1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to workforce development; creating the Minnesota technology training 
1.3 	account in the special revenue fund; appropriating money in the account for training 
1.4 	in digital technology; transferring funds from the excess surplus in the assigned 
1.5 	risk plan;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116L.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. [116L.25] MINNESOTA TECHNOLOGY TRAINING ACCOUNT.
1.8 	(a) The Minnesota technology training account is created in the special revenue fund in 
1.9 	the state treasury. The commissioner of management and budget shall credit to the account 
1.10 	the amounts authorized under this section and appropriations and transfers to the account. 
1.11 	The State Board of Investment shall ensure that account money is invested under section 
1.12 	11A.24. All money earned by the account must be credited to the account. The principal of 
1.13 	the account and any unexpended earnings must be invested and reinvested by the State 
1.14 	Board of Investment.
1.15 	(b) All principal and earnings of the Minnesota technology training account are 
1.16 	appropriated to the commissioner of employment and economic development for the 
1.17 	following purposes:
1.18 	(1) grants to community organizations for short-term training in technology skills geared 
1.19 	toward employment with a specific employer and resulting in a certificate. Grant funds may 
1.20 	be used to pay for up to 100 percent of the costs of establishing such a program and up to 
1.21 	50 percent of the ongoing training costs in such a program. To the extent possible, at least 
1.22 	40 percent of funds used for this purpose should be for training targeted at populations who 
2.1 	are underrepresented in technology employment in Minnesota or who face barriers to 
2.2 	employment;
2.3 	(2) grants to Minnesota residents for reimbursement of tuition paid in completing 
2.4 	approved courses in technology. In awarding these grants, the commissioner must consult 
2.5 	with the Office of Higher Education and must create a publicly available list of approved 
2.6 	courses, which may be offered either online or at an accredited college or university in 
2.7 	Minnesota. For approved courses one year in duration or longer, an individual must be 
2.8 	employed in the technology industry in Minnesota for one year before becoming eligible 
2.9 	for reimbursement;
2.10 	(3) grants to organizations for short-term courses in technology for high school students. 
2.11 	Preference shall be given to courses that partner with a specific employer or an association 
2.12 	of employers. To the extent possible, at least 60 percent of funds used for this purpose 
2.13 	should be for courses targeted at populations who are underrepresented in technology 
2.14 	employment in Minnesota or who face barriers to employment; and
2.15 	(4) creation of an Office of Technology Employment to oversee the above programs, 
2.16 	coordinate efforts across the Department of Employment and Economic Development and 
2.17 	state agencies, and serve as a point of contact for employers, educators, and community 
2.18 	organizations in order to foster partnerships and promote technology employment in 
2.19 	Minnesota.

2.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.21 	Sec. 2. ASSIGNED RISK TRANSFER.
 2.22 	By June 30, 2019, and each year thereafter, if the commissioner of commerce determines 
2.23 	on the basis of an audit that there is an excess surplus in the assigned risk plan created under 
2.24 	Minnesota Statutes, section 79.252, the commissioner of management and budget shall 
2.25 	transfer the amount of the excess surplus, not to exceed $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2019 and 
2.26 	not to exceed $6,000,000 in any fiscal year after 2019, to the Minnesota technology training 
2.27 	account, created under Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.25. This transfer occurs prior to 
2.28 	any transfer under Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 2, section 14, as amended by Laws 2016, 
2.29 	chapter 189, article 7, section 8, and Laws 2017, chapter 94, article 6, section 17. The total 
2.30 	amount authorized for all transfers under this paragraph must not exceed $20,500,000. This 
2.31 	section expires the day following the transfer in which the total amount transferred under 
2.32 	this section to the Minnesota technology training account equals $20,500,000.

2.33 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.