1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to early childhood; creating additional funding and opportunities for 
1.3 	children ages birth to three; governing certain programs and funding for prenatal 
1.4 	care services, home visiting, early childhood education, and child care assistance; 
1.5 	appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, sections 119B.13, 
1.6 	subdivision 1; 124D.142; 124D.162; 124D.165, subdivisions 2, 4; 136A.128, 
1.7 	subdivisions 2, 4; Minnesota Statutes 2019 Supplement, sections 124D.151, 
1.8 	subdivision 6; 126C.05, subdivision 1; Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 
1.9 	11, article 8, section 13, subdivisions 3, 8, 9; proposing coding for new law in 
1.10 	Minnesota Statutes, chapters 119B; 145.
1.11 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.12 	ARTICLE 1
1.13 	HOME VISITING

1.14 	Section 1. [145.87] HOME VISITING FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND FAMILIES 
1.15 	WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
1.16 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) The terms defined in this subdivision apply to this section 
1.17 	and have the meanings given them.
1.18 	(b) "Evidence-based home visiting program" means a program that:
1.19 	(1) is based on a clear, consistent program or model that is research-based and grounded 
1.20 	in relevant, empirically based knowledge;
1.21 	(2) is linked to program-determined outcomes and is associated with a national 
1.22 	organization, institution of higher education, or national or state public health institute;
1.23 	(3) has comprehensive home visitation standards that ensure high-quality service delivery 
1.24 	and continuous quality improvement;
2.1 	(4) has demonstrated significant, sustained positive outcomes; and
2.2 	(5) either:
2.3 	(i) has been evaluated using rigorous, randomized controlled research designs with the 
2.4 	evaluations published in a peer-reviewed journal; or
2.5 	(ii) is based on quasi-experimental research using two or more separate, comparable 
2.6 	client samples.
2.7 	(c) "Evidence-informed home visiting program" means a program that:
2.8 	(1) has data or evidence demonstrating the program's effectiveness at achieving positive 
2.9 	outcomes for pregnant women and young children; and
2.10 	(2) either:
2.11 	(i) has an active evaluation of the program; or
2.12 	(ii) has a plan and timeline for an active evaluation of the program to be conducted.
2.13 	(d) "Health equity" means every individual has a fair opportunity to attain the individual's 
2.14 	full health potential and no individual is prevented from achieving this potential.
2.15 		Subd. 2.Grants for home visiting programs. The commissioner shall award grants to 
2.16 	community health boards, nonprofit organizations, and tribal nations to start up or expand 
2.17 	voluntary home visiting programs serving pregnant women and families with young children. 
2.18 	Home visiting programs supported under this section shall provide voluntary home visits 
2.19 	by early childhood professionals or health professionals, including nurses, social workers, 
2.20 	early childhood educators, or trained paraprofessionals. Grant funds shall be used to:
2.21 	(1) start up or expand evidence-based home visiting programs that address health equity 
2.22 	or evidence-informed home visiting programs that address health equity; and
2.23 	(2) serve families with young children or pregnant women who are high risk or have 
2.24 	high needs. For purposes of this clause, high risk includes but is not limited to a family with 
2.25 	low income or a parent or pregnant woman with mental illness or a substance use disorder 
2.26 	or experiencing domestic abuse.
2.27 		Subd. 3.Grant prioritization. (a) In awarding grants, the commissioner shall give 
2.28 	priority to community health boards, nonprofit organizations, and tribal nations seeking to 
2.29 	expand home visiting services with community or regional partnerships.
2.30 	(b) The commissioner shall allocate at least 75 percent of the grant funds awarded each 
2.31 	grant cycle to evidence-based home visiting programs that address health equity and up to 
3.1 	25 percent of the grant funds awarded each grant cycle to evidence-informed home visiting 
3.2 	programs that address health equity.
3.3 		Subd. 4.No supplanting of existing funds. Funding awarded under this section shall 
3.4 	only be used to supplement, and not to replace, funds being used for evidence-based home 
3.5 	visiting programs or evidence-informed home visiting programs.
3.6 		Subd. 5.Administrative costs. The commissioner may use up to ten percent of the 
3.7 	annual appropriation under this section to provide training and technical assistance and to 
3.8 	administer and evaluate the program. The commissioner may contract for training, 
3.9 	capacity-building support for grantees or potential grantees, technical assistance, and 
3.10 	evaluation support.
3.11 		Subd. 6.Use of appropriations. Appropriations dedicated to starting up or expanding 
3.12 	evidence-based home visiting programs shall, for grants awarded on or after July 1, 2020, 
3.13 	be awarded according to this section.

3.14 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; HOME VISITING GRANTS.
 3.15 	$30,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
3.16 	of health for grants for home visiting programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 145.87. 
3.17 	This appropriation is available until June 30, 2022. This is a onetime appropriation.

