1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to early childhood; modifying provisions for child care assistance, child 
1.3 	care licensing, and early education; making forecast adjustments to funding for 
1.4 	health and human services; requiring reports; appropriating money;amending 
1.5 	Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 119A.52; 119B.011, subdivisions 2, 5, 13; 
1.6 	119B.19, subdivision 7; 121A.17, subdivision 3; 121A.19; 124D.1158, subdivisions 
1.7 	3, 4; 124D.13, subdivisions 2, 3; 124D.141, subdivision 2; 124D.165, subdivisions 
1.8 	2, 3; 124D.59, subdivision 2; 245A.02, subdivision 5a; 245A.04, subdivision 4; 
1.9 	245A.1435; 245A.1443; 245A.146, subdivision 3; 245H.05; 245H.08, by adding 
1.10 	a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, sections 119B.03, subdivision 
1.11 	4a; 119B.13, subdivision 1; 245.4889, subdivision 1; 245A.14, subdivision 4; 
1.12 	Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 7, article 14, section 21, subdivision 4; 
1.13 	Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 13, article 1, section 10, subdivision 2; 
1.14 	article 8, section 3, subdivision 3; article 9, section 4, subdivisions 3, 4, 6; proposing 
1.15 	coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 119B; 122A; repealing 
1.16 	Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 119B.03, subdivision 4.
1.17 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.18 	ARTICLE 1
1.19 	CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE

1.20 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 119B.011, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.21 		Subd. 2.Applicant. "Child care fund applicants" means all parents,; stepparents,; legal 
1.22 	guardians, or; eligible relative caregivers who are; relative custodians who accepted a transfer 
1.23 	of permanent legal and physical custody of a child under section 260C.515, subdivision 4, 
1.24 	or similar permanency disposition in Tribal code; successor custodians or guardians as 
1.25 	established by section 256N.22, subdivision 10; or foster parents providing care to a child 
1.26 	placed in a family foster home under section 260C.007, subdivision 16b. Applicants must 
1.27 	be members of the family and reside in the household that applies for child care assistance 
1.28 	under the child care fund.

2.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 7, 2023.

2.2 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 119B.011, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
2.3 		Subd. 5.Child care. "Child care" means the care of a child by someone other than a 
2.4 	parent,; stepparent,; legal guardian,; eligible relative caregiver,; relative custodian who 
2.5 	accepted a transfer of permanent legal and physical custody of a child under section 
2.6 	260C.515, subdivision 4, or similar permanency disposition in Tribal code; successor 
2.7 	custodian or guardian as established according to section 256N.22, subdivision 10; foster 
2.8 	parent providing care to a child placed in a family foster home under section 260C.007, 
2.9 	subdivision 16b; or the spouses spouse of any of the foregoing in or outside the child's own 
2.10 	home for gain or otherwise, on a regular basis, for any part of a 24-hour day.

2.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 7, 2023.

2.12 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 119B.011, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
2.13 		Subd. 13.Family. "Family" means parents,; stepparents,; guardians and their spouses, 
2.14 	or; other eligible relative caregivers and their spouses,; relative custodians who accepted a 
2.15 	transfer of permanent legal and physical custody of a child under section 260C.515, 
2.16 	subdivision 4, or similar permanency disposition in Tribal code, and their spouses; successor 
2.17 	custodians or guardians as established according to section 256N.22, subdivision 10, and 
2.18 	their spouses; or foster parents providing care to a child placed in a family foster home 
2.19 	under section 260C.007, subdivision 16b, and their spouses; and their blood related the 
2.20 	blood-related dependent children and adoptive siblings under the age of 18 years living in 
2.21 	the same home including of the above. This definition includes children temporarily absent 
2.22 	from the household in settings such as schools, foster care, and residential treatment facilities 
2.23 	or parents, stepparents, guardians and their spouses, or other relative caregivers and their 
2.24 	spouses and adults temporarily absent from the household in settings such as schools, military 
2.25 	service, or rehabilitation programs. An adult family member who is not in an authorized 
2.26 	activity under this chapter may be temporarily absent for up to 60 days. When a minor 
2.27 	parent or parents and his, her, or their child or children are living with other relatives, and 
2.28 	the minor parent or parents apply for a child care subsidy, "family" means only the minor 
2.29 	parent or parents and their child or children. An adult age 18 or older who meets this 
2.30 	definition of family and is a full-time high school or postsecondary student may be considered 
2.31 	a dependent member of the family unit if 50 percent or more of the adult's support is provided 
2.32 	by the parents,; stepparents,; guardians, and their spouses; relative custodians who accepted 
2.33 	a transfer of permanent legal and physical custody of a child under section 260C.515, 
3.1 	subdivision 4, or similar permanency disposition in Tribal code, and their spouses; successor 
3.2 	custodians or guardians as established according to section 256N.22, subdivision 10, and 
3.3 	their spouses; foster parents providing care to a child placed in a family foster home under 
3.4 	section 260C.007, subdivision 16b, and their spouses; or eligible relative caregivers and 
3.5 	their spouses residing in the same household.

3.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 7, 2023.

3.7 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 119B.03, subdivision 4a, is amended 
3.8 	to read:
3.9 		Subd. 4a.Temporary reprioritization Funding priorities. (a) Notwithstanding 
3.10 	subdivision 4 In the event that inadequate funding necessitates the use of waiting lists, 
3.11 	priority for child care assistance under the basic sliding fee assistance program shall be 
3.12 	determined according to this subdivision beginning July 1, 2021, through May 31, 2024.
3.13 	(b) First priority must be given to eligible non-MFIP families who do not have a high 
3.14 	school diploma or commissioner of education-selected high school equivalency certification 
3.15 	or who need remedial and basic skill courses in order to pursue employment or to pursue 
3.16 	education leading to employment and who need child care assistance to participate in the 
3.17 	education program. This includes student parents as defined under section 119B.011, 
3.18 	subdivision 19b. Within this priority, the following subpriorities must be used:
3.19 	(1) child care needs of minor parents;
3.20 	(2) child care needs of parents under 21 years of age; and
3.21 	(3) child care needs of other parents within the priority group described in this paragraph.
3.22 	(c) Second priority must be given to families in which at least one parent is a veteran, 
3.23 	as defined under section 197.447.
3.24 	(d) Third priority must be given to eligible families who do not meet the specifications 
3.25 	of paragraph (b), (c), (e), or (f).
3.26 	(e) Fourth priority must be given to families who are eligible for portable basic sliding 
3.27 	fee assistance through the portability pool under subdivision 9.
3.28 	(f) Fifth priority must be given to eligible families receiving services under section 
3.29 	119B.011, subdivision 20a, if the parents have completed their MFIP or DWP transition 
3.30 	year, or if the parents are no longer receiving or eligible for DWP supports.
3.31 	(g) Families under paragraph (f) must be added to the basic sliding fee waiting list on 
3.32 	the date they complete their transition year under section 119B.011, subdivision 20.

4.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2022.

4.2 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 119B.13, subdivision 1, is amended 
4.3 	to read:
4.4 		Subdivision 1.Subsidy restrictions. (a) Beginning November 15, 2021 October 3, 2022, 
4.5 	the maximum rate paid for child care assistance in any county or county price cluster under 
4.6 	the child care fund shall be:
4.7 	(1) for all infants and toddlers, the greater of the 40th 75th percentile of the 2021 child 
4.8 	care provider rate survey or the rates in effect at the time of the update; and.
4.9 	(2) for all preschool and school-age children, the greater of the 30th percentile of the 
4.10 	2021 child care provider rate survey or the rates in effect at the time of the update.
4.11 	(b) Beginning the first full service period on or after January 1, 2025, and every three 
4.12 	years thereafter, the maximum rate paid for child care assistance in a county or county price 
4.13 	cluster under the child care fund shall be:
4.14 	(1) for all infants and toddlers, the greater of the 40th 75th percentile of the 2024 most 
4.15 	recent child care provider rate survey or the rates in effect at the time of the update; and.
4.16 	(2) for all preschool and school-age children, the greater of the 30th percentile of the 
4.17 	2024 child care provider rate survey or the rates in effect at the time of the update.
4.18 	The rates under paragraph (a) continue until the rates under this paragraph go into effect.
4.19 	(c) For a child care provider located within the boundaries of a city located in two or 
4.20 	more of the counties of Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns, the maximum rate paid for child 
4.21 	care assistance shall be equal to the maximum rate paid in the county with the highest 
4.22 	maximum reimbursement rates or the provider's charge, whichever is less. The commissioner 
4.23 	may: (1) assign a county with no reported provider prices to a similar price cluster; and (2) 
4.24 	consider county level access when determining final price clusters.
4.25 	(d) A rate which includes a special needs rate paid under subdivision 3 may be in excess 
4.26 	of the maximum rate allowed under this subdivision.
4.27 	(e) The department shall monitor the effect of this paragraph on provider rates. The 
4.28 	county shall pay the provider's full charges for every child in care up to the maximum 
4.29 	established. The commissioner shall determine the maximum rate for each type of care on 
4.30 	an hourly, full-day, and weekly basis, including special needs and disability care.
5.1 	(f) If a child uses one provider, the maximum payment for one day of care must not 
5.2 	exceed the daily rate. The maximum payment for one week of care must not exceed the 
5.3 	weekly rate.
5.4 	(g) If a child uses two providers under section 119B.097, the maximum payment must 
5.5 	not exceed:
5.6 	(1) the daily rate for one day of care;
5.7 	(2) the weekly rate for one week of care by the child's primary provider; and
5.8 	(3) two daily rates during two weeks of care by a child's secondary provider.
5.9 	(h) Child care providers receiving reimbursement under this chapter must not be paid 
5.10 	activity fees or an additional amount above the maximum rates for care provided during 
5.11 	nonstandard hours for families receiving assistance.
5.12 	(i) If the provider charge is greater than the maximum provider rate allowed, the parent 
5.13 	is responsible for payment of the difference in the rates in addition to any family co-payment 
5.14 	fee.
5.15 	(j) Beginning October 3, 2022, the maximum registration fee paid for child care assistance 
5.16 	in any county or county price cluster under the child care fund shall be set as follows: (1) 
5.17 	beginning November 15, 2021, the greater of the 40th 75th percentile of the 2021 most 
5.18 	recent child care provider rate survey or the registration fee in effect at the time of the 
5.19 	update; and (2) beginning the first full service period on or after January 1, 2025, the 
5.20 	maximum registration fee shall be the greater of the 40th percentile of the 2024 child care 
5.21 	provider rate survey or the registration fee in effect at the time of the update. The registration 
5.22 	fees under clause (1) continue until the registration fees under clause (2) go into effect.
5.23 	(k) Maximum registration fees must be set for licensed family child care and for child 
5.24 	care centers. For a child care provider located in the boundaries of a city located in two or 
5.25 	more of the counties of Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns, the maximum registration fee paid 
5.26 	for child care assistance shall be equal to the maximum registration fee paid in the county 
5.27 	with the highest maximum registration fee or the provider's charge, whichever is less.

5.28 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 119B.19, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
5.29 		Subd. 7.Child care resource and referral programs. Within each region, a child care 
5.30 	resource and referral program must:
5.31 	(1) maintain one database of all existing child care resources and services and one 
5.32 	database of family referrals;
6.1 	(2) provide a child care referral service for families;
6.2 	(3) develop resources to meet the child care service needs of families;
6.3 	(4) increase the capacity to provide culturally responsive child care services;
6.4 	(5) coordinate professional development opportunities for child care and school-age 
6.5 	care providers;
6.6 	(6) administer and award child care services grants;
6.7 	(7) cooperate with the Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network and its 
6.8 	member programs to develop effective child care services and child care resources; and
6.9 	(8) assist in fostering coordination, collaboration, and planning among child care programs 
6.10 	and community programs such as school readiness, Head Start, early childhood family 
6.11 	education, local interagency early intervention committees, early childhood screening, 
6.12 	special education services, and other early childhood care and education services and 
6.13 	programs that provide flexible, family-focused services to families with young children to 
6.14 	the extent possible.;
6.15 	(9) administer the child care one-stop regional assistance network to assist child care 
6.16 	providers and individuals interested in becoming child care providers with establishing and 
6.17 	sustaining a licensed family child care or group family child care program or a child care 
6.18 	center; and
6.19 	(10) provide supports that enable economically challenged individuals to obtain the job 
6.20 	skills training, career counseling, and job placement assistance necessary to begin a career 
6.21 	path in child care.

