1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to early education; establishing the Task Force on Early Childhood 
1.3 	Educator Licensure; requiring a report; providing for appointments; appropriating 
1.4 	money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. TASK FORCE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR LICENSURE.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.8 	the meanings given.
1.9 	(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of children, youth, and families.
1.10 	(c) "Early childhood" means the period of life from birth to the start of kindergarten.
1.11 	(d) "Metropolitan area" has the same meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 
1.12 	473.121, subdivision 2.
1.13 	(e) "Task force" means the Task Force on Early Childhood Educator Licensure.
1.14 		Subd. 2.Establishment. The Task Force on Early Childhood Educator Licensure is 
1.15 	established to generate a framework for individual licensure for early childhood educators 
1.16 	in Minnesota.
1.17 		Subd. 3.Membership. (a) The task force consists of the following members, appointed 
1.18 	by the governor, except as otherwise specified:
1.19 	(1) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the 
1.20 	house and one appointed by the house of representatives Democratic-Farmer-Labor caucus 
1.21 	leader;
2.1 	(2) two members of the senate, one appointed by the senate majority leader and one 
2.2 	appointed by the senate minority leader;
2.3 	(3) two employees of a child care center licensed under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9503, 
2.4 	one from greater Minnesota and one from the metropolitan area;
2.5 	(4) two individuals who are license holders of a family child care program licensed under 
2.6 	Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502, one from greater Minnesota and one from the metropolitan 
2.7 	area;
2.8 	(5) two employees of an early child care and education program operated by a public 
2.9 	school district or charter school, one from greater Minnesota and one from the metropolitan 
2.10 	area;
2.11 	(6) one representative of a federally recognized Tribe in Minnesota who has expertise 
2.12 	in the Tribal early care and education system;
2.13 	(7) one representative of a Head Start or Early Head Start program;
2.14 	(8) two parents of children currently attending or who have attended any type of early 
2.15 	care and education program in the past three years, one from greater Minnesota and one 
2.16 	from the metropolitan area;
2.17 	(9) one pediatrician with expertise in developmental and behavioral pediatrics or early 
2.18 	childhood mental health, or a licensed mental health professional with expertise in early 
2.19 	childhood development;
2.20 	(10) one faculty member or researcher of a higher education or research institution with 
2.21 	expertise in early childhood education or development; and
2.22 	(11) the commissioner or the commissioner's designee.
2.23 	(b) In making appointments under this subdivision, the governor must, to the extent 
2.24 	practicable, reflect the racial, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity of children, families, 
2.25 	and early childhood educators in Minnesota and include representation from individuals 
2.26 	with experience serving children with disabilities.
2.27 	(c) Appointments must be made by August 1, 2026.
2.28 	(d) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority or until 
2.29 	the task force expires. Vacancies must be filled by the appointing authority consistent with 
2.30 	the qualifications required by this subdivision.
2.31 		Subd. 4.Officers; meetings. (a) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee must 
2.32 	convene the first meeting of the task force by September 1, 2026.
3.1 	(b) At the first meeting, the task force must elect a chair and may elect other officers as 
3.2 	deemed necessary.
3.3 	(c) The task force must meet at least monthly or as determined by the chair. The task 
3.4 	force must meet sufficiently enough to accomplish the tasks identified in this section.
3.5 	(d) Meetings of the task force are subject to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D.
3.6 		Subd. 5.Administration. (a) Members must serve without compensation.
3.7 	(b) The commissioner must provide support staff, office space, and administrative 
3.8 	services for the task force.
3.9 		Subd. 6.Duties. (a) The task force must, at a minimum:
3.10 	(1) propose a plan for a new individual-based licensure system for early childhood 
3.11 	educator qualifications;
3.12 	(2) establish clear comparable competency frameworks in the plan for demonstrating 
3.13 	professional qualifications aside from a postsecondary degree; and
3.14 	(3) identify a method for increasing early childhood educator compensation in accordance 
3.15 	with requiring individual licensure and educators achieving different levels of licensure.
3.16 	(b) At its discretion, the task force may examine other related issues consistent with this 
3.17 	section.
3.18 		Subd. 7.Report. On or before March 1, 2027, the task force must submit a report to the 
3.19 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
3.20 	child care licensing summarizing the work of the task force and outlining the findings and 
3.21 	recommendations of the task force. The report must include an implementation timeline to 
3.22 	transition the state to its recommendation for individual licensure for early childhood 
3.23 	educators.
3.24 		Subd. 8.Expiration. The task force expires the day after submitting its report under 
3.25 	subdivision 7.

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

3.27 	Sec. 2. TASK FORCE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR LICENSURE; 
3.28 	APPROPRIATION.
 3.29 	$....... in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
3.30 	children, youth, and families for the Task Force on Early Childhood Educator Licensure 
3.31 	established under section 1. This is a onetime appropriation.