SF 2167

Introduction - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008)

Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to employment; providing grants to create employment opportunities in
the private sector for former correctional facility inmates; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT OF FORMER INMATES;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $1,500,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
employment and economic development for the biennium ending June 30, 2009, for the
purpose of this section. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of employment and economic development must solicit
proposals for grants to private employers for the purpose of providing employment to
former inmates of Minnesota correctional facilities. The solicitation must require that:
new text end

new text begin (1) at least 75 percent of all employees of the business must consist of individuals
who have been released from a Minnesota correctional facility within the preceding three
years, with a special emphasis on employing former inmates during the first six months of
release from incarceration;
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new text begin (2) the business must have a plan to employ at least 100 former inmates within one
year of receipt of the grant and have a plan for increasing former inmate employment to at
least 250 within five years of receiving a grant; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the business must have a cooperative plan with the Minnesota correctional
industry, commonly known as MINNCOR, for employing individuals who have been
successfully employed by MINNCOR while incarcerated.
new text end

new text begin (c) Jobs that are proposed must be those that develop work skills that are transferable
to other private sector industries. The jobs must pay a wage of at least $10 per hour and
provide at least 40 hours of work per week. The site of employment must be located in an
area where there is sufficient affordable housing to accommodate the employees.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner shall make three grants. One grant must be in the metropolitan
area, one in the northern area of Minnesota, and one in the southern area of Minnesota.
One-half of a grant must be disbursed when 50 former inmates are employed and the
other half when 100 former inmates are employed. The commissioner of employment
and economic development must consult with the commissioner of corrections before
awarding any grant.
new text end