SF 3208

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/07/2016 01:28pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; creating a legislative task force on child care;
requiring the commissioner to prepare a report to the governor.

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

Section 1. new text begin LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON CHILD CARE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Creation. new text end

new text begin A legislative task force on child care is created to review
the loss of child care providers in the state, assess affordability issues for providers and
parents, and identify areas that need to be addressed by the legislature.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin Task force members shall include:
new text end

new text begin (1) four members from the house of representatives appointed by the speaker, two
from the majority party and two from the minority party; and
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new text begin (2) four members from the senate appointed by the majority leader, two from the
majority party and two from the minority party.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force may:
new text end

new text begin (1) evaluate factors that contribute to child care costs for providers and families;
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new text begin (2) assess the child care provider shortage in greater Minnesota;
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new text begin (3) review the current preservice and in-service training requirements for family
child care providers and child care center staff. This review shall include training required
for licensure, including staff credentialing for child care center staff positions and the ways
in which this training aligns with Minnesota's Career Lattice and Minnesota's Knowledge
and Competency Framework for Early Childhood and School-Aged Care Practitioners;
new text end

new text begin (4) review the availability of training that is in place to meet the training needs of
providers, including the content of this training, cost, and delivery methods;
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new text begin (5) consider creation of a board of child care to be responsible for all matters related
to licensing of child care providers, both in-home and center-based programs, and to
employ an advocate for child care providers;
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new text begin (6) review the process of issuing and resolving correction orders issued to child
care providers;
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new text begin (7) consider uniform training requirements for county employees and their
supervisors who perform duties related to licensing;
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new text begin (8) review progress being made by the commissioner of human services to streamline
paperwork and reduce redundancies for child care providers; and
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new text begin (9) review the time it takes for the department to provide Child Care Assistance
Program reimbursement to providers.
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new text begin (b) Task force members may receive input from the commissioners of human
services and economic development, providers, and stakeholders to review all action items.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Recommendations and report. new text end

new text begin The task force, in cooperation with the
commissioner of human services, shall issue a report to the legislature and governor by
December 31, 2016. The report must contain summary information obtained during
the task force meetings and recommendations for additional legislative changes and
procedures affecting child care.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment
and sunsets on December 31, 2016.
new text end