Journal of the House - 102nd Day - Wednesday, May 4, 2022

The bill was passed, as amended, and its title agreed to.

S. F. No. 4091 was reported to the House.

Noor moved to amend S. F. No. 4091, the fourth engrossment, as follows:

Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert the following language of H. F. No. 4355, the second engrossment:

"ARTICLE 1

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS

Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS.

The sums shown in the columns under "Appropriations" are added to the appropriations in Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 10, or other law to the specified agencies. The appropriations are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. The figures "2022" and "2023" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023, respectively. Appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, are effective the day following final enactment. If an appropriation in this act is enacted more than once during the 2022 regular session, the appropriation is to be given effect only once.

			APPROPRIATIONS
			Available for the Year
			Ending June 30
			2022	2023

Sec. 2. DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Subdivision 1. Total Appropriation

$-0-

$217,097,000

Appropriations by Fund
	2022	2023

General Fund	-0-	191,347,000
Workforce Development	-0-	25,750,000

The amounts that may be spent for each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.

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Subd. 2. Business and Community Development

-0-

134,300,000

(a) $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for the Main Street Economic Revitalization Program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8749. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2025.

(b) $45,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for deposit in the spark small business loan program account under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.9926. Of this amount, $10,000,000 is for loans to community businesses as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8751. Beginning in fiscal year 2024, the base amount is $3,000,000.

(c) $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for deposit in the emerging developer fund account in the special revenue fund. Of this amount, up to five percent is for the administration and monitoring of the emerging developer fund program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.9926. Beginning in fiscal year 2024, the base amount is $1,000,000.

(d) $7,500,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for the Canadian border counties economic relief program. This is a onetime appropriation.

(e) $35,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for the small business recovery grant program. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2024.

(f) $800,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for a grant to Enterprise Minnesota, Inc., for the small business growth acceleration program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116O.115. This is a onetime appropriation.

(g) $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for Join Us Minnesota campaign to market the state of Minnesota to businesses and potential workers. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2024. Of this amount, up to five percent is for administration and monitoring of the program. Beginning in fiscal year 2024, the base amount is $500,000.

(h) $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for a grant to the Center for Economic Inclusion for strategic, data-informed investments in job creation strategies that respond to the needs of underserved populations statewide. Of this amount, up to ten percent may be used for the center's technical assistance and administrative costs. This is a onetime appropriation.

(i)(1) $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for a grant to the Coalition of Asian American Leaders to address employment and economic disparities for Asian Minnesotan communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and incidents of bias by conducting and disseminating research and by providing grants, outreach, and

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technical assistance to Asian Minnesotan individuals, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations to navigate state programs and grants related to COVID-19 pandemic health and economic recovery challenges. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until December 31, 2024.

(2) The Coalition of Asian American Leaders must issue a report on the outcomes of the grant to the commissioner of employment and economic development by December 15, 2024.

(j) $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for a grant to Women's Foundation of Minnesota to invest in economic structures that educate, mobilize, and equip Black women with the necessary tools to build, retain, and strengthen the capacity to build generational wealth. This is a onetime appropriation.

Subd. 3. Employment and Training Programs

-0-

52,450,000

Appropriations by Fund

General Fund

-0-

26,700,000

Workforce Development Fund

-0-

25,750,000

(a) $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for grants to organizations providing support services to new Americans in order to facilitate successful community integration and entry into the workforce. Services may include case management, job training and employment services, education programs, and legal services. Of this amount:

(1) $325,000 is for a grant to the International Institute of Minnesota;

(2) $325,000 is for a grant to the Minnesota Council of Churches;

(3) $223,000 is for a grant to Arrive Ministries; and

(4) $127,000 is for a grant to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Winona, Inc.

This is a onetime appropriation.

(b) $750,000 in fiscal year 2023 is from the workforce development fund for a grant to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's Teen Teamworks youth employment and training programs. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until spent.

(c)(1) $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is from the workforce development fund for grants to Minnesota's 16 local workforce development boards for strategies identified in local Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act plans to address Minnesota's current workforce shortages by supporting training for unemployed

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and underemployed Minnesotans and the earning of industry‑recognized credentials to equip workers with in-demand skills. Allowable uses of money include but are not limited to helping job seekers prepare for and find jobs, providing services to employers, supporting CareerForce locations, and conducting marketing and outreach for CareerForce services. Grant money must not be used for administrative costs. Grants shall be distributed consistent with the distribution and utilization of money under federal legislation regarding job training and related services. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until expended.

(2) By January 15 of each year that grant money is used, beginning in 2023, all grant recipients shall submit a report to the governor's Workforce Development Board that details the use of grant money, including the number of businesses, job seekers, and other stakeholders served.

(d) $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is from the workforce development fund for a youth technology competitive training grant program to prepare people who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, or women to meet the growing labor needs in Minnesota's technology industry. This is a onetime appropriation and money is available until June 30, 2024. Of this amount, up to five percent is for administration and monitoring of the program. Grant money must be used to:

(1) provide career education, wraparound support services, and job skills training for high school aged youth in the technology industry;

(2) increase the number of summer internship opportunities in the technology industry;

(3) support outreach activities to businesses and create pathways for employment and internships for youth in the technology industry; and

(4) increase the number of young adults employed in the technology industry and ensure that they reflect Minnesota's diverse workforce.

Programs and services supported by grant money must give priority to individuals and groups that are economically disadvantaged or historically underrepresented in the technology industry, including but not limited to women, veterans, and members of minority and immigrant groups.

(e) $470,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for activities associated with the Office for New Americans in Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.4231. Beginning in fiscal year 2024, the base amount is $500,000.

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(f) $25,230,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for the targeted community capital project grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.9924. This is a onetime appropriation.

Subd. 4. Paid Family and Medical Leave

-0-

30,347,000

(a) $30,347,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. This is a onetime appropriation.

(b) The base for the family and medical benefit insurance account in the special revenue fund is $37,215,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $453,290,000 in fiscal year 2025.

Sec. 3. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY

$-0-

$536,000

(a) $536,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. This is a onetime appropriation.

(b) The base for the family and medical benefit insurance account in the special revenue fund is $436,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $559,000 in fiscal year 2025.

Sec. 4. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

$-0-

$1,066,000

$1,066,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. The base for this appropriation is $0 in fiscal year 2024 and $214,000 in fiscal year 2025.

Sec. 5. MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

$-0-

For purposes of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B, the general fund base is $1,967,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $4,103,000 in fiscal year 2025.

Sec. 6. LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COMMISSION

$-0-

$22,000

$22,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. The base for this appropriation is $73,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $141,000 in fiscal year 2025.

Sec. 7. SUPREME COURT

$-0-

$15,000

$15,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. The base for this appropriation is $15,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $492,000 in fiscal year 2025.

Sec. 8. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

$-0-

For purposes of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B, the general fund base is $1,686,000 in fiscal year 2025.

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Sec. 9. FAMILY AND MEDICAL BENEFITS; TRANSFER.

$31,986,000 in fiscal year 2024 is transferred from the family and medical benefit insurance account in the special revenue fund to the general fund. This is a onetime transfer.

Sec. 10. DUPLICATE APPROPRIATIONS GIVEN EFFECT ONCE.

If an appropriation in this act is enacted more than once during the 2022 regular session, the appropriation is to be given effect only once.

Sec. 11. Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 10, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2. Business and Community Development

208,015,000

~~44,741,000~~ 58,741,000

Appropriations by Fund
General	205,215,000	~~41,941,000~~ 55,941,000
Remediation	700,000	700,000
Workforce Development	2,100,000	2,100,000

(a) $1,787,000 each year is for the greater Minnesota business development public infrastructure grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.431. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2025.

(b) $8,425,000 in the first year and ~~$1,425,000~~ $6,425,000 in the second year are for the small business partnership grant program formerly known as the business development competitive grant program. Of this amount, up to five percent is for administration and monitoring of the ~~business development competitive grant~~ program and $7,000,000 in the first year is and $5,000,000 in the second year are for technical assistance to small businesses. Funding for technical assistance to small businesses in the second year shall be divided proportionately between program grantees from the first year. Except for awards for technical assistance for small businesses, all grant awards shall be for two consecutive years~~. Grants~~ and shall be awarded in the first year. The small business partnership grant program shall also provide business development assistance and services to commercial cooperatives, employee-owned businesses, and commercial land trusts. Beginning in fiscal year 2024, the base amount is $4,925,000 of which $1,500,000 is for technical assistance to small businesses participating in the spark small business loan program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8751.

(c) $1,772,000 each year is for contaminated site cleanup and development grants under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116J.551 to 116J.558. This appropriation is available until expended.

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(d) $700,000 each year is from the remediation fund for contaminated site cleanup and development grants under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116J.551 to 116J.558. This appropriation is available until expended.

(e) $139,000 each year is for the Center for Rural Policy and Development.

(f) $25,000 each year is for the administration of state aid for the Destination Medical Center under Minnesota Statutes, sections 469.40 to 469.47.

(g) $875,000 each year is for the host community economic development program established in Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.548.

(h)(1) $2,500,000 ~~each year is~~ the first year and $6,500,000 the second year are for grants to local communities to increase the number of quality child care providers to support economic development. This appropriation is available through June 30, 2023. Fifty percent of grant funds must go to communities located outside the seven-county metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2. In fiscal year 2024 and beyond, the base amount is $1,500,000.

(2) Grant recipients must obtain a 50 percent nonstate match to grant funds in either cash or in-kind contribution, unless the commissioner waives the requirement. Grant funds available under this subdivision must be used to implement projects to reduce the child care shortage in the state, including but not limited to funding for child care business start-ups or expansion, training, facility modifications, direct subsidies or incentives to retain employees, or improvements required for licensing, and assistance with licensing and other regulatory requirements. In awarding grants, the commissioner must give priority to communities that have demonstrated a shortage of child care providers.

(3) Within one year of receiving grant funds, grant recipients must report to the commissioner on the outcomes of the grant program, including but not limited to the number of new providers, the number of additional child care provider jobs created, the number of additional child care slots, and the amount of cash and in-kind local funds invested. Within one month of all grant recipients reporting on program outcomes, the commissioner must report the grant recipients' outcomes to the chairs and ranking members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over early learning and child care and economic development.

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(i) $1,500,000 each year is for a grant to the Minnesota Initiative Foundations. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2025. In fiscal year 2024 and beyond, the base amount is $1,000,000. The Minnesota Initiative Foundations must use grant funds under this section to:

(1) facilitate planning processes for rural communities resulting in a community solution action plan that guides decision making to sustain and increase the supply of quality child care in the region to support economic development;

(2) engage the private sector to invest local resources to support the community solution action plan and ensure quality child care is a vital component of additional regional economic development planning processes;

(3) provide locally based training and technical assistance to rural child care business owners individually or through a learning cohort. Access to financial and business development assistance must prepare child care businesses for quality engagement and improvement by stabilizing operations, leveraging funding from other sources, and fostering business acumen that allows child care businesses to plan for and afford the cost of providing quality child care; and

(4) recruit child care programs to participate in quality rating and improvement measurement programs. The Minnesota Initiative Foundations must work with local partners to provide low-cost training, professional development opportunities, and continuing education curricula. The Minnesota Initiative Foundations must fund, through local partners, an enhanced level of coaching to rural child care providers to obtain a quality rating through measurement programs.

The Minnesota Initiative Foundations are authorized to subgrant their allocation to partner organizations who are assisting in their child care work.

(j) $8,000,000 each year is for the Minnesota job creation fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8748. Of this amount, the commissioner of employment and economic development may use up to three percent for administrative expenses. This appropriation is available until expended.

(k) $10,029,000 the first year and $10,028,000 the second year are for the Minnesota investment fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8731. Of this amount, the commissioner of employment and economic development may use up to three percent for administration and monitoring of the program. In fiscal year 2024 and beyond, the base amount is $12,370,000. This appropriation is available until expended. Notwithstanding

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Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8731, money appropriated to the commissioner for the Minnesota investment fund may be used for the redevelopment program under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116J.575 and 116J.5761, at the discretion of the commissioner. Grants under this paragraph are not subject to the grant amount limitation under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8731.

(l) ~~$0 each~~ $5,000,000 in the second year is for the redevelopment program under Minnesota Statutes, sections ~~116J.575~~ 116J.571 and 116J.5761. This appropriation is available until spent. In fiscal year 2024 and beyond, the base amount is ~~$2,246,000~~ $3,496,000.

(2) For funding in fiscal year 2023, the commissioner shall prioritize applications from development authorities located in low-income areas, defined as:

(i) a census tract that has a poverty rate of at least 20 percent, as reported by the United States Bureau of the Census in the most recent American Community Survey;

(ii) a qualified census tract, as defined under United States Code, title 26, section 42; or

(iii) a census tract, city, township, or county in which ten percent of the population have an annual income of 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level.

(3) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no local matching funds are required from development authorities located in low-income areas in fiscal year 2023 and state funds may be used for 100 percent of the cost of the projects.

(m) $1,000,000 each year is for the Minnesota emerging entrepreneur loan program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116M.18. Funds available under this paragraph are for transfer into the emerging entrepreneur program special revenue fund account created under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116M, and are available until expended. Of this amount, up to four percent is for administration and monitoring of the program.

(n) $325,000 each year is for the Minnesota Film and TV Board. The appropriation in each year is available only upon receipt by the board of $1 in matching contributions of money or in-kind contributions from nonstate sources for every $3 provided by this appropriation, except that each year up to $50,000 is available on July 1 even if the required matching contribution has not been received by that date.

(o) $12,000 each year is for a grant to the Upper Minnesota Film Office.

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(p) $500,000 each year is for a grant to the Minnesota Film and TV Board for the film production jobs program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116U.26. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2025.

(q) $4,195,000 each year is for the Minnesota job skills partnership program under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116L.01 to 116L.17. If the appropriation for either year is insufficient, the appropriation for the other year is available. This appropriation is available until expended.

(r) $1,350,000 each year from the workforce development fund is for jobs training grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.41.

(s) $2,500,000 each year is for Launch Minnesota. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2025. The base in fiscal year 2026 is $0. Of this amount:

(1) $1,500,000 each year is for innovation grants to eligible Minnesota entrepreneurs or start-up businesses to assist with their operating needs;

(2) $500,000 each year is for administration of Launch Minnesota; and

(3) $500,000 each year is for grantee activities at Launch Minnesota.

(t) $1,148,000 the first year is for a grant to the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, a small business administration microlender and community development financial institution operating in northern Minnesota. Grant funds must be used as capital for accessing additional federal lending for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 and must be returned to the commissioner for deposit in the general fund if the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund fails to secure such federal funds before January 1, 2022.

(u) $80,000,000 the first year is for the Main Street Economic Revitalization Loan Program. Of this amount, up to $300,000 is for the commissioner's administration and monitoring of the program. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2025.

(v) $70,000,000 the first year is for the Main Street COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. Of this amount, up to:

(1) $34,950,000 is for grants to the Minnesota Initiative Foundations to serve businesses outside of the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2;

(2) $34,950,000 is for grants to partner organizations to serve businesses inside the metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2; and

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(3) $100,000 is for the commissioner's administration and monitoring of the program.

(w) $250,000 each year is for the publication, dissemination, and use of labor market information under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.401.

(x) $500,000 each year is for the airport infrastructure renewal (AIR) grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.439. In awarding grants with this appropriation, the commissioner must prioritize eligible applicants that did not receive a grant pursuant to the appropriation in Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 7, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, paragraph (q).

(y) $750,000 each year is from the workforce development fund for grants to the Neighborhood Development Center for small business programs, including:

(1) training, lending, and business services;

(2) model outreach and training in greater Minnesota; and

(3) development of new business incubators.

This is a onetime appropriation.

(z) $5,000,000 in the first year is for a grant to Lake of the Woods County for the forgivable loan program for remote recreational businesses. This appropriation is available until April 1, 2022.

