SF 1421

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; creating parents as
scholars pilot project; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin PARENTS AS SCHOLARS PILOT PROJECT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment and purpose. new text end

new text begin (a) The
commissioner of human services shall establish a parents as
scholars pilot project for eligible TANF parents in order to:
new text end

new text begin (1) reduce public expenditures for low-income families;
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new text begin (2) increase education levels of TANF recipients and the
earning potential of parents receiving TANF assistance;
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new text begin (3) provide more opportunities for parents receiving TANF
assistance; and
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new text begin (4) increase self-sufficiency among TANF recipients.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall create the pilot project for
counties for the purpose of offering financial assistance to
TANF-eligible parents to attend four-year postsecondary
educational institutions. Minimum project and application
requirements shall be developed by the commissioner in
consultation with counties and nonprofit social services
agencies with the goal to provide the maximum flexibility in
program design.
new text end

new text begin (c) Services under this project must be coordinated with
county MFIP case managers and the eligible project
participants. The project must be supported with funds other
than federal block grant funds provided under the Social
Security Act, Title IV-A, except that federal funds may be used
in accordance with federal law if their use does not result in
the imposition of (1) conditions of participation or (2) program
requirements other than those established by this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section,
"eligible TANF parents" means parents who meet the general
requirements of TANF and:
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new text begin (1) have a desire to attend a four-year postsecondary
educational institution and earn a degree or certificate;
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new text begin (2) will improve the ability of the family to be
self-supporting by earning a postsecondary degree or
certificate, based on the current labor market; and
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new text begin (3) possess the skills, competence, and ability to complete
a postsecondary educational program.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin County eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) Up to three counties
may receive funding under this pilot project. Participating
counties must agree to:
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new text begin (1) develop minimum project and application requirements in
consultation with the commissioner and local social services
agencies;
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new text begin (2) for eligible participants who are also TANF recipients,
develop procedures to ensure that the services provided under
this project are closely coordinated with the services provided
under MFIP;
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new text begin (3) develop a method for evaluating the effectiveness of
the educational program and the amount of any resulting cost
savings to the county and state; and
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new text begin (4) develop an educational program that assists
participants in attending local colleges and universities, or
contract with an existing integrated program.
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new text begin (b) Preference may be given to counties that contribute
local resources.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin Eligible TANF parents may apply to
the county for pilot project assistance on the forms and
according to the timelines established by the commissioner in
consultation with the counties.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Project participant requirements. new text end

new text begin Once enrolled
in the project, participants must participate in at least 20
hours per week of classes, study, or employment. One and
one-half hours of study shall be counted for each classroom hour.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner, in
consultation with participating counties, shall evaluate the
outcomes of families participating in the parents as scholars
pilot project. The evaluation must include an examination of
whether or not the pilot project:
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new text begin (1) improved the income of parents participating in the
pilot project;
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new text begin (2) helped to create long-term career opportunities for
participants;
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new text begin (3) reduced participant dependence on public assistance;
and
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new text begin (4) promoted self-sufficiency among participants.
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new text begin (b) The preliminary results of this evaluation must be
presented to the house and senate committees with jurisdiction
over human services policy and finance by January 1, 2009.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Sunset date. new text end

new text begin This section sunsets effective
December 31, 2009.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2006.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of human services for the purposes of the parents
as scholars pilot project in section 1.
new text end