HF 875

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/09/2017 06:15pm

A bill for an act
relating to employment; creating a pilot program to provide, repair, and maintain
motor vehicles for commuting to work; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. GETTING TO WORK GRANT PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.

Creation.

The commissioner of employment and economic development
shall make grants to nonprofit organizations to establish and operate programs under this
section that provide, repair, or maintain motor vehicles to assist eligible individuals to obtain
or maintain employment.

Subd. 2.

Qualified grantee.

A grantee must:

(1) qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and

(2) at the time of application offer, or have the demonstrated capacity to offer, a motor
vehicle program that provides the services required under subdivision 3.

Subd. 3.

Program requirements.

(a) A program must offer one or more of the following
services:

(1) provision of new or used motor vehicles by gift, sale, or lease;

(2) motor vehicle repair and maintenance services; or

(3) motor vehicle loans.

(b) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (a), a program must offer one or more
of the following services:

(1) financial literacy education;

(2) education on budgeting for vehicle ownership;

(3) car maintenance and repair instruction;

(4) credit counseling; or

(5) job training related to motor vehicle maintenance and repair.

Subd. 4.

Application.

Applications for a grant must be on a form provided by the
commissioner and on a schedule set by the commissioner. Applications must, in addition
to any other information required by the commissioner, include the following:

(1) a detailed description of all services to be offered;

(2) the area to be served;

(3) the estimated number of program participants to be served by the grant; and

(4) a plan for leveraging resources from partners that may include, but are not limited
to:

(i) automobile dealers;

(ii) automobile parts dealers;

(iii) independent local mechanics and automobile repair facilities;

(iv) banks and credit unions;

(v) employers;

(vi) employment and training agencies;

(vii) insurance companies and agents;

(viii) local workforce centers; and

(ix) educational institutions including vocational institutions and jobs or skills training
programs.

Subd. 5.

Participant eligibility.

(a) To be eligible to receive program services, a person
must:

(1) have a household income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level;

(2) be at least 22 years of age;

(3) have a valid driver's license;

(4) provide the grantee with proof of motor vehicle insurance; and

(5) demonstrate to the grantee that a motor vehicle is required by the person to obtain
or maintain employment.

(b) This subdivision does not preclude a grantee from imposing additional requirements,
not inconsistent with paragraph (a), for the receipt of program services.

Subd. 6.

Report to legislature.

By February 15, 2019, the commissioner shall submit
a report to the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction
over workforce and economic development on program outcomes. At a minimum, the report
must include:

(1) the total number of program participants;

(2) the number of program participants who received each of the following:

(i) provision of a motor vehicle;

(ii) motor vehicle repair services; and

(iii) motor vehicle loans;

(3) the number of program participants who report that they or their children were able
to increase their participation in community activities such as after school programs, other
youth programs, church or civic groups, or library services as a result of participation in the
program; and

(4) an analysis of the impact of the getting to work grant program on the employment
rate and wages of program participants.

Sec. 2. GETTING TO WORK GRANT PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.

$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of employment and economic development for the getting to work grant program under
section 1. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2021.