6.22 	Sec. 7. [119B.196] BRAIN BUILDERS BONUS PROGRAM.
6.23 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose. The commissioner of human services shall 
6.24 	establish the brain builders bonus program to provide competitive grants to eligible child 
6.25 	care providers who care for infants, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.02, 
6.26 	subdivision 19. The purpose of this program is to improve continuity of care by increasing 
6.27 	the number of infants who are cared for by a familiar caregiver for at least one year.
6.28 		Subd. 2.Administration. (a) The commissioner may administer the program through 
6.29 	a grant to a nonprofit with the demonstrated ability to manage benefit programs for child 
6.30 	care professionals. Up to ten percent of the annual appropriation may be used by the 
6.31 	commissioner for evaluation and data collection and to administer the program.
7.1 	(b) Applicants must apply for the grants using the forms and according to timelines 
7.2 	established by the commissioner.
7.3 		Subd. 3.Eligibility. To be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant must:
7.4 	(1) care for one or more infants who receive child care assistance under this chapter or 
7.5 	an early learning scholarship under section 124D.165 at least 30 hours a week; and
7.6 	(2) either:
7.7 	(i) be a licensed family child care provider or an unrelated individual who works for a 
7.8 	licensed family child care provider; or
7.9 	(ii) be a legal, nonlicensed child care provider, as defined in section 119B.011, subdivision 
7.10 	16.
7.11 		Subd. 4.Grant awards. (a) The commissioner must establish a process to award grants 
7.12 	under this section.
7.13 	(b) A grant recipient who is or works for a licensed family child care provider may 
7.14 	receive up to $5,000 each year under this section. A grant recipient who is a legal nonlicensed 
7.15 	child care provider may receive up to $4,500 each year under this section.
7.16 	(c) A grant recipient may use the grant money for program supplies, training, or personal 
7.17 	expenses.
7.18 	(d) Grant award amounts shall be paid in two installments. The first installment shall 
7.19 	be paid six months after initial notification of receiving a grant and the second installment 
7.20 	shall be paid 12 months after initial notification. A grant recipient shall receive 50 percent 
7.21 	of the awarded amount in each installment provided the recipient documents, in a form and 
7.22 	manner specified by the commissioner, that the recipient continues to care for at least one 
7.23 	child under the age of 24 months who was in the recipient's care at the time of application.
7.24 		Subd. 5.Reporting requirement. By January 31, 2024, the commissioner shall report 
7.25 	to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child care on implementation of the 
7.26 	program, including the number of grants awarded to recipients and outcomes of the grant 
7.27 	program.

7.28 	Sec. 8. [119B.27] SHARED SERVICES GRANTS.
7.29 	The commissioner of human services shall establish a grant program to enable family 
7.30 	child care providers to implement shared services alliances.

7.31 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2023.

8.1 	Sec. 9. [119B.28] CHILD CARE PROVIDER ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY 
8.2 	GRANTS.
8.3 	The commissioner of human services shall distribute money through grants to one or 
8.4 	more organizations to offer grants or other supports to child care providers to improve their 
8.5 	access to computers, the Internet, subscriptions to online child care management applications, 
8.6 	and other technologies intended to improve business practices. Up to ten percent of the 
8.7 	grant funds may be used to administer the program.

8.8 	Sec. 10. Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 7, article 14, section 21, subdivision 4, 
8.9 	is amended to read:
8.10 		Subd. 4.Grant awards. (a) The commissioner shall award transition grants to all eligible 
8.11 	programs on a noncompetitive basis through August 31, 2021.
8.12 	(b) The commissioner shall award base grant amounts to all eligible programs on a 
8.13 	noncompetitive basis beginning September 1, 2021, through June 30, 2023. The base grant 
8.14 	amounts shall be:
8.15 	(1) based on the full-time equivalent number of staff who regularly care for children in 
8.16 	the program, including any employees, sole proprietors, or independent contractors; and
8.17 	(2) reduced between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, with amounts for the final month 
8.18 	being no more than 50 percent of the amounts awarded in September 2021; and
8.19 	(3) (2) enhanced in amounts determined by the commissioner for any providers receiving 
8.20 	payments through the child care assistance program under sections 119B.03 and 119B.05
8.21 	or early learning scholarships under section 124D.165.
8.22 	(c) The commissioner may provide grant amounts in addition to any base grants received 
8.23 	to eligible programs in extreme financial hardship until all money set aside for that purpose 
8.24 	is awarded.
8.25 	(d) The commissioner may pay any grants awarded to eligible programs under this 
8.26 	section in the form and manner established by the commissioner, except that such payments 
8.27 	must occur on a monthly basis.

8.28 	Sec. 11. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES; 
8.29 	ALLOCATING BASIC SLIDING FEE FUNDS.
 8.30 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03, subdivisions 6, 6a, and 6b, the 
8.31 	commissioner of human services must allocate additional basic sliding fee child care money 
9.1 	for calendar year 2024 to counties and Tribes to account for the change in the definition of 
9.2 	family. In allocating the additional money, the commissioner shall consider:
9.3 	(1) the number of children in the county or Tribe who receive care from a relative 
9.4 	custodian who accepted a transfer of permanent legal and physical custody of a child under 
9.5 	section 260C.515, subdivision 4, or similar permanency disposition in Tribal code; successor 
9.6 	custodian or guardian as established according to section 256N.22, subdivision 10; or foster 
9.7 	parents in a family foster home under section 260C.007, subdivision 16b; and
9.8 	(2) the average basic sliding fee cost of care in the county or Tribe.

9.9 	Sec. 12. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES; INCREASE 
9.10 	FOR MAXIMUM RATES.
 9.11 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03, subdivisions 6, 6a, and 6b, the 
9.12 	commissioner of human services shall allocate additional basic sliding fee child care funds 
9.13 	for calendar year 2023 to counties and Tribes for updated maximum rates based on relative 
9.14 	need to cover maximum rate increases. In distributing the additional funds, the commissioner 
9.15 	shall consider the following factors by county and Tribe:
9.16 	(1) number of children covered by the county or Tribe;
9.17 	(2) provider types that care for covered children;
9.18 	(3) age of covered children; and
9.19 	(4) amount of the increase in maximum rates.

9.20 	Sec. 13. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES; CHILD 
9.21 	CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND ALLOCATION.
 9.22 	The commissioner of human services shall allocate $75,364,000 in fiscal year 2023 from 
9.23 	the child care and development fund for rate and registration fee increases under Minnesota 
9.24 	Statutes, section 119B.13, subdivision 1, paragraphs (a) and (j). This is a onetime allocation.

9.25 	Sec. 14. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES; COST 
9.26 	ESTIMATION MODEL FOR EARLY CARE AND LEARNING PROGRAMS.
 9.27 	(a) The commissioner of human services shall develop a cost estimation model for 
9.28 	providing early care and learning in the state. In developing the model, the commissioner 
9.29 	shall consult with relevant entities and stakeholders, including but not limited to the State 
9.30 	Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care under Minnesota Statutes, section 
9.31 	124D.141; county administrators; child care resource and referral organizations under 
10.1 	Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.19, subdivision 1; and organizations representing 
10.2 	caregivers, teachers, and directors.
10.3 	(b) The commissioner shall contract with an organization with experience and expertise 
10.4 	in early care and learning cost estimation modeling to conduct the work outlined in this 
10.5 	section. If practicable, the commissioner shall contract with First Children's Finance.
10.6 	(c) The commissioner shall ensure that the model can estimate variation in the cost of 
10.7 	early care and learning by:
10.8 	(1) quality of care;
10.9 	(2) geographic area;
10.10 	(3) type of child care provider and associated licensing standards;
10.11 	(4) age of child;
10.12 	(5) whether the early care and learning is inclusive, caring for children with disabilities 
10.13 	alongside children without disabilities;
10.14 	(6) provider and staff compensation, including benefits such as professional development 
10.15 	stipends, health benefits, and retirement benefits;
10.16 	(7) a provider's fixed costs, including rent and mortgage payments, property taxes, and 
10.17 	business-related insurance payments;
10.18 	(8) a provider's operating expenses, including expenses for training and substitutes; and
10.19 	(9) a provider's hours of operation.
10.20 	(d) By January 30, 2024, the commissioner shall report to the legislative committees 
10.21 	with jurisdiction over early childhood programs on the development of the cost estimation 
10.22 	model. The report shall include:
10.23 	(1) recommendations for how the model could be used in conjunction with a child care 
10.24 	provider wage scale to set provider payment rates for child care assistance under Minnesota 
10.25 	Statutes, chapter 119B; and
10.26 	(2) the department's plan to seek federal approval to use the model for provider payment 
10.27 	rates for child care assistance.

11.1 	Sec. 15. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN SERVICES; CHILD 
11.2 	CARE PROVIDER WAGE SCALE.
 11.3 	(a) The commissioner of human services shall develop, in consultation with the 
11.4 	commissioner of employment and economic development, the commissioner of education, 
11.5 	and relevant stakeholders, a child care provider wage scale that:
11.6 	(1) provides for wages that are equivalent to elementary school educators with similar 
11.7 	credentials and experience;
11.8 	(2) incentivizes child care providers and staff to increase child care-related qualifications;
11.9 	(3) incorporates payments toward compensation benefits, including professional 
11.10 	development stipends, health benefits, and retirement benefits; and
11.11 	(4) accounts for the business structures of different types of child care providers, including 
11.12 	licensed family child care providers and legal, nonlicensed child care providers.
11.13 	(b) By January 30, 2024, the commissioner shall report to the legislative committees 
11.14 	with jurisdiction over early childhood programs on the development of the wage scale and 
11.15 	make recommendations for how the wage scale could be used to inform payment rates for 
11.16 	child care assistance under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B.

11.17 	Sec. 16. REPEALER.
 11.18 	Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 119B.03, subdivision 4, is repealed effective July 1, 
11.19 	2022.

11.20 	ARTICLE 2
11.21 	CHILD CARE LICENSING

11.22 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 245A.02, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
11.23 		Subd. 5a.Controlling individual. (a) "Controlling individual" means an owner of a 
11.24 	program or service provider licensed under this chapter and the following individuals, if 
11.25 	applicable:
11.26 	(1) each officer of the organization, including the chief executive officer and chief 
11.27 	financial officer;
11.28 	(2) the individual designated as the authorized agent under section 245A.04, subdivision 
11.29 	1, paragraph (b);
12.1 	(3) the individual designated as the compliance officer under section 256B.04, subdivision 
12.2 	21, paragraph (g); and
12.3 	(4) each managerial official whose responsibilities include the direction of the 
12.4 	management or policies of a program.; and
12.5 	(5) the individual designated as the primary provider of care for a special family child 
12.6 	care program under section 245A.14, subdivision 4, paragraph (i).
12.7 	(b) Controlling individual does not include:
12.8 	(1) a bank, savings bank, trust company, savings association, credit union, industrial 
12.9 	loan and thrift company, investment banking firm, or insurance company unless the entity 
12.10 	operates a program directly or through a subsidiary;
12.11 	(2) an individual who is a state or federal official, or state or federal employee, or a 
12.12 	member or employee of the governing body of a political subdivision of the state or federal 
12.13 	government that operates one or more programs, unless the individual is also an officer, 
12.14 	owner, or managerial official of the program, receives remuneration from the program, or 
12.15 	owns any of the beneficial interests not excluded in this subdivision;
12.16 	(3) an individual who owns less than five percent of the outstanding common shares of 
12.17 	a corporation:
12.18 	(i) whose securities are exempt under section 80A.45, clause (6); or
12.19 	(ii) whose transactions are exempt under section 80A.46, clause (2);
12.20 	(4) an individual who is a member of an organization exempt from taxation under section 
12.21 	290.05, unless the individual is also an officer, owner, or managerial official of the program 
12.22 	or owns any of the beneficial interests not excluded in this subdivision. This clause does 
12.23 	not exclude from the definition of controlling individual an organization that is exempt from 
12.24 	taxation; or
12.25 	(5) an employee stock ownership plan trust, or a participant or board member of an 
12.26 	employee stock ownership plan, unless the participant or board member is a controlling 
12.27 	individual according to paragraph (a).
12.28 	(c) For purposes of this subdivision, "managerial official" means an individual who has 
12.29 	the decision-making authority related to the operation of the program, and the responsibility 
12.30 	for the ongoing management of or direction of the policies, services, or employees of the 
12.31 	program. A site director who has no ownership interest in the program is not considered to 
12.32 	be a managerial official for purposes of this definition.

13.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2022.

