2nd Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/24/2017 09:40am
A bill for an act
relating to state government; establishing the early education access fund on July
1, 2020; requiring the Legislative Coordinating Commission to provide for a study
of Minnesota early childhood care and education programs; requiring a report;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter
119C.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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On July 1, 2020, the early education access fund is established to coordinate
appropriations and programs for children attending high-quality early child care and education
programs of their parents' choice.
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(a) The Legislative Coordinating Commission must
provide for a study of Minnesota early childhood care and education programs. The
Legislative Coordinating Commission must use a request for proposal process to select a
vendor to conduct the study. The commissioners of education, human services, and health
must make reasonable efforts to provide information consistent with the purpose of the
study and required recommendation elements of the study report under subdivision 2.
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(b) The selected vendor must consult with individuals or groups representing child care
providers, early childhood special education programs, Head Start programs, voluntary
prekindergarten programs, school readiness programs, early learning scholarship programs,
community education programs, organizations and coalitions advocating to increase child
access to high-quality early childhood care and education, and families of children eligible
for early childhood care and education programs. The individuals and groups consulted
must represent public and private, including faith-based, providers of these services and
programs.
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No later than January 15, 2018, the Legislative
Coordinating Commission must deliver a report completed by the vendor under subdivision
1 to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives
committees having jurisdiction over early childhood education, health, and human services.
At a minimum, the report must make recommendations relating to:
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(1) integrating state resources for child care assistance provided through the basic sliding
fee program under Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03, and the Minnesota family investment
program under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256J;
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(2) aligning family income eligibility requirements for early childhood care and education
programs under Minnesota Statutes, chapters 119B, 124D, and 256J;
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(3) coordinating outreach to families eligible to provide uniform notification about
available program options;
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(4) reducing duplicative paperwork and administrative burden and increasing the stability
of funding for families of children eligible for early childhood care and education programs;
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(5) maximizing child care assistance program integrity and payment mechanisms to
increase fund accountability and efficiency;
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(6) transferring powers and duties related to the quality rating and improvement system
under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.142;
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(7) providing for local and state information technology investments and data sharing
agreements necessary to support a system of coordinated care and education;
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(8) coordinating internal and external evaluation of early childhood care and education
programs to measure and report on their effectiveness and efficiency; and
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(9) transferring or consolidating powers and duties related to other early childhood care
and education programs currently administered by the Department of Education, the
Department of Human Services, or the Department of Health.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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$....... in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the Legislative
Coordinating Commission for the early childhood care and education program study.
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