new text begin the child care center director or lead teacher may verify the illness in lieu of a medical new text end 15.35 new text begin practitioner. new text end If a child attends for part of the time authorized to be in care in a day, but is 16.1absent for part of the time authorized to be in care in that same day, the absent time will be 16.2reimbursed but the time will not count toward the ten consecutive or 25 cumulative absent 16.3day limits. new text begin Children in families where at least one parent is under the age of 21, does not new text end 16.4 new text begin have a high school or general education development (GED) diploma, and is a student in a new text end 16.5 new text begin school district or another similar program that provides or arranges for child care, as well new text end 16.6 new text begin as parenting, social services, career and employment supports, and academic support to new text end 16.7 new text begin achieve high school graduation, may be exempt from the absent day limits upon request new text end 16.8 new text begin of the program and approval of the county. new text end If a child attends part of an authorized day, 16.9payment to the provider must be for the full amount of care authorized for that day. Child 16.10care providers may only be reimbursed for absent days if the provider has a written policy 16.11for child absences and charges all other families in care for similar absences. 16.12    (b) Child care providers must be reimbursed for up to ten federal or state holidays 16.13or designated holidays per year when the provider charges all families for these days 16.14and the holiday or designated holiday falls on a day when the child is authorized to be 16.15in attendance. Parents may substitute other cultural or religious holidays for the ten 16.16recognized state and federal holidays. Holidays do not count toward the ten consecutive or 16.1725 cumulative absent day limits. 16.18    (c) A family or child care provider may not be assessed an overpayment for an 16.19absent day payment unless (1) there was an error in the amount of care authorized for the 16.20family, (2) all of the allowed full-day absent payments for the child have been paid, or (3) 16.21the family or provider did not timely report a change as required under law. 16.22    (d) The provider and family must receive notification of the number of absent days 16.23used upon initial provider authorization for a family and when the family has used 15 16.24cumulative absent days. Upon statewide implementation of the Minnesota Electronic 16.25Child Care System, the provider and family authorization for a family and ongoing 16.26notification of the number of absent days used as of the date of the notification. 16.27     new text begin (e) A county may pay for more absent days than the statewide absent day policy new text end 16.28 new text begin established under this subdivision, if current market practice in the county justifies new text end 16.29 new text begin payment for those additional days. County policies for payment of absent days in excess new text end 16.30 new text begin of the statewide absent day policy and justification for these county policies must be new text end 16.31 new text begin included in the county's child care fund plan under section 119B.08, subdivision 3. This new text end 16.32 new text begin paragraph may be implemented by counties on or after July 1, 2008. new text end 16.33    Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.21, subdivision 5, is amended to read: 17.1    Subd. 5. Child care services grants. (a) A child care resource and referral program 17.2designated under section 119B.19, subdivision 1a, may award child care services grants 17.3for: 17.4    (1) creating new licensed child care facilities and expanding existing facilities, 17.5including, but not limited to, supplies, equipment, facility renovation, and remodeling; 17.6    (2) improving licensed child care facility programs; 17.7    (3) staff training and development services including, but not limited to, in-service 17.8training, curriculum development, accreditation, certification, consulting, resource centers, 17.9and program and resource materials new text begin , supporting effective teacher-child interactions, new text end 17.10 new text begin child-focused teaching, and content-driven classroom instruction new text end ; 17.11    (4) interim financing; 17.12    (5) capacity building through the purchase of appropriate technology to create, 17.13enhance, and maintain business management systems; 17.14    (6) emergency assistance for child care programs; 17.15    (7) new programs or projects for the creation, expansion, or improvement of 17.16programs that serve ethnic immigrant and refugee communities; and 17.17    (8) targeted recruitment initiatives to expand and build the capacity of the child 17.18care system and to improve the quality of care provided by legal nonlicensed child care 17.19providers. 17.20    (b) A child care resource and referral program designated under section 119B.19, 17.21subdivision 1a , may award child care services grants to: 17.22    (1) licensed providers; 17.23    (2) providers in the process of being licensed; 17.24    (3) corporations or public agencies that develop or provide child care services; 17.25    (4) school-age care programs; or 17.26    (5) any combination of clauses (1) to (4). 17.27Unlicensed providers are only eligible for grants under paragraph (a), clause (7). 17.28    (c) A recipient of a child care services grant for facility improvements, interim 17.29financing, or staff training and development must provide a 25 percent local match. 17.30    Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245A.10, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 17.31    Subd. 2. County fees for background studies and licensing inspections. (a) For 17.32purposes of family and group family child care licensing under this chapter, a county 17.33agency may charge a fee to an applicant or license holder to recover the actual cost of 17.34background studies, but in any case not to exceed $100 annually. A county agency may 17.35also charge a new text begin license new text end fee to an applicant or license holder to recover the actual cost of 18.1licensing inspections, but in any case not to exceed $150 annually new text begin $50 for a one-year new text end 18.2 new text begin license or $100 for a two-year license new text end . 18.3    (b) A county agency may charge a fee to a legal nonlicensed child care provider or 18.4applicant for authorization to recover the actual cost of background studies completed 18.5under section 119B.125, but in any case not to exceed $100 annually. 18.6    (c) Counties may elect to reduce or waive the fees in paragraph (a) or (b): 18.7    (1) in cases of financial hardship; 18.8    (2) if the county has a shortage of providers in the county's area; 18.9    (3) for new providers; or 18.10    (4) for providers who have attained at least 16 hours of training before seeking 18.11initial licensure. 18.12    (d) Counties may allow providers to pay the applicant fees in paragraph (a) or (b) on 18.13an installment basis for up to one year. If the provider is receiving child care assistance 18.14payments from the state, the provider may have the fees under paragraph (a) or (b) 18.15deducted from the child care assistance payments for up to one year and the state shall 18.16reimburse the county for the county fees collected in this manner. 18.17 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end 18.18    Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245A.16, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 18.19    Subdivision 1. Delegation of authority to agencies. (a) County agencies and 18.20private agencies that have been designated or licensed by the commissioner to perform 18.21licensing functions and activities under section 245A.04 and new text begin background studies for new text end 18.22 new text begin adult foster care, family adult day services, and child foster care under new text end chapter 245C, to 18.23recommend denial of applicants under section 245A.05, to issue correction orders, to issue 18.24variances, and recommend a conditional license under section 245A.06, or to recommend 18.25suspending or revoking a license or issuing a fine under section 245A.07, shall comply 18.26with rules and directives of the commissioner governing those functions and with this 18.27section. The following variances are excluded from the delegation of variance authority 18.28and may be issued only by the commissioner: 18.29    (1) dual licensure of family child care and child foster care, dual licensure of child 18.30and adult foster care, and adult foster care and family child care; 18.31    (2) adult foster care maximum capacity; 18.32    (3) adult foster care minimum age requirement; 18.33    (4) child foster care maximum age requirement; 18.34    (5) variances regarding disqualified individuals except that county agencies may 18.35issue variances under section 245C.30 regarding disqualified individuals when the county 19.1is responsible for conducting a consolidated reconsideration according to sections 245C.25 19.2and 245C.27, subdivision 2, clauses (a) and (b), of a county maltreatment determination 19.3and a disqualification based on serious or recurring maltreatment; and 19.4    (6) the required presence of a caregiver in the adult foster care residence during 19.5normal sleeping hours. 19.6    (b) County agencies must report: 19.7    (1) information about disqualification reconsiderations under sections 245C.25 19.8and 245C.27, subdivision 2, clauses (a) and (b), and variances granted under paragraph 19.9(a), clause (5), to the commissioner at least monthly in a format prescribed by the 19.10commissioner; and 19.11    (2) for relative child foster care applicants and license holders, the number of 19.12relatives, as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 27, and household members of 19.13relatives who are disqualified under section 245C.14; the disqualifying characteristics 19.14under section 245C.15; the number of these individuals who requested reconsideration 19.15under section 245C.21; the number of set-asides under section 245C.22; and variances 19.16under section 245C.30 issued. This information shall be reported to the commissioner 19.17annually by January 15 of each year in a format prescribed by the commissioner. 19.18    (c) For family day care programs, the commissioner may authorize licensing reviews 19.19every two years after a licensee has had at least one annual review. 19.20    (d) For family adult day services programs, the commissioner may authorize 19.21licensing reviews every two years after a licensee has had at least one annual review. 19.22    (e) A license issued under this section may be issued for up to two years. 19.23     new text begin (f) The commissioner shall work with counties to determine the cost and propose new text end 19.24 new text begin an ongoing funding allocation from the general fund to cover the cost to counties new text end 19.25 new text begin to implement an annual license review for licensed family child care providers. new text end 19.26 new text begin The commissioner shall solicit input from counties to determine the outcome. The new text end 19.27 new text begin commissioner shall report to the committees of the house of representatives and senate new text end 19.28 new text begin having jurisdiction over early childhood programs by January 15, 2008, as to the costs new text end 19.29 new text begin and the funding allocation recommended for future use. new text end 19.30 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2008. new text end 19.31    Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245A.16, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 19.32    Subd. 3. Recommendations to the commissioner. The county or private agency 19.33shall not make recommendations to the commissioner regarding licensure without first 19.34conducting an inspection, new text begin and for adult foster care, family adult day services, and child new text end 19.35 new text begin foster care, a background new text end study of the applicant, and evaluation pursuant to chapter 245C. 20.1The county or private agency must forward its recommendation to the commissioner 20.2regarding the appropriate licensing action within 20 working days of receipt of a 20.3completed application. 20.4 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2008. new text end 20.5    Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245C.04, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 20.6    Subdivision 1. Licensed programs. (a) The commissioner shall conduct a 20.7background study of an individual required to be studied under section 245C.03, 20.8subdivision 1 , at least upon application for initial license for all license types. 20.9    (b) The commissioner shall conduct a background study of an individual required 20.10to be studied under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, at reapplication for a license for 20.11family child care, child foster care, and adult foster care. 20.12    (c) The commissioner is not required to conduct a study of an individual at the time 20.13of reapplication for a license if the individual's background study was completed by the 20.14commissioner of human services for an adult foster care license holder that is also: 20.15    (1) registered under chapter 144D; or 20.16    (2) licensed to provide home and community-based services to people with 20.17disabilities at the foster care location and the license holder does not reside in the foster 20.18care residence; and 20.19    (3) the following conditions are met: 20.20    (i) a study of the individual was conducted either at the time of initial licensure or 20.21when the individual became affiliated with the license holder; 20.22    (ii) the individual has been continuously affiliated with the license holder since 20.23the last study was conducted; and 20.24    (iii) the last study of the individual was conducted on or after October 1, 1995. 20.25    (d) new text begin From January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009, the commissioner shall conduct new text end 20.26 new text begin a study of an individual required to be studied under section 245C.03, at the time of new text end 20.27 new text begin reapplication for a family child care license. The county shall collect and forward to the new text end 20.28 new text begin commissioner the information required under section 245C.05, subdivisions 1 and 5. The new text end 20.29 new text begin background study conducted by the commissioner under this paragraph must include a new text end 20.30 new text begin review of the information required under section 245C.08, subdivisions 1, paragraph new text end 20.31 new text begin (a), and 3. new text end 20.32     new text begin (e) The commissioner shall conduct a background study of an individual specified new text end 20.33 new text begin under section 245C.03, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clauses (2) to (6), who is newly new text end 20.34 new text begin affiliated with a family child care license holder. The county shall collect and forward new text end 20.35 new text begin to the commissioner the information required under section 245C.05, subdivisions 1 new text end 21.1 new text begin and 5. The background study conducted by the commissioner under this paragraph new text end 21.2 new text begin must include a review of the information required under section 245C.08, subdivisions new text end 21.3 new text begin 1, paragraph (a), and 3. new text end 21.4     new text begin (f) new text end Applicants for licensure, license holders, and other entities as provided in this 21.5chapter must submit completed background study forms to the commissioner before 21.6individuals specified in section 245C.03, subdivision 1, begin positions allowing direct 21.7contact in any licensed program. 21.8    (e) new text begin (g) new text end For purposes of this section, a physician licensed under chapter 147 is 21.9considered to be continuously affiliated upon the license holder's receipt from the 21.10commissioner of health or human services of the physician's background study results. 21.11 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2008. new text end 21.12    Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245C.05, is amended by adding a 21.13subdivision to read: 21.14     new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end new text begin County agency. new text end new text begin For background studies related to family child care, new text end 21.15 new text begin county agencies must collect the information under subdivision 1 and forward it to the new text end 21.16 new text begin commissioner. new text end 21.17 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2008. new text end 21.18    Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245C.05, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 21.19    Subd. 4. Electronic transmission. For background studies conducted by the 21.20Department of Human Services, the commissioner shall implement a system for the 21.21electronic transmission of: 21.22    (1) background study information to the commissioner; and 21.23    (2) background study results to the license holder new text begin ; and new text end 21.24     new text begin (3) background study results to county agencies for background studies conducted new text end 21.25 new text begin by the commissioner for family child care new text end . 21.26 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2008. new text end 21.27    Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245C.05, subdivision 7, is amended to read: 21.28    Subd. 7. Probation officer and corrections agent. (a) A probation officer or 21.29corrections agent shall notify the commissioner of an individual's conviction if the 21.30individual is: 21.31    (1) affiliated with a program or facility regulated by the Department of Human 21.32Services or Department of Health, a facility serving children or youth licensed by the 22.1Department of Corrections, or any type of home care agency or provider of personal care 22.2assistance services; and 22.3    (2) convicted of a crime constituting a disqualification under section 245C.14. 22.4    (b) For the purpose of this subdivision, "conviction" has the meaning given it 22.5in section 609.02, subdivision 5. 22.6    (c) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of corrections, shall 22.7develop forms and information necessary to implement this subdivision and shall provide 22.8the forms and information to the commissioner of corrections for distribution to local 22.9probation officers and corrections agents. 22.10    (d) The commissioner shall inform individuals subject to a background study that 22.11criminal convictions for disqualifying crimes will be reported to the commissioner by the 22.12corrections system. 22.13    (e) A probation officer, corrections agent, or corrections agency is not civilly or 22.14criminally liable for disclosing or failing to disclose the information required by this 22.15subdivision. 22.16    (f) Upon receipt of disqualifying information, the commissioner shall provide the 22.17notice required under section 245C.17, as appropriate, to agencies on record as having 22.18initiated a background study or making a request for documentation of the background 22.19study status of the individual. 22.20    (g) This subdivision does not apply to family child care and child foster care 22.21programs. 