HF 790

as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human development; creating a statewide 
  1.3             citizenship promotion program; appropriating money; 
  1.4             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.5             chapter 3. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [3.9228] [CITIZENSHIP PROMOTION PROGRAM.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [CREATION.] The citizenship promotion 
  1.9   program is created as a statewide program.  The purpose of the 
  1.10  program is to provide assistance to legal immigrants to obtain 
  1.11  citizenship status.  The program consists of public education 
  1.12  and information, group application workshops, citizenship and 
  1.13  English for citizenship classes, and video citizenship 
  1.14  instruction. 
  1.15     Subd. 2.  [PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INFORMATION.] The public 
  1.16  education program must include the preparation and distribution 
  1.17  of information about citizenship eligibility requirements, how 
  1.18  to apply, what testing requirements are, and where citizenship 
  1.19  assistance can be obtained.  Community meetings must be held to 
  1.20  provide the same information and to respond to questions. 
  1.21     Subd. 3.  [GROUP APPLICATION WORKSHOPS.] Group workshops 
  1.22  must be held on a periodic basis.  The workshops must provide 
  1.23  individualized advice about applying for citizenship and provide 
  1.24  an overview of the citizenship process.  Participants must be 
  1.25  screened for English proficiency and, upon request, enrolled in 
  2.1   citizenship application workshops. 
  2.2      Subd. 4.  [CITIZENSHIP AND ENGLISH CLASSES.] The program 
  2.3   must support and supplement existing English for citizenship 
  2.4   classes.  Classes must also be supported and offered in native 
  2.5   languages for those able to take a citizenship test in their 
  2.6   native language.  Tuition may be charged for classes, 
  2.7   scholarships provided for needy students, interpreters provided, 
  2.8   and transportation and child care assistance provided for 
  2.9   hardship applicants. 
  2.10     Subd. 5.  [VIDEO INSTRUCTION.] The program must develop and 
  2.11  produce a television series to provide citizenship education and 
  2.12  make available videotapes of the classes. 
  2.13     Subd. 6.  [ADMINISTRATION.] The council on Asian-Pacific 
  2.14  Minnesotans, council on Black Minnesotans, and council on 
  2.15  affairs of Chicano-Latino people shall jointly administer the 
  2.16  programs created by this section. 
  2.17     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.18     $....... is appropriated from the general fund for the 
  2.19  biennium ending June 30, 1999, to the council on Asian-Pacific 
  2.20  Minnesotans for the purpose of section 1.