HF 2147

2nd Engrossment - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to education; providing for early childhood 
  1.3             education, community, prevention, and self-sufficiency 
  1.4             programs; appropriating money; amending Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes 1996, sections 12.21, subdivision 3; 15.53, 
  1.6             subdivision 2; 119A.01, subdivision 3; 119A.04, 
  1.7             subdivision 6, and by adding a subdivision; 119A.13, 
  1.8             subdivisions 2, 3, and 4; 119A.14; 119A.15, 
  1.9             subdivisions 2, 5, and by adding a subdivision; 
  1.10            119A.16; 119A.31, subdivisions 1 and 2; 119B.01, 
  1.11            subdivisions 8, 9, 12, 16, 17, and by adding 
  1.12            subdivisions; 119B.02; 119B.03, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 
  1.13            6, 7, 8, and by adding subdivisions; 119B.04; 119B.05, 
  1.14            subdivisions 1, 5, 6, and by adding a subdivision; 
  1.15            119B.07; 119B.08, subdivisions 1 and 3; 119B.09, 
  1.16            subdivisions 1, 2, and by adding subdivisions; 
  1.17            119B.10, subdivision 1; 119B.11, subdivisions 1, 3, 
  1.18            and by adding a subdivision; 119B.12; 119B.13, 
  1.19            subdivision 1, and by adding subdivisions; 119B.15; 
  1.20            119B.16, subdivision 1; 119B.18, by adding a 
  1.21            subdivision; 119B.20, subdivisions 7, 9, and 10; 
  1.22            119B.21, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 
  1.23            11; 120.05, subdivision 2; 121.831, subdivisions 3 and 
  1.24            4; 121.8355, subdivision 1; 121.88, subdivisions 1, 
  1.25            10, and by adding a subdivision; 121.882, subdivisions 
  1.26            2 and 6; 124.17, subdivision 2e; 124.26, subdivision 
  1.27            2, and by adding a subdivision; 124.2601, subdivisions 
  1.28            3, 4, 5, 6, and by adding a subdivision; 124.261, 
  1.29            subdivision 1; 124.2615, subdivisions 1 and 2; 
  1.30            124.2711, subdivisions 1 and 2a; 124.2713, 
  1.31            subdivisions 6 and 8; 124.2716, subdivision 3; 268.38, 
  1.32            by adding a subdivision; 268.53, subdivision 5; 
  1.33            268.55, by adding a subdivision; 268.912; 268.913, 
  1.34            subdivisions 2 and 4; and 268.914, subdivision 1; Laws 
  1.35            1996, chapter 463, section 4, subdivision 2, as 
  1.36            amended; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.37            Statutes, chapters 119A; and 119B; repealing Minnesota 
  1.38            Statutes 1996, sections 119B.03, subdivision 7; 
  1.39            119B.05, subdivisions 2 and 3; 119B.11, subdivision 2; 
  1.40            119B.19, subdivision 2; 119B.21, subdivision 7; 
  1.41            121.8355, subdivision 1a; and 268.913, subdivision 5. 
  1.42  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.43                        EARLY CHILDHOOD AND 
  2.1                    FAMILY EDUCATION OMNIBUS BILL
  2.2                              ARTICLE 1
  2.3                       EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS
  2.4      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 12.21, 
  2.5   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  2.6      Subd. 3.  [SPECIFIC AUTHORITY.] In performing duties under 
  2.7   this chapter and to effect its policy and purpose, the governor 
  2.8   may: 
  2.9      (1) make, amend, and rescind the necessary orders and rules 
  2.10  to carry out the provisions of this chapter and section 216C.15 
  2.11  within the limits of the authority conferred by this section, 
  2.12  with due consideration of the plans of the federal government 
  2.13  and without complying with sections 14.001 to 14.69, but no 
  2.14  order or rule has the effect of law except as provided by 
  2.15  section 12.32; 
  2.16     (2) ensure that a comprehensive emergency operations plan 
  2.17  and emergency management program for this state are developed 
  2.18  and maintained, and are integrated into and coordinated with the 
  2.19  emergency plans of the federal government and of other states to 
  2.20  the fullest possible extent; 
  2.21     (3) in accordance with the emergency operations plan and 
  2.22  the emergency management program of this state, procure supplies 
  2.23  and equipment, institute training programs and public 
  2.24  information programs, and take all other preparatory steps, 
  2.25  including the partial or full activation of emergency management 
  2.26  organizations in advance of actual disaster to ensure the 
  2.27  furnishing of adequately trained and equipped forces of 
  2.28  emergency management personnel in time of need; 
  2.29     (4) make studies and surveys of the industries, resources, 
  2.30  and facilities in this state as may be necessary to ascertain 
  2.31  the capabilities of the state for emergency management and to 
  2.32  plan for the most efficient emergency use of those industries, 
  2.33  resources, and facilities; 
  2.34     (5) on behalf of this state, enter into mutual aid 
  2.35  arrangements or cooperative agreements with other states and 
  2.36  with Canadian provinces, and coordinate mutual aid plans between 
  3.1   political subdivisions of this state; 
  3.2      (6) delegate administrative authority vested in the 
  3.3   governor under this chapter, except the power to make rules, and 
  3.4   provide for the subdelegation of that authority; 
  3.5      (7) cooperate with the president and the heads of the armed 
  3.6   forces, the emergency management agency of the United States and 
  3.7   other appropriate federal officers and agencies, and with the 
  3.8   officers and agencies of other states in matters pertaining to 
  3.9   the emergency management of the state and nation, including the 
  3.10  direction or control of: 
  3.11     (i) emergency preparedness drills and exercises; 
  3.12     (ii) warnings and signals for drills or actual emergencies 
  3.13  and the mechanical devices to be used in connection with them; 
  3.14     (iii) shutting off water mains, gas mains, electric power 
  3.15  connections and the suspension of all other utility services; 
  3.16     (iv) the conduct of persons in the state and the movement 
  3.17  and cessation of movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic 
  3.18  during, prior, and subsequent to drills or actual emergencies; 
  3.19     (v) public meetings or gatherings; and 
  3.20     (vi) the evacuation, reception, and sheltering of persons; 
  3.21     (8) contribute to a political subdivision, within the 
  3.22  limits of the appropriation for that purpose, not more than 25 
  3.23  percent of the cost of acquiring organizational equipment that 
  3.24  meets standards established by the governor; 
  3.25     (9) formulate and execute, with the approval of the 
  3.26  executive council, plans and rules for the control of traffic in 
  3.27  order to provide for the rapid and safe movement over public 
  3.28  highways and streets of troops, vehicles of a military nature, 
  3.29  materials for national defense and war or for use in any war 
  3.30  industry, for the conservation of critical materials or for 
  3.31  emergency management purposes, and coordinate the activities of 
  3.32  the departments or agencies of the state and its political 
  3.33  subdivisions concerned directly or indirectly with public 
  3.34  highways and streets, in a manner that will best effectuate 
  3.35  those plans; 
  3.36     (10) alter or adjust by executive order, without complying 
  4.1   with sections 14.01 to 14.69, the working hours, work days and 
  4.2   work week of, and annual and sick leave provisions and payroll 
  4.3   laws regarding all state employees in the executive branch as 
  4.4   the governor deems necessary to minimize the impact of the 
  4.5   disaster or emergency, conforming the alterations or adjustments 
  4.6   to existing state laws, rules, and collective bargaining 
  4.7   agreements to the extent practicable; 
  4.8      (11) authorize the commissioner of children, families, and 
  4.9   learning to alter school schedules, curtail school activities, 
  4.10  or order schools closed without affecting state aid to schools, 
  4.11  as defined in section 120.05, and including charter schools 
  4.12  under section 120.064.  
  4.13     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 120.05, 
  4.14  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  4.15     Subd. 2.  [DEFINITIONS.] (1) Elementary school means any 
  4.16  school with building, equipment, courses of study, class 
  4.17  schedules, enrollment of pupils ordinarily in grades 1 
  4.18  prekindergarten through grade 6 or any portion thereof and staff 
  4.19  meeting the standards established by the state board of 
  4.20  education. 
  4.21     The state board of education shall not close a school or 
  4.22  deny any state aids to a district for its elementary schools 
  4.23  because of enrollment limitations classified in accordance with 
  4.24  the provisions of subdivision 2, clause (1). 
  4.25     (2) Middle school means any school other than a secondary 
  4.26  school giving an approved course of study in a minimum of three 
  4.27  consecutive grades above 4th but below 10th with building, 
  4.28  equipment, courses of study, class schedules, enrollment, and 
  4.29  staff meeting the standards established by the state board of 
  4.30  education. 
  4.31     (3) Secondary school means any school with building, 
  4.32  equipment, courses of study, class schedules, enrollment of 
  4.33  pupils ordinarily in grades 7 through 12 or any portion thereof, 
  4.34  and staff meeting the standards established by the state board 
  4.35  of education. 
  4.36     (4) A vocational center school is one serving a group of 
  5.1   secondary schools with approved areas of secondary vocational 
  5.2   training and offering vocational secondary and adult programs 
  5.3   necessary to meet local needs and meeting standards established 
  5.4   by the state board of education. 
  5.5      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.831, 
  5.6   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  5.7      Subd. 3.  [PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.] A learning readiness 
  5.8   program shall include the following: 
  5.9      (1) a comprehensive plan to anticipate and meet the needs 
  5.10  of participating families by coordinating existing social 
  5.11  services programs and by fostering collaboration among agencies 
  5.12  or other community-based organizations and programs that provide 
  5.13  a full range of flexible, family-focused services to families 
  5.14  with young children; 
  5.15     (2) a development and learning component to help children 
  5.16  develop appropriate social, cognitive, and physical skills, and 
  5.17  emotional well-being; 
  5.18     (3) health referral services to address children's medical, 
  5.19  dental, mental health, and nutritional needs; 
  5.20     (4) a nutrition component to meet children's daily 
  5.21  nutritional needs; 
  5.22     (5) parents' involvement in meeting children's educational, 
  5.23  health, social service, and other needs; 
  5.24     (6) community outreach to ensure participation by families 
  5.25  who represent the racial, cultural, and economic diversity of 
  5.26  the community; and 
  5.27     (7) community-based staff and program resources, including 
  5.28  interpreters, that reflect the racial and ethnic characteristics 
  5.29  of the children participating in the program; and 
  5.30     (8) a literacy component to ensure that the literacy needs 
  5.31  of parents are addressed through referral to and cooperation 
  5.32  with adult basic education programs and other adult literacy 
  5.33  programs. 
  5.34     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.831, 
  5.35  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  5.36     Subd. 4.  [PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS.] Learning readiness 
  6.1   programs are encouraged to: 
  6.2      (1) prepare an individualized service plan to meet each 
  6.3   child's developmental and learning needs; 
  6.4      (2) provide parent education to increase parents' 
  6.5   knowledge, understanding, skills, and experience in child 
  6.6   development and learning; 
  6.7      (3) foster substantial parent involvement that may include 
  6.8   having parents develop curriculum or serve as a paid or 
  6.9   volunteer educator, resource person, or other staff; 
  6.10     (4) identify the needs of families in the content of the 
  6.11  child's learning readiness and family literacy; 
  6.12     (5) expand collaboration with public organizations, 
  6.13  businesses, nonprofit organizations, or other private 
  6.14  organizations to develop a coordinated system of flexible, 
  6.15  family-focused services available to anticipate and meet the 
  6.16  full range of needs of all eligible children and their families; 
  6.17     (6) coordinate treatment and follow-up services for 
  6.18  children's identified physical and mental health problems; 
  6.19     (7) offer transportation for eligible children and their 
  6.20  families for whom other forms of transportation are unavailable 
  6.21  or would constitute an excessive financial burden; 
  6.22     (8) make substantial outreach efforts to assure significant 
  6.23  participation by families with the greatest needs, including 
  6.24  those families whose income level does not exceed the most 
  6.25  recent update of the poverty guidelines required by sections 652 
  6.26  and 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 
  6.27  (Public Law Number 97-35); 
  6.28     (9) use community-based, trained home visitors serving as 
  6.29  paraprofessionals to provide social support, referrals, parent 
  6.30  education, and other services; 
  6.31     (10) create community-based family resource centers and 
  6.32  interdisciplinary teams; and 
  6.33     (11) enhance the quality of family or center-based child 
  6.34  care programs by providing supplementary services and resources, 
  6.35  staff training, and assistance with children with special needs. 
  6.36     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.882, 
  7.1   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  7.2      Subd. 2.  [PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS.] Early childhood family 
  7.3   education programs are programs for children in the period of 
  7.4   life from birth to kindergarten, for the parents of such 
  7.5   children, and for expectant parents.  The programs may include 
  7.6   the following:  
  7.7      (1) programs to educate parents about the physical, mental, 
  7.8   and emotional development of children; 
  7.9      (2) programs to enhance the skills of parents in providing 
  7.10  for their children's learning and development; 
  7.11     (3) learning experiences for children and parents that 
  7.12  promote children's development; 
  7.13     (4) activities designed to detect children's physical, 
  7.14  mental, emotional, or behavioral problems that may cause 
  7.15  learning problems; 
  7.16     (5) activities and materials designed to encourage 
  7.17  self-esteem, skills, and behavior that prevent sexual and other 
  7.18  interpersonal violence; 
  7.19     (6) educational materials which may be borrowed for home 
  7.20  use; 
  7.21     (7) information on related community resources; 
  7.22     (8) programs to prevent child abuse and neglect; or 
  7.23     (9) other programs or activities to improve the health, 
  7.24  development, and learning readiness of children; or 
  7.25     (10) activities designed to maximize development during 
  7.26  infancy.  
  7.27     The programs shall not include activities for children that 
  7.28  do not require substantial involvement of the children's 
  7.29  parents.  The programs shall be reviewed periodically to assure 
  7.30  the instruction and materials are not racially, culturally, or 
  7.31  sexually biased.  The programs shall encourage parents to be 
  7.32  aware of practices that may affect equitable development of 
  7.33  children. 
  7.34     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.882, 
  7.35  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
  7.36     Subd. 6.  [COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION.] A district is 
  8.1   encouraged to coordinate the program with its special education 
  8.2   and vocational education programs and with related services 
  8.3   provided by other governmental agencies and nonprofit 
  8.4   agencies and collaborate its program efforts with family 
  8.5   literacy, learning readiness, Head Start, child care, health, 
  8.6   social services, special education, transitional housing, and 
  8.7   foodshelf programs and other related services in the community 
  8.8   for young children and parents.  
  8.9      A district is encouraged to coordinate adult basic 
  8.10  education programs provided to parents and early childhood 
  8.11  family education programs provided to children to accomplish the 
  8.12  goals of section 126.69.  
  8.13     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2711, 
  8.14  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  8.15     Subdivision 1.  [REVENUE.] The revenue for early childhood 
  8.16  family education programs for a school district equals $101.25 
  8.17  for 1993 1998 and $116.75 for 1999 and later fiscal years times 
  8.18  the greater of: 
  8.19     (1) 150; or 
  8.20     (2) the number of people under five years of age residing 
  8.21  in the school district on October 1 of the previous school year. 
  8.22     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2711, 
  8.23  subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
  8.24     Subd. 2a.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION LEVY.] To 
  8.25  obtain early childhood family education revenue, a district may 
  8.26  levy an amount equal to the tax rate of .609 .642 percent times 
  8.27  the adjusted tax capacity of the district for the year preceding 
  8.28  the year the levy is certified.  If the amount of the early 
  8.29  childhood family education levy would exceed the early childhood 
  8.30  family education revenue, the early childhood family education 
  8.31  levy shall equal the early childhood family education revenue. 
  8.32     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.38, is 
  8.33  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  8.34     Subd. 7a.  [COOPERATION.] Grant recipients shall identify 
  8.35  ways to link services and cooperate with other programs that 
  8.36  serve the educational and nutritional needs of families, 
  9.1   including, but not limited to, early childhood family education 
  9.2   programs under section 121.882 and foodshelf programs under 
  9.3   section 268.55. 
  9.4      Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.55, is 
  9.5   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  9.6      Subd. 7.  [COOPERATION.] The Minnesota foodshelf 
  9.7   association and foodshelf programs that receive money under this 
  9.8   section shall identify ways to link services and cooperate with 
  9.9   other programs that serve the educational and housing needs of 
  9.10  families, including, but not limited to, early childhood family 
  9.11  education programs under section 121.882 and transitional 
  9.12  housing programs under section 268.38. 
  9.13     Sec. 11.  [ADDITIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION AID; 
  9.14  FISCAL YEAR 1998.] 
  9.15     A district that complies with Minnesota Statutes, section 
  9.16  121.882, shall receive additional early childhood family 
  9.17  education aid for fiscal year 1998 equal to $10 times the 
  9.18  greater of: 
  9.19     (1) 150; or 
  9.20     (2) the number of people under five years of age residing 
  9.21  in the school district on October 1 of the previous school 
  9.22  year.  The additional early childhood family education aid may 
  9.23  be used only for early childhood family education programs. 
  9.24     Sec. 12.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION ALTERNATIVE 
  9.25  PROGRAMMING.] 
  9.26     Early childhood family education programs that receive 
  9.27  revenue under Minnesota Statutes, section 124.2713, are 
  9.28  encouraged to provide classes on the weekends and in the 
  9.29  evenings to meet the needs of working families.  The 
  9.30  commissioner shall report to the legislature on the number of 
  9.31  districts offering weekend and evening classes, and on the 
  9.32  success of these programs in serving working families.  The 
  9.33  commissioner shall make recommendations on ways to expand early 
  9.34  childhood family education services to make them more available 
  9.35  and accessible to working families, including families who work 
  9.36  nontraditional hours. 
 10.1      Sec. 13.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION INFANT 
 10.2   DEVELOPMENT GRANT AWARDS.] 
 10.3      (a) Early childhood family education programs under 
 10.4   Minnesota Statutes, section 121.882, may apply to the 
 10.5   commissioner of children, families, and learning for a grant to 
 10.6   fund a pilot program to increase services for families of 
 10.7   infants.  Programming for infants and their families must 
 10.8   conform to the service and other requirements of the early 
 10.9   childhood family education programs.  The infant program must 
 10.10  include learning experiences for parents of infants that focus 
 10.11  on methods and information that stimulate and nurture the 
 10.12  intellectual and emotional development of infants.  Proposals 
 10.13  from programs with service areas where centralized classes are 
 10.14  not feasible or optimal, may include home visiting programs 
 10.15  under Minnesota Statutes, section 121.882, subdivision 2b. 
 10.16     (b) The eligible applicant shall submit an application in 
 10.17  the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner.  Grant 
 10.18  applicants shall describe the proposed infant and family 
 10.19  education approach.  The application must specify the program 
 10.20  components, outreach methods, targeted ages, anticipated role of 
 10.21  the home visits, if any, and how the program will encourage 
 10.22  participation by families with infants. 
 10.23     Sec. 14.  [OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES.] 
 10.24     The commissioner of children, families, and learning shall 
 10.25  review the accounts and funding for programs administered in the 
 10.26  office of community services.  The commissioner shall also 
 10.27  review the methods of distributing grants and revenue to 
 10.28  communities, programs, districts, and other organizations.  The 
 10.29  commissioner shall develop unified application forms for 
 10.30  competitive grant programs administered by the office.  The 
 10.31  commissioner shall present a proposal to the legislature on ways 
 10.32  to streamline applications, and to the extent possible, combine 
 10.33  accounts, programs, and funding streams. 
 10.34     Sec. 15.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD TECHNOLOGY GRANTS.] 
 10.35     The commissioner of children, families, and learning shall 
 10.36  establish a process to initiate a competitive grant program to 
 11.1   enhance the use of technology in early childhood education 
 11.2   programs.  Priority must be given to licensed child care, early 
 11.3   childhood family education, learning readiness, Head Start, or 
 11.4   first grade preparedness programs that will provide computer 
 11.5   time to early childhood education programs.  Grants may be used 
 11.6   for the purchase, repair, or upgrading of computer hardware or 
 11.7   software, and for training staff, volunteer staff, parents, or 
 11.8   students in the use of technology.  To the extent practicable, 
 11.9   the department shall solicit donations of refurbished computers 
 11.10  for distribution to early childhood programs willing to use them 
 11.11  for educating young students. 
 11.12     Sec. 16.  [YEAR 2000 READY.] 
 11.13     The commissioner of children, families and learning shall 
 11.14  ensure that any computer software or hardware that is purchased 
 11.15  with money appropriated in this bill must be year 2000 ready. 
 11.16     Sec. 17.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 11.17     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 11.18  LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
 11.19  from the general fund to the department of children, families, 
 11.20  and learning for the fiscal years designated. 
 11.21     Subd. 2.  [LEARNING READINESS PROGRAM REVENUE.] For revenue 
 11.22  for learning readiness programs according to Minnesota Statutes, 
 11.23  sections 121.831 and 124.2615: 
 11.24       $11,136,000    .....     1998
 11.25       $11,379,000    .....     1999
 11.26     The 1998 appropriation includes $949,000 for 1997 and 
 11.27  $10,187,000 for 1998. 
 11.28     The 1999 appropriation includes $1,131,000 for 1998 and 
 11.29  $10,248,000 for 1999.  
 11.30     $10,000 each year may be spent for evaluation of learning 
 11.31  readiness programs. 
 11.32     Subd. 3.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION AID.] For early 
 11.33  childhood family education aid according to Minnesota Statutes, 
 11.34  section 124.2711: 
 11.35       $15,528,000    .....     1998 
 11.36       $14,970,000    .....     1999
 12.1      The 1998 appropriation includes $1,360,000 for 1997 and 
 12.2   $14,168,000 for 1998.  
 12.3      The 1999 appropriation includes $1,574,000 for 1998 and 
 12.4   $13,396,000 for 1999.  
 12.5      $10,000 each year may be spent for evaluation of early 
 12.6   childhood family education programs.  
 12.7      Subd. 4.  [HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING AID.] For 
 12.8   health and developmental screening aid according to Minnesota 
 12.9   Statutes, sections 123.702 and 123.7045: 
 12.10       $1,564,000     .....     1998 
 12.11       $1,613,000     .....     1999 
 12.12     The 1998 appropriation includes $155,000 for 1997 and 
 12.13  $1,409,000 for 1998.  
 12.14     The 1999 appropriation includes $156,000 for 1998 and 
 12.15  $1,457,000 for 1999.  
