Hennepin and Ramsey Counties; 700-hour on-the-job demonstration experience pilot program created, and report required.

A bill for an act

relating to local government; creating a 700-hour on-the-job demonstration

experience pilot program in Hennepin County and Ramsey County; requiring a

report.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONNECT 700 PILOT PROGRAM.
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Subdivision 1.

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Establishment.

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Hennepin County and Ramsey County must establish a

700-hour on-the-job demonstration experience pilot program to hire qualified applicants

with disabilities in each county in accordance with the requirements of this section.

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Subd. 2.

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Program administration and procedures.

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(a) Hennepin County and Ramsey

County must establish, review, and modify the qualifying procedures for hiring applicants

who have disabilities that make the applicant unable to demonstrate the applicant's abilities

in the selection process. The qualifying procedures must consist of up to 700 hours of

on-the-job demonstration experience. The 700-hour on-the-job demonstration experience

is an alternative, noncompetitive hiring process for qualified applicants with disabilities.

All permanent classified civil service job positions are eligible for a 700-hour on-the-job

demonstration experience and all permanent classified civil service job postings must provide

information regarding the on-the-job demonstration overview and certification process.

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(b) The county's chief executive officer, or the officer's designee, must authorize the

probationary appointment of an applicant if the applicant has successfully demonstrated

qualifications for the position through completion of an on-the-job demonstration experience.

The county's chief executive officer, or the officer's designee, must convert a qualified

applicant to a probationary appointment at the point in the 700-hour on-the-job experience

when the applicant has demonstrated the ability to perform the essential functions of the

job with or without reasonable accommodation. Implementation of this section is not a

violation of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 363A.

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(c) The county chief executive officer is responsible for the administration and oversight

of the 700-hour on-the-job demonstration experience pilot program, including the

establishment of policies and procedures, data collection and reporting requirements, and

compliance.

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(d) The county chief executive officer must develop, administer, and make public a

formal grievance process for individuals in the 700-hour on-the-job demonstration experience

pilot program.

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(e) A county must make reasonable accommodations in response to a request from an

applicant with a disability, including providing accommodations in a timely manner during

the application and hiring process and throughout the 700-hour on-the-job demonstration

experience. Requirements for accessibility for public records under Minnesota Statutes,

section 363A.42, and continuing education under Minnesota Statutes, section 363A.43,

apply to a county filling an appointment during the application and hiring process and

through the on-the-job demonstration experience period.

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Subd. 3.

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Consultation with state agencies.

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The commissioners of management and

budget and employment and economic development must provide technical expertise to

Hennepin County and Ramsey County based on administration of the executive branch

700-hour on-the-job demonstration experience program under Minnesota Statutes, section

43A.15, subdivision 14.

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Subd. 4.

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Required training.

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The commissioner of management and budget must modify

the training curriculum under Minnesota Statutes, section 43A.15, subdivision 14, paragraph

(d), to include the requirements of this section and provide the modified curriculum to

Hennepin County and Ramsey County. All county executive leaders, managers, supervisors,

human resources professionals, affirmative action officers, and Americans with Disabilities

Act coordinators must attend training on the curriculum at least once during calendar year

2027.

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Subd. 5.

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Survey required.

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On or before October 1, 2027, Hennepin County and Ramsey

County must survey the participants in the 700-hour on-the-job demonstration experience

pilot program who are hired and those who are not hired, as well as the managers of

participants in the pilot program.

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Subd. 6.

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Report to legislature.

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(a) On or before December 1, 2027, Hennepin County

and Ramsey County must submit the following statistics from the pilot program under this

section to the commissioner of management and budget:

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(1) the number of certifications submitted, granted, and rejected;

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(2) the number of applicants interviewed, appointed, and converted to probationary

status;

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(3) the number of employees retained for more than six months in county employment;

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(4) the number of employees with terminated appointments and the reason for termination;

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(5) the average length of time in an on-the-job demonstration appointment;

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(6) the number and category of entity certifications;

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(7) the number of appointments and hires and the number of managers and supervisors

trained; and

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(8) the results of the survey under subdivision 5.

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(b) On or before January 15, 2028, the commissioner of management and budget shall

report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over state government finance and

policy and local government policy on the information in paragraph (a) and any other

information the commissioner deems relevant to the pilot program under this section.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective August 1, 2026.

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