HF 3133

2nd Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; making technical and housekeeping changes
to programs in the Department of Employment and Economic Development;
requiring the commissioner of employment and economic development to assist
small businesses with accessing certain federal funds; requiring the department
to implement certain fees for services; appropriating the revenue from fees;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 43A.08, subdivision 1a; 116L.04,
subdivisions 1, 1a; 116L.12, subdivision 4; 446A.03, subdivision 5; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 43A.08, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Additional unclassified positions.

Appointing authorities for the
following agencies may designate additional unclassified positions according to this
subdivision: the Departments of Administration; Agriculture; Commerce; Corrections;
Education; Employee Relations; Employment and Economic Development new text begin ; Explore
Minnesota Tourism new text end ; Finance; Health; Human Rights; Labor and Industry; Natural
Resources; Public Safety; Human Services; Revenue; Transportation; and Veterans
Affairs; the Housing Finance and Pollution Control Agencies; the State Lottery; the state
Board of Investment; the Office of Administrative Hearings; the Office of Environmental
Assistance; the Offices of the Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State Auditor;
the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; the Higher Education Services Office; the
Perpich Center for Arts Education; and the Minnesota Zoological Board.

A position designated by an appointing authority according to this subdivision must
meet the following standards and criteria:

(1) the designation of the position would not be contrary to other law relating
specifically to that agency;

(2) the person occupying the position would report directly to the agency head or
deputy agency head and would be designated as part of the agency head's management
team;

(3) the duties of the position would involve significant discretion and substantial
involvement in the development, interpretation, and implementation of agency policy;

(4) the duties of the position would not require primarily personnel, accounting, or
other technical expertise where continuity in the position would be important;

(5) there would be a need for the person occupying the position to be accountable to,
loyal to, and compatible with, the governor and the agency head, the employing statutory
board or commission, or the employing constitutional officer;

(6) the position would be at the level of division or bureau director or assistant
to the agency head; and

(7) the commissioner has approved the designation as being consistent with the
standards and criteria in this subdivision.

Sec. 2.

new text begin [116J.656] SMALL BUSINESS ACCESS TO FEDERAL RESEARCH
FUNDS.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall assist small businesses to access federal funds through
the federal Small Business Innovation Research program and the Small Business
Technology Transfer program. In providing this assistance, the commissioner shall
maintain connections to eligible federal programs, assess specific funding opportunities,
review funding proposals, provide referrals to specific consulting services, and hold
training workshops throughout the state.
new text end

new text begin (b) Unless prohibited by federal law, the department must implement fees for
services that help companies seek federal Phase II Small Business Innovation Research
grants. The fees must be deposited in a special revenue account and are annually
appropriated to the department for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small
Business Technology Transfer programs.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116L.04, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Partnership program.

(a) The partnership program may provide
grants-in-aid to educational or other nonprofit educational institutions using the following
guidelines:

(1) the educational or other nonprofit educational institution is a provider of training
within the state in either the public or private sector;

(2) the program involves skills training that is an area of employment need; and

(3) preference will be given to educational or other nonprofit training institutions
which serve economically disadvantaged people, minorities, or those who are victims of
economic dislocation and to businesses located in rural areas.

(b) A single grant to any one institution shall not exceed $400,000. deleted text begin Up to 25 percent
deleted text end new text begin A portion new text end of a grant may be used for preemployment training.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116L.04, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Pathways program.

The pathways program may provide grants-in-aid
for developing programs which assist in the transition of persons from welfare to work and
assist individuals at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The program
is to be operated by the board. The board shall consult and coordinate with program
administrators at the Department of Employment and Economic Development to design
and provide services for temporary assistance for needy families recipients.

Pathways grants-in-aid may be awarded to educational or other nonprofit training
institutions for education and training programs and services supporting education and
training programs that serve eligible recipients.

Preference shall be given to projects that:

(1) provide employment with benefits paid to employees;

(2) provide employment where there are defined career paths for trainees;

(3) pilot the development of an educational pathway that can be used on a continuing
basis for transitioning persons from welfare to work; and

(4) demonstrate the active participation of Department of Employment and
Economic Development workforce centers, Minnesota State College and University
institutions and other educational institutions, and local welfare agencies.

Pathways projects must demonstrate the active involvement and financial
commitment of private business. Pathways projects must be matched with cash or in-kind
contributions on at least a one-to-one ratio by participating private business.

A single grant to any one institution shall not exceed $400,000. deleted text begin Up to 25 percent of
deleted text end new text begin A portion of new text end a grant may be used for preemployment training.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116L.12, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Grants.

Within the limits of available appropriations, the board shall make
grants not to exceed $400,000 each to qualifying consortia to operate local, regional, or
statewide training and retention programs. Grants may be made from TANF funds, general
fund appropriations, and any other funding sources available to the board, provided the
requirements of those funding sources are satisfied. deleted text begin Up to 25 percent deleted text end new text begin A portion new text end of a
grant may be used for preemployment training. Grant awards must establish specific,
measurable outcomes and timelines for achieving those outcomes.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 446A.03, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Executive director.

The commissioner shall employ, with the concurrence
of the authority, an executive director new text begin in the unclassified service new text end . The director shall
perform duties that the authority may require in carrying out its responsibilities.