Great start compensation support payments grant program modified.

A bill for an act

relating to child care; modifying the great start compensation support payments

grant program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142D.21, subdivision

3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142D.21, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Requirements.

(a) As a condition of payment under this section, a program

must:

(1) complete an application developed by the commissioner for each payment period

for which the program applies for funding
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. For full-time equivalent staff who regularly care

for children in the program, the application must allow required paid break time, professional

development or training hours up to 24 hours annually, and paid vacation time taken to

count as qualifying hours toward a program's reporting of eligible full-time equivalent staff
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;

(2) submit data on child enrollment and attendance to the commissioner in the form and

manner specified by the commissioner; and

(3) attest and agree in writing that the program was open and operating and served a

minimum number of children, as determined by the commissioner, during the funding

period, with the exceptions of:

(i) service disruptions that are necessary to protect the safety and health of children and

child care programs based on public health guidance issued by the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, the commissioner of health, the commissioner of children, youth,

and families, or a local public health agency; and

(ii) planned temporary closures for provider vacation and holidays during each payment

period. The commissioner must establish the maximum allowed duration for vacations and

holidays.

(b) A program must expend money received under this section no later than six months

after the date the payment was received.

(c) A program that receives a payment under this section must comply with all

requirements listed in the application. The commissioner must establish methods to determine

that the application requirements have been met.