SF 4447

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/27/2020 08:39am

A bill for an act
relating to child care; establishing the retaining early educators through attaining
incentives now grant program; appropriating money; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [119B.195] RETAINING EARLY EDUCATORS THROUGH ATTAINING
INCENTIVES NOW GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; purpose. new text end

new text begin The retaining early educators through attaining
incentives now (REETAIN) grant program is established to provide competitive grants to
incentivize well-trained child care professionals to remain in the workforce. The overall
goal of the REETAIN grant program is to create more consistent care for children over time.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Administration. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall administer the REETAIN grant
program through a grant to a nonprofit organization with the demonstrated ability to manage
benefit programs for child care professionals. The commissioner may use up to ten percent
of grant funds to administer the grant program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin An applicant must apply for the grant program using forms
developed by the commissioner and according to timelines established by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must:
new text end

new text begin (1) be licensed to provide child care or work for a licensed child care program;
new text end

new text begin (2) work directly with children at least 30 hours per week;
new text end

new text begin (3) have worked in the applicant's current position for at least 12 months;
new text end

new text begin (4) agree to remain in the applicant's current position for at least 12 months upon receiving
a grant under this section;
new text end

new text begin (5) have a career lattice step of six or higher;
new text end

new text begin (6) have a current membership with the Minnesota quality improvement and registry
tool; and
new text end

new text begin (7) meet any other requirements determined by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) Grant recipients must sign a contract agreeing to remain in the recipient's current
position for at least 12 months after receiving a grant.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Grant awards. new text end

new text begin To the extent funding is available, a child care professional's
annual amount for the REETAIN grant shall not exceed an amount determined by the
commissioner. A child care professional shall apply each year to compete for an award and
may receive up to one award per year. Recipients may use grant funds for program supplies,
training, and personal expenses.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin Beginning January 1, 2022, and each year thereafter, the commissioner
shall report annually to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child care about
the number of awarded grants and grant program outcomes.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; RETAINING EARLY EDUCATORS THROUGH
ATTAINING INCENTIVES NOW GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of human services for purposes of REETAIN grants under Minnesota Statutes, section
119B.195. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; TEACH GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $500,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of human services for teacher education and compensation helps (TEACH) program grants
under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.128. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end