1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to economic development; requiring a report; appropriating money for 
1.3 	Helmets to Hard Hats Minnesota initiative.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS; HELMETS TO HARD HATS; REPORT.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Appropriation. $227,500 in fiscal year 2024 and $227,500 in fiscal year 
1.7 	2025 are appropriated from the workforce development fund to the commissioner of labor 
1.8 	and industry for grants to Building Strong Communities for the Helmets to Hard Hats 
1.9 	Minnesota initiative. Grant money must be used to recruit, retain, assist, and support National 
1.10 	Guard, reserve, and active duty military members' and veterans' participation in 
1.11 	apprenticeship programs registered with the Department of Labor and Industry and connect 
1.12 	them with career training and employment in the building and construction industry. The 
1.13 	recruitment, selection, employment, and training must be without discrimination due to 
1.14 	race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, physical 
1.15 	or mental disability, receipt of public assistance, or age.
1.16 		Subd. 2.Report. Building Strong Communities must report to the commissioner of 
1.17 	labor and industry and the chairs and ranking members of the house and senate committees 
1.18 	overseeing labor and industry policy and finance and veterans affairs policy and finance by 
1.19 	January 15 of each year on the Helmets to Hardhats program. The report must include an 
1.20 	overview of the program's budget, a detailed explanation of program expenditures, the 
1.21 	number of veterans and service members that participated in apprenticeship programs, the 
1.22 	number of veterans and service members that received career training, the number of veterans 
2.1 	and service members that gained employment in the building and construction industry, 
2.2 	and an audit completed by an independent auditor.