 12.16     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 12.17  available in the second year.  
 12.18     Subd. 5.  [WAY TO GROW.] For grants for existing way to 
 12.19  grow programs according to Minnesota Statutes, section 121.835:  
 12.20       $500,000       .....     1998
 12.21       $500,000       .....     1999
 12.22     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 12.23  available in the second year. 
 12.24     Subd. 6.  [PART H.] For the department of children, 
 12.25  families, and learning's share of the state's obligation under 
 12.26  Part H according to Minnesota Statutes, section 120.1701: 
 12.27       $400,000       .....     1998 
 12.28     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 12.29  available in the second year. 
 12.30     Subd. 7.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY EDUCATION INFANT 
 12.31  DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.] For grants to early childhood family 
 12.32  education programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 121.882, to 
 12.33  fund initiatives under section 13: 
 12.34       $2,000,000     .....     1998 
 12.35     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 12.36  available in the second year.  This is a one-time appropriation 
 13.1   and is not to be added to the permanent base. 
 13.2      Subd. 8.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD COLLABORATION GRANTS.] For 
 13.3   grants to combine early childhood education services: 
 13.4        $80,000        .....     1998 
 13.5      Of this amount, $50,000 is for a grant to Itasca county for 
 13.6   the Greenway Readiness Program.  The program must include a 
 13.7   half-day readiness program for four year olds, an early 
 13.8   childhood component, and a resource center. 
 13.9      Of this amount, $30,000 is for a grant to independent 
 13.10  school district No. 544, Fergus Falls, to study ways to combine 
 13.11  all early learning programs and to fund those programs. 
 13.12     This appropriation is available until expended. 
 13.13     Subd. 9.  [CHILD GUIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM.] For the 
 13.14  southwest and west central service cooperative to operate the 
 13.15  Willmar child guide prevention program for children in 
 13.16  kindergarten through grade 8 in independent school district No. 
 13.17  347, Willmar: 
 13.18       $250,000       .....     1998 
 13.19     Subd. 10.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD TECHNOLOGY GRANTS.] For early 
 13.20  childhood technology grants under section 15: 
 13.21       $100,000       .....     1998 
 13.22     Sec. 18.  [REPORT SUNSET.] 
 13.23     Beginning September 15, 1997, the requirement to submit the 
 13.24  following reports expires: 
 13.25     (1) child abuse prevention trust fund disbursement plan 
 13.26  under Minnesota Statutes, section 119A.13; 
 13.27     (2) child care system report under Minnesota Statutes, 
 13.28  section 119B.24; 
 13.29     (3) community crime reduction report under Minnesota 
 13.30  Statutes, section 119A.31; 
 13.31     (4) administrative duties report under Minnesota Statutes, 
 13.32  section 119A.31; 
 13.33     (5) progress report on male responsibility grants under 
 13.34  Minnesota Statutes, section 126.84; 
 13.35     (6) school-linked services report under Minnesota Statutes, 
 13.36  section 256.995; 
 14.1      (7) state drug strategy under Minnesota Statutes, section 
 14.2   119A.26; 
 14.3      (8) chemical abuse and violence prevention council report 
 14.4   under Minnesota Statutes, section 119A.28; 
 14.5      (9) violence prevention grant report under Minnesota 
 14.6   Statutes, section 126.78; and 
 14.7      (10) Head Start report under Minnesota Statutes, section 
 14.8   268.917. 
 14.9      Sec. 19.  [REPEALER.] 
 14.10     Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.913, subdivision 5, is 
 14.11  repealed. 
 14.12     Sec. 20.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 14.13     Sections 1 and 2 apply to the 1997-1998 school year and 
 14.14  thereafter. 
 14.15     Section 8 (124.2711, subdivision 2a) is effective for 
 14.16  revenue for fiscal year 1999. 
 14.17                             ARTICLE 2
 14.18                 COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND PREVENTION
 14.19     Section 1.  [119A.08] [NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED SERVICES FOR 
 14.20  CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.] 
 14.21     Subdivision 1.  [PILOT PROJECTS AUTHORIZED.] The 
 14.22  commissioner of children, families, and learning shall establish 
 14.23  a program to provide stipends to at least two pilot projects for 
 14.24  the delivery and brokering of services through family service 
 14.25  collaboratives and neighborhood-based community organizations.  
 14.26  The projects must be selected no later than September 1, 1997. 
 14.27     Subd. 2.  [FAMILY SERVICE COLLABORATIVE; PILOT.] A family 
 14.28  service collaborative under section 121.8355 may apply to the 
 14.29  commissioner to participate in the pilot projects.  The 
 14.30  commissioner shall select two family service collaboratives to 
 14.31  implement the pilot project in one or more specified geographic 
 14.32  areas.  One collaborative must implement a pilot project in the 
 14.33  seven-county metropolitan area and one must be located in an 
 14.34  outstate community.  The commissioner shall select the 
 14.35  collaboratives by September 1, 1997.  The selected 
 14.36  collaboratives must implement the stipend program through family 
 15.1   service centers and community groups that are eligible under 
 15.2   subdivision 3, and that apply under subdivision 4. 
 15.3      Subd. 3.  [ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.] To be eligible to 
 15.4   participate in the community services stipend program under this 
 15.5   section, an organization must be a family service center or 
 15.6   other community group that: 
 15.7      (1) has strong ties to a local neighborhood; 
 15.8      (2) represents the diverse residents of the neighborhood; 
 15.9   and 
 15.10     (3) has a history of providing services in the neighborhood.
 15.11     Subd. 4.  [APPLICATION.] (a) An application to participate 
 15.12  in the community services stipend program must be submitted to 
 15.13  the family service collaborative and must contain the following: 
 15.14     (1) a description of all of the geographic areas that the 
 15.15  organization intends to serve and information to demonstrate 
 15.16  that the applicant group has established a significant presence 
 15.17  in these areas; 
 15.18     (2) demonstrated knowledge of the needs of the children and 
 15.19  families in the geographic area; 
 15.20     (3) a list of services to be provided; 
 15.21     (4) anticipated costs and proposed resources for each 
 15.22  service; 
 15.23     (5) outcomes the services are designed to achieve; and 
 15.24     (6) the proposed amount of the stipend for each service to 
 15.25  be provided. 
 15.26     (b) The maximum stipend for any one service is $200.  The 
 15.27  applicant must list the proposed stipend amounts in an 
 15.28  outcomes-based format. 
 15.29     Subd. 5.  [ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.] A participating center or 
 15.30  group is eligible for a stipend whenever the center or group has 
 15.31  delivered, or arranged for delivery of, any of the following 
 15.32  needed services as listed in its original application to the 
 15.33  collaborative in the stated amounts which should fall within the 
 15.34  following ranges: 
 15.35     (1) identifying and assisting family members who lack a 
 15.36  high school diploma to attend GED classes and achieve the 
 16.1   outcome of successfully completing GED requirements, $150; 
 16.2      (2) assisting family members with English as a second 
 16.3   language skill building or citizenship classes, $100; 
 16.4      (3) assisting family members with English as a second 
 16.5   language skill building or citizenship classes and achieve the 
 16.6   outcome of successfully passing the citizenship test, $200; 
 16.7      (4) assisting a family to access early childhood family 
 16.8   education programs, $20; 
 16.9      (5) identifying a family that has not obtained the 
 16.10  recommended childhood immunizations for its children and 
 16.11  assisting the family to obtain the immunizations, $20; 
 16.12     (6) assisting a family in need of child care to find 
 16.13  suitable child care, $10; 
 16.14     (7) assisting in crime prevention by involving children 
 16.15  from needy families in after school enrichment activities and 
 16.16  sustaining their involvement for a substantial period, $150; 
 16.17     (8) assisting in crime prevention by providing truancy 
 16.18  prevention activities and reducing truancy in the geographic 
 16.19  area, $200; 
 16.20     (9) assisting a family by providing one or more home visits 
 16.21  to families of newborn infants to provide information and 
 16.22  support for new parents, $50; 
 16.23     (10) finding and providing a tutor for an academically 
 16.24  under-achieving child, $20; 
 16.25     (11) being a tutor and achieving the outcome of better 
 16.26  school performance, $200; and 
 16.27     (12) being a tutor but not achieving the desired outcome, 
 16.28  $100. 
 16.29  With the approval of the collaborative, a participating 
 16.30  organization may add additional similar services to its list of 
 16.31  eligible activities. 
 16.32     Subd. 6.  [PAYMENT OF STIPENDS.] A center or group selected 
 16.33  for participation in the delivery of needed services stipend 
 16.34  program is eligible to receive the specified stipend for each 
 16.35  eligible activity which is provided to an eligible recipient.  
 16.36  Requests for reimbursement must be submitted to the 
 17.1   collaborative group within 60 days of the date that the eligible 
 17.2   activity is completed.  Participating centers and groups may use 
 17.3   the stipend money received from the commissioner to provide the 
 17.4   services listed in subdivision 5 or for any legitimate and 
 17.5   worthwhile purpose.  Expenditures must be documented and the 
 17.6   documentation submitted to the collaborative on a quarterly 
 17.7   basis.  A collaborative that receives a grant under this section 
 17.8   shall establish procedures to ensure the quality of the services 
 17.9   paid for with grant funds and to monitor the delivery of 
 17.10  services.  
 17.11     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.31, 
 17.12  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 17.13     Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAMS.] The commissioner shall, in 
 17.14  consultation with the chemical abuse and violence prevention 
 17.15  council, administer a grant program to fund community-based 
 17.16  programs that are designed to enhance the community's sense of 
 17.17  personal security and to assist the community in its crime 
 17.18  control and prevention efforts.  Examples of qualifying programs 
 17.19  include, but are not limited to, the following: 
 17.20     (1) community-based programs designed to provide services 
 17.21  for children aged 8 to 13 who are juvenile offenders or who are 
 17.22  at risk of becoming juvenile offenders.  The programs must give 
 17.23  priority to: 
 17.24     (i) juvenile restitution; 
 17.25     (ii) prearrest or pretrial diversion, including through 
 17.26  mediation; 
 17.27     (iii) probation innovation; 
 17.28     (iv) teen courts, community service; or 
 17.29     (v) post incarceration alternatives to assist youth in 
 17.30  returning to their communities; 
 17.31     (2) community-based programs designed to provide at-risk 
 17.32  children and youth aged 8 to 13 with after-school and summer 
 17.33  enrichment activities; 
 17.34     (3) community-based programs designed to discourage young 
 17.35  people from involvement in unlawful drug or street gang 
 17.36  activities such as neighborhood youth centers; 
 18.1      (4) neighborhood block clubs and innovative community-based 
 18.2   crime prevention programs; 
 18.3      (5) community- and school-based programs designed to enrich 
 18.4   the educational, cultural, or recreational opportunities of 
 18.5   at-risk children and youth, including programs designed to keep 
 18.6   at-risk youth from dropping out of school and encourage school 
 18.7   dropouts to return to school; 
 18.8      (6) community-based programs designed to intervene with 
 18.9   juvenile offenders who are identified as likely to engage in 
 18.10  repeated criminal activity in the future unless intervention is 
 18.11  undertaken; 
 18.12     (7) community-based collaboratives that coordinate multiple 
 18.13  programs and funding sources to address the needs of at-risk 
 18.14  children and youth, including, but not limited to, 
 18.15  collaboratives that address the continuum of services for 
 18.16  juvenile offenders and those who are at risk of becoming 
 18.17  juvenile offenders; 
 18.18     (8) programs that are proven successful at increasing the 
 18.19  rate of school success or the rate of post-secondary education 
 18.20  attendance for high-risk students; 
 18.21     (9) community-based programs that provide services to 
 18.22  homeless youth; 
 18.23     (10) programs designed to reduce truancy; and 
 18.24     (11) community-based programs that attempt to prevent and 
 18.25  ameliorate the effects of teenage prostitution; and 
 18.26     (12) other community- and school-based crime prevention 
 18.27  programs that are innovative and encourage substantial 
 18.28  involvement by members of the community served by the program. 
 18.29     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.31, 
 18.30  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 18.31     Subd. 2.  [GRANT PROCEDURE.] A local unit of government or, 
 18.32  a nonprofit community-based entity, or a community violence 
 18.33  prevention council may apply for a grant by submitting an 
 18.34  application with the commissioner.  The applicant shall specify 
 18.35  the following in its application: 
 18.36     (1) a description of each program for which funding is 
 19.1   sought; 
 19.2      (2) outcomes and performance indicators for the program; 
 19.3      (3) a description of the planning process that identifies 
 19.4   local community needs, surveys existing programs, provides for 
 19.5   coordination with existing programs, and involves all affected 
 19.6   sectors of the community; 
 19.7      (4) the geographical area to be served by the program; 
 19.8      (5) statistical information as to the number of arrests in 
 19.9   the geographical area for violent crimes and for crimes 
 19.10  involving schedule I and II controlled substances.  "Violent 
 19.11  crime" includes a violation of or an attempt or conspiracy to 
 19.12  violate any of the following laws:  sections 609.185; 609.19; 
 19.13  609.195; 609.20; 609.205; 609.21; 609.221; 609.222; 609.223; 
 19.14  609.228; 609.235; 609.24; 609.245; 609.25; 609.255; 609.2661; 
 19.15  609.2662; 609.2663; 609.2664; 609.2665; 609.267; 609.2671; 
 19.16  609.268; 609.342; 609.343; 609.344; 609.345; 609.498, 
 19.17  subdivision 1; 609.561; 609.562; 609.582, subdivision 1; 
 19.18  609.687; or any provision of chapter 152 that is punishable by a 
 19.19  maximum sentence greater than ten years; and 
 19.20     (6) the number of economically disadvantaged youth in the 
 19.21  geographical areas to be served by the program. 
 19.22     The commissioner shall give priority to funding 
 19.23  community-based collaboratives, programs that demonstrate 
 19.24  substantial involvement by members of the community served by 
 19.25  the program and programs that either serve the geographical 
 19.26  areas that have the highest crime rates, as measured by the data 
 19.27  supplied under clause (4), or serve geographical areas that have 
 19.28  the largest concentrations of economically disadvantaged youth.  
 19.29  Up to 2.5 percent of the appropriation may be used by the 
 19.30  commissioner to administer the program. 
 19.31     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.88, 
 19.32  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 19.33     Subdivision 1.  [AUTHORIZATION.] Each school board may 
 19.34  initiate a community education program in its district and 
 19.35  provide for the general supervision of the program.  Each board 
 19.36  may, as it considers appropriate, employ community education 
 20.1   directors and coordinators staff to further the purposes of the 
 20.2   community education program.  
 20.3      Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.88, is 
 20.4   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 20.5      Subd. 2a.  [COMMUNITY EDUCATION DIRECTOR.] (a) Except as 
 20.6   provided under paragraphs (b) and (c), each board shall employ a 
 20.7   licensed community education director.  The board shall submit 
 20.8   the name of the person who is serving as director of community 
 20.9   education under this section on the district's annual community 
 20.10  education report to the commissioner. 
 20.11     (b) A board may apply to the commissioner of children, 
 20.12  families, and learning under Minnesota Rules, part 3512.3500, 
 20.13  subpart 9, for authority to use an individual who is not 
 20.14  licensed as a community education director. 
 20.15     (c) A board of a district with a total population of 2,000 
 20.16  or less may identify an employee who holds a valid Minnesota 
 20.17  principal or superintendent license under Minnesota Rules, 
 20.18  chapter 3512, to serve as director of community education.  To 
 20.19  be eligible for an exception under this paragraph, the board 
 20.20  shall certify in writing to the commissioner that the district 
 20.21  has not placed a licensed director of community education on 
 20.22  unrequested leave. 
 20.23     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.88, 
 20.24  subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
 20.25     Subd. 10.  [EXTENDED DAY PROGRAMS.] (a) A school board may 
 20.26  offer, as part of a community education program, an extended day 
 20.27  program for children from kindergarten through grade 6 for the 
 20.28  purpose of expanding students' learning opportunities.  A 
 20.29  program must include the following: 
 20.30     (1) adult supervised programs while school is not in 
 20.31  session; 
 20.32     (2) parental involvement in program design and direction; 
 20.33     (3) partnerships with the K-12 system, and other public, 
 20.34  private, or nonprofit entities; and 
 20.35     (4) opportunities for trained secondary school pupils to 
 20.36  work with younger children in a supervised setting as part of a 
 21.1   community service program. 
 21.2      (b) To maximize the educational, recreational, and social 
 21.3   development of participating students, the district must provide 
 21.4   adequate space for the extended day program during the school 
 21.5   year, on release days, and during the summer.  The district must 
 21.6   provide the program with access to adequate facilities and 
 21.7   equipment, including access to the gymnasium, cafeteria, art 
 21.8   rooms, computer laboratories, and the library, if these are 
 21.9   available.  The district and the program must coordinate a 
 21.10  reasonable schedule for shared facilities and equipment, and 
 21.11  shared responsibility for facilities used by the program. 
 21.12     (c) The district may charge a sliding fee based upon family 
 21.13  income for extended day programs.  The district may receive 
 21.14  money from other public or private sources for the extended day 
 21.15  program.  The school board of the district shall develop 
 21.16  standards for school age child care programs.  Districts with 
 21.17  programs in operation before July 1, 1990, must adopt standards 
 21.18  before October 1, 1991.  All other districts must adopt 
 21.19  standards within one year after the district first offers 
 21.20  services under a program authorized by this subdivision.  The 
 21.21  state board of education may not adopt rules for extended day 
 21.22  programs. 
 21.23     (d) The district shall maintain a separate account within 
 21.24  the community services fund for all funds related to the 
 21.25  extended day program.  All funds related to the extended day 
 21.26  program must be used solely for the purpose of the extended day 
 21.27  program. 
 21.28     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2713, 
 21.29  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 21.30     Subd. 6.  [COMMUNITY EDUCATION LEVY.] To obtain community 
 21.31  education revenue, a district may levy the amount raised by a 
 21.32  tax rate of 1.1 1.08 percent times the adjusted net tax capacity 
 21.33  of the district.  If the amount of the community education levy 
 21.34  would exceed the community education revenue, the community 
 21.35  education levy shall be determined according to subdivision 6a. 
 21.36     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2713, 
 22.1   subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 22.2      Subd. 8.  [USES OF GENERAL REVENUE.] (a) General community 
 22.3   education revenue may be used for: 
 22.4      (1) nonvocational, recreational, and leisure time 
 22.5   activities and programs; 
 22.6      (2) programs for adults with disabilities, if the programs 
 22.7   and budgets are approved by the department of children, 
 22.8   families, and learning; 
 22.9      (3) adult basic education programs, according to section 
 22.10  124.26; 
 22.11     (4) summer programs for elementary and secondary pupils; 
 22.12     (5) implementation of a youth development plan; 
 22.13     (6) implementation of a youth service program; 
 22.14     (7) early childhood family education programs, according to 
 22.15  section 121.882; and 
 22.16     (8) extended day programs, according to section 121.88, 
 22.17  subdivision 10. 
 22.18     (9) In addition to money from other sources, a district may 
 22.19  use up to ten percent of its community education revenue for 
 22.20  equipment that is used exclusively in community education 
 22.21  programs.  This revenue may be used only for the following 
 22.22  purposes:  
 22.23     (i) to purchase or lease computers and related materials; 
 22.24     (ii) to purchase or lease equipment for instructional 
 22.25  programs; and 
 22.26     (iii) to purchase textbooks and library books. 
 22.27     (b) General community education revenue must not be used to 
 22.28  subsidize the direct activity costs for adult enrichment 
 22.29  programs.  Direct activity costs include, but are not limited 
 22.30  to, the cost of the activity leader or instructor, cost of 
 22.31  materials, or transportation costs. 
 22.32     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2716, 
 22.33  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 22.34     Subd. 3.  [EXTENDED DAY LEVY.] To obtain extended day 
 22.35  revenue, a school district may levy an amount equal to the 
 22.36  district's extended day revenue as defined in subdivision 2 
 23.1   multiplied by the lesser of one, or the ratio of the quotient 
 23.2   derived by dividing the adjusted net tax capacity of the 
 23.3   district for the year before the year the levy is certified by 
 23.4   the actual pupil units in the district for the school year to 
 23.5   which the levy is attributable, to $3,700 $3,800.  
 23.6      Sec. 10.  Laws 1996, chapter 463, section 4, subdivision 2, 
 23.7   as amended by Laws 1997, chapter 3, section 1, is amended to 
 23.8   read: 
 23.9   Subd. 2.  Youth Initiative Grants                    16,000,000 
 23.10  For grants to local government units to 
 23.11  design, furnish, equip, acquire, 
 23.12  demolish, repair, replace, or construct 
 23.13  parks and, recreation buildings and 
 23.14  school buildings to provide youth, with 
 23.15  preference for youth in grades four 
 23.16  through eight, with regular enrichment 
 23.17  activities during nonschool hours, 
 23.18  including after school, evenings, 
 23.19  weekends, and school vacation periods, 
 23.20  and that will provide equal access and 
 23.21  programming for girls.  The buildings 
 23.22  may be leased to nonprofit community 
 23.23  organizations, subject to Minnesota 
 23.24  Statutes, section 16A.695, for the same 
 23.25  purposes.  Enrichment programs include 
 23.26  academic enrichment, homework 
 23.27  assistance, computer and technology 
 23.28  use, arts and cultural activities, 
 23.29  clubs, school-to-work and work force 
 23.30  development, athletic, and recreational 
 23.31  activities.  Grants must be used to 
 23.32  expand the number of children 
 23.33  participating in enrichment programs or 
 23.34  improve the quality or range of program 
 23.35  offerings.  The facilities must be 
 23.36  fully available for programming 
 23.37  sponsored by youth-serving nonprofit 
 23.38  and community groups, or school, 
 23.39  county, or city programs, for maximum 
 23.40  hours after school, evenings, weekends, 
 23.41  summers, and other school vacation 
 23.42  periods.  Priority must be given to 
 23.43  proposals that demonstrate 
 23.44  collaboration among private, nonprofit, 
 23.45  and public agencies, including regional 
 23.46  entities dealing with at-risk youth, 
 23.47  and community and parent organizations 
 23.48  in arranging for programming, staffing, 
 23.49  transportation, and equipment.  All 
 23.50  proposals must include an inventory of 
 23.51  existing facilities and an assessment 
 23.52  of programming needs in the community. 