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

Sec. 12. Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 14, article 11, section 42, is amended to read:

Sec. 42. APPROPRIATION; MEAT PROCESSING BUSINESSES IN REDEVELOPMENT AREA.

Of an appropriation in fiscal year 2022 for the targeted community capital project grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.9924, the commissioner of employment and economic development must grant $6,000,000 for one or more grants to any business engaged in the meat processing industry and currently conducting operations in a building or buildings constructed on or before January 1, 1947, and located in a city of the second class that was designated as a redevelopment area by the United States Department of Commerce under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, Public Law 89-136, title IV, section 401(a)(4). This appropriation includes: site acquisition costs; relocation costs; predesign; design; sewer, water, and stormwater infrastructure; site preparation; engineering; and the cost of improvements to real property locally zoned to allow a meat processing land use that are incurred by any qualified business under this section. A grantee under this section must work in consultation with a local government unit with jurisdiction over the area where the property is located on activities funded by the grant. This is a onetime appropriation. A grant issued under this section is not subject to the grant requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.9924. to the city of South St. Paul for economic development, redevelopment, and job creation and retention programs and projects. This grant is not subject to the requirements under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.

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Sec. 13. CANCELLATION AND APPROPRIATION.

(a) All unspent money, estimated to be $889,000, appropriated under Laws 2015, First Special Session chapter 1, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, paragraphs (k) and (l), is canceled to the general fund.

(b) All money canceled under paragraph (a) is appropriated in fiscal year 2023 to the commissioner of employment and economic development for the targeted community capital project grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.9924. This is a onetime appropriation.

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

ARTICLE 2

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY

Section 1. [116J.015] REVIEW OF REPORT MANDATES.

The commissioner of employment and economic development shall annually create a list of reports that were mandated by law at least three years prior to the date of the list and that no longer serve a useful purpose. This list, along with suggested legislation for eliminating the listed reports, shall be submitted no later than January 15 each year, beginning in 2023, to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over employment and economic development for the consideration of the legislature.

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

Sec. 2. [116J.4231] OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS.

Subdivision 1. Office established; purpose. (a) The Office of New Americans is established within the Department of Employment and Economic Development. The governor must appoint an executive director who serves in the unclassified service. The executive director must hire a program manager and an office assistant, as well as any staff necessary to carry out the office's duties under subdivision 2.

(b) The purpose of the office is to serve immigrants and refugees in Minnesota by:

(1) addressing challenges that face immigrants and refugees in Minnesota, and creating access in economic development and workforce programs and services;

(2) providing interstate agency coordination, policy reviews, and guidance that assist in creating access to immigrants and refugees.

Subd. 2. Duties. (a) The office has the duty to:

(1) create and implement a statewide strategy to support immigrant and refugee integration into Minnesota communities;

(2) address the state's workforce needs by connecting employers and job seekers within the immigrant and refugee community;

(3) identify strategies to reduce employment barriers for immigrants and refugees;

(4) ensure equitable opportunities and access to services within state government for immigrants and refugees;

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(5) work with state agencies and community and foundation partners to undertake studies and research and analyze economic and demographic trends to better understand and serve the state's immigrant and refugee communities;

(6) coordinate and establish best practices for language access initiatives to all state agencies;

(7) convene stakeholders and make policy recommendations to the governor on issues impacting immigrants and refugees;

(8) promulgate rules necessary to implement and effectuate this section;

(9) provide an annual report, as required by subdivision 3;

(10) perform any other activities consistent with the office's purpose.

Subd. 3. Reporting. (a) Beginning January 15, 2024, and each year thereafter, the Office of New Americans shall report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over the office's activities during the previous year.

(b) The report shall contain, at a minimum:

(1) a summary of the office's activities;

(2) suggested policies, incentives, and legislation designed to accelerate the achievement of the duties under subdivision 2;

(3) any proposed legislative and policy initiatives;

(4) the amount and types of grants awarded under subdivision 6; and

(5) any other information deemed necessary and requested by the legislative committees with jurisdiction over the office.

Subd. 4. Interdepartmental Coordinating Council on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. (a) An interdepartmental Coordinating Council on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs is established to advise the Office of New Americans.

(b) The purpose of the council is to identify and establish ways in which state departments and agencies can work together to deliver state programs and services effectively and efficiently to Minnesota's immigrant and refugee populations. The council shall implement policies, procedures, and programs requested by the governor through the state departments and offices.

(c) The council shall be chaired by the executive director of the Office of New Americans and shall be comprised of the commissioners, department directors, or designees, from the following state departments and offices:

(1) the governor's office;

(2) the Department of Administration;

(3) the Department of Employment and Economic Development;

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(4) the Department of Human Services;

(5) the Department of Human Services Resettlement Program Office;

(6) the Department of Labor and Industry;

(7) the Department of Health;

(8) the Department of Education;

(9) the Office of Higher Education;

(10) the Department of Public Safety;

(11) the Department of Corrections; and

(12) the Office of New Americans.

(d) Each department or office serving as a member of the council shall designate one staff member as an immigrant and refugee services liaison. The liaisons' responsibilities shall include:

(1) preparation and dissemination of information and services available to immigrants and refugees;

(2) interfacing with the Office of New Americans on issues that impact immigrants and refugees and their communities; and

(3) where applicable, serving as the point of contact for immigrants and refugees accessing resources both within the department and with boards charged with oversight of a profession.

Subd. 5. No right of action. Nothing in this section shall be construed to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the state; its departments, agencies, or entities; its officers, employees, or agents; or any other person.

Subd. 6. Grants. Within the limits of available appropriations, the office may apply for grants for interested state agencies, community partners, and stakeholders under this section to carry out the duties under subdivision 2.

Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116J.552, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6. Municipality. "Municipality" means the statutory or home rule charter city, town, federally recognized Tribe, or, in the case of unorganized territory, the county in which the site is located.

Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116J.8747, is amended to read:

116J.8747 JOB TRAINING PROGRAM GRANT.

Subdivision 1. Grant allowed. The commissioner may provide a grant to a qualified job training program from money appropriated for the purposes of this section as follows:

~~(1) an $11,000 placement grant paid to a job training program upon placement in employment of a qualified graduate of the program; and~~

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~~(2) an $11,000 retention grant paid to a job training program upon retention in employment of a qualified graduate of the program for at least one year.~~

(1) up to ten percent of the appropriation may be allocated for administrative expenses by the program;

(2) up to 20 percent of the appropriation may be allocated for direct service expenses by the program;

(3) a placement grant paid to a job training program upon placement in employment of a qualified graduate of the job training program as follows:

(i) $2,500 for placement in part-time employment (20 hours a week or more) of at least 150 percent of the state minimum wage hourly;

(ii) $2,500 for placement in full-time employment (32 hours a week or more) at the state minimum wage but below 150 percent of the state minimum wage hourly; and

(iii) $5,000 for placement in full-time employment (32 hours a week or more) of at least 150 percent of the state minimum wage hourly; and

(4) a retention grant paid to a job training program upon retention in employment of a qualified graduate of the job training program for at least one year as follows:

(i) $5,000 for one year of retained part-time employment (20 hours a week or more) of at least 150 percent of the state minimum wage;

(ii) $5,000 for one year of retained full-time employment (32 hours a week or more) at the state minimum wage but below 150 percent of the state minimum wage; and

(iii) $10,000 for one year of retained full-time employment (32 hours a week or more) of at least 150 percent of the state minimum wage hourly.

Subd. 2. Qualified job training program. To qualify for grants under this section, a job training program must satisfy the following requirements:

(1) the program must be operated by a nonprofit corporation that qualifies under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(2) the program may spend up to $5,500 in total training per participant;

(3) the program must provide education and training in:

(i) basic skills, such as reading, writing, financial literacy, digital literacy, mathematics, and communications;

(ii) long-term plans for success including participant coaching for two years after placement;

(iii) soft skills, including skills critical to success on the job; and

(iv) access to internships, technology training, personal and emotional intelligence skill development, and other support services;

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(4) the program may provide ~~income supplements not to exceed $2,000 per participant~~ support services, when needed, to participants for housing, counseling, tuition, and other basic needs;

(5) individuals served by the program must be 18 years of age or older as of the date of enrollment, and have household income in the six months immediately before entering the program that is 200 percent or less of the federal poverty guideline for Minnesota, based on family size; and

(6) the program must be certified by the commissioner of employment and economic development, or the commissioner's designee, as meeting the requirements of this subdivision.

Subd. 3. ~~Graduation and retention grant~~ Employment requirements. For purposes of a placement grant under this section, a qualified graduate is a graduate of a job training program qualifying under subdivision 2 who is placed in a job in Minnesota that pays at least the current state minimum wage. To qualify for a retention grant under this section for a retention fee, a job in which the graduate is retained must pay at least the current state minimum wage. (a) For employment to qualify under subdivision 1, the employment must be permanent, unsubsidized, private or public sector employment, eligible for unemployment insurance under section 268.035, or otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance under section 268.035 if hours were above 32 per week.

(b) Programs are limited to one placement and one retention payment for a qualified graduate in a performance program within the two years following a placement or retention payment made under this section.

Subd. 4. Duties of program. (a) A program certified by the commissioner under subdivision 2 must comply with the requirements of this subdivision.

(b) A program must maintain and provide upon request records for each qualified graduate in compliance with state record retention requirements. The records must include information sufficient to verify the graduate's eligibility under this section, identify the employer, and describe the job including its compensation rate ~~and~~, benefits, and average hours per week.

Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 116J.8749, is amended to read:

116J.8749 MAIN STREET ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.

(b) "Borrower" means an eligible recipient receiving a loan guaranteed or capitalized under this section.

(c) "Capitalized loan" means a loan for which the state provides up to 20 percent of the loan funding with the state funds payment subordinate in the event of default.

~~(c)~~ (d) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.

~~(d)~~ (e) "Eligible project" means the development, redevelopment, demolition, site preparation, predesign, design, engineering, repair, or renovation of real property or capital improvements. Eligible projects must be designed to address the greatest economic development and redevelopment needs that have arisen in the community surrounding that real property since March 15, 2020. Eligible project includes but is not limited to the construction of buildings, infrastructure, and related site amenities, landscaping, or street-scaping. Eligible project does not include the purchase of real estate or business operations or business operating expenses, such as inventory, wages, or working capital.

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~~(e)~~ (f) "Eligible recipient" means a:

(1) business;

(2) nonprofit organization; or

(3) developer

that is seeking funding to complete an eligible project. Eligible recipient does not include a partner organization or a local unit of government.

~~(f)~~ (g) "Guaranteed loan" means a loan guaranteed by the state for 80 percent of the loan amount for a maximum period of 15 years from the origination of the loan.

~~(g)~~ (h) "Leveraged grant" means a grant that is matched by the eligible recipient's commitment to the eligible project of nonstate funds at a level of 200 percent of the grant amount. The nonstate match may include but is not limited to funds contributed by a partner organization and insurance proceeds.

~~(h)~~ (i) "Loan guarantee trust fund" means a dedicated account established under this section for the purpose of compensation for defaulted loan guarantees.

(j) "Low-income area" means a census tract that has a poverty rate of at least 20 percent as reported in the most recently completed decennial census published by the United States Bureau of the Census.

~~(i)~~ (k) "Partner organizations" or "partners" means:

(1) foundations engaged in economic development;

(2) community development financial institutions; and

(3) community development corporations.

~~(j)~~ (l) "Program" means the Main Street Economic Revitalization Program under this section.

~~(k)~~ (m) "Subordinated loan" means a loan secured by a lien that is lower in priority than one or more specified other liens.

Subd. 2. Establishment. The commissioner shall establish the Main Street Economic Revitalization Program to make grants to partner organizations to fund leveraged grants, capitalized loans, and guaranteed loans to specific named eligible recipients for eligible projects that are designed to address the greatest economic development and redevelopment needs that have arisen in the surrounding community since March 15, 2020.

Subd. 3. Grants to partner organizations. (a) The commissioner shall make grants to partner organizations to provide leveraged grants, capitalized loans, and guaranteed loans to eligible recipients using criteria, forms, applications, and reporting requirements developed by the commissioner.

(b) To be eligible for a grant, a partner organization must:

(1) outline a plan to provide leveraged grants, capitalized loans, and guaranteed loans to eligible recipients for specific eligible projects that represent the greatest economic development and redevelopment needs in the surrounding community. This plan must include an analysis of the economic impact of the eligible projects the partner organization proposes to make these investments in;

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(2) establish a process of ensuring there are no conflicts of interest in determining awards under the program; and

(3) demonstrate that the partner organization has raised funds for the specific purposes of this program to commit to the proposed eligible projects or will do so within the 15-month period following the encumbrance of funds. Existing assets and state or federal funds may not be used to meet this requirement.

(1) a first round with an application date before September 1, 2021, during which no more than 50 percent of available funds will be granted;

(2) a second round with an application date after September 1, 2021, but before March 1, 2022; and

(3) a third round with an application date after June 30, 2023, if any funds remain after the first two rounds.

A partner may apply in multiple rounds for projects that were not funded in earlier rounds or for new projects.

(d) Up to four percent of a grant under this subdivision may be used by the partner organization for administration and monitoring of the program.

Subd. 4. Award criteria. In awarding grants under this section, the commissioner shall give funding preference to applications that:

(1) have the greatest regional economic impact under subdivision 3, paragraph (b), clause (1), particularly with regard to increasing the local tax base; and

(2) have the greatest portion of the estimated cost of the eligible projects met through nonstate funds.

Subd. 5. Leveraged grants to eligible recipients. (a) A leveraged grant to an eligible recipient shall be for no more than $750,000.

(b) A leveraged grant may be used to finance no more than 30 percent of an eligible project.

(c) An eligible project must have secured commitments for all required matching funds and all required development approvals before a leveraged grant may be distributed.

(d) The commissioner may waive the matching fund requirement for projects located in low-income areas.

Subd. 6. Capitalized and guaranteed loans to eligible recipients. (a) A capitalized or guaranteed loan to an eligible recipient must:

(1) be for no more than $2,000,000; and

(2) be for a term of no more than 15 years~~; and~~.

~~(3)~~ (b) All capitalized loans shall comply with the terms under subdivision 6a and all guaranteed loans shall comply with the terms under subdivision 7.

~~(b)~~ (c) An eligible project must have all required development approvals before a capitalized or guaranteed loan may be distributed.

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(d) Upon origination of a capitalized loan, the commissioner shall authorize disbursement of up to 20 percent of the loan amount to the partner organization.

~~(c)~~ (e) Upon origination of a guaranteed loan, the commissioner must reserve ten percent of the loan amount into the loan guarantee trust fund created under subdivision 8.

~~(d)~~ (f) No capitalized or guaranteed loan may be made to an eligible recipient after December 31, 2024.

Subd. 6a. Required terms for capitalized loans. For a capitalized loan under the program:

(1) principal and interest payments made by the borrower under the terms of the loan shall be allocated first to the nonstate portion of the loan and second to the state portion of the loan;

(2) the partner organization shall not accelerate repayment of the loan or exercise other remedies if the borrower defaults, unless:

(i) the borrower fails to make a required payment of principal or interest within 60 days of the due date; or

(ii) the commissioner consents in writing;

(3) the partner organization must timely prepare and deliver to the commissioner, annually by the date specified in the loan agreement, an audited or reviewed financial statement for the loan, prepared by a certified public accountant according to generally accepted accounting principles, if available, and documentation that the borrower used the loan proceeds solely for an eligible project;

(4) the commissioner shall have access to loan documents at any time subsequent to the loan documents being submitted to the partner organization;

(5) the partner organization must maintain adequate records and documents concerning the loan so that the commissioner may determine the borrower's financial condition and compliance with program requirements;

(6) the state portion of the loan may be subordinate to other loans made by lenders in the overall financing package; and

(7) repayments of the state portion of the loan may be retained by the partner organization for capitalizing additional redevelopment projects.