3.18 	ARTICLE 2
3.19 	EARLY LEARNING AND CARE

3.20 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 124D.142, is amended to read:
3.21 	124D.142 QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM.
3.22 		Subdivision 1.System established. (a) There is established a quality rating and 
3.23 	improvement system (QRIS) framework, known as Parent Aware, to ensure that Minnesota's 
3.24 	children have access to high-quality early learning and care programs in a range of settings 
3.25 	so that they are fully ready for kindergarten by 2020. Creation of a.
3.26 		Subd. 2.System components. The standards-based voluntary quality rating and 
3.27 	improvement system includes:
3.28 	(1) quality opportunities in order to improve the educational outcomes of children so 
3.29 	that they are ready for school. The;
3.30 	(2) a framework shall be based on the Minnesota quality rating system rating tool and 
3.31 	a common set of child outcome and program standards and informed by evaluation results;
4.1 	(2) (3) a tool to increase the number of publicly funded and regulated early learning and 
4.2 	care services in both public and private market programs that are high quality.;
4.3 	(4) voluntary participation so that if a program or provider chooses to participate, the 
4.4 	program or provider will be rated and may receive public funding associated with the rating. 
4.5 	The state shall develop a plan to link future early learning and care state funding to the 
4.6 	framework in a manner that complies with federal requirements; and
4.7 	(3) (5) tracking progress toward statewide access to high-quality early learning and care 
4.8 	programs, progress toward the number of low-income children whose parents can access 
4.9 	quality programs, and progress toward increasing the number of children who are fully 
4.10 	prepared to enter kindergarten.
4.11 	(b) In planning a statewide quality rating and improvement system framework in 
4.12 	paragraph (a), the state shall use evaluation results of the Minnesota quality rating system 
4.13 	rating tool in use in fiscal year 2008 to recommend:
4.14 	(1) a framework of a common set of child outcome and program standards for a voluntary 
4.15 	statewide quality rating and improvement system;
4.16 	(2) a plan to link future funding to the framework described in paragraph (a), clause (2); 
4.17 	and
4.18 	(3) a plan for how the state will realign existing state and federal administrative resources 
4.19 	to implement the voluntary quality rating and improvement system framework. The state 
4.20 	shall provide the recommendation in this paragraph to the early childhood education finance 
4.21 	committees of the legislature by March 15, 2011.
4.22 	(c) Prior to the creation of a statewide quality rating and improvement system in paragraph 
4.23 	(a), the state shall employ the Minnesota quality rating system rating tool in use in fiscal 
4.24 	year 2008 in the original Minnesota Early Learning Foundation pilot areas and additional 
4.25 	pilot areas supported by private or public funds with its modification as a result of the 
4.26 	evaluation results of the pilot project.
4.27 		Subd. 3.System revision and improvement. Following completion of the evaluation 
4.28 	under subdivision 4, the commissioner of human services must revise the quality rating and 
4.29 	improvement system if indicated by the evaluation. Any revision following an evaluation 
4.30 	must address the evaluation results.
4.31 		Subd. 4.Evaluation. (a) By February 1, 2021, the commissioner of human services 
4.32 	must arrange an independent evaluation of the quality rating and improvement system's 
4.33 	effectiveness and impact on:
5.1 	(1) children's progress toward school readiness;
5.2 	(2) quality of the early care and education system supply and workforce; and
5.3 	(3) parents' ability to access and use meaningful information about early care and 
5.4 	education program quality.
5.5 	(b) The evaluation must be performed by a consultant or staff member from another 
5.6 	agency. An evaluator must have experience in program evaluation and must not be regularly 
5.7 	involved in implementation of the quality rating and improvement system.
5.8 	(c) The evaluation findings, along with the commissioner's recommendations for potential 
5.9 	future evaluations or plan for continuous improvement, must be reported to the chairs and 
5.10 	ranking members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over early learning and 
5.11 	child care.
5.12 	(d) At a minimum, each evaluation must:
5.13 	(1) analyze effectiveness of the quality rating and improvement system, including but 
5.14 	not limited to review of:
5.15 	(i) whether quality indicators and measures used in the quality rating and improvement 
5.16 	system are consistent with evidence and research findings on early care and education 
5.17 	program quality; and
5.18 	(ii) patterns or differences in observed quality of participating early care and education 
5.19 	programs in comparison to programs at other quality rating and improvement system star 
5.20 	rating levels and accounting for other factors;
5.21 	(2) perform evidence-based assessments of children's developmental gains in ways that 
5.22 	are appropriate for children's linguistic and cultural backgrounds and are aligned to the state 
5.23 	early childhood indicators of progress;
5.24 	(3) analyze the extent to which differences in developmental gains among children 
5.25 	correspond to the star ratings of the early care and education programs, providing 
5.26 	disaggregated findings by:
5.27 	(i) children's demographic factors, including geographic area, family income level, and 
5.28 	racial and ethnic groups;
5.29 	(ii) type of provider, including family child care provider, child care center, Head Start, 
5.30 	and school-based early childhood provider; and
5.31 	(iii) any other categories identified by the commissioner, in consultation with the 
5.32 	commissioners of health and education or entity performing the evaluation;
6.1 	(4) analyze accessibility for providers to participate in the quality rating and improvement 
6.2 	system, including ease of application and supports for a provider to receive or improve a 
6.3 	rating, and provide disaggregated findings by geographic area and type of provider, including 
6.4 	family child care provider, child care center, Head Start, and school-based early childhood 
6.5 	provider; and
6.6 	(5) analyze the availability of providers participating in the quality rating and 
6.7 	improvement system to families, and provide disaggregated findings by geographic area 
6.8 	and type of provider, including family child care provider, child care center, Head Start and 
6.9 	Early Head Start, and school-based early childhood provider.