22.22 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2008. new text end 22.23    Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245C.08, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 22.24    Subd. 2. Background studies conducted by a county or private agency. (a) For a 22.25background study conducted by a county or private agency for child foster care, new text begin and new text end adult 22.26foster care, and family child care homes, the commissioner shall review: 22.27    (1) information from the county agency's record of substantiated maltreatment 22.28of adults and the maltreatment of minors; 22.29    (2) information from juvenile courts as required in subdivision 4 for individuals 22.30listed in section 245C.03, subdivision 1, clauses (2), (5), and (6); 22.31    (3) information from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; and 22.32    (4) arrest and investigative records maintained by the Bureau of Criminal 22.33Apprehension, county attorneys, county sheriffs, courts, county agencies, local police, the 22.34National Criminal Records Repository, and criminal records from other states. 23.1    (b) If the individual has resided in the county for less than five years, the study shall 23.2include the records specified under paragraph (a) for the previous county or counties of 23.3residence for the past five years. 23.4    (c) Notwithstanding expungement by a court, the county or private agency may 23.5consider information obtained under paragraph (a), clauses (3) and (4), unless the 23.6commissioner received notice of the petition for expungement and the court order for 23.7expungement is directed specifically to the commissioner. 23.8 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2008. new text end 23.9    Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245C.17, is amended by adding a 23.10subdivision to read: 23.11     new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Notice to county agency. new text end new text begin For studies on individuals related to a license to new text end 23.12 new text begin provide family child care, the commissioner shall also provide a notice of the background new text end 23.13 new text begin study results to the county or private agency that initiated the background study. new text end 23.14 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2008. new text end 23.15    Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245C.21, is amended by adding a 23.16subdivision to read: 23.17     new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end new text begin Submission of reconsideration request to county agency. new text end new text begin (a) For new text end 23.18 new text begin disqualifications related to studies conducted by county agencies, and for disqualifications new text end 23.19 new text begin related to studies conducted by the commissioner for family child care, the individual shall new text end 23.20 new text begin submit the request for reconsideration to the county that initiated the background study. new text end 23.21     new text begin (b) A reconsideration request shall be submitted within the time frames specified in new text end 23.22 new text begin subdivision 2. new text end 23.23     new text begin (c) The county agency shall forward the individual's request for reconsideration and new text end 23.24 new text begin provide the commissioner with a recommendation whether to set aside the individual's new text end 23.25 new text begin disqualification. new text end 23.26 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2008. new text end 23.27    Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245C.23, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 23.28    Subd. 2. Commissioner's notice of disqualification that is not set aside. (a) The 23.29commissioner shall notify the license holder of the disqualification and order the license 23.30holder to immediately remove the individual from any position allowing direct contact 23.31with persons receiving services from the license holder if: 24.1    (1) the individual studied does not submit a timely request for reconsideration 24.2under section 245C.21; 24.3    (2) the individual submits a timely request for reconsideration, but the commissioner 24.4does not set aside the disqualification for that license holder under section 245C.22; 24.5    (3) an individual who has a right to request a hearing under sections 245C.27 and 24.6256.045 , or 245C.28 and chapter 14 for a disqualification that has not been set aside, does 24.7not request a hearing within the specified time; or 24.8    (4) an individual submitted a timely request for a hearing under sections 245C.27 24.9and 256.045, or 245C.28 and chapter 14, but the commissioner does not set aside the 24.10disqualification under section 245A.08, subdivision 5, or 256.045. 24.11    (b) If the commissioner does not set aside the disqualification under section 245C.22, 24.12and the license holder was previously ordered under section 245C.17 to immediately 24.13remove the disqualified individual from direct contact with persons receiving services or 24.14to ensure that the individual is under continuous, direct supervision when providing direct 24.15contact services, the order remains in effect pending the outcome of a hearing under 24.16sections 245C.27 and 256.045, or 245C.28 and chapter 14. 24.17     new text begin (c) For background studies related to family child care, the commissioner shall also new text end 24.18 new text begin notify the county that initiated the study of the results of the reconsideration. new text end 24.19 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2008. new text end 24.20    Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256.017, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 24.21    Subdivision 1. Authority and purpose. The commissioner shall administer a 24.22compliance system for the Minnesota family investment program, the food stamp or food 24.23support program, emergency assistance, general assistance, medical assistance, general 24.24assistance medical care, emergency general assistance, Minnesota supplemental assistance, 24.25preadmission screening, and alternative care grants new text begin , and the child care assistance program new text end 24.26under the powers and authorities named in section 256.01, subdivision 2. The purpose of 24.27the compliance system is to permit the commissioner to supervise the administration of 24.28public assistance programs and to enforce timely and accurate distribution of benefits, 24.29completeness of service and efficient and effective program management and operations, 24.30to increase uniformity and consistency in the administration and delivery of public 24.31assistance programs throughout the state, and to reduce the possibility of sanctions and 24.32fiscal disallowances for noncompliance with federal regulations and state statutes. 24.33    The commissioner shall utilize training, technical assistance, and monitoring 24.34activities, as specified in section 256.01, subdivision 2, to encourage county agency 24.35compliance with written policies and procedures. 25.1    Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 256.017, subdivision 9, is amended to read: 25.2    Subd. 9. Timing and disposition of penalty and case disallowance funds. Quality 25.3control case penalty and administrative penalty amounts shall be disallowed or withheld 25.4from the next regular reimbursement made to the county agency for state and federal 25.5benefit reimbursements and federal administrative reimbursements for all programs 25.6covered in this section, according to procedures established in statute, but shall not be 25.7imposed sooner than 30 calendar days from the date of written notice of such penalties. 25.8 new text begin Except for penalties withheld under the child care assistance program, new text end all penalties 25.9must be deposited in the county incentive fund provided in section 256.018. new text begin Penalties new text end 25.10 new text begin withheld under the child care assistance program shall be reallocated to counties using the new text end 25.11 new text begin allocation formula under section 119B.03, subdivision 5. new text end All penalties must be imposed 25.12according to this provision until a decision is made regarding the status of a written 25.13exception. Penalties must be returned to county agencies when a review of a written 25.14exception results in a decision in their favor. 25.15    Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 270B.14, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 25.16    Subdivision 1. Disclosure to commissioner of human services. (a) On the request 25.17of the commissioner of human services, the commissioner shall disclose return information 25.18regarding taxes imposed by chapter 290, and claims for refunds under chapter 290A, to 25.19the extent provided in paragraph (b) and for the purposes set forth in paragraph (c). 25.20    (b) Data that may be disclosed are limited to data relating to the identity, 25.21whereabouts, employment, income, and property of a person owing or alleged to be owing 25.22an obligation of child support. 25.23    (c) The commissioner of human services may request data only for the purposes of 25.24carrying out the child support enforcement program and to assist in the location of parents 25.25who have, or appear to have, deserted their children. Data received may be used only 25.26as set forth in section 256.978. 25.27    (d) The commissioner shall provide the records and information necessary to 25.28administer the supplemental housing allowance to the commissioner of human services. 25.29    (e) At the request of the commissioner of human services, the commissioner of 25.30revenue shall electronically match the Social Security numbers and names of participants 25.31in the telephone assistance plan operated under sections 237.69 to 237.711, with those of 25.32property tax refund filers, and determine whether each participant's household income is 25.33within the eligibility standards for the telephone assistance plan. 25.34    (f) The commissioner may provide records and information collected under sections 25.35295.50 to 295.59 to the commissioner of human services for purposes of the Medicaid 26.1Voluntary Contribution and Provider-Specific Tax Amendments of 1991, Public Law 26.2102-234. Upon the written agreement by the United States Department of Health and 26.3Human Services to maintain the confidentiality of the data, the commissioner may provide 26.4records and information collected under sections 295.50 to 295.59 to the Centers for 26.5Medicare and Medicaid Services section of the United States Department of Health and 26.6Human Services for purposes of meeting federal reporting requirements. 26.7    (g) The commissioner may provide records and information to the commissioner of 26.8human services as necessary to administer the early refund of refundable tax credits. 26.9    (h) The commissioner may disclose information to the commissioner of human 26.10services necessary to verify income for eligibility and premium payment under the 26.11MinnesotaCare program, under section 256L.05, subdivision 2. 26.12    (i) The commissioner may disclose information to the commissioner of human 26.13services necessary to verify whether applicants or recipients for the Minnesota family 26.14investment program, general assistance, food support, and Minnesota supplemental aid 26.15program new text begin , and child care assistance new text end have claimed refundable tax credits under chapter 290 26.16and the property tax refund under chapter 290A, and the amounts of the credits. 26.17    Sec. 28. new text begin INSPECTION OF LEGAL UNLICENSED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. new text end 26.18     new text begin The commissioner of human services, in consultation with the commissioners of new text end 26.19 new text begin health and education and the counties, shall develop and present recommendations to new text end 26.20 new text begin the legislature in January 2008 in order for each legally unlicensed child care provider new text end 26.21 new text begin receiving child care assistance funds to receive a onetime home visit to receive information new text end 26.22 new text begin on health and safety, and school readiness. new text end 26.23    Sec. 29. new text begin COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES DUTIES; EARLY new text end 26.24 new text begin CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOL-AGE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT new text end 26.25 new text begin TRAINING. new text end 26.26     new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Development and implementation of an early childhood and new text end 26.27 new text begin school-age professional development system. new text end new text begin (a) The commissioner of human services, new text end 26.28 new text begin in cooperation with the commissioners of education and health, shall develop and phase-in new text end 26.29 new text begin the implementation of a professional development system for practitioners serving new text end 26.30 new text begin children in early childhood and school-age programs. The system shall provide training new text end 26.31 new text begin options and supports for practitioners to voluntarily choose, as they complete or exceed new text end 26.32 new text begin existing licensing requirements. new text end 26.33     new text begin The system must, at a minimum, include the following features: new text end 27.1     new text begin (1) a continuum of training content based on the early childhood and school-age new text end 27.2 new text begin care practitioner core competencies that translates knowledge into improved practice to new text end 27.3 new text begin support children's school success; new text end 27.4     new text begin (2) training strategies that provide direct feedback about practice to practitioners new text end 27.5 new text begin through ongoing consultation, mentoring, or coaching with special emphasis on early new text end 27.6 new text begin literacy and early mathematics; new text end 27.7     new text begin (3) an approval process for trainers; new text end 27.8     new text begin (4) a professional development registry for early childhood and school-age care new text end 27.9 new text begin practitioners that will provide tracking and recognition of practitioner training/career new text end 27.10 new text begin development progress; new text end 27.11     new text begin (5) a career lattice that includes a range of professional development and educational new text end 27.12 new text begin opportunities that provide appropriate coursework and degree pathways; new text end 27.13     new text begin (6) development of a plan with public higher education institutions for an articulated new text end 27.14 new text begin system of education, training, and professional development that includes credit for prior new text end 27.15 new text begin learning and development of equivalences to two- and four-year degrees; new text end 27.16     new text begin (7) incentives and supports for early childhood and school-age care practitioners new text end 27.17 new text begin to seek additional training and education, including TEACH, other scholarships, and new text end 27.18 new text begin career guidance; and new text end 27.19     new text begin (8) coordinated and accessible delivery of training to early childhood and school-age new text end 27.20 new text begin care practitioners. new text end 27.21     new text begin (b) By January 1, 2008, the commissioner, in consultation with the organizations new text end 27.22 new text begin named in subdivision 2 shall develop additional opportunities in order to qualify more new text end 27.23 new text begin licensed family childcare providers under section 119B.13, subdivision 3a. new text end 27.24     new text begin (c) The commissioner of human services must evaluate the professional development new text end 27.25 new text begin system and make continuous improvements. new text end 27.26     new text begin (d) Beginning July 1, 2007, as appropriations permit, the commissioner shall new text end 27.27 new text begin phase-in the professional development system. new text end 27.28     new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Two-hour early childhood training. new text end new text begin By January 15, 2008, the new text end 27.29 new text begin commissioner of human services, with input from the Minnesota Licensed Family Child new text end 27.30 new text begin Care Association and the Minnesota Professional Development Council, shall identify new text end 27.31 new text begin trainings that qualify for the two-hour early childhood development training requirement new text end 27.32 new text begin for new child care practitioners under Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.14, subdivision new text end 27.33 new text begin 9a, paragraphs (a) and (b). For licensed family child care, the commissioner shall also new text end 27.34 new text begin seek the input of labor unions that serve licensed family child care providers, if the union new text end 27.35 new text begin has been recognized by a county to serve licensed family child care providers. new text end 28.1    Sec. 30. new text begin SCHOOL READINESS SERVICE AGREEMENTS. new text end 28.2     new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Overview. new text end new text begin (a) Effective July 1, 2007, funds must be made available new text end 28.3 new text begin to allow the commissioner to pay higher rates to up to 50 child care providers who are new text end 28.4 new text begin deemed by the commissioner to meet the requirements of a school readiness service new text end 28.5 new text begin agreement (SRSA) provider and perform services that support school readiness for new text end 28.6 new text begin children and economic stability for parents. new text end 28.7     new text begin (b) A provider may be paid a rate above that currently allowed under Minnesota new text end 28.8 new text begin Statutes, section 119B.13, if: new text end 28.9     new text begin (1) the provider has entered into an SRSA with the commissioner; new text end 28.10     new text begin (2) a family using that provider receives child care assistance under any provision in new text end 28.11 new text begin Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B, except Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.035; new text end 28.12     new text begin (3) the family using that provider meets the criteria in this section; and new text end 28.13     new text begin (4) funding is available under this section. new text end 28.14     new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Provider eligibility. new text end new text begin (a) To be considered for an SRSA, a provider shall new text end 28.15 new text begin apply to the commissioner. To be eligible to apply for an SRSA, a provider shall: new text end 28.16     new text begin (1) be eligible for child care assistance payments under Minnesota Statutes, chapter new text end 28.17 new text begin 119B; new text end 28.18     new text begin (2) have at least 25 percent of the children enrolled with the provider subsidized new text end 28.19 new text begin through the child care assistance program; new text end 28.20     new text begin (3) provide full-time, full-year child care services; and new text end 28.21     new text begin (4) serve at least one child who is subsidized through the child care assistance new text end 28.22 new text begin program and who is expected to enter kindergarten within the following 30 months. new text end 28.23     new text begin (b) The commissioner may waive the 25 percent requirement in paragraph (a), clause new text end 28.24 new text begin (2), if necessary to achieve geographic distribution of SRSA providers and diversity of new text end 28.25 new text begin types of care provided by SRSA providers. new text end 28.26     new text begin (c) An eligible provider who would like to enter