13.2 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 245A.04, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
13.3 		Subd. 4.Inspections; waiver. (a) Before issuing a license under this chapter, the 
13.4 	commissioner shall conduct an inspection of the program. The inspection must include but 
13.5 	is not limited to:
13.6 	(1) an inspection of the physical plant;
13.7 	(2) an inspection of records and documents;
13.8 	(3) observation of the program in operation; and
13.9 	(4) an inspection for the health, safety, and fire standards in licensing requirements for 
13.10 	a child care license holder.
13.11 	(b) The observation in paragraph (a), clause (3), is not required prior to issuing a license 
13.12 	under subdivision 7. If the commissioner issues a license under this chapter, these 
13.13 	requirements must be completed within one year after the issuance of the license.
13.14 	(c) Before completing a licensing inspection in a family child care program or child care 
13.15 	center, the licensing agency must offer the license holder an exit interview to discuss 
13.16 	violations or potential violations of law or rule observed during the inspection and offer 
13.17 	technical assistance on how to comply with applicable laws and rules. The commissioner 
13.18 	shall not issue a correction order or negative licensing action for violations of law or rule 
13.19 	not discussed in an exit interview, unless a license holder chooses not to participate in an 
13.20 	exit interview or not to complete the exit interview. If the license holder is unable to complete 
13.21 	the exit interview, the licensing agency must offer an alternate time for the license holder 
13.22 	to complete the exit interview.
13.23 	(d) If a family child care license holder disputes a county licensor's interpretation of a 
13.24 	licensing requirement during a licensing inspection or exit interview, the license holder 
13.25 	may, within five business days after the exit interview or licensing inspection, request 
13.26 	clarification from the commissioner, in writing, in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. 
13.27 	The license holder's request must describe the county licensor's interpretation of the licensing 
13.28 	requirement at issue, and explain why the license holder believes the county licensor's 
13.29 	interpretation is inaccurate. The commissioner and the county must include the license 
13.30 	holder in all correspondence regarding the disputed interpretation, and must provide an 
13.31 	opportunity for the license holder to contribute relevant information that may impact the 
13.32 	commissioner's decision. The county licensor must not issue a correction order related to 
14.1 	the disputed licensing requirement until the commissioner has provided clarification to the 
14.2 	license holder about the licensing requirement.
14.3 	(e) The commissioner or the county shall inspect at least annually once each calendar 
14.4 	year a child care provider licensed under this chapter and Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502
14.5 	or 9503, for compliance with applicable licensing standards.
14.6 	(f) No later than November 19, 2017, the commissioner shall make publicly available 
14.7 	on the department's website the results of inspection reports of all child care providers 
14.8 	licensed under this chapter and under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502 or 9503, and the 
14.9 	number of deaths, serious injuries, and instances of substantiated child maltreatment that 
14.10 	occurred in licensed child care settings each year.

14.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

14.12 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 245A.14, subdivision 4, is amended 
14.13 	to read:
14.14 		Subd. 4.Special family child care homes. Nonresidential child care programs serving 
14.15 	14 or fewer children that are conducted at a location other than the license holder's own 
14.16 	residence shall be licensed under this section and the rules governing family child care or 
14.17 	group family child care if:
14.18 	(a) the license holder is the primary provider of care and the nonresidential child care 
14.19 	program is conducted in a dwelling that is located on a residential lot;
14.20 	(b) the license holder is an employer who may or may not be the primary provider of 
14.21 	care, and the purpose for the child care program is to provide child care services to children 
14.22 	of the license holder's employees;
14.23 	(c) the license holder is a church or religious organization;
14.24 	(d) the license holder is a community collaborative child care provider. For purposes of 
14.25 	this subdivision, a community collaborative child care provider is a provider participating 
14.26 	in a cooperative agreement with a community action agency as defined in section 256E.31;
14.27 	(e) the license holder is a not-for-profit agency that provides child care in a dwelling 
14.28 	located on a residential lot and the license holder maintains two or more contracts with 
14.29 	community employers or other community organizations to provide child care services. 
14.30 	The county licensing agency may grant a capacity variance to a license holder licensed 
14.31 	under this paragraph to exceed the licensed capacity of 14 children by no more than five 
15.1 	children during transition periods related to the work schedules of parents, if the license 
15.2 	holder meets the following requirements:
15.3 	(1) the program does not exceed a capacity of 14 children more than a cumulative total 
15.4 	of four hours per day;
15.5 	(2) the program meets a one to seven staff-to-child ratio during the variance period;
15.6 	(3) all employees receive at least an extra four hours of training per year than required 
15.7 	in the rules governing family child care each year;
15.8 	(4) the facility has square footage required per child under Minnesota Rules, part 
15.9 	9502.0425;
15.10 	(5) the program is in compliance with local zoning regulations;
15.11 	(6) the program is in compliance with the applicable fire code as follows:
15.12 	(i) if the program serves more than five children older than 2-1/2 years of age, but no 
15.13 	more than five children 2-1/2 years of age or less, the applicable fire code is educational 
15.14 	occupancy, as provided in Group E Occupancy under the Minnesota State Fire Code 2015, 
15.15 	Section 202; or
15.16 	(ii) if the program serves more than five children 2-1/2 years of age or less, the applicable 
15.17 	fire code is Group I-4 Occupancies, as provided in the Minnesota State Fire Code 2015, 
15.18 	Section 202, unless the rooms in which the children are cared for are located on a level of 
15.19 	exit discharge and each of these child care rooms has an exit door directly to the exterior, 
15.20 	then the applicable fire code is Group E occupancies, as provided in the Minnesota State 
15.21 	Fire Code 2015, Section 202; and
15.22 	(7) any age and capacity limitations required by the fire code inspection and square 
15.23 	footage determinations shall be printed on the license; or
15.24 	(f) the license holder is the primary provider of care and has located the licensed child 
15.25 	care program in a commercial space, if the license holder meets the following requirements:
15.26 	(1) the program is in compliance with local zoning regulations;
15.27 	(2) the program is in compliance with the applicable fire code as follows:
15.28 	(i) if the program serves more than five children older than 2-1/2 years of age, but no 
15.29 	more than five children 2-1/2 years of age or less, the applicable fire code is educational 
15.30 	occupancy, as provided in Group E Occupancy under the Minnesota State Fire Code 2015, 
15.31 	Section 202; or
16.1 	(ii) if the program serves more than five children 2-1/2 years of age or less, the applicable 
16.2 	fire code is Group I-4 Occupancies, as provided under the Minnesota State Fire Code 2015, 
16.3 	Section 202;
16.4 	(3) any age and capacity limitations required by the fire code inspection and square 
16.5 	footage determinations are printed on the license; and
16.6 	(4) the license holder prominently displays the license issued by the commissioner which 
16.7 	contains the statement "This special family child care provider is not licensed as a child 
16.8 	care center."
16.9 	(g) Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0335, subpart 12, the commissioner 
16.10 	may issue up to four licenses to an organization licensed under paragraph (b), (c), or (e). 
16.11 	Each license must have its own primary provider of care as required under paragraph (i). 
16.12 	Each license must operate as a distinct and separate program in compliance with all applicable 
16.13 	laws and regulations.
16.14 	(h) For licenses issued under paragraph (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f), the commissioner may 
16.15 	approve up to four licenses at the same location or under one contiguous roof if each license 
16.16 	holder is able to demonstrate compliance with all applicable rules and laws. Each licensed 
16.17 	program must operate as a distinct program and within the capacity, age, and ratio 
16.18 	distributions of each license.
16.19 	(i) For a license issued under paragraph (b), (c), or (e), the license holder must designate 
16.20 	a person to be the primary provider of care at the licensed location on a form and in a manner 
16.21 	prescribed by the commissioner. The license holder shall notify the commissioner in writing 
16.22 	before there is a change of the person designated to be the primary provider of care. The 
16.23 	primary provider of care:
16.24 	(1) must be the person who will be the provider of care at the program and present during 
16.25 	the hours of operation;
16.26 	(2) must operate the program in compliance with applicable laws and regulations under 
16.27 	chapter 245A and Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502;
16.28 	(3) is considered a child care background study subject as defined in section 245C.02, 
16.29 	subdivision 6a, and must comply with background study requirements in chapter 245C; and
16.30 	(4) must complete the training that is required of license holders in section 245A.50.;
16.31 	(5) is authorized to communicate with the county licensing agency and the department 
16.32 	on matters related to licensing; and
17.1 	(6) must meet the requirements of Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0355, subpart 3, before 
17.2 	providing group family child care.
17.3 	(j) For any license issued under this subdivision, the license holder must ensure that any 
17.4 	other caregiver, substitute, or helper who assists in the care of children meets the training 
17.5 	requirements in section 245A.50 and background study requirements under chapter 245C.

17.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2022.

17.7 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 245A.1435, is amended to read:
17.8 	245A.1435 REDUCTION OF RISK OF SUDDEN UNEXPECTED INFANT DEATH 
17.9 	IN LICENSED PROGRAMS.
17.10 	(a) When a license holder is placing an infant to sleep, the license holder must place the 
17.11 	infant on the infant's back, unless the license holder has documentation from the infant's 
17.12 	physician or advanced practice registered nurse directing an alternative sleeping position 
17.13 	for the infant. The physician or advanced practice registered nurse directive must be on a 
17.14 	form approved developed by the commissioner and must remain on file at the licensed 
17.15 	location.
17.16 	An infant who independently rolls onto its stomach after being placed to sleep on its 
17.17 	back may be allowed to remain sleeping on its stomach if the infant is at least six months 
17.18 	of age or the license holder has a signed statement from the parent indicating that the infant 
17.19 	regularly rolls over at home.
17.20 	(b) The license holder must place the infant in a crib directly on a firm mattress with a 
17.21 	fitted sheet that is appropriate to the mattress size, that fits tightly on the mattress, and 
17.22 	overlaps the underside of the mattress so it cannot be dislodged by pulling on the corner of 
17.23 	the sheet with reasonable effort. The license holder must not place anything in the crib with 
17.24 	the infant except for the infant's pacifier, as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 
17.25 	16, part 1511. The pacifier must be free from any sort of attachment. The requirements of 
17.26 	this section apply to license holders serving infants younger than one year of age. Licensed 
17.27 	child care providers must meet the crib requirements under section 245A.146. A correction 
17.28 	order shall not be issued under this paragraph unless there is evidence that a violation 
17.29 	occurred when an infant was present in the license holder's care.
17.30 	(c) If an infant falls asleep before being placed in a crib, the license holder must move 
17.31 	the infant to a crib as soon as practicable, and must keep the infant within sight of the license 
17.32 	holder until the infant is placed in a crib. When an infant falls asleep while being held, the 
17.33 	license holder must consider the supervision needs of other children in care when determining 
18.1 	how long to hold the infant before placing the infant in a crib to sleep. The sleeping infant 
18.2 	must not be in a position where the airway may be blocked or with anything covering the 
18.3 	infant's face.
18.4 	(d) When a license holder places an infant under one year of age down to sleep, the 
18.5 	infant's clothing or sleepwear must not have weighted materials, a hood, or a bib.
18.6 	(e) A license holder may place an infant under one year of age down to sleep wearing 
18.7 	a helmet if the license holder has signed documentation by a physician, advanced practice 
18.8 	registered nurse, licensed occupational therapist, or a licensed physical therapist on a form 
18.9 	developed by the commissioner.
18.10 	(d) (f) Placing a swaddled infant down to sleep in a licensed setting is not recommended 
18.11 	for an infant of any age and is prohibited for any infant who has begun to roll over 
18.12 	independently. However, with the written consent of a parent or guardian according to this 
18.13 	paragraph, a license holder may place the infant who has not yet begun to roll over on its 
18.14 	own down to sleep in a one-piece sleeper equipped with an attached system that fastens 
18.15 	securely only across the upper torso, with no constriction of the hips or legs, to create a
18.16 	swaddle. A swaddle is defined as one-piece sleepwear that wraps over the infant's arms, 
18.17 	fastens securely only across the infant's upper torso, and does not constrict the infant's hips 
18.18 	or legs. If a swaddle is used by a license holder, the license holder must ensure that it meets 
18.19 	the requirements of paragraph (d) and is not so tight that it restricts the infant's ability to 
18.20 	breathe or so loose that the fabric could cover the infant's nose and mouth. Prior to any use 
18.21 	of swaddling for sleep by a provider licensed under this chapter, the license holder must 
18.22 	obtain informed written consent for the use of swaddling from the parent or guardian of the 
18.23 	infant on a form provided developed by the commissioner and prepared in partnership with 
18.24 	the Minnesota Sudden Infant Death Center.

18.25 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2023.