 23.53  (a) Enrichment grants within the
 23.54  city of Minneapolis                                   5,000,000
 23.55  Of this amount, at least $2,500,000 
 23.56  must be used in the neighborhoods of 
 23.57  the Near North, Hawthorne, Sumner- 
 23.58  Glenwood-Harrison, Powderhorn, Central, 
 23.59  Whittier, and Phillips. 
 24.1   (b) Enrichment grants within the 
 24.2   city of St. Paul                                      5,000,000
 24.3   Of this amount, at least $2,500,000 
 24.4   must be used in the neighborhoods of 
 24.5   Summit-University, Thomas-Dale, North 
 24.6   End, Payne-Phalen, Daytons Bluff, and 
 24.7   the West Side. 
 24.8   The remaining $2,500,000 is available 
 24.9   citywide, with priority for some of the 
 24.10  remaining amount given to proposals by 
 24.11  public/private partnerships currently 
 24.12  offering after-school enrichment 
 24.13  programs in low-income areas in 
 24.14  conjunction with a neighborhood-based 
 24.15  organization.  Up to $100,000 of the 
 24.16  remaining $2,500,000 may be used to 
 24.17  develop urban sports facilities for 
 24.18  at-risk inner city youth, including 
 24.19  those older than eighth grade. 
 24.20  (c) Enrichment grants outside 
 24.21  of the cities of Minneapolis 
 24.22  and St. Paul                                         6,000,000
 24.23  Priority must be given to school 
 24.24  attendance areas with high 
 24.25  concentrations of children eligible for 
 24.26  free or reduced school lunch and to 
 24.27  government units demonstrating a 
 24.28  commitment to collaborative youth 
 24.29  efforts. 
 24.30  $500,000 is to the city of Bloomington 
 24.31  for after school enrichment activities 
 24.32  in the northeast Bloomington study area.
 24.33  The commissioner of children, families, 
 24.34  and learning must make a grant of at 
 24.35  least $1,000,000 to a school district 
 24.36  that is a part of a collaborative 
 24.37  effort that has at least two other 
 24.38  school districts, is multicultural and 
 24.39  multijurisdictional, and has previously 
 24.40  received a facility planning grant for 
 24.41  collaborative purposes. 
 24.42  (d) Each grant must be matched by $1 
 24.43  from local sources for each $2 of state 
 24.44  money.  In-kind contributions of 
 24.45  facilities may be used for the local 
 24.46  match.  The value of in-kind 
 24.47  contributions must be determined by the 
 24.48  commissioner of finance.  
 24.49  (e) Preference must be given to 
 24.50  projects for which at least ten percent 
 24.51  of the youth initiative grant is 
 24.52  expended using youthbuild under 
 24.53  Minnesota Statutes, sections 268.361 to 
 24.54  268.367, or other youth employment and 
 24.55  training programs, for the labor 
 24.56  portion of the construction.  Eligible 
 24.57  programs must consult with appropriate 
 24.58  labor organizations to deliver 
 24.59  education and training. 
 24.60     Sec. 11.  [MINNESOTA ADOLESCENT PARENTING PROGRAM GRANT.] 
 24.61     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A grant program is 
 25.1   established to provide school-based, comprehensive 
 25.2   community-linked programs for ensuring the long-term 
 25.3   self-sufficiency of adolescent families and the development and 
 25.4   school readiness of their children. 
 25.5      Subd. 2.  [GOALS.] The goals of the adolescent parenting 
 25.6   grant programs are to: 
 25.7      (1) assist pregnant and parenting adolescents to make 
 25.8   significant gains in school attendance, attainment of state 
 25.9   graduation standards, and acquisition of school-to-career 
 25.10  skills; 
 25.11     (2) prevent child abuse and neglect by improving the 
 25.12  parenting and communication skills of pregnant and parenting 
 25.13  adolescents; 
 25.14     (3) reduce long-term welfare dependency among adolescent 
 25.15  parents; and 
 25.16     (4) improve the outcomes for adolescent parents and their 
 25.17  children in the number of healthy births; cognitive, social, 
 25.18  linguistic, and emotional development; immunization rates; and 
 25.19  school readiness. 
 25.20     Subd. 3.  [ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.] The following students are 
 25.21  eligible for support services under the adolescent parenting 
 25.22  grant program: 
 25.23     (1) any student enrolled in a school district with an 
 25.24  approved adolescent parenting program who is age 21 or younger 
 25.25  and who is an expectant parent, custodial parent, or 
 25.26  noncustodial parent; and 
 25.27     (2) any child of a student as defined in clause (1) who is 
 25.28  under the age of five and is not yet enrolled in kindergarten. 
 25.29     Subd. 4.  [GRANT APPLICATION.] A school district, group of 
 25.30  school districts, alternative learning programs approved by the 
 25.31  commissioner, or family service collaboratives may apply for an 
 25.32  adolescent parenting program grant to the commissioner of 
 25.33  children, families, and learning.  The application must include 
 25.34  a detailed description of the program, including a description 
 25.35  of the population to be served by the program, a description of 
 25.36  the community agency or agencies collaborating with the site to 
 26.1   provide support services, an explanation of how each of the 
 26.2   program components will contribute to achieving program 
 26.3   outcomes, the number of pupils to be served by the pilot 
 26.4   program, a detailed budget that demonstrates the capacity to 
 26.5   achieve the program's goals, and a comprehensive evaluation plan 
 26.6   for measuring progress toward achieving the program's goals. 
 26.7      Subd. 5.  [PROGRAM COMPONENTS.] An adolescent parenting 
 26.8   program must include: 
 26.9      (1) a high quality educational program provided in the 
 26.10  least restrictive environment that includes strategies to ensure 
 26.11  access to educational services, including flexible attendance 
 26.12  policies and class scheduling, and grants academic credit for 
 26.13  all work completed; 
 26.14     (2) to the extent possible, collaboration with other 
 26.15  governmental agencies and community-based organizations to 
 26.16  provide on-site support services, including child care; 
 26.17     (3) an individualized learning plan for each eligible 
 26.18  student that includes career goals; 
 26.19     (4) assurance of compliance with requirements of Public Law 
 26.20  Number 92-318, title IX, prohibiting discrimination against 
 26.21  students due to their pregnant or parenting status; 
 26.22     (5) courses in parent education and life skills; 
 26.23     (6) accountability measures for student performance linked 
 26.24  to graduation standards; 
 26.25     (7) professional development opportunities on adolescent 
 26.26  pregnancy and parenting issues and strategies to achieve 
 26.27  academic success with this student population; 
 26.28     (8) a system to document that adolescent parenting and 
 26.29  prevention support funds were used to provide support services 
 26.30  to eligible students; 
 26.31     (9) a system for collecting and reporting specific student 
 26.32  data, including goals and outcome measurements; and 
 26.33     (10) a program advisory council, which may consist of an 
 26.34  existing local council. 
 26.35     Sec. 12.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 26.36     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 27.1   LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
 27.2   from the general fund to the department of children, families, 
 27.3   and learning for the fiscal years designated.  
 27.4      Subd. 2.  [FAMILY COLLABORATIVES.] For family 
 27.5   collaboratives according to Laws 1995, First Special Session 
 27.6   chapter 3, article 4, section 29, subdivision 10: 
 27.7        $7,500,000      .....     1998
 27.8        $7,500,000      .....     1999
 27.9      Of the appropriation, $150,000 each year is for grants 
 27.10  targeted to assist in providing collaborative children's library 
 27.11  service programs.  To be eligible, a family collaborative grant 
 27.12  recipient must collaborate with at least one public library and 
 27.13  one children's or family organization.  The public library must 
 27.14  involve the regional public library system and multitype library 
 27.15  system to which it belongs in the planning and provide for an 
 27.16  evaluation of the program. 
 27.17     No more than 2.5 percent of the appropriation is available 
 27.18  to the state to administer and evaluate the grant program. 
 27.19     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 27.20  available in the second year. 
 27.21     Subd. 3.  [COMMUNITY EDUCATION AID.] For community 
 27.22  education aid according to Minnesota Statutes, section 124.2713: 
 27.23       $1,828,000     .....     1998 
 27.24       $1,619,000     .....     1999
 27.25     The 1998 appropriation includes $237,000 for 1997 and 
 27.26  $1,591,000 for 1998.  
 27.27     The 1999 appropriation includes $176,000 for 1998 and 
 27.28  $1,443,000 for 1999.  
 27.29     Subd. 4.  [ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM AID.] For 
 27.30  adults with disabilities programs according to Minnesota 
 27.31  Statutes, section 124.2715: 
 27.32       $770,000       .....     1998 
 27.33       $770,000       .....     1999 
 27.34     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 27.35  available in the second year. 
 27.36     Of this amount, $100,000 each year may be used to pilot 
 28.1   programs in five regions of the state that currently have no 
 28.2   programs for adults with disabilities.  These programs may not 
 28.3   levy for fiscal year 1999 or later.  Of this amount, $200,000 is 
 28.4   a one-time appropriation and is not to be added to the permanent 
 28.5   base. 
 28.6      Subd. 5.  [HEARING-IMPAIRED ADULTS.] For programs for 
 28.7   hearing-impaired adults according to Minnesota Statutes, section 
 28.8   121.201: 
 28.9        $70,000        .....     1998
 28.10       $70,000        .....     1999
 28.11     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 28.12  available in the second year. 
 28.13     Subd. 6.  [VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATION GRANTS.] For 
 28.14  violence prevention education grants: 
 28.15       $1,575,000     .....     1998
 28.16       $1,575,000     .....     1999
 28.17     Of the amount each year, $75,000 is for community violence 
 28.18  prevention councils which is not an increase in the base level 
 28.19  appropriation, and $50,000 is for program administration. 
 28.20     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 28.21  available in the second year. 
 28.22     Subd. 7.  [MALE RESPONSIBILITY.] For male responsibility 
 28.23  grants: 
 28.24       $250,000       .....     1998
 28.25       $250,000       .....     1999
 28.26     The commissioner of children, families, and learning may 
 28.27  enter into cooperative agreements with the commissioner of human 
 28.28  services to access federal money for child support and paternity 
 28.29  education programs. 
 28.30     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 28.31  available in the second year. 
 28.32     Subd. 8.  [ABUSED CHILDREN.] For abused children programs 
 28.33  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119A.21: 
 28.34       $1,048,000     .....     1998 
 28.35       $1,079,000     .....     1999
 28.36     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 29.1   available in the second year. 
 29.2      Subd. 9.  [DRUG POLICY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.] 
 29.3   For drug policy, violence prevention, and family visitation 
 29.4   programs: 
 29.5        $3,412,000     .....     1998
 29.6        $3,480,000     .....     1999
 29.7      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 29.8   available in the second year. 
 29.9      Subd. 10.  [CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND.] For children's trust 
 29.10  fund according to Minnesota Statutes, sections 119A.12 and 
 29.11  119A.13: 
 29.12       $247,000       .....     1998
 29.13       $247,000       .....     1999
 29.14     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 29.15  available in the second year. 
 29.16     Subd. 11.  [AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT GRANTS.] For after 
 29.17  school enrichment grants according to Laws 1996, chapter 412, 
 29.18  article 4, section 30: 
 29.19       $6,029,000     .....     1998
 29.20       $6,029,000     .....     1999
 29.21     The commissioner may use up to five percent of this 
 29.22  appropriation to provide technical assistance and evaluation to 
 29.23  community organizations. 
 29.24     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 29.25  available in the second year. 
 29.26     For fiscal year 1998, the commissioner may award grantees 
 29.27  one additional year of funding up to the grant award in fiscal 
 29.28  year 1997.  Additional appropriations in fiscal year 1998 and 
 29.29  fiscal year 1999 must be used to award grants on a competitive 
 29.30  basis. 
 29.31     Subd. 12.  [ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED DRIVER.] (a) For grants with 
 29.32  funds received under Minnesota Statutes, section 171.29, 
 29.33  subdivision 2, paragraph (b), clause (4): 
 29.34       $314,000       .....     1998
 29.35       $314,000       .....     1999
 29.36     (b) These appropriations are from the alcohol-impaired 
 30.1   driver account of the special revenue fund.  Any funds credited 
 30.2   for the department of children, families, and learning to the 
 30.3   alcohol-impaired driver account of the special revenue fund in 
 30.4   excess of the amounts appropriated in this subdivision are 
 30.5   appropriated to the department of children, families, and 
 30.6   learning and available in fiscal year 1998 and fiscal year 1999. 
 30.7      (c) Up to $226,000 each year may be used by the department 
 30.8   of children, families, and learning to contract for services to 
 30.9   school districts stressing the dangers of driving after 
 30.10  consuming alcohol.  No more than five percent of this amount may 
 30.11  be used for administrative costs by the contract recipients. 
 30.12     (d) Up to $88,000 each year may be used for grants to 
 30.13  support student-centered programs to discourage driving after 
 30.14  consuming alcohol. 
 30.15     Subd. 13.  [CHEMICAL ABUSE PREVENTION GRANTS.] (a) For 
 30.16  grants with funds received under Minnesota Statutes, section 
 30.17  171.29, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), clause (4): 
 30.18       $200,000       .....     1998 
 30.19       $200,000       .....     1999 
 30.20     (b) These appropriations are from the chemical abuse 
 30.21  prevention account of the special revenue fund.  Any funds 
 30.22  credited for the department of children, families, and learning 
 30.23  to the chemical abuse account of the special revenue fund in 
 30.24  excess of the amounts appropriated in this subdivision are 
 30.25  appropriated to the department of children, families, and 
 30.26  learning and are available in fiscal year 1998 and fiscal year 
 30.27  1999. 
 30.28     (c) Of these amounts, up to $300,000 is for a grant to 
 30.29  provide a match for a community collaborative project for 
 30.30  children and youth developed by a regional organization 
 30.31  established under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.415, to 
 30.32  receive rural development challenge grants in fiscal years 1998 
 30.33  and 1999 only. 
 30.34     The regional organization must include a broad 
 30.35  cross-section of public and private sector community 
 30.36  representatives to develop programs, services, or facilities to 
 31.1   address specific community needs of children and youth. 
 31.2      The regional organization that receives a grant must 
 31.3   provide a two-to-one match of nonstate dollars. 
 31.4      Subd. 14.  [EXTENDED DAY AID.] For extended day aid 
 31.5   according to Minnesota Statutes, section 124.2716: 
 31.6        $347,000       .....     1998 
 31.7        $304,000       .....     1999
 31.8      The 1998 appropriation includes $37,000 for 1997 and 
 31.9   $310,000 for 1998. 
 31.10     The 1999 appropriation includes $34,000 for 1998 and 
 31.11  $270,000 for 1999. 
 31.12     Subd. 15.  [NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED SERVICES.] For the pilot 
 31.13  projects in neighborhood-based services under Minnesota 
 31.14  Statutes, section 119A.08: 
 31.15       $50,000        .....     1998 
 31.16     Subd. 16.  [ADOLESCENT PARENTING GRANT.] For adolescent 
 31.17  parenting grants under section 1: 
 31.18       $800,000       .....     1998 
 31.19     Any balance the first year does not cancel but is available 
 31.20  in the second year.  This money is available for 1998-1999 
 31.21  only.  Up to $550,000 is for grants to Minnesota school 
 31.22  districts, area learning centers, or family service 
 31.23  collaboratives for adolescent parenting services.  The 
 31.24  commissioner must include in the criteria for grant awards the 
 31.25  number of enrolled students who are custodial, noncustodial, or 
 31.26  expectant parents.  A grant to a single school site may not 
 31.27  exceed $50,000. 
 31.28     Up to $250,000 is for grants to school-based early 
 31.29  childhood programs in Minnesota school districts for services to 
 31.30  children of adolescent parents who remain enrolled in a public 
 31.31  school district. 
 31.32     A grant to a single early childhood site may not exceed 
 31.33  $25,000. 
 31.34     The commissioner shall make grants under this section to 
 31.35  two metropolitan area school districts and at least two 
 31.36  nonmetropolitan adolescent parenting programs. 
 32.1      Where applicable, the department shall assure the 
 32.2   coordination of male responsibility grants, the Minnesota 
 32.3   adolescent parenting program, ENABL, and any federal resources 
 32.4   available to serve pregnant or parenting adolescents or programs 
 32.5   for the prevention of pregnancy.  Pregnancy prevention means to 
 32.6   prevent pregnancies from occurring, and does not include 
 32.7   abortion referral or services.  
 32.8      Subd. 17.  [YOUTH OUTREACH SERVICES.] For the Meadowbrook 
 32.9   collaborative housing project in St. Louis Park to provide 
 32.10  educational and recreational services for youth at risk through 
 32.11  the development of formal after school programming and weekend 
 32.12  youth activities.  These funds shall be available to assist in 
 32.13  staffing and programming to reduce truancy, develop assets for 
 32.14  youth at risk, and mentoring with adults: 
 32.15       $25,000        .....     1998 
 32.16     Subd. 18.  [EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM.] For continued 
 32.17  implementation of the crime prevention, targeted early 
 32.18  intervention program established in Laws 1995, chapter 226, 
 32.19  article 3, section 62: 
 32.20       $200,000       .....     1998 
 32.21       $200,000       .....     1999 
 32.22     Any balance in the first year does not cancel, but is 
 32.23  available in the second year. 
 32.24     The commissioner of children, families, and learning is 
 32.25  responsible for continuation of the targeted early intervention 
 32.26  program.  The commissioner of children, families, and learning 
 32.27  shall report findings and recommendations to the legislature 
 32.28  annually on the standards and model programming developed under 
 32.29  the demonstration project to guide the design of targeted early 
 32.30  intervention services to prevent crime and delinquency. 
 32.31     Subd. 19.  [LITTLE EARTH EARLY LEARNING CENTER.] For a 
 32.32  matching grant to the Little Earth Residents Association for 
 32.33  programming in the Neighborhood Early Learning Center: 
 32.34       $250,000       .....     1998 
 32.35     Each dollar of grant funds must be matched by a dollar of 
 32.36  nonstate money. 
 33.1      Subd. 20.  [CAREER AND TRAINING GRANT.] For a grant to the 
 33.2   Total Solutions Group University and Summit Academy OIC for the 
 33.3   purpose of providing youth and adult career and technology 
 33.4   oriented training and education at the Northside Career and 
 33.5   Technology Center. 
 33.6        $178,000       .....     1998 
 33.7      This appropriation does not cancel but is available until 
 33.8   spent. 
 33.9      Sec. 13.  [LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION.] 
 33.10     For the lead hazard reduction program in Minnesota 
 33.11  Statutes, section 268.92:  
 33.12       $200,000       .....     1998 
 33.13     The appropriation is available for the biennium ending June 
 33.14  30, 1999. 
 33.15     Of this amount $50,000 is for a grant to the city of St. 
 33.16  Louis Park to conduct lead testing and clean up in the 
 33.17  residential neighborhoods contaminated by an industrial lead 
 33.18  site. 
 33.19                             ARTICLE 3
 33.20                     SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAMS
 33.21     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.01, 
 33.22  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 33.23     Subd. 3.  [PURPOSE.] The purpose in creating the department 
 33.24  is to increase the capacity of Minnesota communities to 
 33.25  measurably improve the well-being of children and families by: 
 33.26     (1) coordinating and integrating state funded and locally 
 33.27  administered family and children programs; 
 33.28     (2) improving flexibility in the design, funding, and 
 33.29  delivery of programs affecting children and families; 
 33.30     (3) providing greater focus on strategies designed to 
 33.31  prevent problems affecting the well-being of children and 
 33.32  families; 
 33.33     (4) enhancing local decision making, collaboration, and the 
 33.34  development of new governance models; 
 33.35     (5) improving public accountability through the provision 
 33.36  of research, information, and the development of measurable 
 34.1   program outcomes; 
 34.2      (6) increasing the capacity of communities to respond to 
 34.3   the whole child by improving the ability of families to gain 
 34.4   access to services; 
 34.5      (7) encouraging all members of a community to nurture all 
 34.6   the children in the community; and 
 34.7      (8) supporting parents in their dual roles as breadwinners 
 34.8   and parents; and 
 34.9      (9) reducing the condition of poverty for families and 
 34.10  children through comprehensive community-based strategies. 
 34.11     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.04, 
 34.12  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 34.13     Subd. 6.  [FUNDING FOR TRANSFERRED PROGRAMS.] State 
 34.14  appropriations for programs transferred under this section may 
 34.15  not be used to replace appropriations for K-12 programs.  State 
 34.16  and federal appropriations for programs under subdivision 5a, 
 34.17  transferred from the department of economic security, may not be 
 34.18  used to replace, supplement, or supplant federal or state 
 34.19  appropriations for any other program in the department. 
 34.20     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.04, is 
 34.21  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 34.22     Subd. 7.  [GRANTEES OF TRANSFERRED PROGRAMS.] Except as 
 34.23  provided in Minnesota Rules, chapter 3350, the commissioner 
 34.24  shall not reduce the numbers of organizations or eliminate 
 34.25  specific types of organizations that are eligible to directly 
 34.26  apply for grants made by programs transferred from the 
 34.27  department of economic security after January 1, 1997. 
 34.28     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.15, is 
 34.29  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 34.30     Subd. 5a.  [EXCLUDED PROGRAMS.] Programs transferred to the 
 34.31  department of children, families, and learning from the 
 34.32  department of economic security may not be included in the 
 34.33  consolidated funding account and are ineligible for local 
 34.34  consolidation.  The commissioner may not apply for federal 
 34.35  waivers to include these programs in funding consolidation 
 34.36  initiatives.  The programs include the following: 
 35.1      (1) programs for the homeless under sections 268.365, 
 35.2   268.38, and 268.39; 
 35.3      (2) emergency energy assistance and energy conservation 
 35.4   programs under sections 4.071 and 268.371; 
 35.5      (3) weatherization programs under section 268.37; 
 35.6      (4) foodshelf programs under section 268.55 and the 
 35.7   emergency food assistance program; and 
 35.8      (5) lead abatement programs under section 268.92. 
 35.9      Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.17, 
 35.10  subdivision 2e, is amended to read: 
 35.11     Subd. 2e.  [AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP, PUPILS AGE 21 OR 
 35.12  OVER.] The average daily membership for pupils age 21 or over, 
 35.13  is equal to the ratio of the number of yearly hours that the 
 35.14  pupil is in membership to the number of instructional hours in 
 35.15  the district's regular school year.  A pupil enrolled in the 
 35.16  graduation incentives program under section 126.22, subdivision 
 35.17  2, paragraph (b), for more than the number of instructional 
 35.18  hours in the district's regular school year may be counted as 
 35.19  more than one pupil in average daily membership. 
