Bill Text: MN SF2692 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Early learning scholarships appropriation availability expansion and appropriations
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-20 - Comm report: To pass and re-referred to Finance [SF2692 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SF2692-Engrossed.html
1.2relating to early learning; expanding the availability of early learning
1.3scholarships; funding home health visit programs; providing assistance to child
1.4care providers to participate in the quality rating system; creating an early
1.5childhood scholarship pilot program; appropriating money;amending Minnesota
1.6Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, subdivision 3, by adding a
1.7subdivision; Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 8, section 5, subdivision 8.
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.9 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, subdivision 3,
1.10is amended to read:
1.11 Subd. 3. Administration. (a) The commissioner shall establish application
1.12timelines and determine the schedule for awarding scholarships that meets operational
1.13needs of eligible families and programs. The commissioner may prioritize applications on
1.14factors including family income, geographic location, and whether the child's family is on a
1.15waiting list for a publicly funded program providing early education or child care services.
1.16(b) Scholarships may be awardedup to $5,000 for each eligible child per year. The
1.17commissioner shall establish a target for the average annual scholarship amount per child
1.18based on the results of the rate survey conducted under section 119B.02.
1.19(c) A four-star rated program that has children eligible for a scholarship enrolled
1.20in or on a waiting list for a program beginning in July, August, or September may notify
1.21the commissioner, in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, each year
1.22of the program's desire to enhance program services or to serve more children than
1.23current funding provides. The commissioner may designate a predetermined number of
1.24scholarship slots for that program and notify the program of that number.
2.1(d) A scholarship is awarded for a 12-month period. If the scholarship recipient has
2.2not been accepted and subsequently enrolled in a rated program within ten months of the
2.3awarding of the scholarship, the scholarship cancels and the recipient must reapply in
2.4order to be eligible for another scholarship. A child may not be awarded more than one
2.5scholarship in a 12-month period.
2.6(e) A child who receives a scholarship who has not completed development
2.7screening under sections121A.16 to
121A.19 must complete that screening within 90
2.8days of first attending an eligible program.
2.9EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
2.10 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, is amended by adding
2.11a subdivision to read:
2.12 Subd. 6. Program funding. (a) Beginning in fiscal year 2016, the annual baseline
2.13appropriation for this program equals the lesser of:
2.14(1) twice the appropriation for the previous year; or
2.15(2) the actual amount necessary to fund all eligible scholarship requests.
2.16(b) The amount necessary is annually appropriated from the general fund to the
2.17commissioner of education for early education scholarships according to paragraph (a).
2.18This amount must be reduced by the amount of any money specifically appropriated for
2.19the same purpose in any year from any state fund.
2.20EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
2.21 Sec. 3. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 8, section 5, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
2.22 Subd. 8. Early childhood education scholarships. For transfer to the Office of
2.23Early Learning for early learning scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section124D.165 :
2.27Up to $950,000 each year is for administration of this program.
2.28Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
2.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
2.30 Sec. 4. APPROPRIATIONS.
3.1 Subdivision 1. High-quality targeted home visiting. $500,000 in fiscal year 2015
3.2is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health to consult with
3.3representatives of community health boards and other stakeholders to:
3.4(1) establish standards of best practice and measurable quality indicators for targeted
3.5home visiting programs in Minnesota;
3.6(2) develop a comprehensive culturally relevant training and competency building
3.7program for home visitors around the state; and
3.8(3) support the establishment of a coordinated system of home visiting intake and
3.9service delivery at the local level.
3.10This is a onetime appropriation.
3.11 Subd. 2. Home visiting pilot project for highest risk families. $1,600,000 in
3.12fiscal year 2015 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health
3.13for a pilot project to expand evidence-based high-quality home visiting, focusing on
3.14the youngest children living in the highest risk families receiving assistance through
3.15the Minnesota family investment program under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256J, in
3.16communities served by two counties, one county in the seven-county metropolitan area
3.17and one nonmetropolitan county. The commissioner of health shall consult with the
3.18commissioner of human services and the commissioner of education on the administration
3.19of the pilot program. The commissioner of health shall provide a formative evaluation of
3.20the pilot project to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
3.21with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance by January 1, 2016.
3.22Funds are available until expended.
