1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to children; requiring a report on participation in early childhood programs 
1.3 	by children in foster care; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. REPORT ON PARTICIPATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS 
1.6 	BY CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Reporting requirement. (a) The commissioner of human services shall 
1.8 	report on the participation in early care and education programs by children under age six 
1.9 	who have experienced foster care, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 260C.007, 
1.10 	subdivision 18, at any time during the reporting period.
1.11 	(b) For purposes of this section, "early care and education program" means Early Head 
1.12 	Start and Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 
1.13 	2007; special education programs under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 125A; early learning 
1.14 	scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.165; school readiness under Minnesota 
1.15 	Statutes, sections 124D.15 and 124D.16; school readiness plus under Laws 2017, First 
1.16 	Special Session chapter 5, article 8, section 9; voluntary prekindergarten under Minnesota 
1.17 	Statutes, section 124D.151; child care assistance under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B; 
1.18 	and other programs as determined by the commissioner.
1.19 		Subd. 2.Report content. (a) The report shall provide counts and rates of participation 
1.20 	by early care and education program and child's race, ethnicity, age, and county of residence. 
1.21 	The report shall use the most current administrative data and include recommendations for 
1.22 	collecting any data listed in this paragraph that is not currently available.
2.1 	(b) The report shall include recommendations to:
2.2 	(1) provide the data described in paragraph (a) on an annual basis as part of the report 
2.3 	required under Minnesota Statutes, section 257.0725;
2.4 	(2) facilitate children's continued participation in early care and education programs 
2.5 	after reunification, adoption, or transfer of permanent legal and physical custody; and
2.6 	(3) regularly report measures of early childhood well-being for children who have 
2.7 	experienced foster care. "Measures of early childhood well-being" include developmental 
2.8 	screening, school readiness assessments, well-child medical visits, and other indicators as 
2.9 	determined by the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioners of health, education, 
2.10 	and management and budget, county social service and public health agencies, and school 
2.11 	districts.
2.12 	(c) The report shall include an implementation plan to increase the rates of participation 
2.13 	among children and their foster families in early care and education programs, including 
2.14 	processes for referrals and follow-up. The plan shall be developed in collaboration with 
2.15 	affected communities and families, incorporating their experiences and feedback. County 
2.16 	social service and public health agencies and school districts shall also collaborate on the 
2.17 	plan's development and implementation strategy.
2.18 	(d) The report shall identify barriers to be addressed to ensure that early care and 
2.19 	education programs are responsive to the cultural, logistical, and racial equity concerns and 
2.20 	needs of children's foster families and families of origin, and the report shall identify methods 
2.21 	to ensure the experiences and feedback from children's foster families and families of origin 
2.22 	are included in the ongoing implementation of early care and education programs.
2.23 		Subd. 3.Submission to legislature. By January 15, 2022, the commissioner shall submit 
2.24 	an interim report, and by June 30, 2022, the commissioner shall submit the final report 
2.25 	required under this section to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over human 
2.26 	services, early childhood, and education.

2.27 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; REPORT ON PARTICIPATION IN EARLY 
2.28 	CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS BY CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.
 2.29 	$....... in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
2.30 	human services for the interim and final reports required under section 1. This is a onetime 
2.31 	appropriation.