SF 3013

1st Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/29/2018 02:36pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; health; modifying child eligibility for the early learning
scholarship program; modifying the administration of the early learning scholarship
program; modifying the administration of home-visiting programs; appropriating
money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 124D.165,
subdivisions 2, 3; Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter 5, article 8, section
10, subdivision 4; Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter 6, article 18, section
3, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 124D.165, subdivision 2, is
amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Family eligibility.

(a) For a family to receive an early learning scholarship,
parents or guardians must meet the following eligibility requirements:

(1) have an eligible child; and

(2) have income equal to or less than 185 percent of federal poverty level income in the
current calendar year, or be able to document their child's current participation in the free
and reduced-price lunch program or Child and Adult Care Food Program, National School
Lunch Act, United States Code, title 42, sections 1751 and 1766; the Food Distribution
Program on Indian Reservations, Food and Nutrition Act, United States Code, title 7, sections
2011-2036; Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act
of 2007; Minnesota family investment program under chapter 256J; child care assistance
programs under chapter 119B; the supplemental nutrition assistance program; or placement
in foster care under section 260C.212.

(b) An "eligible child" means a child who has not yet enrolled in kindergarten and is:

(1) deleted text begin at least three but deleted text end not yet five years of age on September 1 of the current school year; new text begin
or
new text end

deleted text begin (2) a sibling from birth to age five of a child who has been awarded a scholarship under
this section provided the sibling attends the same program as long as funds are available;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) the child of a parent under age 21 who is pursuing a high school degree or a course
of study for a high school equivalency test; or
deleted text end

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end homeless, in foster care, or in need of child protective services.

(c) A child who has received a scholarship under this section must continue to receive
a scholarship each year until that child is eligible for kindergarten under section 120A.20
and as long as funds are available.

(d) Early learning scholarships may not be counted as earned income for the purposes
of medical assistance under chapter 256B, MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L, Minnesota
family investment program under chapter 256J, child care assistance programs under chapter
119B, or Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of
2007.

(e) A child from an adjoining state whose family resides at a Minnesota address as
assigned by the United States Postal Service, who has received developmental screening
under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19, who intends to enroll in a Minnesota school district,
and whose family meets the criteria of paragraph (a) is eligible for an early learning
scholarship under this section.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2018.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 124D.165, subdivision 3, is amended
to read:

Subd. 3.

Administration.

(a) The commissioner shall establish application timelines
and determine the schedule for awarding scholarships that meets operational needs of eligible
families and programs. The commissioner must give highest priority to applications from
children who:

(1) have a parent under age 21 who is pursuing a high school diploma or a course of
study for a high school equivalency test;

(2) are in foster care or otherwise in need of protection or services; or

(3) have experienced homelessness in the last 24 months, as defined under the federal
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, United States Code, title 42, section 11434a.

The commissioner may prioritize applications on additional factors including family
income, geographic location, and whether the child's family is on a waiting list for a publicly
funded program providing early education or child care services. new text begin To the extent practicable,
and consistent with subdivision 2, paragraph (c), the commissioner must allocate half of
the available funding for scholarships to eligible children from birth to age two.
new text end

(b) The commissioner shall establish a target for the average scholarship amount per
child based on the results of the rate survey conducted under section 119B.02.

(c) A four-star rated program that has children eligible for a scholarship enrolled in or
on a waiting list for a program beginning in July, August, or September may notify the
commissioner, in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, each year of the
program's desire to enhance program services or to serve more children than current funding
provides. The commissioner may designate a predetermined number of scholarship slots
for that program and notify the program of that number. For fiscal year 2018 and later, the
statewide amount of funding directly designated by the commissioner must not exceed the
funding directly designated for fiscal year 2017. Beginning July 1, 2016, a school district
or Head Start program qualifying under this paragraph may use its established registration
process to enroll scholarship recipients and may verify a scholarship recipient's family
income in the same manner as for other program participants.

(d) A scholarship is awarded for a 12-month period. If the scholarship recipient has not
been accepted and subsequently enrolled in a rated program within ten months of the
awarding of the scholarship, the scholarship cancels and the recipient must reapply in order
to be eligible for another scholarship. A child may not be awarded more than one scholarship
in a 12-month period.

(e) A child who receives a scholarship who has not completed development screening
under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19 must complete that screening within 90 days of first
attending an eligible program.