Subd. 7. Required terms for guaranteed loans. For a guaranteed loan under the program:

(1) principal and interest payments made by the borrower under the terms of the loan are to reduce the guaranteed and nonguaranteed portion of the loan on a proportionate basis. The nonguaranteed portion shall not receive preferential treatment over the guaranteed portion;

(2) the partner organization shall not accelerate repayment of the loan or exercise other remedies if the borrower defaults, unless:

(i) the borrower fails to make a required payment of principal or interest within 60 days of the due date; or

(ii) the commissioner consents in writing;

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(3) in the event of a default, the partner organization may not make a demand for payment pursuant to the guarantee unless the commissioner agrees in writing that the default has materially affected the rights or security of the parties;

(4) the partner organization must timely prepare and deliver to the commissioner, annually by the date specified in the loan guarantee, an audited or reviewed financial statement for the loan, prepared by a certified public accountant according to generally accepted accounting principles, if available, and documentation that the borrower used the loan proceeds solely for an eligible project;

(5) the commissioner shall have access to loan documents at any time subsequent to the loan documents being submitted to the partner organization;

(6) the partner organization must maintain adequate records and documents concerning the loan so that the commissioner may determine the borrower's financial condition and compliance with program requirements;

(7) orderly liquidation of collateral securing the loan must be provided for in the event of default, pursuant to the loan guarantee; and

(8) the guaranteed portion of the loan may be subordinate to other loans made by lenders in the overall financing package.

Subd. 8. Loan guarantee trust fund established. A loan guarantee trust fund account in the special revenue fund is created in the state treasury to pay for defaulted loan guarantees. The commissioner shall administer this account. The day that this section expires, all remaining funds in the account are canceled to the general fund.

Subd. 9. Statewide program. In proportion to eligible demand, leveraged grants, capitalized loans, and guaranteed loans under this section shall be made so that an approximately equal dollar amount of leveraged grants, capitalized loans, and guaranteed loans are made to businesses in the metropolitan area as in the nonmetropolitan area, not to exceed 65 percent in any one area. After June 30, 2023, the department may allow leveraged grants, capitalized loans, and guaranteed loans to be made anywhere in the state without regard to geographic area.

Subd. 10. Exemptions. All grants and grant-making processes under this section are exempt from Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.15, subdivision 3; 16B.97; and 16B.98, subdivisions 5, 7, and 8. The commissioner must audit the use of funds under this section in accordance with standard accounting practices. The exemptions under this subdivision expire on December 31, 2023.

Subd. 11. Reports. (a) By January 31, 2022, and annually until December 31, 2026, after which biennial reporting will be permitted after the commissioner consults with the legislature, partner organizations participating in the program must provide a report to the commissioner that includes descriptions of the eligible projects supported by the program, the type and amount of support provided, any economic development gains attributable to the support, and an explanation of administrative expenses.

(b) By February 15, 2022, and annually until December 31, 2026, after which biennial reporting will be permitted after the commissioner consults with the legislature, the commissioner must report to the legislative committees in the house of representatives and senate with jurisdiction over economic development about funding provided under this program based on the information received under paragraph (a) and about the performance of the loan guarantee trust fund.

Subd. 12. Expiration. This section expires December 31, 2036.

EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective retroactively from July 1, 2021.

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Sec. 6. [116J.8751] SPARK SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.

(b) "Account" means the spark small business loan program account created under subdivision 5.

(d) "Community business" means a cooperative, an employee-owned business, or a commercial land trust that is at least 51 percent owned by individuals from targeted groups.

(e) "Immigrant" means a lawful permanent resident who has been in the United States for a maximum of seven years at the time of application.

(f) "Partner organization" means a community development financial institution or nonprofit corporation.

(g) "Program" means the spark small business loan program established under this section.

(h) "Targeted groups" means people who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants, low income, women, veterans, or people with disabilities.

Subd. 2. Establishment. The spark small business loan program is established to award grants to partner organizations to fund loans statewide to businesses that employ the equivalent of 50 full-time workers or less, to encourage private investment, provide jobs, create and strengthen business enterprises, and promote economic development.

Subd. 3. Grants to partner organizations. (a) The commissioner shall award grants to partner organizations through a competitive grant process where applicants apply using a form designed by the commissioner. In evaluating applications, the commissioner must consider, among other things, whether the applicant:

(1) has a board of directors that includes citizens experienced in business and community development and creating jobs;

(2) has the technical skills to analyze projects;

(3) is familiar with other available public and private funding sources and economic development programs;

(4) can initiate and implement economic development projects;

(5) can establish and administer a revolving loan account or has operated a revolving loan account; and

(6) can work with job referral networks.

(b) The commissioner shall ensure that, to the extent there is sufficient eligible demand, loans are made to businesses inside and outside the metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, in a manner approximating each region's proportion of the state population. After March 31 of each fiscal year, the commissioner may allow loans to be made anywhere in the state without regard to geographic area.

(c) Partner organizations that receive grants under this subdivision may use up to ten percent of the award for administrative expenses, including providing specialized technical and legal assistance, either directly or through partnership with nonprofit organizations, to businesses eligible to apply for loans under this program.

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(d) The commissioner shall review existing agreements with partner organizations every five years and may renew or terminate the agreement based on that review. In making the review, the commissioner shall consider, among other criteria, the criteria in paragraph (a).

Subd. 4. Loans to businesses. (a) A partner organization that receives a grant under subdivision 3 shall establish a plan for making loans to businesses. The plan requires approval by the commissioner.

(b) Under the plan:

(1) the partner organization shall establish a commissioner-certified revolving loan fund for the purpose of making loans to businesses;

(2) loans shall be for projects that are unlikely to be undertaken unless a loan is received under the program;

(3) a partner organization may not make a loan to a project in which it has an ownership interest;

(4) the state contribution to each loan shall be no less than $5,000 and no more than:

(i) $35,000 if the loan is for a retail development project;

(ii) $600,000 if the loan is for a community business; and

(iii) $150,000 for all other loans;

(5) the interest rate on a loan shall not be higher than the Wall Street Journal prime rate and may be zero;

(6) loans shall be for a maximum term of seven years;

(7) the partner organization may charge a loan origination fee of no more than one percent of the loan value and may retain that origination fee;

(8) a loan application given preliminary approval by the partner organization must be forwarded to the commissioner for final approval;

(9) repayments may be deferred for up to one year if justified by the project proposed and approved by the commissioner;

(10) all repayments of interest on loans shall be deposited in the partner organization's revolving loan fund for use in making further loans consistent with this section;

(11) all repayments of loan principal must be paid to the commissioner for deposit in the spark small business loan program account; and

(12) up to ten percent of a loan's principal amount may be forgiven if the commissioner approves and the borrower has met lender criteria, including being current with all payments.

Subd. 5. Creation of account. A spark small business loan program account is created in the special revenue fund in the state treasury. Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner for the grants under this section. Annually, the commissioner may use an amount equal to no more than four percent of the value of grants made in the previous year for the administrative costs of the program. In fiscal year 2023, the commissioner may use $500,000 for administration. Notwithstanding section 16A.28, money deposited in the account from any source is available until expended.

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Subd. 6. Reporting requirements. (a) A partner organization that receives a grant shall:

(1) submit an annual report to the commissioner by February 15 of each year, beginning in 2024, that includes a description of businesses supported by the program, an account of loans made during the calendar year, the program's impact on business enterprises and job creation, the source and amount of money collected and distributed by the program, the program's assets and liabilities, and an explanation of administrative expenses; and

(2) provide for an independent annual audit to be performed in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices and auditing standards and submit a copy of each annual audit report to the commissioner.

(b) By March 1 of each year, beginning in 2024, the commissioner shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over economic development on program outcomes, including copies of all reports and audits received under paragraph (a).

Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116J.8770, is amended to read:

116J.8770 EQUITY INVESTMENTS.

The commissioner may invest funds from the capital access account to make equity investments in ~~community development~~ early stage and venture capital funds for the purpose of providing capital for small and emerging businesses. The ~~community development~~ early stage and venture capital fund must have experience in equity investments with small businesses and the ability to raise private capital.

Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 116J.9924, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4. Grant amount; project phasing. (a) The commissioner shall award grants in an amount not to exceed ~~$1,500,000~~ $3,000,000 per grant.

(b) A grant awarded under this section must be no less than the amount required to complete one or more phases of the project, less any nonstate funds already committed for such activities.

Sec. 9. [116J.9926] EMERGING DEVELOPER FUND PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.

(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.

(c) "Disadvantaged community" means a community where the median household income is less than 80 percent of the area median income.

(d) "Eligible project" means a project that is based in Minnesota and meets one or more of the following criteria:

(1) it will stimulate community stabilization or revitalization;

(2) it will be located within a census tract identified as a disadvantaged community or low-income community;

(3) it will directly benefit residents of a low-income household;

(4) it will increase the supply and improve the condition of affordable housing and homeownership;

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(5) it will support the growth needs of new and existing community-based enterprises that promote economic stability or improve the supply or quality of job opportunities; or

(6) it will promote wealth creation, including by being a project in a neighborhood traditionally not served by real estate developers.

(e) "Emerging developer" means a developer who:

(1) has limited access to loans from traditional financial institutions; or

(2) is a new or smaller developer who has engaged in educational training in real estate development; and

(3) is either a:

(i) minority as defined in section 116M.14, subdivision 6;

(ii) woman;

(iii) person with a disability, as defined in section 116M.14, subdivision 9; or

(iv) low-income person.

(f) "Low-income person" means a person who:

(1) has a household income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; or

(2) has a family income that does not exceed 60 percent of the area median income as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(g) "Partner organization" means a community development financial institution or a similarly qualified nonprofit corporation, as determined by the commissioner.

(h) "Program" means the emerging developer fund program created under this section.

Subd. 2. Establishment. The commissioner shall establish an emerging developer fund program to make grants to partner organizations to make loans to emerging developers for eligible projects to transform neighborhoods statewide and promote economic development and the creation and retention of jobs in Minnesota. The program must also reduce racial and socioeconomic disparities by growing the financial capacity of emerging developers.

Subd. 3. Grants to partner organizations. (a) The commissioner shall design a competitive process to award grants to partner organizations to make loans to emerging developers under subdivision 4.

(b) A partner organization may use up to ten percent of grant funds for the administrative costs of the program.

Subd. 4. Loans to emerging developers. (a) Through the program, partner organizations shall offer emerging developers predevelopment, construction, and bridge loans for eligible projects according to a plan submitted to and approved by the commissioner.

(b) Predevelopment loans must be for no more than $50,000. All other types of loans must be for no more than $500,000.

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(c) Loans must be for a term set by the partner organization and approved by the commissioner of no less than six months and no more than five years, depending on the use of loan proceeds.

(d) Loans must be for zero interest or an interest rate of no more than the Wall Street Journal prime rate, as determined by the partner organization and approved by the commissioner based on the individual project risk and type of loan sought.

(e) Loans must have flexible collateral requirements compared to traditional loans, but may require a personal guaranty from the emerging developer and may be largely unsecured when the appraised value of the real estate is low.

(f) Loans must have no prepayment penalties and are expected to be repaid from permanent financing or a conventional loan, once that is secured.

(g) Loans must have the ability to bridge many types of receivables, such as tax credits, grants, developer fees, and other forms of long-term financing.

(h) At the partner organization's request and the commissioner's discretion, an emerging developer may be required to work with an experienced developer or professional services consultant who can offer expertise and advice throughout the development of the project.

(i) All loan repayments must be paid into the emerging developer fund account created in this section to fund additional loans.

Subd. 5. Eligible expenses. (a) The following are eligible expenses for a predevelopment loan under the program:

(1) earnest money or purchase deposit;

(2) building inspection fees and environmental reviews;

(3) appraisal and surveying;

(4) design and tax credit application fees;

(5) title and recording fees;

(6) site preparation, demolition, and stabilization;

(7) interim maintenance and project overhead;

(8) property taxes and insurance;

(9) construction bonds or letters of credit;

(10) market and feasibility studies; and

(11) professional fees.

(b) The following are eligible expenses for a construction or bridge loan under the program:

(1) land or building acquisition;

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(2) construction-related expenses;

(3) developer and contractor fees;

(4) site preparation and demolition;

(5) financing fees, including title and recording;

(6) professional fees;

(7) carrying costs;

(8) construction period interest;

(9) project reserves; and

(10) leasehold improvements and equipment purchase.

Subd. 6. Emerging developer fund account. An emerging developer fund account is created in the special revenue fund in the state treasury. Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner for grants to partner organizations to make loans under this section.

Subd. 7. Reports to the legislature. (a) By January 15 of each year, beginning in 2024, each partner organization shall submit a report to the commissioner on the use of program funds and program outcomes.

(b) By February 15 of each year, beginning in 2024, the commissioner shall submit a report to the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over economic development on the use of program funds and program outcomes.

Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116J.993, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3. Business subsidy. "Business subsidy" or "subsidy" means a state or local government agency grant, contribution of personal property, real property, infrastructure, the principal amount of a loan at rates below those commercially available to the recipient, any reduction or deferral of any tax or any fee, any guarantee of any payment under any loan, lease, or other obligation, or any preferential use of government facilities given to a business.

The following forms of financial assistance are not a business subsidy:

(1) a business subsidy of less than $150,000;

(2) assistance that is generally available to all businesses or to a general class of similar businesses, such as a line of business, size, location, or similar general criteria;

(3) public improvements to buildings or lands owned by the state or local government that serve a public purpose and do not principally benefit a single business or defined group of businesses at the time the improvements are made;

(4) redevelopment property polluted by contaminants as defined in section 116J.552, subdivision 3;

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(5) assistance provided for the sole purpose of renovating old or decaying building stock or bringing it up to code and assistance provided for designated historic preservation districts, provided that the assistance is equal to or less than 50 percent of the total cost;

(6) assistance to provide job readiness and training services if the sole purpose of the assistance is to provide those services;

(7) assistance for housing;

(8) assistance for pollution control or abatement, including assistance for a tax increment financing hazardous substance subdistrict as defined under section 469.174, subdivision 23;

(9) assistance for energy conservation;

(10) tax reductions resulting from conformity with federal tax law;

(11) workers' compensation and unemployment insurance;

(12) benefits derived from regulation;

(13) indirect benefits derived from assistance to educational institutions;

(14) funds from bonds allocated under chapter 474A, bonds issued to refund outstanding bonds, and bonds issued for the benefit of an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1999;

(15) assistance for a collaboration between a Minnesota higher education institution and a business;

(16) assistance for a tax increment financing soils condition district as defined under section 469.174, subdivision 19;

(17) redevelopment when the recipient's investment in the purchase of the site and in site preparation is 70 percent or more of the assessor's current year's estimated market value;

(18) general changes in tax increment financing law and other general tax law changes of a principally technical nature;

(19) federal assistance until the assistance has been repaid to, and reinvested by, the state or local government agency;

(20) funds from dock and wharf bonds issued by a seaway port authority;

(21) business loans and loan guarantees of $150,000 or less;

(22) federal loan funds provided through the United States Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, Department of the Treasury; and

(23) property tax abatements granted under section 469.1813 to property that is subject to valuation under Minnesota Rules, chapter 8100.

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Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116L.04, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a. Pathways program. The pathways program may provide grants-in-aid for developing programs which assist in the transition of persons from welfare to work and assist individuals at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The program is to be operated by the board. The board shall consult and coordinate with program administrators at the Department of Employment and Economic Development to design and provide services for temporary assistance for needy families recipients.

Pathways grants-in-aid may be awarded to educational or other nonprofit training institutions or to workforce development intermediaries for education and training programs and services supporting education and training programs that serve eligible recipients.

Preference shall be given to projects that:

(1) provide employment with benefits paid to employees;

(2) provide employment where there are defined career paths for trainees;

(3) pilot the development of an educational pathway that can be used on a continuing basis for transitioning persons from welfare to work; and

(4) demonstrate the active participation of Department of Employment and Economic Development workforce centers, Minnesota State College and University institutions and other educational institutions, and local welfare agencies.