 35.20     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.26, is 
 35.21  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 35.22     Subd. 1d.  [ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.] An adult basic 
 35.23  education program may provide special instruction and services 
 35.24  to adults according to subdivision 1b who have a significant 
 35.25  impairment that limits or restricts a major life activity such 
 35.26  as hearing, seeing, speaking, walking, caring for oneself, 
 35.27  learning, working, or performing manual tasks, as determined by 
 35.28  the commissioner.  The program must be approved by the 
 35.29  commissioner according to the criteria set forth in subdivision 
 35.30  1c.  Adults who qualify for this program must have the ability 
 35.31  to make substantial progress toward their stated academic goals 
 35.32  in reading, writing, mathematics, and communications, as 
 35.33  determined by the commissioner. 
 35.34     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.26, 
 35.35  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 35.36     Subd. 2.  [ACCOUNTS; REVENUE; AID.] Each district, group of 
 36.1   districts, or private nonprofit organization providing adult 
 36.2   basic education programs shall establish and maintain accounts 
 36.3   separate from all other district accounts for the receipt and 
 36.4   disbursement of all funds related to these programs.  All 
 36.5   revenue received pursuant to this section shall be utilized 
 36.6   solely for the purposes of adult basic education programs.  In 
 36.7   no case shall federal and state aid plus levy equal more than 
 36.8   100 percent of the actual cost of providing these programs. 
 36.9      Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2601, 
 36.10  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 36.11     Subd. 3.  [AID REVENUE.] Adult basic education aid revenue 
 36.12  for each approved program equals 65 percent of the general 
 36.13  education formula allowance times the number of full-time 
 36.14  equivalent students in its adult basic education program. 
 36.15     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2601, 
 36.16  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 36.17     Subd. 4.  [LEVY.] To obtain adult basic education revenue, 
 36.18  a district with an eligible program may levy an amount not to 
 36.19  exceed the amount raised by .12 .119 percent times the adjusted 
 36.20  tax capacity of the district for the preceding year. 
 36.21     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2601, 
 36.22  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 36.23     Subd. 5.  [REVENUE AID.] Adult basic education revenue aid 
 36.24  is equal to the sum difference of an approved program's adult 
 36.25  basic education aid revenue and its adult basic education levy.  
 36.26  If the district does not levy the full amount permitted, the 
 36.27  adult education aid shall be reduced in proportion to the actual 
 36.28  amount levied. 
 36.29     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2601, 
 36.30  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 36.31     Subd. 6.  [AID GUARANTEE.] (a) For fiscal year 1994, any 
 36.32  adult basic education program that receives less state aid under 
 36.33  subdivisions 3 and 7 than from the aid formula for fiscal year 
 36.34  1992 shall receive the amount of aid it received in fiscal year 
 36.35  1992. 
 36.36     (b) For 1995 and later, 1996, and 1997 fiscal years, an 
 37.1   adult basic education program that receives aid shall receive at 
 37.2   least the amount of aid it received in fiscal year 1992 under 
 37.3   subdivisions 3 and 7, plus aid equal to the amount of revenue 
 37.4   that would have been raised for taxes payable in 1994 under 
 37.5   Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 124.2601, subdivision 4, minus 
 37.6   the amount raised under subdivision 4. 
 37.7      (c) For fiscal year 1998, any adult basic education program 
 37.8   that receives less state aid than in fiscal year 1997 shall 
 37.9   receive additional aid equal to 80 percent of the difference 
 37.10  between its 1997 aid and the amount of aid under subdivision 5.  
 37.11  For fiscal year 1999 and later, additional aid under this 
 37.12  paragraph shall be reduced by 20 percent each year. 
 37.13     Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2601, is 
 37.14  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 37.15     Subd. 8.  [ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AID.] Adult basic 
 37.16  education aid for adults with disabilities programs established 
 37.17  under section 124.26, subdivision 1d, equals $225 for each 
 37.18  eligible participant enrolled for a minimum of 12 hours. 
 37.19     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.261, 
 37.20  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 37.21     Subdivision 1.  [AID ELIGIBILITY.] For fiscal year years 
 37.22  1996 1998 and later, adult high school graduation aid for 
 37.23  eligible pupils age 21 or over, equals 65 percent of the general 
 37.24  education formula allowance times 1.30 times the average daily 
 37.25  membership under section 124.17, subdivision 2e.  For 1997 and 
 37.26  later fiscal years, adult high school graduation aid per 
 37.27  eligible pupil equals the amount established by the commissioner 
 37.28  of children, families, and learning, in consultation with the 
 37.29  commissioner of finance, based on the appropriation for this 
 37.30  program.  Adult high school graduation aid must be paid in 
 37.31  addition to any other aid to the district.  Pupils age 21 or 
 37.32  over may not be counted by the district for any purpose other 
 37.33  than adult high school graduation aid. 
 37.34     Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.53, 
 37.35  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 37.36     Subd. 5.  [FUNCTIONS; POWERS.] A community action agency 
 38.1   shall:  
 38.2      (a) Plan systematically for an effective community action 
 38.3   program; develop information as to the problems and causes of 
 38.4   poverty in the community; determine how much and how effectively 
 38.5   assistance is being provided to deal with those problems and 
 38.6   causes; and establish priorities among projects, activities and 
 38.7   areas as needed for the best and most efficient use of 
 38.8   resources; 
 38.9      (b) Encourage agencies engaged in activities related to the 
 38.10  community action program to plan for, secure, and administer 
 38.11  assistance available under section 268.52 or from other sources 
 38.12  on a common or cooperative basis; provide planning or technical 
 38.13  assistance to those agencies; and generally, in cooperation with 
 38.14  community agencies and officials, undertake actions to improve 
 38.15  existing efforts to reduce poverty, such as improving day-to-day 
 38.16  communications, closing service gaps, focusing resources on the 
 38.17  most needy, and providing additional opportunities to low-income 
 38.18  individuals for regular employment or participation in the 
 38.19  programs or activities for which those community agencies and 
 38.20  officials are responsible; 
 38.21     (c) Initiate and sponsor projects responsive to needs of 
 38.22  the poor which are not otherwise being met, with particular 
 38.23  emphasis on providing central or common services that can be 
 38.24  drawn upon by a variety of related programs, developing new 
 38.25  approaches or new types of services that can be incorporated 
 38.26  into other programs, and filling gaps pending the expansion or 
 38.27  modification of those programs; 
 38.28     (d) Establish effective procedures by which the poor and 
 38.29  area residents concerned will be enabled to influence the 
 38.30  character of programs affecting their interests, provide for 
 38.31  their regular participation in the implementation of those 
 38.32  programs, and provide technical and other support needed to 
 38.33  enable the poor and neighborhood groups to secure on their own 
 38.34  behalf available assistance from public and private sources; 
 38.35     (e) Join with and encourage business, labor and other 
 38.36  private groups and organizations to undertake, together with 
 39.1   public officials and agencies, activities in support of the 
 39.2   community action program which will result in the additional use 
 39.3   of private resources and capabilities, with a view to developing 
 39.4   new employment opportunities, stimulating investment that will 
 39.5   have a measurable impact on reducing poverty among residents of 
 39.6   areas of concentrated poverty, and providing methods by which 
 39.7   residents of those areas can work with private groups, firms, 
 39.8   and institutions in seeking solutions to problems of common 
 39.9   concern.  
 39.10     Community action agencies, the Minnesota migrant council, 
 39.11  and the Indian reservations, may enter into cooperative 
 39.12  purchasing agreements and self-insurance programs with local 
 39.13  units of government.  Nothing in this section expands or limits 
 39.14  the current private or public nature of a local community action 
 39.15  agency. 
 39.16     (f) Adopt policies that require the agencies to refer area 
 39.17  residents and community action program constituents to education 
 39.18  programs that increase literacy, improve parenting skills, and 
 39.19  address the needs of children from families in poverty.  These 
 39.20  programs include, but are not limited to, early childhood family 
 39.21  education programs, adult basic education programs, and other 
 39.22  life-long learning opportunities.  The agencies and agency 
 39.23  programs, including Head Start, shall collaborate with child 
 39.24  care and other early childhood education programs to ensure 
 39.25  smooth transitions to work for parents. 
 39.26     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.912, is 
 39.27  amended to read: 
 39.28     268.912 [HEAD START PROGRAM.] 
 39.29     The department of economic security children, families, and 
 39.30  learning is the state agency responsible for administering the 
 39.31  Head Start program.  The commissioner of economic security 
 39.32  children, families, and learning may make grants to public or 
 39.33  private nonprofit agencies for the purpose of providing 
 39.34  supplemental funds for the federal Head Start program. 
 39.35     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.913, 
 39.36  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 40.1      Subd. 2.  [PROGRAM ACCOUNT 20.] "Program account 20" means 
 40.2   the federally designated and funded account limited to for 
 40.3   training and technical assistance activities. 
 40.4      Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.913, 
 40.5   subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 40.6      Subd. 4.  [PROGRAM ACCOUNT 26 25.] "Program account 26 25" 
 40.7   means the federally designated and funded account that can only 
 40.8   be used to provide special services to handicapped diagnosed 
 40.9   children for parent child centers. 
 40.10     Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.914, 
 40.11  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 40.12     Subdivision 1.  [STATE SUPPLEMENT FOR FEDERAL GRANTEES.] 
 40.13  (a) The commissioner of economic security shall children, 
 40.14  families, and learning must distribute money appropriated for 
 40.15  that purpose to Head Start program grantees to expand 
 40.16  services and to serve additional low-income children.  Money 
 40.17  must be allocated to each project Head Start grantee in 
 40.18  existence on the effective date of Laws 1989, chapter 282.  
 40.19  Migrant and Indian reservation grantees must be initially 
 40.20  allocated money based on the grantees' share of federal funds.  
 40.21  The remaining money must be initially allocated to the remaining 
 40.22  local agencies based equally on the agencies' share of federal 
 40.23  funds and on the proportion of eligible children in the 
 40.24  agencies' service area who are not currently being served.  A 
 40.25  Head Start grantee must be funded at a per child rate equal to 
 40.26  its contracted, federally funded base level for program accounts 
 40.27  20 to 26 20, 22, and 25 at the start of the fiscal year.  In 
 40.28  allocating funds under this paragraph, the commissioner of 
 40.29  economic security must assure that each Head Start grantee is 
 40.30  allocated no less funding in any fiscal year than was allocated 
 40.31  to that grantee in fiscal year 1993.  The commissioner may 
 40.32  provide additional funding to grantees for start-up costs 
 40.33  incurred by grantees due to the increased number of children to 
 40.34  be served.  Before paying money to the grantees, the 
 40.35  commissioner shall must notify each grantee of its initial 
 40.36  allocation, how the money must be used, and the number of 
 41.1   low-income children that must be served with the allocation.  
 41.2   Each grantee must notify the commissioner of the number 
 41.3   of additional low-income children it will be able to serve.  For 
 41.4   any grantee that cannot serve additional children to utilize its 
 41.5   full allocation, the commissioner shall must reduce the 
 41.6   allocation proportionately.  Money available after the initial 
 41.7   allocations are reduced must be redistributed to eligible 
 41.8   grantees. 
 41.9      (b) Up to 11 percent of the funds appropriated annually may 
 41.10  be used to provide grants to local Head Start agencies to 
 41.11  provide funds for innovative programs designed either to target 
 41.12  Head Start resources to particular at-risk groups of children or 
 41.13  to provide services in addition to those currently allowable 
 41.14  under federal Head Start regulations.  The commissioner shall 
 41.15  must award funds for innovative programs under this paragraph on 
 41.16  a competitive basis. 
 41.17     Sec. 19.  [WORKER PARTICIPATION COMMITTEES.] 
 41.18     Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, 
 41.19  subdivision 6, the worker participation committees established 
 41.20  under Laws 1995, First Special Session chapter 3, article 16, 
 41.21  section 10, subdivision 3, does not expire until June 30, 1999. 
 41.22     Sec. 20.  [RESIDENTIAL WEATHERIZATION.] 
 41.23     The commissioner of children, families, and learning shall 
 41.24  make grants to organizations to weatherize homes of Minnesota 
 41.25  residents who are 65 years of age or older.  Community action 
 41.26  agencies and other public and private nonprofit organizations 
 41.27  may apply under Minnesota Statutes, section 268.37, for grants 
 41.28  from the state appropriation.  Eligible recipients must meet the 
 41.29  income guidelines under the weatherization program and asset 
 41.30  limitations under medical assistance.  Notwithstanding Minnesota 
 41.31  Statutes, section 268.37, subdivision 4, the commissioner shall 
 41.32  award grants under this section to meet the goal of cost 
 41.33  effectively weatherizing the maximum number of residences of 
 41.34  elderly Minnesotans within the limits of the appropriation. 
 41.35     Sec. 21.  [CAP PROGRAMMING.] 
 41.36     Community action agencies under Minnesota Statutes, section 
 42.1   268.53, shall review and evaluate how CAP agencies can integrate 
 42.2   an education component into the functions and powers under 
 42.3   Minnesota Statutes, section 268.53, subdivision 5, and the 
 42.4   community action programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 
 42.5   268.53.  The agencies shall make recommendations and make a 
 42.6   proposal to the family and early childhood education finance 
 42.7   division on the means to incorporate education into the 
 42.8   antipoverty programs administered by CAP agencies. 
 42.9      Sec. 22.  [COOPERATIVE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE AND 
 42.10  ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS.] 
 42.11     Subdivision 1.  [NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.] 
 42.12  Any school district, or adult basic education consortium that 
 42.13  receives revenue under Minnesota Statutes, section 124.2601, 
 42.14  must collaborate with community-based organizations and 
 42.15  nonprofit organizations within their district or region that 
 42.16  have demonstrated the capacity to deliver English as a second 
 42.17  language or citizenship programming.  The district or consortium 
 42.18  must consider an organization to have demonstrated the capacity 
 42.19  to deliver programming if the organization has past experience 
 42.20  or meets the criteria in subdivision 2.  No more than eight 
 42.21  percent of the total funds provided by a school district or an 
 42.22  adult basic education consortium to a nonprofit or 
 42.23  community-based organization under this section, may be used for 
 42.24  the administrative costs of providing English as a second 
 42.25  language, adult basic education, or citizenship programs. 
 42.26     Subd. 2.  [ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.] A community-based 
 42.27  organization or nonprofit organization without past experience 
 42.28  providing adult basic education services under Minnesota 
 42.29  Statutes, section 124.2601, must demonstrate that it has met the 
 42.30  following criteria: 
 42.31     (1) be legally established as a nonprofit organization; 
 42.32     (2) have facilities that are accessible to all learners; 
 42.33     (3) have an established system for fiscal accounting and 
 42.34  reporting that is consistent with the department of children, 
 42.35  families, and learning's ABE completion report; 
 42.36     (4) employ a licensed teacher; and 
 43.1      (5) require all instructional staff to complete the 
 43.2   Minnesota Literacy Council's 12-hour training session. 
 43.3      Sec. 23.  [ADULT BASIC EDUCATION STUDIES.] 
 43.4      Subdivision 1.  [COST OF SERVICES AND EQUITY OF 
 43.5   FUNDING.] The legislative audit commission is asked to request 
 43.6   that the office of the legislative auditor conduct a study of 
 43.7   the funding for adult basic education under Minnesota Statutes, 
 43.8   sections 124.26, 124.2605, and 124.261.  The study should assess:
 43.9   the cost of providing adult basic education on a per pupil 
 43.10  basis; the relationship of the cost to the current funding 
 43.11  formulas for adult basic education; the contribution of K-12 
 43.12  funding for adult basic education; the relative contribution of 
 43.13  state aid and local levy to the funding for adult basic 
 43.14  education; and the equity of the current funding formulas.  The 
 43.15  study should provide recommendations on appropriate funding for 
 43.16  adult basic education programs, including recommendations on the 
 43.17  contributions by local school districts through dedicated levies 
 43.18  and funding that follows students from the K-12 system to the 
 43.19  adult basic education program. 
 43.20     Subd. 2.  [STUDY OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR ADULT BASIC 
 43.21  EDUCATION.] The commissioner of children, families, and learning 
 43.22  shall identify and evaluate participation and performance 
 43.23  measures for the adult basic education system.  The evaluation 
 43.24  should examine: 
 43.25     (1) measures and methods to monitor the progress and 
 43.26  achievements of adults who participate in adult basic education; 
 43.27     (2) measures of delivery and participation for adults in 
 43.28  adult basic education including hours of service, intensity of 
 43.29  service, expectations for and measurement of reasonable 
 43.30  progress, and priorities for providing service if demand exceeds 
 43.31  capacity or resources; 
 43.32     (3) the relationship of participation, intensity, 
 43.33  priorities, and progress to measures of student performance; 
 43.34     (4) measures to assess the performance of organizations and 
 43.35  entities delivering adult basic education services; and 
 43.36     (5) methods to provide performance-based funding for adult 
 44.1   basic education programs.  
 44.2      The commissioner of children, families, and learning shall 
 44.3   make recommendations to the legislature on a performance-based 
 44.4   adult basic education system and may contract for all or part of 
 44.5   the study. 
 44.6      Sec. 24.  [ADULT BASIC EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECT.] 
 44.7      The commissioner of children, families, and learning shall 
 44.8   establish an adult basic education technology project to design, 
 44.9   implement, and evaluate the use of online technological 
 44.10  applications for adult learners.  The commissioner shall appoint 
 44.11  individuals to a working group to collaboratively carry out the 
 44.12  project.  Members of the working group must represent adult 
 44.13  basic education programs that have demonstrated skills and 
 44.14  experience working with online learning technologies, technology 
 44.15  experts, and specialists in adult learning and English as a 
 44.16  second language.  Over a three-year period, the working group 
 44.17  shall plan and develop an adult learning curriculum that is 
 44.18  consistent with the Minnesota graduation standards and that can 
 44.19  be delivered through telecommunications to adult learning sites. 
 44.20     In the first year, the group shall identify, design, and 
 44.21  test online curriculum and delivery methods for use in adult 
 44.22  learning programs including adult diploma, general equivalency 
 44.23  diploma, and English as a second language programs.  In the 
 44.24  second and third years, the group shall identify and implement 
 44.25  methods to transfer the curriculum and online methods to adult 
 44.26  basic education providers, provide staff development, and 
 44.27  evaluate the use of online curriculum. 
 44.28     Sec. 25.  [LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE REVENUE REPORT OF 
 44.29  FINDINGS.] 
 44.30     The commissioner that administers the low-income energy 
 44.31  assistance program shall coordinate a report of findings of 
 44.32  potential revenue sources for the low-income energy assistance 
 44.33  program.  The report of findings must be done, to the extent 
 44.34  possible, in cooperation with the commissioner of revenue, the 
 44.35  commissioner of public service, the public utilities commission, 
 44.36  members representing the industry including the delivered fuel 
 45.1   industry, rural electric cooperatives, regulated utilities, 
 45.2   municipal utilities, and representatives of low-income energy 
 45.3   advocates and other consumer advocates.  By January 31, 1998, 
 45.4   the report of findings must review and make recommendations to 
 45.5   the appropriate legislative committees on potential sources of 
 45.6   revenue to provide assistance to low-income energy consumers 
 45.7   including, but not limited to: 
 45.8      (1) a surcharge on summer delivered fuel fills; 
 45.9      (2) all fuels charge; 
 45.10     (3) margin over rack programs; 
 45.11     (4) revenue-based and BTU-based wires charges; and 
 45.12     (5) general revenue funds. 
 45.13     Sec. 26.  [EMERGENCY SERVICES GRANTS.] 
 45.14     Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] (a) For the purposes of this 
 45.15  section, the terms in this subdivision have the meanings given 
 45.16  them. 
 45.17     (b) "Emergency services" means: 
 45.18     (1) providing emergency shelter for homeless persons; and 
 45.19     (2) assisting homeless persons in obtaining essential 
 45.20  services, including: 
 45.21     (i) access to permanent housing; 
 45.22     (ii) medical and psychological help; 
 45.23     (iii) employment counseling and job placement; 
 45.24     (iv) substance abuse treatment; 
 45.25     (v) financial assistance available from other programs; 
 45.26     (vi) emergency child care; 
 45.27     (vii) transportation; and 
 45.28     (viii) other services needed to stabilize housing.  
 45.29     (c) "Eligible organization" means a local governmental unit 
 45.30  or nonprofit organization providing or seeking to provide 
 45.31  emergency services for homeless persons. 
 45.32     Subd. 2.  [PROGRAM ESTABLISHED; PURPOSE.] An emergency 
 45.33  services grant program is established to provide homeless 
 45.34  persons essential services and emergency shelter in safe, 
 45.35  sanitary, and decent facilities.  The grant program is to help 
 45.36  eligible organizations improve the quality of existing shelters, 
 46.1   make available other emergency housing, meet the operating and 
 46.2   maintenance costs of shelters, and provide essential services to 
 46.3   homeless persons.  The program shall be administered by the 
 46.4   commissioner of children, families, and learning. 
 46.5      Subd. 3.  [DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS.] The commissioner of 
 46.6   children, families, and learning shall make grants so as to 
 46.7   ensure that emergency services are available to meet the needs 
 46.8   of homeless persons statewide. 
 46.9      Subd. 4.  [MATCHING FUNDS.] The commissioner of children, 
 46.10  families, and learning may require a grantee to match the grant 
 46.11  amount with $1 of nonstate funds for every $2 of grant funds.  
 46.12  The match may be in-kind, including the value of volunteer time, 
 46.13  or in cash, or a combination of the two. 
 46.14     Subd. 5.  [APPLICATIONS.] An eligible organization may 
 46.15  apply to the commissioner of children, families, and learning 
 46.16  for a grant to initiate, maintain, or expand a program providing 
 46.17  emergency services for homeless persons.  The commissioner of 
 46.18  children, families, and learning shall determine the timing and 
 46.19  form of the application for the program. 
 46.20     Subd. 6.  [CRITERIA FOR GRANT AWARDS.] The commissioner of 
 46.21  children, families, and learning shall award grants based on the 
 46.22  following criteria: 
 46.23     (1) that the application is for a grant to provide 
 46.24  emergency services; 
 46.25     (2) evidence of the applicant's need for state assistance 
 46.26  and of the need for the particular emergency services to be 
 46.27  funded; and 
 46.28     (3) long-range plans for future funding if the need 
 46.29  continues to exist for the emergency services. 