into an SRSA with the commissioner new text end 28.27 new text begin shall submit an SRSA application. To determine whether to enter into an SRSA with a new text end 28.28 new text begin provider, the commissioner shall evaluate the following factors: new text end 28.29     new text begin (1) the qualifications of the provider and the provider's staff; new text end 28.30     new text begin (2) the provider's staff-child ratios; new text end 28.31     new text begin (3) the provider's curriculum; new text end 28.32     new text begin (4) the provider's current or planned parent education activities; new text end 28.33     new text begin (5) the provider's current or planned social service and employment linkages; new text end 28.34     new text begin (6) the provider's child development assessment plan; new text end 28.35     new text begin (7) the geographic distribution needed for SRSA providers; new text end 28.36     new text begin (8) the inclusion of a variety of child care delivery models; and new text end 29.1     new text begin (9) other related factors determined by the commissioner. new text end 29.2     new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Family and child eligibility. new text end new text begin (a) A family eligible to choose an SRSA new text end 29.3 new text begin provider for their children shall: new text end 29.4     new text begin (1) be eligible to receive child care assistance under any provision in Minnesota new text end 29.5 new text begin Statutes, chapter 119B, except Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.035; new text end 29.6     new text begin (2) be in an authorized activity for an average of at least 35 hours per week when new text end 29.7 new text begin initial eligibility is determined; and new text end 29.8     new text begin (3) include a child who has not yet entered kindergarten. new text end 29.9     new text begin (b) A family who is determined to be eligible to choose an SRSA provider remains new text end 29.10 new text begin eligible to be paid at a higher rate through the SRSA provider when the following new text end 29.11 new text begin conditions exist: new text end 29.12     new text begin (1) the child attends child care with the SRSA provider a minimum of 25 hours per new text end 29.13 new text begin week, on average; new text end 29.14     new text begin (2) the family has a child who has not yet entered kindergarten; and new text end 29.15     new text begin (3) the family maintains eligibility under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B, except new text end 29.16 new text begin Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.035. new text end 29.17     new text begin (c) For the 12 months after initial eligibility has been determined, a decrease in new text end 29.18 new text begin the family's authorized activities to an average of less than 35 hours per week does not new text end 29.19 new text begin result in ineligibility for the SRSA rate. new text end 29.20     new text begin (d) A family that moves between counties but continues to use the same SRSA new text end 29.21 new text begin provider shall continue to receive SRSA funding for the increased payments. new text end 29.22     new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Requirements of providers. new text end new text begin An SRSA must include assessment, new text end 29.23 new text begin evaluation, and reporting requirements that promote the goals of improved school new text end 29.24 new text begin readiness and movement toward appropriate child development milestones. A provider new text end 29.25 new text begin who enters into an SRSA shall comply with the assessment, evaluation, and reporting new text end 29.26 new text begin requirements in the SRSA. new text end 29.27     new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Relationship to current law. new text end new text begin (a) The following provisions in Minnesota new text end 29.28 new text begin Statutes, chapter 119B, must be waived or modified for families receiving services under new text end 29.29 new text begin this section. new text end 29.30     new text begin (b) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.13, subdivisions 1 and 1a, new text end 29.31 new text begin maximum weekly rates under this section are 125 percent of the existing maximum new text end 29.32 new text begin weekly rate for like-care. Providers eligible for a differential rate under Minnesota new text end 29.33 new text begin Statutes, section 119B.13, subdivision 3a, remain eligible for the differential above the new text end 29.34 new text begin rate identified in this section. Only care for children who have not yet entered kindergarten new text end 29.35 new text begin may be paid at the maximum rate under this section. The provider's charge for service new text end 30.1 new text begin provided through an SRSA may not exceed the rate that the provider charges a private-pay new text end 30.2 new text begin family for like-care arrangements. new text end 30.3     new text begin (c) A family or child care provider may not be assessed an overpayment for care new text end 30.4 new text begin provided through an SRSA unless: new text end 30.5     new text begin (1) there was an error in the amount of care authorized for the family; or new text end 30.6     new text begin (2) the family or provider did not timely report a change as required under the law. new text end 30.7     new text begin (d) Care provided through an SRSA is authorized on a weekly basis. new text end 30.8     new text begin (e) Funds appropriated under this section to serve families eligible under Minnesota new text end 30.9 new text begin Statutes, section 119B.03, are not allocated through the basic sliding fee formula under new text end 30.10 new text begin Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03. Funds appropriated under this section are used to new text end 30.11 new text begin offset increased costs when payments are made under SRSA's. new text end 30.12     new text begin (f) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.09, subdivision 6, the new text end 30.13 new text begin maximum amount of child care assistance that may be authorized for a child receiving new text end 30.14 new text begin care through an SRSA in a two-week period is 160 hours per child. new text end 30.15     new text begin Subd. 6. new text end new text begin Establishment of service agreements. new text end new text begin (a) The commissioner shall new text end 30.16 new text begin approve SRSA's for up to 50 providers that represent diverse parts of the state and a new text end 30.17 new text begin variety of child care delivery models. Entering into a service agreement does not guarantee new text end 30.18 new text begin that a provider will receive payment at a higher rate for families receiving child care new text end 30.19 new text begin assistance. A family eligible under this section shall choose a provider participating in an new text end 30.20 new text begin SRSA in order for a higher rate to be paid. Payments through SRSA's are also limited by new text end 30.21 new text begin the availability of SRSA funds. new text end 30.22     new text begin (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit parent choice as defined in new text end 30.23 new text begin Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.09, subdivision 5. new text end 30.24     new text begin (c) The commissioner may allow for startup time for some providers if failing to new text end 30.25 new text begin do so would limit geographic diversity of SRSA providers or a variety of child care new text end 30.26 new text begin delivery models. new text end 30.27    Sec. 31. new text begin FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR GRANT PROGRAM. new text end 30.28     new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Establishment. new text end new text begin A family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) grant program new text end 30.29 new text begin is established to promote children's early literacy, healthy development, and school new text end 30.30 new text begin readiness, and to foster community partnerships to promote children's school readiness. new text end 30.31 new text begin The commissioner shall attempt to ensure that grants are made in all areas of the state. The new text end 30.32 new text begin commissioner of human services shall make grants available to fund: community-based new text end 30.33 new text begin organizations, nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes working with FFN caregivers new text end 30.34 new text begin under subdivision 2, paragraph (a); and community-based partnerships to implement early new text end 30.35 new text begin literacy programs under subdivision 2, paragraph (b). new text end 31.1     new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Program components. new text end new text begin (a)(1) Grants that the commissioner awards under new text end 31.2 new text begin this section must be used by community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and new text end 31.3 new text begin Indian tribes working with FFN caregivers in local communities, cultural communities, new text end 31.4 new text begin and Indian tribes to: new text end 31.5     new text begin (i) provide training, support, and resources to FFN caregivers in order to improve new text end 31.6 new text begin and promote children's health, safety, nutrition, and school readiness; new text end 31.7     new text begin (ii) connect FFN caregivers and children's families with appropriate community new text end 31.8 new text begin resources that support the families' health, mental health, economic, and developmental new text end 31.9 new text begin needs; new text end 31.10     new text begin (iii) connect FFN caregivers and children's families to early childhood screening new text end 31.11 new text begin programs and facilitate referrals where appropriate; new text end 31.12     new text begin (iv) provide FFN caregivers and children's families with information about early new text end 31.13 new text begin learning guidelines from the Departments of Human Services and Education; new text end 31.14     new text begin (v) provide FFN caregivers and children's families with information about becoming new text end 31.15 new text begin a licensed family child care provider; and new text end 31.16     new text begin (vi) provide FFN caregivers and children's families with information about early new text end 31.17 new text begin learning allowances and enrollment opportunities in high quality community-based new text end 31.18 new text begin child-care and preschool programs. new text end 31.19     new text begin (2) Grants that the commissioner awards under this paragraph also may be used for: new text end 31.20     new text begin (i) health and safety and early learning kits for FFN caregivers; new text end 31.21     new text begin (ii) play-and-learn groups with FFN caregivers; new text end 31.22     new text begin (iii) culturally appropriate early childhood training for FFN caregivers; new text end 31.23     new text begin (iv) transportation for FFN caregivers and children's families to school readiness and new text end 31.24 new text begin other early childhood training activities; new text end 31.25     new text begin (v) other activities that promote school readiness; new text end 31.26     new text begin (vi) data collection and evaluation; new text end 31.27     new text begin (vii) staff outreach and outreach activities; new text end 31.28     new text begin (viii) translation needs; or new text end 31.29     new text begin (ix) administrative costs that equal up to 12 percent of the recipient's grant award. new text end 31.30     new text begin (b) Grants that the commissioner awards under this section also must be used to fund new text end 31.31 new text begin partnerships among Minnesota public and regional library systems, community-based new text end 31.32 new text begin organizations, nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes to implement early literacy new text end 31.33 new text begin programs in low-income communities, including tribal communities, to: new text end 31.34     new text begin (1) purchase and equip early childhood read-mobiles that provide FFN caregivers new text end 31.35 new text begin and children's families with books, training, and early literacy activities; new text end 32.1     new text begin (2) provide FFN caregivers and children's families with translations of early new text end 32.2 new text begin childhood books, training, and early literacy activities in native languages; or new text end 32.3     new text begin (3) provide FFN caregivers and children's families with early literacy activities in new text end 32.4 new text begin local libraries. new text end 32.5     new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Grant awards. new text end new text begin Interested entities eligible to receive a grant under new text end 32.6 new text begin this section may apply to the commissioner in the form and manner the commissioner new text end 32.7 new text begin determines. The commissioner shall awards grants to eligible entities consistent with new text end 32.8 new text begin the requirements of this section. new text end 32.9     new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Evaluation. new text end new text begin The commissioner, in consultation with early childhood new text end 32.10 new text begin care and education experts at the University of Minnesota, must evaluate the impact of new text end 32.11 new text begin the grants under subdivision 2 on children's school readiness and submit a written report new text end 32.12 new text begin to the human services and education finance and policy committees of the legislature by new text end 32.13 new text begin February 15, 2010. new text end 32.14 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end 32.15    Sec. 32. new text begin CHILD CARE PROVIDER STUDY. new text end 32.16     new text begin The commissioner of human services is directed to study the implications of new text end 32.17 new text begin restricting the use of state subsidies in center-based child care to centers meeting state new text end 32.18 new text begin quality standards under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.175, paragraph (c), and to new text end 32.19 new text begin publish the results no later than January 1, 2010. The study must include: new text end 32.20     new text begin (1) the likelihood of there being sufficient child care providers meeting the standards; new text end 32.21     new text begin (2) the cost to bring providers up to the standards and how this cost would be funded; new text end 32.22     new text begin (3) how the standards and the ratings would be communicated to both parents and new text end 32.23 new text begin the general public; and new text end 32.24     new text begin (4) a determination whether a similar system could be implemented for new text end 32.25 new text begin non-center-based care. new text end 32.26 Sec. 33. new text begin SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS. new text end 32.27     new text begin The amounts shown in this section summarize direct appropriations, by fund, made new text end 32.28 new text begin in this article. new text end 32.29 new text begin 2008 new text end new text begin 2009 new text end new text begin Total new text end 32.30 new text begin General new text end new text begin $ new text end new text begin 124,061,000 new text end new text begin $ new text end new text begin 125,157,000 new text end new text begin $ new text end new text begin 249,218,000 new text end 32.31 new text begin Federal TANF new text end new text begin 10,300,000 new text end new text begin 12,200,000 new text end new text begin 22,500,000 new text end 32.32 new text begin Total new text end new text begin $ new text end new text begin 134,361,000 new text end new text begin $ new text end new text begin 137,357,000 new text end new text begin $ new text end new text begin 271,718,000 new text end 32.33 Sec. 34. new text begin HUMAN SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS. new text end 33.1     new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "appropriations" are appropriated to the new text end 33.2 new text begin agencies and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the new text end 33.3 new text begin general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated new text end 33.4 new text begin for each purpose. The figures "2008" and "2009" used in this article mean that the new text end 33.5 new text begin appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, or new text end 33.6 new text begin June 30, 2009, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2008. "The second year" is fiscal new text end 33.7 new text begin year 2009. