2003 Minnesota Statutes

     116J.874 Affirmative enterprise program. 

    Subdivision 1.    Definitions.  (a) The definitions in 
 this subdivision apply to this section. 

    (b) "Business entity" means a sole proprietorship, 
 partnership, limited liability company, or corporation. 

    (c) "Disabled person" means a person with a disability as 
 defined under section 363A.03, subdivision 12. 

    (d) "Full-time employee" means an employee who is employed 
 for at least 35 hours per week. 

    Subd. 2.    Establishment.  The commissioner of 
 employment and economic development shall establish the 
 affirmative enterprise program for the purpose of encouraging 
 the full-time employment of disabled persons in areas of 
 economic need.  The commissioner shall determine areas of 
 economic need based on present and past levels of unemployment 
 and population loss, and present and past reductions in 
 industrial and business activity. 

    Subd. 3.    Eligibility.  A business entity is eligible 
 for an affirmative enterprise grant if it meets the following 
 criteria: 

    (1) except in the case of a business entity with fewer than 
 ten employees, it employs at least 25 percent of its full-time 
 employees from persons who are not disabled; 

    (2) it employs at least 50 percent of its full-time 
 employees from disabled persons; 

    (3) it maintains an integrated work force of nondisabled 
 and disabled persons at the highest possible level; 

    (4) every full-time employee has an employee status with 
 all accompanying rights and responsibilities; 

    (5) the following benefits are provided to each full-time 
 employee: 

    (i) paid vacation; 

    (ii) paid holidays; 

    (iii) paid sick leave; 

    (iv) a personalized career plan; 

    (v) retirement with employer participation; and 

    (vi) a co-payment health insurance plan; 

    (6) a full-time employee selected by all employees of the 
 business entity meets with the business entity's management at 
 least once a month; 

    (7) each full-time employee is informed of other less 
 restrictive employment when it becomes available; 

    (8) all full-time employees are required to participate in 
 at least two evaluations per year with accompanying wage 
 adjustments; and 

    (9) profit-sharing based on the business entity's 
 performance is provided to all full-time employees.  

    Subd. 4.    Grants.  Affirmative enterprise grants must 
 be used by the business to provide training and support services 
 to disabled persons in conjunction with economic development. 

    Subd. 5.    Preference.  Preference for grant awards 
 must be given to a business entity that:  (1) offers ownership 
 options or individual personal improvement plans with 
 employer-sponsored training, has a long-term business plan, and 
 is working collaboratively with the local economic development 
 authority or organization; or (2) has a higher percentage of 
 disabled employees than another eligible entity. 

    Subd. 6. Repealed, 1995 c 224 s 126 

    HIST: 1993 c 369 s 48; 1Sp2003 c 4 s 1