18.26 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 245A.1443, is amended to read:
18.27 	245A.1443 CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER 
18.28 	TREATMENT LICENSED PROGRAMS THAT SERVE PARENTS WITH THEIR 
18.29 	CHILDREN.
18.30 		Subdivision 1.Application. This section applies to chemical dependency residential 
18.31 	substance use disorder treatment facilities that are licensed under this chapter and Minnesota 
18.32 	Rules, chapter 9530, 245G and that provide services in accordance with section 245G.19.
19.1 		Subd. 2.Requirements for providing education. (a) On or before the date of a child's 
19.2 	initial physical presence at the facility, the license holder must provide education to the 
19.3 	child's parent related to safe bathing and reducing the risk of sudden unexpected infant death 
19.4 	and abusive head trauma from shaking infants and young children. The license holder must 
19.5 	use the educational material developed by the commissioner to comply with this requirement. 
19.6 	At a minimum, the education must address:
19.7 	(1) instruction that a child or infant should never be left unattended around water, a tub 
19.8 	should be filled with only two to four inches of water for infants, and an infant should never 
19.9 	be put into a tub when the water is running; and
19.10 	(2) the risk factors related to sudden unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma 
19.11 	from shaking infants and young children, and means of reducing the risks, including the 
19.12 	safety precautions identified in section 245A.1435 and the dangers risks of co-sleeping.
19.13 	(b) The license holder must document the parent's receipt of the education and keep the 
19.14 	documentation in the parent's file. The documentation must indicate whether the parent 
19.15 	agrees to comply with the safeguards. If the parent refuses to comply, program staff must 
19.16 	provide additional education to the parent at appropriate intervals, at least weekly as described 
19.17 	in the parental supervision plan. The parental supervision plan must include the intervention, 
19.18 	frequency, and staff responsible for the duration of the parent's participation in the program 
19.19 	or until the parent agrees to comply with the safeguards.
19.20 		Subd. 3.Parental supervision of children. (a) On or before the date of a child's initial 
19.21 	physical presence at the facility, the license holder must complete and document an 
19.22 	assessment of the parent's capacity to meet the health and safety needs of the child while 
19.23 	on the facility premises, including identifying circumstances when the parent may be unable 
19.24 	to adequately care for their child due to considering the following factors:
19.25 	(1) the parent's physical or and mental health;
19.26 	(2) the parent being under the influence of drugs, alcohol, medications, or other chemicals;
19.27 	(3) the parent being unable to provide appropriate supervision for the child; or
19.28 	(3) the child's physical and mental health; and
19.29 	(4) any other information available to the license holder that indicates the parent may 
19.30 	not be able to adequately care for the child.
19.31 	(b) The license holder must have written procedures specifying the actions to be taken 
19.32 	by staff if a parent is or becomes unable to adequately care for the parent's child.
20.1 	(c) If the parent refuses to comply with the safeguards described in subdivision 2 or is 
20.2 	unable to adequately care for the child, the license holder must develop a parental supervision 
20.3 	plan in conjunction with the client. The plan must account for any factors in paragraph (a) 
20.4 	that contribute to the parent's inability to adequately care for the child. The plan must be 
20.5 	dated and signed by the staff person who completed the plan.
20.6 		Subd. 4.Alternative supervision arrangements. The license holder must have written 
20.7 	procedures addressing whether the program permits a parent to arrange for supervision of 
20.8 	the parent's child by another client in the program. If permitted, the facility must have a 
20.9 	procedure that requires staff approval of the supervision arrangement before the supervision 
20.10 	by the nonparental client occurs. The procedure for approval must include an assessment 
20.11 	of the nonparental client's capacity to assume the supervisory responsibilities using the 
20.12 	criteria in subdivision 3. The license holder must document the license holder's approval of 
20.13 	the supervisory arrangement and the assessment of the nonparental client's capacity to 
20.14 	supervise the child, and must keep this documentation in the file of the parent of the child 
20.15 	being supervised.

20.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2023.

20.17 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 245A.146, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
20.18 		Subd. 3.License holder documentation of cribs. (a) Annually, from the date printed 
20.19 	on the license, all license holders shall check all their cribs' brand names and model numbers 
20.20 	against the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission website listing of unsafe 
20.21 	cribs.
20.22 	(b) The license holder shall maintain written documentation to be reviewed on site for 
20.23 	each crib showing that the review required in paragraph (a) has been completed, and which 
20.24 	of the following conditions applies:
20.25 	(1) the crib was not identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer Product Safety 
20.26 	Commission website;
20.27 	(2) the crib was identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer Product Safety 
20.28 	Commission website, but the license holder has taken the action directed by the United 
20.29 	States Consumer Product Safety Commission to make the crib safe; or
20.30 	(3) the crib was identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer Product Safety 
20.31 	Commission website, and the license holder has removed the crib so that it is no longer 
20.32 	used by or accessible to children in care.
21.1 	(c) Documentation of the review completed under this subdivision shall be maintained 
21.2 	by the license holder on site and made available to parents or guardians of children in care 
21.3 	and the commissioner.
21.4 	(d) Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 9502.0425, a family child care provider that 
21.5 	complies with this section may use a mesh-sided or fabric-sided play yard, pack and play, 
21.6 	or playpen or crib that has not been identified as unsafe on the United States Consumer 
21.7 	Product Safety Commission website for the care or sleeping of infants.
21.8 	(e) On at least a monthly basis, the family child care license holder shall perform safety 
21.9 	inspections of every mesh-sided or fabric-sided play yard, pack and play, or playpen used 
21.10 	by or that is accessible to any child in care, and must document the following:
21.11 	(1) there are no tears, holes, or loose or unraveling threads in mesh or fabric sides of 
21.12 	crib;
21.13 	(2) the weave of the mesh on the crib is no larger than one-fourth of an inch;
21.14 	(3) no mesh fabric is unsecure or unattached to top rail and floor plate of crib;
21.15 	(4) no tears or holes to top rail of crib;
21.16 	(5) the mattress floor board is not soft and does not exceed one inch thick;
21.17 	(6) the mattress floor board has no rips or tears in covering;
21.18 	(7) the mattress floor board in use is a waterproof an original mattress or replacement 
21.19 	mattress provided by the manufacturer of the crib;
21.20 	(8) there are no protruding or loose rivets, metal nuts, or bolts on the crib;
21.21 	(9) there are no knobs or wing nuts on outside crib legs;
21.22 	(10) there are no missing, loose, or exposed staples; and
21.23 	(11) the latches on top and side rails used to collapse crib are secure, they lock properly, 
21.24 	and are not loose.

21.25 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2023.

21.26 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 245H.05, is amended to read:
21.27 	245H.05 MONITORING AND INSPECTIONS.
21.28 	(a) The commissioner must conduct an on-site inspection of a certified license-exempt 
21.29 	child care center at least annually once each calendar year to determine compliance with 
21.30 	the health, safety, and fire standards specific to a certified license-exempt child care center.
22.1 	(b) No later than November 19, 2017, the commissioner shall make publicly available 
22.2 	on the department's website the results of inspection reports for all certified centers including 
22.3 	the number of deaths, serious injuries, and instances of substantiated child maltreatment 
22.4 	that occurred in certified centers each year.

22.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

22.6 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 245H.08, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
22.7 	read:
22.8 		Subd. 6.Authority to modify requirements. (a) Notwithstanding subdivisions 4 and 
22.9 	5, for children in kindergarten through 13 years old, the commissioner may increase the 
22.10 	maximum group size to no more than 40 children and may increase the minimally acceptable 
22.11 	staff-to-child ratio to one to 20 during a national security or peacetime emergency declared 
22.12 	under section 12.31, or during a public health emergency declared due to a pandemic by 
22.13 	the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public 
22.14 	Health Service Act, United States Code, title 42, section 247d.
22.15 	(b) If the commissioner modifies requirements under this subdivision, a certified center 
22.16 	operating under the modified requirements must have at least one staff person who is at 
22.17 	least 18 years old with each group of 40 children.

22.18 	Sec. 9. CHILD CARE REGULATION MODERNIZATION; PILOT PROJECTS.
 22.19 	The commissioner of human services may conduct and administer pilot projects to test 
22.20 	methods and procedures for the projects to modernize regulation of child care centers and 
22.21 	family child care allowed under Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 7, article 2, sections 
22.22 	75 and 81. To carry out the pilot projects, the commissioner of human services may, by 
22.23 	issuing a commissioner's order, waive enforcement of existing specific statutory program 
22.24 	requirements, rules, and standards in one or more counties. The commissioner's order 
22.25 	establishing the waiver must provide alternative methods and procedures of administration 
22.26 	and must not be in conflict with the basic purposes, coverage, or benefits provided by law. 
22.27 	In no event may a pilot project under this section extend beyond February 1, 2024. Pilot 
22.28 	projects must comply with the requirements of the child care and development fund plan.

22.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

22.30 	ARTICLE 3
22.31 	APPROPRIATIONS; HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

22.32	Section 1. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
23.1 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are added to or, if shown in 
23.2 	parentheses, subtracted from the appropriations in Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 
23.3 	7, article 16, to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations 
23.4 	are from the general fund or other named fund and are available for the fiscal years indicated 
23.5 	for each purpose. The figures "2022" and "2023" used in this article mean that the addition 
23.6 	to or subtraction from the appropriation listed under them is available for the fiscal year 
23.7 	ending June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023, respectively. Base adjustments mean the addition 
23.8 	to or subtraction from the base level adjustment set in Laws 2021, First Special Session 
23.9 	chapter 7, article 16. Supplemental appropriations and reductions to appropriations for the 
23.10 	fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, are effective the day following final enactment unless a 
23.11 	different effective date is explicit.

23.12				APPROPRIATIONS
	
23.13				Available for the Year
	
23.14				Ending June 30
	
23.15					2022
		2023

23.16
23.17	Sec. 2. COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN 
SERVICES

23.18	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 			$
	65,854,000

23.19	Appropriations by Fund
	
23.20		2022
	2023
	
23.21	General
	-0-
	65,854,000

23.22	Subd. 2.Central Office; Operations

23.23	Appropriations by Fund
	
23.24		2022
	2023
	
23.25	General
	-0-
	173,000
	
23.26 	Base Level Adjustment. The general fund 
23.27 	base is increased $783,000 in fiscal year 2024 
23.28 	and $174,000 in fiscal year 2025.

23.29	Subd. 3.Central Office; Children and Families
 		-0-
		843,000
	
23.30 	(a) Beginning in fiscal year 2025, the base 
23.31 	shall include $125,000 for the ombudsperson 
24.1 	for family child care providers under 
24.2 	Minnesota Statutes, section 245.975.
24.3 	(b) Base Level Adjustment. The general fund 
24.4 	base is increased $493,000 in fiscal year 2024 
24.5 	and $405,000 in fiscal year 2025.

24.6	Subd. 4.MFIP Child Care Assistance
 		-0-
		(24,000)

24.7
24.8	Subd. 5.Grant Programs; BSF Child Care 
Grants
 		-0-
		-0-
	
24.9 	Base Level Adjustment. The general fund 
24.10 	base is increased $29,599,000 in fiscal year 
24.11 	2024 and $69,222,000 in fiscal year 2025 only. 
24.12 	The TANF base is increased $23,500,000 in 
24.13 	fiscal year 2024 and $23,500,000 in fiscal year 
24.14 	2025.

24.15
24.16	Subd. 6.Grant Programs; Child Care 
Development Grants
 		-0-
		64,862,000
	
24.17 	(a) Child Care Provider Access to 
24.18 	Technology Grants. $300,000 in fiscal year 
24.19 	2023 is for child care provider access to 
24.20 	technology grants pursuant to Minnesota 
24.21 	Statutes, section 119B.28. The general fund 
24.22 	base is increased $300,000 in fiscal year 2024 
24.23 	and $300,000 in fiscal year 2025.
24.24 	(b) One-Stop Regional Assistance Network.
24.25 	Beginning in fiscal year 2025, the base shall 
24.26 	include $1,200,000 from the general fund for 
24.27 	a grant to the statewide child care resource 
24.28 	and referral network to administer the child 
24.29 	care one-stop shop regional assistance network 
24.30 	in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 
24.31 	119B.19, subdivision 7, clause (9).
24.32 	(c) Child Care Workforce Development 
24.33 	Grants. Beginning in fiscal year 2025, the 
24.34 	base shall include $1,300,000 for a grant to 
25.1 	the statewide child care resource and referral 
25.2 	network to administer the child care workforce 
25.3 	development grants in accordance with 
25.4 	Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.19, 
25.5 	subdivision 7, clause (10).
25.6 	(d) Shared Services Innovation Grants. The 
25.7 	base shall include $500,000 in fiscal year 2024 
25.8 	and $500,000 in fiscal year 2025 for shared 
25.9 	services innovation grants pursuant to 
25.10 	Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.27.
25.11 	(e) Stabilization Grants for Child Care 
25.12 	Providers Experiencing Financial Hardship.
25.13 	$29,133,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for child 
25.14 	care stabilization grants for child care 
25.15 	programs in extreme financial hardship. This 
25.16 	is a onetime appropriation. Money not 
25.17 	distributed in fiscal year 2023 or 2024 shall 
25.18 	be available until June 30, 2025. Use of grant 
25.19 	money must be made in accordance with 
25.20 	eligibility and compliance requirements 
25.21 	established by the commissioner.
25.22 	(f) Cost Estimation Model for Early Care 
25.23 	and Learning Programs. $189,000 in fiscal 
25.24 	year 2023 is to develop a cost estimation 
25.25 	model for providing early care and learning. 
25.26 	The general fund base is increased $86,000 in 
25.27 	fiscal year 2024 and $0 in fiscal year 2025.
25.28 	(g) Child Care Provider Wage Scale.
25.29 	$189,000 in fiscal year 2023 is to develop a 
25.30 	wage scale for child care providers. The 
25.31 	general fund base is increased $86,000 in 
25.32 	fiscal year 2024 and $0 in fiscal year 2025.
25.33 	(h) Brain Builders Bonus Program.
25.34 	$2,500,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for brain 
26.1 	builders bonus grants under Minnesota 
26.2 	Statutes, section 119B.196. This is a onetime 
26.3 	appropriation and is available until June 30, 
26.4 	2025.
26.5 	(i) Child Care Stabilization Base Grants.
26.6 	$30,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for child 
26.7 	care stabilization base grants under Laws 
26.8 	2021, First Special Session chapter 7, article 
26.9 	14, section 21, subdivision 4, paragraph (b). 
26.10 	The general fund base is increased 
26.11 	$80,371,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
26.12 	$80,421,000 in fiscal year 2025.
26.13 	(j) Grants for Family, Friend, and Neighbor 
26.14 	Caregivers. $3,167,000 in fiscal year 2023 is 
26.15 	for grants to community-based organizations 
26.16 	working with family, friend, and neighbor 
26.17 	caregivers. In awarding the grants, the 
26.18 	commissioner shall prioritize 
26.19 	community-based organizations working with 
26.20 	family, friend, and neighbor caregivers who 
26.21 	serve children from low-income families, 
26.22 	families of color, Tribal communities, or 
26.23 	families with limited English language 
26.24 	proficiency. The commissioner may use up to 
26.25 	ten percent of the appropriation for statewide 
26.26 	outreach, training initiatives, research, and 
26.27 	data collection. The general fund base is 
26.28 	increased $3,383,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
26.29 	$3,383,000 in fiscal year 2025.
26.30 	(k) Base Level Adjustment. The general fund 
26.31 	base is increased $84,300,000 in fiscal year 
26.32 	2024 and $86,850,000 in fiscal year 2025.