Pathways projects must demonstrate the active involvement and financial commitment of ~~private~~ participating business. Pathways projects must be matched with cash or in-kind contributions on at least a one-half-to-one ratio by participating ~~private~~ business.

A single grant to any one institution shall not exceed $400,000. A portion of a grant may be used for preemployment training.

Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116L.17, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them in this subdivision.

(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.

(c) "Dislocated worker" means an individual who is a resident of Minnesota at the time employment ceased or was working in the state at the time employment ceased and:

(1) has been permanently separated or has received a notice of permanent separation from public or private sector employment and is eligible for or has exhausted entitlement to unemployment benefits, and is unlikely to return to the previous industry or occupation;

(2) has been long-term unemployed and has limited opportunities for employment or reemployment in the same or a similar occupation in the area in which the individual resides, including older individuals who may have substantial barriers to employment by reason of age;

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(3) has been terminated or has received a notice of termination of employment as a result of a plant closing or a substantial layoff at a plant, facility, or enterprise;

(4) has been self-employed, including farmers and ranchers, and is unemployed as a result of general economic conditions in the community in which the individual resides or because of natural disasters;

(5) is a veteran as defined by section 197.447, has been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions within the last 36 months, and (i) is unemployed or (ii) is employed in a job verified to be below the skill level and earning capacity of the veteran;

(6) is an individual determined by the United States Department of Labor to be covered by trade adjustment assistance under United States Code, title 19, sections 2271 to 2331, as amended; or

(7) is a displaced homemaker. A "displaced homemaker" is an individual who has spent a substantial number of years in the home providing homemaking service and (i) has been dependent upon the financial support of another; and ~~now~~ due to divorce, separation, death, or disability of that person, must now find employment to self support; or (ii) derived the substantial share of support from public assistance on account of dependents in the home and no longer receives such support. To be eligible under this clause, the support must have ceased while the worker resided in Minnesota.

For the purposes of this section, "dislocated worker" does not include an individual who was an employee, at the time employment ceased, of a political committee, political fund, principal campaign committee, or party unit, as those terms are used in chapter 10A, or an organization required to file with the federal elections commission.

(d) "Eligible organization" means a state or local government unit, nonprofit organization, community action agency, business organization or association, or labor organization.

(e) "Plant closing" means the announced or actual permanent shutdown of a single site of employment, or one or more facilities or operating units within a single site of employment.

(f) "Substantial layoff" means a permanent reduction in the workforce, which is not a result of a plant closing, and which results in an employment loss at a single site of employment during any 30-day period for at least 50 employees excluding those employees that work less than 20 hours per week.

Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116L.98, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given.

(b) "Credential" means ~~postsecondary~~ degrees, diplomas, licenses, and certificates awarded in recognition of an individual's attainment of measurable technical or occupational skills necessary to obtain employment or advance with an occupation. This definition does not include ~~certificates awarded by workforce investment boards or~~ work‑readiness certificates.

(c) "Exit" means to have not received service under a workforce program for 90 consecutive calendar days. The exit date is the last date of service.

(d) "Net impact" means the use of matched control groups and regression analysis to estimate the impacts attributable to program participation net of other factors, including observable personal characteristics and economic conditions.

(e) "Pre-enrollment" means the period of time before an individual was enrolled in a workforce program.

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Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116L.98, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3. Uniform outcome report card; reporting by commissioner. (a) By December 31 of each even‑numbered year, the commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees of the house of representatives and the senate having jurisdiction over economic development and workforce policy and finance the following information separately for each of the previous two fiscal or calendar years, for each program subject to the requirements of subdivision 1:

(1) the total number of participants enrolled;

(2) the median pre-enrollment wages based on participant wages for the second through the fifth calendar quarters immediately preceding the quarter of enrollment excluding those with zero income;

(3) the total number of participants with zero income in the second through fifth calendar quarters immediately preceding the quarter of enrollment;

(4) the total number of participants enrolled in training;

(5) the total number of participants enrolled in training by occupational group;

(6) the total number of participants that exited the program and the average enrollment duration of participants that have exited the program during the year;

(7) the total number of exited participants who completed training;

(8) the total number of exited participants who attained a credential;

(9) the total number of participants employed during three consecutive quarters immediately following the quarter of exit, by industry;

(10) the median wages of participants employed during three consecutive quarters immediately following the quarter of exit;

(11) the total number of participants employed during eight consecutive quarters immediately following the quarter of exit, by industry; and

(12) the median wages of participants employed during eight consecutive quarters immediately following the quarter of exit;.

~~(13) the total cost of the program;~~

~~(14) the total cost of the program per participant;~~

~~(15) the cost per credential received by a participant; and~~

~~(16) the administrative cost of the program.~~

(b) The report to the legislature must contain participant information by education level, race and ethnicity, gender, and geography, and a comparison of exited participants who completed training and those who did not.

(c) The requirements of this section apply to programs administered directly by the commissioner or administered by other organizations under a grant made by the department.

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Sec. 15. CANADIAN BORDER COUNTIES ECONOMIC RELIEF PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1. Relief program established. The Northland Foundation and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation must develop and implement a Canadian border counties economic relief program to assist businesses adversely affected by the 2021 closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or the closures of the Canadian border since 2020.

Subd. 2. Available relief. (a) The economic relief program established under this section may include grants provided in this section to the extent that funds are available. Before awarding grants to the Northland Foundation and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation for the relief program under this section:

(1) the Northland Foundation and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation must develop criteria, procedures, and requirements for:

(i) determining eligibility for assistance;

(ii) evaluating applications for assistance;

(iii) awarding assistance; and

(iv) administering the grant program authorized under this section;

(2) the Northland Foundation and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation must submit criteria, procedures, and requirements developed under clause (1) to the commissioner of employment and economic development for review; and

(3) the commissioner must approve the criteria, procedures, and requirements submitted under clause (2).

(b) The maximum grant to a business under this section is $50,000 per business.

Subd. 3. Qualification requirements. To qualify for assistance under this section, a business must:

(1) be located within a county that shares a border with Canada;

(2) document a reduction of at least 20 percent in gross receipts in 2021 compared to 2019; and

(3) provide a written explanation for how the 2021 closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or the closures of the Canadian border since 2020 resulted in the reduction in gross receipts documented under clause (2).

Subd. 4. Monitoring. (a) The Northland Foundation and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation must establish performance measures, including but not limited to the following components:

(1) the number of grants awarded and award amounts for each grant;

(2) the number of jobs created or retained as a result of the assistance, including information on the wages and benefit levels, the status of the jobs as full time or part time, and the status of the jobs as temporary or permanent;

(3) the amount of business activity and changes in gross revenues of the grant recipient as a result of the assistance; and

(4) the new tax revenue generated as a result of the assistance.

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(b) The commissioner of employment and economic development must monitor the Northland Foundation's and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation's compliance with this section and the performance measures developed under paragraph (a).

(c) The Northland Foundation and the Northwest Minnesota Foundation must comply with all requests made by the commissioner under this section.

Subd. 5. Business subsidy requirements. Minnesota Statutes, sections 116J.993 to 116J.995, do not apply to assistance under this section. Businesses in receipt of assistance under this section must provide for job creation and retention goals and wage and benefit goals.

Subd. 6. Administrative costs. The commissioner of employment and economic development may use up to three percent of the appropriation made for this section for administrative expenses of the department.

EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2022, and expires June 30, 2023.

Sec. 16. SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.

(b) "Business" means both for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations that earn revenue in ways similar to businesses, including but not limited to ticket sales and membership fees.

(d) "Partner organization" or "partner" means the Minnesota Initiative Foundations and nonprofit corporations on the certified lenders list that the commissioner determines to be qualified to provide grants to businesses under this section.

(e) "Program" means the small business recovery grant program under this section.

Subd. 2. Establishment. The commissioner shall establish the small business recovery grant program to make grants to partner organizations to provide grants to businesses that have been directly or indirectly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic challenges.

Subd. 3. Grants to partner organizations. (a) The commissioner shall make grants to partner organizations to provide grants to businesses under subdivision 4 using criteria, forms, applications, and reporting requirements developed by the commissioner.

(b) The commissioner must, to the degree practical, grant an equal amount of money to partner organizations serving the seven-county metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, as the commissioner grants to organizations serving greater Minnesota.

(c) Up to four percent of a grant under this subdivision may be used by the partner organization for administration and monitoring of the program.

(d) Any money not spent by partner organizations by December 31, 2023, must be returned to the commissioner and canceled back to the general fund.

Subd. 4. Grants to businesses. (a) Partners shall make grants to businesses using criteria, forms, applications, and reporting requirements developed by the commissioner.

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(b) To be eligible for a grant under this subdivision, a business must:

(1) have primary business operations located in Minnesota;

(2) be at least 50 percent owned by a resident of Minnesota;

(3) employ the equivalent of 50 full-time workers or less;

(4) be able to demonstrate financial hardship during 2021 or 2022;

(5) include as part of the application a business plan for continued operation; and

(6) primarily do business in one or more of the industries listed under subdivision 5.

(c) Grants under this subdivision shall be awarded by randomized selection process after applications are collected over a period of no more than ten calendar days.

(d) Grants under this subdivision must be for up to $25,000 per business.

(e) No business may receive more than one grant under this section.

(f) Grant money must be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, and other similar expenses that occur or have occurred since January 1, 2022, in the regular course of business, but not to refinance debt that existed at the time of the governor's COVID-19 peacetime emergency declaration.

Subd. 5. Eligible industries. To be eligible for a grant under subdivision 4, a business must primarily do business in one or more of the following industries:

(1) serving food or beverages, such as restaurants, cafes, bars, breweries, wineries, and distilleries;

(2) personal services, such as hair care, nail care, skin care, or massage;

(3) indoor entertainment, such as a business providing arcade games, escape rooms, or indoor trampoline parks;

(4) indoor fitness and recreational sports centers, such as gyms, fitness studios, indoor ice rinks, and indoor swimming pools;

(5) wellness and recreation, such as the teaching of yoga, dance, or martial arts;

(6) catering services;

(7) temporary lodging, such as hotels and motels; or

(8) performance venues.

Subd. 6. Distribution of awards. Of grant funds awarded under subdivision 4, a minimum of:

(1) $5,000,000 must be awarded to businesses that employ the equivalent of six full-time workers or less;

(2) $3,500,000 must be awarded to minority business enterprises, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 116M.14, subdivision 5;

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(3) $1,000,000 must be awarded to businesses that are majority owned and operated by veterans as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 197.447; and

(4) $1,000,000 must be awarded to businesses that are majority owned and operated by women.

Subd. 7. Exemptions. All grants and grant-making processes under this section are exempt from Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.15, subdivision 3; 16B.97; and 16B.98, subdivisions 5, 7, and 8. The commissioner must audit the use of grant money under this section in accordance with standard accounting practices. This subdivision expires on December 31, 2023.

Subd. 8. Reports. (a) By January 31, 2024, partner organizations participating in the program must provide a report to the commissioner that includes descriptions of the businesses supported by the program, the amounts granted, and an explanation of administrative expenses.

(b) By February 15, 2024, the commissioner must report to the legislative committees in the house of representatives and senate with jurisdiction over economic development about grants made under this section based on the information received under paragraph (a).

Sec. 17. ENCUMBRANCE EXCEPTION.

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, subdivision 5, paragraph (a), clause (2), or 16C.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (3), the commissioner of employment and economic development may permit grant recipients of the Minnesota investment fund program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8731; the job creation fund program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8748; and the border-to-border broadband program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.395, to incur eligible expenses based on an agreed upon work plan and budget for up to 90 days prior to an encumbrance being established in the accounting system.

EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and expires on June 30, 2025.

Sec. 18. REPEALER.

Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 116J.9924, subdivision 6, is repealed.

ARTICLE 3

FAMILY AND MEDICAL BENEFITS

Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 13.719, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 7. Family and medical insurance data. (a) For the purposes of this subdivision, the terms used have the meanings given them in section 268B.01.

(b) Data on applicants, family members, or employers under chapter 268B are private or nonpublic data, provided that the department may share data collected from applicants with employers or health care providers to the extent necessary to meet the requirements of chapter 268B or other applicable law.

(c) The department and the Department of Labor and Industry may share data classified under paragraph (b) to the extent necessary to meet the requirements of chapter 268B or the Department of Labor and Industry's enforcement authority over chapter 268B, as provided in section 177.27.

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Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 177.27, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4. Compliance orders. The commissioner may issue an order requiring an employer to comply with sections 177.21 to 177.435, 181.02, 181.03, 181.031, 181.032, 181.101, 181.11, 181.13, 181.14, 181.145, 181.15, 181.172, paragraph (a) or (d), 181.275, subdivision 2a, 181.722, 181.79, ~~and~~ 181.939 to 181.943, 268B.09, subdivisions 1 to 6, and 268B.14, subdivision 3, or with any rule promulgated under section 177.28. The commissioner shall issue an order requiring an employer to comply with sections 177.41 to 177.435 if the violation is repeated. For purposes of this subdivision only, a violation is repeated if at any time during the two years that preceded the date of violation, the commissioner issued an order to the employer for violation of sections 177.41 to 177.435 and the order is final or the commissioner and the employer have entered into a settlement agreement that required the employer to pay back wages that were required by sections 177.41 to 177.435. The department shall serve the order upon the employer or the employer's authorized representative in person or by certified mail at the employer's place of business. An employer who wishes to contest the order must file written notice of objection to the order with the commissioner within 15 calendar days after being served with the order. A contested case proceeding must then be held in accordance with sections 14.57 to 14.69. If, within 15 calendar days after being served with the order, the employer fails to file a written notice of objection with the commissioner, the order becomes a final order of the commissioner.

Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 181.032, is amended to read:

181.032 REQUIRED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS BY EMPLOYER; NOTICE TO EMPLOYEE.

(a) At the end of each pay period, the employer shall provide each employee an earnings statement, either in writing or by electronic means, covering that pay period. An employer who chooses to provide an earnings statement by electronic means must provide employee access to an employer-owned computer during an employee's regular working hours to review and print earnings statements, and must make statements available for review or printing for a period of three years.

(b) The earnings statement may be in any form determined by the employer but must include:

(1) the name of the employee;

(2) the rate or rates of pay and basis thereof, including whether the employee is paid by hour, shift, day, week, salary, piece, commission, or other method;

(3) allowances, if any, claimed pursuant to permitted meals and lodging;

(4) the total number of hours worked by the employee unless exempt from chapter 177;

(5) the total amount of gross pay earned by the employee during that period;

(6) a list of deductions made from the employee's pay;

(7) any amount deducted by the employer under section 268B.14, subdivision 3, and the amount paid by the employer based on the employee's wages under section 268B.14, subdivision 1;

~~(7)~~ (8) the net amount of pay after all deductions are made;

~~(8)~~ (9) the date on which the pay period ends;

~~(9)~~ (10) the legal name of the employer and the operating name of the employer if different from the legal name;

~~Journal of the House - 102nd Day - Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - Top of Page 12728~~

~~(10)~~ (11) the physical address of the employer's main office or principal place of business, and a mailing address if different; and

~~(11)~~ (12) the telephone number of the employer.

(c) An employer must provide earnings statements to an employee in writing, rather than by electronic means, if the employer has received at least 24 hours notice from an employee that the employee would like to receive earnings statements in written form. Once an employer has received notice from an employee that the employee would like to receive earnings statements in written form, the employer must comply with that request on an ongoing basis.

(d) At the start of employment, an employer shall provide each employee a written notice containing the following information:

(1) the rate or rates of pay and basis thereof, including whether the employee is paid by the hour, shift, day, week, salary, piece, commission, or other method, and the specific application of any additional rates;

(2) allowances, if any, claimed pursuant to permitted meals and lodging;

(3) paid vacation, sick time, or other paid time-off accruals and terms of use;

(4) the employee's employment status and whether the employee is exempt from minimum wage, overtime, and other provisions of chapter 177, and on what basis;

(5) a list of deductions that may be made from the employee's pay;

(6) the number of days in the pay period, the regularly scheduled pay day, and the pay day on which the employee will receive the first payment of wages earned;

(7) the legal name of the employer and the operating name of the employer if different from the legal name;

(8) the physical address of the employer's main office or principal place of business, and a mailing address if different; and

(9) the telephone number of the employer.