6.10 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2019 Supplement, section 124D.151, subdivision 6, is amended 
6.11 	to read:
6.12 		Subd. 6.Participation limits. (a) Notwithstanding section 126C.05, subdivision 1, 
6.13 	paragraph (d), the pupil units for a voluntary prekindergarten program for an eligible school 
6.14 	district or charter school must not exceed 60 percent of the kindergarten pupil units for that 
6.15 	school district or charter school under section 126C.05, subdivision 1, paragraph (e).
6.16 	(b) In reviewing applications under subdivision 5, the commissioner must limit the total 
6.17 	number of participants in the voluntary prekindergarten and school readiness plus programs 
6.18 	under Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter 5, article 8, section 9, to not more than 7,160 
6.19 	participants for per fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021, and 3,160 participants for fiscal years 
6.20 	2022 and later year.

6.21 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 124D.162, is amended to read:
6.22 	124D.162 KINDERGARTEN READINESS ASSESSMENT.
6.23 		Subdivision 1.Implementation. (a) The commissioner of education may must implement 
6.24 	a kindergarten readiness assessment representative of incoming kindergartners. to:
6.25 	(1) identify preparedness of a child for success in school;
6.26 	(2) inform instructional decision-making;
6.27 	(3) improve understanding of connections between kindergarten readiness and later 
6.28 	academic achievement; and
6.29 	(4) produce data that can assist in evaluation of the effectiveness of early childhood 
6.30 	programs.
7.1 	(b) The commissioner must provide districts and charter schools with a process for 
7.2 	measuring the kindergarten readiness of incoming kindergartners on a comparable basis. 
7.3 	The commissioner must approve one or more measurement tools for district and charter 
7.4 	school use.
7.5 		Subd. 2.Assessment development.  The measurement tools used for assessment must 
7.6 	be based on the Department of Education Kindergarten Readiness Assessment at kindergarten 
7.7 	entrance study research based, developmentally appropriate, valid and reliable, and aligned 
7.8 	to the state early childhood indicators of progress and kindergarten academic standards.
7.9 		Subd. 3.Reporting. Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, every district and charter 
7.10 	school must use the commissioner-provided process. Every district and charter school must 
7.11 	annually report kindergarten readiness results under this section to the department in the 
7.12 	form and manner determined by the commissioner concurrent with the district's and charter 
7.13 	school's world's best workforce report under section 120B.11. The commissioner must 
7.14 	publicly report kindergarten readiness results as part of the performance reports required 
7.15 	under section 120B.36 and consistent with section 120B.35, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), 
7.16 	clause (2).
7.17 		Subd. 4.Longitudinal data system. Beginning with data reported on incoming 
7.18 	kindergartners in the 2021-2022 school year, the commissioner must integrate kindergarten 
7.19 	readiness data under this section into statewide longitudinal educational data systems.

7.20 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 124D.165, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
7.21 		Subd. 2.Family eligibility. (a) For a family to receive an early learning scholarship, 
7.22 	parents or guardians must meet the following eligibility requirements:
7.23 	(1) have an eligible child; and
7.24 	(2) have income equal to or less than 185 percent of federal poverty level income in the 
7.25 	current calendar year, or be able to document their child's current participation in the free 
7.26 	and reduced-price lunch program or Child and Adult Care Food Program, National School 
7.27 	Lunch Act, United States Code, title 42, sections 1751 and 1766; the Food Distribution 
7.28 	Program on Indian Reservations, Food and Nutrition Act, United States Code, title 7, sections 
7.29 	2011-2036; Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act 
7.30 	of 2007; Minnesota family investment program under chapter 256J; child care assistance 
7.31 	programs under chapter 119B; the supplemental nutrition assistance program; or placement 
7.32 	in foster care under section 260C.212.
7.33 	(b) An "eligible child" means a child who has not yet enrolled in kindergarten and is:
8.1 	(1) at least from birth through three but not yet five years of age on September 1 of the 
8.2 	current school year;
8.3 	(2) a sibling from birth to through age five four of a child who has been awarded a 
8.4 	scholarship under this section provided the sibling attends the same program as long as 
8.5 	funds are available;
8.6 	(3) the child of a parent under age 21 who is pursuing a high school degree or a course 
8.7 	of study for a high school equivalency test; or
8.8 	(4) homeless, in foster care, or in need of child protective services; or
8.9 	(5) a child not yet five years of age on September 1 of the current school year participating 
8.10 	in a program with a designated number of scholarship seats under subdivision 3, paragraph 
8.11 	(c).
8.12 	(c) Notwithstanding the age requirements under paragraph (b), a child who has received 
8.13 	a scholarship under this section must continue to receive a scholarship each year until that 
8.14 	child is eligible for kindergarten under section 120A.20 and as long as funds are available.
8.15 	(d) Early learning scholarships may not be counted as earned income for the purposes 
8.16 	of medical assistance under chapter 256B, MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L, Minnesota 
8.17 	family investment program under chapter 256J, child care assistance programs under chapter 
8.18 	119B, or Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 
8.19 	2007.
8.20 	(e) A child from an adjoining state whose family resides at a Minnesota address as 
8.21 	assigned by the United States Postal Service, who has received developmental screening 
8.22 	under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19, who intends to enroll in a Minnesota school district, 
8.23 	and whose family meets the criteria of paragraph (a) is eligible for an early learning 
8.24 	scholarship under this section.

