1.1.................... moves to amend H.F. No. 3171, the delete everything amendment
1.2(A14-0977), as follows:
1.3Page 63, after line 2, insert:

1.4    "Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, subdivision 1,
1.5is amended to read:
1.6    Subdivision 1. Establishment; purpose. There is established within the Office of
1.7Early Learning an early learning scholarships program in order to increase access to
1.8high-quality early childhood programs for children ages three to five.
1.9EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2014.

1.10    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, subdivision 3, is
1.11amended to read:
1.12    Subd. 3. Administration. (a) The commissioner director shall establish application
1.13timelines and determine the schedule for awarding scholarships that meets operational
1.14needs of eligible families and programs. The commissioner director may prioritize
1.15applications on factors including family income, geographic location, and whether the
1.16child's family is on a waiting list for a publicly funded program providing early education
1.17or child care services.
1.18(b) Scholarships may be awarded up to $5,000 for each eligible child per year The
1.19director annually must establish average scholarship amounts based on current available
1.20market surveys of child care provider prices or other useful information. Average
1.21scholarship amounts must be proportionate across regions or counties and the director
1.22may adjust individual scholarship amounts to account for other assistance programs
1.23available to a child or the child's family. The director may increase by up to 15 percent
1.24the scholarship amount for children enrolled in a three-star Parent Aware rated program
1.25and may increase by up to 20 percent the scholarship amount for children enrolled in
2.1a four-star Parent Aware rated program so long as any increase added to the average
2.2scholarship amount does not exceed the actual program rate or tuition.
2.3(c) A four-star rated program that has children eligible for a scholarship enrolled in
2.4or on a waiting list for a program beginning in July, August, or September may notify the
2.5commissioner director, in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner director,
2.6each year of the program's desire to enhance program services or to serve more children
2.7than current funding provides. The commissioner director may designate a predetermined
2.8number of scholarship slots for that program and notify the program of that number.
2.9(d) A scholarship is awarded for a 12-month period. If the scholarship recipient has
2.10not been accepted and subsequently enrolled in a rated program within ten months of the
2.11awarding of the scholarship, the scholarship cancels and the recipient must reapply in
2.12order to be eligible for another scholarship. A child may not be awarded more than one
2.13scholarship in a 12-month period.
2.14(e) A child who receives a scholarship who has not completed development
2.15screening under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19 must complete that screening within 90
2.16days of first attending an eligible program.
2.17EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.18    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 124D.165, subdivision 4, is
2.19amended to read:
2.20    Subd. 4. Early childhood program eligibility. (a) In order to be eligible to accept
2.21an early childhood education scholarship, a program must:
2.22(1) participate in the quality rating and improvement system under section
2.23124D.142 ; and
2.24(2) beginning before July 1, 2016, have a three- or four-star rating satisfy the director
2.25of its ongoing commitment to participate in the quality rating and improvement system.
2.26(b) After July 1, 2016, the director may determine that a program not participating in
2.27the quality rating and improvement system is eligible to participate if:
2.28(1) the program provider cites a hardship or special circumstance to indicate why
2.29the program is not yet rated; or
2.30(2) the director determines through a separate evaluation or review that the program
2.31is eligible to participate.
2.32(c) Any program accepting scholarships must use the revenue to supplement and not
2.33supplant federal funding."
2.34Page 63, line 5, strike "commissioner" and insert "director"
2.35Page 63, line 9, delete "commissioner" and insert "director"
3.1Renumber the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
3.2Amend the title accordingly