(f) For fiscal year 2017 and later, a school district or Head Start program enrolling
scholarship recipients under paragraph (c) may apply to the commissioner, in the form and
manner prescribed by the commissioner, for direct payment of state aid. Upon receipt of
the application, the commissioner must pay each program directly for each approved
scholarship recipient enrolled under paragraph (c) according to the metered payment system
or another schedule established by the commissioner.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2018.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter 5, article 8, section 10, subdivision 4, is
amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Early learning scholarships.

(a) For the early learning scholarship program
under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.165:

	$	70,209,000	.....	2018
	$	deleted text begin 70,209,000 deleted text end new text begin ....... new text end	.....	2019

(b) Up to $950,000 each year is for administration of this program.

(c) Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.

(d) The base for fiscal year 2020 is deleted text begin $70,709,000 deleted text end new text begin $....... new text end .

new text begin (e) Of the amount in 2019, ... percent in each year is for transfer to the commissioner of
human services for the quality rating and improvement system under Minnesota Statutes,
section 124D.142. The amount transferred under this paragraph must be reduced by the
amount of any federal funding under the child care and development block grant authorized
under Public Law 101-508 in that year for the system under Minnesota Statutes, section
124D.142.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter 6, article 18, section 3, subdivision 2, is
amended to read:

Subd. 2. Health Improvement

Appropriations by Fund
General	81,438,000	78,100,000
State Government Special Revenue	6,215,000	6,182,000
Health Care Access	36,643,000	36,258,000
Federal TANF	11,713,000	11,713,000

(a) TANF Appropriations. (1) $3,579,000
of the TANF fund each year is for home
visiting and nutritional services listed under
Minnesota Statutes, section 145.882,
subdivision 7, clauses (6) and (7). Funds must
be distributed to community health boards
according to Minnesota Statutes, section
145A.131, subdivision 1.

(2) $2,000,000 of the TANF fund each year
is for decreasing racial and ethnic disparities
in infant mortality rates under Minnesota
Statutes, section 145.928, subdivision 7.

(3) $4,978,000 of the TANF fund each year
is for the family home visiting grant program
according to Minnesota Statutes, section
145A.17. $4,000,000 of the funding must be
distributed to community health boards
according to Minnesota Statutes, section
145A.131, subdivision 1. $978,000 of the
funding must be distributed to tribal
governments according to Minnesota Statutes,
section 145A.14, subdivision 2a.

(4) $1,156,000 of the TANF fund each year
is for family planning grants under Minnesota
Statutes, section 145.925.

(5) The commissioner may use up to 6.23
percent of the funds appropriated each year to
conduct the ongoing evaluations required
under Minnesota Statutes, section 145A.17,
subdivision 7, and training and technical
assistance as required under Minnesota
Statutes, section 145A.17, subdivisions 4 and
5.

(b) TANF Carryforward. Any unexpended
balance of the TANF appropriation in the first
year of the biennium does not cancel but is
available for the second year.

(c) deleted text begin Evidence-Based deleted text end Home Visiting new text begin to
Pregnant Women and Families with Young
Children new text end . $6,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 and
deleted text begin $6,000,000 deleted text end new text begin $........ new text end in fiscal year 2019 are from
the general fund to start up or expand
deleted text begin evidence-based deleted text end home visiting programs new text begin to
pregnant women and families with young
children new text end . The commissioner shall award grants
to community health boards, nonprofits, or
tribal nations in urban and rural areas of the
state. Grant funds must be used to start up or
expand evidence-based new text begin or targeted new text end home
visiting programs in the county, reservation,
or region to serve families, such as parents
with high risk or high needs, parents with a
history of mental illness, domestic abuse, or
substance abuse, or first-time mothers
prenatally until the child is four years of age,
who are eligible for medical assistance under
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256B, or the
federal Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
new text begin For fiscal year 2019, the commissioner shall
allocate at least 75 percent of the grant funds
not yet awarded to evidence-based home
visiting programs and up to 25 percent to other
targeted home visiting programs in order to
promote innovation and serve high-need
families. new text end Priority for grants to rural areas shall
be given to community health boards,
nonprofits, and tribal nations that expand
services within regional partnerships that
provide the deleted text begin evidence-based deleted text end home visiting
programs. This funding shall only be used to
supplement, not to replace, funds being used
for evidence-based new text begin or targeted new text end home visiting
services as of June 30, 2017. Up to seven
percent of the appropriation may be used for
training, technical assistance, evaluation, and
other costs to administer the grants. The
general fund base for this program is
$16,500,000 in fiscal year 2020 and
$16,500,000 in fiscal year 2021.

