1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; modifying MFIP work activities;amending 
1.3 	Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256J.49, subdivision 13.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256J.49, subdivision 13, is amended to 
1.6 	read:
1.7 		Subd. 13. Work activity. (a) "Work activity" means any activity in a participant's 
1.8 	approved employment plan that leads to employment. For purposes of the MFIP program, 
1.9 	this includes activities that meet the definition of work activity under the participation 
1.10 	requirements of TANF. Work activity includes: 
1.11 	(1) unsubsidized employment, including work study and paid apprenticeships or 
1.12 	internships; 
1.13 	(2) subsidized private sector or public sector employment, including grant diversion 
1.14 	as specified in section 256J.69, on-the-job training as specified in section 256J.66, paid 
1.15 	work experience, and supported work when a wage subsidy is provided; 
1.16 	(3) unpaid work experience, including community service, volunteer work, 
1.17 	the community work experience program as specified in section 256J.67, unpaid 
1.18 	apprenticeships or internships, and supported work when a wage subsidy is not provided. 
1.19 	Unpaid work experience is only an option if the participant has been unable to obtain or 
1.20 	maintain paid employment in the competitive labor market, and no paid work experience 
1.21 	programs are available to the participant. Prior to placing a participant in unpaid work, 
1.22 	the county must inform the participant that the participant will be notified if a paid work 
1.23 	experience or supported work position becomes available. Unless a participant consents in 
1.24 	writing to participate in unpaid work experience, the participant's employment plan may 
2.1 	only include unpaid work experience if including the unpaid work experience in the plan 
2.2 	will meet the following criteria: 
2.3 	(i) the unpaid work experience will provide the participant specific skills or 
2.4 	experience that cannot be obtained through other work activity options where the 
2.5 	participant resides or is willing to reside; and 
2.6 	(ii) the skills or experience gained through the unpaid work experience will result 
2.7 	in higher wages for the participant than the participant could earn without the unpaid 
2.8 	work experience; 
2.9 	(4) job search including job readiness assistance, job clubs, job placement, 
2.10 	job-related counseling, and job retention services; 
2.11 	(5) job readiness education, including English as a second language (ESL) or 
2.12 	functional work literacy classes as limited by the provisions of section 256J.531, 
2.13 	subdivision 2, general educational development (GED) course work, high school 
2.14 	completion, and adult basic education as limited by the provisions of section 256J.531, 
2.15 	subdivision 1; 
2.16 	(6) job skills training directly related to employment, including education and 
2.17 	training that can reasonably be expected to lead to employment, as limited by the 
2.18 	provisions of section 256J.53; 
2.19 	(7) providing child care services to a participant who is working in a community 
2.20 	service program; 
2.21 	(8) activities included in the employment plan that is developed under section 
2.22 	256J.521, subdivision 3; and 
2.23 	(9) preemployment activities including chemical and mental health assessments, 
2.24 	treatment, and services; learning disabilities services; child protective services; family 
2.25 	stabilization services; or other programs designed to enhance employability. 
2.26 	(b) "Work activity" does not include activities done for political purposes as defined 
2.27 	in section 211B.01, subdivision 6.