27.1 	Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
27.2 	SERVICES.
 27.3 	(a) $9,500,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
27.4 	commissioner of information technology services to develop and implement, to the extent 
27.5 	practicable with the available appropriation, a plan to modernize the information technology 
27.6 	systems that support the programs impacting early childhood, including child care and early 
27.7 	learning programs and those serving young children administered by the Departments of 
27.8 	Education and Human Services and other departments with programs impacting early 
27.9 	childhood as identified by the Children's Cabinet. The commissioner may contract for the 
27.10 	services contained in this section. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 
27.11 	30, 2027.
27.12 	(b) The plan must support the goal of creating information technology systems for early 
27.13 	childhood programs that collect, analyze, share, and report data on program participation, 
27.14 	school readiness, early screening, and other childhood indicators. The plan must include 
27.15 	strategies to:
27.16 	(1) increase the efficiency and effectiveness with which early childhood programs serve 
27.17 	children and families;
27.18 	(2) improve coordination among early childhood programs for families; and
27.19 	(3) assess the impact of early childhood programs on children's outcomes, including 
27.20 	school readiness.
27.21 	(c) In developing and implementing the plan required under this section, the commissioner 
27.22 	or the contractor must consult with the commissioners of education and human services, 
27.23 	and other departments with programs impacting early childhood as identified by the 
27.24 	Children's Cabinet; the Children's Cabinet; and other stakeholders.
27.25 	(d) By February 1, 2023, the commissioner must provide a preliminary report on the 
27.26 	status of the plan's development and implementation to the chairs and ranking minority 
27.27 	members of the committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over early childhood programs.

27.28 	Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION: MINNESOTA MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
 27.29 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
27.30 	of management and budget to: (1) identify any state or federal statutes or administrative 
27.31 	rules and practices that prevent or complicate data sharing among child care and early 
27.32 	learning programs administered by the Departments of Education and Human Services and 
27.33 	other departments with programs impacting early childhood as identified by the Children's 
28.1 	Cabinet; and (2) support ongoing efforts to address any barriers to data sharing. The 
28.2 	commissioner of management and budget must consult with the commissioners of education, 
28.3 	human services, and information technology services; the Children's Cabinet; and other 
28.4 	stakeholders. The commissioner of management and budget must report preliminary findings 
28.5 	to the committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over early childhood programs by 
28.6 	February 1, 2023, and make a final report by February 1, 2024. This is a onetime 
28.7 	appropriation and is available until June 30, 2024.

28.8 	ARTICLE 4
28.9 	FORECAST ADJUSTMENT; HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

28.10	Section 1. HUMAN SERVICES APPROPRIATION.
 	
28.11 	The dollar amounts shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are added to or, if 
28.12 	shown in parentheses, are subtracted from the appropriations in Laws 2021, First Special 
28.13 	Session chapter 7, article 16, from the general fund or any fund named to the Department 
28.14 	of Human Services for the purposes specified in this article, to be available for the fiscal 
28.15 	year indicated for each purpose. The figures "2022" and "2023" used in this article mean 
28.16 	that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal years ending June 30, 
28.17 	2022, or June 30, 2023, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2022. "The second year" 
28.18 	is fiscal year 2023. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

28.19				APPROPRIATIONS
	
28.20				Available for the Year
	
28.21				Ending June 30
	
28.22					2022
		2023

28.23
28.24	Sec. 2. COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN 
SERVICES

28.25	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	(103,347,000)
	$
	73,738,000

28.26	Appropriations by Fund
	
28.27	General Fund
	(103,347,000)
	73,738,000

28.28	Subd. 2.Forecasted Programs

28.29	MFIP Child Care Assistance
		(103,347,000)
		(73,738,000)

28.30 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

29.1 	ARTICLE 5
29.2 	EARLY EDUCATION

29.3 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 119A.52, is amended to read:
29.4 	119A.52 DISTRIBUTION OF APPROPRIATION.
29.5 	(a) The commissioner of education must distribute money appropriated for that purpose 
29.6 	to federally designated Head Start programs to expand services and to serve additional 
29.7 	low-income children. Migrant and Indian reservation programs must be initially allocated 
29.8 	money based on the programs' share of federal funds., which may include costs associated 
29.9 	with program operations, infrastructure, or reconfiguration to serve children from birth to 
29.10 	age five in center-based services. The distribution must occur in the following order: (1) 
29.11 	10.72 percent of the total Head Start appropriation must be allocated to federally designated 
29.12 	Tribal Head Start programs; (2) the Tribal Head Start portion of the appropriation must be 
29.13 	allocated to Tribal Head Start programs based on the programs' share of federal funds; and 
29.14 	(3) migrant programs must then be initially allocated funding based on the programs' share 
29.15 	of federal funds. The remaining money must be initially allocated to the remaining local 
29.16 	agencies based equally on the agencies' share of federal funds and on the proportion of 
29.17 	eligible children in the agencies' service area who are not currently being served. A Head 
29.18 	Start program must be funded at a per child rate equal to its contracted, federally funded 
29.19 	base level at the start of the fiscal year. For all agencies without a federal Early Head Start 
29.20 	rate, the state average federal cost per child for Early Head Start applies. In allocating funds 
29.21 	under this paragraph, the commissioner of education must assure that each Head Start 
29.22 	program in existence in 1993 is allocated no less funding in any fiscal year than was allocated 
29.23 	to that program in fiscal year 1993. Before paying money to the programs, the commissioner 
29.24 	must notify each program of its initial allocation and how the money must be used. Each 
29.25 	program must present a plan under section 119A.535. For any program that cannot utilize 
29.26 	its full allocation at the beginning of the fiscal year, the commissioner must reduce the 
29.27 	allocation proportionately. Money available after the initial allocations are reduced must 
29.28 	be redistributed to eligible programs.
29.29 	(b) The commissioner must develop procedures to make payments to programs based 
29.30 	upon the number of children reported to be enrolled during the required time period of 
29.31 	program operations. Enrollment is defined by federal Head Start regulations. The procedures 
29.32 	must include a reporting schedule, corrective action plan requirements, and financial 
29.33 	consequences to be imposed on programs that do not meet full enrollment after the period 
29.34 	of corrective action. Programs reporting chronic underenrollment, as defined by the 
29.35 	commissioner, will have their subsequent program year allocation reduced proportionately. 
30.1 	Funds made available by prorating payments and allocations to programs with reported 
30.2 	underenrollment will be made available to the extent funds exist to fully enrolled Head Start 
30.3 	programs through a form and manner prescribed by the department.
30.4 	(c) Programs with approved innovative initiatives that target services to high-risk 
30.5 	populations, including homeless families and families living in homeless shelters and 
30.6 	transitional housing, are exempt from the procedures in paragraph (b). This exemption does 
30.7 	not apply to entire programs. The exemption applies only to approved innovative initiatives 
30.8 	that target services to high-risk populations, including homeless families and families living 
30.9 	in homeless shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing.

30.10 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 121A.17, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
30.11 		Subd. 3.Screening program. (a) A screening program must include at least the following 
30.12 	components: developmental assessments, which may include parent report developmental 
30.13 	screening instruments if the parent or child is unable to complete the screening in person 
30.14 	due to an immunocompromised status or other health concern; hearing and vision screening 
30.15 	or referral,; immunization review and referral,; the child's height and weight,; the date of 
30.16 	the child's most recent comprehensive vision examination, if any,; identification of risk 
30.17 	factors that may influence learning,; an interview with the parent about the child,; and 
30.18 	referral for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment when potential needs are identified. The 
30.19 	district and the person performing or supervising the screening must provide a parent or 
30.20 	guardian with clear written notice that the parent or guardian may decline to answer questions 
30.21 	or provide information about family circumstances that might affect development and 
30.22 	identification of risk factors that may influence learning. The notice must state "Early 
30.23 	childhood developmental screening helps a school district identify children who may benefit 
30.24 	from district and community resources available to help in their development. Early childhood 
30.25 	developmental screening includes a vision screening that helps detect potential eye problems 
30.26 	but is not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam." The notice must clearly state that 
30.27 	declining to answer questions or provide information does not prevent the child from being 
30.28 	enrolled in kindergarten or first grade if all other screening components are met. If a parent 
30.29 	or guardian is not able to read and comprehend the written notice, the district and the person 
30.30 	performing or supervising the screening must convey the information in another manner. 
30.31 	The notice must also inform the parent or guardian that a child need not submit to the district 
30.32 	screening program if the child's health records indicate to the school that the child has 
30.33 	received comparable developmental screening performed within the preceding 365 days by 
30.34 	a public or private health care organization or individual health care provider. The notice 
31.1 	must be given to a parent or guardian at the time the district initially provides information 
31.2 	to the parent or guardian about screening and must be given again at the screening location.
31.3 	(b) All screening components shall be consistent with the standards of the state 
31.4 	commissioner of health for early developmental screening programs. A developmental 
31.5 	screening program must not provide laboratory tests or a physical examination to any child. 
31.6 	The district must request from the public or private health care organization or the individual 
31.7 	health care provider the results of any laboratory test or physical examination within the 12 
31.8 	months preceding a child's scheduled screening. For the purposes of this section, 
31.9 	"comprehensive vision examination" means a vision examination performed by an optometrist 
31.10 	or ophthalmologist.
31.11 	(c) If a child is without health coverage, the school district must refer the child to an 
31.12 	appropriate health care provider.
31.13 	(d) A board may offer additional components such as nutritional, physical and dental 
31.14 	assessments, review of family circumstances that might affect development, blood pressure, 
31.15 	laboratory tests, and health history.
31.16 	(e) If a statement signed by the child's parent or guardian is submitted to the administrator 
31.17 	or other person having general control and supervision of the school that the child has not 
31.18 	been screened because of conscientiously held beliefs of the parent or guardian, the screening 
31.19 	is not required.

31.20 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 121A.19, is amended to read:
31.21 	121A.19 DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING AID.
31.22 	Each school year, the state must pay a district for each child or student screened by the 
31.23 	district according to the requirements of section 121A.17. The amount of state aid for each 
31.24 	child or student screened shall be: (1) $75 $98 for a child screened at age three; (2) $50 $65
31.25 	for a child screened at age four; (3) $40 $52 for a child screened at age five or six prior to 
31.26 	kindergarten; and (4) $30 $39 for a student screened within 30 days after first enrolling in 
31.27 	a public school kindergarten if the student has not previously been screened according to 
31.28 	the requirements of section 121A.17. If this amount of aid is insufficient, the district may 
31.29 	permanently transfer from the general fund an amount that, when added to the aid, is 
31.30 	sufficient. Developmental screening aid shall not be paid for any student who is screened 
31.31 	more than 30 days after the first day of attendance at a public school kindergarten, except 
31.32 	if a student transfers to another public school kindergarten within 30 days after first enrolling 
31.33 	in a Minnesota public school kindergarten program. In this case, if the student has not been 
32.1 	screened, the district to which the student transfers may receive developmental screening 
32.2 	aid for screening that student when the screening is performed within 30 days of the transfer 
32.3 	date.