8.25 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 124D.165, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
8.26 		Subd. 4.Early childhood program eligibility. (a) In order to be eligible to accept an 
8.27 	early learning scholarship, a program must:
8.28 	(1) participate in the quality rating and improvement system under section 124D.142; 
8.29 	and
8.30 	(2) beginning July 1, 2020 when 40 percent of programs eligible for rating under section 
8.31 	124D.142 have received ratings, have a three- or four-star rating in the quality rating and 
8.32 	improvement system.
9.1 	(b) Any program accepting scholarships must use the revenue to supplement and not 
9.2 	supplant federal funding.
9.3 	(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), all Minnesota early learning foundation scholarship 
9.4 	program pilot sites are eligible to accept an early learning scholarship under this section.

9.5 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2019 Supplement, section 126C.05, subdivision 1, is amended 
9.6 	to read:
9.7 		Subdivision 1.Pupil unit. Pupil units for each Minnesota resident pupil under the age 
9.8 	of 21 or who meets the requirements of section 120A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), in 
9.9 	average daily membership enrolled in the district of residence, in another district under 
9.10 	sections 123A.05 to 123A.08, 124D.03, 124D.08, or 124D.68; in a charter school under 
9.11 	chapter 124E; or for whom the resident district pays tuition under section 123A.18, 123A.22, 
9.12 	123A.30, 123A.32, 123A.44, 123A.488, 123B.88, subdivision 4, 124D.04, 124D.05, 125A.03 
9.13 	to 125A.24, 125A.51, or 125A.65, shall be counted according to this subdivision.
9.14 	(a) A prekindergarten pupil with a disability who is enrolled in a program approved by 
9.15 	the commissioner and has an individualized education program is counted as the ratio of 
9.16 	the number of hours of assessment and education service to 825 times 1.0 with a minimum 
9.17 	average daily membership of 0.28, but not more than 1.0 pupil unit.
9.18 	(b) A prekindergarten pupil who is assessed but determined not to be disabled is counted 
9.19 	as the ratio of the number of hours of assessment service to 825 times 1.0.
9.20 	(c) A kindergarten pupil with a disability who is enrolled in a program approved by the 
9.21 	commissioner is counted as the ratio of the number of hours of assessment and education 
9.22 	services required in the fiscal year by the pupil's individualized education program to 875, 
9.23 	but not more than one.
9.24 	(d) A prekindergarten pupil who is not included in paragraph (a) or (b) and is enrolled 
9.25 	in an approved voluntary prekindergarten program under section 124D.151 is counted as 
9.26 	the ratio of the number of hours of instruction to 850 times 1.0, but not more than 0.6 pupil 
9.27 	units.
9.28 	(e) A kindergarten pupil who is not included in paragraph (c) is counted as 1.0 pupil 
9.29 	unit if the pupil is enrolled in a free all-day, every day kindergarten program available to 
9.30 	all kindergarten pupils at the pupil's school that meets the minimum hours requirement in 
9.31 	section 120A.41, or is counted as .55 pupil unit, if the pupil is not enrolled in a free all-day, 
9.32 	every day kindergarten program available to all kindergarten pupils at the pupil's school.
9.33 	(f) A pupil who is in any of grades 1 to 6 is counted as 1.0 pupil unit.
10.1 	(g) A pupil who is in any of grades 7 to 12 is counted as 1.2 pupil units.
10.2 	(h) A pupil who is in the postsecondary enrollment options program is counted as 1.2 
10.3 	pupil units.
10.4 	(i) For fiscal years 2018 through 2021, A prekindergarten pupil who:
10.5 	(1) is not included in paragraph (a), (b), or (d);
10.6 	(2) is enrolled in a school readiness plus program under Laws 2017, First Special Session 
10.7 	chapter 5, article 8, section 9; and
10.8 	(3) has one or more of the risk factors specified by the eligibility requirements for a 
10.9 	school readiness plus program,
10.10 	is counted as the ratio of the number of hours of instruction to 850 times 1.0, but not more 
10.11 	than 0.6 pupil units. A pupil qualifying under this paragraph must be counted in the same 
10.12 	manner as a voluntary prekindergarten student for all general education and other school 
10.13 	funding formulas.

10.14 	Sec. 7. Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 11, article 8, section 13, subdivision 3, 
10.15 	is amended to read:
10.16 		Subd. 3.Early learning scholarships. (a) For the early learning scholarship program 
10.17 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.165:

10.18		$
	75,209,000
	.....
	2020
	
10.2010.19
		$
	70,709,000
260,709,000
	.....
	2021
	
10.21 	(b) This appropriation is subject to the requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 
10.22 	124D.165, subdivision 6.
10.23 	(c) The base for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023 is $70,709,000.

10.24 	Sec. 8. Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 11, article 8, section 13, subdivision 8, 
10.25 	is amended to read:
10.26 		Subd. 8.Kindergarten entrance readiness assessment initiative and intervention 
10.27 	program. For the kindergarten entrance readiness assessment initiative and intervention 
10.28 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.162:

10.29		$
	281,000
	.....
	2020
	
10.3110.30
		$
	281,000
2,693,000
	.....
	2021
	
11.1 	The base for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023 is $2,000,000.

11.2 	Sec. 9. Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 11, article 8, section 13, subdivision 9, 
11.3 	is amended to read:
11.4 		Subd. 9.Quality rating and improvement system. (a) For transfer to the commissioner 
11.5 	of human services for the purposes of expanding the quality rating and improvement system 
11.6 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.142, in greater Minnesota and increasing supports 
11.7 	for providers participating in the quality rating and improvement system:

11.8		$
	1,750,000
	.....
	2020
	
11.1011.9		$
	1,750,000
3,400,000
	.....
	2021
	
11.11 	(b) The amounts in paragraph (a) must be in addition to any federal funding under the 
11.12 	child care and development block grant authorized under Public Law 101-508 in that year 
11.13 	for the system under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.142.
11.14 	(c) Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
11.15 	(d) The base for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023 is $1,750,000.

