1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing Child Care Regulation Advisory Group; 
1.3 	requiring a report.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. CHILD CARE REGULATION ADVISORY GROUP.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; members. The commissioner of human services or the 
1.7 	commissioner's designee shall convene a Child Care Regulation Advisory Group that consists 
1.8 	of no more than 35 members, including, but not limited to:
1.9 	(1) three licensed family or group family day care providers, at least one of whom must 
1.10 	reside outside the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2;
1.11 	(2) three licensed child care center providers, at least one of which is from a center 
1.12 	outside the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2;
1.13 	(3) two directors or owners of child care centers;
1.14 	(4) two retired family or group family day care providers, or two providers that voluntarily 
1.15 	closed their programs within the last five years;
1.16 	(5) the commissioner of human services or the commissioner's designee;
1.17 	(6) two county employees who conduct child care licensing inspections in the 
1.18 	metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2;
1.19 	(7) two county employees who conduct child care licensing inspections outside the 
1.20 	metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2;
1.21 	(8) one representative from the Minnesota Child Care Association;
2.1 	(9) one representative from the Minnesota Association of Child Care Professionals;
2.2 	(10) one representative from the Minnesota Child Care Provider Information Network;
2.3 	(11) one representative from Family Child Care, Inc.;
2.4 	(12) one representative from the Dakota County Family Child Care Association;
2.5 	(13) one representative from the Licensed Child Care Providers of Anoka County;
2.6 	(14) one representative from the Stearns Benton Child Care Association;
2.7 	(15) one representative from the National Association for Family Child Care, if possible;
2.8 	(16) at least two parents of children currently enrolled in a licensed child care program;
2.9 	(17) at least two representatives of businesses outside the metropolitan area as defined 
2.10 	in section 473.121, subdivision 2;
2.11 	(18) one representative from the Center for Rural Policy and Development;
2.12 	(19) one representative from the Northwest Minnesota Foundation;
2.13 	(20) one representative from First Children's Finance; and
2.14 	(21) one representative from Think Small or Generation Next.
2.15 		Subd. 2.Duties. The Child Care Regulation Advisory Group shall assess the current 
2.16 	child care regulations under Minnesota Rules, chapters 9502 and 9503, and Minnesota 
2.17 	Statutes, chapter 245A. In developing recommendations, the advisory group shall make the 
2.18 	terminology and structure clear and understandable for child care providers and licensing 
2.19 	staff, avoid duplication and conflict between rules and statutes, and focus on best practices 
2.20 	for child safety and well-being.
2.21 		Subd. 3.Compensation. Members of the advisory group shall not receive any 
2.22 	compensation or per diem payments for participating in the advisory group.
2.23 		Subd. 4.Meetings. (a) The Child Care Regulation Advisory Group shall hold at least 
2.24 	four public meetings between August 1, 2018, and February 1, 2019. To the extent possible, 
2.25 	technology must be utilized to reach the greatest number of interested persons throughout 
2.26 	Minnesota.
2.27 	(b) The commissioner of human services, or the commissioner's designee, shall convene 
2.28 	the first meeting of the advisory group within 30 days after all members are appointed. The 
2.29 	advisory group shall select a chair or cochairs from among its members at the first meeting. 
2.30 	The commissioner of human services shall provide technical and administrative assistance 
2.31 	to the advisory group upon request.
3.1 		Subd. 5.Report. The Child Care Regulation Advisory Group shall submit a report with 
3.2 	recommendations on updating and improving child care rules and statutes to the chairs and 
3.3 	ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child care 
3.4 	licensing. The commissioner of human services shall consider the advisory group's 
3.5 	recommendations when proposing changes to child care regulations under Minnesota Rules, 
3.6 	chapters 9502 and 9503, and Minnesota Statutes, section 245A. If the commissioner of 
3.7 	human services proposes changes that are not included in or are contrary to the advisory 
3.8 	group's recommendations, the commissioner must provide the reasoning for the differences 
3.9 	to the chairs and ranking minority members.
3.10 		Subd. 6.Sunset. The working group sunsets upon delivery of the required report under 
3.11 	subdivision 5.

3.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.