Minnesota Session Laws - 2000, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 481-S.F.No. 2575 
                  An act relating to economic development; regulating 
                  eligibility of farmers for the dislocated worker 
                  program; amending Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, 
                  section 268.975, subdivision 3. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
        268.975, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [DISLOCATED WORKER.] "Dislocated worker" means an 
        individual who is a resident of Minnesota at the time employment 
        ceased or was working in the state at the time employment ceased 
        and: 
           (1) has been terminated or who has received a notice of 
        termination from public or private sector employment, is 
        eligible for or has exhausted entitlement to reemployment 
        compensation, and is unlikely to return to the previous industry 
        or occupation; 
           (2) has been terminated or has received a notice of 
        termination of employment as a result of any plant closing or 
        any substantial layoff at a plant, facility, or enterprise; 
           (3) has been long-term unemployed and has limited 
        opportunities for employment or reemployment in the same or a 
        similar occupation in the area in which the individual resides, 
        including older individuals who may have substantial barriers to 
        employment by reason of age; or 
           (4) has been self-employed, including farmers and ranchers, 
        and is unemployed as a result of general economic conditions in 
        the community in which the individual resides or because of 
        natural disasters, subject to rules to be adopted by the 
        commissioner; or 
           (5) has been self-employed as a farmer or rancher and, even 
        though that employment has not ceased, has experienced a 
        significant reduction in income due to inadequate crop or 
        livestock prices, crop failures, or significant loss in crop 
        yields due to pests, disease, adverse weather, or other natural 
        phenomenon.  This clause expires July 31, 2003. 
           Sec. 2.  [TEMPORARY PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN FARMERS OR 
        RANCHERS.] 
           In fiscal year 2001, the commissioner of economic security 
        shall give priority for grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 
        268.9783, to proposals that provide retraining to dislocated 
        workers eligible under Minnesota Statutes, section 268.975, 
        subdivision 3, clause (5).  The commissioner retains any 
        existing authority to exercise discretion about making any grant 
        and this section does not require the commissioner to make any 
        specific grant.  The match requirement of Minnesota Statutes, 
        section 268.9783, subdivision 6, clause (1), does not apply to 
        grants given preference under this section. 
           Presented to the governor May 11, 2000 
           Signed by the governor May 15, 2000, 10:54 a.m.