1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to economic development; clarifying 
  1.3             provisions in the job skills partnership program; 
  1.4             amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, sections 116L.02; 
  1.5             116L.04, subdivision 1a; and 116L.06, subdivision 5. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 116L.02, is 
  1.8   amended to read: 
  1.9      116L.02 [JOB SKILLS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.] 
  1.10     (a) The Minnesota job skills partnership program is created 
  1.11  to act as a catalyst to bring together employers with specific 
  1.12  training needs with educational or other nonprofit institutions 
  1.13  which can design programs to fill those needs.  The partnership 
  1.14  shall work closely with employers to train and place workers in 
  1.15  identifiable positions as well as assisting educational or other 
  1.16  nonprofit institutions in developing training programs that 
  1.17  coincide with current and future employer requirements.  The 
  1.18  partnership shall provide grants to educational or other 
  1.19  nonprofit institutions for the purpose of training displaced 
  1.20  workers.  A participating business must match the grant-in-aid 
  1.21  made by the Minnesota job skills partnership.  The match may be 
  1.22  in the form of funding, equipment, or faculty. 
  1.23     (b) The partnership program shall administer the health 
  1.24  care and human services worker training and retention program 
  1.25  under sections 116L.10 to 116L.15. 
  2.1      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 116L.04, 
  2.2   subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 
  2.3      Subd. 1a.  [PATHWAYS PROGRAM.] The pathways program may 
  2.4   provide grants-in-aid for developing programs which assist in 
  2.5   the transition of persons from welfare to work and assist 
  2.6   individuals at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty 
  2.7   guidelines.  The program is to be operated by the board.  The 
  2.8   board shall consult and coordinate with program administrators 
  2.9   at the department of economic security to design and provide 
  2.10  services for temporary assistance for needy families recipients. 
  2.11     Pathways grants-in-aid may be awarded to educational or 
  2.12  other nonprofit training institutions for education and training 
  2.13  programs that serve public assistance recipients transitioning 
  2.14  from public assistance to employment and services supporting 
  2.15  education and training programs that serve eligible recipients. 
  2.16     Preference shall be given to projects that: 
  2.17     (1) provide employment with benefits paid to employees; 
  2.18     (2) provide employment where there are defined career paths 
  2.19  for trainees; 
  2.20     (3) pilot the development of an educational pathway that 
  2.21  can be used on a continuing basis for transitioning persons from 
  2.22  public assistance directly welfare to work; and 
  2.23     (4) demonstrate the active participation of department of 
  2.24  economic security workforce centers, Minnesota state college and 
  2.25  university institutions and other educational institutions, and 
  2.26  local welfare agencies. 
  2.27     Pathways projects must demonstrate the active involvement 
  2.28  and financial commitment of private business.  Pathways projects 
  2.29  must be matched with cash or in-kind contributions on at least a 
  2.30  one-to-one ratio by participating private business. 
  2.31     A single grant to any one institution shall not exceed 
  2.32  $400,000. 
  2.33     The board shall annually, by March 31, report to the 
  2.34  commissioners of economic security and trade and economic 
  2.35  development on pathways programs, including the number of public 
  2.36  assistance recipients participating in the program, the number 
  3.1   of participants placed in employment, the salary and benefits 
  3.2   they receive, and the state program costs per participant. 
  3.3      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 116L.06, 
  3.4   subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  3.5      Subd. 5.  [LOAN USES.] Loans must be used by an employer to 
  3.6   obtain the most cost-effective effective training available from 
  3.7   public or private training institutions.  An employer must 
  3.8   document to the board the process the employer has utilized to 
  3.9   ensure that the proposed loan is used to acquire the most 
  3.10  cost-effective training and provide a training plan.