3.23 Subd. 3. Licensed family child care voluntary quality improvement pilot project.
3.24$2,750,000 in fiscal year 2015 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
3.25of human services for creating a pilot project to provide support to licensed family child
3.26care providers seeking to participate in the state quality rating and improvement system.
3.27Grants of up to $8,000 may be made available to child care providers to apply to child
3.28care provider mentoring, training, coaching, consultation, and supports to prepare for the
3.29voluntary Minnesota quality rating system rating tool. As a condition of receiving a grant,
3.30the provider shall commit to participating in the quality rating system. These grants must
3.31help child care providers build quality child care programs, including, but not limited
3.32to, relationship-based professional development through mentoring and coaching and
3.33ensuring that training is offered to providers in primary languages other than English.
3.34Funds shall be distributed evenly between metro and rural regions. The commissioner
3.35may use a portion of the funds to increase capacity for providing mentoring, coaching, and
4.1training, particularly in primary languages other than English. A report on the progress
4.2of this pilot project must be provided to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
4.3legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance
4.4by January 15, 2015. This is a onetime appropriation. Funds are available until expended.
4.5 Subd. 4. Transformation zone early childhood scholarships; pilot program. (a)
4.6$15,030,000 in fiscal year 2015 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
4.7of education for transformation zone early childhood scholarships under paragraph (b).
4.8This is a onetime appropriation.
4.9(b) An early childhood scholarship pilot program is created to extend opportunities
4.10to families residing in any of Minnesota's four transformation zones. A family living in a
4.11transformation zone that has a child under the age of three may apply for a transformation
4.12zone early learning scholarship under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.165. The
4.13commissioner, in consultation with administrators for the transformation zones, will
4.14determine scholarship criteria and maximum rates consistent with the needs of each zone.
4.15The commissioner may otherwise administer the transformation zone early childhood
4.16scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.165. The duration of the pilot
4.17program may be for up to four years.
4.18(c) The commissioner must issue a preliminary report to the legislature by February
4.1915, 2015, on the program's progress and must issue a midpilot report on February 15,
4.202017, and a final report at the conclusion of the pilot program, which must describe the
4.21outcomes of the program and include recommendations to the legislature about the
4.22continuation of the program.
1.3scholarships; funding home health visit programs; providing assistance to child
1.4care providers to participate in the quality rating system; creating an early
1.5childhood scholarship pilot program; appropriating money;amending Minnesota
1.6Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, subdivision 3, by adding a
1.7subdivision; Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 8, section 5, subdivision 8.
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.9 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, subdivision 3,
1.10is amended to read:
1.11 Subd. 3. Administration. (a) The commissioner shall establish application
1.12timelines and determine the schedule for awarding scholarships that meets operational
1.13needs of eligible families and programs. The commissioner may prioritize applications on
1.14factors including family income, geographic location, and whether the child's family is on a
1.15waiting list for a publicly funded program providing early education or child care services.
1.16(b) Scholarships may be awarded
1.17commissioner shall establish a target for the average annual scholarship amount per child
1.18based on the results of the rate survey conducted under section 119B.02.
1.19(c) A four-star rated program that has children eligible for a scholarship enrolled
1.20in or on a waiting list for a program beginning in July, August, or September may notify
1.21the commissioner, in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, each year
1.22of the program's desire to enhance program services or to serve more children than
1.23current funding provides. The commissioner may designate a predetermined number of
1.24scholarship slots for that program and notify the program of that number.
2.1(d) A scholarship is awarded for a 12-month period. If the scholarship recipient has
2.2not been accepted and subsequently enrolled in a rated program within ten months of the
2.3awarding of the scholarship, the scholarship cancels and the recipient must reapply in
2.4order to be eligible for another scholarship. A child may not be awarded more than one
2.5scholarship in a 12-month period.
2.6(e) A child who receives a scholarship who has not completed development
2.7screening under sections
2.8days of first attending an eligible program.
2.9EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
2.10 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, is amended by adding
2.11a subdivision to read:
2.12 Subd. 6. Program funding. (a) Beginning in fiscal year 2016, the annual baseline
2.13appropriation for this program equals the lesser of:
2.14(1) twice the appropriation for the previous year; or
2.15(2) the actual amount necessary to fund all eligible scholarship requests.