(e) The employer must keep a copy of the notice under paragraph (d) signed by each employee acknowledging receipt of the notice. The notice must be provided to each employee in English. The English version of the notice must include text provided by the commissioner that informs employees that they may request, by indicating on the form, the notice be provided in a particular language. If requested, the employer shall provide the notice in the language requested by the employee. The commissioner shall make available to employers the text to be included in the English version of the notice required by this section and assist employers with translation of the notice in the languages requested by their employees.

(f) An employer must provide the employee any written changes to the information contained in the notice under paragraph (d) prior to the date the changes take effect.

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Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 268.19, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1. Use of data. (a) Except as provided by this section, data gathered from any person under the administration of the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Law are private data on individuals or nonpublic data not on individuals as defined in section 13.02, subdivisions 9 and 12, and may not be disclosed except according to a district court order or section 13.05. A subpoena is not considered a district court order. These data may be disseminated to and used by the following agencies without the consent of the subject of the data:

(1) state and federal agencies specifically authorized access to the data by state or federal law;

(2) any agency of any other state or any federal agency charged with the administration of an unemployment insurance program;

(3) any agency responsible for the maintenance of a system of public employment offices for the purpose of assisting individuals in obtaining employment;

(4) the public authority responsible for child support in Minnesota or any other state in accordance with section 256.978;

(5) human rights agencies within Minnesota that have enforcement powers;

(6) the Department of Revenue to the extent necessary for its duties under Minnesota laws;

(7) public and private agencies responsible for administering publicly financed assistance programs for the purpose of monitoring the eligibility of the program's recipients;

(8) the Department of Labor and Industry and the Commerce Fraud Bureau in the Department of Commerce for uses consistent with the administration of their duties under Minnesota law;

(9) the Department of Human Services and the Office of Inspector General and its agents within the Department of Human Services, including county fraud investigators, for investigations related to recipient or provider fraud and employees of providers when the provider is suspected of committing public assistance fraud;

(10) local and state welfare agencies for monitoring the eligibility of the data subject for assistance programs, or for any employment or training program administered by those agencies, whether alone, in combination with another welfare agency, or in conjunction with the department or to monitor and evaluate the statewide Minnesota family investment program by providing data on recipients and former recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, cash assistance under chapter 256, 256D, 256J, or 256K, child care assistance under chapter 119B, or medical programs under chapter 256B or 256L or formerly codified under chapter 256D;

(11) local and state welfare agencies for the purpose of identifying employment, wages, and other information to assist in the collection of an overpayment debt in an assistance program;

(12) local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for the purpose of ascertaining the last known address and employment location of an individual who is the subject of a criminal investigation;

(13) the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement has access to data on specific individuals and specific employers provided the specific individual or specific employer is the subject of an investigation by that agency;

(14) the Department of Health for the purposes of epidemiologic investigations;

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(15) the Department of Corrections for the purposes of case planning and internal research for preprobation, probation, and postprobation employment tracking of offenders sentenced to probation and preconfinement and postconfinement employment tracking of committed offenders;

(16) the state auditor to the extent necessary to conduct audits of job opportunity building zones as required under section 469.3201; ~~and~~

(17) the Office of Higher Education for purposes of supporting program improvement, system evaluation, and research initiatives including the Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System.; and

(18) the Family and Medical Benefits Division of the Department of Employment and Economic Development to be used as necessary to administer chapter 268B.

(b) Data on individuals and employers that are collected, maintained, or used by the department in an investigation under section 268.182 are confidential as to data on individuals and protected nonpublic data not on individuals as defined in section 13.02, subdivisions 3 and 13, and must not be disclosed except under statute or district court order or to a party named in a criminal proceeding, administrative or judicial, for preparation of a defense.

(c) Data gathered by the department in the administration of the Minnesota unemployment insurance program must not be made the subject or the basis for any suit in any civil proceedings, administrative or judicial, unless the action is initiated by the department.

Sec. 5. [268B.01] DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of this chapter, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given.

Subd. 2. Applicant. "Applicant" means an individual applying for leave with benefits under this chapter.

Subd. 3. Applicant's average weekly wage. "Applicant's average weekly wage" means an amount equal to the applicant's high quarter wage credits divided by 13.

Subd. 4. Base period. (a) "Base period," unless otherwise provided in this subdivision, means the most recent four completed calendar quarters before the effective date of an applicant's application for family or medical leave benefits if the application has an effective date occurring after the month following the most recent completed calendar quarter. The base period under this paragraph is as follows:

If the application for family or medical leave benefits is effective on or between these dates:	The base period is the prior:
February 1 to March 31	January 1 to December 31
May 1 to June 30	April 1 to March 31
August 1 to September 30	July 1 to June 30
November 1 to December 31	October 1 to September 30

(b) If an application for family or medical leave benefits has an effective date that is during the month following the most recent completed calendar quarter, then the base period is the first four of the most recent five completed calendar quarters before the effective date of an applicant's application for family or medical leave benefits. The base period under this paragraph is as follows:

Journal of the House - 102nd Day - Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - Top of Page 12731 If the application for family or medical leave benefits is effective on or between these dates:	The base period is the prior:
January 1 to January 31	October 1 to September 30
April 1 to April 30	January 1 to December 31
July 1 to July 31	April 1 to March 31
October 1 to October 31	July 1 to June 30

(c) Regardless of paragraph (a), a base period of the first four of the most recent five completed calendar quarters must be used if the applicant would have more wage credits under that base period than under a base period of the four most recent completed calendar quarters.

(d) If the applicant has insufficient wage credits to establish a benefit account under a base period of the four most recent completed calendar quarters, or a base period of the first four of the most recent five completed calendar quarters, but during either base period the applicant received workers' compensation for temporary disability under chapter 176 or a similar federal law or similar law of another state, or if the applicant whose own serious illness caused a loss of work for which the applicant received compensation for loss of wages from some other source, the applicant may request a base period as follows:

(1) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of seven to 13 weeks during a base period referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), then the base period is the first four of the most recent six completed calendar quarters before the effective date of the application for family or medical leave benefits;

(2) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of 14 to 26 weeks during a base period referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), then the base period is the first four of the most recent seven completed calendar quarters before the effective date of the application for family or medical leave benefits;

(3) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of 27 to 39 weeks during a base period referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), then the base period is the first four of the most recent eight completed calendar quarters before the effective date of the application for family or medical leave benefits; and

(4) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of 40 to 52 weeks during a base period referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), then the base period is the first four of the most recent nine completed calendar quarters before the effective date of the application for family or medical leave benefits.

Subd. 5. Benefit. "Benefit" or "benefits" means monetary payments under this chapter associated with qualifying bonding, family care, pregnancy, serious health condition, qualifying exigency, or safety leave events, unless otherwise indicated by context.

Subd. 6. Benefit account. "Benefit account" means a benefit account established under section 268B.04.

Subd. 7. Benefit year. "Benefit year" means the period of 52 calendar weeks beginning the date a benefit account under section 268B.04 is effective. For a benefit account established effective any January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1, the benefit year will be a period of 53 calendar weeks.

Subd. 8. Bonding. "Bonding" means time spent by an applicant who is a biological, adoptive, or foster parent with a biological, adopted, or foster child in conjunction with the child's birth, adoption, or placement.

Subd. 9. Calendar day. "Calendar day" or "day" means a fixed 24-hour period corresponding to a single calendar date.

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Subd. 10. Calendar quarter. "Calendar quarter" means the period of three consecutive calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31.

Subd. 11. Calendar week. "Calendar week" has the same meaning as "week" under subdivision 46.

Subd. 12. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development, unless otherwise indicated by context.

Subd. 13. Covered employment. (a) "Covered employment" means performing services of whatever nature, unlimited by the relationship of master and servant as known to the common law, or any other legal relationship performed for wages or under any contract calling for the performance of services, written or oral, express or implied.

(b) "Employment" includes an individual's entire service performed within or without or both within and without this state, if:

(1) the service is localized in this state; or

(2) the service is not localized in any state, but some of the service is performed in this state and:

(i) the base of operations of the employee is in the state, or if there is no base of operations, then the place from which such service is directed or controlled is in this state; or

(ii) the base of operations or place from which such service is directed or controlled is not in any state in which some part of the service is performed, but the individual's residence is in this state.

(1) a self-employed individual; or

(2) an independent contractor.

Subd. 14. Department. "Department" means the Department of Employment and Economic Development, unless otherwise indicated by context.

Subd. 15. Employee. (a) "Employee" means an individual who is in the employment of an employer.

(b) Employee does not include employees of the United States of America.

Subd. 16. Employer. (a) "Employer" means:

(1) any person, type of organization, or entity, including any partnership, association, trust, estate, joint stock company, insurance company, limited liability company, or corporation, whether domestic or foreign, or the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, trustee, or the legal representative of a deceased person, having any individual in covered employment;

(2) the state, statewide system, and state agencies; and

(3) any local government entity, including but not limited to a county, city, town, school district, municipal corporation, quasimunicipal corporation, or other political subdivision. An employer also includes charter schools.

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(b) Employer does not include:

(1) the United States of America; or

(2) a self-employed individual who has elected and been approved for coverage under section 268B.11 with regard to the self-employed individual's own coverage and benefits.

Subd. 17. Estimated self-employment income. "Estimated self-employment income" means a self-employed individual's average net earnings from self-employment in the two most recent taxable years. For a self-employed individual who had net earnings from self-employment in only one of the years, the individual's estimated self‑employment income equals the individual's net earnings from self-employment in the year in which the individual had net earnings from self-employment.

Subd. 18. Family and medical benefit insurance account. "Family and medical benefit insurance account" means the family and medical benefit insurance account in the special revenue fund in the state treasury under section 268B.02.

Subd. 19. Family and medical benefit insurance enforcement account. "Family and medical benefit insurance enforcement account" means the family and medical benefit insurance enforcement account in the state treasury under section 268B.185.

Subd. 20. Family benefit program. "Family benefit program" means the program administered under this chapter for the collection of premiums and payment of benefits related to family care, bonding, safety leave, and leave related to a qualifying exigency.

Subd. 21. Family care. "Family care" means an applicant caring for a family member with a serious health condition or caring for a family member who is a covered service member.

Subd. 22. Family member. (a) "Family member" means, with respect to an employee:

(1) a spouse, including a domestic partner in a civil union or other registered domestic partnership recognized by the state, and a spouse's parent;

(2) a child and a child's spouse;

(3) a parent and a parent's spouse;

(4) a sibling and a sibling's spouse;

(5) a grandparent, a grandchild, or a spouse of a grandparent or grandchild; and

(6) any other individual who is related by blood or affinity and whose association with the employee is equivalent of a family relationship. For the purposes of this clause, with respect to an employee, this includes but is not limited to:

(i) a child of a sibling of the employee;

(ii) a sibling of the parents of the employee;

(iii) a child-in-law, a parent-in-law, a sibling-in-law, and a grandparent-in-law; and

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(iv) an individual who has resided at the same address as the employee for at least one year as of the first day of leave under this chapter.

(b) For the purposes of this chapter, a child includes a stepchild; biological, adopted, or foster child of the employee; or a child for whom the employee is standing in loco parentis.

(c) For the purposes of this chapter, a grandchild includes a step-grandchild or biological, adopted, or foster grandchild of the employee.

Subd. 23. Health care provider. "Health care provider" means:

(1) an individual who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under law to practice in the individual's scope of practice as a physician, osteopath, surgeon, or advanced practice registered nurse; or

(2) any other individual determined by the commissioner by rule, in accordance with the rulemaking procedures in the Administrative Procedure Act, to be capable of providing health care services.

Subd. 24. High quarter. "High quarter" means the calendar quarter in an applicant's base period with the highest amount of wage credits.

Subd. 25. Incapacity. "Incapacity" means inability to perform regular work, attend school, or fully perform other regular daily activities due to a serious health condition, treatment therefore, or recovery therefrom.

Subd. 26. Independent contractor. (a) If there is an existing specific test or definition for independent contractor in Minnesota statute or rule applicable to an occupation or sector as of the date of enactment of this chapter, that test or definition shall apply to that occupation or sector for purposes of this chapter. If there is not an existing test or definition as described, the definition for independent contractor shall be as provided in this subdivision.

(b) An individual is an independent contractor and not an employee of the person for whom the individual is performing services in the course of the person's trade, business, profession, or occupation only if:

(1) the individual maintains a separate business with the individual's own office, equipment, materials, and other facilities;

(2) the individual:

(i) holds or has applied for a federal employer identification number; or

(ii) has filed business or self-employment income tax returns with the federal Internal Revenue Service if the individual has performed services in the previous year;

(3) the individual is operating under contract to perform the specific services for the person for specific amounts of money and under which the individual controls the means of performing the services;

(4) the individual is incurring the main expenses related to the services that the individual is performing for the person under the contract;

(5) the individual is responsible for the satisfactory completion of the services that the individual has contracted to perform for the person and is liable for a failure to complete the services;

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(6) the individual receives compensation from the person for the services performed under the contract on a commission or per-job or competitive bid basis and not on any other basis;

(7) the individual may realize a profit or suffer a loss under the contract to perform services for the person;

(8) the individual has continuing or recurring business liabilities or obligations; and

(9) the success or failure of the individual's business depends on the relationship of business receipts to expenditures.

(c) For the purposes of this chapter, an insurance producer, as defined in section 60K.31, subdivision 6, is an independent contractor of an insurance company, as defined in section 60A.02, subdivision 4, unless the insurance producer and insurance company agree otherwise.

Subd. 27. Inpatient care. "Inpatient care" means an overnight stay in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility, including any period of incapacity, or any subsequent treatment in connection with such inpatient care.

Subd. 28. Maximum weekly benefit amount. "Maximum weekly benefit amount" means the state's average weekly wage as calculated under section 268.035, subdivision 23.

Subd. 29. Medical benefit program. "Medical benefit program" means the program administered under this chapter for the collection of premiums and payment of benefits related to an applicant's serious health condition or pregnancy.

Subd. 30. Net earnings from self-employment. "Net earnings from self-employment" has the meaning given in section 1402 of the Internal Revenue Code, as defined in section 290.01, subdivision 31.

Subd. 31. Pregnancy. "Pregnancy" means prenatal care or incapacity due to pregnancy or recovery from childbirth, still birth, miscarriage, or related health conditions.

Subd. 32. Qualifying exigency. (a) "Qualifying exigency" means a need arising out of a military member's active duty service or notice of an impending call or order to active duty in the United States armed forces, including providing for the care or other needs of the family member's child or other dependent, making financial or legal arrangements for the family member, attending counseling, attending military events or ceremonies, spending time with the family member during a rest and recuperation leave or following return from deployment, or making arrangements following the death of the military member.

(b) For the purposes of this chapter, a "military member" means a current or former member of the United States armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or reserves, who, except for a deceased military member, is a resident of the state and is a family member of the employee taking leave related to the qualifying exigency.

Subd. 33. Safety leave. "Safety leave" means leave from work because of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking of the employee or employee's family member, provided the leave is to:

(1) seek medical attention related to the physical or psychological injury or disability caused by domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking;

(2) obtain services from a victim services organization;

(3) obtain psychological or other counseling;

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(4) seek relocation due to the domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking; or

(5) seek legal advice or take legal action, including preparing for or participating in any civil or criminal legal proceeding related to, or resulting from, the domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.

Subd. 34. Self-employed individual. "Self-employed individual" means a resident of the state who, in one of the two taxable years preceding the current calendar year, derived at least $10,000 in net earnings from self‑employment from an entity other than an S corporation for the performance of services in this state.

