1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; providing for a program to engage Somali children and 
1.3 	families in accessing early childhood care and education, early childhood health 
1.4 	and developmental screening, and reading assessments; appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. PROGRAM TO ENGAGE SOMALI CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN 
1.7 	ACCESSING EARLY CHILDHOOD RESOURCES.
 1.8 	(a) $....... in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
1.9 	commissioner of education to fund a program to provide Somali immigrants and refugees 
1.10 	in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and other communities with concentrated Somali populations 
1.11 	with outreach workers to help:
1.12 	(1) increase children and families' access to available financial and program resources 
1.13 	for early childhood care and education, early childhood health and developmental 
1.14 	screening, and early reading assessments for English learners;
1.15 	(2) provide the translation and interpretation services needed to obtain and complete 
1.16 	application materials for early childhood care and education, early childhood health and 
1.17 	developmental screening, and early reading assessments; and
1.18 	(3) establish and sustain a parent leadership committee to provide parents and 
1.19 	families with the knowledge, skills, and other resources they need to be active partners 
1.20 	in their homes and communities.
1.21 	(b) The commissioner of education must report to the legislative committees having 
1.22 	jurisdiction over education by February 1, 2018, on improved outcomes resulting from 
1.23 	this program.