2.16(b) The amount necessary is annually appropriated from the general fund to the
2.17commissioner of education for early education scholarships according to paragraph (a).
2.18This amount must be reduced by the amount of any money specifically appropriated for
2.19the same purpose in any year from any state fund.
2.20EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
2.21 Sec. 3. Laws 2013, chapter 116, article 8, section 5, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
2.22 Subd. 8. Early childhood education scholarships. For transfer to the Office of
2.23Early Learning for early learning scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section
| 2.24 |
$ |
23,000,000 |
..... |
2014 |
|
| 2.25 2.26 |
$ |
43,000,000 |
..... |
2015 |
2.28Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
2.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.
2.30 Sec. 4. APPROPRIATIONS.
3.1 Subdivision 1. High-quality targeted home visiting. $500,000 in fiscal year 2015
3.2is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health to consult with
3.3representatives of community health boards and other stakeholders to:
3.4(1) establish standards of best practice and measurable quality indicators for targeted
3.5home visiting programs in Minnesota;
3.6(2) develop a comprehensive culturally relevant training and competency building
3.7program for home visitors around the state; and
3.8(3) support the establishment of a coordinated system of home visiting intake and
3.9service delivery at the local level.
3.10This is a onetime appropriation.
3.11 Subd. 2. Home visiting pilot project for highest risk families. $1,600,000 in
3.12fiscal year 2015 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of health
3.13for a pilot project to expand evidence-based high-quality home visiting, focusing on
3.14the youngest children living in the highest risk families receiving assistance through
3.15the Minnesota family investment program under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256J, in
3.16communities served by two counties, one county in the seven-county metropolitan area
3.17and one nonmetropolitan county. The commissioner of health shall consult with the
3.18commissioner of human services and the commissioner of education on the administration
3.19of the pilot program. The commissioner of health shall provide a formative evaluation of
3.20the pilot project to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
3.21with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance by January 1, 2016.
3.22Funds are available until expended.
3.23 Subd. 3. Licensed family child care voluntary quality improvement pilot project.
3.24$2,750,000 in fiscal year 2015 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
3.25of human services for creating a pilot project to provide support to licensed family child
3.26care providers seeking to participate in the state quality rating and improvement system.
3.27Grants of up to $8,000 may be made available to child care providers to apply to child
3.28care provider mentoring, training, coaching, consultation, and supports to prepare for the
3.29voluntary Minnesota quality rating system rating tool. As a condition of receiving a grant,
3.30the provider shall commit to participating in the quality rating system. These grants must
3.31help child care providers build quality child care programs, including, but not limited
3.32to, relationship-based professional development through mentoring and coaching and
3.33ensuring that training is offered to providers in primary languages other than English.
3.34Funds shall be distributed evenly between metro and rural regions. The commissioner
3.35may use a portion of the funds to increase capacity for providing mentoring, coaching, and
4.1training, particularly in primary languages other than English. A report on the progress
4.2of this pilot project must be provided to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
4.3legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance
4.4by January 15, 2015. This is a onetime appropriation. Funds are available until expended.
4.5 Subd. 4. Transformation zone early childhood scholarships; pilot program. (a)
4.6$15,030,000 in fiscal year 2015 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
4.7of education for transformation zone early childhood scholarships under paragraph (b).
4.8This is a onetime appropriation.
4.9(b) An early childhood scholarship pilot program is created to extend opportunities
4.10to families residing in any of Minnesota's four transformation zones. A family living in a
4.11transformation zone that has a child under the age of three may apply for a transformation
4.12zone early learning scholarship under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.165. The
4.13commissioner, in consultation with administrators for the transformation zones, will
4.14determine scholarship criteria and maximum rates consistent with the needs of each zone.
4.15The commissioner may otherwise administer the transformation zone early childhood
4.16scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.165. The duration of the pilot
4.17program may be for up to four years.
4.18(c) The commissioner must issue a preliminary report to the legislature by February
4.1915, 2015, on the program's progress and must issue a midpilot report on February 15,
4.202017, and a final report at the conclusion of the pilot program, which must describe the
4.21outcomes of the program and include recommendations to the legislature about the
4.22continuation of the program.