32.4 	Sec. 4. [122A.731] GRANTS FOR GROW YOUR OWN EARLY CHILDHOOD 
32.5 	EDUCATOR PROGRAMS.
32.6 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioner of education must award grants for 
32.7 	Grow Your Own Early Childhood Educator programs established under this section in order 
32.8 	to develop an early childhood education workforce that more closely reflects the state's 
32.9 	increasingly diverse student population and to ensure all students have equitable access to 
32.10 	high-quality early educators.
32.11 		Subd. 2.Grow Your Own Early Childhood Educator programs. (a) Minnesota 
32.12 	licensed family child care or licensed center-based child care programs, school district or 
32.13 	charter school early learning programs, Head Start programs, institutes of higher education, 
32.14 	and other community partnership nongovernment organizations may apply for a grant to 
32.15 	host, build, or expand an early childhood educator preparation program that leads to an 
32.16 	individual earning the credential or degree needed to enter or advance in the early childhood 
32.17 	education workforce. Examples include programs that help interested individuals earn the 
32.18 	Child Development Associate credential, an associate's degree in child development, or a 
32.19 	bachelor's degree in early childhood studies or early childhood licensures. Programs must 
32.20 	prioritize candidates that represent the demographics of the populations served. The grant 
32.21 	recipient must use at least 80 percent of grant funds for student stipends and tuition 
32.22 	scholarships.
32.23 	(b) Programs providing financial support to interested individuals may require a 
32.24 	commitment from the individuals awarded, as determined by the program, to teach in the 
32.25 	program or school for a reasonable amount of time that does not exceed one year.
32.26 		Subd. 3.Grant procedure. Eligible programs must apply for a grant under this section 
32.27 	in the form and manner specified by the commissioner. To the extent that there are sufficient 
32.28 	applications, the commissioner must, to the extent practicable, award an equal number of 
32.29 	grants between applicants in greater Minnesota and those in the seven-county metropolitan 
32.30 	area.
32.31 		Subd. 4.Grow Your Own Early Childhood Educator program account. (a) The 
32.32 	Grow Your Own Early Childhood Educator program account is established in the special 
32.33 	revenue fund.
33.1 	(b) Funds appropriated for the Grow Your Own Early Childhood Educator program 
33.2 	under this section must be transferred to the Grow Your Own Early Childhood Educator 
33.3 	program account in the special revenue fund.
33.4 	(c) Money in the account is annually appropriated to the commissioner for the Grow 
33.5 	Your Own Early Childhood Educator program under this section. Any returned funds are 
33.6 	available to be regranted. Grant recipients may apply to use grant money over a period of 
33.7 	up to 60 months.
33.8 	(d) Up to $300,000 annually is appropriated to the commissioner for costs associated 
33.9 	with administering and monitoring the program under this section.
33.10 		Subd. 5.Report. Grant recipients must annually report to the commissioner in the form 
33.11 	and manner determined by the commissioner on their activities under this section, including 
33.12 	the number of educators being supported through grant funds, the number of educators 
33.13 	obtaining credentials by type, a comparison of the beginning level of education and ending 
33.14 	level of education of individual participants, and an assessment of program effectiveness, 
33.15 	including participant feedback, areas for improvement, and where applicable, employment 
33.16 	changes and current employment status, after completing preparation programs. The 
33.17 	commissioner must publish a public report that summarizes the activities and outcomes of 
33.18 	grant recipients and what was done to promote sharing of effective practices among grant 
33.19 	recipients and potential grant applicants.

33.20 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124D.1158, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
33.21 		Subd. 3.Program reimbursement. Each school year, the state must reimburse each 
33.22 	participating school 30 cents for each reduced-price breakfast, 55 cents for each fully paid 
33.23 	breakfast served to students in grades 1 to 12, and $1.30 for each fully paid breakfast served 
33.24 	to a prekindergarten student enrolled in an approved voluntary prekindergarten program 
33.25 	under section 124D.151, early childhood special education students participating in a program 
33.26 	authorized under section 124D.151, or a kindergarten student.

33.27 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124D.1158, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
33.28 		Subd. 4.No fees. A school that receives school breakfast aid under this section must 
33.29 	make breakfast available without charge to all participating students in grades 1 to 12 who 
33.30 	qualify for free or reduced-price meals and to all prekindergarten students enrolled in an 
33.31 	approved voluntary prekindergarten program under section 124D.151, early childhood 
33.32 	special education students participating in a program authorized under section 124D.151,
33.33 	and all kindergarten students.

34.1 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124D.13, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
34.2 		Subd. 2.Program requirements. (a) Early childhood family education programs are 
34.3 	programs for children in the period of life from birth to kindergarten, for the parents and 
34.4 	other relatives of these children, for adults who provide child care, and for expectant parents. 
34.5 	To the extent that funds are insufficient to provide programs for all children, early childhood 
34.6 	family education programs should emphasize programming for a child from birth to age 
34.7 	three and encourage parents and other relatives to involve four- and five-year-old children 
34.8 	in school readiness programs, and other public and nonpublic early learning programs. A 
34.9 	district may not limit participation to school district residents. Early childhood family 
34.10 	education programs must provide:
34.11 	(1) programs to educate parents and, other relatives, and caregivers about the physical, 
34.12 	cognitive, social, and emotional development of children and to enhance the skills of parents 
34.13 	and other relatives in providing for their children's learning and development;
34.14 	(2) structured learning activities requiring interaction between children and their parents 
34.15 	or, other relatives, and caregivers;
34.16 	(3) structured learning activities for children that promote children's development and 
34.17 	positive interaction with peers, which are held while parents or, other relatives, and caregivers
34.18 	attend parent education classes;
34.19 	(4) information on related community resources;
34.20 	(5) information, materials, and activities that support the safety of children, including 
34.21 	prevention of child abuse and neglect;
34.22 	(6) a community needs assessment that identifies new and underserved populations, 
34.23 	identifies child and family risk factors, particularly those that impact children's learning and 
34.24 	development, and assesses family and parenting education needs in the community;
34.25 	(7) programming and services that are tailored to the needs of families and parents 
34.26 	prioritized in the community needs assessment; and
34.27 	(8) information about and, if needed, assist in making arrangements for an early childhood 
34.28 	health and developmental screening under sections 121A.16 and 121A.17, when the child 
34.29 	nears the third birthday.
34.30 	Early childhood family education programs should prioritize programming and services 
34.31 	for families and parents identified in the community needs assessment, particularly those 
34.32 	families and parents with children with the most risk factors birth to age three.
35.1 	Early childhood family education programs are encouraged to provide parents of English 
35.2 	learners with translated oral and written information to monitor the program's impact on 
35.3 	their children's English language development, to know whether their children are progressing 
35.4 	in developing their English and native language proficiency, and to actively engage with 
35.5 	and support their children in developing their English and native language proficiency.
35.6 	The programs must include learning experiences for children, parents, and other relatives, 
35.7 	and caregivers that promote children's early literacy and, where practicable, their native 
35.8 	language skills and activities for children that require substantial involvement of the children's 
35.9 	parents or other relatives. The program may provide parenting education programming or 
35.10 	services to anyone identified in the community needs assessment. Providers must review 
35.11 	the program periodically to assure the instruction and materials are not racially, culturally, 
35.12 	or sexually biased. The programs must encourage parents to be aware of practices that may 
35.13 	affect equitable development of children.
35.14 	(b) For the purposes of this section, "relative" or "relatives" means noncustodial 
35.15 	grandparents or other persons related to a child by blood, marriage, adoption, or foster 
35.16 	placement, excluding parents.

35.17 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124D.13, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
35.18 		Subd. 3.Substantial parental involvement. The requirement of substantial parental 
35.19 	or, other relative, or caregiver involvement in subdivision 2 means that:
35.20 	(a) (1) parents or, other relatives, or caregivers must be physically present much of the 
35.21 	time in classes with their children or be in concurrent classes;
35.22 	(b) (2) parenting education or family education must be an integral part of every early 
35.23 	childhood family education program;
35.24 	(c) (3) early childhood family education appropriations must not be used for traditional 
35.25 	day care or nursery school, or similar programs; and
35.26 	(d) (4) the form of parent involvement common to kindergarten, elementary school, or 
35.27 	early childhood special education programs such as parent conferences, newsletters, and 
35.28 	notes to parents do not qualify a program under subdivision 2.

35.29 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124D.141, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
35.30 		Subd. 2.Additional duties. The following duties are added to those assigned to the 
35.31 	council under federal law:
36.1 	(1) make recommendations on the most efficient and effective way to leverage state and 
36.2 	federal funding streams for early childhood and child care programs;
36.3 	(2) make recommendations on how to coordinate or colocate early childhood and child 
36.4 	care programs in one state Office of Early Learning. The council shall establish a task force 
36.5 	to develop these recommendations. The task force shall include two nonexecutive branch 
36.6 	or nonlegislative branch representatives from the council; six representatives from the early 
36.7 	childhood caucus; two representatives each from the Departments of Education, Human 
36.8 	Services, and Health; one representative each from a local public health agency, a local 
36.9 	county human services agency, and a school district; and two representatives from the 
36.10 	private nonprofit organizations that support early childhood programs in Minnesota. In 
36.11 	developing recommendations in coordination with existing efforts of the council, the task 
36.12 	force shall consider how to:
36.13 	(i) consolidate and coordinate resources and public funding streams for early childhood 
36.14 	education and child care, and ensure the accountability and coordinated development of all 
36.15 	early childhood education and child care services to children from birth to kindergarten 
36.16 	entrance;
36.17 	(ii) create a seamless transition from early childhood programs to kindergarten;
36.18 	(iii) encourage family choice by ensuring a mixed system of high-quality public and 
36.19 	private programs, with local points of entry, staffed by well-qualified professionals;
36.20 	(iv) ensure parents a decisive role in the planning, operation, and evaluation of programs 
36.21 	that aid families in the care of children;
36.22 	(v) provide consumer education and accessibility to early childhood education and child 
36.23 	care resources;
36.24 	(vi) advance the quality of early childhood education and child care programs in order 
36.25 	to support the healthy development of children and preparation for their success in school;
36.26 	(vii) develop a seamless service delivery system with local points of entry for early 
36.27 	childhood education and child care programs administered by local, state, and federal 
36.28 	agencies;
36.29 	(viii) ensure effective collaboration between state and local child welfare programs and 
36.30 	early childhood mental health programs and the Office of Early Learning;
36.31 	(ix) develop and manage an effective data collection system to support the necessary 
36.32 	functions of a coordinated system of early childhood education and child care in order to 
36.33 	enable accurate evaluation of its impact;
37.1 	(x) respect and be sensitive to family values and cultural heritage; and
37.2 	(xi) establish the administrative framework for and promote the development of early 
37.3 	childhood education and child care services in order to provide that these services, staffed 
37.4 	by well-qualified professionals, are available in every community for all families that express 
37.5 	a need for them.
37.6 	In addition, the task force must consider the following responsibilities for transfer to the 
37.7 	Office of Early Learning:
37.8 	(A) responsibilities of the commissioner of education for early childhood education 
37.9 	programs and financing under sections 119A.50 to 119A.535, 121A.16 to 121A.19, and 
37.10 	124D.129 to 124D.2211;
37.11 	(B) responsibilities of the commissioner of human services for child care assistance, 
37.12 	child care development, and early childhood learning and child protection facilities programs 
37.13 	and financing under chapter 119B and section 256E.37; and
37.14 	(C) responsibilities of the commissioner of health for family home visiting programs 
37.15 	and financing under section 145A.17.
37.16 	Any costs incurred by the council in making these recommendations must be paid from 
37.17 	private funds. If no private funds are received, the council must not proceed in making these 
37.18 	recommendations. The council must report its recommendations to the governor and the 
37.19 	legislature by January 15, 2011;
37.20 	(3) (2) review program evaluations regarding high-quality early childhood programs;
37.21 	(4) (3) make recommendations to the governor and legislature, including proposed 
37.22 	legislation on how to most effectively create a high-quality early childhood system in 
37.23 	Minnesota in order to improve the educational outcomes of children so that all children are 
37.24 	school-ready by 2020; and
37.25 	(5) make recommendations to the governor and the legislature by March 1, 2011, on the 
37.26 	creation and implementation of a statewide school readiness report card to monitor progress 
37.27 	toward the goal of having all children ready for kindergarten by the year 2020. The 
37.28 	recommendations shall include what should be measured including both children and system 
37.29 	indicators, what benchmarks should be established to measure state progress toward the 
37.30 	goal, and how frequently the report card should be published. In making their 
37.31 	recommendations, the council shall consider the indicators and strategies for Minnesota's 
37.32 	early childhood system report, the Minnesota school readiness study, developmental 
37.33 	assessment at kindergarten entrance, and the work of the council's accountability committee. 
38.1 	Any costs incurred by the council in making these recommendations must be paid from 
38.2 	private funds. If no private funds are received, the council must not proceed in making these 
38.3 	recommendations; and
38.4 	(6) make recommendations to the governor and the legislature on how to screen earlier 
38.5 	and comprehensively assess children for school readiness in order to provide increased early 
38.6 	interventions and increase the number of children ready for kindergarten. In formulating 
38.7 	their recommendations, the council shall consider (i) ways to interface with parents of 
38.8 	children who are not participating in early childhood education or care programs, (ii) ways 
38.9 	to interface with family child care providers, child care centers, and school-based early 
38.10 	childhood and Head Start programs, (iii) if there are age-appropriate and culturally sensitive 
38.11 	screening and assessment tools for three-, four-, and five-year-olds, (iv) the role of the 
38.12 	medical community in screening, (v) incentives for parents to have children screened at an 
38.13 	earlier age, (vi) incentives for early education and care providers to comprehensively assess 
38.14 	children in order to improve instructional practice, (vii) how to phase in increases in screening 
38.15 	and assessment over time, (viii) how the screening and assessment data will be collected 
38.16 	and used and who will have access to the data, (ix) how to monitor progress toward the goal 
38.17 	of having 50 percent of three-year-old children screened and 50 percent of entering 
38.18 	kindergarteners assessed for school readiness by 2015 and 100 percent of three-year-old 
38.19 	children screened and entering kindergarteners assessed for school readiness by 2020, and 
38.20 	(x) costs to meet these benchmarks. The council shall consider the screening instruments 
38.21 	and comprehensive assessment tools used in Minnesota early childhood education and care 
38.22 	programs and kindergarten. The council may survey early childhood education and care 
38.23 	programs in the state to determine the screening and assessment tools being used or rely on 
38.24 	previously collected survey data, if available. For purposes of this subdivision, "school 
38.25 	readiness" is defined as the child's skills, knowledge, and behaviors at kindergarten entrance 
38.26 	in these areas of child development: social; self-regulation; cognitive, including language, 
38.27 	literacy, and mathematical thinking; and physical. For purposes of this subdivision, 
38.28 	"screening" is defined as the activities used to identify a child who may need further 
38.29 	evaluation to determine delay in development or disability. For purposes of this subdivision, 
38.30 	"assessment" is defined as the activities used to determine a child's level of performance in 
38.31 	order to promote the child's learning and development. Work on this duty will begin in 
38.32 	fiscal year 2012. Any costs incurred by the council in making these recommendations must 
38.33 	be paid from private funds. If no private funds are received, the council must not proceed 
38.34 	in making these recommendations. The council must report its recommendations to the 
38.35 	governor and legislature by January 15, 2013, with an interim report on February 15, 2011.
39.1 	(4) review and provide input on the recommendations and implementation timelines 
39.2 	developed by the Great Start For All Minnesota Children Task Force under Laws 2021, 
39.3 	First Special Session chapter 7, article 14, section 18, subdivision 2.