11.16 	Sec. 10. FAMILY CHILD CARE REGULATION MODERNIZATION.
 11.17 	(a) The commissioner of human services shall contract with an experienced and 
11.18 	independent organization or individual consultant to develop a proposal for a risk-based 
11.19 	model for monitoring compliance with family child care licensing standards, grounded in 
11.20 	national regulatory best practices. Violations in the new model must be weighted to reflect 
11.21 	the potential risk they pose to children's health and safety, and licensing sanctions must be 
11.22 	tied to the potential risk. The proposed new model must protect the health and safety of 
11.23 	children in family child care programs and be child centered, family friendly, and fair to 
11.24 	providers.
11.25 	(b) The consultant shall develop and implement a stakeholder engagement process that 
11.26 	solicits input from parents, licensed family child care providers, county licensors, staff of 
11.27 	the Department of Human Services, and experts in child development about appropriate 
11.28 	licensing standards and the appropriate tiers for violations of the standards, based on the 
11.29 	potential risk of harm that each violation poses. The consultant shall analyze licensing data 
11.30 	using an empirically based statistical methodology similar to those developed by the National 
11.31 	Association for Regulatory Administration and the Research Institute for Key Indicators to 
11.32 	identify key indicators that predict compliance with other licensing standards for use in an 
11.33 	abbreviated inspection process.
12.1 	(c) No later than February 1, 2023, the commissioner shall submit a report and proposed 
12.2 	legislation required to implement the new licensing model to the chairs and ranking minority 
12.3 	members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child care regulation.

12.4 	Sec. 11. APPROPRIATION; FAMILY CHILD CARE REGULATION 
12.5 	MODERNIZATION.
 12.6 	$850,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
12.7 	of human services for the family child care regulation modernization project under section 
12.8 	10. This is a onetime appropriation.

12.9 	ARTICLE 3
12.10 	CHILD CARE AVAILABILITY

12.11 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 119B.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
12.12 		Subdivision 1.Subsidy restrictions. (a) Beginning February 3, 2014, The maximum 
12.13 	rate paid for child care assistance in any county or county price cluster under the child care 
12.14 	fund shall be the greater of the 25th percentile of the 2011 market rate in the county or 
12.15 	county price cluster with the highest cost 25th percentile in the most recent child care 
12.16 	provider rate survey or the maximum rate effective November 28, 2011. For a child care 
12.17 	provider located within the boundaries of a city located in two or more of the counties of 
12.18 	Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns, the maximum rate paid for child care assistance shall be 
12.19 	equal to the maximum rate paid in the county with the highest maximum reimbursement 
12.20 	rates or the provider's charge, whichever is less. The commissioner may: (1) assign a county 
12.21 	with no reported provider prices to a similar price cluster; and (2) consider county level 
12.22 	access when determining final price clusters under section 119B.02, subdivision 7.
12.23 	(b) A rate which includes a special needs rate paid under subdivision 3 may be in excess 
12.24 	of the maximum rate allowed under this subdivision.
12.25 	(c) The department shall monitor the effect of this paragraph on provider rates. The 
12.26 	county shall pay the provider's full charges for every child in care up to the maximum 
12.27 	established. The commissioner shall determine the maximum rate for each type of care on 
12.28 	an hourly, full-day, and weekly basis, including special needs and disability care.
12.29 	(d) If a child uses one provider, the maximum payment for one day of care must not 
12.30 	exceed the daily rate. The maximum payment for one week of care must not exceed the 
12.31 	weekly rate.
13.1 	(e) If a child uses two providers under section 119B.097, the maximum payment must 
13.2 	not exceed:
13.3 	(1) the daily rate for one day of care;
13.4 	(2) the weekly rate for one week of care by the child's primary provider; and
13.5 	(3) two daily rates during two weeks of care by a child's secondary provider.
13.6 	(f) Child care providers receiving reimbursement under this chapter must not be paid 
13.7 	activity fees or an additional amount above the maximum rates for care provided during 
13.8 	nonstandard hours for families receiving assistance.
13.9 	(g) If the provider charge is greater than the maximum provider rate allowed, the parent 
13.10 	is responsible for payment of the difference in the rates in addition to any family co-payment 
13.11 	fee.
13.12 	(h) All maximum provider rates changes shall be implemented on the Monday following 
13.13 	the effective date of the maximum provider rate.
13.14 	(i) Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 3400.0130, subpart 7, maximum registration 
13.15 	fees in effect on January 1, 2013, shall remain in effect. The maximum registration fee paid 
13.16 	for child care assistance in any county or county price cluster under the child care fund must 
13.17 	be the greater of:
13.18 	(1) the 25th percentile of the market rate in the county or county price cluster with the 
13.19 	highest cost 25th percentile in the most recent child care provider rate survey under section 
13.20 	119B.02, subdivision 7; or
13.21 	(2) the registration fee in effect at the time of the update.
13.22 	(j) A maximum registration fee must be set for licensed family child care and for child 
13.23 	care centers.