 46.30     Subd. 7.  [PROGRAM INFORMATION.] In order to collect 
 46.31  uniform data to measure better the nature and extent of the need 
 46.32  for emergency services, grant recipients shall collect and make 
 46.33  available to the commissioner the following information: 
 46.34     (1) the number of persons who seek emergency shelter and 
 46.35  where they are seeking shelter; 
 46.36     (2) the number of persons for whom shelter is provided and 
 47.1   where, by age, sex, and whether as an individual or part of a 
 47.2   family; 
 47.3      (3) the reasons for seeking assistance; 
 47.4      (4) the length of stay; 
 47.5      (5) the reasons for leaving the shelter; and 
 47.6      (6) the demand for essential services. 
 47.7      Sec. 27.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 47.8      Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 47.9   LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
 47.10  from the general fund to the department of children, families, 
 47.11  and learning for the fiscal years designated. 
 47.12     Subd. 2.  [ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AID.] For adult basic 
 47.13  education aid according to Minnesota Statutes, section 124.26 in 
 47.14  fiscal year 1998 and Minnesota Statutes, section 124.2601 in 
 47.15  fiscal year 1999:  
 47.16       $12,042,000    .....    1998
 47.17       $12,605,000    .....    1999 
 47.18     The 1998 appropriation includes $837,000 for 1997 and 
 47.19  $11,205,000 for 1998.  
 47.20     The 1999 appropriation includes $1,245,000 for 1998 and 
 47.21  $11,360,000 for 1999.  
 47.22     Subd. 3.  [ADULT BASIC EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECT.] For 
 47.23  the adult basic education technology project under section 9: 
 47.24       $50,000        .....     1998 
 47.25       $200,000       .....     1999 
 47.26     Any balance in the second year does not cancel but is 
 47.27  available in the second year.  This is a one-time appropriation 
 47.28  only and is not to be added to the base.  
 47.29     Subd. 4.  [ADULT BASIC EDUCATION STUDY.] For the study of 
 47.30  performance measurers for adult basic education under section 8, 
 47.31  subdivision 2: 
 47.32       $25,000        .....     1998 
 47.33     Subd. 5.  [ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.] For aid for adults 
 47.34  with disabilities under Minnesota Statutes, section 124.26, 
 47.35  subdivision 1d: 
 47.36       $150,000       .....     1998 
 48.1        $150,000       .....     1999
 48.2      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 48.3   available in the second year.  This is a one-time appropriation 
 48.4   and is not to be added to the base. 
 48.5      Subd. 6.  [ADULT GRADUATION AID.] For adult graduation aid 
 48.6   according to Minnesota Statutes, section 124.261: 
 48.7        $2,780,000     .....     1998
 48.8        $2,858,000     .....     1999
 48.9      The 1998 appropriation includes $224,000 for 1997 and 
 48.10  $2,556,000 for 1998.  
 48.11     The 1999 appropriation includes $284,000 for 1998 and 
 48.12  $2,574,000 for 1999.  
 48.13     Subd. 7.  [GED TESTS.] For payment of 60 percent of the 
 48.14  costs of GED tests: 
 48.15       $125,000       .....     1998
 48.16       $125,000       .....     1999
 48.17     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 48.18  available in the second year. 
 48.19     Subd. 8.  [MINNESOTA ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY GRANTS.] For 
 48.20  Minnesota economic opportunity grants: 
 48.21       $9,000,000     .....     1998
 48.22       $9,000,000     .....     1999
 48.23     Of this appropriation, the commissioner may use up to 8.7 
 48.24  percent each year for state operations. 
 48.25     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 48.26  available in the second year. 
 48.27     Subd. 9.  [TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS.] For transitional 
 48.28  housing programs: 
 48.29       $1,635,000      .....     1998
 48.30       $1,385,000      .....     1999
 48.31     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 48.32  available in the second year.  Of this amount, the commissioner 
 48.33  may use up to five percent each year for administration of 
 48.34  transitional housing programs.  In fiscal year 1998, $250,000 is 
 48.35  a one-time appropriation only and is not to be added to the 
 48.36  permanent base. 
 49.1      Subd. 10.  [FOOD BANK PROGRAM.] For foodshelf programs 
 49.2   according to Minnesota Statutes, section 268.55: 
 49.3        $1,153,000      .....     1998
 49.4        $1,153,000      .....     1999
 49.5      Any balance available in the first year does not cancel but 
 49.6   is available in the second year.  
 49.7      Subd. 11.  [EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE.] For emergency food 
 49.8   assistance according to Laws 1995, chapter 224, section 5, 
 49.9   subdivision 3: 
 49.10       $97,000        .....     1998 
 49.11       $97,000        .....     1999 
 49.12     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 49.13  available in the second year. 
 49.14     Subd. 12.  [RESIDENTIAL WEATHERIZATION.] For grants to 
 49.15  organizations to weatherize residences of Minnesotans who are 65 
 49.16  years old or older under section 20: 
 49.17       $250,000       .....     1998
 49.18       $250,000       .....     1999
 49.19     Subd. 13.  [HEAD START PROGRAM.] For Head Start programs 
 49.20  according to Minnesota Statutes, section 268.914: 
 49.21       $15,095,000    .....     1998
 49.22       $15,095,000    .....     1999
 49.23     The commissioner may use up to two percent each year for 
 49.24  state operations. 
 49.25     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 49.26  available in the second year. 
 49.27     Subd. 14.  [GED PROGRAMMING GRANT.] For a grant to a public 
 49.28  television station that serves rural areas of Minnesota to 
 49.29  provide GED programming to aid immigrants and others who lack a 
 49.30  high school diploma to obtain a GED in order to continue their 
 49.31  educations: 
 49.32       $75,000        .....     1998 
 49.33       $75,000        .....     1999 
 49.34     Subd. 15.  [EMERGENCY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM.] For the 
 49.35  purposes of the emergency services grant program:  
 49.36       $250,000       .....     1998 
 50.1      This appropriation is available until June 30, 1999, and is 
 50.2   a one-time appropriation only and is not to be added to the base.
 50.3      Subd. 16.  [TRANSFERS; WEATHERIZATION; ENERGY 
 50.4   ASSISTANCE.] For the biennium ending June 30, 1999, the 
 50.5   commissioner shall transfer to the low-income home 
 50.6   weatherization program at least five percent of the money 
 50.7   received under the low-income home energy assistance block grant 
 50.8   in each year of the biennium and shall spend all of the 
 50.9   transferred money during the year of the transfer or the year 
 50.10  following the transfer.  Up to 1.63 percent of the transferred 
 50.11  money may be used by the commissioner for administrative 
 50.12  purposes. 
 50.13     For the biennium ending June 30, 1999, no more than 1.63 
 50.14  percent of money remaining under the low-income home energy 
 50.15  assistance program after transfers to the weatherization program 
 50.16  may be used by the commissioner for administrative purposes. 
 50.17                             ARTICLE 4 
 50.18                             CHILD CARE 
 50.19     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 15.53, 
 50.20  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 50.21     Subd. 2.  [PERIOD OF ASSIGNMENT.] The period of individual 
 50.22  assignment or detail under an interchange program shall not 
 50.23  exceed 24 months, nor shall any person be assigned or detailed 
 50.24  for more than 24 months during any 36-month period, except when 
 50.25  the assignment or detail is made to coincide with an 
 50.26  unclassified appointment under section 15.06.  A school 
 50.27  district, a county, or a public health entity may make an 
 50.28  assignment for a period not to exceed five years, if the 
 50.29  assignment is made pursuant to section 121.8355, subdivision 6.  
 50.30  Details relating to any matter covered in sections 15.51 to 
 50.31  15.57 may be the subject of an agreement between the sending and 
 50.32  receiving agencies.  Elected officials shall not be assigned 
 50.33  from a sending agency nor detailed to a receiving agency. 
 50.34     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.13, 
 50.35  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 50.36     Subd. 2.  [ADVISORY COUNCIL.] An advisory council of 19 17 
 51.1   members is established under section 15.059.  The commissioners 
 51.2   of human services, public safety, health, and children, 
 51.3   families, and learning, and corrections shall each appoint one 
 51.4   member.  The subcommittee on committees of the senate and the 
 51.5   speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint two 
 51.6   members of their respective bodies, one from each caucus.  The 
 51.7   governor shall appoint an additional ten members who shall 
 51.8   demonstrate knowledge in the area of child abuse prevention and 
 51.9   shall represent the demographic and geographic composition of 
 51.10  the state, and to the extent possible, represent the following 
 51.11  groups:  local government, parents, racial and ethnic minority 
 51.12  communities, the religious community, professional providers of 
 51.13  child abuse prevention and treatment services, and volunteers in 
 51.14  child abuse prevention and treatment services.  The council 
 51.15  shall advise and assist the commissioner in carrying out 
 51.16  sections 119A.10 to 119A.16.  The council does not expire as 
 51.17  provided by section 15.059, subdivision 5. 
 51.18     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.13, 
 51.19  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 51.20     Subd. 3.  [PLAN FOR DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.] By June 1, 
 51.21  1987, the commissioner, assisted by the advisory council, shall 
 51.22  develop a plan to disburse money from the trust fund.  In 
 51.23  developing the plan, the commissioner shall review prevention 
 51.24  programs.  The plan must ensure that all geographic areas of the 
 51.25  state have an equal opportunity to establish prevention programs 
 51.26  and receive trust fund money.  Biennially thereafter the 
 51.27  commissioner shall send the plan to the legislature and the 
 51.28  governor by January 1 of each odd-numbered year.  
 51.29     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.13, 
 51.30  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 51.31     Subd. 4.  [RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSIONER.] (a) The 
 51.32  commissioner shall: 
 51.33     (1) provide for the coordination and exchange of 
 51.34  information on the establishment and maintenance of prevention 
 51.35  programs; 
 51.36     (2) develop and publish criteria for receiving trust fund 
 52.1   money by prevention programs; 
 52.2      (3) review, approve, and monitor the spending of trust fund 
 52.3   money by prevention programs; 
 52.4      (4) provide statewide educational and public informational 
 52.5   seminars to develop public awareness on preventing child abuse; 
 52.6   to encourage professional persons and groups to recognize 
 52.7   instances of child abuse and work to prevent them; to make 
 52.8   information on child abuse prevention available to the public 
 52.9   and to organizations and agencies; and to encourage the 
 52.10  development of prevention programs; 
 52.11     (5) establish a procedure for an annual, internal 
 52.12  evaluation of the functions, responsibilities, and performance 
 52.13  of the commissioner in carrying out Laws 1986, chapter 423.  In 
 52.14  a year in which the state plan is prepared, the evaluation must 
 52.15  be coordinated with the preparation of the state plan; 
 52.16     (6) provide technical assistance to local councils and 
 52.17  agencies working in the area of child abuse prevention; and 
 52.18     (7) accept and review grant applications beginning June 1, 
 52.19  1987. 
 52.20     (b) The commissioner shall recommend to the governor and 
 52.21  the legislature changes in state programs, statutes, policies, 
 52.22  budgets, and standards that will reduce the problems of child 
 52.23  abuse, improve coordination among state agencies that provide 
 52.24  prevention services, and improve the condition of children, 
 52.25  parents, or guardians in need of prevention program services. 
 52.26     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.14, is 
 52.27  amended to read: 
 52.28     119A.14 [LOCAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION COUNCILS.] 
 52.29     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL.] A child abuse 
 52.30  prevention council may be established in any county or group of 
 52.31  counties that was eligible to receive funds under Minnesota 
 52.32  Statutes 1986, section 145.917 as of January 1, 1986.  A council 
 52.33  organized in such a county or group of counties shall be 
 52.34  authorized by the commissioner to review programs seeking trust 
 52.35  fund money on finding that the council meets the criteria in 
 52.36  this subdivision: 
 53.1      (a) The council has submitted a plan for the prevention of 
 53.2   child abuse that includes a survey rank ordering of needed 
 53.3   programs and services, assesses the need for additional programs 
 53.4   or services, and demonstrates that standards and procedures have 
 53.5   been established to ensure that funds will be distributed and 
 53.6   used according to Laws 1986, chapter 423. 
 53.7      (b) A single-county council shall consist of: 
 53.8      (1) members of a multidisciplinary child protection team 
 53.9   which must be established under section 626.558 a minimum of 
 53.10  nine members with the majority consisting of members from the 
 53.11  community-at-large who do not represent service-providing 
 53.12  agencies.  These members shall represent the demographic and 
 53.13  geographic composition of the county and, to the extent 
 53.14  possible, represent the following groups:  parents, businesses, 
 53.15  racial and ethnic minority communities, and the faith 
 53.16  communities; and 
 53.17     (2) if necessary, enough additional members appointed by 
 53.18  the county with knowledge in the area of child abuse prevention 
 53.19  so that a majority of the council is composed of members who do 
 53.20  not represent public agencies. 
 53.21     (c) A multicounty council shall be selected by composed of 
 53.22  the combined membership of those multidisciplinary teams which 
 53.23  have been established in the counties under section 626.558 and 
 53.24  shall consist of: persons in paragraph (b). 
 53.25     (1) one representative each from local human services 
 53.26  agencies, county attorney offices, county sheriff offices, and 
 53.27  health and education agencies, chosen from among the membership 
 53.28  of all the teams; 
 53.29     (2) one representative from any other public agency group 
 53.30  represented among the combined teams; and 
 53.31     (3) enough additional members from the public who have 
 53.32  knowledge in the area of child abuse so that a majority of the 
 53.33  council is composed of members who do not represent public 
 53.34  agencies. 
 53.35     (d) In any multicounty group eligible to establish a 
 53.36  council under this subdivision, at least 50 percent of the 
 54.1   counties must have established a multidisciplinary team under 
 54.2   section 626.558 before a council may be established. 
 54.3      Subd. 2.  [REVIEW BY COUNCIL.] To be eligible to receive a 
 54.4   grant from the trust fund, an applicant must have had 
 54.5   its program application reviewed by a child abuse prevention 
 54.6   council from the applicant's geographic area found by the 
 54.7   commissioner to meet the criteria in this section.  In reviewing 
 54.8   all such programs applications, the council shall consider the 
 54.9   extent to which the applicant meets the criteria and standards 
 54.10  in Laws 1986, chapter 423, and the degree to which the program 
 54.11  meets the needs of the geographic area.  The council shall 
 54.12  provide to the advisory council its comments and recommendations 
 54.13  concerning each program application reviewed and shall provide 
 54.14  the advisory council with its prioritization by rank ordering of 
 54.15  all programs applications reviewed. 
 54.16     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.15, 
 54.17  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 54.18     Subd. 2.  [MATCHING AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.] Trust fund 
 54.19  money shall only be distributed to applicants that demonstrate 
 54.20  an ability to minimally match 40 percent of the amount of trust 
 54.21  fund money requested and whose proposals meet the other 
 54.22  criteria.  The matching requirement may be met through in-kind 
 54.23  donations.  In awarding grants, the commissioner shall consider 
 54.24  the extent to which the applicant has demonstrated a willingness 
 54.25  and ability to: 
 54.26     (1) continue the prevention program or service if trust 
 54.27  fund money is eliminated or reduced; and 
 54.28     (2) provide prevention program models and consultation to 
 54.29  other organizations and communities. 
 54.30     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.15, 
 54.31  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 54.32     Subd. 5.  [LOCAL COUNCIL AS RECIPIENT OF FUNDS.] The 
 54.33  commissioner may disburse funds to a local council on the same 
 54.34  basis as to any other applicant for community education 
 54.35  purposes, or as for administrative costs in carrying out Laws 
 54.36  1986, chapter 423, if all criteria and standards are met.  Funds 
 55.1   disbursed as administrative costs to a local council must not 
 55.2   exceed five percent of total funds disbursed to the area served 
 55.3   by the local council. 
 55.4      Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119A.16, is 
 55.5   amended to read: 
 55.6      119A.16 [ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND OTHER DONATIONS.] 
 55.7      The commissioner may accept federal money and gifts, 
 55.8   donations, and bequests for the purposes of Laws 1986, chapter 
 55.9   423.  Money so received and proceeds from the sale of 
 55.10  promotional items, minus sales promotional costs, must be 
 55.11  deposited in the trust fund and must be made available annually 
 55.12  to the commissioner. 
 55.13     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, is 
 55.14  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 55.15     Subd. 7a.  [DEPARTMENT.] "Department" means the department 
 55.16  of children, families, and learning. 
 55.17     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 55.18  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 55.19     Subd. 8.  [EDUCATION PROGRAM.] "Education program" means 
 55.20  remedial or basic education or English as a second language 
 55.21  instruction, a program leading to a general equivalency or high 
 55.22  school diploma, post-secondary programs excluding 
 55.23  postbaccalaureate programs, and other education and training 
 55.24  needs as documented in an employability employment plan that is 
 55.25  developed by an employment and training service provider 
 55.26  certified by the commissioner of economic security or an 
 55.27  individual designated by the county to provide employment and 
 55.28  training services, as defined in subdivision 9.  The 
 55.29  employability employment plan must outline education and 
 55.30  training needs of a recipient, meet state requirements 
 55.31  for employability employment plans, meet the requirements 
 55.32  of this chapter, and Minnesota Rules, parts 9565.5000 3400.0010 
 55.33  to 9565.5200 3400.0230, and meet the requirements of programs 
 55.34  that provide federal reimbursement for child care services.  
 55.35     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 55.36  subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
 56.1      Subd. 9.  [EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM PLAN.] "Employment program 
 56.2   plan" means employment of recipients financially eligible for 
 56.3   child care assistance, preemployment activities, or other work 
 56.4   activities approved in an employability development, job search 
 56.5   support plan, or employment plan that is developed by the county 
 56.6   agency, if it is acting as an employment and training service 
 56.7   provider, an employment and training service provider certified 
 56.8   by the commissioner of economic security or an individual 
 56.9   designated by the county to provide employment and training 
 56.10  services.  The plans and designation of a service provider must 
 56.11  meet the requirements of this chapter and chapter 256J or 
 56.12  chapter 256K, if enacted, Minnesota Rules, parts 9565.5000 
 56.13  3400.0010 to 9565.5200 3400.0230, and other programs that 
 56.14  provide federal reimbursement for child care services. 
 56.15     Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 56.16  subdivision 12, is amended to read: 
 56.17     Subd. 12.  [INCOME.] "Income" means earned or unearned 
 56.18  income received by all family members 16 years or older, 
 56.19  including public assistance benefits, unless specifically 
 56.20  excluded.  The following are excluded from income:  funds used 
 56.21  to pay for health insurance premiums for family members, 
 56.22  scholarships, work-study income, and grants that cover costs for 
 56.23  tuition, fees, books, and educational supplies; student loans 
 56.24  for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and living expenses; earned 
 56.25  income tax credits; in-kind income such as food stamps, energy 
 56.26  assistance, medical assistance, and housing subsidies; income 
 56.27  from summer or part-time employment of 16-, 17-, and 18-year-old 
 56.28  full-time secondary school students earned income of full- or 
 56.29  part-time secondary school students up to the age of 19 years 
 56.30  including summer employment; grant awards under the family 
 56.31  subsidy program; and nonrecurring lump sum income only to the 
 56.32  extent that it is earmarked and used for the purpose for which 
 56.33  it is paid; income that is specifically excluded in section 
 56.34  256J.21, subdivision 2; and any income assigned to the public 
 56.35  authority according to section 256.74 or 256.741, if enacted. 
 56.36     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, is 
 57.1   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 57.2      Subd. 12a.  [MFIP-S.] "MFIP-S" means the Minnesota family 
 57.3   investment program-statewide, the state's TANF program under 
 57.4   Public Law Number 104-193, Title I, and shall be used as a 
 57.5   synonym for AFDC for purposes of child care assistance program 
 57.6   eligibility under this chapter. 
 57.7      Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 57.8   subdivision 16, is amended to read: 
 57.9      Subd. 16.  [TRANSITION YEAR FAMILIES.] "Transition year 
 57.10  families" means families who lose have received AFDC for at 
 57.11  least three of the last six months before losing eligibility for 
 57.12  AFDC due to increased hours of employment, increased income from 
 57.13  employment or child or spousal support, or the loss of income 
 57.14  disregards due to time limitations, as provided under Public Law 
 57.15  Number 100-485.  
 57.16     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.01, 
 57.17  subdivision 17, is amended to read: 
 57.18     Subd. 17.  [CHILD CARE FUND.] "Child care fund" means a 
 57.19  program under this chapter providing:  
 57.20     (1) financial assistance for child care to parents engaged 
 57.21  in employment or education and training leading to employment; 
 57.22  and 
 57.23     (2) grants to develop, expand, and improve the access and 
 57.24  availability of child care services statewide. 
 57.25     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.02, is 
 57.26  amended to read: 
 57.27     119B.02 [DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.] 
 57.28     The commissioner shall develop standards for county and 
 57.29  human services boards to provide child care services to enable 
 57.30  eligible families to participate in employment, training, or 
 57.31  education programs.  Within the limits of available 
 57.32  appropriations, the commissioner shall distribute money to 
 57.33  counties to reduce the costs of child care for eligible 
 57.34  families.  The commissioner shall adopt rules to govern the 
 57.35  program in accordance with this section.  The rules must 
 57.36  establish a sliding schedule of fees for parents receiving child 
 58.1   care services.  The rules shall provide that funds received as a 
 58.2   lump sum payment of child support arrearages shall not be 
 58.3   counted as income to a family in the month received but shall be 
 58.4   prorated over the 12 months following receipt and added to the 
 58.5   family income during those months.  In the rules adopted under 
 58.6   this section, county and human services boards shall be 
 58.7   authorized to establish policies for payment of child care 
 58.8   spaces for absent children, when the payment is required by the 
 58.9   child's regular provider.  The rules shall not set a maximum 
 58.10  number of days for which absence payments can be made, but 
 58.11  instead shall direct the county agency to set limits and pay for 
 58.12  absences according to the prevailing market practice in the 
 58.13  county.  County policies for payment of absences shall be 
 58.14  subject to the approval of the commissioner.  The commissioner 
 58.15  shall maximize the use of federal money in section 256.736 and 
 58.16  other programs that provide federal or state reimbursement for 
 58.17  child care services for recipients of aid to low-income families 
 58.18  with dependent children who are in education, training, job 
 58.19  search, or other activities allowed under those programs.  Money 
 58.20  appropriated under this section must be coordinated with the 
 58.21  programs that provide federal reimbursement for child care 
 58.22  services to accomplish this purpose.  Federal reimbursement 
 58.23  obtained must be allocated to the county that spent money for 
 58.24  child care that is federally reimbursable under programs that 
 58.25  provide federal reimbursement for child care services.  The 
 58.26  counties shall use the federal money to expand child care 
 58.27  services.  The commissioner may adopt rules under chapter 14 to 
 58.28  implement and coordinate federal program requirements. 
