SF 1608

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:22am

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; expanding Youthbuild programs;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 116L.362,
subdivision 1; 116L.364, subdivision 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 116L.362, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:

Subdivision 1.

Generally.

(a) The commissioner shall make grants to eligible
organizations for programs to provide education and training services to targeted youth.
The purpose of these programs is to provide specialized training and work experience for
targeted youth who have not been served effectively by the current educational system.
The programs are to include a work experience component with work projects that result
in the rehabilitation, improvement, or construction of (1) residential units for the homeless deleted text begin ,
or deleted text end new text begin ; new text end (2) new text begin improvements to the energy efficiency and environmental health of residential
units; (3) facilities to support community garden projects; or (4) new text end education, social service,
or health facilities which are owned by a public agency or a private nonprofit organization.

(b) Eligible facilities must principally provide services to homeless or very low
income individuals and families, and include the following:

(1) Head Start or day care centers;

(2) homeless, battered women, or other shelters;

(3) transitional housing;

(4) youth or senior citizen centers; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(5) community health centers deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (6) community garden facilities.
new text end

Two or more eligible organizations may jointly apply for a grant. The commissioner
shall administer the grant program.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 116L.364, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Work experience component.

A work experience component must be
included in each program. The work experience component must provide vocational skills
training in an industry where there is a viable expectation of job opportunities. A training
subsidy, living allowance, or stipend, not to exceed an amount equal to 100 percent of the
poverty line for a family of two as defined in United States Code, title 42, section 673,
paragraph (2), may be provided to program participants. The wage or stipend must be
provided to participants who are recipients of public assistance in a manner or amount
which will not reduce public assistance benefits. The work experience component must be
designed so that work projects result in (1) the expansion or improvement of residential
units for homeless persons and very low income families deleted text begin , or deleted text end new text begin ; new text end (2) new text begin improvements to the
energy efficiency and environmental health of residential units; (3) facilities to support
community garden projects; or (4) new text end rehabilitation, improvement, or construction of eligible
education, social service, or health facilities that principally serve homeless or very low
income individuals and families. Any work project must include direct supervision by
individuals skilled in each specific vocation. Program participants may earn credits
toward the completion of their secondary education from their participation in the work
experience component.

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; YOUTHBUILD.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... for fiscal year 2010 and $....... for fiscal year 2011 are appropriated
to the commissioner of employment and economic development from the .... fund.
Priority for the use of appropriations in this section must be for: (1) Youthbuild programs
under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116L.361 to 116L.364, that coordinate with the
recommendations of the Green Jobs Task Force under Laws 2008, chapter 356, section
15; (2) coordinating with other job development programs, including but not limited to
HIRE; and (3) expanding Youthbuild into underserved areas.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of employment and economic development must maximize
the use of federal money to fund Youthbuild projects under Minnesota Statutes, sections
116L.361 to 116L.364, included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
and other federal appropriations for Youthbuild and youth training. Federal appropriations
under this paragraph must supplement and not supplant state funding under this section.
new text end