HF 2472

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/08/2016 04:20pm

A bill for an act
relating to employment; creating the full employment grant program; requiring a
state workforce needs survey; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin FULL EMPLOYMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, "employee" means
an individual who performs services for hire for an employer but does not include an
independent contractor.
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new text begin (b) For the purposes of this section, "employer" means:
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new text begin (1) an agency, department, or institution of the state; a governmental unit as defined
in Minnesota Statutes, section 471.59; the state judicial branch; the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities system; the University of Minnesota; and a political subdivision
of the state;
new text end

new text begin (2) a nonprofit organization described in United States Code, title 26, section
501(c)(3), of the Internal Revenue Code that is exempt from income tax under section
501(a); and
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new text begin (3) a business that employs 20 or fewer employees.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grant program eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of employment
and economic development must create a competitive grant program, adhering to the
requirements of paragraphs (b), (c), and subdivision 3, in which employers may apply
for monetary grants for the hiring of new employees or increasing the hours of existing
employees. The commissioner of employment and economic development must then
publicize the grant program to eligible employers.
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new text begin (b) In determining eligibility for grants under this section, the commissioner must
consider, at a minimum, the following factors:
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new text begin (1) whether an employer applicant is located in an economically distressed area,
as determined by the commissioner, or whether an employee hired, or whose hours are
increased, lives in an economically distressed area, as determined by the commissioner;
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new text begin (2) whether an employee hired had been detached from the workforce for at least 27
weeks before being hired by an employer applicant;
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new text begin (3) whether the employer applicant, but for receipt of the grant, would not have
hired a new employee or increased the hours of an existing employee for the position
described in the grant application;
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new text begin (4) for employers seeking to increase the hours of an existing employee or employees,
whether the hours will increase by at least ten each week to a total of at least 40 each week;
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new text begin (5) whether an employee hired under or whose hours are increased under the grant
will be provided a rigorous training program, including training in transferable skills, as
determined by the commissioner;
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new text begin (6) the wages and fringe benefits available to employees hired under the program; and
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new text begin (7) whether, and to what degree, employees hired under the program face barriers to
employment.
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new text begin (c) Applications by employers for grants under this section must be made to the
commissioner on a form provided by the commissioner, and must include at a minimum:
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new text begin (1) descriptions of positions the employer seeks to create, fill, or expand; and
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new text begin (2) the locations of the work sites of employees to be hired or given more hours
under the grant program.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grant awards. new text end

new text begin (a) Grants provided under this section may not exceed
$20,000 per employee per year.
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new text begin (b) Grants may be awarded on a rolling basis, with no set deadline for application
and grants awarded.
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new text begin (c) Grant money must be awarded, at the earliest, when an applicant employer
proves that it has retained an employee hired under this section for at least one year.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the workforce development fund
to the commissioner of employment and economic development for the full employment
grant program described in section 1. Of this amount, $....... is for publicizing the program
as required by section 1, subdivision 2, paragraph (a); $....... is for administration of the
grant program; and $....... is for grants under section 1. This appropriation is available
until expended.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin STATEWIDE WORKFORCE NEEDS SURVEY.
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new text begin The commissioner of employment and economic development must conduct or
commission a statewide survey of public and private employers to determine unmet
workforce needs in the state. The survey results must include workforce needs by job
type, industry, and geographic area. The survey results must also include the skills needed
by workers to fill any unmet workforce needs found. The commissioner must report
the results of the survey to the house of representatives and senate committees with
jurisdiction over employment and economic development no later than .......
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Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the workforce development fund
to the commissioner of employment and economic development to fund the statewide
workforce needs survey described in section 3. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end