Bill Text: MN SF1739 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Minnesota family investment program (MFIP) participants education opportunities modification
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-20 - Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Finance [SF1739 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SF1739-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Minnesota family investment program (MFIP) participants education opportunities modification
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-20 - Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Finance [SF1739 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SF1739-Introduced.html
1.2relating to human services; modifying education opportunities for participants in
1.3the Minnesota family investment program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012,
1.4sections 256J.49, subdivision 13; 256J.53, subdivisions 1, 5; 256J.531; repealing
1.5Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.53, subdivision 2.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.49, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
1.8 Subd. 13. Work activity. (a) "Work activity" means any activity in a participant's
1.9approved employment plan that leads to employment. For purposes of the MFIP program,
1.10this includes activities that meet the definition of work activity under the participation
1.11requirements of TANF. Work activity includes:
1.12 (1) unsubsidized employment, including work study and paid apprenticeships or
1.13internships;
1.14 (2) subsidized private sector or public sector employment, including grant diversion
1.15as specified in section256J.69 , on-the-job training as specified in section
256J.66 , paid
1.16work experience, and supported work when a wage subsidy is provided;
1.17 (3) unpaid work experience, including community service, volunteer work,
1.18the community work experience program as specified in section256J.67 , unpaid
1.19apprenticeships or internships, and supported work when a wage subsidy is not provided.
1.20Unpaid work experience is only an option if the participant has been unable to obtain or
1.21maintain paid employment in the competitive labor market, and no paid work experience
1.22programs are available to the participant. Prior to placing a participant in unpaid work,
1.23the county must inform the participant that the participant will be notified if a paid work
1.24experience or supported work position becomes available. Unless a participant consents in
1.25writing to participate in unpaid work experience, the participant's employment plan may
2.1only include unpaid work experience if including the unpaid work experience in the plan
2.2will meet the following criteria:
2.3 (i) the unpaid work experience will provide the participant specific skills or
2.4experience that cannot be obtained through other work activity options where the
2.5participant resides or is willing to reside; and
2.6 (ii) the skills or experience gained through the unpaid work experience will result
2.7in higher wages for the participant than the participant could earn without the unpaid
2.8work experience;
2.9 (4) job search including job readiness assistance, job clubs, job placement,
2.10job-related counseling, and job retention services;
2.11 (5) job readiness education, including English as a second language (ESL) or
2.12functional work literacy classesas limited by the provisions of section
256J.531,
2.13subdivision 2
2.14work, high school completion, and adult basic educationas limited by the provisions of
2.15section
256J.531, subdivision 1
2.16 (6) job skills training directly related to employment, including postsecondary
2.17education and training that can reasonably be expected to lead to employment, as limited
2.18by the provisions of section
256J.53
2.19 (7) providing child care services to a participant who is working in a community
2.20service program;
2.21 (8) activities included in the employment plan that is developed under section
2.22256J.521, subdivision 3
; and
2.23 (9) preemployment activities including chemical and mental health assessments,
2.24treatment, and services; learning disabilities services; child protective services; family
2.25stabilization services; or other programs designed to enhance employability.
2.26(b) "Work activity" does not include activities done for political purposes as defined
2.27in section211B.01, subdivision 6 .
2.28 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.53, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.29 Subdivision 1. Length of program. (a) In order for a postsecondary education
2.30or training program to be an approved work activity as defined in section256J.49,
2.31subdivision 13 , clause (6), it must be a program lasting 24 months four years or less, and
2.32the participant must meet the requirements of subdivisions2, 3, and 5.
2.33(b) Participants with a high school diploma, general educational development (GED)
2.34credential, or Minnesota adult diploma must be informed of the opportunity to participate
2.35in postsecondary education or training while in the Minnesota family investment program.
3.1 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.53, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
3.2 Subd. 5. Requirements after postsecondary education or training. Upon
3.3completion of an approved education or training program, a participant who does not meet
3.4the participation requirements in section256J.55, subdivision 1 , through unsubsidized
3.5employment must participate in job search. If, aftersix 12 weeks of job search, the
3.6participant does not find a full-time job consistent with the employment goal, the
3.7participant must accept any offer of full-time suitable employment, or meet with the job
3.8counselor to revise the employment plan to include additional work activities necessary to
3.9meet hourly requirements.
3.10 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.531, is amended to read:
3.11256J.531 BASIC EDUCATION; ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.
3.12 Subdivision 1. Approval of adult basic education.With the exception of classes
3.13related to obtaining a general educational development credential (GED), a participant
3.14must have reading or mathematics proficiency below a ninth grade level in order for adult
3.15basic education classes to be an A participant who lacks a high school diploma, general
3.16educational development (GED) credential, or Minnesota adult diploma must be allowed
3.17to pursue these credentials as an approved work activity, provided that the participant
3.18is making satisfactory progress. Participants eligible to pursue a general educational
3.19development (GED) credential or Minnesota adult diploma under this subdivision must
3.20be informed of the opportunity to participate while in the Minnesota family investment
3.21program.The employment plan must also specify that the participant fulfill no more than
3.22one-half of the participation requirements in section
256J.55, subdivision 1, through
3.23attending adult basic education or general educational development classes.
