SF 389

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/17/2017 08:39am

A bill for an act
relating to education; modifying the administration of the early learning scholarship
program; prohibiting the commissioner from designating scholarships for use in
predetermined qualifying programs; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section
124D.165, subdivision 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, 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 may prioritize applications on 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 The commissioner
shall not designate scholarships for use in predetermined qualifying programs.
new text end

(b) deleted text begin For fiscal years 2014 and 2015 only, scholarships may not exceed $5,000 per year
for each eligible child. deleted text end For fiscal year 2016 and later, 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) deleted text begin 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. deleted text end Beginning July 1, 2016, a school
district or Head Start program qualifying under deleted text begin this paragraph deleted text end new text begin subdivision 4 new text end 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, 2017.
new text end