1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to early childhood; requiring reports on the information technology 
1.3 	supporting and the data practices governing child care and early learning programs; 
1.4 	creating and funding an account to modernize early childhood programs' 
1.5 	information technology; appropriating money.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. MODERNIZING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR PROGRAMS 
1.8 	IMPACTING YOUNG CHILDREN.
 1.9 	(a) The commissioner of information technology services shall develop and implement, 
1.10 	to the extent that there is funding available in the early childhood information technology 
1.11 	account in the special revenue fund, a plan to modernize the information technology systems 
1.12 	that support the programs impacting early childhood, including child care and early learning 
1.13 	programs and those serving young children administered by the Departments of Education 
1.14 	and Human Services and other departments with programs impacting early childhood as 
1.15 	identified by the Children's Cabinet. The commissioner may contract for the services 
1.16 	contained in this section.
1.17 	(b) The plan must support the goal of creating information technology systems for early 
1.18 	childhood programs  that collect, analyze, share, and report data on program participation, 
1.19 	school readiness, early screening, and other childhood indicators. The plan must include 
1.20 	strategies to:
1.21 	(1) increase the efficiency and effectiveness with which early childhood programs serve 
1.22 	children and families;
1.23 	(2) improve coordination among early childhood programs for families; and
2.1 	(3) assess the impact of early childhood programs on children's outcomes, including 
2.2 	school readiness.
2.3 	(c) In developing and implementing the plan required under this section, the contractor 
2.4 	must consult with the commissioners of education and human services  and other departments 
2.5 	with programs impacting early childhood as identified by the Children's Cabinet; the 
2.6 	Children's Cabinet; and other stakeholders.
2.7 	(d) By February 1 of each year, the commissioner must provide a preliminary report on 
2.8 	the status of the plan's development and implementation to the committees of the legislature 
2.9 	with jurisdiction over early childhood programs.

2.10 	Sec. 2. EARLY CHILDHOOD INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNT.
 2.11 	The early childhood information technology account is created in the special revenue 
2.12 	fund. Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner of information technology 
2.13 	services for developing and implementing a plan to modernize the information technology 
2.14 	systems that support programs impacting early childhood, including child care and early 
2.15 	learning programs and those serving young children.

2.16 	Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; DATA SHARING AMONG PROGRAMS IMPACTING 
2.17 	YOUNG CHILDREN.
 2.18 	$....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
2.19 	management and budget to: (1) identify any administrative rules and practices that prevent 
2.20 	or complicate data sharing among child care and early learning programs administered by 
2.21 	the Departments of Education and Human Services and other departments with programs 
2.22 	impacting early childhood as identified by the Children's Cabinet; and (2) support ongoing 
2.23 	efforts to address any barriers to data sharing. The commissioner must consult with the 
2.24 	commissioners of education, human services, and information technology services; the 
2.25 	Children's Cabinet; and other stakeholders. The commissioner of management and budget 
2.26 	must report preliminary findings to the committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over 
2.27 	early childhood programs by February 1, 2023, and make a final report by February 1, 2024. 
2.28 	This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2024.

2.29 	Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION; EARLY CHILDHOOD INFORMATION 
2.30 	TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNT.
 2.31 	$....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund for transfer to the early 
2.32 	childhood information technology account.