Minnesota Agencies

The task force shall:

• identify difficulties that providers face regarding licensing and inspection, including specific licensing requirements that have led to the closure of family child care programs, by reviewing previous survey results and conducting follow-up surveys, if necessary;
• propose regulatory reforms to improve licensing efficiency, including discussion of criteria that would qualify a provider for an abbreviated licensing review based on statistically significant key indicators that predict full compliance with all applicable rules and statutes, and discussion of the development of a risk-based, data driven, tiered violation system with corresponding enforcement mechanisms that are appropriate to the risk presented by a violation;
• review existing variance authority delegated to counties and recommend changes, if needed;
• recommend business development and technical assistance resources to promote provider recruitment and retention, including the potential need for mentors, a family child care provider network, or shared services;
• develop recommendations for alternative child care delivery systems that could be more financially viable in smaller communities with unmet child care capacity needs in greater Minnesota, which could include new licensure models for large group family child care or small capacity child care centers;
• review Parent Aware program participation and identify obstacles and suggested improvements;
• review how trainings for licensed family child care providers are offered, provided, coordinated, and approved, and make a recommendation on the establishment of a family child care continuing education training committee, to advise on compliance with federal and state training requirements; and
• consider methods to improve access to and understanding of the rules and statutes governing family child care providers.

The task force shall submit an interim written report by March 1, 2020, and a final written report by February 1, 2021, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees in the house of representatives and the senate with jurisdiction over child care. The reports shall explain the task force's findings and recommendations relating to each of its duties, and include any draft legislation necessary to implement the recommendations.

The task force shall be co-chaired by the task force member from the majority party of the house of representatives and the task force member from the majority party of the senate, and may elect other officers as necessary. The commissioner of human services shall convene the first meeting by August 15, 2019. The co-chairs shall alternate possession of the gavel between meetings. Each meeting shall be moderated by a neutral third-party facilitator. The agenda for each meeting shall be determined by the co-chairs, the commissioner of human services or designee, and the facilitator. Meetings of the task force are subject to the Minnesota Open Meeting Law under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D

The task force expires upon submission of the final report in subdivision 5 or February 1, 2021, whichever is later.

The Family Child Care Task Force shall consist of 25 members, appointed as follows:

• two members representing family child care providers from greater Minnesota, including one appointed by the speaker of the house and one appointed by the senate majority leader;
• two members representing family care providers from the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, including one appointed by the speaker of the house and one appointed by the senate majority leader;
• one member appointed by the Minnesota Association of Child Care Professionals;
• one member appointed by the Minnesota Child Care Provider Information Network;
• two members from the house of representatives, including one appointed by the speaker of the house and one appointed by the minority leader;
• two members from the senate, including one appointed by the senate majority leader and one appointed by the senate minority leader;
• the commissioner of human services or designee;
• two members representing Department of Human Services-recognized family child care associations from greater Minnesota, appointed by the commissioner of human services;
• two members appointed by the Association of Minnesota Child Care Licensors, including one from greater Minnesota and one from the metropolitan area, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2;
• four parents of children enrolled in family child care programs, appointed by the commissioner of human services;
• one member appointed by the Greater Minnesota Partnership;
• one member appointed by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce;
• one member appointed by Child Care Aware of Minnesota;
• one member appointed by the Minnesota Initiative Foundation;
• one member appointed by Minnesota's Children's Cabinet; and
• one member appointed by First Children's Finance.

Appointments to the task force must be made by July 15, 2019.