39.4 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124D.165, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
39.5 		Subd. 2.Family eligibility. (a) For a family to receive an early learning scholarship, 
39.6 	parents or guardians must have an eligible child and meet at least one of the following 
39.7 	eligibility requirements:
39.8 	(1) have an eligible child; and
39.9 	(2) (1) have income equal to or less than 185200 percent of federal poverty level income 
39.10 	in the current calendar year, or;
39.11 	(2) be able to document their child's current participation in the free and reduced-price 
39.12 	lunch meal program or Child and Adult Care Food Program, National School Lunch Act, 
39.13 	United States Code, title 42, sections 1751 and 1766; the Food Distribution Program on 
39.14 	Indian Reservations, Food and Nutrition Act, United States Code, title 7, sections 2011-2036; 
39.15 	Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007; 
39.16 	Minnesota family investment program under chapter 256J; child care assistance programs 
39.17 	under chapter 119B; the supplemental nutrition assistance program; or placement
39.18 	(3) have a child referred as in need of child protection services or placed in foster care 
39.19 	under section 260C.212.
39.20 	(b) An "eligible child" means a child who has not yet enrolled in kindergarten and is:
39.21 	(1) at least three but not yet five years of age on September 1 of the current school year;.
39.22 	(2) a sibling from birth to age five of a child who has been awarded a scholarship under 
39.23 	this section provided the sibling attends the same program as long as funds are available;
39.24 	(3) the child of a parent under age 21 who is pursuing a high school degree or a course 
39.25 	of study for a high school equivalency test; or
39.26 	(4) homeless, in foster care, or in need of child protective services.
39.27 	(c) A child who has received a scholarship under this section must continue to receive 
39.28 	a scholarship each year until that child is eligible for kindergarten under section 120A.20 
39.29 	and as long as funds are available.
39.30 	(d) Early learning scholarships may not be counted as earned income for the purposes 
39.31 	of medical assistance under chapter 256B, MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L, Minnesota 
40.1 	family investment program under chapter 256J, child care assistance programs under chapter 
40.2 	119B, or Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 
40.3 	2007.
40.4 	(e) A child from an adjoining state whose family resides at a Minnesota address as 
40.5 	assigned by the United States Postal Service, who has received developmental screening 
40.6 	under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19, who intends to enroll in a Minnesota school district, 
40.7 	and whose family meets the criteria of paragraph (a) is eligible for an early learning 
40.8 	scholarship under this section.

40.9 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124D.165, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
40.10 		Subd. 3.Administration. (a) The commissioner shall establish application timelines 
40.11 	and determine the schedule for awarding scholarships that meets operational needs of eligible 
40.12 	families and programs. The commissioner must give highest priority to applications from 
40.13 	children who:
40.14 	(1) are not yet four years of age;
40.15 	(1) (2) have a parent under age 21 who is pursuing a high school diploma or a course of 
40.16 	study for a high school equivalency test;
40.17 	(2) (3) are in foster care or otherwise;
40.18 	(4) have been referred as in need of child protection or services; or
40.19 	(5) have an incarcerated parent;
40.20 	(3) (6) have experienced homelessness in the last 24 months, as defined under the federal 
40.21 	McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, United States Code, title 42, section 11434a.; 
40.22 	or
40.23 	(7) has family income less than or equal to 185 percent of federal poverty level income 
40.24 	in the current calendar year.
40.25 	(b) The commissioner may prioritize applications on additional factors including family 
40.26 	income, geographic location, and whether the child's family is on a waiting list for a publicly 
40.27 	funded program providing early education or child care services.
40.28 	(b) (c) The commissioner shall establish a target for the average scholarship amount per 
40.29 	child based on the results of the rate survey conducted under section 119B.02.
40.30 	(c) A four-star rated program that has children eligible for a scholarship enrolled in or 
40.31 	on a waiting list for a program beginning in July, August, or September may notify the 
41.1 	commissioner, in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, each year of the 
41.2 	program's desire to enhance program services or to serve more children than current funding 
41.3 	provides. The commissioner may designate a predetermined number of scholarship slots 
41.4 	for that program and notify the program of that number. For fiscal year 2018 and later, the 
41.5 	statewide amount of funding directly designated by the commissioner must not exceed the 
41.6 	funding directly designated for fiscal year 2017. Beginning July 1, 2016, a school district 
41.7 	or Head Start program qualifying under this paragraph may use its established registration 
41.8 	process to enroll scholarship recipients and may verify a scholarship recipient's family 
41.9 	income in the same manner as for other program participants.
41.10 	(d) The commissioner may establish exploratory efforts to increase parent education 
41.11 	and family support services to families receiving early learning scholarships, including 
41.12 	home visits and parent education services.
41.13 	(d) (e) A scholarship is awarded for a 12-month period. If the scholarship recipient has 
41.14 	not been accepted and subsequently enrolled in a rated program within ten three months of 
41.15 	the awarding of the scholarship, the scholarship cancels and the recipient must reapply in 
41.16 	order to be eligible for another scholarship. An extension may be requested if a program is 
41.17 	unavailable for the child within the three-month timeline. A child may not be awarded more 
41.18 	than one scholarship in a 12-month period.
41.19 	(e) (f) A child who receives a scholarship who has not completed development screening 
41.20 	under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19 must complete that screening within 90 days of first 
41.21 	attending an eligible program or within 90 days after the child's third birthday if awarded 
41.22 	a scholarship under the age of three.
41.23 	(f) For fiscal year 2017 and later, a school district or Head Start program enrolling 
41.24 	scholarship recipients under paragraph (c) may apply to the commissioner, in the form and 
41.25 	manner prescribed by the commissioner, for direct payment of state aid. Upon receipt of 
41.26 	the application, the commissioner must pay each program directly for each approved 
41.27 	scholarship recipient enrolled under paragraph (c) according to the metered payment system 
41.28 	or another schedule established by the commissioner.

41.29 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124D.59, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
41.30 		Subd. 2.English learner. (a) "English learner" means a pupil in kindergarten through 
41.31 	grade 12, an early childhood special education student under Part B, section 619, of the 
41.32 	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, United States Code, title 20, section 1419, or 
41.33 	a prekindergarten student enrolled in an approved voluntary prekindergarten program under 
42.1 	section 124D.151 or a school readiness plus program who meets the requirements under 
42.2 	subdivision 2a or the following requirements:
42.3 	(1) the pupil, as declared by a parent or guardian first learned a language other than 
42.4 	English, comes from a home where the language usually spoken is other than English, or 
42.5 	usually speaks a language other than English; and
42.6 	(2) the pupil is determined by a valid assessment measuring the pupil's English language 
42.7 	proficiency and by developmentally appropriate measures, which might include observations, 
42.8 	teacher judgment, parent recommendations, or developmentally appropriate assessment 
42.9 	instruments, to lack the necessary English skills to participate fully in academic classes 
42.10 	taught in English.
42.11 	(b) A pupil enrolled in a Minnesota public school in any grade 4 through 12 who in the 
42.12 	previous school year took a commissioner-provided assessment measuring the pupil's 
42.13 	emerging academic English, shall be counted as an English learner in calculating English 
42.14 	learner pupil units under section 126C.05, subdivision 17, and shall generate state English 
42.15 	learner aid under section 124D.65, subdivision 5, if the pupil scored below the state cutoff 
42.16 	score or is otherwise counted as a nonproficient participant on the assessment measuring 
42.17 	the pupil's emerging academic English, or, in the judgment of the pupil's classroom teachers, 
42.18 	consistent with section 124D.61, clause (1), the pupil is unable to demonstrate academic 
42.19 	language proficiency in English, including oral academic language, sufficient to successfully 
42.20 	and fully participate in the general core curriculum in the regular classroom.
42.21 	(c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), a pupil in early childhood special education 
42.22 	or prekindergarten under section 124D.151, through grade 12 shall not be counted as an 
42.23 	English learner in calculating English learner pupil units under section 126C.05, subdivision 
42.24 	17, and shall not generate state English learner aid under section 124D.65, subdivision 5, 
42.25 	if:
42.26 	(1) the pupil is not enrolled during the current fiscal year in an educational program for 
42.27 	English learners under sections 124D.58 to 124D.64; or
42.28 	(2) the pupil has generated seven or more years of average daily membership in Minnesota 
42.29 	public schools since July 1, 1996.

42.30 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for revenue for fiscal year 2023 and later.

43.1 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 245.4889, subdivision 1, is amended 
43.2 	to read:
43.3 		Subdivision 1.Establishment and authority. (a) The commissioner is authorized to 
43.4 	make grants from available appropriations to assist:
43.5 	(1) counties;
43.6 	(2) Indian tribes;
43.7 	(3) children's collaboratives under section 124D.23 or 245.493; or
43.8 	(4) mental health service providers.; or
43.9 	(5) school districts and charter schools.
43.10 	(b) The following services are eligible for grants under this section:
43.11 	(1) services to children with emotional disturbances as defined in section 245.4871, 
43.12 	subdivision 15, and their families;
43.13 	(2) transition services under section 245.4875, subdivision 8, for young adults under 
43.14 	age 21 and their families;
43.15 	(3) respite care services for children with emotional disturbances or severe emotional 
43.16 	disturbances who are at risk of out-of-home placement. A child is not required to have case 
43.17 	management services to receive respite care services;
43.18 	(4) children's mental health crisis services;
43.19 	(5) mental health services for people from cultural and ethnic minorities, including 
43.20 	supervision of clinical trainees who are Black, indigenous, or people of color;
43.21 	(6) children's mental health screening and follow-up diagnostic assessment and treatment;
43.22 	(7) services to promote and develop the capacity of providers to use evidence-based 
43.23 	practices in providing children's mental health services;
43.24 	(8) school-linked mental health services under section 245.4901;
43.25 	(9) building evidence-based mental health intervention capacity for children birth to age 
43.26 	five;
43.27 	(10) suicide prevention and counseling services that use text messaging statewide;
43.28 	(11) mental health first aid training;
44.1 	(12) training for parents, collaborative partners, and mental health providers on the 
44.2 	impact of adverse childhood experiences and trauma and development of an interactive 
44.3 	website to share information and strategies to promote resilience and prevent trauma;
44.4 	(13) transition age services to develop or expand mental health treatment and supports 
44.5 	for adolescents and young adults 26 years of age or younger;
44.6 	(14) early childhood mental health consultation;
44.7 	(15) evidence-based interventions for youth at risk of developing or experiencing a first 
44.8 	episode of psychosis, and a public awareness campaign on the signs and symptoms of 
44.9 	psychosis;
44.10 	(16) psychiatric consultation for primary care practitioners; and
44.11 	(17) providers to begin operations and meet program requirements when establishing a 
44.12 	new children's mental health program. These may be start-up grants.
44.13 	(c) Services under paragraph (b) must be designed to help each child to function and 
44.14 	remain with the child's family in the community and delivered consistent with the child's 
44.15 	treatment plan. Transition services to eligible young adults under this paragraph must be 
44.16 	designed to foster independent living in the community.
44.17 	(d) As a condition of receiving grant funds, a grantee shall obtain all available third-party 
44.18 	reimbursement sources, if applicable.

44.19 	ARTICLE 6
44.20 	EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

44.21 	Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS.
 44.22 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
44.23 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
44.24 	designated.
44.25 		Subd. 2.Mental health services and early childhood social workers. (a) For grants 
44.26 	to fund social workers focused solely on early childhood systems that strengthen early 
44.27 	childhood programs and improve outcomes for participating children and families.