 58.29     Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 58.30  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 58.31     Subd. 3.  [ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.] Families that meet the 
 58.32  eligibility requirements under sections 119B.09, except AFDC 
 58.33  recipients, MFIP recipients, and transition year families, and 
 58.34  119B.10 are eligible for child care assistance under the basic 
 58.35  sliding fee program.  Families enrolled in the basic sliding fee 
 58.36  program as of July 1, 1990, shall be continued until they are no 
 59.1   longer eligible.  Counties shall make vendor payments to the 
 59.2   child care provider or pay the parent directly for eligible 
 59.3   child care expenses on a reimbursement basis.  Child care 
 59.4   assistance provided through the child care fund is considered 
 59.5   assistance to the parent. 
 59.6      Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 59.7   subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 59.8      Subd. 4.  [FUNDING PRIORITY.] (a) First priority for child 
 59.9   care assistance under the basic sliding fee program must be 
 59.10  given to eligible non-AFDC families who do not have a high 
 59.11  school or general equivalency diploma or who need remedial and 
 59.12  basic skill courses in order to pursue employment or to pursue 
 59.13  education leading to employment.  Within this priority, the 
 59.14  following subpriorities must be used: 
 59.15     (1) child care needs of minor parents; 
 59.16     (2) child care needs of parents under 21 years of age; and 
 59.17     (3) child care needs of other parents within the priority 
 59.18  group described in this paragraph. 
 59.19     (b) Second priority must be given to parents who have 
 59.20  completed their AFDC transition year. 
 59.21     (c) Third priority must be given to families who are 
 59.22  eligible for portable basic sliding fee assistance through the 
 59.23  portability pool under section 119B.03, subdivision 9. 
 59.24     Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 59.25  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 59.26     Subd. 5.  [REVIEW OF USE OF FUNDS; REALLOCATION.] (a) After 
 59.27  each quarter, the commissioner shall review the use of basic 
 59.28  sliding fee program allocations by county.  The commissioner may 
 59.29  reallocate unexpended or unencumbered money among those counties 
 59.30  who have expended their full allocation or may allow a county to 
 59.31  expend up to ten percent of its allocation in the subsequent 
 59.32  allocation period.  
 59.33     (b) Any unexpended money state and federal appropriations 
 59.34  from the first year of the biennium may be carried forward to 
 59.35  the second year of the biennium.  
 59.36     Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 60.1   subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 60.2      Subd. 6.  [ALLOCATION FORMULA.] Beginning January 1, 
 60.3   1996, except as provided in subdivision 7, the basic sliding fee 
 60.4   state and federal funds shall be allocated on a calendar year 
 60.5   basis.  Funds shall be allocated first in amounts equal to each 
 60.6   county's guaranteed floor according to subdivision 8, with any 
 60.7   remaining available funds allocated according to the following 
 60.8   formula:  
 60.9      (a) One-third of the funds shall be allocated in proportion 
 60.10  to each county's total expenditures for the basic sliding fee 
 60.11  child care program reported during the most recent calendar year 
 60.12  completed at the time of the notice of allocation.  
 60.13     (b) One-third of the funds shall be allocated based on the 
 60.14  number of children under age 13 in each county who are enrolled 
 60.15  in general assistance medical care, medical assistance, and 
 60.16  MinnesotaCare on December 31 of the most recent calendar year 
 60.17  completed at the time of the notice of allocation. 
 60.18     (c) One-third of the funds shall be allocated based on the 
 60.19  number of children under age 13 who reside in each county, from 
 60.20  the most recent estimates of the state demographer. 
 60.21     Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 60.22  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 60.23     Subd. 7.  [SIX-MONTH ALLOCATION EXCEPTION.] For the period 
 60.24  from July 1, 1995, to December 31, 1995, every county shall 
 60.25  receive an allocation at least equal and proportionate to 
 60.26  one-half of its original allocation in state fiscal year 1995.  
 60.27  This six-month allocation shall be combined with the calendar 
 60.28  year 1996 allocation and be administered as one 18-month 
 60.29  allocation. 1997, to December 31, 1998, each county must receive 
 60.30  an amount equal to its original calendar year 1997 allocation.  
 60.31  The remaining funds must be allocated according to the following 
 60.32  formula: 
 60.33     (a) Two-thirds of the funds must be allocated in proportion 
 60.34  to each county's original calendar year 1997 allocation for the 
 60.35  basic sliding fee program. 
 60.36     (b) One-third of the funds must be allocated in proportion 
 61.1   to each county's most recently reported waiting list as defined 
 61.2   in section 119B.03, subdivision 2. 
 61.3      When funding increases are implemented within a calendar 
 61.4   year, every county must receive an allocation at least equal and 
 61.5   proportionate to its original allocation for the same time 
 61.6   period.  The remainder of the allocation must be recalculated to 
 61.7   reflect the funding increase and according to the formulas 
 61.8   identified in subdivision 6 and this subdivision. 
 61.9      Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, 
 61.10  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 61.11     Subd. 8.  [GUARANTEED FLOOR.] (a) Beginning January 1, 
 61.12  1996, each county's guaranteed floor shall equal 90 percent of 
 61.13  the allocation received in the preceding calendar year.  For the 
 61.14  calendar year 1996 allocation, the preceding calendar year shall 
 61.15  be considered to be double the six-month allocation as provided 
 61.16  for in subdivision 7.  For the period January 1, 1999, to 
 61.17  December 31, 1999, each county's guaranteed floor must be equal 
 61.18  to its original calendar year 1998 allocation or its actual 
 61.19  earnings for calendar year 1998, whichever is less. 
 61.20     (b) When the amount of funds available for allocation is 
 61.21  less than the amount available in the previous year, each 
 61.22  county's previous year allocation shall be reduced in proportion 
 61.23  to the reduction in the statewide funding, for the purpose of 
 61.24  establishing the guaranteed floor.  
 61.25     Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, is 
 61.26  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 61.27     Subd. 9.  [PORTABILITY POOL.] (a) The commissioner shall 
 61.28  establish a pool of up to five percent of the annual 
 61.29  appropriation for the basic sliding fee program to provide 
 61.30  continuous child care assistance for eligible families who move 
 61.31  between Minnesota counties.  At the end of each allocation 
 61.32  period, any unspent funds in the portability pool must be added 
 61.33  to the funds available for reallocation.  If expenditures from 
 61.34  the portability pool exceed the amount of money available, the 
 61.35  reallocation pool must be reduced to cover these shortages. 
 61.36     (b) To be eligible for portable basic sliding fee 
 62.1   assistance, a family that has moved from a county in which it 
 62.2   was receiving basic sliding fee assistance to a county with a 
 62.3   waiting list for the basic sliding fee program must: 
 62.4      (1) meet the income and eligibility guidelines for the 
 62.5   basic sliding fee program; and 
 62.6      (2) notify the new county of residence within 30 days of 
 62.7   moving and apply for basic sliding fee assistance in the new 
 62.8   county of residence. 
 62.9      (c) The receiving county must: 
 62.10     (1) accept administrative responsibility for applicants for 
 62.11  portable basic sliding fee assistance at the end of the two 
 62.12  months of assistance under the unitary residency act; 
 62.13     (2) continue basic sliding fee assistance for the lesser of 
 62.14  six months or until the family is able to receive assistance 
 62.15  under the county's regular basic sliding program; and 
 62.16     (3) notify the commissioner through the quarterly reporting 
 62.17  process of any family that meets the criteria of the portable 
 62.18  basic sliding fee assistance pool. 
 62.19     Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.03, is 
 62.20  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 62.21     Subd. 10.  [APPLICATION; ENTRY POINTS.] Two or more methods 
 62.22  of applying for the basic sliding fee program must be available 
 62.23  to applicants in each county.  To meet the requirements of this 
 62.24  subdivision, a county may provide alternative methods of 
 62.25  applying for assistance, including, but not limited to, a mail 
 62.26  application, or application sites that are located outside of 
 62.27  government offices. 
 62.28     Sec. 25.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.04, is 
 62.29  amended to read: 
 62.30     119B.04 [FEDERAL AT-RISK CHILD CARE PROGRAM AND DEVELOPMENT 
 62.31  FUND.] 
 62.32     Subdivision 1.  [COMMISSIONER TO ADMINISTER PROGRAM.] The 
 62.33  commissioner of children, families, and learning is authorized 
 62.34  and directed to receive, administer, and expend funds available 
 62.35  under the at-risk child care program and development fund under 
 62.36  Public Law Number 101-508 (1) 104-193, Title I.  
 63.1      Subd. 2.  [RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.] The commissioner may 
 63.2   adopt rules under chapter 14 to administer the at-risk child 
 63.3   care program and development fund.  
 63.4      Sec. 26.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, 
 63.5   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 63.6      Subdivision 1.  [ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.] Families eligible 
 63.7   for guaranteed child care assistance under the AFDC child care 
 63.8   program are: 
 63.9      (1) persons receiving services under section 256.736 
 63.10  sections 256.031 to 256.04; 
 63.11     (2) AFDC recipients who are employed or in job search and 
 63.12  meet the requirements of section 119B.10; 
 63.13     (3) persons who are members of transition year families 
 63.14  under section 119B.01, subdivision 16; 
 63.15     (4) members of the control group for the STRIDE evaluation 
 63.16  conducted by the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation; 
 63.17  and 
 63.18     (5) AFDC caretakers who are participating in the STRIDE and 
 63.19  non-STRIDE AFDC child care program; 
 63.20     (6) families who are participating in employment 
 63.21  orientation or job search, or other employment or training 
 63.22  activities that are included in an approved employability 
 63.23  development plan under chapter 256K, if enacted; and 
 63.24     (7) MFIP-S families who are participating in work 
 63.25  activities as required in their job search support or employment 
 63.26  plan, or in appeals, hearings, assessments, or orientations 
 63.27  according to chapter 256J, if enacted.  Child care assistance to 
 63.28  support work activities as described in section 256J.49 must be 
 63.29  available according to sections 119B.01, subdivision 8, 121.882, 
 63.30  256E.08, 268.916, 611A.32, and titles IVA, IVB, IVE, and XX of 
 63.31  the Social Security Act. 
 63.32     Sec. 27.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, 
 63.33  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 63.34     Subd. 5.  [FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT.] Counties shall maximize 
 63.35  their federal reimbursement under Public Law Number 100-485 or 
 63.36  other federal reimbursement programs for money spent for persons 
 64.1   eligible under this chapter.  The commissioner shall allocate 
 64.2   any federal earnings to the county to be used to expand child 
 64.3   care services under this chapter. 
 64.4      Sec. 28.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, 
 64.5   subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 64.6      Subd. 6.  [ACCESS CHILD CARE PROGRAM.] (a) Starting one 
 64.7   month after April 30, 1992, the commissioner shall reimburse 
 64.8   eligible expenditures for 2,000 family slots for AFDC caretakers 
 64.9   not eligible for services under section 256.736, who are engaged 
 64.10  in an authorized educational or job search program.  Each county 
 64.11  will receive a number of family slots based on the county's 
 64.12  proportion of the AFDC caseload.  A county must receive at least 
 64.13  two family slots.  Eligibility and reimbursement are limited to 
 64.14  the number of family slots allocated to each county.  County 
 64.15  agencies shall authorize an educational plan for each student 
 64.16  and may prioritize families eligible for this program in their 
 64.17  child care fund plan upon approval of the commissioner.  
 64.18     (b) Persons eligible for but unable to participate in the 
 64.19  JOBS (STRIDE) program because of a waiting list may be accepted 
 64.20  as a new participant, or continue to participate in the ACCESS 
 64.21  child care program if a slot is available as long as all other 
 64.22  eligibility factors are met.  Child care assistance must 
 64.23  continue under the ACCESS child care program until the 
 64.24  participant loses eligibility or is enrolled in project STRIDE. 
 64.25     (c)(1) Effective July 1, 1995, the commissioner shall 
 64.26  reclaim 90 percent of the vacant slots in each county and 
 64.27  distribute those slots to counties with waiting lists of persons 
 64.28  eligible for the ACCESS child care program.  The slots must be 
 64.29  distributed to eligible families based on the July 1, 1995, 
 64.30  waiting list placement date, first come, first served basis. 
 64.31     (2) ACCESS child care slots remaining after the waiting 
 64.32  list under clause (1) has been eliminated must be distributed to 
 64.33  eligible families on a first come, first served basis, based on 
 64.34  the client's date of request. 
 64.35     (3) The county must notify the commissioner when an ACCESS 
 64.36  slot in the county becomes available.  Notification by the 
 65.1   county must be within five calendar days of the effective date 
 65.2   of the termination of the ACCESS child care services.  The 
 65.3   resulting vacant slot must be returned to the department of 
 65.4   children, families, and learning.  The slot must then be 
 65.5   redistributed under clause (2). 
 65.6      (4) The commissioner shall consult with the task force on 
 65.7   child care and make recommendations to the 1996 legislature for 
 65.8   future distribution of the ACCESS slots under this 
 65.9   paragraph. Effective July 1, 1997, no new applicants may be 
 65.10  accepted in the ACCESS program.  Current ACCESS participants 
 65.11  shall continue to receive assistance until July 1, 1998, if all 
 65.12  other conditions of eligibility are met. 
 65.13     Sec. 29.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.05, is 
 65.14  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 65.15     Subd. 7.  [APPROPRIATION CARRYFORWARD.] Any unexpended 
 65.16  state and federal appropriations from the first year of the 
 65.17  biennium may be carried forward to the second year of the 
 65.18  biennium. 
 65.19     Sec. 30.  [119B.061] [AT-HOME INFANT CHILD CARE PROGRAM.] 
 65.20     (a) A family under this provision is eligible for 
 65.21  assistance for a maximum of 12 months. 
 65.22     (b) A parent of a child under the age of one year who 
 65.23  personally provides full-time care for the child is eligible for 
 65.24  assistance if: 
 65.25     (1) the parent meets the income criteria and has received 
 65.26  assistance within the last 30 days under section 119B.03; and 
 65.27     (2) is the full-time caregiver for the child in the child's 
 65.28  home.  
 65.29     In two-parent households, only one parent may qualify for 
 65.30  this assistance. 
 65.31     (c) The level of assistance is 75 percent of the average 
 65.32  cost of licensed family day care for an infant in the child's 
 65.33  county of residence and is based on the size and income of the 
 65.34  child's family. 
 65.35     (d) A participant in the at-home infant child care program 
 65.36  has continuing eligibility under Minnesota Rules, part 
 66.1   3400.0070, for the basic sliding fee program. 
 66.2      (e) By March 1, 1998, the commissioner shall develop and 
 66.3   implement the at-home infant child care program described under 
 66.4   this section. 
 66.5      Sec. 31.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.07, is 
 66.6   amended to read: 
 66.7      119B.07 [USE OF MONEY.] 
 66.8      Money for persons listed in sections 119B.03, subdivision 
 66.9   3, and 119B.05, subdivision 1, shall be used to reduce the costs 
 66.10  of child care for students, including the costs of child care 
 66.11  for students while employed if enrolled in an eligible education 
 66.12  program at the same time and making satisfactory progress 
 66.13  towards completion of the program.  Counties may not limit the 
 66.14  duration of child care subsidies for a person in an employment 
 66.15  or educational program, except when the person is found to be 
 66.16  ineligible under the child care fund eligibility standards.  Any 
 66.17  limitation must be based on a person's employability plan in the 
 66.18  case of an AFDC recipient, and county policies included in the 
 66.19  child care allocation plan.  The maximum length of time a 
 66.20  student is eligible for child care assistance under the child 
 66.21  care fund for education and training shall be the equivalent of 
 66.22  the minimum time necessary to complete the credit requirements 
 66.23  as a full-time student for a baccalaureate degree as determined 
 66.24  by the educational institution, excluding basic or remedial 
 66.25  education programs needed to prepare for post-secondary 
 66.26  education or employment.  Time limitations for child care 
 66.27  assistance, as specified in Minnesota Rules, parts 9565.5000 to 
 66.28  9565.5200, do not apply to basic or remedial educational 
 66.29  programs needed to prepare for post-secondary education or 
 66.30  employment.  These programs include:  high school, general 
 66.31  equivalency diploma, and English as a second language.  Programs 
 66.32  exempt from this time limit must not run concurrently with a 
 66.33  post-secondary program.  High school students who are 
 66.34  participating in a post-secondary options program and who 
 66.35  receive a high school diploma issued by the school district are 
 66.36  exempt from the time limitations while pursuing a high school 
 67.1   diploma.  Financially eligible students who have received child 
 67.2   care assistance for one academic year shall be provided child 
 67.3   care assistance in the following academic year if funds 
 67.4   allocated under sections 119B.03 and 119B.05 are available.  If 
 67.5   an AFDC recipient who is receiving AFDC child care assistance 
 67.6   under this chapter moves to another county, continues to 
 67.7   participate in educational or training programs authorized in 
 67.8   their employability development plans, and continues to be 
 67.9   eligible for AFDC child care assistance under this chapter, the 
 67.10  AFDC caretaker must receive continued child care assistance from 
 67.11  the county responsible for their current employability 
 67.12  development plan, without interruption. 
 67.13     Sec. 32.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.08, 
 67.14  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 67.15     Subdivision 1.  [QUARTERLY REPORTS.] The commissioner shall 
 67.16  specify requirements for reports, including quarterly fiscal 
 67.17  reports, according to under the same authority as provided to 
 67.18  the commissioner of human services in section 256.01, 
 67.19  subdivision 2, paragraph (17).  Counties shall submit on forms 
 67.20  prescribed by the commissioner a quarterly financial and program 
 67.21  activity report.  The failure to submit a complete report by the 
 67.22  end of the quarter in which the report is due may result in a 
 67.23  reduction of child care fund allocations equal to the next 
 67.24  quarter's allocation.  The financial and program activity report 
 67.25  must include: 
 67.26     (1) a detailed accounting of the expenditures and revenues 
 67.27  for the program during the preceding quarter by funding source 
 67.28  and by eligibility group; 
 67.29     (2) a description of activities and concomitant 
 67.30  expenditures that are federally reimbursable under federal 
 67.31  reimbursement programs; 
 67.32     (3) a description of activities and concomitant 
 67.33  expenditures of child care money; 
 67.34     (4) information on money encumbered at the quarter's end 
 67.35  but not yet reimbursable, for use in adjusting allocations as 
 67.36  provided in section 119B.03, subdivision 5; and 
 68.1      (5) other data the commissioner considers necessary to 
 68.2   account for the program or to evaluate its effectiveness in 
 68.3   preventing and reducing participants' dependence on public 
 68.4   assistance and in providing other benefits, including 
 68.5   improvement in the care provided to children.  
 68.6      Sec. 33.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.08, 
 68.7   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 68.8      Subd. 3.  [CHILD CARE FUND PLAN.] Effective January 1, 
 68.9   1992, the county will include the plan required under this 
 68.10  subdivision in its biennial community social services plan 
 68.11  required in this section, for the group described in section 
 68.12  256E.03, subdivision 2, paragraph (h).  For the period July 1, 
 68.13  1989, to December 31, 1991, the county shall submit separate 
 68.14  child care fund plans required under this subdivision for the 
 68.15  periods July 1, 1989, to June 30, 1990; and July 1, 1990, to 
 68.16  December 31, 1991.  The commissioner shall establish the dates 
 68.17  by which the county must submit these plans.  The county and 
 68.18  designated administering agency shall submit to the commissioner 
 68.19  an annual child care fund allocation plan.  The plan shall 
 68.20  include: 
 68.21     (1) a narrative of the total program for child care 
 68.22  services, including all policies and procedures that affect 
 68.23  eligible families and are used to administer the child care 
 68.24  funds; 
 68.25     (2) the number of families that requested a child care 
 68.26  subsidy in the previous year, the number of families receiving 
 68.27  child care assistance, the number of families on a waiting list, 
 68.28  and the number of families projected to be served during the 
 68.29  fiscal year; 
 68.30     (3) the methods used by the county to inform eligible 
 68.31  groups of the availability of child care assistance and related 
 68.32  services; 
 68.33     (4) (3) the provider rates paid for all children by 
 68.34  provider type; 
 68.35     (5) (4) the county prioritization policy for all eligible 
 68.36  groups under the basic sliding fee program and AFDC child care 
 69.1   program; and 
 69.2      (6) a report of all funds available to be used for child 
 69.3   care assistance, including demonstration of compliance with the 
 69.4   maintenance of funding effort required under section 119B.11; 
 69.5   and 
 69.6      (7) (5) other information as requested by the department to 
 69.7   ensure compliance with the child care fund statutes and rules 
 69.8   promulgated by the commissioner. 
 69.9      The commissioner shall notify counties within 60 days of 
 69.10  the date the plan is submitted whether the plan is approved or 
 69.11  the corrections or information needed to approve the plan.  The 
 69.12  commissioner shall withhold a county's allocation until it has 
 69.13  an approved plan.  Plans not approved by the end of the second 
 69.14  quarter after the plan is due may result in a 25 percent 
 69.15  reduction in allocation.  Plans not approved by the end of the 
 69.16  third quarter after the plan is due may result in a 100 percent 
 69.17  reduction in the allocation to the county.  Counties are to 
 69.18  maintain services despite any reduction in their allocation due 
 69.19  to plans not being approved. 
 69.20     Sec. 34.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, 
 69.21  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 69.22     Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL ELIGIBILITY FACTORS REQUIREMENTS 
 69.23  FOR ALL APPLICANTS FOR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.] (a) Child care 
 69.24  services must be available to families who need child care to 
 69.25  find or keep employment or to obtain the training or education 
 69.26  necessary to find employment and who: 
 69.27     (a) (1) meet the requirements of section 119B.05, receive 
 69.28  aid to families with dependent children, and are receiving 
 69.29  employment and training services under section 256.736, chapter 
 69.30  256J or 256K, if enacted; 
 69.31     (b) (2) have household income below the eligibility levels 
 69.32  for aid to families with dependent children; or 
 69.33     (c) (3) have household income within a range established by 
 69.34  the commissioner. 
