HF 4701

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/13/2024 12:51pm

A bill for an act
relating to workforce development; establishing the next generation farmer
development program; requiring reports; appropriating money; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116L.

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

Section 1. new text begin CITATION.
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new text begin This act may be cited as the "Next Generation Minnesota Farmer Act."
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Sec. 2.

new text begin [116L.58] NEXT GENERATION FARMER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must establish and
administer a next generation farmer development program to provide competitive grants to
eligible farms.
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new text begin (b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given:
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new text begin (1) "commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development;
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new text begin (2) "qualified agricultural business" means a business with gross revenue of at least
$10,000 and not more than $1,000,000 that is engaged in the growth, cultivation, or raising
of crops, livestock, poultry, flowers, herbs, honey, dairy products, or poultry products, but
not a facility primarily engaged in processing agricultural products;
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new text begin (3) "qualified fellow" means an individual who:
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new text begin (i) is at least 18 years of age;
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new text begin (ii) has lived in Minnesota for at least 12 months;
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new text begin (iii) has a demonstrable interest in pursuing a career in Minnesota agriculture; and
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new text begin (iv) has no more than five years experience as an employee in an agricultural role in
either a full-time or part-time capacity; and
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new text begin (4) "qualified nonprofit organization" means a nonprofit corporation that is tax exempt
under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, in good standing with the secretary
of state under chapter 317A, and, unless exempt under section 309.515, registered and in
good standing with the attorney general under chapter 309.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Competitive grants and targeted development activities. new text end

new text begin (a) The
commissioner must contract with, and award program funding to, one or more qualified
nonprofit organizations. A qualified nonprofit organization must accept applications and
award grants of up to $20,000 per qualified agricultural business. A participating qualified
agricultural business must provide qualified fellows:
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new text begin (1) hands-on experience with:
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new text begin (i) the growth, cultivation, or raising of crops, including the process of planting, tending,
and harvesting;
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new text begin (ii) the raising of livestock or poultry; or
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new text begin (iii) the production of dairy or poultry products;
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new text begin (2) an understanding of the day-to-day operations of the qualified agricultural business,
including issues related to workforce, regulatory compliance, and general operations;
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new text begin (3) an understanding of the market economics impacting the portion of the agricultural
economy in which the qualified fellow is employed; and
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new text begin (4) any other elements of farm operation necessary to prepare the qualified fellow for a
career in Minnesota agriculture.
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new text begin (b) A qualified nonprofit organization may use up to five percent of any money received
from the commissioner under this section for administrative costs incurred by the organization
to administer grants to qualified agricultural businesses.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Priority. new text end

new text begin (a) When selecting qualified agricultural businesses for grant funding
under this section, the commissioner must give preference to businesses owned by persons
with an annual household income of less than $50,000 per household member and businesses
owned by persons who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC); lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA+); women; veterans; or people
with disabilities.
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new text begin (b) When hiring qualified fellows under this section, a participating agricultural business
must give preference to persons with annual household income of less than $50,000 per
household member and persons who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC);
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA+); women;
veterans; or people with disabilities.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin General terms and conditions of grants. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding the state
minimum wage required under section 177.24, a qualified agricultural business must pay
a qualified fellow an hourly wage of no less than the federal minimum wage. The grant
awarded under this section must compensate a qualified fellow for the difference between
$25 per hour and the hourly wage paid by the qualified agricultural business. In addition to
supplementing a qualified fellow's pay, a qualified agricultural business may also use grant
funds received under this section to offset a qualified fellow's reasonable transportation
costs.
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new text begin (b) The qualified agricultural business must pay any overtime or other compensation
required by law and maintain the necessary workers' compensation and other insurance
coverages as provided by law.
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new text begin (c) The term for a grant issued under this section is 12 months.
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new text begin (d) A qualified agricultural business may receive no more than two grants per calendar
year. The grant amount for any qualified agricultural business may not exceed $20,000.
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new text begin (e) A qualified agricultural business may use up to 25 percent of a grant for time spent
supporting a qualified fellow.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Agricultural business reporting requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) In addition to any standard
reporting requirements imposed upon grantees under sections 16B.97 to 16B.991 or by the
commissioner, a participating agricultural business must submit to the commissioner:
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new text begin (1) at least one progress report each year; and
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new text begin (2) a final written report on the project.
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new text begin (b) A grantee may submit additional information in the final report under paragraph (a),
clause (2), but the report must include the following information:
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new text begin (1) an assessment regarding the completion of project objectives and work tasks as well
as the results achieved, written, to the extent possible, in measurable and quantifiable terms;
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new text begin (2) an assessment of further experience that may be necessary with respect to the
objectives of the fellowship, based on the experience gained during the fellowship; and
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new text begin (3) a complete financial statement accounting for all expenditures of grant funds.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Biennial report required. new text end

new text begin No later than March 15 of each odd-numbered year,
the commissioner must report program outcomes and recommendations to the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over workforce development and agriculture policy and finance.
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Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of employment and economic development for the purposes of section 2. This is a onetime
appropriation. Any amount encumbered under contract on or before June 30, 2025, is
available until June 30, 2027.
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