3.24 Subd. 2. Approval of English as a second language. In order for English as a
3.25second language (ESL) classes to be an approved work activity in an employment plan, a
3.26participant must be below a spoken language proficiency level of SPL6 or its equivalent,
3.27as measured by a nationally recognized test. In approving ESL as a work activity, the job
3.28counselor must give preference to enrollment in a functional work literacy program,
3.29if one is available, over a regular ESL program.A participant may not be approved
3.30for more than a combined total of 24 months of ESL classes while participating in the
3.31diversionary work program and the employment and training services component of
3.32MFIP. The employment plan must also specify that the participant fulfill no more than
3.33one-half of the participation requirements in section
256J.55, subdivision 1, through
3.34attending ESL classes. For participants enrolled in functional work literacy classes, no
4.1more than two-thirds of the participation requirements in section
256J.55, subdivision 1,
4.2may be met through attending functional work literacy classes.
4.3 Sec. 5. REPEALER.
4.4Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.53, subdivision 2, is repealed.
1.3the Minnesota family investment program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012,
1.4sections 256J.49, subdivision 13; 256J.53, subdivisions 1, 5; 256J.531; repealing
1.5Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.53, subdivision 2.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.49, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
1.8 Subd. 13. Work activity. (a) "Work activity" means any activity in a participant's
1.9approved employment plan that leads to employment. For purposes of the MFIP program,
1.10this includes activities that meet the definition of work activity under the participation
1.11requirements of TANF. Work activity includes:
1.12 (1) unsubsidized employment, including work study and paid apprenticeships or
1.13internships;
1.14 (2) subsidized private sector or public sector employment, including grant diversion
1.15as specified in section
1.16work experience, and supported work when a wage subsidy is provided;
1.17 (3) unpaid work experience, including community service, volunteer work,
1.18the community work experience program as specified in section
1.19apprenticeships or internships, and supported work when a wage subsidy is not provided.
1.20Unpaid work experience is only an option if the participant has been unable to obtain or
1.21maintain paid employment in the competitive labor market, and no paid work experience
1.22programs are available to the participant. Prior to placing a participant in unpaid work,
1.23the county must inform the participant that the participant will be notified if a paid work
1.24experience or supported work position becomes available. Unless a participant consents in
1.25writing to participate in unpaid work experience, the participant's employment plan may
2.1only include unpaid work experience if including the unpaid work experience in the plan
2.2will meet the following criteria:
2.3 (i) the unpaid work experience will provide the participant specific skills or
2.4experience that cannot be obtained through other work activity options where the
2.5participant resides or is willing to reside; and
2.6 (ii) the skills or experience gained through the unpaid work experience will result
2.7in higher wages for the participant than the participant could earn without the unpaid
2.8work experience;
2.9 (4) job search including job readiness assistance, job clubs, job placement,
2.10job-related counseling, and job retention services;
2.11 (5) job readiness education, including English as a second language (ESL) or
2.12functional work literacy classes
2.13
2.14work, high school completion, and adult basic education
2.15
2.16 (6) job skills training directly related to employment, including postsecondary
2.17education and training that can reasonably be expected to lead to employment
2.18
2.19 (7) providing child care services to a participant who is working in a community
2.20service program;
2.21 (8) activities included in the employment plan that is developed under section
2.23 (9) preemployment activities including chemical and mental health assessments,
2.24treatment, and services; learning disabilities services; child protective services; family
2.25stabilization services; or other programs designed to enhance employability.
2.26(b) "Work activity" does not include activities done for political purposes as defined
2.27in section
2.28 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.53, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.29 Subdivision 1. Length of program. (a) In order for a postsecondary education
2.30or training program to be an approved work activity as defined in section
2.31subdivision 13
2.32the participant must meet the requirements of subdivisions
2.33(b) Participants with a high school diploma, general educational development (GED)
2.34credential, or Minnesota adult diploma must be informed of the opportunity to participate
2.35in postsecondary education or training while in the Minnesota family investment program.
3.1 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.53, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
3.2 Subd. 5. Requirements after postsecondary education or training. Upon
3.3completion of an approved education or training program, a participant who does not meet
3.4the participation requirements in section
3.5employment must participate in job search. If, after
3.6participant does not find a full-time job consistent with the employment goal, the
3.7participant must accept any offer of full-time suitable employment, or meet with the job
3.8counselor to revise the employment plan to include additional work activities necessary to
3.9meet hourly requirements.
3.10 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.531, is amended to read:
3.11256J.531 BASIC EDUCATION; ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.
3.12 Subdivision 1. Approval of adult basic education.
3.13
3.14
3.15
3.16educational development (GED) credential, or Minnesota adult diploma must be allowed
3.17to pursue these credentials as an approved work activity, provided that the participant
3.18is making satisfactory progress. Participants eligible to pursue a general educational
3.19development (GED) credential or Minnesota adult diploma under this subdivision must
3.20be informed of the opportunity to participate while in the Minnesota family investment
3.21program.
3.22
3.23
3.24 Subd. 2. Approval of English as a second language. In order for English as a
3.25second language (ESL) classes to be an approved work activity in an employment plan, a
3.26participant must be below a spoken language proficiency level of SPL6 or its equivalent,
3.27as measured by a nationally recognized test. In approving ESL as a work activity, the job
3.28counselor must give preference to enrollment in a functional work literacy program,
3.29if one is available, over a regular ESL program.
3.30
3.31
3.32
3.33
3.34
4.1
4.2
4.3 Sec. 5. REPEALER.
4.4Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256J.53, subdivision 2, is repealed.
