1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; modifying child care provisions; reducing license 
1.3 	fees; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245A.10, 
1.4 	subdivision 2.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 245A.10, subdivision 2, is amended to 
1.7 	read:
1.8 		Subd. 2.County fees for background studies and licensing inspections. (a) For 
1.9 	purposes of family and group family child care licensing under this chapter, a county 
1.10 	agency may charge a fee to an applicant or license holder to recover the actual cost of 
1.11 	background studies, but in any case not to exceed $100 annually. A county agency may 
1.12 	also charge a license fee to an applicant or license holder to recover the actual cost of 
1.13 	licensing inspections, but in any case not to exceed $150 annually $50 for a one-year 
1.14 	license or $100 for a two-year license.
1.15 	(b) A county agency may charge a fee to a legal nonlicensed child care provider or 
1.16 	applicant for authorization to recover the actual cost of background studies completed 
1.17 	under section  119B.125, but in any case not to exceed $100 annually.  Beginning January 
1.18 	1, 2008, the commissioner of human services is responsible for completing background 
1.19 	studies under this section.
1.20 	(c) Counties may elect to reduce or waive the fees in paragraph (a) or (b):
1.21 	(1) in cases of financial hardship;
1.22 	(2)  if the county has a shortage of providers in the county's area;
1.23 	(3) for new providers; or
2.1 	(4) for providers who have attained at least 16 hours of training before seeking 
2.2 	initial licensure.
2.3 	(d) Counties may allow providers to pay the applicant fees in paragraph (a) or (b) on 
2.4 	an installment basis for up to one year. If the provider is receiving child care assistance 
2.5 	payments from the state, the provider may have the fees under paragraph (a) or (b) 
2.6 	deducted from the child care assistance payments for up to one year and the state shall 
2.7 	reimburse the county for the county fees collected in this manner.

2.8 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.9 	$....... is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of human services 
2.10 	for the biennium beginning July 1, 2007, for purposes of completing background studies 
2.11 	for family and group family child care providers under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.12 	245A.10. This appropriation shall become part of the base appropriation.