A bill for an act
relating to early childhood care and learning; establishing a Department of Early
Childhood; authorizing rulemaking; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections
15.01; 15.06, subdivision 1; 15A.0815, subdivision 2; 43A.08, subdivision 1a;
proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119C.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 15.01, is amended to read:
The following agencies are designated as the departments of the state government: the
Department of Administration; the Department of Agriculture; the Department of Commerce;
the Department of Corrections; new text beginthe Department of Early Childhood; new text endthe Department of
Education; the Department of Employment and Economic Development; the Department
of Health; the Department of Human Rights; the Department of Iron Range Resources and
Rehabilitation; the Department of Labor and Industry; the Department of Management and
Budget; the Department of Military Affairs; the Department of Natural Resources; the
Department of Public Safety; the Department of Human Services; the Department of
Revenue; the Department of Transportation; the Department of Veterans Affairs; and their
successor departments.
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This section is effective July 1, 2023.
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Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 15.06, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
This section applies to the following departments or
agencies: the Departments of Administration, Agriculture, Commerce, Corrections,new text begin Early
Childhood,new text end Education, Employment and Economic Development, Health, Human Rights,
Labor and Industry, Management and Budget, Natural Resources, Public Safety, Human
Services, Revenue, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs; the Housing Finance and Pollution
Control Agencies; the Office of Commissioner of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation;
the Office of MN.IT Services; the Bureau of Mediation Services; and their successor
departments and agencies. The heads of the foregoing departments or agencies are
"commissioners."
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This section is effective July 1, 2023.
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Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 15A.0815, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
The salary for a position listed in this subdivision shall
not exceed 133 percent of the salary of the governor. This limit must be adjusted annually
on January 1. The new limit must equal the limit for the prior year increased by the percentage
increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers from October of the
second prior year to October of the immediately prior year. The commissioner of management
and budget must publish the limit on the department's website. This subdivision applies to
the following positions:
Commissioner of administration;
Commissioner of agriculture;
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Commissioner of early childhood;
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Commissioner of education;
Commissioner of commerce;
Commissioner of corrections;
Commissioner of health;
Commissioner, Minnesota Office of Higher Education;
Commissioner, Housing Finance Agency;
Commissioner of human rights;
Commissioner of human services;
Commissioner of labor and industry;
Commissioner of management and budget;
Commissioner of natural resources;
Commissioner, Pollution Control Agency;
Commissioner of public safety;
Commissioner of revenue;
Commissioner of employment and economic development;
Commissioner of transportation; and
Commissioner of veterans affairs.
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This section is effective July 1, 2023.
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Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 43A.08, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
Appointing authorities for the following
agencies may designate additional unclassified positions according to this subdivision: the
Departments of Administration; Agriculture; Commerce; Corrections; new text beginEarly Childhood;
new text end Education; Employment and Economic Development; Explore Minnesota Tourism;
Management and Budget; Health; Human Rights; Labor and Industry; Natural Resources;
Public Safety; Human Services; Revenue; Transportation; and Veterans Affairs; the Housing
Finance and Pollution Control Agencies; the State Lottery; the State Board of Investment;
the Office of Administrative Hearings; the Office of MN.IT Services; the Offices of the
Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State Auditor; the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities; the Minnesota Office of Higher Education; the Perpich Center for Arts
Education; and the Minnesota Zoological Board.
A position designated by an appointing authority according to this subdivision must
meet the following standards and criteria:
(1) the designation of the position would not be contrary to other law relating specifically
to that agency;
(2) the person occupying the position would report directly to the agency head or deputy
agency head and would be designated as part of the agency head's management team;
(3) the duties of the position would involve significant discretion and substantial
involvement in the development, interpretation, and implementation of agency policy;
(4) the duties of the position would not require primarily personnel, accounting, or other
technical expertise where continuity in the position would be important;
(5) there would be a need for the person occupying the position to be accountable to,
loyal to, and compatible with, the governor and the agency head, the employing statutory
board or commission, or the employing constitutional officer;
(6) the position would be at the level of division or bureau director or assistant to the
agency head; and
(7) the commissioner has approved the designation as being consistent with the standards
and criteria in this subdivision.
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This section is effective July 1, 2023.
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The Department of Early Childhood is established. The goal in creating the department
is to ensure that every child, from birth through the age of five, receives an equitable and
comprehensive opportunity to reach their full potential.
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This section is effective July 1, 2023.
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The definitions in this section apply to this chapter.
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"Commissioner" means the commissioner of early childhood.
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"Department" means the Department of Early Childhood.
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This section is effective July 1, 2023.
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The department is under the administrative control of the
commissioner. The commissioner is appointed by the governor with the advice and consent
of the senate. The commissioner must possess broad knowledge and experience in early
childhood care and education. The commissioner has the general powers as provided in
section 15.06, subdivision 6. The commissioner's salary must be established according to
the procedure in section 15A.0815, subdivision 5, in the same range as that specified for
the commissioner of management and budget.
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(a) The commissioner shall apply for, and accept
on behalf of the state, any federal, local, or private grants, bequests, gifts, or contributions
to aid in the financing of any of the programs or policies of the department.
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