Subd. 35. Self-employment premium base. "Self-employment premium base" means the lesser of:

(1) a self-employed individual's estimated self-employment income for the calendar year plus the individual's self-employment wages in the calendar year; or

(2) the maximum earnings subject to the FICA Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance tax in the taxable year.

Subd. 36. Self-employment wages. "Self-employment wages" means the amount of wages that a self‑employed individual earned in the calendar year from an entity from which the individual also received net earnings from self-employment.

Subd. 37. Serious health condition. (a) "Serious health condition" means a physical or mental illness, injury, impairment, condition, or substance use disorder that involves:

(1) at-home care or inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility, including any period of incapacity; or

(2) continuing treatment or supervision by a health care provider which includes any one or more of the following:

(i) a period of incapacity of more than three consecutive, full calendar days, and any subsequent treatment or period of incapacity relating to the same condition, that also involves:

(A) treatment two or more times by a health care provider or by a provider of health care services under orders of, or on referral by, a health care provider; or

(B) treatment by a health care provider on at least one occasion that results in a regimen of continuing treatment under the supervision of the health care provider;

(ii) a period of incapacity due to pregnancy, or for prenatal care;

(iii) a period of incapacity or treatment for a chronic health condition that:

(A) requires periodic visits, defined as at least twice a year, for treatment by a health care provider or under orders of, or on referral by, a health care provider;

(B) continues over an extended period of time, including recurring episodes of a single underlying condition; and

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(iv) a period of incapacity which is permanent or long term due to a condition for which treatment may not be effective. The employee or family member must be under the continuing supervision of, but need not be receiving active treatment by, a health care provider; or

(v) a period of absence to receive multiple treatments, including any period of recovery from the treatments, by a health care provider or by a provider of health care services under orders of, or on referral by, a health care provider, for:

(A) restorative surgery after an accident or other injury; or

(B) a condition that would likely result in a period of incapacity of more than three consecutive, full calendar days in the absence of medical intervention or treatment.

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), treatment by a health care provider means an in-person visit or telemedicine visit with a health care provider, or by a provider of health care services under orders of, or on referral by, a health care provider.

(c) For the purposes of paragraph (a), treatment includes but is not limited to examinations to determine if a serious health condition exists and evaluations of the condition.

(d) Absences attributable to incapacity under paragraph (a), clause (2), item (ii) or (iii), qualify for leave under this chapter even if the employee or the family member does not receive treatment from a health care provider during the absence, and even if the absence does not last more than three consecutive, full calendar days.

Subd. 38. State's average weekly wage. "State's average weekly wage" means the weekly wage calculated under section 268.035, subdivision 23.

Subd. 39. Supplemental benefit payment. (a) "Supplemental benefit payment" means:

(1) a payment made by an employer to an employee as salary continuation or as paid time off. Such a payment must be in addition to any family or medical leave benefits the employee is receiving under this chapter; and

(2) a payment offered by an employer to an employee who is taking leave under this chapter to supplement the family or medical leave benefits the employee is receiving.

(b) Employers may, but are not required to, designate certain benefits including but not limited to salary continuation, vacation leave, sick leave, or other paid time off as a supplemental benefit payment.

Subd. 40. Taxable year. "Taxable year" has the meaning given in section 290.01, subdivision 9.

Subd. 41. Taxable wages. "Taxable wages" means those wages paid to an employee in covered employment each calendar year up to an amount equal to the maximum wages subject to premium in a calendar year, which is equal to the maximum earnings in that year subject to the FICA Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance tax rounded to the nearest $1,000.

Subd. 42. Typical workweek hours. "Typical workweek hours" means:

(1) for an hourly employee, the average number of hours worked per week by an employee within the high quarter during the base year; or

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(2) 40 hours for a salaried employee, regardless of the number of hours the salaried employee typically works.

Subd. 43. Wage credits. "Wage credits" means the amount of wages paid within an applicant's base period for covered employment, as defined in subdivision 13.

Subd. 44. Wage detail report. "Wage detail report" means the report on each employee in covered employment required from an employer on a calendar quarter basis under section 268B.12.

Subd. 45. Wages. (a) "Wages" means all compensation for employment, including commissions; bonuses, awards, and prizes; severance payments; standby pay; vacation and holiday pay; back pay as of the date of payment; tips and gratuities paid to an employee by a customer of an employer and accounted for by the employee to the employer; sickness and accident disability payments, except as otherwise provided in this subdivision; and the cash value of housing, utilities, meals, exchanges of services, and any other goods and services provided to compensate an employee, except:

(1) the amount of any payment made to, or on behalf of, an employee under a plan established by an employer that makes provision for employees generally or for a class or classes of employees, including any amount paid by an employer for insurance or annuities, or into a plan, to provide for a payment, on account of (i) retirement, (ii) medical and hospitalization expenses in connection with sickness or accident disability, or (iii) death;

(2) the payment by an employer of the tax imposed upon an employee under United States Code, title 26, section 3101 of the Federal Insurance Contribution Act, with respect to compensation paid to an employee for domestic employment in a private household of the employer or for agricultural employment;

(3) any payment made to, or on behalf of, an employee or beneficiary (i) from or to a trust described in United States Code, title 26, section 401(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, that is exempt from tax under section 501(a) at the time of the payment unless the payment is made to an employee of the trust as compensation for services as an employee and not as a beneficiary of the trust, or (ii) under or to an annuity plan that, at the time of the payment, is a plan described in section 403(a);

(4) the value of any special discount or markdown allowed to an employee on goods purchased from or services supplied by the employer where the purchases are optional and do not constitute regular or systematic payment for services;

(5) customary and reasonable directors' fees paid to individuals who are not otherwise employed by the corporation of which they are directors;

(6) the payment to employees for reimbursement of meal expenses when employees are required to perform work after their regular hours;

(7) the payment into a trust or plan for purposes of providing legal or dental services if provided for all employees generally or for a class or classes of employees;

(8) the value of parking facilities provided or paid for by an employer, in whole or in part, if provided for all employees generally or for a class or classes of employees;

(9) royalties to an owner of a franchise, license, copyright, patent, oil, mineral, or other right;

(10) advances or reimbursements for traveling or other ordinary and necessary expenses incurred or reasonably expected to be incurred in the business of the employer. Traveling and other reimbursed expenses must be identified either by making separate payments or by specifically indicating the separate amounts where both wages and expense allowances are combined in a single payment;

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(11) residual payments to radio, television, and similar artists that accrue after the production of television commercials, musical jingles, spot announcements, radio transcriptions, film soundtracks, and similar activities;

(12) the income to a former employee resulting from the exercise of a nonqualified stock option;

(13) supplemental unemployment benefit payments under a plan established by an employer, if the payment is not wages under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act. The payments are wages unless made solely for the supplementing of weekly state or federal unemployment benefits. Supplemental unemployment benefit payments may not be assigned, nor may any consideration be required from the applicant, other than a release of claims in order to be excluded from wages;

(14) sickness or accident disability payments made by the employer after the expiration of six calendar months following the last calendar month that the individual worked for the employer;

(15) disability payments made under the provisions of any workers' compensation law;

(16) sickness or accident disability payments made by a third-party payer such as an insurance company; or

(17) payments made into a trust fund, or for the purchase of insurance or an annuity, to provide for sickness or accident disability payments to employees under a plan or system established by the employer that provides for the employer's employees generally or for a class or classes of employees.

(b) Nothing in this subdivision excludes from the term "wages" any payment made under any type of salary reduction agreement, including payments made under a cash or deferred arrangement and cafeteria plan, as defined in United States Code, title 26, sections 401(k) and 125 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, to the extent that the employee has the option to receive the payment in cash.

(c) Wages includes the total payment to the operator and supplier of a vehicle or other equipment where the payment combines compensation for personal services as well as compensation for the cost of operating and hiring the equipment in a single payment. This paragraph does not apply if:

(1) there is a preexisting written agreement providing for allocation of specific amounts; or

(2) at the time of each payment there is a written acknowledgment indicating the separate allocated amounts.

(d) Wages includes payments made for services as a caretaker. Unless there is a contract or other proof to the contrary, compensation is considered as being equally received by a married couple where the employer makes payment to only one spouse, or by all tenants of a household who perform services where two or more individuals share the same dwelling and the employer makes payment to only one individual.

(e) Wages includes payments made for services by a migrant family. Where services are performed by a married couple or a family and an employer makes payment to only one individual, each worker is considered as having received an equal share of the compensation unless there is a contract or other proof to the contrary.

(f) Wages includes advances or draws against future earnings, when paid, unless the payments are designated as a loan or return of capital on the books and records of the employer at the time of payment.

(g) Wages includes payments made by a subchapter "S" corporation, as organized under the Internal Revenue Code, to or on behalf of officers and shareholders that are reasonable compensation for services performed for the corporation.

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For a subchapter "S" corporation, wages does not include:

(1) a loan for business purposes to an officer or shareholder evidenced by a promissory note signed by an officer before the payment of the loan proceeds and recorded on the books and records of the corporation as a loan to an officer or shareholder;

(2) a repayment of a loan or payment of interest on a loan made by an officer to the corporation and recorded on the books and records of the corporation as a liability;

(3) a reimbursement of reasonable corporation expenses incurred by an officer and documented by a written expense voucher and recorded on the books and records of the corporation as corporate expenses; and

(4) a reasonable lease or rental payment to an officer who owns property that is leased or rented to the corporation.

Subd. 46. Wages paid. (a) "Wages paid" means the amount of wages:

(1) that have been actually paid; or

(2) that have been credited to or set apart so that payment and disposition is under the control of the employee.

(b) Wage payments delayed beyond the regularly scheduled pay date are wages paid on the missed pay date. Back pay is wages paid on the date of actual payment. Any wages earned but not paid with no scheduled date of payment are wages paid on the last day of employment.

Subd. 47. Week. "Week" means calendar week ending at midnight Saturday.

Subd. 48. Weekly benefit amount. "Weekly benefit amount" means the amount of family and medical leave benefits computed under section 268B.04.

Sec. 6. [268B.02] FAMILY AND MEDICAL BENEFIT INSURANCE PROGRAM CREATION.

Subdivision 1. Creation. A family and medical benefit insurance program is created to be administered by the commissioner according to the terms of this chapter.

Subd. 2. Creation of division. A Family and Medical Benefit Insurance Division is created within the department under the authority of the commissioner. The commissioner shall appoint a director of the division. The division shall administer and operate the benefit program under this chapter.

Subd. 3. Rulemaking. The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

Subd. 4. Account creation; appropriation. The family and medical benefit insurance account is created in the special revenue fund in the state treasury. Money in this account is appropriated to the commissioner to pay benefits under and to administer this chapter, including outreach required under section 268B.18.

Subd. 5. Information technology services and equipment. The department is exempt from the provisions of section 16E.016 for the purposes of this chapter.

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Sec. 7. [268B.03] PAYMENT OF BENEFITS.

Subdivision 1. Requirements. The commissioner must pay benefits from the family and medical benefit insurance account as provided under this chapter to an applicant who has met each of the following requirements:

(1) the applicant has filed an application for benefits and established a benefit account in accordance with section 268B.04;

(2) the applicant has met all of the ongoing eligibility requirements under section 268B.06;

(3) the applicant does not have an outstanding overpayment of family or medical leave benefits, including any penalties or interest;

(4) the applicant has not been held ineligible for benefits under section 268.07, subdivision 2; and

(5) the applicant is not employed exclusively by a private plan employer and has wage credits during the base year attributable to employers covered under the state family and medical leave program.

Subd. 2. Benefits paid from state funds. Benefits are paid from state funds and are not considered paid from any special insurance plan, nor as paid by an employer. An application for family or medical leave benefits is not considered a claim against an employer but is considered a request for benefits from the family and medical benefit insurance account. The commissioner has the responsibility for the proper payment of benefits regardless of the level of interest or participation by an applicant or an employer in any determination or appeal. An applicant's entitlement to benefits must be determined based upon that information available without regard to a burden of proof. Any agreement between an applicant and an employer is not binding on the commissioner in determining an applicant's entitlement. There is no presumption of entitlement or nonentitlement to benefits.

Sec. 8. [268B.04] BENEFIT ACCOUNT; BENEFITS.

Subdivision 1. Application for benefits; determination of benefit account. (a) An application for benefits may be filed in person, by mail, or by electronic transmission as the commissioner may require. The applicant must include certification supporting a request for leave under this chapter. The applicant must meet eligibility requirements at the time the application is filed and must provide all requested information in the manner required. If the applicant does not meet eligibility at the time of the application or fails to provide all requested information, the communication is not an application for family and medical leave benefits.

(b) The commissioner must examine each application for benefits to determine the base period and the benefit year, and based upon all the covered employment in the base period the commissioner must determine the weekly benefit amount available, if any, and the maximum amount of benefits available, if any. The determination, which is a document separate and distinct from a document titled a determination of eligibility or determination of ineligibility, must be titled determination of benefit account. A determination of benefit account must be sent to the applicant and all base period employers, by mail or electronic transmission.

(c) If a base period employer did not provide wage detail information for the applicant as required under section 268B.12, the commissioner may accept an applicant certification of wage credits, based upon the applicant's records, and issue a determination of benefit account.

(d) The commissioner may, at any time within 24 months from the establishment of a benefit account, reconsider any determination of benefit account and make an amended determination if the commissioner finds that the wage credits listed in the determination were incorrect for any reason. An amended determination of benefit account must be promptly sent to the applicant and all base period employers, by mail or electronic transmission. This paragraph does not apply to documents titled determinations of eligibility or determinations of ineligibility issued.

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(e) If an amended determination of benefit account reduces the weekly benefit amount or maximum amount of benefits available, any benefits that have been paid greater than the applicant was entitled is an overpayment of benefits. A determination or amended determination issued under this section that results in an overpayment of benefits must set out the amount of the overpayment and the requirement that the overpaid benefits must be repaid according to section 268B.185.

Subd. 2. Benefit account requirements. (a) Unless paragraph (b) applies, to establish a benefit account, an applicant must have wage credits of at least 5.3 percent of the state's average annual wage rounded down to the next lower $100.

(b) To establish a new benefit account following the expiration of the benefit year on a prior benefit account, an applicant must have performed actual work in subsequent covered employment and have been paid wages in one or more completed calendar quarters that started after the effective date of the prior benefit account. The wages paid for that employment must be at least enough to meet the requirements of paragraph (a). A benefit account under this paragraph must not be established effective earlier than the Sunday following the end of the most recent completed calendar quarter in which the requirements of paragraph (a) were met. An applicant must not establish a second benefit account as a result of one loss of employment.

Subd. 3. Weekly benefit amount; maximum amount of benefits available; prorated amount. (a) Subject to the maximum weekly benefit amount, an applicant's weekly benefit is calculated by adding the amounts obtained by applying the following percentage to an applicant's average typical workweek and weekly wage during the high quarter of the base period:

(1) 90 percent of wages that do not exceed 50 percent of the state's average weekly wage; plus

(2) 66 percent of wages that exceed 50 percent of the state's average weekly wage but not 100 percent; plus

(3) 55 percent of wages that exceed 100 percent of the state's average weekly wage.

(b) The state's average weekly wage is the average wage as calculated under section 268.035, subdivision 23, at the time a benefit amount is first determined.

(c) The maximum weekly benefit amount is the state's average weekly wage as calculated under section 268.035, subdivision 23.

(d) The state's maximum weekly benefit amount, computed in accordance with section 268.035, subdivision 23, applies to a benefit account established effective on or after the last Sunday in October. Once established, an applicant's weekly benefit amount is not affected by the last Sunday in October change in the state's maximum weekly benefit amount.

(e) For an employee receiving family or medical leave, a weekly benefit amount is prorated when:

(1) the employee works hours for wages; or

(2) the employee uses paid sick leave, paid vacation leave, or other paid time off that is not considered a supplemental benefit payment as defined in section 268B.01, subdivision 37.

Subd. 4. Timing of payment. Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, benefits must be paid weekly.

