HF 1422

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/20/2017 01:31pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; requiring a report to the legislature on the status of
child care; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [245A.153] REPORT TO LEGISLATURE ON THE STATUS OF CHILD
CARE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Reporting requirements. new text end

new text begin Beginning on February 1, 2018, and no later
than February 1 of each year thereafter, the commissioner of human services shall provide
to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over child care a report on the status of child care in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Contents of report. new text end

new text begin (a) The report must include the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) summary data on trends in child care center and family child care capacity and
availability throughout the state, including the number of centers and programs that have
opened and closed and the geographic locations of those centers and programs;
new text end

new text begin (2) a description of any changes to statutes, administrative rules, or agency policies and
procedures that were implemented in the year preceding the report;
new text end

new text begin (3) a description of the actions the department has taken to address or implement the
recommendations from the Legislative Task Force on Access to Affordable Child Care
Report dated January 15, 2017, including but not limited to actions taken in the areas of:
new text end

new text begin (i) encouraging uniformity in implementing and interpreting statutes, administrative
rules, and agency policies and procedures relating to child care licensing and access;
new text end

new text begin (ii) improving communication with county licensors and child care providers regarding
changes to statutes, administrative rules, and agency policies and procedures, ensuring that
information is directly and regularly transmitted;
new text end

new text begin (iii) providing notice to child care providers before issuing correction orders or negative
actions relating to recent changes to statutes, administrative rules, and agency policies and
procedures;
new text end

new text begin (iv) implementing confidential, anonymous communication processes for child care
providers to ask questions and receive prompt, clear answers from the department;
new text end

new text begin (v) streamlining processes to reduce duplication or overlap in paperwork and training
requirements for child care providers; and
new text end

new text begin (vi) compiling and distributing information detailing trends in the violations for which
correction orders and negative actions are issued;
new text end

new text begin (4) a description of the department's efforts to cooperate with counties while addressing
and implementing the task force recommendations; and
new text end

new text begin (5) summary data on child care assistance programs including but not limited to state
funding and numbers of families served.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may offer recommendations for legislative action.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Sunset. new text end

new text begin This section expires February 2, 2020.
new text end