13.24 	Sec. 2. [119B.195] RETAINING EARLY EDUCATORS THROUGH ATTAINING 
13.25 	INCENTIVES NOW (REETAIN) GRANT PROGRAM.
13.26 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose. The retaining early educators through attaining 
13.27 	incentives now (REETAIN) grant program is established to provide competitive grants to 
13.28 	incentivize well-trained child care professionals to stay in the workforce to create more 
13.29 	consistent care for children over time.
14.1 		Subd. 2.Administration. The commissioner shall allocate grant funds to child care 
14.2 	resource and referral agencies to administer the REETAIN grant program. Up to ten percent 
14.3 	of grant funds may be used for administration of the grant program.
14.4 		Subd. 3.Application. An applicant must apply for the grant program using the forms 
14.5 	and according to the timelines established by the commissioner.
14.6 		Subd. 4.Eligibility. (a) To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must:
14.7 	(1) be licensed to provide child care or work for a licensed child care program;
14.8 	(2) work directly with children at least 30 hours per week;
14.9 	(3) work in their current position for at least 12 months;
14.10 	(4) agree to stay in their current position for at least 12 months upon receiving a grant 
14.11 	under this section;
14.12 	(5) have a career lattice step of five or higher;
14.13 	(6) have a current membership with the Minnesota quality improvement and registry 
14.14 	tool; and
14.15 	(7) not be a current recipient of a teacher education and compensation helps scholarship.
14.16 	(b) Grant recipients must sign a contract agreeing to remain in their current position for 
14.17 	at least 12 months.
14.18 		Subd. 5.Grant awards. Grant awards must be made annually and each recipient may 
14.19 	be awarded up to $3,500. Grant funds may be used for program supplies, training, or personal 
14.20 	expenses.
14.21 		Subd. 6.Report. Beginning January 1, 2022, and each year thereafter, the commissioner 
14.22 	must report annually to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child care on the 
14.23 	number of grants awarded and outcomes of the grant program.

14.24 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 136A.128, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
14.25 		Subd. 2.Program components. (a) The nonprofit organization must use the grant for:
14.26 	(1) tuition scholarships up to $5,000 $10,000 per year for courses leading to the nationally 
14.27 	recognized child development associate credential or college-level courses leading to an 
14.28 	associate's degree or bachelor's degree in early childhood development and school-age care; 
14.29 	and
15.1 	(2) education incentives of a minimum of $100 $250 to participants in the tuition 
15.2 	scholarship program if they complete a year of working in the early care and education 
15.3 	field.
15.4 	(b) Applicants for the scholarship must be employed by a licensed early childhood or 
15.5 	child care program and working directly with children, a licensed family child care provider, 
15.6 	employed by a public prekindergarten program, or an employee in a school-age program 
15.7 	exempt from licensing under section 245A.03, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (12). 
15.8 	Lower wage earners must be given priority in awarding the tuition scholarships. Scholarship 
15.9 	recipients must contribute at least ten percent of the total scholarship and must be sponsored 
15.10 	by their employers, who must also contribute ten at least five percent of the total scholarship. 
15.11 	Scholarship recipients who are self-employed must contribute 20 percent of the total 
15.12 	scholarship.

15.13 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 136A.128, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
15.14 		Subd. 4.Administration. A nonprofit organization that receives a grant under this 
15.15 	section may use five ten percent of the grant amount to administer the program.