44.28		$
	0
	.....
	2022
	
44.29		$
	2,500,000
	.....
	2023
	
45.1 	(b) Eligible applicants are school districts and charter schools with early learning 
45.2 	programs that may include but are not limited to Head Start, early Head Start, and early 
45.3 	intervention programs serving children from birth to kindergarten that:
45.4 	(1) implement a family partnership process to support family well-being, family safety, 
45.5 	health, and economic stability;
45.6 	(2) identify family strengths and needs using the Head Start Parent Family and 
45.7 	Community Engagement Framework;
45.8 	(3) offer individualized family partnership services in collaboration with families; and
45.9 	(4) offer support services in collaboration or colocation with mental health practitioners 
45.10 	to provide training, coaching, or skill building to early learning staff and parents.
45.11 	(c) This appropriation is in addition to any other federal funds a grantee receives for this 
45.12 	purpose.
45.13 	(d) Any balance in the first year does not cancel and is available in the second year.
45.14 	(e) Up to five percent of this appropriation may be retained for grant administration 
45.15 	costs.
45.16 		Subd. 3.Infant and early childhood mental health consultation in schools. (a) For 
45.17 	transfer to the commissioner of human services for grants to create an early childhood mental 
45.18 	health system of care in schools under Minnesota Statutes, section 245.4889, subdivision 
45.19 	1, paragraph (a), clause (5).

45.20		$
	0
	.....
	2022
	
45.21		$
	3,759,000
	.....
	2023
	
45.22 	(b) Of this amount, $3,350,000 is available for grants. Eligible uses include services 
45.23 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 245.4889, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause (14).
45.24 	(c) Any balance in the first year does not cancel and is available in the second year.
45.25 		Subd. 4.Grow Your Own Early Childhood Educator programs. (a) For grants to 
45.26 	develop, continue, or expand the Grow Your Own Early Childhood Educator program under 
45.27 	Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.731:

45.28		$
	0
	.....
	2022
	
45.29		$
	3,860,000
	.....
	2023
	
45.30 	(b) This appropriation is subject to the requirements under section 122A.731, subdivision 
45.31 	4.
46.1 	(c) The base for fiscal year 2024 and later is $3,805,000.
46.2 		Subd. 5.Early childhood family education licensure grant. (a) For a grant to the 
46.3 	University of Minnesota to provide scholarships for prospective teachers enrolled in the 
46.4 	parent and family education licensure program to cover the cost of attendance in the program:

46.5		$
	0
	.....
	2022
	
46.6		$
	177,000
	.....
	2023
	
46.7 	(b) The commissioner may award additional grants to other postsecondary institutions 
46.8 	with parent and family education licensure programs if funds are available.
46.9 	(c) A grant application must at least include:
46.10 	(1) the in-kind, coordination, and mentorship services to be provided by the postsecondary 
46.11 	institution;
46.12 	(2) the process for identifying and recruiting prospective teachers who represent known 
46.13 	parent and family education teacher licensure shortage areas, both demographic and 
46.14 	geographic;
46.15 	(3) the process for coordinating with school districts to support prospective teachers in 
46.16 	completing a licensure program or working in an early childhood family education program; 
46.17 	and
46.18 	(4) the process for prioritizing and awarding scholarships to students.
46.19 	(d) A grant recipient must report in a form and manner determined by the commissioner 
46.20 	on their activities under this subdivision, including the number of participants; the percentage 
46.21 	of participants who are of color or American Indian; the percentage of participants who 
46.22 	reside in, or will be employed in, school districts located in the rural equity region as defined 
46.23 	in Minnesota Statutes, section 126C.10, subdivision 28; an assessment of program 
46.24 	effectiveness, including participant feedback and areas of improvement; the percentage of 
46.25 	participants continuing to pursue parent and family education licensure; and where applicable, 
46.26 	the number of participants hired in a district as parent and family education teachers after 
46.27 	completing the preparation program.
46.28 	(e) The base for fiscal year 2024 is $177,000. The base for fiscal year 2025 is $0.
46.29 		Subd. 6.Executive function across generations curriculum grant. (a) For a grant to 
46.30 	the family partnership for an executive function curriculum pilot program:

47.1		$
	450,000
	.....
	2023
	
47.2 	(b) The family partnership must establish 15 sites across Minnesota to provide executive 
47.3 	function across generations curriculum. The sites must be spread across the state and include 
47.4 	rural, suburban, and urban early education and care providers, organizations providing home 
47.5 	visiting services, or parenting groups in high-risk communities. The family partnership must 
47.6 	report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over early childhood by December 15, 
47.7 	2022, and December 15, 2023, on the progress made to expand the executive function 
47.8 	curriculum across Minnesota.
47.9 	(c) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2025.
47.10 		Subd. 7.Reach Out and Read Minnesota. (a) For a grant to support Reach Out and 
47.11 	Read Minnesota to establish a statewide plan that encourages early childhood development 
47.12 	through a network of health care clinics:

47.13		$
	250,000
	.....
	2023
	
47.14 	(b) The grant recipient must develop and implement a plan that includes:
47.15 	(1) integrating children's books and parent education into well-child visits;
47.16 	(2) creating literacy-rich environments at clinics, including books for visits outside of 
47.17 	Reach Out and Read Minnesota parameters or for waiting room use or volunteer readers to 
47.18 	model read-aloud techniques for parents where possible;
47.19 	(3) working with public health clinics, federally qualified health centers, Tribal sites, 
47.20 	community health centers, and clinics that belong to health care systems, as well as 
47.21 	independent clinics in underserved areas; and
47.22 	(4) training medical professionals on speaking with parents of infants, toddlers, and 
47.23 	preschoolers on the importance of early literacy.
47.24 	(c) The base for fiscal year 2024 and later is $250,000.
47.25 	(d) The plan must be fully implemented on a statewide basis by 2029.
47.26 		Subd. 8.Minnesota Children's Museum. (a) For a grant to the Minnesota Children's 
47.27 	Museum for operating costs:

47.28		$
	2,000,000
	.....
	2023
	
47.29 	(b) The appropriation in paragraph (a) must be used by the Minnesota Children's Museum 
47.30 	to aid in the recovery of general operations and programming losses due to COVID-19.
48.1 	(c) The appropriation is in addition to the appropriation in Laws 2021, First Special 
48.2 	Session chapter 13, article 2, section 4, subdivision 18.
48.3 	(d) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2025.
48.4 		Subd. 9.Children's asset building program. (a) For a matching grant to the Saint Paul 
48.5 	and Minnesota Foundation to support a children's asset building program that: (1) creates 
48.6 	a savings account for every child born to a resident of the city of St. Paul during the time 
48.7 	period for which funds are available; and (2) supports financial education for families on 
48.8 	their child's college and career pathway:

48.9		$
	250,000
	.....
	2023
	
48.10 	(b) Grant money provided under this subdivision must be matched with money from 
48.11 	nonstate sources.
48.12 	(c) By February 15, 2025, the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation must submit a report 
48.13 	on the children's asset building program to the commissioner of education and to legislative 
48.14 	committees with jurisdiction over early childhood. At a minimum, the report must provide 
48.15 	a detailed review of the program's design and features, including program outcomes, funding, 
48.16 	financial education programming activities, and program marketing, outreach, and 
48.17 	engagement activities.
48.18 	(d) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2025.
48.19 		Subd. 10.Early Childhood Family Education Office. (a) For two full-time equivalent 
48.20 	staff and for operational expenses to provide support and guidance for early childhood 
48.21 	family education programs:

48.22		$
	325,000
	.....
	2023
	
48.23 	(b) Each staff member must hold a valid license as a teacher of parent and family 
48.24 	education.
48.25 	(c) The base in fiscal year 2024 and later is $325,000.

48.26 	Sec. 2. Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 13, article 1, section 10, subdivision 2, 
48.27 	is amended to read:
48.28 		Subd. 2.General education aid. For general education aid under Minnesota Statutes, 
48.29 	section 126C.13, subdivision 4:

49.249.1
		$
	7,569,266,000
7,484,917,000
	.....
	2022
	
49.449.3
		$
	7,804,527,000
7,688,824,000
	.....
	2023
	
49.5 	The 2022 appropriation includes $717,326,000 for 2021 and $6,851,940,000
49.6 	$6,767,591,000 for 2022.
49.7 	The 2023 appropriation includes $734,520,000 $751,955,000 for 2022 and 
49.8 	$7,070,007,000 $6,936,869,000 for 2023.

49.9 	Sec. 3. Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 13, article 8, section 3, subdivision 3, is 
49.10 	amended to read:
49.11 		Subd. 3.School breakfast. For traditional school breakfast aid under Minnesota Statutes, 
49.12 	section 124D.1158:

49.1449.13
		$
	11,848,000
20,000
	.....
	2022
	
49.1649.15
		$
	12,200,000
10,691,000
	.....
	2023

49.17 	Sec. 4. Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 13, article 9, section 4, subdivision 3, is 
49.18 	amended to read:
49.19 		Subd. 3.Early learning scholarships. (a) For the early learning scholarship program 
49.20 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.165:

49.21		$
	70,709,000
	.....
	2022
	
49.2349.22
		$
	70,709,000
220,709,000
	.....
	2023
	
49.24 	(b) This appropriation is subject to the requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 
49.25 	124D.165, subdivision 6.
49.26 	(c) The base for fiscal year 2024 is $115,709,000 and the base for fiscal year 2025 is 
49.27 	$115,709,000.

49.28 	Sec. 5. Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 13, article 9, section 4, subdivision 4, is 
49.29 	amended to read:
49.30 		Subd. 4.Head Start program. (a) For Head Start programs under Minnesota Statutes, 
49.31 	section 119A.52:

50.1		$
	25,100,000
	.....
	2022
	
50.350.2
		$
	25,100,000
35,100,000
	.....
	2023
	
50.4 	(b) The base for fiscal year 2024 and later is $35,100,000.
50.5 	(c) Beginning in fiscal year 2023, a Head Start program must spend on Early Head Start:
50.6 	(1) at least the amount the Head Start program spent on Early Head Start from its share 
50.7 	of the $25,100,000 state appropriation in fiscal year 2022; and
50.8 	(2) the program's share of $10,000,000.

50.9 	Sec. 6. Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 13, article 9, section 4, subdivision 6, is 
50.10 	amended to read:
50.11 		Subd. 6.Developmental screening aid. (a) For developmental screening aid under 
50.12 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 121A.17 and 121A.19:

50.1450.13
		$
	3,582,000
3,655,000
	.....
	2022
	
50.1650.15
		$
	3,476,000
4,560,000
	.....
	2023
	
50.17 	(b) The 2022 appropriation includes $360,000 for 2021 and $3,222,000 $3,295,000 for 
50.18 	2022.
50.19 	(c) The 2023 appropriation includes $357,000 $366,000 for 2022 and $3,119,000
50.20 	$4,194,000 for 2023.

50.21 	Sec. 7. APPROPRIATION; EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WORKFORCE 
50.22 	STUDY.
 50.23 	$255,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
50.24 	of employment and economic development for a study on the early childhood education 
50.25 	workforce in Minnesota. The study must provide a consolidated report of current data on 
50.26 	the makeup of the early childhood education workforce, including those working in certified 
50.27 	and licensed child care centers and family child care homes, Early Head Start and Head 
50.28 	Start programs, and school-based programs, including Early Childhood Special Education; 
50.29 	wages, income, and benefits in the industry; and barriers to entering these careers or retaining 
50.30 	workers in the field, along with information on any other relevant issues identified during 
50.31 	the research process. At a minimum, the study must replicate the data points published in 
50.32 	the study funded by the Department of Human Services titled "Child Care Workforce in 
50.33 	Minnesota: 2011 Statewide Study of Demographics, Training and Professional Development." 
51.1 	The study must be completed within 18 months and the commissioner may contract with 
51.2 	another organization to complete the study. This is a onetime appropriation and is available 
51.3 	until December 30, 2023.

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: H4735-1 

119B.03 BASIC SLIDING FEE PROGRAM.Subd. 4.Funding priority. 
(a) First priority for child care assistance under the basic sliding fee program must be given to eligible non-MFIP families who do not have a high school diploma or commissioner of education-selected high school equivalency certification or who need remedial and basic skill courses in order to pursue employment or to pursue education leading to employment and who need child care assistance to participate in the education program. This includes student parents as defined under section 119B.011, subdivision 19b. Within this priority, the following subpriorities must be used: 

(1) child care needs of minor parents; 

(2) child care needs of parents under 21 years of age; and 

(3) child care needs of other parents within the priority group described in this paragraph. 

(b) Second priority must be given to parents who have completed their MFIP or DWP transition year, or parents who are no longer receiving or eligible for diversionary work program supports. 

(c) Third priority must be given to families who are eligible for portable basic sliding fee assistance through the portability pool under subdivision 9. 

(d) Fourth priority must be given to families in which at least one parent is a veteran as defined under section 197.447. 

(e) Families under paragraph (b) must be added to the basic sliding fee waiting list on the date they begin the transition year under section 119B.011, subdivision 20, and must be moved into the basic sliding fee program as soon as possible after they complete their transition year.