1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to economic development; establishing grant program for collaborative 
1.3 	activities to reduce unemployment among minority populations; appropriating 
1.4 	money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM TO REDUCE UNEMPLOYMENT; 
1.7 	APPROPRIATION.
 1.8 		Subdivision 1.Appropriation. $....... in fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from 
1.9 	the workforce development fund to the commissioner of employment and economic 
1.10 	development to develop, implement, and administer a grant program to reduce 
1.11 	unemployment. The program must address the goals established in subdivision 2 and must 
1.12 	be developed through consultation, cooperation, and agreement between the commissioner 
1.13 	and the collaborative of councils described in subdivision 3. This appropriation is 
1.14 	available until spent.
1.15 		Subd. 2.Program goals. The program created in subdivision 1 must include 
1.16 	components designed to achieve the following goals:
1.17 	(1) a reduction in the disproportionately high unemployment rate of minorities in 
1.18 	Minnesota with grants to organizations for recruitment of and training, education, skills 
1.19 	development, and small business counseling for individuals;
1.20 	(2) placement of emphasis on providing grants to organizations that provide training 
1.21 	and licensing preparation to individuals in growing professions, including, but not limited 
1.22 	to, health care, construction, transit system development, professional trade services, 
1.23 	social assistance services, accommodation and food services, retail trade, educational 
1.24 	services, administrative and waste services, finance and insurance, energy, and green jobs;
2.1 	(3) provision of assistance, coordination, and placement support for individuals 
2.2 	trained, licensed, or educated by funds from the program. The support may include, but is 
2.3 	not limited to, communicating with other state agencies and aggregating opportunities for 
2.4 	jobs available in construction, industry, and other professions; connecting individuals to 
2.5 	resources, counseling, and guidance in establishing their own businesses, as appropriate; 
2.6 	assisting individuals in applying for occupational licensing, as appropriate; and 
2.7 	coordinating and consulting with existing research or trade organizations to facilitate 
2.8 	employment or training services; and
2.9 	(4) additional support and coordination for individual skills development in areas 
2.10 	that affect financial well-being to include, but not be limited to, financial literacy, English 
2.11 	as a second language education, technical and technology training, and health education.
2.12 		Subd. 3.Collaborative of councils membership. The following councils shall 
2.13 	collaborate in carrying out the requirements of this section: the Council on Asian-Pacific 
2.14 	Minnesotans, the Council on Black Minnesotans, and the Council on Affairs of 
2.15 	Chicano/Latino People.