1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to early childhood; amending eligibility and funding for early learning 
1.3 	scholarships; making a statutory appropriation;amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, 
1.4 	section 124D.165, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124D.165, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.7 	to read:
1.8 		Subd. 1a.Appropriation. The amount necessary is annually appropriated from the 
1.9 	general fund to the commissioner for early learning scholarships under this section. This 
1.10 	amount must be reduced by the amount of any money specifically appropriated for the same 
1.11 	purpose in any year from any state fund.

1.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2021.

1.13 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 124D.165, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.14 		Subd. 2.Family eligibility. (a) For a family to receive an early learning scholarship, 
1.15 	parents or guardians must meet the following eligibility requirements:
1.16 	(1) have an eligible child; and
1.17 	(2) have income equal to or less than 185 percent of federal poverty level income in the 
1.18 	current calendar year, or be able to document their child's current participation in the free 
1.19 	and reduced-price lunch program or Child and Adult Care Food Program, National School 
1.20 	Lunch Act, United States Code, title 42, sections 1751 and 1766; the Food Distribution 
1.21 	Program on Indian Reservations, Food and Nutrition Act, United States Code, title 7, sections 
1.22 	2011-2036; Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act 
2.1 	of 2007; Minnesota family investment program under chapter 256J; child care assistance 
2.2 	programs under chapter 119B; the supplemental nutrition assistance program; or placement 
2.3 	in foster care under section 260C.212.
2.4 	(b) An "eligible child" means a child who has not yet enrolled in kindergarten and is:
2.5 	(1) at least three but not yet from birth up to five years of age on September 1 of the 
2.6 	current school year;
2.7 	(2) a sibling from birth to age five of a child who has been awarded a scholarship under 
2.8 	this section provided the sibling attends the same program as long as funds are available;
2.9 	(3) the child of a parent under age 21 who is pursuing a high school degree or a course 
2.10 	of study for a high school equivalency test; or
2.11 	(4) homeless, in foster care, or in need of child protective services.
2.12 	(c) A child who has received a scholarship under this section must continue to receive 
2.13 	a scholarship each year until that child is eligible for kindergarten under section 120A.20 
2.14 	and as long as funds are available.
2.15 	(d) Early learning scholarships may not be counted as earned income for the purposes 
2.16 	of medical assistance under chapter 256B, MinnesotaCare under chapter 256L, Minnesota 
2.17 	family investment program under chapter 256J, child care assistance programs under chapter 
2.18 	119B, or Head Start under the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 
2.19 	2007.
2.20 	(e) A child from an adjoining state whose family resides at a Minnesota address as 
2.21 	assigned by the United States Postal Service, who has received developmental screening 
2.22 	under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19, who intends to enroll in a Minnesota school district, 
2.23 	and whose family meets the criteria of paragraph (a) is eligible for an early learning 
2.24 	scholarship under this section.

2.25 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2021.