HF 3704

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/12/2018 02:25pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing Child Care Regulation Advisory Group;
requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin CHILD CARE REGULATION ADVISORY GROUP.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; members. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of human services or the
commissioner's designee shall convene a Child Care Regulation Advisory Group that consists
of no more than 35 members, including, but not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) three licensed family or group family day care providers, at least one of whom must
reside outside the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2;
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new text begin (2) three licensed child care center providers, at least one of which is from a center
outside the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2;
new text end

new text begin (3) two directors or owners of child care centers;
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new text begin (4) two retired family or group family day care providers, or two providers that voluntarily
closed their programs within the last five years;
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new text begin (5) the commissioner of human services or the commissioner's designee;
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new text begin (6) two county employees who conduct child care licensing inspections in the
metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2;
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new text begin (7) two county employees who conduct child care licensing inspections outside the
metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2;
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new text begin (8) one representative from the Minnesota Child Care Association;
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new text begin (9) one representative from the Minnesota Association of Child Care Professionals;
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new text begin (10) one representative from the Minnesota Child Care Provider Information Network;
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new text begin (11) one representative from Family Child Care, Inc.;
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new text begin (12) one representative from the Dakota County Family Child Care Association;
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new text begin (13) one representative from the Licensed Child Care Providers of Anoka County;
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new text begin (14) one representative from the Stearns Benton Child Care Association;
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new text begin (15) one representative from the National Association for Family Child Care, if possible;
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new text begin (16) at least two parents of children currently enrolled in a licensed child care program;
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new text begin (17) at least two representatives of businesses outside the metropolitan area as defined
in section 473.121, subdivision 2;
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new text begin (18) one representative from the Center for Rural Policy and Development;
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new text begin (19) one representative from the Northwest Minnesota Foundation;
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new text begin (20) one representative from First Children's Finance; and
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new text begin (21) one representative from Think Small or Generation Next.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The Child Care Regulation Advisory Group shall assess the current
child care regulations under Minnesota Rules, chapters 9502 and 9503, and Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 245A. In developing recommendations, the advisory group shall make the
terminology and structure clear and understandable for child care providers and licensing
staff, avoid duplication and conflict between rules and statutes, and focus on best practices
for child safety and well-being.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Compensation. new text end

new text begin Members of the advisory group shall not receive any
compensation or per diem payments for participating in the advisory group.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Meetings. new text end

new text begin (a) The Child Care Regulation Advisory Group shall hold at least
four public meetings between August 1, 2018, and February 1, 2019. To the extent possible,
technology must be utilized to reach the greatest number of interested persons throughout
Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of human services, or the commissioner's designee, shall convene
the first meeting of the advisory group within 30 days after all members are appointed. The
advisory group shall select a chair or cochairs from among its members at the first meeting.
The commissioner of human services shall provide technical and administrative assistance
to the advisory group upon request.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The Child Care Regulation Advisory Group shall submit a report with
recommendations on updating and improving child care rules and statutes to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child care
licensing. The commissioner of human services shall consider the advisory group's
recommendations when proposing changes to child care regulations under Minnesota Rules,
chapters 9502 and 9503, and Minnesota Statutes, section 245A. If the commissioner of
human services proposes changes that are not included in or are contrary to the advisory
group's recommendations, the commissioner must provide the reasoning for the differences
to the chairs and ranking minority members.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Sunset. new text end

new text begin The working group sunsets upon delivery of the required report under
subdivision 5.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end