15.16 	Sec. 5. FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR GRANT PROGRAM.
15.17 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. A family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) grant program is 
15.18 	established to promote children's social emotional learning and healthy development, early 
15.19 	literacy, and school readiness, and to foster community partnerships to promote children's 
15.20 	school readiness. The commissioner of health must make grants available to fund:
15.21 	(1) community health boards, local or regional libraries, community-based organizations, 
15.22 	nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes working with FFN caregivers under subdivision 
15.23 	2; and
15.24 	(2) community-based partnerships to implement early literacy programs under subdivision 
15.25 	3.
15.26 	The commissioner must attempt to ensure that grants under subdivisions 2 and 3 are made 
15.27 	in all areas of the state.
15.28 		Subd. 2.Grants to work with FFN caregivers. (a) Grants awarded by the commissioner 
15.29 	under this paragraph may be used by community health boards, local or regional libraries, 
15.30 	community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes working with 
15.31 	FFN caregivers in local communities, cultural communities, and Indian tribes to:
16.1 	(1) provide training, support, and resources to FFN caregivers in order to improve and 
16.2 	promote children's health, safety, nutrition, and school readiness;
16.3 	(2) connect FFN caregivers and children's families with appropriate community resources 
16.4 	that support the families' physical and mental health, and economic and developmental 
16.5 	needs;
16.6 	(3) connect FFN caregivers and children's families to early childhood screening programs 
16.7 	and facilitate referrals where appropriate;
16.8 	(4) provide FFN caregivers and children's families with information about early learning 
16.9 	guidelines from the Departments of Human Services and Education;
16.10 	(5) provide FFN caregivers and children's families with information about becoming a 
16.11 	licensed family child care provider; and
16.12 	(6) provide FFN caregivers and children's families with information about early learning 
16.13 	allowances and enrollment opportunities in high-quality, community-based child care and 
16.14 	preschool programs.
16.15 	(b) Grants that the commissioner awards under paragraph (a) also may be used for:
16.16 	(1) social emotional learning, health and safety, and early learning kits for FFN caregivers;
16.17 	(2) play and learn groups with FFN caregivers;
16.18 	(3) culturally appropriate early childhood training for FFN caregivers;
16.19 	(4) transportation for FFN caregivers and children's families to school readiness and 
16.20 	other early childhood training activities;
16.21 	(5) other activities that promote school readiness;
16.22 	(6) data collection and evaluation;
16.23 	(7) staff outreach and outreach activities;
16.24 	(8) translation needs; and
16.25 	(9) administrative costs that equal up to five percent of the recipient's grant award.
16.26 		Subd. 3.Grants for early literacy programs. Grants awarded by the commissioner 
16.27 	under this subdivision must be used to fund existing or new partnerships between community 
16.28 	health boards, local or regional library systems, community-based organizations, nonprofit 
16.29 	organizations, or Indian tribes to implement early literacy programs in low-income 
16.30 	communities, including tribal communities, to:
17.1 	(1) purchase and equip early childhood reading mobiles and math mobiles that provide 
17.2 	FFN caregivers and children's families with books, training, and early literacy activities;
17.3 	(2) provide FFN caregivers and children's families with translations of early childhood 
17.4 	books, training, and early literacy activities in native languages; or
17.5 	(3) provide FFN caregivers and children's families with early literacy activities in local 
17.6 	libraries.
17.7 		Subd. 4.Grant awards. Interested entities eligible to receive a grant under this section 
17.8 	may apply to the commissioner in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. The 
17.9 	commissioner shall award grants to eligible entities consistent with the requirements of this 
17.10 	section.
17.11 		Subd. 5.Evaluation. The commissioner must evaluate the impact of the grants under 
17.12 	subdivisions 2 and 3 on children's school readiness, including but not limited to social 
17.13 	emotional learning indicators, and submit a written report to the legislative committees with 
17.14 	jurisdiction over health and human services and education finance and policy by February 
17.15 	1, 2022.

17.16 	Sec. 6. FIRST CHILDREN'S FINANCE CHILD CARE SITE ASSISTANCE.
 17.17 		Subdivision 1.Purpose. The commissioner of human services must provide grants to 
17.18 	First Children's Finance for loans to improve child care or early childhood education sites 
17.19 	or loans to plan, design, and construct or expand licensed and legal nonlicensed sites to 
17.20 	increase the availability of child care or early childhood education.
17.21 		Subd. 2.Financing program. (a) First Children's Finance must use grant funds to:
17.22 	(1) establish a revolving loan fund to make loans to existing, expanding, and newly 
17.23 	licensed and legal nonlicensed child care and early childhood education sites;
17.24 	(2) establish a fund to guarantee private loans to improve or construct a child care or 
17.25 	early childhood education site;
17.26 	(3) establish a fund to provide forgivable loans or grants to match all or part of a loan 
17.27 	made under this section;
17.28 	(4) establish a fund as a reserve against bad debt; and
17.29 	(5) establish a fund to provide business planning assistance for child care providers.
17.30 	(b) First Children's Finance must establish the terms and conditions for loans and loan 
17.31 	guarantees including interest rates, repayment agreements, private match requirements, and 
18.1 	conditions for loan forgiveness. A minimum interest rate for loans must be established to 
18.2 	ensure that necessary loan administration costs are covered. Interest earnings may be used 
18.3 	for administrative expenses.
18.4 		Subd. 3.Reports. First Children's Finance must:
18.5 	(1) by September 30, 2021, and by September 30, 2022, report to the commissioner of 
18.6 	human services the purposes for which the money was used during the past fiscal year, 
18.7 	including a description of projects supported by the financing, an account of loans made 
18.8 	during the calendar year, the financing program's assets and liabilities, and an explanation 
18.9 	of administrative expenses; and
18.10 	(2) for each fiscal year in which grants are received, submit to the commissioner of 
18.11 	human services a copy of the report of an independent audit performed in accordance with 
18.12 	generally accepted accounting practices and auditing standards.

18.13 	Sec. 7. APPROPRIATION; FIRST CHILDREN'S FINANCE.
 18.14 	$3,500,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
18.15 	of human services for a grant to First Children's Finance. This is a onetime appropriation.

18.16 	Sec. 8. APPROPRIATION; FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR GRANT.
 18.17 	$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
18.18 	of health for purposes of awarding grants under section 5. This is a onetime appropriation 
18.19 	and is available until June 30, 2022.