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2008 and 2009. Appropriations for the fiscal new text end 33.8 new text begin year ending June 30, 2007, are effective the day following final enactment. new text end 33.9 new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end 33.10 new text begin Available for the Year new text end 33.11 new text begin Ending June 30 new text end 33.12 new text begin 2008 new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 33.13 Sec. 35. new text begin HUMAN SERVICES new text end new text begin $ new text end new text begin 134,361,000 new text end new text begin $ new text end new text begin 137,357,000 new text end 33.14 new text begin Appropriations by Fund new text end 33.15 new text begin General new text end new text begin 124,061,000 new text end new text begin 125,157,000 new text end 33.16 new text begin Federal TANF new text end new text begin 10,300,000 new text end new text begin 12,200,000 new text end 33.17 new text begin The amounts that may be spent from this new text end 33.18 new text begin appropriation for each purpose are as follows: new text end 33.19 new text begin (a) new text end new text begin Legal and Regulatory new text end 33.20 new text begin General new text end new text begin 232,000 new text end new text begin 465,000 new text end 33.21 new text begin Base Adjustment. new text end new text begin The general fund base is new text end 33.22 new text begin decreased by $177,000 in fiscal year 2010 new text end 33.23 new text begin and $353,000 in fiscal year 2011 for legal new text end 33.24 new text begin and regulatory. new text end 33.25 new text begin Child Care Licensing. new text end new text begin $697,000 is new text end 33.26 new text begin appropriated from the general fund to new text end 33.27 new text begin the commissioner of human services for new text end 33.28 new text begin the biennium beginning July 1, 2007, for new text end 33.29 new text begin purposes of completing background studies new text end 33.30 new text begin for family and group family child care new text end 33.31 new text begin providers under Minnesota Statutes, chapter new text end 33.32 new text begin 245C. This appropriation will be $288,000 in new text end 33.33 new text begin fiscal year 2010 and $112,000 in fiscal year new text end 33.34 new text begin 2011. new text end 34.1 new text begin (b) new text end new text begin Revenues and Pass Through new text end 34.2 new text begin TANF new text end new text begin 10,300,000 new text end new text begin 12,200,000 new text end 34.3 new text begin TANF Transfer to Federal Child Care new text end 34.4 new text begin and Development Fund. new text end new text begin The following new text end 34.5 new text begin TANF fund amounts are appropriated to new text end 34.6 new text begin the commissioner for the purposes of MFIP new text end 34.7 new text begin transition year child care under MFIP, new text end 34.8 new text begin Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.05: new text end 34.9 new text begin (1) fiscal year 2008, $9,478,000 new text end 34.10 new text begin (2) fiscal year 2009, $13,022,000 new text end 34.11 new text begin (3) fiscal year 2010, $3,332,000 and new text end 34.12 new text begin (4) fiscal year 2011, $4,668,000. new text end 34.13 new text begin The commissioner shall authorize transfer new text end 34.14 new text begin of sufficient TANF funds to the federal new text end 34.15 new text begin child care and development fund to meet new text end 34.16 new text begin this appropriation and shall ensure that all new text end 34.17 new text begin transferred funds are expended according new text end 34.18 new text begin the federal child care and development fund new text end 34.19 new text begin regulations. new text end 34.20 new text begin (c) new text end new text begin MFIP Child Care Assistance Grants new text end 34.21 new text begin General new text end new text begin 74,453,000 new text end new text begin 73,131,000 new text end 34.22 34.23 new text begin (d) new text end new text begin Basic Sliding Fee Child Care Assistance new text end new text begin Grants new text end 34.24 new text begin General new text end new text begin 43,083,000 new text end new text begin 45,502,000 new text end 34.25 new text begin Base Adjustment. new text end new text begin The general fund base is new text end 34.26 new text begin increased by $3,583,000 in fiscal year 2010 new text end 34.27 new text begin and $1,334,000 in fiscal year 2011 for basic new text end 34.28 new text begin sliding fee child care assistance grants. new text end 34.29 new text begin (e) new text end new text begin Child Care Development Grants new text end 34.30 new text begin General new text end new text begin 5,865,000 new text end new text begin 5,865,000 new text end 34.31 new text begin Child Care Services Grants. new text end new text begin $5,000,000 new text end 34.32 new text begin is appropriated from the general fund to new text end 35.1 new text begin the commissioner of human services for new text end 35.2 new text begin the biennium beginning July 1, 2007, for new text end 35.3 new text begin purposes of providing child care services new text end 35.4 new text begin grants under Minnesota Statutes, section new text end 35.5 new text begin 119B.21, subdivision 5. This appropriation new text end 35.6 new text begin is for the 2008-2009 biennium only, and does new text end 35.7 new text begin not increase the base funding. new text end 35.8 new text begin Early Childhood Professional new text end 35.9 new text begin Development System. new text end new text begin $2,000,000 is new text end 35.10 new text begin appropriated from the general fund to new text end 35.11 new text begin the commissioner of human services for new text end 35.12 new text begin the biennium beginning July 1, 2007, for new text end 35.13 new text begin purposes of the early childhood professional new text end 35.14 new text begin development system, which increases the new text end 35.15 new text begin quality and continuum of professional new text end 35.16 new text begin development opportunities for child care new text end 35.17 new text begin practitioners. This appropriation is for the new text end 35.18 new text begin 2008-2009 biennium only, and does not new text end 35.19 new text begin increase the base funding. new text end 35.20 new text begin Family, Friend, and Neighbor Grant new text end 35.21 new text begin Program. new text end new text begin $750,000 in fiscal year 2008 and new text end 35.22 new text begin $750,000 in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated new text end 35.23 new text begin from the general fund to the commissioner new text end 35.24 new text begin of human services for the family, friend, new text end 35.25 new text begin and neighbor grant program in section 31. new text end 35.26 new text begin Any balance in the first year does not cancel new text end 35.27 new text begin but is available in the second year. This new text end 35.28 new text begin appropriation is for the 2008-2009 biennium new text end 35.29 new text begin only, and does not increase the base funding. new text end 35.30 new text begin (f) new text end new text begin Increased Child Care Provider new text end 35.31 new text begin Connections. new text end new text begin (1) $200,000 is appropriated new text end 35.32 new text begin from the general fund to the commissioner of new text end 35.33 new text begin human services for the biennium beginning new text end 35.34 new text begin July 1, 2007, for the following purposes: new text end 35.35 new text begin $100,000 each year is for a grant to Hennepin new text end 36.1 new text begin County, and $100,000 each year is for a grant new text end 36.2 new text begin to Ramsey County. The two counties shall new text end 36.3 new text begin each contract with a nonprofit organization new text end 36.4 new text begin to work with the contracting county new text end 36.5 new text begin and county-based licensed family child new text end 36.6 new text begin care providers to facilitate county-based new text end 36.7 new text begin information regarding family and children's new text end 36.8 new text begin resources and to make training and peer new text end 36.9 new text begin support available to licensed family child new text end 36.10 new text begin care providers consistent with clause (2). new text end 36.11 new text begin These appropriations are available until new text end 36.12 new text begin June 30, 2009, and shall not become part new text end 36.13 new text begin of base-level funding for the biennium new text end 36.14 new text begin beginning July 1, 2009. new text end 36.15 new text begin (2) Programs to improve child care provider new text end 36.16 new text begin connections to county services shall be new text end 36.17 new text begin established in Hennepin and Ramsey new text end 36.18 new text begin counties to: new text end 36.19 new text begin (i) improve county contact activities new text end 36.20 new text begin with county-licensed family child care new text end 36.21 new text begin providers that facilitate utilization of county new text end 36.22 new text begin educational, social service, public health, new text end 36.23 new text begin and economic assistance services by eligible new text end 36.24 new text begin families, parents, and children using licensed new text end 36.25 new text begin family child care; and new text end 36.26 new text begin (ii) support licensed family child care new text end 36.27 new text begin providers to qualify as quality-rated child new text end 36.28 new text begin care providers through peer support and new text end 36.29 new text begin coaching networks. new text end 36.30 new text begin Hennepin and Ramsey Counties shall new text end 36.31 new text begin contract with a nonprofit organization under new text end 36.32 new text begin clause (1) that utilizes licensed family child new text end 36.33 new text begin care providers as contacts for families using new text end 36.34 new text begin licensed family child care and to provide new text end 37.1 new text begin peer support to licensed family child care new text end 37.2 new text begin providers. new text end 37.3 new text begin (3) Hennepin and Ramsey Counties must new text end 37.4 new text begin report back on successful strategies for new text end 37.5 new text begin increasing contact with county-based new text end 37.6 new text begin licensed family child care providers and new text end 37.7 new text begin report their findings to the appropriate new text end 37.8 new text begin legislative committees by February 15, 2010. new text end 37.9 37.10 new text begin (g) new text end new text begin Children and Economic Assistance new text end new text begin Administration new text end 37.11 new text begin General new text end new text begin 304,000 new text end new text begin 194,000 new text end 37.12 37.13 new text begin (h) new text end new text begin Children and Economic Assistance new text end new text begin Operations new text end 37.14 new text begin General new text end new text begin 124,000 new text end new text begin -0- new text end 37.15    Sec. 36. new text begin REPEALER. new text end 37.16 new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119B.08, subdivision 4, new text end new text begin is repealed. new text end 37.17ARTICLE 2 37.18EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS 37.19    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119A.52, is amended to read: 37.20119A.52 DISTRIBUTION OF APPROPRIATION. 37.21     new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner of education must distribute money appropriated for that 37.22purpose to federally designated Head Start programs to expand services and to serve 37.23additional low-income children. Migrant and Indian reservation programs must be initially 37.24allocated money based on the programs' share of federal funds. The remaining money 37.25must be initially allocated to the remaining local agencies based equally on the agencies' 37.26share of federal funds and on the proportion of eligible children in the agencies' service 37.27area who are not currently being served. A Head Start grantee new text begin program new text end must be funded 37.28at a per child rate equal to its contracted, federally funded base level at the start of the 37.29fiscal year. In allocating funds under this paragraph, the commissioner of education 37.30must assure that each Head Start program in existence in 1993 is allocated no less 37.31funding in any fiscal year than was allocated to that program in fiscal year 1993. Before 37.32paying money to the programs, the commissioner must notify each program of its initial 37.33allocation, how the money must be used, and the number of low-income children to be 38.1served with the allocation based upon the federally funded per child rate. Each program 38.2must present a plan under section 119A.535. For any grantee new text begin program new text end that cannot utilize 38.3its full allocation new text begin at the beginning of the fiscal year new text end , the commissioner must reduce the 38.4allocation proportionately. Money available after the initial allocations are reduced must 38.5be redistributed to eligible grantees new text begin programs new text end . 38.6     new text begin (b) The commissioner must develop procedures to make payments to programs new text end 38.7 new text begin based upon the number of children reported to be enrolled during the required time new text end 38.8 new text begin period of program operations. Enrollment is defined by federal Head Start regulations. new text end 38.9 new text begin The procedures must include a reporting schedule, corrective action plan requirements, new text end 38.10 new text begin and financial consequences to be imposed on programs that do not meet full enrollment new text end 38.11 new text begin after the period of corrective action. Programs reporting chronic underenrollment, as new text end 38.12 new text begin defined by the commissioner, will have their subsequent program year allocation reduced new text end 38.13 new text begin proportionately. Funds made available by prorating payments and allocations to programs new text end 38.14 new text begin with reported underenrollment will be made available to the extent funds exist to fully new text end 38.15 new text begin enrolled Head Start programs through a form and manner prescribed by the department. new text end 38.16    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 119A.535, is amended to read: 38.17119A.535 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS. 38.18    Eligible Head Start organizations must submit a plan to the department for approval 38.19on a form and in the manner prescribed by the commissioner. The plan must include: 38.20    (1) the estimated number of low-income children and families the program will be 38.21able to serve; 38.22    (2) a description of the program design and service delivery area which meets the 38.23needs of and encourages access by low-income working families; 38.24    (3) a program design that ensures fair and equitable access to Head Start services for 38.25all populations and parts of the service area; 38.26    (4) a plan for coordinating services to maximize assistance for child care costs 38.27available to families under chapter 119B new text begin providing Head Start services in conjunction with new text end 38.28 new text begin full-day child care programs to minimize child transitions, increase program intensity and new text end 38.29 new text begin duration, and improve child and family outcomes as required in section 119A.5411 new text end ; and 38.30    (5) identification of regular Head Start, early Head Start, new text begin full-day services identified new text end 38.31 new text begin in section 119A.5411, new text end and innovative services based upon demonstrated needs to be 38.32provided. 38.33    Sec. 3. new text begin [119A.5411] FULL-DAY REQUIREMENTS. new text end 39.1     new text begin The following phase-in of full-day services in Head Start programs or licensed child new text end 39.2 new text begin care as defined in chapter 245A is required: new text end 39.3     new text begin (1) by fiscal year 2009, a minimum of 25 percent of the total state-funded enrollment new text end 39.4 new text begin throughout the state must be provided in full-day services; new text end 39.5     new text begin (2) by fiscal year 2011, a minimum of 40 percent of the total state-funded enrollment new text end 39.6 new text begin throughout the state must be provided in full-day services; and new text end 39.7     new text begin (3) by fiscal year 2013, a minimum of 50 percent of the total state-funded enrollment new text end 39.8 new text begin throughout the state must be provided in full-day services. new text end 39.9     new text begin Head Start programs may provide full-day services as part of their own program new text end 39.10 new text begin model or through agreements with licensed full-day child care programs. If licensed child new text end 39.11 new text begin care providers do not exist in a geographic area, choose not to participate, cannot meet new text end 39.12 new text begin the federal Head Start performance standards after sufficient opportunity, or a Head Start new text end 39.13 new text begin program is unable to establish the full-day services as a part of their own program model, new text end 39.14 new text begin the Head Start program may request exemption from the commissioner. new text end 39.15    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 39.16    Subdivision 1. Establishment new text begin ; purpose new text end . A district that provides a community 39.17education program under sections 124D.18 and 124D.19 may establish an early childhood 39.18family education program. Two or more districts, each of which provides a community 39.19education program, may cooperate to jointly provide an early childhood family education 39.20program. new text begin The purpose of the early childhood family education program is to provide new text end 39.21 new text begin parenting education to support children's learning and development. new text end 39.22    Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.13, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 39.23    Subd. 2. Program characteristics new text begin requirements new text end . (a) Early childhood family 39.24education programs are programs for children in the period of life from birth to 39.25kindergarten, for the parents and other relatives of these children, and for expectant 39.26parents. To the extent that funds are insufficient to provide programs for all children, early 39.27childhood family education programs should emphasize programming for a child new text begin children new text end 39.28from birth to age three new text begin , new text end and encourage parents and other relatives to new text begin for children at risk new text end 39.29 new text begin of not being ready for kindergarten and the children's parents. Program providers also new text end 39.30 new text begin are encouraged to new text end involve four- and five-year-old children new text begin and their families new text end in school 39.31readiness programs, and other public and nonpublic early learning programs. new text begin A district new text end 39.32 new text begin may not limit participation to school district residents. new text end Early childhood family education 39.33programs may include the following new text begin must provide new text end : 40.1    (1) programs to educate parents and other relatives about the physical, mental, 40.2and emotional development of children; 40.3    (2) programs to enhance the skills of parents and other relatives in providing for their 40.4children's learning and development new text begin structured learning activities requiring interaction new text end 40.5 new text begin between children and their parents or relatives new text end ; 40.6    (3) new text begin structured new text end learning experiences new text begin activities new text end for children and parents and other 40.7relatives that promote children's development new text begin and positive interaction with peers, which new text end 40.8 new text begin are held while parents or relatives attend parent education classes new text end ; 40.9    (4) activities designed to detect children's physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral 40.10problems that may cause learning problems; 40.11    (5) activities and materials designed to encourage self-esteem, skills, and behavior 40.12that prevent sexual and other interpersonal violence; 40.13    (6) educational materials which may be borrowed for home use; 40.14    (7) new text begin (4) new text end information on related community resources; 40.15    (8) programs to prevent new text begin (5) information, materials, and activities that support the new text end 40.16 new text begin safety of children, including prevention of new text end child abuse and neglect; new text begin and new text end 40.17    (9) other programs or activities to improve the health, development, and school 40.18readiness of children; or 40.19    (10) activities designed to maximize development during infancy. 40.20     new text begin (6) a community outreach plan to ensure participation by families who reflect the new text end 40.21 new text begin racial, cultural, and economic diversity of the school district. new text end 40.22    The programs must not include activities for children that do not require substantial 40.23involvement of the children's parents or other relatives. The programs new text begin program new text end must be 40.24reviewed periodically to assure the instruction and materials are not racially, culturally, or 40.25sexually biased. The programs must encourage parents to be aware of practices that may 40.26affect equitable development of children. 40.27    (b) For the purposes of this section, "relative" or "relatives" means noncustodial 40.28grandparents or other persons related to a child by blood, marriage, adoption, or foster 40.29placement, excluding parents. 