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Subd. 5. Maximum length of benefits. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), in a single benefit year, an applicant may receive up to 12 weeks of benefits under this chapter related to the applicant's serious health condition or pregnancy and up to 12 weeks of benefits under this chapter for bonding, safety leave, or family care.

(b) An applicant may receive up to 12 weeks of benefits in a single benefit year for leave related to one or more qualifying exigencies.

Subd. 6. Minimum period for which benefits payable. Except for a claim for benefits for bonding leave, any claim for benefits must be based on a single qualifying event of at least seven calendar days. Benefits may be paid for a minimum duration of eight consecutive hours in a week. If an employee on leave claims eight hours at any point during a week, the minimum duration is satisfied.

Subd. 7. Right of appeal. (a) A determination or amended determination of benefit account is final unless an appeal is filed by the applicant within 30 calendar days after the sending of the determination or amended determination, or within 60 calendar days, if an applicant establishes good cause for not appealing within 30 days. For the purposes of this paragraph, "good cause" means a reason that would have prevented an applicant from acting with due diligence in appealing within 30 days and includes any illness, disability, or linguistic and literacy limitation of the applicant, along with other relevant factors. If an applicant claims good cause for a late appeal, the applicant must be granted a hearing on the issue of timeliness. This hearing can be held at the same time as a hearing on the merits of the appeal. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268B.08.

(b) Any applicant may appeal from a determination or amended determination of benefit account on the issue of whether services performed constitute employment, whether the employment is covered employment, and whether money paid constitutes wages.

Subd. 8. Limitations on applications and benefit accounts. (a) An application for family or medical leave benefits is effective the Sunday of the calendar week that the application was filed. An application for benefits may be backdated one calendar week before the Sunday of the week the application was actually filed if the applicant requests the backdating within seven calendar days of the date the application is filed. An application may be backdated only if the applicant was eligible for the benefit during the period of the backdating. If an individual attempted to file an application for benefits, but was prevented from filing an application by the department, the application is effective the Sunday of the calendar week the individual first attempted to file an application.

(b) A benefit account established under subdivision 2 is effective the date the application for benefits was effective.

(1) the applicant has not been paid any benefits on that benefit account; and

(2) a new application for benefits is filed and a new benefit account is established at the time of the withdrawal.

A benefit account may be withdrawn after the expiration of the benefit year, and the new work requirements of subdivision 2, paragraph (b), do not apply if the applicant was not paid any benefits on the benefit account that is being withdrawn.

A determination or amended determination of eligibility or ineligibility issued under section 268B.07 that was sent before the withdrawal of the benefit account, remains in effect and is not voided by the withdrawal of the benefit account.

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Sec. 9. [268B.05] CONTINUED REQUEST FOR BENEFITS.

A continued request for family or medical leave benefits is a certification by an applicant, done on a weekly basis, that the applicant is unable to perform usual work due to a qualifying event and meets the ongoing eligibility requirements for benefits under section 268B.06. A continued request must include information on possible issues of ineligibility.

Sec. 10. [268B.06] ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS; PAYMENTS THAT AFFECT BENEFITS.

Subdivision 1. Eligibility conditions. (a) An applicant may be eligible to receive family or medical leave benefits for any week if:

(1) the applicant has filed a continued request for benefits for that week under section 268B.05;

(2) the week for which benefits are requested is in the applicant's benefit year;

(3) the applicant was unable to perform regular work due to a serious health condition, a qualifying exigency, safety leave, family care, bonding, pregnancy, or recovery from pregnancy for the period required under subdivision 2;

(4) the applicant has sufficient wage credits from an employer or employers as defined in section 268B.01, subdivision 41, to establish a benefit account under section 268B.04; and

(5) an applicant requesting benefits under this chapter must fulfill certification requirements under subdivision 3.

(b) A self-employed individual or independent contractor who has elected and been approved for coverage under section 268B.11 need not fulfill the requirement of paragraph (a), clause (4).

Subd. 2. Seven-day qualifying event. (a) The period for which an applicant is seeking benefits must be or have been based on a single event of at least seven calendar days' duration related to pregnancy, recovery from pregnancy, family care, a qualifying exigency, safety leave, or the applicant's serious health condition. The days need not be consecutive.

(b) Benefits related to bonding need not meet the seven-day qualifying event requirement.

(c) The commissioner shall use the rulemaking authority under section 268B.02, subdivision 3, to adopt rules regarding what serious health conditions and other events are prospectively presumed to constitute seven-day qualifying events under this chapter.

Subd. 3. Certification. (a) Certification for an applicant taking leave related to the applicant's serious health condition shall be sufficient if the certification states the date on which the serious health condition began, the probable duration of the condition, and the appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care provider as required by the commissioner.

(b) Certification for an applicant taking leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition shall be sufficient if the certification states the date on which the serious health condition commenced, the probable duration of the condition, the appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care provider as required by the commissioner, a statement that the family member requires care, and an estimate of the amount of time that the family member will require care.

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(c) Certification for an applicant taking leave related to pregnancy shall be sufficient if the certification states the expected due date and recovery period based on appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care provider.

(d) Certification for an applicant taking bonding leave because of the birth of the applicant's child shall be sufficient if the certification includes either the child's birth certificate or a document issued by the health care provider of the child or the health care provider of the person who gave birth, stating the child's birth date.

(e) Certification for an applicant taking bonding leave because of the placement of a child with the applicant for adoption or foster care shall be sufficient if the applicant provides a document issued by the health care provider of the child, an adoption or foster care agency involved in the placement, or by other individuals as determined by the commissioner that confirms the placement and the date of placement. To the extent that the status of an applicant as an adoptive or foster parent changes while an application for benefits is pending, or while the covered individual is receiving benefits, the applicant must notify the department of such change in status in writing.

(f) Certification for an applicant taking leave because of a qualifying exigency shall be sufficient if the certification includes:

(1) a copy of the family member's active-duty orders;

(2) other documentation issued by the United States armed forces; or

(3) other documentation permitted by the commissioner.

(g) Certification for an applicant taking safety leave is sufficient if the certification includes a court record or documentation signed by a volunteer or employee of a victim's services organization, an attorney, a police officer, or an antiviolence counselor. The commissioner must not require disclosure of details relating to an applicant's or applicant's family member's domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.

(h) Certifications under paragraphs (a) to (e) must be reviewed and signed by a health care provider with knowledge of the qualifying event associated with the leave.

(i) For a leave taken on an intermittent or reduced-schedule basis, based on a serious health condition of an applicant or applicant's family member, the certification under this subdivision must include an explanation of how such leave would be medically beneficial to the individual with the serious health condition.

Subd. 4. Not eligible. An applicant is ineligible for family or medical leave benefits for any portion of a typical workweek:

(1) that occurs before the effective date of a benefit account;

(2) that the applicant has an outstanding misrepresentation overpayment balance under section 268B.185, subdivision 5, including any penalties and interest;

(3) that the applicant fails or refuses to provide information on an issue of ineligibility required under section 268B.07, subdivision 2; or

(4) for which the applicant worked for pay.

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Subd. 5. Vacation, sick leave, and supplemental benefit payments. (a) An applicant is not eligible to receive benefits for any portion of a typical workweek the applicant is receiving, has received, or will receive vacation pay, sick pay, or personal time off pay, also known as "PTO."

(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply:

(1) upon a permanent separation from employment;

(2) to payments from a vacation fund administered by a union or a third party not under the control of the employer; or

(3) to supplemental benefit payments, as defined in section 268B.01, subdivision 37.

(c) Payments under this subdivision are applied to the period immediately following the later of the date of separation from employment or the date the applicant first becomes aware that the employer will be making a payment. The date the payment is actually made or received, or that an applicant must agree to a release of claims, does not affect the application of this subdivision.

Subd. 6. Workers' compensation and disability insurance offset. (a) An applicant is not eligible to receive benefits for any portion of a week in which the applicant is receiving or has received compensation for loss of wages equal to or in excess of the applicant's weekly family or medical leave benefit amount under:

(1) the workers' compensation law of this state;

(2) the workers' compensation law of any other state or similar federal law; or

(3) any insurance or trust fund paid in whole or in part by an employer.

(b) This subdivision does not apply to an applicant who has a claim pending for loss of wages under paragraph (a). If the applicant later receives compensation as a result of the pending claim, the applicant is subject to paragraph (a) and the family or medical leave benefits paid are overpaid benefits under section 268B.185.

(c) If the amount of compensation described under paragraph (a) for any week is less than the applicant's weekly family or medical leave benefit amount, benefits requested for that week are reduced by the amount of that compensation payment.

Subd. 7. Separation, severance, or bonus payments. (a) An applicant is not eligible to receive benefits for any week the applicant is receiving, has received, or will receive separation pay, severance pay, bonus pay, or any other payments paid by an employer because of, upon, or after separation from employment. This subdivision applies if the payment is:

(1) considered wages under section 268B.01, subdivision 43; or

(2) subject to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax imposed to fund Social Security and Medicare.

(b) Payments under this subdivision are applied to the period immediately following the later of the date of separation from employment or the date the applicant first becomes aware that the employer will be making a payment. The date the payment is actually made or received, or that an applicant must agree to a release of claims, does not affect the application of this paragraph.

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(c) This subdivision does not apply to vacation pay, sick pay, personal time off pay, or supplemental benefit payment under subdivision 4.

(d) This subdivision applies to all the weeks of payment.

(e) Under this subdivision, if the payment with respect to a week is equal to or more than the applicant's weekly benefit amount, the applicant is ineligible for benefits for that week. If the payment with respect to a week is less than the applicant's weekly benefit amount, benefits are reduced by the amount of the payment.

Subd. 8. Social Security disability benefits. (a) An applicant who is receiving, has received, or has filed for primary Social Security disability benefits for any week is ineligible for benefits for that week, unless:

(1) the Social Security Administration approved the collecting of primary Social Security disability benefits each month the applicant was employed during the base period; or

(2) the applicant provides a statement from an appropriate health care professional who is aware of the applicant's Social Security disability claim and the basis for that claim, certifying that the applicant is available for suitable employment.

(b) If an applicant meets the requirements of paragraph (a), clause (1), there is no deduction from the applicant's weekly benefit amount for any Social Security disability benefits.

(c) If an applicant meets the requirements of paragraph (a), clause (2), there must be deducted from the applicant's weekly benefit amount 50 percent of the weekly equivalent of the primary Social Security disability benefits the applicant is receiving, has received, or has filed for, with respect to that week.

If the Social Security Administration determines that the applicant is not entitled to receive primary Social Security disability benefits for any week the applicant has applied for those benefits, this paragraph does not apply to that week.

(d) Information from the Social Security Administration is conclusive, absent specific evidence showing that the information was erroneous.

Sec. 11. [268B.07] DETERMINATION ON ISSUES OF ELIGIBILITY.

Subdivision 1. Employer notification. (a) Upon a determination that an applicant is entitled to benefits, the commissioner must promptly send a notification to each current employer of the applicant, if any, in accordance with paragraph (b).

(b) The notification under paragraph (a) must include, at a minimum:

(1) the name of the applicant;

(2) that the applicant has applied for and received benefits;

(3) the week the benefits commence;

(4) the weekly benefit amount payable; and

(5) the maximum duration of benefits.

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Subd. 2. Determination. (a) The commissioner must determine any issue of ineligibility raised by information required from an applicant and send to the applicant and any current base period employer, by mail or electronic transmission, a document titled a determination of eligibility or a determination of ineligibility, as is appropriate, within two weeks.

(b) If an applicant obtained benefits through misrepresentation, the department is authorized to issue a determination of ineligibility within 48 months of the establishment of the benefit account.

(c) If the department has filed an intervention in a worker's compensation matter under section 176.361, the department is authorized to issue a determination of ineligibility within 48 months of the establishment of the benefit account.

(d) A determination of eligibility or determination of ineligibility is final unless an appeal is filed by the applicant within 20 calendar days after sending. The determination must contain a prominent statement indicating the consequences of not appealing. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268B.08.

(e) An issue of ineligibility required to be determined under this section includes any question regarding the denial or allowing of benefits under this chapter.

Subd. 3. Amended determination. Unless an appeal has been filed, the commissioner, on the commissioner's own motion, may reconsider a determination of eligibility or determination of ineligibility that has not become final and issue an amended determination. Any amended determination must be sent to the applicant and any employer in the current base period by mail or electronic transmission. Any amended determination is final unless an appeal is filed by the applicant within 30 calendar days after sending, or within 60 calendar days, if the applicant establishes good cause for not appealing within 30 days. For the purposes of this paragraph, "good cause" means a reason that would have prevented an applicant from acting with due diligence in appealing within 30 days and includes any illness, disability, or linguistic and literacy limitation of the applicant, along with other relevant factors. If an applicant claims good cause for a late appeal, the applicant must be granted a hearing on the issue of timeliness. This hearing can be held at the same time as a hearing on the merits of the appeal. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268B.08.

Subd. 4. Benefit payment. If a determination or amended determination allows benefits to an applicant, the family or medical leave benefits must be paid regardless of any appeal period or any appeal having been filed.

Subd. 5. Overpayment. A determination or amended determination that holds an applicant ineligible for benefits for periods an applicant has been paid benefits is an overpayment of those family or medical leave benefits. A determination or amended determination issued under this section that results in an overpayment of benefits must set out the amount of the overpayment and the requirement that the overpaid benefits must be repaid according to section 268B.185.

Sec. 12. [268B.08] APPEAL PROCESS.

Subdivision 1. Hearing. (a) The commissioner shall designate a chief benefit judge.

(b) Upon a timely appeal to a determination having been filed or upon a referral for direct hearing, the chief benefit judge must set a time and date for a de novo due-process hearing and send notice to an applicant and an employer, by mail or electronic transmission, not less than ten calendar days before the date of the hearing.

(c) The commissioner may adopt rules on procedures for hearings. The rules need not conform to common law or statutory rules of evidence and other technical rules of procedure.

(d) The chief benefit judge has discretion regarding the method by which the hearing is conducted.

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Subd. 2. Decision. (a) After the conclusion of the hearing, upon the evidence obtained, the benefit judge must serve by mail or electronic transmission to all parties the decision, reasons for the decision, and written findings of fact.

(b) Decisions of a benefit judge are not precedential.

Subd. 3. Request for reconsideration. Any party, or the commissioner, may, within 30 calendar days after service of the benefit judge's decision, file a request for reconsideration asking the judge to reconsider that decision.

Subd. 4. Appeal to court of appeals. Any final determination on a request for reconsideration may be appealed by any party directly to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Subd. 5. Benefit judges. (a) Only employees of the department who are attorneys licensed to practice law in Minnesota may serve as a chief benefit judge, senior benefit judges who are supervisors, or benefit judges.

(b) The chief benefit judge must assign a benefit judge to conduct a hearing and may transfer to another benefit judge any proceedings pending before another benefit judge.

Sec. 13. [268B.085] LEAVE.

Subdivision 1. Right to leave. Ninety calendar days from the date of hire, an employee has a right to leave from employment for any day, or portion of a day, for which the employee would be eligible for benefits under this chapter, regardless of whether the employee actually applied for benefits and regardless of whether the employee is covered under a private plan or the public program under this chapter.

Subd. 2. Notice to employer. (a) If the need for leave is foreseeable, an employee must provide the employer at least 30 days' advance notice before leave under this chapter is to begin. If 30 days' notice is not practicable because of a lack of knowledge of approximately when leave will be required to begin, a change in circumstances, or a medical emergency, notice must be given as soon as practicable. Whether leave is to be continuous or is to be taken intermittently or on a reduced-schedule basis, notice need only be given one time, but the employee must advise the employer as soon as practicable if dates of scheduled leave change or are extended, or were initially unknown. In those cases where the employee is required to provide at least 30 days' notice of foreseeable leave and does not do so, the employee must explain the reasons why notice was not practicable upon request from the employer.

