SF 4879
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/27/2026 09:15 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to children, youth, and families; modifying enrollment and eligibility
priority for children in foster care for community education programs, school
readiness programs, early learning scholarships, and basic sliding fee child care
assistance; modifying the Northstar foster care child care allowance; requiring
licensing agencies to provide prospective child foster care license holders with
information about child care costs and early childhood education programs;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 124D.19, subdivision 14, by adding
a subdivision; 142A.607, subdivision 4; 142B.06, subdivision 5; 142B.40,
subdivision 3; 142D.05, subdivision 8; 142D.25, subdivision 3; 142E.04,
subdivision 4.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 124D.19, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin Subd. 13a. new text end
new text begin School-age care programs; priority for children in foster care. new text end
new text begin
Each
district operating a school-age care, youth after-school enrichment, or other before- and
after-school community education program under this section must ensure that children in
foster care, as defined under section 260C.007, subdivision 18, receive the highest priority
for enrollment in community education programs.
new text end
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 124D.19, subdivision 14, is amended to read:
Subd. 14.
Community education; annual report.
Each district offering a community
education program under this section must annually report to the department information
regarding each community education program, including youth after-school enrichment
programs, that receives aid or levy.new text begin Each district's annual report must include information
on the district's priority enrollment policies and its compliance with subdivision 13a.
new text end
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142A.607, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4.
Child care allowance portion of assessment.
(a) The assessment tool
established under subdivision 2 must include consideration of the caregiver's need for child
care under this subdivision, with greater consideration for children of younger ages.
(b) The child's assessment must include consideration of the caregiver's need for child
care if the following criteria are met:
(1) the child is under age 13;
(2) all available adult caregivers are employed or attending educational or vocational
training programs; and
(3) the caregiver does not receive child care assistance for the child under chapter 142E.
(c) deleted text begin For children younger than seven years of age,deleted text end The level determined by the non-child
care portions of the assessment must be adjusted based on the average number of hours
child care is needed each week due to employment or attending a training or educational
program as follows:
(1) fewer than ten hours or if the caregiver is participating in the child care assistance
program under chapter deleted text begin 119Bdeleted text end new text begin 142Enew text end , no adjustment;
(2) ten to 19 hours or if needed during school summer vacation or equivalent only,
increase one level;
(3) 20 to 29 hours, increase two levels;
(4) 30 to 39 hours, increase three levels; and
(5) 40 or more hours, increase four levels.
deleted text begin
(d) For children at least seven years of age but younger than 13, the level determined
by the non-child care portions of the assessment must be adjusted based on the average
number of hours child care is needed each week due to employment or attending a training
or educational program as follows:
deleted text end
deleted text begin
(1) fewer than 20 hours, needed during school summer vacation or equivalent only, or
if the caregiver is participating in the child care assistance program under chapter
deleted text end
deleted text begin
142E
deleted text end
deleted text begin
, no
adjustment;
deleted text end
deleted text begin
(2) 20 to 39 hours, increase one level; and
deleted text end
deleted text begin
(3) 40 or more hours, increase two levels.
deleted text end
deleted text begin
(e) When the child attains the age of seven, the child care allowance must be reduced
by reducing the level to that available under paragraph (d). For children in foster care,
benefits under section 142A.609 must be automatically reduced when the child turns seven.
For children who receive Northstar kinship assistance or adoption assistance, agreements
must include similar provisions to ensure that the benefit provided to these children does
not exceed the benefit provided to children in foster care.
deleted text end
deleted text begin (f)deleted text end new text begin (d)new text end When the child attains the age of 13, the child care allowance must be eliminated
by reducing the level to that available prior to any consideration of the caregiver's need for
child care. For children in foster care, benefits under section 142A.609 must be automatically
reduced when the child attains the age of 13. For children who receive Northstar kinship
assistance or adoption assistance, agreements must include similar provisions to ensure that
the benefit provided to these children does not exceed the benefit provided to children in
foster care.
deleted text begin (g)deleted text end new text begin (e)new text end The child care allowance under this subdivision is not available to caregivers
who receive the child care assistance under chapter 142E. A caregiver receiving a child care
allowance under this subdivision must notify the commissioner if the caregiver subsequently
receives the child care assistance program under chapter 142E, and the level must be reduced
to that available prior to any consideration of the caregiver's need for child care.
deleted text begin (h)deleted text end new text begin (f)new text end In establishing the assessment tool under subdivision 2, the commissioner must
design the tool so that the levels applicable to the non-child care portions of the assessment
at a given age accommodate the requirements of this subdivision.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.06, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5.
Child foster care license application.
(a) The relatives with whom the
emergency placement has been made shall complete the child foster care license application
and necessary paperwork within ten days of the placement. The county agency shall assist
the applicant to complete the application. The granting of a child foster care license to a
relative shall be under the procedures in this chapter and according to the standards in
Minnesota Rules, chapter 2960. In licensing a relative, the commissioner shall consider the
importance of maintaining the child's relationship with relatives as an additional significant
factor in determining whether a background study disqualification should be set aside under
section 245C.22, or a variance should be granted under section 245C.30.
