Minnesota Session Laws - 2001, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 181-H.F.No. 1941 
                  An act relating to economic development; clarifying 
                  provisions in the job skills partnership program; 
                  amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, sections 116L.02; 
                  116L.04, subdivision 1a; and 116L.06, subdivision 5. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 116L.02, is 
        amended to read: 
           116L.02 [JOB SKILLS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.] 
           (a) The Minnesota job skills partnership program is created 
        to act as a catalyst to bring together employers with specific 
        training needs with educational or other nonprofit institutions 
        which can design programs to fill those needs.  The partnership 
        shall work closely with employers to train and place workers in 
        identifiable positions as well as assisting educational or other 
        nonprofit institutions in developing training programs that 
        coincide with current and future employer requirements.  The 
        partnership shall provide grants to educational or other 
        nonprofit institutions for the purpose of training displaced 
        workers.  A participating business must match the grant-in-aid 
        made by the Minnesota job skills partnership.  The match may be 
        in the form of funding, equipment, or faculty. 
           (b) The partnership program shall administer the health 
        care and human services worker training and retention program 
        under sections 116L.10 to 116L.15. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 116L.04, 
        subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 1a.  [PATHWAYS PROGRAM.] The pathways program may 
        provide grants-in-aid for developing programs which assist in 
        the transition of persons from welfare to work and assist 
        individuals at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty 
        guidelines.  The program is to be operated by the board.  The 
        board shall consult and coordinate with program administrators 
        at the department of economic security to design and provide 
        services for temporary assistance for needy families recipients. 
           Pathways grants-in-aid may be awarded to educational or 
        other nonprofit training institutions for education and training 
        programs that serve public assistance recipients transitioning 
        from public assistance to employment and services supporting 
        education and training programs that serve eligible recipients. 
           Preference shall be given to projects that: 
           (1) provide employment with benefits paid to employees; 
           (2) provide employment where there are defined career paths 
        for trainees; 
           (3) pilot the development of an educational pathway that 
        can be used on a continuing basis for transitioning persons from 
        public assistance directly welfare to work; and 
           (4) demonstrate the active participation of department of 
        economic security workforce centers, Minnesota state college and 
        university institutions and other educational institutions, and 
        local welfare agencies. 
           Pathways projects must demonstrate the active involvement 
        and financial commitment of private business.  Pathways projects 
        must be matched with cash or in-kind contributions on at least a 
        one-to-one ratio by participating private business. 
           A single grant to any one institution shall not exceed 
        $400,000. 
           The board shall annually, by March 31, report to the 
        commissioners of economic security and trade and economic 
        development on pathways programs, including the number of public 
        assistance recipients participating in the program, the number 
        of participants placed in employment, the salary and benefits 
        they receive, and the state program costs per participant. 
           Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 116L.06, 
        subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 5.  [LOAN USES.] Loans must be used by an employer to 
        obtain the most cost-effective effective training available from 
        public or private training institutions.  An employer must 
        document to the board the process the employer has utilized to 
        ensure that the proposed loan is used to acquire the most 
        cost-effective training and provide a training plan. 
           Presented to the governor May 23, 2001 
           Signed by the governor May 25, 2001, 12:01 p.m.