SF 2296

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/11/2019 04:23pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing Family Child Care Working Group;
providing appointments; requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin FAMILY CHILD CARE WORKING GROUP.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; purpose. new text end

new text begin The Family Child Care Working Group is
established to increase the number of licensed family child care providers, identify family
child care licensing alternatives, and establish family child care regulatory reforms and
improve efficiencies.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The Family Child Care Working Group consists of 14
members, appointed as follows:
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new text begin (1) two members representing family child care providers from greater Minnesota,
appointed by the commissioner of human services;
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new text begin (2) two members representing family care providers from the metropolitan area as defined
in section 473.121, subdivision 2, appointed by the commissioner of human services;
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new text begin (3) two members representing child care centers from greater Minnesota, appointed by
the commissioner of human services;
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new text begin (4) two members representing child care centers from the metropolitan area as defined
in section 473.121, subdivision 2, appointed by the commissioner of human services;
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new text begin (5) two members representing Department of Human Services-recognized family child
care associations from the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2,
appointed by the commissioner of human services;
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new text begin (6) two members representing Department of Human Services-recognized family child
care associations from greater Minnesota, appointed by the commissioner of human services;
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new text begin (7) one member appointed by the Greater Minnesota Partnership; and
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new text begin (8) one member appointed by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
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new text begin (b) Appointments to the working group must be made no later than July 15, 2019, and
members of the working group may be compensated as provided by Minnesota Statutes,
section 15.059, subdivision 3.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The working group must:
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new text begin (1) make recommendations to improve family child care licensing processes;
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new text begin (2) identify licensing requirements that have led to the closure of new family child care
programs and recommend business development and technical assistance resources to
promote provider recruitment and retention;
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new text begin (3) identify family child care licensing alternatives;
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new text begin (4) identify and recommend family child care regulatory reforms to improve licensing
efficiencies; and
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new text begin (5) review Parent Aware participation and identify alternatives to the Parent Aware
program.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Officers; meetings. new text end

new text begin (a) The working group must elect a chair and vice-chair
from among its members and may elect other officers as necessary.
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new text begin (b) The working group must meet at least monthly. The commissioner of human services
must convene the first meeting no later than August 1, 2019.
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new text begin (c) The working group is subject to the Minnesota Open Meeting Law under Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 13D.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Staff. new text end

new text begin The Office of Inspector General from the Department of Human Services
must provide staff assistance to support the working group's work.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Report required. new text end

new text begin No later than February 17, 2020, the working group must
submit a written report describing its work and recommendations to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child care. The report
must include recommendations on how to increase the number of licensed family child care
providers, establish family child care licensing alternatives, establish family child care
regulatory reforms and improve efficiencies, and establish Parent Aware program alternatives.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The working group expires upon submission of the report in
subdivision 6 or February 17, 2020, whichever is later.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $44,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of human services to implement the duties of the Family Child Care Working Group under
section 1.
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