(d) Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited
Youth Services. $250,000 in fiscal year 2018
and $250,000 in fiscal year 2019 are from the
general fund for trauma-informed, culturally
specific services for sexually exploited youth.
Youth 24 years of age or younger are eligible
for services under this paragraph.

(e) Safe Harbor Program Technical
Assistance and Evaluation. $200,000 in
fiscal year 2018 and $200,000 in fiscal year
2019 are from the general fund for training,
technical assistance, protocol implementation,
and evaluation activities related to the safe
harbor program. Of these amounts:

(1) $90,000 each fiscal year is for providing
training and technical assistance to individuals
and organizations that provide safe harbor
services and receive funds for that purpose
from the commissioner of human services or
commissioner of health;

(2) $90,000 each fiscal year is for protocol
implementation, which includes providing
technical assistance in establishing best
practices-based systems for effectively
identifying, interacting with, and referring
sexually exploited youth to appropriate
resources; and

(3) $20,000 each fiscal year is for program
evaluation activities in compliance with
Minnesota Statutes, section 145.4718.

(f) Promoting Safe Harbor Capacity. In
funding services and activities under
paragraphs (d) and (e), the commissioner shall
emphasize activities that promote
capacity-building and development of
resources in greater Minnesota.

(g) Administration of Safe Harbor
Program. $60,000 in fiscal year 2018 and
$60,000 in fiscal year 2019 are for
administration of the safe harbor for sexually
exploited youth program.

(h) Palliative Care Advisory Council.
$44,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $44,000 in
fiscal year 2019 are from the general fund for
the Palliative Care Advisory Council under
Minnesota Statutes, section 144.059. This is
a onetime appropriation.

(i) Transfer; Minnesota Biomedicine and
Bioethics Innovation Grants. $2,500,000 in
fiscal year 2018 is from the general fund for
transfer to the Board of Regents of the
University of Minnesota for Minnesota
biomedicine and bioethics innovation grants
under Minnesota Statutes, section 137.67. The
full amount of the appropriation is for grants,
and the University of Minnesota shall not use
any portion for administrative or monitoring
expenses. The steering committee of the
University of Minnesota and Mayo Foundation
partnership must submit a preliminary report
by April 1, 2018, and a final report by April
1, 2019, on all grant activities funded under
Minnesota Statutes, section 137.67, to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over
health and human services finance. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until
June 30, 2021.

(j) Statewide Strategic Plan for Victims of
Sex Trafficking. $73,000 in fiscal year 2018
is from the general fund for the development
of a comprehensive statewide strategic plan
and report to address the needs of sex
trafficking victims statewide. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(k) Home and Community-Based Services
Employee Scholarship Program. $500,000
in fiscal year 2018 and $500,000 in fiscal year
2019 are from the general fund for the home
and community-based services employee
scholarship program under Minnesota Statutes,
section 144.1503.

(l) Comprehensive Advanced Life Support
Educational Program. $100,000 in fiscal
year 2018 and $100,000 in fiscal year 2019
are from the general fund for the
comprehensive advanced life support
educational program under Minnesota Statutes,
section 144.6062. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(m) Opioid Abuse Prevention. $1,028,000
in fiscal year 2018 is to establish and evaluate
accountable community for health opioid
abuse prevention pilot projects. $28,000 of
this amount is for administration. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until
June 30, 2021.

(n) Advanced Care Planning. $250,000 in
fiscal year 2018 and $250,000 in fiscal year
2019 are from the general fund for a grant to
a statewide advanced care planning resource
organization that has expertise in convening
and coordinating community-based strategies
to encourage individuals, families, caregivers,
and health care providers to begin
conversations regarding end-of-life care
choices that express an individual's health care
values and preferences and are based on
informed health care decisions. Of this
amount, $9,000 each year is for administration.
This is a onetime appropriation.

(o) Health Professionals Clinical Training
Expansion Grant Program. $526,000 in
fiscal year 2018 and $526,000 in fiscal year
2019 are from the general fund for the primary
care and mental health professions clinical
training expansion grant program under
Minnesota Statutes, section 144.1505. Of this
amount, $26,000 each year is for
administration.

(p) Federally Qualified Health Centers.
$500,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $500,000 in
fiscal year 2019 are from the general fund to
provide subsidies to federally qualified health
centers under Minnesota Statutes, section
145.9269. This is a onetime appropriation.

(q) Base Level Adjustments. The general
fund base is $87,656,000 in fiscal year 2020
and $87,706,000 in fiscal year 2021. The
health care access fund base is $36,858,000
in fiscal year 2020 and $36,258,000 in fiscal
year 2021.