40.30 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end 40.31    Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.13, subdivision 11, is amended to read: 40.32    Subd. 11. Teachers new text begin and coordinators new text end . A school board must employ necessary 40.33qualified teachers new text begin licensed in early childhood or parent education new text end for its early childhood 40.34family education programs. new text begin Coordinators of early childhood family education programs new text end 41.1 new text begin shall meet, as a minimum, the licensure requirements for a teacher within the ECFE new text end 41.2 new text begin program. new text end 41.3    Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.13, is amended by adding a subdivision 41.4to read: 41.5     new text begin Subd. 13. new text end new text begin Plan and program data submission requirements. new text end new text begin (a) An early new text end 41.6 new text begin childhood family education program must submit a biennial plan addressing the new text end 41.7 new text begin requirements of subdivision 2 for approval by the commissioner. The plan must also new text end 41.8 new text begin describe how the program provides parenting education and ensures participation of new text end 41.9 new text begin families representative of the school district. A school district must submit the plan for new text end 41.10 new text begin approval by the commissioner in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. new text end 41.11 new text begin One-half of districts, as determined by the commissioner, must first submit a biennial plan new text end 41.12 new text begin by April 1, 2009, and the remaining districts must first submit a plan by April 1, 2010. new text end 41.13     new text begin (b) Districts receiving early childhood family education revenue under section new text end 41.14 new text begin 124D.135 must submit annual program data to the department by July 15 in the form and new text end 41.15 new text begin manner prescribed by the commissioner. new text end 41.16     new text begin (c) Beginning with levies for fiscal year 2011, a school district must submit its annual new text end 41.17 new text begin program data to the department before it may certify a levy under section 124D.135. new text end 41.18 new text begin Districts selected by the commissioner to submit a biennial plan by April 1, 2010, must new text end 41.19 new text begin also have an approved plan on file with the commissioner before certifying a levy under new text end 41.20 new text begin section 124D.135 for fiscal year 2011. Beginning with levies for fiscal year 2012, all new text end 41.21 new text begin districts must submit annual program data and have an approved biennial plan on file with new text end 41.22 new text begin the commissioner before certifying a levy under section 124D.135. new text end 41.23    Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.135, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 41.24    Subdivision 1. Revenue. The revenue for early childhood family education 41.25programs for a school district equals $112 for fiscal year 2007 new text begin and $120 for fiscal year new text end 41.26 new text begin 2008 new text end and later, times the greater of: 41.27    (1) 150; or 41.28    (2) the number of people under five years of age residing in the district on October 1 41.29of the previous school year. 41.30 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2008. new text end 41.31    Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.135, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 41.32    Subd. 3. Early childhood family education levy. For fiscal year 2001 to obtain 41.33early childhood family education revenue, a district may levy an amount equal to the tax 42.1rate of .5282 percent times the adjusted tax capacity of the district for the year preceding 42.2the year the levy is certified. Beginning with levies for fiscal year 2002, By September 42.330 of each year, the commissioner shall establish a tax rate for early childhood new text begin family new text end 42.4education revenue that raises $21,027,000 for fiscal year 2002 and $22,135,000 in new text begin each new text end 42.5fiscal year 2003 and each subsequent year. If the amount of the early childhood family 42.6education levy would exceed the early childhood family education revenue, the early 42.7childhood family education levy must equal the early childhood family education revenue. new text begin new text end 42.8 new text begin Beginning with levies for fiscal year 2011, a district may not certify an early childhood new text end 42.9 new text begin family education levy unless it has met the annual program data reporting and biennial new text end 42.10 new text begin plan requirements under section 124D.13, subdivision 13. new text end 42.11    Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.135, subdivision 5, is amended to read: 42.12    Subd. 5. Use of revenue restricted. new text begin (a) new text end Early childhood family education revenue 42.13may be used only for early childhood family education programs. 42.14     new text begin (b) new text end Not more than five percent of early childhood family education revenue, as 42.15defined in subdivision 7, may be used to administer early childhood family education 42.16programs. 42.17     new text begin (c) An early childhood family education program may use up to ten percent of its new text end 42.18 new text begin early childhood family education revenue as defined in subdivision 1, including revenue new text end 42.19 new text begin from participant fees, for equipment that is used in the early childhood family education new text end 42.20 new text begin program. This revenue may only be used for the following purposes: new text end 42.21     new text begin (1) to purchase or lease computers and related materials; and new text end 42.22     new text begin (2) to purchase or lease equipment for instruction for participating children and new text end 42.23 new text begin their families. new text end 42.24     new text begin If a district anticipates an unusual circumstance requiring its early childhood family new text end 42.25 new text begin education program capital expenditures to exceed the ten percent limitation, prior approval new text end 42.26 new text begin to exceed the limit must be obtained in writing from the commissioner. new text end 42.27    Sec. 11. new text begin [124D.141] STATE ADVISORY BOARD ON SCHOOL READINESS. new text end 42.28     new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Establishment. new text end new text begin A 13-member State Advisory Board on School new text end 42.29 new text begin Readiness is established in the Office of the Governor to advise the governor and the new text end 42.30 new text begin legislature on developing a coordinated, efficient, and cost-effective system for delivering new text end 42.31 new text begin throughout Minnesota early childhood programs that focus on early care and education, new text end 42.32 new text begin health care, and family support. new text end 42.33     new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Board members; terms. new text end new text begin (a) The advisory board includes the following new text end 42.34 new text begin 13 members: new text end 43.1     new text begin (1) the commissioner of employment and economic development or the new text end 43.2 new text begin commissioner's designee; new text end 43.3     new text begin (2) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee; new text end 43.4     new text begin (3) the commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee; new text end 43.5     new text begin (4) the commissioner of human services or the commissioner's designee; new text end 43.6     new text begin (5) six public members, one of whom is the parent of a child currently enrolled new text end 43.7 new text begin in an early care and education program, five of whom are recognized experts in early new text end 43.8 new text begin care and education, one of whom is a higher education representative, one of whom is a new text end 43.9 new text begin licensed professional who currently provides student support services, and one of whom new text end 43.10 new text begin is a currently practicing early childhood educator, appointed jointly by the majority and new text end 43.11 new text begin minority leaders in the house of representatives and senate; and new text end 43.12     new text begin (6) three public members who are community or business leaders, one of whom new text end 43.13 new text begin is a member of the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation board of directors under new text end 43.14 new text begin section 124D.175, appointed jointly by the speaker and minority leader in the house of new text end 43.15 new text begin representatives and the majority and minority leaders in the senate. new text end 43.16     new text begin (b) Members appointed by the speaker and minority leader in the house of new text end 43.17 new text begin representatives and the majority and minority leaders in the senate serve staggered new text end 43.18 new text begin three-year terms. Board members must nominate and elect a chair and other officers new text end 43.19 new text begin from among the public members. Members initially appointed to the board shall assign new text end 43.20 new text begin themselves by lot to terms of one, two, or three years. The chair must notify the governor new text end 43.21 new text begin on the assignment of these terms. The board shall meet regularly at the times and places new text end 43.22 new text begin the board determines. Meetings shall be called by the chair or at the written request of new text end 43.23 new text begin any three members. Members' terms, compensation, removal, and vacancies are governed new text end 43.24 new text begin by section 15.0575. new text end 43.25     new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Duties. new text end new text begin (a) The board shall recommend to the governor and the legislature: new text end 43.26     new text begin (1) the most effective method to improve the coordination and delivery of early care new text end 43.27 new text begin and education services that integrates child care, early care and education programs, new text end 43.28 new text begin and family support services and programs; new text end 43.29     new text begin (2) a multiyear plan for effectively and efficiently coordinating and integrating new text end 43.30 new text begin state services for early care and education, improving service delivery and standards new text end 43.31 new text begin of care, avoiding duplication and fragmentation of service, and enhancing public and new text end 43.32 new text begin private investment; new text end 43.33     new text begin (3) methods for measuring the quality, quantity, and effectiveness of early care and new text end 43.34 new text begin education programs throughout the state; new text end 43.35     new text begin (4) how to identify and measure school readiness indicators on a regular basis; new text end 44.1     new text begin (5) how to track, enhance, integrate, and coordinate federal, state, and local funds new text end 44.2 new text begin allocated for early care and education and related family support services; new text end 44.3     new text begin (6) policy changes to improve children's ability to start school ready to learn; and new text end 44.4     new text begin (7) how to provide technical assistance to community efforts that promote school new text end 44.5 new text begin readiness and encourage community organizations to collaborate in promoting school new text end 44.6 new text begin readiness. new text end 44.7     new text begin (b) In developing recommendations for the governor and the legislature under this new text end 44.8 new text begin section, the board must evaluate on an ongoing basis: new text end 44.9     new text begin (1) what government can do to enhance families' capacity to help themselves and new text end 44.10 new text begin others; and new text end 44.11     new text begin (2) the positive or negative effects of policies and programs recommended under this new text end 44.12 new text begin section on families affected by these programs. new text end 44.13     new text begin (c) The board shall convene policy work groups as necessary to make new text end 44.14 new text begin recommendations to the governor and the legislature on: new text end 44.15     new text begin (1) financing early childhood programs; new text end 44.16     new text begin (2) building a coordinated service delivery system based on an assessment of early new text end 44.17 new text begin childhood systems and available state and federal funding; new text end 44.18     new text begin (3) integrating a coordinated, collaborative health care component, including new text end 44.19 new text begin medical homes, parent education, family support, developmental health and early new text end 44.20 new text begin education, into early childhood programs and avoiding duplication of services; new text end 44.21     new text begin (4) enhancing the quality and measuring the cost of child care and preschool new text end 44.22 new text begin programs; and new text end 44.23     new text begin (5) improving the wages, benefits, and supply of early childhood professionals. new text end 44.24     new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Report. new text end new text begin The task force annually by February 15 must report to the new text end 44.25 new text begin education policy and finance committees of the legislature on the recommendations the new text end 44.26 new text begin task force made during the preceding calendar year. new text end 44.27     new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Board expiration. new text end new text begin The State Advisory Board on School Readiness new text end 44.28 new text begin expires January 1, 2013. new text end 44.29 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end 44.30    Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.16, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 44.31    Subd. 2. Amount of aid. (a) A district is eligible to receive school readiness aid 44.32for eligible prekindergarten pupils enrolled in a school readiness program under section 44.33124D.15 if the biennial plan required by section 124D.15, subdivision 3a, has been 44.34approved by the commissioner. 45.1    (b) For fiscal year 2002 and thereafter, A district must receive school readiness aid 45.2equal to: 45.3    (1) the number of four-year-old children in the district on October 1 for the previous 45.4school year times the ratio of 50 percent of the total school readiness aid new text begin entitlement new text end for 45.5that year to the total number of four-year-old children reported to the commissioner for the 45.6previous school year; plus 45.7    (2) the number of pupils enrolled in the school district from families eligible for the 45.8free or reduced school lunch program for the previous school year times the ratio of 50 45.9percent of the total school readiness aid new text begin entitlement new text end for that year to the total number of 45.10pupils in the state from families eligible for the free or reduced school lunch program for 45.11the previous school year. 45.12     new text begin (c) For fiscal year 2008 and later, the total statewide school readiness aid entitlement new text end 45.13 new text begin equals $10,095,000. new text end 45.14 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2008. new text end 45.15    Sec. 13. new text begin [124D.1625] EXPANDING DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENTAL new text end 45.16 new text begin ASSESSMENT ADMINISTERED TO ENTERING KINDERGARTNERS. new text end 45.17     new text begin (a) The commissioner of education shall encourage school districts to implement the new text end 45.18 new text begin voluntary school readiness kindergarten assessment initiative in the 2008-2009 school new text end 45.19 new text begin year, to assess up to 30 percent of children. new text end 45.20     new text begin (b) The commissioner must report the assessment results for the current school year new text end 45.21 new text begin to the legislature by January 1 of the next year. new text end 45.22 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2007. new text end 45.23    Sec. 14. new text begin [124D.163] TARGETED TRAINING OF EARLY CHILDHOOD new text end 45.24 new text begin PROFESSIONALS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL READINESS. new text end 45.25     new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Establishment; purpose. new text end new text begin The commissioner of education shall new text end 45.26 new text begin provide a training program for the purpose of improving the school readiness of new text end 45.27 new text begin prekindergarten children. new text end 45.28     new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Eligible participants. new text end new text begin The training program is available to all staff in new text end 45.29 new text begin school readiness programs as defined in section 124D.15, Head Start programs as defined new text end 45.30 new text begin in section 119A.50, and child care centers as defined in chapter 245A. The commissioner new text end 45.31 new text begin of education shall cooperate with the commissioner of human services to identify child new text end 45.32 new text begin care center program and licensed family child care provider participants and implement new text end 45.33 new text begin the training program for them. new text end 46.1     new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Training content. new text end new text begin The commissioner shall develop three foundational new text end 46.2 new text begin and sequential training modules on child observation, child and program assessment, new text end 46.3 new text begin and curriculum planning. new text end 46.4     new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Availability. new text end new text begin To the extent practical, the training must be made available new text end 46.5 new text begin throughout the state on an ongoing basis. In addition to the geographic availability, the new text end 46.6 new text begin commissioner shall consider the availability of training to meet the needs of diverse new text end 46.7 new text begin cultural groups. Training materials may be translated and training may be delivered in new text end 46.8 new text begin other languages as determined by the commissioner. The training may be provided new text end 46.9 new text begin through a variety of methods that may include on-site and Web-based delivery. new text end 46.10    Sec. 15. new text begin [124D.165] EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIPS. new text end 46.11     new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Purpose. new text end new text begin The commissioner must establish an early childhood new text end 46.12 new text begin scholarship fund to improve the school readiness of prekindergarten children at risk new text end 46.13 new text begin of being unprepared for kindergarten. Scholarships are available for the purpose of new text end 46.14 new text begin participating in an approved program as specified in subdivision 4 the year prior to new text end 46.15 new text begin kindergarten entrance. new text end 46.16     new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Eligibility. new text end new text begin A parent or legal guardian of a four-year-old child with a new text end 46.17 new text begin household income that does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, new text end 46.18 new text begin adjusted for family size, is eligible to apply for an annual scholarship of up to $4,000 for new text end 46.19 new text begin each eligible child. new text end 46.20     new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Scholarship application, award, and process. new text end new text begin Parents or guardians new text end 46.21 new text begin meeting the eligibility requirements defined in subdivision 2 may apply for a scholarship new text end 46.22 new text begin certificate. Application must be