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HF 150

2nd Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/20/2023 12:02pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 01/06/2023
1st Engrossment Posted on 01/23/2023
2nd Engrossment Posted on 01/25/2023

Current Version - 2nd Engrossment

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A bill for an act
relating to child care; modifying child care stabilization base grants and early
learning scholarships; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022,
section 124D.165, subdivision 2; Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 7,
article 14, section 21, subdivision 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 124D.165, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Family eligibility.

(a) For a family to receive an early learning scholarship,
parents or guardians must meet the following eligibility requirements:

(1) have an eligible child; and

(2) have income equal to or less than 185 percent of federal poverty level income in the
current calendar year, or be able to document their child's current participation in the free
and reduced-price lunch program or Child and Adult Care Food Program, National School
Lunch Act, United States Code, title 42, sections 1751 and 1766; the Food Distribution
Program on Indian Reservations, Food and Nutrition Act, United States Code, title 7, sections
2011-2036; Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act
of 2007; Minnesota family investment program under chapter 256J; child care assistance
programs under chapter 119B; the supplemental nutrition assistance program; or placement
in foster care under section 260C.212.

(b) An "eligible child" means a child who has not yet enrolled in kindergarten and isdeleted text begin :
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) at least three butdeleted text end not yet five years of age on September 1 of the current school yeardeleted text begin ;deleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (2) a sibling from birth to age five of a child who has been awarded a scholarship under
this section provided the sibling attends the same program as long as funds are available;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) the child of a parent under age 21 who is pursuing a high school degree or a course
of study for a high school equivalency test; or
deleted text end

deleted text begin (4) homeless, in foster care, or in need of child protective services.
deleted text end

(c) A child who has received a scholarship under this section must continue to receive
a scholarship each year until that child is eligible for kindergarten under section 120A.20
and as long as funds are available.

(d) Early learning scholarships may not be counted as earned income for the purposes
of medical assistance under chapter 256B, MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L, Minnesota
family investment program under chapter 256J, child care assistance programs under chapter
119B, or Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of
2007.

(e) A child from an adjoining state whose family resides at a Minnesota address as
assigned by the United States Postal Service, who has received developmental screening
under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19, who intends to enroll in a Minnesota school district,
and whose family meets the criteria of paragraph (a) is eligible for an early learning
scholarship under this section.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 7, article 14, section 21, subdivision 4,
is amended to read:


Subd. 4.

Grant awards.

(a) The commissioner shall award transition grants to all eligible
programs on a noncompetitive basis through August 31, 2021.

(b) The commissioner shall award base grant amounts to all eligible programs on a
noncompetitive basis beginning September 1, 2021, through June 30, 2023. The base grant
amounts shall be:

(1) based on the full-time equivalent number of staff who regularly care for children in
the program, including any employees, sole proprietors, or independent contractors;

(2) reduced between July 1, 2022, and deleted text begin June 30, 2023, with amounts for the final month
being no more than 50 percent of the amounts awarded in September 2021
deleted text end new text begin March 31, 2023,
and increased, to the extent possible, to at least the amount awarded in September 2021 for
each of April through June 2023
new text end ; and

(3) enhanced in amounts determined by the commissioner for any providers receiving
payments through the child care assistance program under sections 119B.03 and 119B.05
or early learning scholarships under section 124D.165.

(c) The commissioner may provide grant amounts in addition to any base grants received
to eligible programs in extreme financial hardship until all money set aside for that purpose
is awarded.

(d) The commissioner may pay any grants awarded to eligible programs under this
section in the form and manner established by the commissioner, except that such payments
must occur on a monthly basis.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; CHILD CARE STABILIZATION GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin $12,250,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of human services to increase the child care stabilization base grant amounts under Laws
2021, First Special Session chapter 7, article 14, section 21, for April through June 2023.
This amount is in addition to any other amount appropriated for this purpose. This is a
onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION; EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS.
new text end

new text begin $40,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department
of Education for early learning scholarships. This amount is in addition to any other amount
appropriated for this purpose and is subject to the requirements under Minnesota Statutes,
section 124D.165, subdivision 6. This amount must not be added to the base for fiscal year
2024.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end