1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to workforce development; creating the special education employment 
1.3 	pilot project; requiring reports; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. SPECIAL EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT PILOT PROJECT.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms in this 
1.7 	subdivision have the meanings given.
1.8 	(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.
1.9 	(c) "Eligible provider" means an organization currently eligible to provide services 
1.10 	through the extended employment program under Minnesota Statutes, section 268A.15.
1.11 	(d) "Eligible student" means:
1.12 	(1) a student receiving special instruction under Minnesota Statutes, section 125A.03, 
1.13 	who has completed at least three years of high school; or
1.14 	(2) an individual under the age of 25 who has graduated from secondary school after 
1.15 	receiving special instruction under Minnesota Statutes, section 125A.03, but has not had 
1.16 	competitive wage employment in an integrated community setting.
1.17 	(e) "Pilot" means the special education employment pilot project established under this 
1.18 	section.
1.19 		Subd. 2.Establishment. The commissioner shall establish a special education 
1.20 	employment pilot project designed to transition special education graduates into competitive 
1.21 	wage employment in integrated community settings.
2.1 		Subd. 3.Services. Eligible providers wishing to participate in the pilot must notify the 
2.2 	commissioner, on a form designated by the commissioner, of the intent to provide an eligible 
2.3 	student with one of the following services:
2.4 	(1) comprehensive job preparation training that must provide an eligible student with at 
2.5 	least 20 hours in a classroom setting, resume preparation, and assistance in establishing a 
2.6 	bank account;
2.7 	(2) job shadowing experiences where eligible students can observe at least 30 hours of 
2.8 	workplace activity for a job similar to one the eligible student might be hired for. Eligible 
2.9 	providers shall facilitate transportation to and from the workplace for the eligible student; 
2.10 	and
2.11 	(3) employment placement services to match eligible students with appropriate 
2.12 	employment paying at least the minimum wage in an integrated community setting. Eligible 
2.13 	providers shall support such placements with training for the employer and the eligible 
2.14 	student, both before and after hiring, to foster success.
2.15 		Subd. 4.Payments. Eligible providers may apply to the commissioner, on a form 
2.16 	designated by the commissioner, for the following payments:
2.17 	(1) $1,000 for each eligible student certified to have completed the services under 
2.18 	subdivision 3, clause (1);
2.19 	(2) $1,000 for each eligible student certified to have completed the services under 
2.20 	subdivision 3, clause (2); and
2.21 	(3) $3,000 for each eligible student certified to have completed 90 days of employment 
2.22 	after receiving the services under subdivision 3, clause (3).
2.23 		Subd. 5.Forms. By October 1, 2019, the commissioner must make available the forms 
2.24 	necessary for eligible providers to participate in the pilot. These must include:
2.25 	(1) a form to notify the commissioner of the intent to provide an eligible student with a 
2.26 	service under subdivision 3; and
2.27 	(2) a form to certify to the commissioner that an eligible student from clause (1) was 
2.28 	provided the service under subdivision 3, and to apply for payment for that service under 
2.29 	subdivision 4.

3.1 	Sec. 2. SPECIAL EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT PILOT PROJECT; 
3.2 	APPROPRIATION.
 3.3 	(a) $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated 
3.4 	from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for 
3.5 	payments to eligible providers under the special education employment pilot project created 
3.6 	in section 1. Of these amounts, up to four percent may be used by the commissioner for 
3.7 	administration and monitoring of the program. This is a onetime appropriation and funds 
3.8 	are available until June 30, 2022.
3.9 	(b) By January 15 in 2020, 2021, and 2022, the commissioner must submit a report to 
3.10 	the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees of the house of representatives 
3.11 	and senate having jurisdiction over workforce development that details the use of grant 
3.12 	funds. This report must include data on the number of individuals served and, to the extent 
3.13 	practical, measures of progress toward the goal of transitioning special education graduates 
3.14 	into competitive wage employment in integrated community settings.