This bill aims to improve education finance and support for school employees in Minnesota by mandating that school districts and charter schools provide a minimum of 16 hours of paid orientation and professional development annually for paraprofessionals and noninstructional staff, such as food service employees and bus drivers. It establishes a minimum starting salary of $25 per hour for nonlicensed personnel, including paraprofessionals and Title I aides, and introduces reimbursement provisions for paraprofessional training costs. Key amendments include increasing required professional development hours from eight to 16 and mandating training for noninstructional staff on managing student behavior and school policies. The bill also creates an "Educator group insurance program" to provide health insurance for school employees and repeals certain provisions related to paraprofessional training.

Additionally, the bill amends Minnesota Statutes to establish the educator group insurance program, which includes the formation of a Labor Management Committee to represent school employees and retired employees. It outlines eligibility criteria for school employees, including provisions for part-time workers and former employees, and specifies employer contributions towards premiums. The bill ensures that participation in the school employee pool does not discourage employers from maintaining more generous health plans and prohibits the use of public resources for broker commissions. It also includes provisions for financial assistance to cover additional employer premium costs and appropriates funds from the general fund to the Department of Education for the educator group insurance program aid, while repealing a previous statute regarding response times for insurance proposals.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 43A.316, 121A.642, 125A.08