made according to the form and manner prescribed by the new text end 46.23 new text begin commissioner. The certificates must be redeemable for instruction at an approved early new text end 46.24 new text begin childhood program, as specified in subdivision 4, for up to one year from the date of new text end 46.25 new text begin issue or until the child for whom the scholarship is designated enrolls in kindergarten, new text end 46.26 new text begin whichever occurs first. The commissioner shall annually award scholarship certificates to new text end 46.27 new text begin eligible applicants in the order applications are received until all funds available for the new text end 46.28 new text begin year have been obligated. Recipients may not transfer a scholarship certificate to another new text end 46.29 new text begin person. The parent or guardian may transfer the scholarship certificate to another approved new text end 46.30 new text begin early childhood program according to requirements established by the commissioner. new text end 46.31     new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Program approval. new text end new text begin A program must be approved by the commissioner new text end 46.32 new text begin to be eligible to receive state early childhood scholarship program funds on behalf of new text end 46.33 new text begin an enrolled scholarship certificate recipient. Early childhood programs must apply for new text end 46.34 new text begin approval in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner and must be: new text end 46.35     new text begin (1) a federally designated Head Start program as defined in section 119A.50; new text end 47.1     new text begin (2) a school readiness program as defined in section 124D.15; or new text end 47.2     new text begin (3) a licensed child care program as defined in chapter 245A. new text end 47.3     new text begin The application must include evidence that the program provides research-based new text end 47.4 new text begin instruction to support school readiness. Programs must submit any program changes new text end 47.5 new text begin related to approval as they occur and must reapply for approval every three years. new text end 47.6     new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Payments to approved programs. new text end new text begin The commissioner shall issue new text end 47.7 new text begin payments of scholarship funds on a reimbursement basis to approved programs as defined new text end 47.8 new text begin in subdivision 4 for services provided that are comparable to service costs for program new text end 47.9 new text begin participants who do not receive a scholarship. Scholarship funds may not be used for new text end 47.10 new text begin services that are available at no cost to nonscholarship recipient families. Approved new text end 47.11 new text begin programs must maintain documentation of services provided and the commissioner shall new text end 47.12 new text begin verify information submitted by approved programs to ensure appropriate services were new text end 47.13 new text begin provided to eligible recipients for whom state early childhood scholarship funds are paid. new text end 47.14 new text begin Scholarship funds awarded to families receiving other forms of assistance, such as child new text end 47.15 new text begin care assistance, must be used to supplement and may not be used to supplant services new text end 47.16 new text begin provided through that assistance. new text end 47.17     new text begin Subd. 6. new text end new text begin Scholarship not income for purposes of other publicly funded new text end 47.18 new text begin programs. new text end new text begin Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the receipt of a scholarship does not new text end 47.19 new text begin count as earned income for the purposes of medical assistance, MinnesotaCare, MFIP, new text end 47.20 new text begin child care assistance, or Head Start programs. new text end 47.21    Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.175, is amended to read: 47.22124D.175 MINNESOTA EARLY LEARNING FOUNDATION. 47.23    (a) The commissioner must make a grant to the Minnesota Early Learning 47.24Foundation to new text begin may new text end implement an early childhood development grant program for 47.25low-income and other challenged families that increases the effectiveness and expands 47.26the capacity of public and nonpublic early childhood development programs, which may 47.27include child care programs, and leads to improved early childhood parent education and 47.28children's kindergarten readiness. The program must new text begin may new text end include: 47.29    (1) grant awards to existing early childhood development program providers that 47.30also provide parent education programs and to qualified providers proposing to implement 47.31pilot programs for this same purpose; 47.32    (2) grant awards to enable low-income families to participate in these programs; 47.33    (3) grant awards to improve overall programmatic quality; and 47.34    (4) an evaluation of the programmatic and financial efficacy of all these programs, 47.35which may be performed using measures of services, staffing, and management systems 48.1that provide consistent information about system performance, show trends, confirm 48.2successes, and identify potential problems in early childhood development programs. 48.3This grant program must not supplant existing early childhood development programs 48.4or child care funds. 48.5    (b) The commissioner must make a grant to a private nonprofit, section 501(c)(3) 48.6organization to implement the requirements of paragraph (a). The private nonprofit 48.7organization must be governed by a board of directors composed of members from the 48.8public and nonpublic sectors, where the nonpublic sector members compose a simple 48.9majority of board members and where the public sector members are state and local 48.10government officials, kindergarten through grade 12 or postsecondary educators, and early 48.11childhood providers appointed by the governor. Membership on the board of directors 48.12by a state agency official are work duties for the official and are not a conflict of interest 48.13under section . The board of directors must appoint an executive director and must 48.14seek advice from geographically and ethnically diverse parents of young children and 48.15representatives of early childhood development providers, kindergarten through grade 12 48.16and postsecondary educators, public libraries, and the business sector. 48.17     The board of directors is subject to the open meeting law under chapter 13D. 48.18All other terms and conditions under which board members serve and operate must be 48.19described in the articles and bylaws of the organization. The private nonprofit organization 48.20is not a state agency and is not subject to laws governing public agencies except the 48.21provisions of chapter 13, salary limits under section 15A.0815, subdivision 2, and audits 48.22by the legislative auditor under chapter 3 apply. 48.23    (c) new text begin (b) new text end In addition to the duties under paragraph (a), the Minnesota Early Learning 48.24Foundation (MELF) shall evaluate the effectiveness of the new text begin a new text end voluntary NorthStar quality 48.25Improvement and rating system. The NorthStar Quality Improvement and Rating System 48.26 new text begin quality rating system new text end must: 48.27    (1) provide consumer information for parents on child care and early education 48.28program quality and ratings; 48.29    (2) set indicators to identify quality in care and early education settings, including 48.30licensed family child care and centers, tribal providers and programs, new text begin and new text end Head Start 48.31and school-age programs, and identify quality programs through ratings and ongoing 48.32monitoring of programs; 48.33    (3) provide funds new text begin resources and incentives new text end for provider improvement grants and 48.34quality achievement grants; 48.35    (4) require participating providers to incorporate the state's early learning standards 48.36in their curriculum activities and develop appropriate child assessments aligned with the 49.1kindergarten readiness assessment new text begin implement a curriculum and child assessments that new text end 49.2 new text begin align with the kindergarten through grade 2 standards new text end ; 49.3    (5) provide accountability for the NorthStar Quality Improvement and Rating 49.4System's effectiveness in improving child outcomes and kindergarten readiness new text begin an new text end 49.5 new text begin evaluation of the quality rating system new text end ; and 49.6    (6) align current and new state investments to improve the quality of child care 49.7with the NorthStar quality Improvement and rating system framework, by providing 49.8accountability and informed parent choice. 49.9     new text begin (c) new text end The Minnesota Early Learning Foundation shall report back to the legislature by 49.10January 15, 2008, new text begin annually new text end on the progress being made under this paragraph new text begin paragraphs new text end 49.11 new text begin (a) and (b) new text end . 49.12    (d) This section expires June 30, 2011 new text begin 2012 new text end . If no state appropriation is made for 49.13purposes of this section, the commissioner must not implement paragraphs (a) and (b). 49.14     new text begin (e) A legislative advisory task force shall be established to meet with MELF new text end 49.15 new text begin regarding pilot projects for scholarship programs, and regarding other programs and pilot new text end 49.16 new text begin projects of a similar nature conducted in Minnesota or elsewhere. The task force shall new text end 49.17 new text begin have eight members, appointed as follows: two members from the majority party of the new text end 49.18 new text begin house of representatives, appointed by the speaker, one of whom shall be designated new text end 49.19 new text begin the house of representatives cochair, and two from nonmajority members of the house new text end 49.20 new text begin of representatives, appointed by the speaker with advice from the minority leader; two new text end 49.21 new text begin members from the majority party in the senate, one of whom shall be designated the new text end 49.22 new text begin senate cochair, and two from nonmajority members of the senate, appointed by the new text end 49.23 new text begin senate subcommittee on committees. Appointments shall be balanced geographically, new text end 49.24 new text begin with at least two members from substantially suburban districts and four members from new text end 49.25 new text begin nonmetropolitan districts. The task force shall meet at least twice per year. new text end 49.26    Sec. 17. new text begin [124D.2211] AFTER-SCHOOL COMMUNITY LEARNING new text end 49.27 new text begin PROGRAMS. new text end 49.28     new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Establishment. new text end new text begin A competitive statewide after-school community new text end 49.29 new text begin learning grant program is established to provide grants to community or nonprofit new text end 49.30 new text begin organizations, political subdivisions, for-profit or nonprofit child care centers, or new text end 49.31 new text begin school-based programs that serve youth after school or during nonschool hours. The new text end 49.32 new text begin commissioner shall develop criteria for after-school community learning programs. new text end 49.33     new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Program outcomes. new text end new text begin The expected outcomes of the after-school new text end 49.34 new text begin community learning programs are to increase: new text end 49.35     new text begin (1) school connectedness of participants; new text end 50.1     new text begin (2) academic achievement of participating students in one or more core academic new text end 50.2 new text begin areas; new text end 50.3     new text begin (3) the capacity of participants to become productive adults; and new text end 50.4     new text begin (4) prevent truancy from school and prevent juvenile crime. new text end 50.5     new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Grants. new text end new text begin An applicant shall submit an after-school community learning new text end 50.6 new text begin program proposal to the commissioner. The submitted plan must include: new text end 50.7     new text begin (1) collaboration with and leverage of existing community resources that have new text end 50.8 new text begin demonstrated effectiveness; new text end 50.9     new text begin (2) outreach to children and youth; and new text end 50.10     new text begin (3) involvement of local governments, including park and recreation boards or new text end 50.11 new text begin schools, unless no government agency is appropriate. new text end 50.12     new text begin Proposals will be reviewed and approved by the commissioner. new text end 50.13    Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.531, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 50.14    Subdivision 1. State total adult basic education aid. (a) The state total adult basic 50.15education aid for fiscal year 2005 is $36,509,000. The state total adult basic education 50.16aid for fiscal year 2006 equals $36,587,000 plus any amount that is not paid for during 50.17the previous fiscal year, as a result of adjustments under subdivision 4, paragraph (a), or 50.18section 124D.52, subdivision 3. The state total adult basic education aid for fiscal year 50.192007 equals $37,673,000 plus any amount that is not paid for during the previous fiscal 50.20year, as a result of adjustments under subdivision 4, paragraph (a), or section 124D.52, 50.21subdivision 3 . new text begin The state total adult basic education aid for fiscal year 2008 equals new text end 50.22 new text begin $40,650,000, plus any amount that is not paid during the previous fiscal year as a result of new text end 50.23 new text begin adjustments under subdivision 4, paragraph (a), or section 124D.52, subdivision 3. new text end The 50.24state total adult basic education aid for later fiscal years equals: 50.25    (1) the state total adult basic education aid for the preceding fiscal year plus any 50.26amount that is not paid for during the previous fiscal year, as a result of adjustments under 50.27subdivision 4, paragraph (a), or section 124D.52, subdivision 3; times 50.28    (2) the lesser of: 50.29    (i) 1.03; or 50.30    (ii) the greater of 1.00 or the ratio of the state total contact hours in the first prior 50.31program year to the state total contact hours in the second prior program year. 50.32    Beginning in fiscal year 2002, two percent of the state total adult basic education 50.33aid must be set aside for adult basic education supplemental service grants under section 50.34124D.522 . 51.1    (b) The state total adult basic education aid, excluding basic population aid, equals 51.2the difference between the amount computed in paragraph (a), and the state total basic 51.3population aid under subdivision 2. 51.4    Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.531, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 51.5    Subd. 4. Adult basic education program aid limit. (a) Notwithstanding 51.6subdivisions 2 and 3, the total adult basic education aid for a program per prior year 51.7contact hour must not exceed $21 new text begin $22 new text end per prior year contact hour computed under 51.8subdivision 3, clause (2). 51.9    (b) For fiscal year 2004, the aid for a program under subdivision 3, clause (2), 51.10adjusted for changes in program membership, must not exceed the aid for that program 51.11under subdivision 3, clause (2), for fiscal year 2003 by more than the greater of eight 51.12percent or $10,000. 51.13    (c) For fiscal year 2005, the aid for a program under subdivision 3, clause (2), 51.14adjusted for changes in program membership, must not exceed the sum of the aid for that 51.15program under subdivision 3, clause (2), and Laws 2003, First Special Session chapter 9, 51.16article 9, section 8, paragraph (a), for the preceding fiscal year by more than the greater of 51.17eight percent or $10,000. 51.18    (d) For fiscal year new text begin years new text end 2006 and later new text begin 2007 new text end , the aid for a program under subdivision 51.193, clause (2), adjusted for changes in program membership, must not exceed the aid for 51.20that program under subdivision 3, clause (2), for the first preceding fiscal year by more 51.21than the greater of eight percent or $10,000. 51.22     new text begin (e) For fiscal year 2008, the aid for a program under subdivision 3, clause (2), new text end 51.23 new text begin adjusted for changes in program membership, shall not be limited. new text end 51.24     new text begin (f) For fiscal year 2009 and later, the aid for a program under subdivision 3, clause new text end 51.25 new text begin (2), adjusted for changes in program membership, must not exceed the aid for that new text end 51.26 new text begin program under subdivision 3, clause (2), for the first preceding fiscal year by more than new text end 51.27 new text begin the greater of 11 percent or $10,000. new text end 51.28    (e) new text begin (g) new text end Adult basic education aid is payable to a program for unreimbursed costs 51.29occurring in the program year as defined in section 124D.52, subdivision 3. 51.30    (f) new text begin (h) new text end Any adult basic education aid that is not paid to a program because of the 51.31program aid limitation under paragraph (a) must be added to the state total adult basic 51.32education aid for the next fiscal year under subdivision 1. Any adult basic education aid 51.33that is not paid to a program because of the program aid limitations under paragraph (b), 51.34(c), or (d), must be reallocated among programs by adjusting the rate per contact hour 51.35under subdivision 3, clause (2). 52.1    Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.55, is amended to read: 52.2124D.55 GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT (GED) TEST FEES. 52.3     new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner shall pay 60 new text begin 75 new text end percent of the fee that is charged to an eligible 52.4individual for the full battery of a general education development (GED) test, but not 52.5more than $20 new text begin $75 new text end for an eligible individual. 52.6     new text begin (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the commissioner shall pay 100 percent of the new text end 52.7 new text begin initial fee for an eligible individual who is homeless or precariously housed, as determined new text end 52.8 new text begin by the commissioner. new text end 52.9    Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.56, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 52.10    Subdivision 1. Revenue amount. A district that is eligible according to section 52.11124D.20, subdivision 2 , may receive revenue for a program for adults with disabilities. 52.12Revenue for the program for adults with disabilities for a district or a group of districts 52.13equals the lesser of: 52.14    (1) the actual expenditures for approved programs and budgets; or 52.15    (2) $60,000 new text begin $75,000 new text end . 52.16 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2008. new text end 52.17    Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.56, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 52.18    Subd. 2. Aid. Program aid for adults with disabilities equals the lesser of: 52.19    (1) one-half of the actual expenditures for approved programs and budgets; or 52.20    (2) $30,000 new text begin $37,500 new text end . 