18.20 	Sec. 9. APPROPRIATION; CHILD CARE PROGRAMS.
 18.21 		Subdivision 1.Basic sliding fee waiting list allocation. (a) Notwithstanding Minnesota 
18.22 	Statutes, section 119B.03, $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general 
18.23 	fund to the commissioner of human services to reduce the basic sliding fee program waiting 
18.24 	list as follows:
18.25 	(1) the calendar year 2020 allocation must be increased to serve families on the waiting 
18.26 	list. To receive funds appropriated for this purpose, a county must have a waiting list in the 
18.27 	most recent published waiting list month;
18.28 	(2) funds must be distributed proportionately based on the average of the most recent 
18.29 	six months of published waiting lists to counties that meet the criteria in clause (1);
18.30 	(3) allocations in calendar years 2021 and beyond must be calculated using the allocation 
18.31 	formula in Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03; and
19.1 	(4) the guaranteed floor for calendar year 2021 must be based on the revised calendar 
19.2 	year 2020 allocation.
19.3 	(b) This is a onetime appropriation.
19.4 		Subd. 2.Child care rates. (a) $170,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from 
19.5 	the general fund to the commissioner of human services to increase child care rates under 
19.6 	Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.13. The commissioner may not increase the rate differential 
19.7 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.13, subdivision 3a or 3b. To determine the increased 
19.8 	rates, the commissioner of human services must:
19.9 	(1) utilize the most recent child care market rate survey under Minnesota Statutes, section 
19.10 	119B.02, subdivision 7; and
19.11 	(2) set the percentile such that the additional expenditure equals the amount appropriated.
19.12 	(b) This is a onetime appropriation.
19.13 	(c) For fiscal year 2022, the child care rate shall return to the rate determined under 
19.14 	Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.13.

19.15 	Sec. 10. APPROPRIATIONS; DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND 
19.16 	ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
 19.17 		Subdivision 1.Grants for child care. (a) $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated 
19.18 	from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for 
19.19 	grants to local communities to increase the supply of quality child care providers to support 
19.20 	economic development. This is a onetime appropriation. Fifty percent of grant funds must 
19.21 	go to communities located outside of the seven-county metropolitan area as defined under 
19.22 	Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2.
19.23 	(b) Grant recipients must obtain a 50 percent nonstate match to grant funds in either 
19.24 	cash or in-kind contribution. Grant funds available under this subdivision must be used to 
19.25 	implement projects to reduce the child care shortage in the state, including but not limited 
19.26 	to funding for child care business start-ups or expansion, training, facility modifications, 
19.27 	direct subsidies or incentives to retain employees, or improvements required for licensing, 
19.28 	and assistance with licensing and other regulatory requirements. In awarding grants, the 
19.29 	commissioner must give priority to communities that have demonstrated a shortage of child 
19.30 	care providers in the area.
19.31 	(c) Within one year of receiving grant funds, grant recipients must report to the 
19.32 	commissioner on the outcomes of the grant program, including but not limited to the number 
20.1 	of new providers, the number of additional child care provider jobs created, the number of 
20.2 	additional child care slots, and the amount of cash and in-kind local funds invested.
20.3 		Subd. 2.Minnesota Initiative Foundations. (a) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is 
20.4 	appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic 
20.5 	development for a grant to the Minnesota Initiative Foundations. This is a onetime 
20.6 	appropriation and is available until June 30, 2022.
20.7 	(b) The Minnesota Initiative Foundations must use grant funds under this section to:
20.8 	(1) facilitate planning processes for rural communities resulting in a community solution 
20.9 	action plan that guides decision making to sustain and increase the supply of quality child 
20.10 	care in the region to support economic development;
20.11 	(2) engage the private sector to invest local resources to support the community solution 
20.12 	action plan and ensure child care is a vital component of additional regional economic 
20.13 	development planning processes;
20.14 	(3) provide high-quality, locally based training and technical assistance to rural child 
20.15 	care business owners. Access to financial and business development assistance must endeavor 
20.16 	to prepare child care businesses for quality engagement and improvement by stabilizing 
20.17 	operations, leveraging funding from other sources, and fostering business acumen; and
20.18 	(4) recruit child care programs to participate in Parent Aware under Minnesota Statutes, 
20.19 	section 124D.142, by providing targeted resources designed to encourage high levels of 
20.20 	participation. The Minnesota Initiative Foundations must work with local partners to provide 
20.21 	low-cost training, professional development opportunities, and curriculum. The Minnesota 
20.22 	Initiative Foundations must fund, through local partners, an enhanced level of coaching to 
20.23 	rural child care providers to obtain a quality rating through Parent Aware.
20.24 		Subd. 3.WomenVenture child care business training. $150,000 in fiscal year 2021 
20.25 	is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic 
20.26 	development for a grant to WomenVenture to operate a business training program for child 
20.27 	care providers and to create materials that could be used, free of charge, for start-up, 
20.28 	expansion, and operation of child care businesses statewide, with the goal of helping new 
20.29 	and existing child care businesses in underserved areas of the state become profitable and 
20.30 	sustainable. The commissioner shall report data on outcomes and recommendations for 
20.31 	replication of this training program throughout Minnesota to the governor and the legislative 
20.32 	committees with jurisdiction over child care by December 15, 2022. This is a onetime 
20.33 	appropriation and is available until June 30, 2022.

21.1 	Sec. 11. APPROPRIATION; RETAINING EARLY EDUCATORS THROUGH 
21.2 	ATTAINING INCENTIVES NOW (REETAIN) GRANT PROGRAM.
 21.3 	$2,500,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
21.4 	of human services for purposes of REETAIN grants under section 2. This is a onetime 
21.5 	appropriation.

21.6 	Sec. 12. APPROPRIATION; TEACH GRANT PROGRAM.
 21.7 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
21.8 	of human services for teacher education and compensation helps (TEACH) program grants 
21.9 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.128. This is a onetime appropriation.

21.10 	Sec. 13. REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
 21.11 	The revisor of statutes shall renumber Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.128, as a section 
21.12 	in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B. The revisor shall also make necessary cross-reference 
21.13 	changes consistent with the renumbering.