(b) When the county or private child-placing agency is processing an application for
child foster care licensure of a relative as defined in section 260B.007, subdivision 12, or
260C.007, subdivision 26b or 27, the county agency or child-placing agency must explain
the licensing process to the prospective licensee, including the background study process
and the procedure for reconsideration of an initial disqualification for licensure. The county
or private child-placing agency must also provide the prospective relative licensee with
information regardingnew text begin Northstar foster care benefits, child care costs, and early childhood
education programs for a child in foster care, andnew text end appropriate options for legal representation
in the pertinent geographic area. If a relative is initially disqualified under section 245C.14,
the commissioner must provide written notice of the reasons for the disqualification and
the right to request a reconsideration by the commissioner as required under section 245C.17.
(c) The commissioner shall maintain licensing data so that activities related to applications
and licensing actions for relative foster care providers may be distinguished from other child
foster care settings.
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142B.40, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3.
License holder qualifications for child foster care.
(a) Child foster care
license holders must maintain the ability to care for a foster child and ensure a safe home
environment for children placed in their care. License holders must immediately notify the
licensing agency of:
(1) any changes to the license holder or household member's physical or behavioral
health that may affect the license holder's ability to care for a foster child or pose a risk to
a foster child's health; or
(2) changes related to the care of a child or vulnerable adult for whom the license holder
is a parent or legally responsible, including living out of the home for treatment for physical
or behavioral health, modified parenting time arrangements, legal custody, or placement in
foster care.
(b) The licensing agency may request a license holder or household member to undergo
an evaluation by a specialist in areas such as physical or behavioral health to evaluate the
license holder's ability to provide a safe environment for a foster child. Prior to assigning
a specialist to evaluate, the licensing agency must tell the license holder or household
member why the licensing agency has requested a specialist evaluation and request a release
of information from the license holder or household member.
new text begin
(c) The licensing agency must explain the licensing process to a prospective child foster
care licensee, including the background study process and the procedure for reconsideration
of an initial disqualification for licensure. The licensing agency must also provide the
prospective licensee with information regarding Northstar foster care benefits, child care
costs, and early childhood education programs for a child in foster care.
new text end
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142D.05, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd. 8.
Eligibility.
A child is eligible to participate in a school readiness program if
the child:
(1) is at least three years old on September 1;
(2) has completed health and developmental screening within 90 days of program
enrollment under sections 142D.09 to 142D.093; and
(3) has one or more of the following risk factors:
(i) qualifies for free or reduced-price meals;
(ii) is an English learner;
(iii) is homeless;
(iv) has an individualized education program (IEP) or standardized written plan;
(v) is identified, through health and developmental screenings under sections 142D.09
to 142D.093, with a potential risk factor that may influence learning; deleted text begin or
deleted text end
(vi)new text begin is in foster care; or
new text end
new text begin (vii)new text end is defined as at risk by the school district.
Sec. 7.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142D.25, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3.
Applications; priorities.
(a) The commissioner shall establish application
timelines and determine the schedule for awarding scholarships that meet the operational
needs of eligible families and programs.
(b) The commissioner must give highest priority to applications from children who:
(1) are not yet four years of age;
(2)new text begin are in foster care;
new text end
new text begin (3)new text end have a parent under age 21 who is pursuing a high school diploma or a course of
study for a high school equivalency test;
deleted text begin
(3) are in foster care;
deleted text end
(4) have been referred as in need of child protection services;
(5) have an incarcerated parent;
(6) are in or have a parent in a substance use treatment program;
(7) are in or have a parent in a mental health treatment program;
(8) have experienced domestic violence;
(9) have an individualized education program or individualized family service plan; or
(10) have experienced homelessness in the last 24 months, as defined under the federal
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, United States Code, title 42, section 1143a.
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), beginning July 1, 2025, the commissioner must give
highest priority to applications from children in families with income equal to or less than
the rate specified under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (1), item (i), and within this
group must prioritize children who meet one or more of the criteria listed in paragraph (b).
(d) The commissioner may prioritize applications on additional factors, including but
not limited to availability of funding, family income, geographic location, and whether the
child's family is on a waiting list for a publicly funded program providing early education
or child care services.
Sec. 8.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142E.04, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4.
Funding priorities.
(a) In the event that inadequate funding necessitates the
use of waiting lists, priority for child care assistance under the basic sliding fee assistance
program shall be determined according to this subdivision.
(b) First priority 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 142E.01,
subdivision 26. 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.
(c) Second priority must be given to families in which at least one parent is a veteran,
as defined under section 197.447.
(d) Thirdnew text begin priority must be given to eligible foster parents providing care to a child placed
in a family foster home under section 260C.007, subdivision 16b.
new text end
new text begin (e) Fourthnew text end priority must be given to eligible families who do not meet the specifications
of paragraph (b), (c), deleted text begin (e)deleted text end new text begin (d), (f)new text end , or deleted text begin (f)deleted text end new text begin (g)new text end .
deleted text begin (e) Fourthdeleted text end new text begin (f) Fifthnew text end priority must be given to families who are eligible for portable basic
sliding fee assistance through the portability pool under subdivision 10.
deleted text begin (f) Fifthdeleted text end new text begin (g) Sixthnew text end priority must be given to eligible families receiving services under
section 142E.01, subdivision 27, if the parents have completed their MFIP transition year.
deleted text begin (g)deleted text end new text begin (h)new text end Families under paragraph deleted text begin (f)deleted text end new text begin (g)new text end must be added to the basic sliding fee waiting
list on the date they complete their transition year under section 142E.01, subdivision 28.