52.21 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2008. new text end 52.22    Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.56, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 52.23    Subd. 3. Levy. A district may levy for a program for adults with disabilities an 52.24amount up to the amount designated new text begin not to exceed the difference between the revenue new text end 52.25 new text begin amount calculated in subdivision 1 and the aid amount calculated new text end in subdivision 2. In the 52.26case of a program offered by a group of districts, the levy amount must be apportioned 52.27among the districts according to the agreement submitted to the department. 52.28 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2008. new text end 52.29    Sec. 24. new text begin EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY HUB PLANNING AND new text end 52.30 new text begin IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS. new text end 53.1     new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Establishment. new text end new text begin (a) A two-year grant program is established to new text end 53.2 new text begin increase children's school readiness and success using early childhood community hubs. new text end 53.3 new text begin An early childhood community hub must promote children's school readiness from before new text end 53.4 new text begin birth to kindergarten by coordinating and improving families' access to: new text end 53.5     new text begin (1) community early care and education services; new text end 53.6     new text begin (2) school; new text end 53.7     new text begin (3) health services; and new text end 53.8     new text begin (4) other family support services that stabilize, support, and assist families in new text end 53.9 new text begin meeting their children's health and developmental needs. new text end 53.10     new text begin (b) The commissioner of education shall designate at least four hubs to be established new text end 53.11 new text begin under this section. One hub must be located in a rural area of the state, one must be in a new text end 53.12 new text begin suburban area, and one must be in an urban area. The commissioner shall consider other new text end 53.13 new text begin demographic and cultural factors to ensure that hubs are selected in diverse areas of the new text end 53.14 new text begin state, and shall ensure that a significant number of participants in each area are eligible new text end 53.15 new text begin for free or reduced-price lunch. new text end 53.16     new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Eligibility; application. new text end new text begin (a) An applicant for a grant must be a school new text end 53.17 new text begin district, a consortium of school districts, or a tribal school interested in collaborating with new text end 53.18 new text begin community-based early childhood care and education providers to maximize the services new text end 53.19 new text begin available to eligible families. new text end 53.20     new text begin (b) An interested applicant must submit a plan to the commissioner of education, new text end 53.21 new text begin in the form and manner the commissioner determines, to implement an early childhood new text end 53.22 new text begin community hub that is located in a public school, a tribal school, or other appropriate new text end 53.23 new text begin community location. An applicant must include in the plan a community-based assessment new text end 53.24 new text begin of the existing resources and needs for providing high quality early care and education new text end 53.25 new text begin services, health and mental health services, and other social services that support healthy new text end 53.26 new text begin families and safe neighborhoods. A district superintendent or a designated representative, new text end 53.27 new text begin or a tribal school principal or a designated representative, must oversee the community new text end 53.28 new text begin collaboration. new text end 53.29     new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Program components. new text end new text begin (a) Grant recipients must: new text end 53.30     new text begin (1) provide for an ongoing assessment of local resources and needs for high quality new text end 53.31 new text begin early care and education services, health and mental health services, and other social new text end 53.32 new text begin services that support safe neighborhoods and healthy families; new text end 53.33     new text begin (2) develop and implement, in consultation with an advisory committee under new text end 53.34 new text begin subdivision 4, a plan to improve the healthy development and school readiness of children new text end 53.35 new text begin from before birth to kindergarten; new text end 54.1     new text begin (3) develop collaborative partnerships among school-based early childhood new text end 54.2 new text begin programs, kindergarten teachers and other school officials, community-based Head new text end 54.3 new text begin Start and child care programs including licensed centers, family child care homes, new text end 54.4 new text begin and unlicensed family friend and neighbor caregivers, early intervention interagency new text end 54.5 new text begin committees, and other appropriate partners that: new text end 54.6     new text begin (i) use the Minnesota child care resource and referral network to provide parents new text end 54.7 new text begin with information on quality early care and education services and financial aid options for new text end 54.8 new text begin their children from birth to kindergarten; new text end 54.9     new text begin (ii) provide high quality early care and education settings for children from birth to new text end 54.10 new text begin kindergarten; new text end 54.11     new text begin (iii) connect families to health, mental health, adult basic education, English new text end 54.12 new text begin language learning, family literacy programs, and other relevant social services; and new text end 54.13     new text begin (iv) promote shared professional development activities in early care and education new text end 54.14 new text begin settings that integrate curriculum, assessment, and instruction and are aligned with new text end 54.15 new text begin kindergarten through grade 12 standards; new text end 54.16     new text begin (4) provide meaningful kindergarten transition services for families that begin one new text end 54.17 new text begin school year before a child enters kindergarten; new text end 54.18     new text begin (5) develop and implement an evaluation plan to determine the effectiveness of the new text end 54.19 new text begin collaboration, the level of parent satisfaction, and children's kindergarten readiness before new text end 54.20 new text begin and after participating in the program; and new text end 54.21     new text begin (6) assign an unduplicated MARSS number to each child participating in the new text end 54.22 new text begin program. new text end 54.23     new text begin (b) An applicant must agree to contract with a qualified person to coordinate the hub new text end 54.24 new text begin who, at a minimum, must have: new text end 54.25     new text begin (1) a bachelor's degree in early childhood development or a related field; new text end 54.26     new text begin (2) experience working with low-income families from diverse cultural communities; new text end 54.27 new text begin and new text end 54.28     new text begin (3) experience working with state and community school readiness providers. new text end 54.29     new text begin (c) An applicant must agree to provide a 15 percent local match for any grant money new text end 54.30 new text begin it receives, of which five percent may be in-kind contributions. A grant recipient must new text end 54.31 new text begin use the grant, including the local match, to supplement but not supplant existing early new text end 54.32 new text begin childhood initiatives in the community. new text end 54.33     new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Advisory committees. new text end new text begin Each early childhood community hub grantee must new text end 54.34 new text begin have an advisory committee, which may be a preexisting early childhood committee or new text end 54.35 new text begin a newly formed early childhood advisory committee. A newly formed early childhood new text end 55.1 new text begin advisory committee must include at least the following members selected by the school new text end 55.2 new text begin administrator who oversees the community collaboration: new text end 55.3     new text begin (1) 30 percent parents; new text end 55.4     new text begin (2) the school administrator who oversees the community collaboration; new text end 55.5     new text begin (3) licensed teachers for kindergarten through grade 3; new text end 55.6     new text begin (4) licensed child care providers that include family child care and center-based new text end 55.7 new text begin providers; new text end 55.8     new text begin (5) Head Start providers; new text end 55.9     new text begin (6) early childhood family education and school readiness providers; new text end 55.10     new text begin (7) early childhood special education providers; new text end 55.11     new text begin (8) a child care resource and referral agency; new text end 55.12     new text begin (9) community business leaders; new text end 55.13     new text begin (10) an early intervention interagency committee liaison; new text end 55.14     new text begin (11) other appropriate community members serving young children and their new text end 55.15 new text begin families; and new text end 55.16     new text begin (12) an official from a county-recognized labor organization that serves as a partner new text end 55.17 new text begin with licensed family day care providers. new text end 55.18     new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Evaluation. new text end new text begin The commissioner must provide for an evaluation of this new text end 55.19 new text begin grant program and must recommend to the education policy and finance committees of new text end 55.20 new text begin the legislature by February 15, 2010, whether or not to expand the program throughout new text end 55.21 new text begin the state. new text end 55.22 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2007. new text end 55.23    Sec. 25. new text begin PROVISIONAL QUALITY RATING SYSTEM, LICENSED CHILD new text end 55.24 new text begin CARE. new text end 55.25     new text begin For fiscal year 2009 only, a licensed child care program shall receive a provisional new text end 55.26 new text begin quality rating system approval if the provider certifies to the Department of Human new text end 55.27 new text begin Services that it uses curricula and child assessment instruments approved by the new text end 55.28 new text begin Department of Human Services, provides opportunities for parent involvement and parent new text end 55.29 new text begin education, proves a program with sufficient intensity and duration to improve school new text end 55.30 new text begin readiness of participating children, and meets other criteria determined necessary by the new text end 55.31 new text begin commissioner of human services. new text end 55.32    Sec. 26. new text begin PROVISIONAL QUALITY RATING SYSTEM, SCHOOL READINESS. new text end 55.33     new text begin For fiscal year 2009 only, a school readiness program shall receive a provisional new text end 55.34 new text begin quality rating system approval if the provider certifies to the Department of Education new text end 56.1 new text begin that it uses curricula and child assessment instruments approved by the Department of new text end 56.2 new text begin Education, provides opportunities for parent involvement and parent education, proves a new text end 56.3 new text begin program with sufficient intensity and duration to improve school readiness of participating new text end 56.4 new text begin children, and meets other criteria determined necessary by the commissioner of education. new text end 56.5    Sec. 27. new text begin SCHOLARSHIP DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS. new text end 56.6     new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Early childhood allowance. new text end new text begin The commissioners of human services new text end 56.7 new text begin and education shall establish two scholarship demonstration projects to be conducted in new text end 56.8 new text begin partnership with the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation to promote children's school new text end 56.9 new text begin readiness. The demonstration projects shall be designed and evaluated by the Minnesota new text end 56.10 new text begin Early Learning Foundation in consultation with the legislative advisory group. The new text end 56.11 new text begin programs shall be conducted in nonurban areas outside the seven-county metropolitan area. new text end 56.12     new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Family eligibility. new text end new text begin Parents or legal guardians with incomes less than or new text end 56.13 new text begin equal to 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible to receive allowances to new text end 56.14 new text begin pay for their children's education in a quality early education program, in an amount not new text end 56.15 new text begin to exceed $4,000 per child per year. The allowance must be used during the 12 months new text end 56.16 new text begin following receipt of the allowance by the claimant for a child who is age 3 or 4 on August new text end 56.17 new text begin 31, to pay for services designed to promote school readiness in a quality early education new text end 56.18 new text begin setting. A quality program is one that meets the standards in subdivision 3. new text end 56.19     new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Quality standards. new text end new text begin (a) A quality early care and education setting is any new text end 56.20 new text begin service or program that receives a quality rating from the Department of Human Services new text end 56.21 new text begin under the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation quality rating system administered by new text end 56.22 new text begin the Department of Human Services and agrees to accept a prekindergarten education new text end 56.23 new text begin allowance to pay for services. For fiscal year 2008 and 2009 only, a provider may satisfy new text end 56.24 new text begin the quality rating system requirements and be deemed eligible to participate in this new text end 56.25 new text begin program if the provider has received a provisional quality rating system approval from new text end 56.26 new text begin either the Department of Human Services or the Department of Education. new text end 56.27     new text begin (b) For the purposes of receiving a provisional quality rating, a child care program or new text end 56.28 new text begin provider must be approved by the commissioner of human services and a school readiness new text end 56.29 new text begin program or a Head Start program must be approved by the commissioner of education. new text end 56.30 new text begin Programs and providers must apply for approval in the form and manner prescribed by the new text end 56.31 new text begin commissioners. To receive approval, the commissioners must determine that applicants: new text end 56.32     new text begin (1) use research-based curricula that are aligned with the education standards under new text end 56.33 new text begin Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.021, instruction, and child assessment instruments new text end 56.34 new text begin approved by the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services, in new text end 56.35 new text begin consultation with the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation; new text end 57.1     new text begin (2) provide a program of sufficient intensity and duration to improve the school new text end 57.2 new text begin readiness of participating children; new text end 57.3     new text begin (3) provide opportunities for parent involvement; and new text end 57.4     new text begin (4) meet other research-based criteria determined necessary by the commissioners. new text end 57.5     new text begin (c) For 2008 and 2009, notwithstanding paragraph (b), Head Start programs new text end 57.6 new text begin meeting Head Start performance standards and accredited child care centers are granted new text end 57.7 new text begin a provisional quality rating for the purposes of receiving a prekindergarten education new text end 57.8 new text begin allowance under this statute. new text end 57.9     new text begin (d) A provider deemed eligible to receive a prekindergarten education allowance new text end 57.10 new text begin under paragraphs (a) to (c) may use the allowance to enhance services above the current new text end 57.11 new text begin quality levels, increase the duration of services provided, or expand the number of children new text end 57.12 new text begin to whom services are provided. new text end 57.13     new text begin (e) For fiscal years 2008 and 2009 only, when no quality program is available, a new text end 57.14 new text begin recipient may direct the prekindergarten education allowance to a provider or program for new text end 57.15 new text begin school readiness quality improvements that will make the provider or program eligible new text end 57.16 new text begin for a quality rating according to the quality rating system. Allowable expenditures that new text end 57.17 new text begin will increase the capacity of the provider or program to help children be ready for school new text end 57.18 new text begin include purchase of curricula and assessment tools, training on the use of curriculum and new text end 57.19 new text begin assessment tools, purchase of materials to improve the learning environment, or other new text end 57.20 new text begin expenditures approved by the commissioner of human services for child care providers new text end 57.21 new text begin and the commissioner of education for school readiness programs. new text end 57.22     new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Eligibility; applications. new text end new text begin The Department of Human Services and new text end 57.23 new text begin Department of Education shall, in cooperation with the Minnesota Early Learning new text end 57.24 new text begin Foundation, develop an application process for eligible families. Eligible families new text end 57.25 new text begin must have incomes less than or equal to 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. new text end 57.26 new text begin Allowances paid to families under this program may not be counted as earned income new text end 57.27 new text begin for the purposes of medical assistance, MinnesotaCare, MFIP, child care assistance, or new text end 57.28 new text begin Head Start programs. new text end 57.29     new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Expenditures. new text end new text begin This program shall operate during fiscal years 2008 and new text end 57.30 new text begin 2009. new text end 57.31 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment new text end 57.32 new text begin and its provisions sunset on January 1, 2012. new text end 57.33    Sec. 28. new text begin GRANT PROGRAM TO PROMOTE THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT new text end 57.34 new text