1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to workforce development; establishing a grant program to support career 
1.3 	development; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapters 116L; 136A.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [116L.995] CAREER PATHWAYS FOR UNDERREPRESENTED 
1.7 	WOMEN GRANT PROGRAM.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) The definitions in section 116L.99 apply to this section. 
1.9 	In addition, for the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given 
1.10 	them.
1.11 	(b) "Underrepresented woman" means a female 18 years of age and older who:
1.12 	(1) has dropped out of a postsecondary educational institution or program; and
1.13 	(2) exhibits one or more of the following characteristics:
1.14 	(i) identifies in part or in combination as American Indian, Asian, Black, or Hispanic;
1.15 	(ii) in the previous year, had a family income less than or equal to 200 percent of the 
1.16 	federal poverty line; or
1.17 	(iii) has a disability, as defined in section 363A.03, subdivision 12.
1.18 		Subd. 2.Grant program. The commissioner must establish a grant program to award 
1.19 	grants to eligible organizations in accordance with this section. To the extent possible, 50 
1.20 	percent of grant funding must be distributed to organizations located outside the 11-county 
1.21 	metropolitan area, as defined in section 200.02, subdivision 24.
2.1 		Subd. 3.Use of grant funds. (a) Grants awarded under this section must be used to 
2.2 	provide support and guidance for underrepresented women to help develop career pathways 
2.3 	that are likely to result in economic security and stability. Such career pathways shall include 
2.4 	but are not limited to high-wage, high-demand, nontraditional occupations, such as those 
2.5 	in the skilled trades and STEM fields.
2.6 	(b) Activities eligible for funding under this section include, but are not limited to:
2.7 	(1) culturally competent support and career guidance; and
2.8 	(2) financial assistance for child care, transportation, and safe and stable housing while 
2.9 	program participants undertake training, education, or job search activities.
2.10 		Subd. 4.Reports to the legislature. By January 15, 2019, and each January 15 thereafter, 
2.11 	the commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
2.12 	legislative committees having jurisdiction over workforce development that details the use 
2.13 	of grant funds. If data is available, the report must contain data that is disaggregated by 
2.14 	race, cultural groups, family income, age, geographical location, migrant or foreign immigrant 
2.15 	status, primary language, whether the participant is an English learner under section 124D.59, 
2.16 	disability, and status of homelessness.

2.17 	Sec. 2. [136A.147] GRANTS TO SUPPORT UNDERREPRESENTED WOMEN.
2.18 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
2.19 	the meanings given.
2.20 	(b) "Underrepresented woman" means a female 18 years of age or older who:
2.21 	(1) identifies in part or in combination as American Indian, Asian, Black, or Hispanic;
2.22 	(2) in the previous year, had a family income less than or equal to 200 percent of the 
2.23 	federal poverty line;
2.24 	(3) is the dependent child of a family that, in the previous year, had a family income 
2.25 	less than or equal to 200 percent of the federal poverty line; or
2.26 	(4) has a disability, as defined in section 363A.03, subdivision 12.
2.27 		Subd. 2.Grant program established. The commissioner of higher education must 
2.28 	establish a program to award grants to eligible grant recipients in accordance with this 
2.29 	section. To the extent possible, 50 percent of grant funding must be distributed to 
2.30 	organizations outside the 11-county metropolitan area, as defined in section 200.02, 
2.31 	subdivision 24.
3.1 		Subd. 3.Grant recipients. The following organizations are eligible grant recipients 
3.2 	under this section:
3.3 	(1) public postsecondary institutions;
3.4 	(2) regionally accredited private postsecondary institutions; and
3.5 	(3) community-based organizations that have experience serving underrepresented 
3.6 	women.
3.7 		Subd. 4.Use of grant funds. (a) Grants awarded under this section must be used to 
3.8 	support underrepresented women enrolled in a postsecondary institution in order to promote 
3.9 	postsecondary retention and degree, certificate, or accreditation completion.
3.10 	(b) Support activities eligible for funding under this section include, but are not limited 
3.11 	to:
3.12 	(1) culturally competent counseling and mentoring;
3.13 	(2) tutoring and other academic assistance;
3.14 	(3) precollege bridge programs;
3.15 	(4) financial literacy education;
3.16 	(5) peer cohorts;
3.17 	(6) emergency cash assistance; and
3.18 	(7) financial assistance for child care, transportation, and safe and stable housing.

3.19 	Sec. 3. APPROPRIATIONS.
 3.20 	(a) $....... in fiscal year 2018 and $....... in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from the 
3.21 	workforce development fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development 
3.22 	for grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.995.
3.23 	(b) $....... in fiscal year 2018 and $....... in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from the 
3.24 	general fund to the commissioner of higher education for grants under Minnesota Statutes, 
3.25 	section 136A.147.