1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing a grant program to increase student access to 
1.3 	licensed library media specialists; requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST GRANT PROGRAM.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.7 	the meanings given them.
1.8 	(b) "Library media specialist" means an individual licensed in Minnesota under Minnesota 
1.9 	Rules, part 8710.4550, or a person actively seeking that license.
1.10 	(c) "New position" means a library media specialist full- or part-time position not under 
1.11 	contract by a school at the start of the 2016-2017 school year.
1.12 		Subd. 2.Purpose. The library media specialist grant program is designed to:
1.13 	(1) address shortages of library media specialists within Minnesota schools; and
1.14 	(2) ensure that students receive effective academic support and integrated and 
1.15 	comprehensive services to improve prekindergarten through grade 12 school outcomes and 
1.16 	career and college readiness.
1.17 		Subd. 3.Grant eligibility and application. (a) A school district, charter school, or tribal 
1.18 	contract school is eligible to apply for a six-year matching grant under this section.
1.19 	(b) The commissioner of education shall specify the form and manner of the grant 
1.20 	application. In awarding grants, the commissioner must give priority to schools in which 
1.21 	library media specialist positions do not currently exist. To the extent practicable, the 
2.1 	commissioner must award grants equally between applicants in metropolitan counties and 
2.2 	nonmetropolitan counties.
2.3 		Subd. 4.Allowed uses; match requirements. (a) A grant under this section must be 
2.4 	used to hire an employee for a new position.
2.5 	(b) An eligible school located in a metropolitan county that receives a grant must match 
2.6 	the grant with local funds in each year of the grant. In each of the first four years of the 
2.7 	grant, the local match equals $1 for every $1 awarded in the same year. In years five and 
2.8 	six of the grant, the local match equals $3 for every $1 awarded in the same year. The local 
2.9 	match may not include federal reimbursements attributable to the new position.
2.10 	(c) An eligible school located in a nonmetropolitan county that receives a grant must 
2.11 	match the grant with local funds in years four, five, and six of the grant. In year four of the 
2.12 	grant, the local match equals $1 for every $3 awarded in the same year. In year five of the 
2.13 	grant, the local match equals $1 for every $1 awarded in the same year. In year six of the 
2.14 	grant, the local match equals $3 for every $1 awarded in the same year. The local match 
2.15 	may not include federal reimbursements attributable to the new position.
2.16 	(d) If a school eliminates a new position funded by a grant under this section before the 
2.17 	end of the six-year grant period, the district must return the entire amount of the grant to 
2.18 	the commissioner, including any amounts received in previous years. The commissioner 
2.19 	may reallocate any returned funds to other eligible grant recipients.
2.20 		Subd. 5.Report required. By February 1 following any fiscal year in which a school 
2.21 	received a grant, the school must submit a written report to the commissioner indicating 
2.22 	how a new position affected two or more of the following measures:
2.23 	(1) student reading performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments;
2.24 	(2) library circulation and usage;
2.25 	(3) attainment of technology standards;
2.26 	(4) technical literacy;
2.27 	(5) media literacy;
2.28 	(6) effective research skills;
2.29 	(7) career and college readiness; and
2.30 	(8) effectiveness of district 1:1 technology plans.

3.1 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS.
 3.2 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
3.3 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
3.4 	designated.
3.5 		Subd. 2.Library media specialist grants. (a) For library media specialist grants:

3.6 | | $ | ....... | ..... | 2018
3.7 	(b) This is a onetime appropriation.
3.8 	(c) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, this appropriation is available 
3.9 	until June 30, 2023. Up to five percent of this appropriation may be retained by the 
3.10 	commissioner for administration of the grant program. Any balance remaining after June 
3.11 	30, 2023, shall cancel to the general fund.