begin OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. new text end 58.1     new text begin (a) The commissioner of education must contract with the Search Institute to help new text end 58.2 new text begin local communities develop, expand, and maintain the tools, training, and resources needed new text end 58.3 new text begin to foster positive child and youth development and effectively engage young people in new text end 58.4 new text begin their communities. The Search Institute must educate individuals and community-based new text end 58.5 new text begin organizations to adequately understand and meet the development needs of their children new text end 58.6 new text begin and youth, use best practices to promote the healthy development of children and youth, new text end 58.7 new text begin share best program practices with other interested communities, and create electronic and new text end 58.8 new text begin other opportunities for communities to share experiences in and resources for promoting new text end 58.9 new text begin the healthy development of children and youth. new text end 58.10     new text begin (b) The commissioner of education must provide for an evaluation of the new text end 58.11 new text begin effectiveness of this program and must recommend to the education policy and finance new text end 58.12 new text begin committees of the legislature by February 15, 2010, whether or not to make the program new text end 58.13 new text begin available statewide. The Search Institute annually must report to the commissioner of new text end 58.14 new text begin education on the services it provided and the grant money it expended under this section. new text end 58.15 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end 58.16    Sec. 29. new text begin APPROPRIATION. new text end 58.17     new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Department of Education. new text end new text begin The sums indicated in this section are new text end 58.18 new text begin appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years new text end 58.19 new text begin designated. new text end 58.20     new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Early childhood family education aid. new text end new text begin For early childhood family new text end 58.21 new text begin education aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.135: new text end 58.22 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 21,053,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 58.23 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 21,800,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 58.24     new text begin The 2008 appropriation includes $1,801,000 for 2007 and $19,252,000 for 2008. new text end 58.25     new text begin The 2009 appropriation includes $2,139,000 for 2008 and $19,661,000 for 2009. new text end 58.26     new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Targeted training of early childhood professionals. new text end new text begin For the targeted new text end 58.27 new text begin training of early childhood professionals under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.163: new text end 58.28 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 155,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 58.29 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 70,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 58.30     new text begin Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year. The new text end 58.31 new text begin base for this program in fiscal year 2010 and later is $70,000. new text end 58.32     new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Early childhood community hub planning and implementation grants. new text end 58.33     new text begin For planning and implementation grants under section 24: new text end 59.1 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 1,000,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 59.2 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 1,000,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 59.3     new text begin This is a onetime appropriation. new text end 59.4     new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Early childhood scholarships. new text end new text begin For early childhood scholarships under new text end 59.5 new text begin section 15: new text end 59.6 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 392,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 59.7 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 2,108,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 59.8     new text begin These appropriations are onetime. new text end 59.9     new text begin Subd. 6. new text end new text begin School readiness. new text end new text begin For revenue for school readiness programs under new text end 59.10 new text begin Minnesota Statutes, sections 124D.15 and 124D.16: new text end 59.11 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 9,995,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 59.12 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 10,095,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 59.13     new text begin The 2008 appropriation includes $909,000 for 2007 and $9,086,000 for 2008. new text end 59.14     new text begin The 2009 appropriation includes $1,009,000 for 2008 and $9,086,000 for 2009. new text end 59.15     new text begin Subd. 7. new text end new text begin State Advisory Board on School Readiness. new text end new text begin For the State Advisory new text end 59.16 new text begin Board on School Readiness under section 11: new text end 59.17 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 46,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 59.18 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 40,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 59.19     new text begin These appropriations are added to the base. new text end 59.20     new text begin Subd. 8. new text end new text begin Lifetrack Resources. new text end new text begin For a contract with Lifetrack Resources to provide a new text end 59.21 new text begin program in Ramsey County to expand school readiness and home visiting services for new text end 59.22 new text begin children from birth to kindergarten who are at risk of or have been diagnosed with mental new text end 59.23 new text begin illness or developmental delays due to fetal alcohol or drug exposure, child neglect, or new text end 59.24 new text begin abuse, and their families in order to ensure the children's school readiness: new text end 59.25 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 500,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 59.26 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 500,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 59.27     new text begin This appropriation does not increase base funding. new text end 59.28     new text begin Subd. 9. new text end new text begin Minnesota Learning Resource Center. new text end new text begin For a grant to A Chance to new text end 59.29 new text begin Grow/New Visions for the Minnesota Learning Resource Center's comprehensive training new text end 59.30 new text begin program for education professionals charged with helping children acquire learning new text end 59.31 new text begin readiness skills: new text end 59.32 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 75,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 59.33 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 75,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 60.1     new text begin Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year. new text end 60.2     new text begin This is onetime funding. new text end 60.3     new text begin The Minnesota Learning Resource Center shall issue a report by January 15, 2009, to new text end 60.4 new text begin the committees of the house of representatives and senate responsible for early childhood new text end 60.5 new text begin programs. The report shall describe the conduct of the training provided to the A Chance new text end 60.6 new text begin to Grow/New Visions program, and any findings or lessons learned that might prove new text end 60.7 new text begin useful to the training of education professionals or the improvement of learning readiness new text end 60.8 new text begin services for children from such training. new text end 60.9     new text begin Subd. 10. new text end new text begin Health and developmental screening aid. new text end new text begin For health and developmental new text end 60.10 new text begin screening aid under Minnesota Statutes, sections 121A.17 and 121A.19: new text end 60.11 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 3,159,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 60.12 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 3,330,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 60.13     new text begin The 2008 appropriation includes $293,000 for 2007 and $2,866,000 for 2008. new text end 60.14     new text begin The 2009 appropriation includes $318,000 for 2008 and $3,012,000 for 2009. new text end 60.15     new text begin Subd. 11. new text end new text begin Educate parents partnership. new text end new text begin For the educate parents partnership under new text end 60.16 new text begin Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.129: new text end 60.17 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 50,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 60.18 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 50,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 60.19     new text begin Subd. 12. new text end new text begin Kindergarten entrance assessment initiative and intervention new text end 60.20 new text begin program. new text end new text begin For the kindergarten entrance assessment initiative and intervention program new text end 60.21 new text begin under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.162: new text end 60.22 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 584,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 60.23 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 776,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 60.24     new text begin Subd. 13. new text end new text begin Head Start programs. new text end new text begin For Head Start programs under Minnesota new text end 60.25 new text begin Statutes, section 119A.52: new text end 60.26 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 20,100,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 60.27 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 20,100,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 60.28     new text begin Of these amounts, up to 10 percent of the funds allocated to local Head Start new text end 60.29 new text begin programs annually may be used for innovative services designed either to target Head new text end 60.30 new text begin Start resources to particular at-risk groups of children or to provide services in addition new text end 60.31 new text begin to those currently allowable under federal Head Start regulations. Head Start programs new text end 60.32 new text begin must submit a plan for innovative services as part of the application process described new text end 60.33 new text begin under Minnesota Statutes, section 119A.535. new text end 61.1     new text begin Subd. 14. new text end new text begin Community education aid. new text end new text begin For community education aid under new text end 61.2 new text begin Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.20: new text end 61.3 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 1,307,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 61.4 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 816,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 61.5     new text begin The 2008 appropriation includes $195,000 for 2007 and $1,112,000 for 2008. new text end 61.6     new text begin The 2009 appropriation includes $123,000 for 2008 and $693,000 for 2009. new text end 61.7     new text begin Subd. 15. new text end new text begin Adults with disabilities program aid. new text end new text begin For adults with disabilities new text end 61.8 new text begin programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.56: new text end 61.9 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 881,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 61.10 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 900,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 61.11     new text begin The 2008 appropriation includes $71,000 for 2007 and $810,000 for 2008. new text end 61.12     new text begin The 2009 appropriation includes $90,000 for 2008 and $810,000 for 2009. new text end 61.13     new text begin School districts operating existing adults with disabilities programs that are not fully new text end 61.14 new text begin funded shall receive full funding for the program beginning in fiscal year 2008 before the new text end 61.15 new text begin commissioner awards grants to other districts. new text end 61.16     new text begin Subd. 16. new text end new text begin Hearing-impaired adults. new text end new text begin For programs for hearing-impaired adults new text end 61.17 new text begin under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.57: new text end 61.18 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 70,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 61.19 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 70,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 61.20     new text begin Subd. 17. new text end new text begin School-age care revenue. new text end new text begin For extended day aid under Minnesota new text end 61.21 new text begin Statutes, section 124D.22: new text end 61.22 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 1,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 61.23 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 1,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 61.24     new text begin The 2008 appropriation includes $0 for 2007 and $1,000 for 2008. new text end 61.25     new text begin The 2009 appropriation includes $0 for 2008 and $1,000 for 2009. new text end 61.26     new text begin Subd. 18. new text end new text begin After-school community learning grants. new text end new text begin For after-school community new text end 61.27 new text begin learning grants: new text end 61.28 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 2,775,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 61.29 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 2,600,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 61.30     new text begin The commissioner may hire one full-time equivalent staff person to administer the new text end 61.31 new text begin statewide after-school community learning grant program. This is a onetime appropriation new text end 61.32 new text begin and does not accrue to the agency base. new text end 62.1     new text begin The Department of Education shall give strong consideration to an application new text end 62.2 new text begin for a grant under this subdivision by Independent School District No. 625, St. Paul, on new text end 62.3 new text begin behalf of the city of St. Paul to increase the number and quality of after school and school new text end 62.4 new text begin release time activities for children within the school district. A grant provided under this new text end 62.5 new text begin subdivision to Independent School District No. 625, St. Paul, in partnership with the new text end 62.6 new text begin city of St. Paul must improve opportunities for learning provided by the district and by new text end 62.7 new text begin nonprofit programs serving youth, and for staff development for library and park and new text end 62.8 new text begin recreation workers who have frequent contact with children. new text end 62.9     new text begin Subd. 19. new text end new text begin Children and youth healthy development grant. new text end new text begin For children and youth new text end 62.10 new text begin healthy development grant under section 28: new text end 62.11 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 250,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 62.12 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 250,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 62.13     new text begin These appropriations are onetime. new text end 62.14     new text begin Subd. 20. new text end new text begin Adult basic education aid. new text end new text begin For adult basic education aid under new text end 62.15 new text begin Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.531: new text end 62.16 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 37,486,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2007 new text end 62.17 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 40,344,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 62.18 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 41,748,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 62.19     new text begin The 2007 appropriation includes $3,654,000 for 2006 and $33,832,000 for 2007. new text end 62.20     new text begin The 2008 appropriation includes $3,759,000 for 2007 and $36,585,000 for 2008. new text end 62.21     new text begin The 2009 appropriation includes $4,065,000 for 2008 and $37,683,000 for 2009. new text end 62.22     new text begin Subd. 21. new text end new text begin GED test fees. new text end new text begin For GED test fees under Minnesota Statutes, section new text end 62.23 new text begin 124D.55: new text end 62.24 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 300,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 62.25 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 200,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2009 new text end 62.26     new text begin $100,000 in fiscal year 2008 is for GED test fees for homeless persons. new text end 62.27     new text begin Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year. new text end 62.28     new text begin Subd. 22. new text end new text begin Adult literacy grants for recent immigrants. new text end new text begin For adult literacy grants new text end 62.29 new text begin for recent immigrants to Minnesota under Laws 2006, chapter 282, article 2, section 26: new text end 62.30 new text begin $ new text end new text begin 1,250,000 new text end new text begin ..... new text end new text begin 2008 new text end 62.31 new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin Subdivision 20 is effective the day following final enactment. new text end 62.32    Sec. 30. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. new text end 63.1     new text begin $100,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $100,000 in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated from new text end 63.2 new text begin the general fund to the commissioner of health for lead hazard reduction. new text end 63.3    Sec. 31. new text begin MINNESOTA EARLY LEARNING FOUNDATION. new text end 63.4     new text begin $1,250,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $1,250,000 in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated new text end 63.5 new text begin from the general fund to the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation for the scholarship new text end 63.6 new text begin demonstration projects in section 27. Any balance in the first year does not cancel but new text end 63.7 new text begin is available in the second year. new text end 63.8    Sec. 32. new text begin REPEALER. new text end 63.9 new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.531, subdivision 5, new text end new text begin is repealed. new text end