 69.35     (d) (b) Child care services for the families receiving aid 
 69.36  to families with dependent children must be made available as 
 70.1   in-kind services, to cover any difference between the actual 
 70.2   cost and the amount disregarded under the aid to families with 
 70.3   dependent children program.  Child care services to families 
 70.4   whose incomes are below the threshold of eligibility for aid to 
 70.5   families with dependent children, but are not AFDC caretakers, 
 70.6   must be made available with the minimum same copayment required 
 70.7   by federal law of AFDC caretakers or MFIP-S caregivers. 
 70.8      (c) All applicants for child care assistance and families 
 70.9   currently receiving child care assistance shall be assisted and 
 70.10  required to cooperate in establishment of paternity and 
 70.11  enforcement of child support obligations as a condition of 
 70.12  program eligibility.  For purposes of this section, a family is 
 70.13  considered to meet the requirement for cooperation when the 
 70.14  family complies with the requirements of section 256.741, if 
 70.15  enacted. 
 70.16     Sec. 35.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, 
 70.17  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 70.18     Subd. 2.  [SLIDING FEE.] Child care services to families 
 70.19  with incomes in the commissioner's established range must be 
 70.20  made available on a sliding fee basis.  The lower limit of the 
 70.21  sliding fee range must be the eligibility limit for aid to 
 70.22  families with dependent children.  The upper limit of the range 
 70.23  must be neither less than 70 percent nor more than 90 percent of 
 70.24  the state median income for a family of four, adjusted for 
 70.25  family size.  
 70.26     Sec. 36.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, is 
 70.27  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 70.28     Subd. 6.  [MAXIMUM CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.] The maximum 
 70.29  amount of child care assistance a local agency may authorize in 
 70.30  a two-week period is 120 hours per child. 
 70.31     Sec. 37.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, is 
 70.32  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 70.33     Subd. 7.  [ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE.] The date of 
 70.34  eligibility for child care assistance under chapter 119B is the 
 70.35  later of the date the application was signed; the beginning date 
 70.36  of employment, education, or training; the date a determination 
 71.1   has been made that the applicant is a participant in employment 
 71.2   and training programs under Minnesota Rules, part 3400.0080, 
 71.3   subpart 2a, section 256.736, or chapter 256J or 256K, if enacted.
 71.4   Payment of child care assistance for employed persons on AFDC is 
 71.5   effective the date of employment or the date of AFDC 
 71.6   eligibility, whichever is later.  Payment of child care 
 71.7   assistance for MFIP-S or Work First participants in employment 
 71.8   and training services is effective the date of commencement of 
 71.9   the services or the date of MFIP-S or Work First eligibility, 
 71.10  whichever is later.  Payment of child care assistance for 
 71.11  transition year child care must be made retroactive to the date 
 71.12  of eligibility for transition year child care. 
 71.13     Sec. 38.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.09, is 
 71.14  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 71.15     Subd. 8.  [NO EMPLOYEE-EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIPS.] Receipt of 
 71.16  federal, state, or local funds by a child care provider either 
 71.17  directly or through a parent who is a child care assistance 
 71.18  recipient does not establish an employee-employer relationship 
 71.19  between the child care provider and the county or state. 
 71.20     Sec. 39.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.10, 
 71.21  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 71.22     Subdivision 1.  [ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS SEEKING AND 
 71.23  RETAINING EMPLOYMENT.] (a) Persons who are seeking employment 
 71.24  and who are eligible for assistance under this section are 
 71.25  eligible to receive up to 240 hours of child care assistance per 
 71.26  calendar year.  
 71.27     (b) Employed persons who work at least an average of ten 20 
 71.28  hours a week and receive at least a minimum wage for all hours 
 71.29  worked are eligible for continued child care assistance.  Child 
 71.30  care assistance during employment must be authorized as provided 
 71.31  in paragraphs (c) and (d). 
 71.32     (c) When the caregiver works for an hourly wage and the 
 71.33  hourly wage is equal to or greater than the applicable minimum 
 71.34  wage, child care assistance shall be provided for the actual 
 71.35  hours of employment, break, and meal time during the employment 
 71.36  and travel time up to two hours per day. 
 72.1      (d) When the caregiver does not work for an hourly wage, 
 72.2   child care assistance must be provided for the lesser of: 
 72.3      (1) the amount of child care determined by dividing gross 
 72.4   earned income by the applicable minimum wage, up to one hour 
 72.5   every eight hours for meals and break time, plus up to two hours 
 72.6   per day for travel time; or 
 72.7      (2) the amount of child care equal to the actual amount of 
 72.8   child care used during employment, including break and meal time 
 72.9   during employment, and travel time up to two hours per day. 
 72.10     Sec. 40.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.11, 
 72.11  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 72.12     Subdivision 1.  [COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONS REQUIRED.] Beginning 
 72.13  July 1, 1995 1997, in addition to payments from basic sliding 
 72.14  fee child care program participants, counties each county shall 
 72.15  contribute from county tax or other sources at the a fixed local 
 72.16  match percentage calculated according to subdivision 2 equal to 
 72.17  its calendar year 1996 required county contribution reduced by 
 72.18  the administrative funding loss that would have occurred in 
 72.19  state fiscal year 1996 under section 119B.15.  The commissioner 
 72.20  shall recover funds from the county as necessary to bring county 
 72.21  expenditures into compliance with this subdivision. 
 72.22     Sec. 41.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.11, is 
 72.23  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 72.24     Subd. 2a.  [RECOVERY OF OVERPAYMENTS.] If an amount of 
 72.25  child care assistance is paid to a recipient in excess of the 
 72.26  payment due, it shall be recoverable by the county agency.  The 
 72.27  overpayment shall be recovered through recoupment as identified 
 72.28  in Minnesota Rules, part 9565.5110, subpart 11, items A and B, 
 72.29  if the family remains eligible for assistance.  If the family no 
 72.30  longer remains eligible for child care assistance, the county 
 72.31  may choose to initiate efforts to recover overpayments from the 
 72.32  family for overpayment less than $50.  When the amount of the 
 72.33  overpayment is greater than or equal to $50, the county shall 
 72.34  seek voluntary repayment of the overpayment from the family.  If 
 72.35  the county is unable to recoup the overpayment through voluntary 
 72.36  repayment, the county shall initiate civil court proceedings to 
 73.1   recover the overpayment unless the county's costs to recover the 
 73.2   overpayment will exceed the amount of the overpayment.  A family 
 73.3   with an outstanding debt under this subdivision is not eligible 
 73.4   for child care assistance until the debt is paid in full or 
 73.5   satisfactory arrangements are made with the county to retire the 
 73.6   debt. 
 73.7      Sec. 42.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.11, 
 73.8   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 73.9      Subd. 3.  [FEDERAL MONEY; STATE RECOVERY.] The commissioner 
 73.10  shall recover from counties any state or federal money that was 
 73.11  spent for persons found to be ineligible, except if the recovery 
 73.12  is made by a county agency using any method other than 
 73.13  recoupment, the county may keep 25 percent of the recovery.  If 
 73.14  a federal audit exception is taken based on a percentage of 
 73.15  federal earnings, all counties shall pay a share proportional to 
 73.16  their respective federal earnings during the period in question. 
 73.17     Sec. 43.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.12, is 
 73.18  amended to read: 
 73.19     119B.12 [SLIDING FEE SCALE.] 
 73.20     Subdivision 1.  [FEE SCHEDULE.] In setting the sliding fee 
 73.21  schedule, the commissioner shall exclude from the amount of 
 73.22  income used to determine eligibility an amount for federal and 
 73.23  state income and social security taxes attributable to that 
 73.24  income level according to federal and state standardized tax 
 73.25  tables.  The commissioner shall base the parent fee on the 
 73.26  ability of the family to pay for child care.  The fee schedule 
 73.27  must be designed to use any available tax credits. 
 73.28     Subd. 2.  [PARENT FEE.] A family's monthly parent fee must 
 73.29  be a fixed percentage of its annual gross income.  Parent fees 
 73.30  must apply to families eligible for child care assistance under 
 73.31  sections 119B.03 and 119B.05.  Income must be as defined in 
 73.32  section 119B.01, subdivision 12.  The fixed percent is based on 
 73.33  the relationship of the family's annual gross income to 100 
 73.34  percent of state median income.  Beginning January 1, 1998, 
 73.35  parent fees must begin at 50 percent of the poverty level.  The 
 73.36  minimum parent fees for families between 50 percent and 100 
 74.1   percent of poverty level must be $5 per month.  Parent fees for 
 74.2   families with incomes at or above the poverty level must not 
 74.3   decrease due to the addition of family members after the 
 74.4   family's initial eligibility determination.  Parent fees must be 
 74.5   established in rule and must provide for graduated movement to 
 74.6   full payment. 
 74.7      Sec. 44.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.13, 
 74.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 74.9      Subdivision 1.  [SUBSIDY RESTRICTIONS.] Effective July 1, 
 74.10  1991, the maximum rate paid for child care assistance under the 
 74.11  child care fund is the maximum rate eligible for federal 
 74.12  reimbursement.  The rate may not exceed the 75th percentile rate 
 74.13  for like-care arrangements in the county as surveyed by the 
 74.14  commissioner.  A rate which includes a provider bonus paid under 
 74.15  subdivision 2 or a special needs rate paid under subdivision 3 
 74.16  may be in excess of the maximum rate allowed under this 
 74.17  subdivision.  The department of children, families, and learning 
 74.18  shall monitor the effect of this paragraph on provider rates.  
 74.19  The county shall pay the provider's full charges for every child 
 74.20  in care up to the maximum established.  The commissioner shall 
 74.21  determine the maximum rate for each type of care, including 
 74.22  special needs and handicapped care.  Not less than once every 
 74.23  two years, the county shall evaluate rates for payment of absent 
 74.24  spaces and shall establish policies for payment of absent days 
 74.25  that reflect current market practice.  
 74.26     When the provider charge is greater than the maximum 
 74.27  provider rate allowed, the parent is responsible for payment of 
 74.28  the difference in the rates in addition to any family copayment 
 74.29  fee. 
 74.30     Sec. 45.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.13, is 
 74.31  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 74.32     Subd. 8.  [PROVIDER NOTICE.] The county shall inform both 
 74.33  the family receiving assistance under chapter 119B and the child 
 74.34  care provider of the payment amount and how and when payment 
 74.35  will be received.  When the county sends a family a notice that 
 74.36  child care assistance will be terminated, the county shall 
 75.1   inform the provider that unless the family requests to continue 
 75.2   to receive assistance pending an appeal, child care payments 
 75.3   will no longer be made.  The notice to the vendor must not 
 75.4   contain any private data on the family or information on why 
 75.5   payment will no longer be made. 
 75.6      Sec. 46.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.13, is 
 75.7   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 75.8      Subd. 9.  [PROVIDER PAYMENTS.] Counties shall make vendor 
 75.9   payments to the child care provider or pay the parent directly 
 75.10  for eligible child care expenses.  When payments for child care 
 75.11  assistance are made to providers, the provider shall bill the 
 75.12  county for services provided within ten days of the end of the 
 75.13  month of service.  When bills are submitted in accordance with 
 75.14  the provisions of subdivision 6, a county shall issue payment to 
 75.15  the provider of child care under the child care fund within 30 
 75.16  days of receiving an invoice from the provider.  Counties may 
 75.17  establish policies that make payments on a more frequent basis.  
 75.18  A county's payment policies must be included in the county's 
 75.19  child care plan under section 119B.08, subdivision 3. 
 75.20     Sec. 47.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.15, is 
 75.21  amended to read: 
 75.22     119B.15 [ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.] 
 75.23     The commissioner shall use up to one-eleventh 1/21 of the 
 75.24  state and federal funds available for the basic sliding fee 
 75.25  program and 1/21 of the state and federal funds available for 
 75.26  the AFDC child care program for payments to counties for 
 75.27  administrative expenses.  
 75.28     Sec. 48.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.16, 
 75.29  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 75.30     Subdivision 1.  [FAIR HEARING ALLOWED.] An applicant or 
 75.31  recipient adversely affected by a county agency action may 
 75.32  request a fair hearing in accordance with section 256.045, 
 75.33  subdivision 3. 
 75.34     Sec. 49.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.18, is 
 75.35  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 75.36     Subd. 3.  [CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING LOANS.] 
 76.1   The commissioner shall establish a child development education 
 76.2   and training loan program to be administered by the regional 
 76.3   child care resource and referral programs.  The purpose of the 
 76.4   program is to expand training and education opportunities for 
 76.5   child care workers, to promote stable staffing in child care 
 76.6   facilities, and to encourage continuity of care for children in 
 76.7   child care facilities.  The program may make loans for (1) 
 76.8   credit-based courses in child development or child care 
 76.9   administration, or (2) course work to become a child development 
 76.10  associate or to receive accreditation by the national 
 76.11  association of family child care.  
 76.12     The commissioner shall establish application procedures, 
 76.13  eligibility criteria, terms, and other conditions necessary to 
 76.14  make education and training loans under this section.  A single 
 76.15  applicant may not receive more than $1,500 per year under this 
 76.16  program.  All or part of the loan may be forgiven if the 
 76.17  applicant continues to provide child care services for a period 
 76.18  of 12 months following the completion of all courses paid for by 
 76.19  the loan. 
 76.20     Sec. 50.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.20, 
 76.21  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 76.22     Subd. 7.  [FACILITY IMPROVEMENT EXPENSES.] "Facility 
 76.23  improvement expenses" means funds for building improvements, 
 76.24  equipment, appropriate technology and software, toys, and 
 76.25  supplies needed to establish, expand, or improve a licensed 
 76.26  child care facility or a child care program under the 
 76.27  jurisdiction of the state a local school board of education. 
 76.28     Sec. 51.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.20, 
 76.29  subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
 76.30     Subd. 9.  [MINI-GRANTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
 76.31  AWARDS.] "Mini-grants" "Technical assistance awards" means child 
 76.32  care grants to family child care providers for facility 
 76.33  improvements that are up to $1,000.  Mini-grants Awards include, 
 76.34  but are not limited to, improvements to meet licensing 
 76.35  requirements, improvements to expand a child care facility or 
 76.36  program, appropriate technology and software, toys and 
 77.1   equipment, start-up costs, staff training, and development costs.
 77.2      Sec. 52.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.20, 
 77.3   subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
 77.4      Subd. 10.  [RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PROGRAM.] "Resource and 
 77.5   referral program" means a program that provides information to 
 77.6   parents, including referrals and coordination of community child 
 77.7   care resources for parents and public or private providers of 
 77.8   care.  It also means the agency with the duties specified in 
 77.9   sections 119B.18 and 119B.19.  Services may include parent 
 77.10  education, technical assistance for providers, staff development 
 77.11  programs, and referrals to social services recruitment of new 
 77.12  providers, parent education, training, technical assistance for 
 77.13  providers, and referrals to social services. 
 77.14     Sec. 53.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 77.15  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 77.16     Subdivision 1.  [GRANTS ESTABLISHED.] The commissioner 
 77.17  shall award grants to develop child care services, including 
 77.18  child care service development grants for start-up and facility 
 77.19  improvement expenses, interim financing, resource and referral 
 77.20  programs, and staff training expenses, and grants for child care 
 77.21  resource and referral programs.  Child care services service 
 77.22  development grants may include mini-grants family child care 
 77.23  technical assistance awards up to $1,000.  The commissioner 
 77.24  shall develop a grant application form, inform county social 
 77.25  service agencies about the availability of child care services 
 77.26  grants, and set a date by which applications must be received by 
 77.27  the commissioner. 
 77.28     The commissioner may renew grants to existing resource and 
 77.29  referral agencies that have met state standards and have been 
 77.30  designated as the child care resource and referral service for a 
 77.31  particular geographical area.  The recipients of renewal grants 
 77.32  are exempt from the proposal review process. 
 77.33     Sec. 54.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 77.34  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 77.35     Subd. 2.  [DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.] (a) The commissioner 
 77.36  shall allocate grant money appropriated for child care service 
 78.1   development among the development regions designated by the 
 78.2   governor under section 462.385, as follows considering the 
 78.3   following factors for each economic development region: 
 78.4      (1) 50 percent of the child care service development grant 
 78.5   appropriation shall be allocated to the metropolitan economic 
 78.6   development region; and 
 78.7      (2) 50 percent of the child care service development grant 
 78.8   appropriation shall be allocated to economic development regions 
 78.9   other than the metropolitan economic development region. 
 78.10     (b) The following formulas shall be used to allocate grant 
 78.11  appropriations among the economic development regions:  
 78.12     (1) 50 percent of the funds shall be allocated in 
 78.13  proportion to the ratio of children under 12 years of age in 
 78.14  each economic development region to the total number of children 
 78.15  under 12 years of age in all economic development regions; and 
 78.16     (2) 50 percent of the funds shall be allocated in 
 78.17  proportion to the ratio of children under 12 years of age in 
 78.18  each economic development region to the number of licensed child 
 78.19  care spaces currently available in each economic development 
 78.20  region 
 78.21     (1) the number of children under 13 years of age needing 
 78.22  child care in the service area; 
 78.23     (2) the geographic area served by the agency; 
 78.24     (3) the ratio of children under 13 years of age needing 
 78.25  child care to the number of licensed spaces in the service area; 
 78.26     (4) the number of licensed child care providers and 
 78.27  extended day school age child care programs in the service area; 
 78.28  and 
 78.29     (5) other related factors determined by the commissioner. 
 78.30     (c) (b) Out of the amount allocated for each economic 
 78.31  development region, the commissioner shall award grants based on 
 78.32  the recommendation of the grant review child care regional 
 78.33  advisory task force committees.  In addition, the commissioner 
 78.34  shall award no more than 75 percent of the money either to child 
 78.35  care facilities for the purpose of facility improvement or 
 78.36  interim financing or to child care workers for staff training 
 79.1   expenses.  
 79.2      (d) (c) Any funds unobligated may be used by the 
 79.3   commissioner to award grants to proposals that received funding 
 79.4   recommendations by the advisory task force regional advisory 
 79.5   committees but were not awarded due to insufficient funds.  
 79.6      (e) (d) The commissioner may allocate grants under this 
 79.7   section for a two-year period and may carry forward funds from 
 79.8   the first year as necessary. 
 79.9      Sec. 55.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 79.10  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 79.11     Subd. 3.  [CHILD CARE REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES.] Child 
 79.12  care regional advisory committees shall review and make 
 79.13  recommendations to the commissioner on applications for family 
 79.14  child care technical assistance awards and service development 
 79.15  grants under this section.  The commissioner shall appoint the 
 79.16  child care regional advisory committees in each governor's 
 79.17  economic development region.  People appointed under this 
 79.18  subdivision must represent the following constituent groups:  
 79.19  family child care providers, group center providers, parent 
 79.20  users, health services, social services, public schools, Head 
 79.21  Start, employers, and other citizens with demonstrated interest 
 79.22  in child care issues.  Members of the advisory task force with a 
 79.23  direct financial interest in a pending grant proposal may not 
 79.24  provide a recommendation or participate in the ranking of that 
 79.25  grant proposal.  Committee members may be reimbursed for their 
 79.26  actual travel, child care, and child care provider substitute 
 79.27  expenses for up to six committee meetings per year.  The child 
 79.28  care regional advisory committees shall complete their reviews 
 79.29  and forward their recommendations to the commissioner by the 
 79.30  date specified by the commissioner. 
 79.31     Sec. 56.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 79.32  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 79.33     Subd. 4.  [DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FOR CHILD CARE RESOURCE 
 79.34  AND REFERRAL PROGRAMS.] (a) The commissioner shall allocate 
 79.35  funds appropriated for child care resource and referral services 
 79.36  considering the following factors for each economic development 
 80.1   region served by the child care resource and referral agency:  
 80.2      (1) the number of children under 13 years of age needing 
 80.3   child care in the service area; 
 80.4      (2) the geographic area served by the agency; 
 80.5      (3) the ratio of children under 13 years of age needing 
 80.6   care to the number of licensed spaces in the service area; 
 80.7      (4) the number of licensed child care providers and 
 80.8   extended day school age child care programs in the service area; 
 80.9   and 
 80.10     (5) other related factors determined by the commissioner.  
 80.11     (b) The commissioner may renew grants to existing resource 
 80.12  and referral agencies that have met state standards and have 
 80.13  been designated as the child care resource and referral service 
 80.14  for a particular geographical area.  The recipients of renewal 
 80.15  grants are exempt from the proposal review process. 
 80.16     Sec. 57.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 80.17  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 80.18     Subd. 5.  [PURPOSES FOR WHICH A CHILD CARE SERVICES GRANT 
 80.19  MAY BE AWARDED.] The commissioner may award grants for any of 
 80.20  the following purposes: 
 80.21     (1) child care service development grants for the following 
 80.22  purposes: 
 80.23     (i) for creating new licensed day care facilities and 
 80.24  expanding existing facilities, including, but not limited to, 
 80.25  supplies, equipment, facility renovation, and remodeling; 
 80.26     (2) (ii) for improving licensed day care facility programs, 
 80.27  including, but not limited to, staff specialists, staff 
 80.28  training, supplies, equipment, and facility renovation and 
 80.29  remodeling.  In awarding grants for training, priority must be 
 80.30  given to child care workers caring for infants, toddlers, sick 
 80.31  children, children in low-income families, and children with 
 80.32  special needs; 
 80.33     (3) (iii) for supportive child development services 
 80.34  including, but not limited to, in-service training, curriculum 
 80.35  development, consulting specialist, resource centers, and 
 80.36  program and resource materials; 
 81.1      (4) (iv) for carrying out programs including, but not 
 81.2   limited to, staff, supplies, equipment, facility renovation, and 
 81.3   training; 
 81.4      (5) (v) for interim financing; and 
 81.5      (6) for carrying out the resource and referral program 
 81.6   services identified in section 119B.19, subdivision 3 (vi) 
 81.7   family child care technical assistance awards; and 
 81.8      (vii) for capacity building through the purchase of 
 81.9   appropriate technology and software, and staff training to 
 81.10  create, enhance, and maintain financial systems for facilities; 
 81.11     (2) child care resource and referral program services 
 81.12  identified in section 119B.19, subdivision 3; or 
 81.13     (3) targeted recruitment initiatives to expand and build 
 81.14  capacity of the child care system. 
