Minnesota Session Laws - 2004, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 188-S.F.No. 1946 
                  An act relating to employment; directing the 
                  commissioner of employment and economic development to 
                  conduct an extended employment pilot project; 
                  authorizing a transfer of funds; providing for 
                  division and use of a federal funds match. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  [PILOT PROJECT.] 
           The commissioner of employment and economic development 
        shall conduct an extended employment pilot project to study an 
        industrial model for employment for individuals with severe 
        disabilities in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. 
           Employment is to be provided by Custom Products, a division 
        of Occupational Development Center.  During the pilot, 
        employment outcomes for individuals with severe disabilities 
        will be assumed to be community employment as defined under 
        Minnesota Rules, part 3300.2005.  The pilot project will begin 
        July 1, 2004, and end June 30, 2005.  Evaluation of the pilot 
        project must be completed by October 1, 2005, by the 
        commissioner. 
           The pilot project must maintain a minimum ratio of 60 
        percent of nondisabled persons, must pay minimum wages or better 
        to all employees with severe disabilities, and must provide them 
        a level of benefits equal to those provided to nondisabled 
        employees.  All work teams must be integrated. 
           The pilot project must provide the extended employment 
        program with useful information to clarify the distinction 
        between center-based and community employment subprograms.  The 
        commissioner shall consider the findings of the pilot project in 
        adopting rules. 
        Sec. 2.  TRANSFERS AND CANCELLATIONS     
        Subdivision 1.  Vocational 
        Rehabilitation Transfer
        Beginning in fiscal year 2005, the 
        commissioner of employment and economic 
        development may transfer $1,325,000 
        from the independent living program's 
        general fund appropriation to the 
        vocational rehabilitation program.  
        Each year the state director of the 
        vocational rehabilitation program shall 
        immediately restore from the vocational 
        rehabilitation program's federal Social 
        Security Administration program income 
        or federal Title I funds, the 
        $1,325,000 to the Centers for 
        Independent Living. 
        Subd. 2.  Federal Funds Match                                   
        The transferred independent living 
        general funds under subdivision 1 must 
        be used to match federal vocational 
        rehabilitation funds as they become 
        available, and each year the resulting 
        additional federal funds must be 
        divided equally between the vocational 
        rehabilitation program and the Centers 
        for Independent Living.  
        The maximum amount of federal 
        vocational rehabilitation funds that 
        may be shared with the Centers for 
        Independent Living is $2,438,000.  The 
        vocational rehabilitation program may 
        not use the Centers for Independent 
        Living's share of the additional 
        federal funds for any other purpose 
        than to fund the Centers for 
        Independent Living. 
        Subd. 3.  Data Sharing                                          
        The Centers for Independent Living must 
        share data with the vocational 
        rehabilitation program to ensure that 
        the transfer of funds under subdivision 
        1 and the related contracts meet all 
        legal requirements. 
           Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment. 
           Presented to the governor May 10, 2004 
           Signed by the governor May 13, 2004, 12:15 p.m.