1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to child care business development; providing for a child care business 
1.3 	start-up manual; providing grants to promote child care business start-up and 
1.4 	expansion; requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. CHILD CARE BUSINESS START-UP MANUAL; APPROPRIATION.
 1.7 	$....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
1.8 	of employment and economic development to produce an easy-to-understand manual to 
1.9 	instruct aspiring business owners in how to start a child care business. The commissioner 
1.10 	shall work in consultation with relevant state and local agencies and affected stakeholders 
1.11 	to produce the manual. The manual must be made available electronically to interested 
1.12 	persons. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2019.

1.13 	Sec. 2. CHILD CARE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT; APPROPRIATION.
 1.14 	(a) $....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
1.15 	commissioner of employment and economic development for grants to local communities 
1.16 	to develop and implement a community solution action plan to sustain and increase the 
1.17 	supply of quality child care providers in order to support regional economic development. 
1.18 	Grant funds available under this section must be used to assess, identify, and implement 
1.19 	solutions to reduce the child care shortage in the state, including but not limited to 
1.20 	funding for child care business start-up or expansion, training, facility modifications or 
1.21 	improvements required for licensing, and assistance with licensing and other regulatory 
1.22 	requirements. In awarding grants, the commissioner must give priority to communities in 
1.23 	greater Minnesota that have documented a shortage of child care providers in the area.
2.1 	(b) By September 30, 2017, grant recipients must report to the commissioner on the 
2.2 	outcomes of the grant program, including but not limited to the number of new providers, 
2.3 	the number of additional child care provider jobs created, the number of additional child 
2.4 	care slots, and the amount of local funds invested.
2.5 	(c) By January 1, 2018, the commissioner must report on the outcomes to date of 
2.6 	the program to the standing committees of the legislature having jurisdiction over child 
2.7 	care and economic development.