 81.15     Sec. 58.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 81.16  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 81.17     Subd. 6.  [FUNDING PRIORITIES; FACILITY IMPROVEMENT AND, 
 81.18  INTERIM FINANCING, AND TRAINING GRANTS.] In evaluating 
 81.19  applications for funding and making recommendations to the 
 81.20  commissioner, the grant review advisory task force child care 
 81.21  regional advisory committees shall rank and give priority to:  
 81.22     (1) new programs or projects, or the expansion or 
 81.23  improvement of existing programs or projects in areas where a 
 81.24  demonstrated need for child care facilities has been shown, with 
 81.25  special emphasis on programs or projects in areas where there is 
 81.26  a shortage of licensed child care; 
 81.27     (2) new programs and projects, or the expansions or 
 81.28  enrichment of existing programs or projects that serve sick 
 81.29  children, infants or toddlers, children with special needs, and 
 81.30  children from low-income families, or parents needing child care 
 81.31  during nonstandard hours; 
 81.32     (3) unlicensed providers who wish to become licensed; and 
 81.33     (4) improvement of existing programs; 
 81.34     (5) child care programs seeking accreditation and child 
 81.35  care providers seeking certification; and 
 81.36     (6) entities that will use grant money for scholarships for 
 82.1   child care workers attending educational or training programs 
 82.2   sponsored by the entity. 
 82.3      Sec. 59.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 82.4   subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 82.5      Subd. 8.  [ELIGIBLE GRANT RECIPIENTS.] Eligible recipients 
 82.6   of child care grants are licensed providers of child care, or 
 82.7   those in the process of being licensed, resource and referral 
 82.8   programs, or corporations or public agencies, or any combination 
 82.9   thereof.  With the exception of mini-grants, priority for child 
 82.10  care grants shall be given to grant applicants as follows: 
 82.11     (1) public and private nonprofit agencies; 
 82.12     (2) employer-based child care centers; 
 82.13     (3) for-profit child care centers; and 
 82.14     (4) family day care providers. 
 82.15     Sec. 60.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 82.16  subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
 82.17     Subd. 9.  [GRANT MATCH REQUIREMENTS.] Child care grants for 
 82.18  facility improvements, interim financing, resource and referral, 
 82.19  and staff training and development require a 25 percent local 
 82.20  match by the grant applicant.  A local match is not required for 
 82.21  a minigrant family child care technical assistance award. 
 82.22     Sec. 61.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 82.23  subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
 82.24     Subd. 10.  [CHILD CARE MINI-GRANTS FAMILY CHILD CARE 
 82.25  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AWARDS.] Mini-grants Technical assistance 
 82.26  awards for child care service development must be used by 
 82.27  the family child care provider grantee for facility 
 82.28  improvements, including, but not limited to, improvements to 
 82.29  meet licensing requirements, improvements to expand the 
 82.30  facility, toys and equipment, start-up costs, interim financing, 
 82.31  or staff training and development.  Priority for child care 
 82.32  mini-grants shall be given to grant applicants as follows: 
 82.33     (1) family day care providers; 
 82.34     (2) public and private nonprofit agencies; 
 82.35     (3) employer-based child care centers; and 
 82.36     (4) for-profit child care centers. 
 83.1      Sec. 62.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 119B.21, 
 83.2   subdivision 11, is amended to read: 
 83.3      Subd. 11.  [ADVISORY TASK FORCE.] The commissioner 
 83.4   shall may convene a statewide advisory task force which shall 
 83.5   advise the commissioner on grants and or other child care issues.
 83.6   The statewide advisory task force shall review and make 
 83.7   recommendations to the commissioner on child care resource and 
 83.8   referral grants and on statewide service development and child 
 83.9   care training grants.  Members of the advisory task force with a 
 83.10  direct financial interest in a resource and referral or a 
 83.11  statewide training proposal may not provide a recommendation or 
 83.12  participate in the ranking of that grant proposal.  The 
 83.13  following constituent groups must be represented:  family child 
 83.14  care providers, center providers, parent users, health services, 
 83.15  social services, Head Start, public schools, employers, and 
 83.16  other citizens with demonstrated interest in child care issues.  
 83.17  Each regional grant review committee formed under subdivision 3, 
 83.18  shall appoint a representative to the advisory task 
 83.19  force.  Additional members may be appointed by the commissioner. 
 83.20  The commissioner may convene meetings of the task force as 
 83.21  needed.  Terms of office and removal from office are governed by 
 83.22  the appointing body.  The commissioner may compensate members 
 83.23  for their travel, child care, and child care provider substitute 
 83.24  expenses for meetings of the task force.  The members of the 
 83.25  child care advisory task force shall also meet once with the 
 83.26  interagency advisory committee on child care under section 
 83.27  256H.25. 
 83.28     Sec. 63.  [119B.25] [CHILD CARE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.] 
 83.29     Subdivision 1.  [PURPOSE.] The purpose of this section is 
 83.30  to enhance and expand child care sites, to encourage private 
 83.31  investment in child care and early childhood education sites, to 
 83.32  promote availability of quality, affordable child care 
 83.33  throughout Minnesota, and to provide for cooperation between 
 83.34  private nonprofit child care organizations, family child care 
 83.35  and center providers and the department of children, families, 
 83.36  and learning. 
 84.1      Subd. 2.  [GRANTS.] The commissioner shall distribute money 
 84.2   provided by this section through a grant to a nonprofit 
 84.3   corporation organized to plan, develop, and finance early 
 84.4   childhood education and child care sites.  The nonprofit 
 84.5   corporation must have demonstrated the ability to analyze 
 84.6   financing projects, have knowledge of other sources of public 
 84.7   and private financing for child care and early childhood 
 84.8   education sites, and have a relationship with the resource and 
 84.9   referral programs under section 119B.18.  The board of directors 
 84.10  of the nonprofit corporation must include members who are 
 84.11  knowledgeable about early childhood education, child care, 
 84.12  development and improvement, and financing.  The commissioners 
 84.13  of the departments of children, families, and learning and trade 
 84.14  and economic development, and the commissioner of the housing 
 84.15  finance agency shall advise the board on the loan program.  The 
 84.16  grant must be used to make loans to improve child care or early 
 84.17  childhood education sites, or loans to plan, design, and 
 84.18  construct or expand licensed and legal unlicensed sites to 
 84.19  increase the availability of child care or early childhood 
 84.20  education.  All loans made by the nonprofit corporation must 
 84.21  comply with section 363.03, subdivision 8. 
 84.22     Subd. 3.  [FINANCING PROGRAM.] A nonprofit corporation that 
 84.23  receives a grant under this section shall use the money to: 
 84.24     (1) establish a revolving loan fund to make loans to 
 84.25  existing, expanding, and new licensed and legal unlicensed child 
 84.26  care and early childhood education sites; 
 84.27     (2) establish a fund to guarantee private loans to improve 
 84.28  or construct a child care or early childhood education site; 
 84.29     (3) establish a fund to provide forgivable loans or grants 
 84.30  to match all or part of a loan made under this section; and 
 84.31     (4) establish a fund as a reserve against bad debt.  
 84.32     The nonprofit corporation shall establish the terms and 
 84.33  conditions for loans and loan guarantees including, but not 
 84.34  limited to, interest rates, repayment agreements, private match 
 84.35  requirements, and conditions for loan forgiveness.  The 
 84.36  nonprofit corporation shall establish a minimum interest rate 
 85.1   for loans to ensure that necessary loan administration costs are 
 85.2   covered.  The nonprofit corporation may use interest earnings 
 85.3   for administrative expenses. 
 85.4      Subd. 4.  [REPORTING.] A nonprofit corporation that 
 85.5   receives a grant under this section shall: 
 85.6      (1) annually report by September 30 to the commissioner the 
 85.7   purposes for which the money was used in the past fiscal year, 
 85.8   including a description of projects supported by the financing, 
 85.9   an account of loans made during the calendar year, the financing 
 85.10  program's assets and liabilities, and an explanation of 
 85.11  administrative expenses; and 
 85.12     (2) annually submit to the commissioner a copy of the 
 85.13  report of an independent audit performed in accordance with 
 85.14  generally accepted accounting practices and auditing standards. 
 85.15     Sec. 64.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 121.8355, 
 85.16  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 85.17     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] (a) In order to qualify as 
 85.18  a family services collaborative, a minimum of one school 
 85.19  district, one county, one public health entity, one community 
 85.20  action agency as defined in section 268.53, and one Head Start 
 85.21  grantee if the community action agency is not the designated 
 85.22  federal grantee for the Head Start program must agree in writing 
 85.23  to provide coordinated family services and commit resources to 
 85.24  an integrated fund.  Collaboratives are expected to have broad 
 85.25  community representation, which may include other local 
 85.26  providers, including additional school districts, counties, and 
 85.27  public health entities, other municipalities, public libraries, 
 85.28  existing culturally specific community organizations, tribal 
 85.29  entities, local health organizations, private and nonprofit 
 85.30  service providers, child care providers, local foundations, 
 85.31  community-based service groups, businesses, local transit 
 85.32  authorities or other transportation providers, community action 
 85.33  agencies under section 268.53, senior citizen volunteer 
 85.34  organizations, parent organizations, parents, and sectarian 
 85.35  organizations that provide nonsectarian services. 
 85.36     (b) Community-based collaboratives composed of 
 86.1   representatives of schools, local businesses, local units of 
 86.2   government, parents, students, clergy, health and social 
 86.3   services providers, youth service organizations, and existing 
 86.4   culturally specific community organizations may plan and develop 
 86.5   services for children and youth.  A community-based 
 86.6   collaborative must agree to collaborate with county, school 
 86.7   district, community action, and public health entities.  Their 
 86.8   services may include opportunities for children or youth to 
 86.9   improve child health and development, reduce barriers to 
 86.10  adequate school performance, improve family functioning, provide 
 86.11  community service, enhance self esteem, and develop general 
 86.12  employment skills.  
 86.13     (c) Members of the governing bodies of political 
 86.14  subdivisions involved in the establishment of a family services 
 86.15  collaborative shall select representatives of the 
 86.16  nongovernmental entities listed in paragraph (a) to serve on the 
 86.17  governing board of a collaborative.  The governing body members 
 86.18  of the political subdivisions shall select one or more 
 86.19  representatives of the nongovernmental entities within the 
 86.20  family service collaborative. 
 86.21     Sec. 65.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2615, 
 86.22  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 86.23     Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAM REVIEW AND APPROVAL.] By February 
 86.24  15, 1992, for the 1991-1992 school year or by January 1 of May 1 
 86.25  preceding subsequent school years, a district must submit to the 
 86.26  commissioners of children, families, and learning, and health, 
 86.27  human services, and economic security:  
 86.28     (1) a description of the services to be provided; 
 86.29     (2) a plan to ensure children at greatest risk receive 
 86.30  appropriate services; 
 86.31     (3) a description of procedures and methods to be used to 
 86.32  coordinate public and private resources to maximize use of 
 86.33  existing community resources, including school districts, health 
 86.34  care facilities, government agencies, neighborhood 
 86.35  organizations, and other resources knowledgeable in early 
 86.36  childhood development; 
 87.1      (4) comments about the district's proposed program by the 
 87.2   advisory council required by section 121.831, subdivision 7; and 
 87.3      (5) agreements with all participating service providers.  
 87.4      Each commissioner may review and comment on the program, 
 87.5   and make recommendations to the commissioner of children, 
 87.6   families, and learning, within 30 days of receiving the plan. 
 87.7      Sec. 66.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2615, 
 87.8   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 87.9      Subd. 2.  [AMOUNT OF AID.] (a) A district is eligible to 
 87.10  receive learning readiness aid if the program plan as required 
 87.11  by subdivision 1 has been approved by the commissioner of 
 87.12  children, families, and learning.  The aid is equal to: 
 87.13     (1) $200 for fiscal year 1992 and $300 for fiscal year 1993 
 87.14  times the number of eligible four-year old children residing in 
 87.15  the district, as determined according to section 124.2711, 
 87.16  subdivision 2; plus 
 87.17     (2) $100 for fiscal year 1992 and $300 for fiscal year 1993 
 87.18  times the result of; 
 87.19     (3) the ratio of the number of pupils enrolled in the 
 87.20  school district from families eligible for the free or reduced 
 87.21  school lunch program to the total number of pupils enrolled in 
 87.22  the school district; times 
 87.23     (4) the number of children in clause (1). 
 87.24     (b) For fiscal year 1994 1998 and thereafter, a district 
 87.25  shall receive learning readiness aid equal to: 
 87.26     (1) the number of eligible four-year old children in the 
 87.27  district times the ratio of 50 percent of the total learning 
 87.28  readiness aid for that year to the total number of eligible 
 87.29  four-year old children reported to the commissioner for that 
 87.30  year; plus 
 87.31     (2) the number of participating eligible children times the 
 87.32  ratio of 15 percent of the total learning readiness aid for that 
 87.33  year to the total number of participating eligible children for 
 87.34  that year; plus 
 87.35     (3) the number of pupils enrolled in the school district 
 87.36  from families eligible for the free or reduced school lunch 
 88.1   program times the ratio of 35 50 percent of the total learning 
 88.2   readiness aid for that year to the total number of pupils in the 
 88.3   state from families eligible for the free or reduced school 
 88.4   lunch program. 
 88.5      Sec. 67.  [EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.] 
 88.6      The Minnesota Institute for Early Childhood Professional 
 88.7   Development shall make recommendations by January 15, 1998, 
 88.8   related to the qualifications for child care center staff and 
 88.9   family child care providers to the commissioners of human 
 88.10  services and children, families, and learning and the Minnesota 
 88.11  state legislature.  Recommendations must be made in the 
 88.12  following areas: 
 88.13     (1) whether the procedures for licensing individuals should 
 88.14  be separated from the licensing of the program and physical 
 88.15  plant of child care centers and homes; 
 88.16     (2) which entity would be the most appropriate to issue 
 88.17  individual licenses; 
 88.18     (3) core competencies which are based on the age of the 
 88.19  children served and type of provider; and 
 88.20     (4) the amount of preservice training, experience, and 
 88.21  in-service training for child care providers.  
 88.22     Sec. 68.  [CHILD CARE CAPACITY PROJECT.] 
 88.23     A capacity project is established for the regional child 
 88.24  care resource and referral programs under Minnesota Statutes, 
 88.25  section 119B.18.  Each regional resource and referral program 
 88.26  shall develop and provide a capacity program to assist in 
 88.27  identifying and providing new child care arrangements for 
 88.28  parents.  Under this project, a resource and referral program 
 88.29  may: 
 88.30     (1) establish an easy-to-use, on-line child care referral 
 88.31  service for parents entering the workforce; 
 88.32     (2) provide services to meet the increased demand for 
 88.33  referral services and consultations; 
 88.34     (3) coordinate training; 
 88.35     (4) recruit child care providers with an emphasis on 
 88.36  identifying providers for nontraditional times, infant and 
 89.1   toddler care, and care for children with special needs; and 
 89.2      (5) provide technical assistance and training for 
 89.3   prospective and new child care providers. 
 89.4      Sec. 69.  [UNIVERSAL APPLICATION FORM; BASIC SLIDING FEE 
 89.5   PROGRAM.] 
 89.6      The commissioner of children, families, and learning shall 
 89.7   develop a universal application form for the basic sliding fee 
 89.8   program.  The commissioner shall make the form available to all 
 89.9   counties.  Counties may use the universal application form to 
 89.10  implement a mail application process for the basic sliding fee 
 89.11  program. 
 89.12     Sec. 70.  [FINDINGS.] 
 89.13     The legislature finds that all children need well-balanced 
 89.14  meals and snacks in order to build strong bodies and minds.  The 
 89.15  legislature finds further that programs to provide nutritional 
 89.16  elements to participants enrolled in child and adult care 
 89.17  programs are at risk from reduced federal funding and more 
 89.18  restrictive eligibility standards.  The legislature finds 
 89.19  further that it is a valid public purpose to provide public 
 89.20  funding for food and nutrition programs in licensed family day 
 89.21  care homes. 
 89.22     Sec. 71.  [CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM.] 
 89.23     A licensed family day care home that has participated in 
 89.24  the child and adult care food program administered by the 
 89.25  department of children, families, and learning that complies 
 89.26  with United States Department of Agriculture meal pattern 
 89.27  regulations is eligible to receive cash reimbursements from 
 89.28  funds made available by the appropriations in section 72, 
 89.29  subdivision 14. 
 89.30     Sec. 72.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 89.31     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
 89.32  LEARNING.] The sums indicated are appropriated to the department 
 89.33  of children, families, and learning for fiscal years designated. 
 89.34     Subd. 2.  [BASIC SLIDING FEE CHILD CARE.] For child care 
 89.35  assistance according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03: 
 89.36       $38,865,000    .....     1998 
 90.1        $50,631,000    .....     1999 
 90.2      Subd. 3.  [TANF CHILD CARE.] For child care assistance 
 90.3   according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.05: 
 90.4        $33,798,000     .....     1998 
 90.5        $64,238,000     .....     1999 
 90.6      Subd. 4.  [AT-HOME INFANT CHILD CARE.] For child care 
 90.7   assistance under section 30. 
 90.8        $290,000       .....     1998
 90.9        $120,000       .....     1999
 90.10     Subd. 5.  [CHILD CARE ADMINISTRATION.] For administration 
 90.11  of child care assistance and development programs according to 
 90.12  Minnesota Statutes, sections 119B.03 and 119B.05: 
 90.13       $1,029,000     .....     1998 
 90.14       $1,029,000     .....     1999 
 90.15     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 90.16  available in the second year. 
 90.17     Subd. 6.  [CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT.] For child care 
 90.18  development grants according to Minnesota Statutes, section 
 90.19  119B.21: 
 90.20       $2,600,000     .....     1998 
 90.21       $1,340,000     .....     1999
 90.22     Of this amount, $2,000,000 is a one-time appropriation in 
 90.23  fiscal year 1998 and is not to be added to the base. 
 90.24     Subd. 7.  [CHILD MENTOR PROGRAMS.] For grants for child 
 90.25  mentor programs: 
 90.26       $530,000       .....     1998
 90.27     Of this amount, up to $280,000 is for a grant to the 
 90.28  Minnesota licensed family child care association for statewide 
 90.29  implementation of the family child care mentorship model 
 90.30  developed by the association. 
 90.31     Of this amount, up to $250,000 is for a grant to the 
 90.32  Minnesota child care apprentice/mentor program to modify the 
 90.33  apprentice/mentor program for statewide implementation through 
 90.34  the child care careers program of the community/technical 
 90.35  college system. 
 90.36     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 91.1   available in the second year. 
 91.2      In fiscal year 1999, the commissioner may transfer funding 
 91.3   between the programs, at the request of the Minnesota licensed 
 91.4   family child care association and the Minnesota child care 
 91.5   apprentice/mentor program to respond to demonstrated demand for 
 91.6   these programs. 
 91.7      Subd. 8.  [PROJECT IMPACT.] For a grant to expand project 
 91.8   impact: 
 91.9        $ 250,000     .....     1998
 91.10     The grant must be used to prepare child care providers and 
 91.11  staff who are members of a community of color, as defined in 
 91.12  Minnesota Statutes, section 257.076, subdivision 3, to meet or 
 91.13  exceed the education and experience requirements of assistant 
 91.14  teachers, teachers, and family day care providers in licensed 
 91.15  child care programs. 
 91.16     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 91.17  available in the second year. 
 91.18     Subd. 9.  [CHILD CARE APPRENTICE/MENTOR PROGRAM.] For a 
 91.19  grant to the Minnesota child care apprentice/mentor program: 
 91.20       $ 500,000     .....     1998
 91.21     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 91.22  available in the second year. 
 91.23     Subd. 10.  [ECFE/FAMILY CHILD CARE TRAINING COLLABORATION.] 
 91.24  For grants to early childhood family education program under 
 91.25  Minnesota Statutes, section 121.882: 
 91.26       $ 300,000     .....     1998
 91.27     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 91.28  available in the second year. 
 91.29     The grants must be used to expand the staff and programming 
 91.30  capacity to permit licensed or legal unlicensed child care 
 91.31  providers to participate in the ECFE programs. 
 91.32     Subd. 11.  [CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AID TRAINING 
 91.33  LOANS.] For a grant to the regional child care resource and 
 91.34  referral programs for education and training loan under section 
 91.35  49: 
 91.36       $ 720,000     .....     1998
 92.1      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 92.2   available in the second year. 
 92.3      Of this amount up to eight percent may be used for 
 92.4   administration of the loan program. 
 92.5      Subd. 12.  [RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PROJECTS.] For grants to 
 92.6   the regional child care resource and referral programs under 
 92.7   Minnesota Statutes, section 199B.18: 
 92.8        $1,380,000     .....     1998
 92.9        $1,380,000     .....     1999
 92.10     Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
 92.11  available in the second year. 
 92.12     Of this amount, $1,000,000 of the appropriation in fiscal 
 92.13  year 1998 is one time only and is not to be added to the base. 
 92.14     Of these amounts, up to $500,000 may be used for 
 92.15  recruitment, training, and technical assistance for prospective 
 92.16  and new child care providers. 
 92.17     Subd. 13.  [CHILD CARE FACILITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.] For a 
 92.18  child care facility improvement grant to a nonprofit corporation 
 92.19  under Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.25: 
 92.20       $1,000,000     .....     1998
 92.21     This appropriation is available until expended. 
 92.22     Of this amount, up to five percent may be used by the 
 92.23  department and the nonprofit corporation to administer the loan 
 92.24  program including costs associated with setting up an 
 92.25  information system to administer child care and early childhood 
 92.26  education facility loans. 
 92.27     Subd. 14.  [CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM.] $...,... 
 92.28  for the meal and nutrition program for licensed family day care 
 92.29  homes under section 71. 
 92.30       $  -0-         .....     1998 
 92.31       $  -0-         .....     1999 
 92.32     Sec. 73.  [REPEALER.] 
 92.33     Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 119B.03, subdivision 7; 
 92.34  119B.05, subdivisions 2 and 3; 119B.11, subdivision 2; 119B.19, 
 92.35  subdivision 2; 119B.21, subdivision 7; and 121.8355, subdivision 
 92.36  1a, are repealed.