(b) "As soon as practicable" means as soon as both possible and practical, taking into account all of the facts and circumstances in the individual case. When an employee becomes aware of a need for leave under this chapter less than 30 days in advance, it should be practicable for the employee to provide notice of the need for leave either the same day or the next day, unless the need for leave is based on a medical emergency. In all cases, however, the determination of when an employee could practicably provide notice must take into account the individual facts and circumstances.

(c) An employee shall provide at least oral, telephone, or text message notice sufficient to make the employer aware that the employee needs leave allowed under this chapter and the anticipated timing and duration of the leave. An employer may require an employee giving notice of leave to include a certification for the leave as described in section 268B.06, subdivision 3. Such certification, if required by an employer, is timely when the employee delivers it as soon as practicable given the circumstances requiring the need for leave, and the required contents of the certification.

(d) An employer may require an employee to comply with the employer's usual and customary notice and procedural requirements for requesting leave, absent unusual circumstances or other circumstances caused by the reason for the employee's need for leave. Leave under this chapter must not be delayed or denied where an employer's usual and customary notice or procedural requirements require notice to be given sooner than set forth in this subdivision.

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(e) If an employer has failed to provide notice to the employee as required under section 268B.26, paragraph (a), (b), or (e), the employee is not required to comply with the notice requirements of this subdivision.

Subd. 3. Bonding leave. Bonding leave taken under this chapter begins at a time requested by the employee. Bonding leave must begin within 12 months of the birth, adoption, or placement of a foster child, except that, in the case where the child must remain in the hospital longer than the mother, the leave must begin within 12 months after the child leaves the hospital.

Subd. 4. Intermittent or reduced-leave schedule. (a) Leave under this chapter, based on a serious health condition, may be taken intermittently or on a reduced-leave schedule if such leave is reasonable and appropriate to the needs of the individual with the serious health condition. For all other leaves under this chapter, leave may be taken intermittently or on a reduced-leave schedule. Intermittent leave is leave taken in separate blocks of time due to a single, seven-day qualifying event. A reduced-leave schedule is a leave schedule that reduces an employee's usual number of working hours per workweek or hours per workday.

(b) Leave taken intermittently or on a reduced-schedule basis counts toward the maximums described in section 268B.04, subdivision 5.

Sec. 14. [268B.09] EMPLOYMENT PROTECTIONS.

Subdivision 1. Retaliation prohibited. An employer must not retaliate against an employee for requesting or obtaining benefits, or for exercising any other right under this chapter.

Subd. 2. Interference prohibited. An employer must not obstruct or impede an application for leave or benefits or the exercise of any other right under this chapter.

Subd. 3. Waiver of rights void. Any agreement to waive, release, or commute rights to benefits or any other right under this chapter is void.

Subd. 4. No assignment of benefits. Any assignment, pledge, or encumbrance of benefits is void. Benefits are exempt from levy, execution, attachment, or any other remedy provided for the collection of debt. Any waiver of this subdivision is void.

Subd. 5. Continued insurance. During any leave for which an employee is entitled to benefits under this chapter, the employer must maintain coverage under any group insurance policy, group subscriber contract, or health care plan for the employee and any dependents as if the employee was not on leave, provided, however, that the employee must continue to pay any employee share of the cost of such benefits.

Subd. 6. Employee right to reinstatement. (a) On return from leave under this chapter, an employee is entitled to be returned to the same position the employee held when leave commenced or to an equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay, and other terms and conditions of employment. An employee is entitled to reinstatement even if the employee has been replaced or the employee's position has been restructured to accommodate the employee's absence.

(b)(1) An equivalent position is one that is virtually identical to the employee's former position in terms of pay, benefits, and working conditions, including privileges, prerequisites, and status. It must involve the same or substantially similar duties and responsibilities, which must entail substantially equivalent skill, effort, responsibility, and authority.

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(2) If an employee is no longer qualified for the position because of the employee's inability to attend a necessary course, renew a license, fly a minimum number of hours, or similar condition, as a result of the leave, the employee must be given a reasonable opportunity to fulfill those conditions upon return from leave.

(c)(1) An employee is entitled to any unconditional pay increases which may have occurred during the leave period, such as cost of living increases. Pay increases conditioned upon seniority, length of service, or work performed must be granted in accordance with the employer's policy or practice with respect to other employees on an equivalent leave status for a reason that does not qualify for leave under this chapter. An employee is entitled to be restored to a position with the same or equivalent pay premiums, such as a shift differential. If an employee departed from a position averaging ten hours of overtime, and corresponding overtime pay, each week an employee is ordinarily entitled to such a position on return from leave under this chapter.

(2) Equivalent pay includes any bonus or payment, whether it is discretionary or nondiscretionary, made to employees consistent with clause (1). If a bonus or other payment is based on the achievement of a specified goal such as hours worked, products sold, or perfect attendance, and the employee has not met the goal due to leave under this chapter, the payment may be denied, unless otherwise paid to employees on an equivalent leave status for a reason that does not qualify for leave under this chapter.

(d) Benefits under this section include all benefits provided or made available to employees by an employer, including group life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, sick leave, annual leave, educational benefits, and pensions, regardless of whether benefits are provided by a practice or written policy of an employer through an employee benefit plan as defined in section 3(3) of United States Code, title 29, section 1002(3).

(1) At the end of an employee's leave under this chapter, benefits must be resumed in the same manner and at the same levels as provided when the leave began, and subject to any changes in benefit levels that may have taken place during the period of leave affecting the entire workforce, unless otherwise elected by the employee. Upon return from a leave under this chapter, an employee must not be required to requalify for any benefits the employee enjoyed before leave began, including family or dependent coverages.

(2) An employee may, but is not entitled to, accrue any additional benefits or seniority during a leave under this chapter. Benefits accrued at the time leave began must be available to an employee upon return from leave.

(3) With respect to pension and other retirement plans, leave under this chapter must not be treated as or counted toward a break in service for purposes of vesting and eligibility to participate. If the plan requires an employee to be employed on a specific date in order to be credited with a year of service for vesting, contributions, or participation purposes, an employee on leave under this chapter must be treated as employed on that date. Periods of leave under this chapter need not be treated as credited service for purposes of benefit accrual, vesting, and eligibility to participate.

(4) Employees on leave under this chapter must be treated as if they continued to work for purposes of changes to benefit plans. Employees on leave under this chapter are entitled to changes in benefit plans, except those which may be dependent upon seniority or accrual during the leave period, immediately upon return from leave or to the same extent they would have qualified if no leave had been taken.

(e) An equivalent position must have substantially similar duties, conditions, responsibilities, privileges, and status as the employee's original position.

(1) The employee must be reinstated to the same or a geographically proximate worksite from where the employee had previously been employed. If the employee's original worksite has been closed, the employee is entitled to the same rights as if the employee had not been on leave when the worksite closed.

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(2) The employee is ordinarily entitled to return to the same shift or the same or an equivalent work schedule.

(3) The employee must have the same or an equivalent opportunity for bonuses, profit-sharing, and other similar discretionary and nondiscretionary payments.

(4) This chapter does not prohibit an employer from accommodating an employee's request to be restored to a different shift, schedule, or position which better suits the employee's personal needs on return from leave, or to offer a promotion to a better position. However, an employee must not be induced by the employer to accept a different position against the employee's wishes.

(f) The requirement that an employee be restored to the same or equivalent job with the same or equivalent pay, benefits, and terms and conditions of employment does not extend to de minimis, intangible, or unmeasurable aspects of the job.

Subd. 7. Limitations on an employee's right to reinstatement. An employee has no greater right to reinstatement or to other benefits and conditions of employment than if the employee had been continuously employed during the period of leave under this chapter. An employer must be able to show that an employee would not otherwise have been employed at the time reinstatement is requested in order to deny restoration to employment.

(1) If an employee is laid off during the course of taking a leave under this chapter and employment is terminated, the employer's responsibility to continue the leave, maintain group health plan benefits, and restore the employee cease at the time the employee is laid off, provided the employer has no continuing obligations under a collective bargaining agreement or otherwise. An employer has the burden of proving that an employee would have been laid off during the period of leave under this chapter and, therefore, would not be entitled to restoration to a job slated for layoff when the employee's original position would not meet the requirements of an equivalent position.

(2) If a shift has been eliminated or overtime has been decreased, an employee would not be entitled to return to work that shift or the original overtime hours upon restoration. However, if a position on, for example, a night shift has been filled by another employee, the employee is entitled to return to the same shift on which employed before taking leave under this chapter.

(3) If an employee was hired for a specific term or only to perform work on a discrete project, the employer has no obligation to restore the employee if the employment term or project is over and the employer would not otherwise have continued to employ the employee.

Subd. 8. Remedies. (a) In addition to any other remedies available to an employee in law or equity, an employer who violates the provisions of this section is liable to any employee affected for:

(1) damages equal to the amount of:

(i) any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation denied or lost to such employee by reason of the violation, or, in cases in which wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation have not been denied or lost to the employee, any actual monetary losses sustained by the employee as a direct result of the violation; and

(ii) reasonable interest on the amount described in item (i); and

(2) such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion.

(b) An action to recover damages or equitable relief prescribed in paragraph (a) may be maintained against any employer in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction by any one or more employees for and on behalf of:

(1) the employees; or

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(2) the employees and other employees similarly situated.

(c) The court in an action under this section must, in addition to any judgment awarded to the plaintiff or plaintiffs, allow reasonable attorney fees, reasonable expert witness fees, and other costs of the action to be paid by the defendant.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow an employee to recover damages from an employer for the denial of benefits under this chapter by the department, unless the employer unlawfully interfered with the application for benefits under subdivision 2.

Sec. 15. [268B.10] SUBSTITUTION OF A PRIVATE PLAN.

Subdivision 1. Application for substitution. Employers may apply to the commissioner for approval to meet their obligations under this chapter through the substitution of a private plan that provides paid family, paid medical, or paid family and medical benefits. In order to be approved as meeting an employer's obligations under this chapter, a private plan must confer all of the same rights, protections, and benefits provided to employees under this chapter, including but not limited to benefits under section 268B.04 and employment protections under section 268B.09. An employee covered by a private plan under this section retains all applicable rights and remedies under section 268B.09.

Subd. 2. Private plan requirements; medical benefit program. (a) The commissioner must approve an application for private provision of the medical benefit program if the commissioner determines:

(1) all of the employees of the employer are to be covered under the provisions of the employer plan;

(2) eligibility requirements for benefits and leave are no more restrictive than as provided under this chapter;

(3) the weekly benefits payable under the private plan for any week are at least equal to the weekly benefit amount payable under this chapter, taking into consideration any coverage with respect to concurrent employment by another employer;

(4) the total number of weeks for which benefits are payable under the private plan is at least equal to the total number of weeks for which benefits would have been payable under this chapter;

(5) no greater amount is required to be paid by employees toward the cost of benefits under the employer plan than by this chapter;

(6) wage replacement benefits are stated in the plan separately and distinctly from other benefits;

(7) the private plan will provide benefits and leave for any serious health condition or pregnancy for which benefits are payable, and leave provided, under this chapter;

(8) the private plan will impose no additional condition or restriction on the use of medical benefits beyond those explicitly authorized by this chapter or regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter;

(9) the private plan will allow any employee covered under the private plan who is eligible to receive medical benefits under this chapter to receive medical benefits under the employer plan; and

(10) coverage will continue under the private plan while an employee remains employed by the employer.

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(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a private plan may provide shorter durations of leave and benefit eligibility if the total dollar value of wage replacement benefits under the private plan for an employee for any particular qualifying event meets or exceeds what the total dollar value would be under the public family and medical benefit program.

Subd. 3. Private plan requirements; family benefit program. (a) The commissioner must approve an application for private provision of the family benefit program if the commissioner determines:

(1) all of the employees of the employer are to be covered under the provisions of the employer plan;

(2) eligibility requirements for benefits and leave are no more restrictive than as provided under this chapter;

(4) the total number of weeks for which benefits are payable under the private plan is at least equal to the total number of weeks for which benefits would have been payable under this chapter;

(5) no greater amount is required to be paid by employees toward the cost of benefits under the employer plan than by this chapter;

(6) wage replacement benefits are stated in the plan separately and distinctly from other benefits;

(7) the private plan will provide benefits and leave for any care for a family member with a serious health condition, bonding with a child, qualifying exigency, or safety leave event for which benefits are payable, and leave provided, under this chapter;

(8) the private plan will impose no additional condition or restriction on the use of family benefits beyond those explicitly authorized by this chapter or regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter;

(9) the private plan will allow any employee covered under the private plan who is eligible to receive medical benefits under this chapter to receive medical benefits under the employer plan; and

(10) coverage will continue under the private plan while an employee remains employed by the employer.

Subd. 4. Use of private insurance products. Nothing in this section prohibits an employer from meeting the requirements of a private plan through a private insurance product. If the employer plan involves a private insurance product, that insurance product must conform to any applicable law or rule.

Subd. 5. Private plan approval and oversight fee. An employer with an approved private plan is not required to pay premiums established under section 268B.14. An employer with an approved private plan is responsible for a private plan approval and oversight fee equal to $250 for employers with fewer than 50 employees, $500 for employers with 50 to 499 employees, and $1,000 for employers with 500 or more employees. The employer must pay this fee (1) upon initial application for private plan approval, and (2) any time the employer applies to amend the private plan. The commissioner must review and report on the adequacy of this fee to cover private plan administrative costs annually beginning December 1, 2024, as part of the annual report established in section 268B.24.

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Subd. 6. Plan duration. A private plan under this section must be in effect for a period of at least one year and, thereafter, continuously unless the commissioner finds that the employer has given notice of withdrawal from the plan in a manner specified by the commissioner in this section or rule. The plan may be withdrawn by the employer within 30 days of the effective date of any law increasing the benefit amounts or within 30 days of the date of any change in the rate of premiums. If the plan is not withdrawn, it must be amended to conform to provide the increased benefit amount or change in the rate of the employee's premium on the date of the increase or change.

Subd. 7. Appeals. An employer may appeal any adverse action regarding that employer's private plan to the commissioner, in a manner specified by the commissioner.

Subd. 8. Employees no longer covered. (a) An employee is no longer covered by an approved private plan if a leave under this chapter occurs after the employment relationship with the private plan employer ends, or if the commissioner revokes the approval of the private plan.

(b) An employee no longer covered by an approved private plan is, if otherwise eligible, immediately entitled to benefits under this chapter to the same extent as though there had been no approval of the private plan.

Subd. 9. Posting of notice regarding private plan. An employer with a private plan must provide a notice prepared by or approved by the commissioner regarding the private plan consistent with section 268B.26.

Subd. 10. Amendment. (a) The commissioner must approve any amendment to a private plan adjusting the provisions thereof, if the commissioner determines:

(1) that the plan, as amended, will conform to the standards set forth in this chapter; and

(2) that notice of the amendment has been delivered to all affected employees at least ten days before the submission of the amendment.

(b) Any amendments approved under this subdivision are effective on the date of the commissioner's approval, unless the commissioner and the employer agree on a later date.

Subd. 11. Successor employer. A private plan in effect at the time a successor acquires the employer organization, trade, or business, or substantially all the assets thereof, or a distinct and severable portion of the organization, trade, or business, and continues its operation without substantial reduction of personnel resulting from the acquisition, must continue the approved private plan and must not withdraw the plan without a specific request for withdrawal in a manner and at a time specified by the commissioner. A successor may terminate a private plan with notice to the commissioner and within 90 days from the date of the acquisition.

Subd. 12. Revocation of approval by commissioner. (a) The commissioner may terminate any private plan if the commissioner determines the employer:

(1) failed to pay benefits;

(2) failed to pay benefits in a timely manner, consistent with the requirements of this chapter;

(3) failed to submit reports as required by this chapter or rule adopted under this chapter; or

(4) otherwise failed to comply with this chapter or rule adopted under this chapter.

(b) The commissioner must give notice of the intention to terminate a plan to the employer at least ten days before taking any final action. The notice must state the effective date and the reason for the termination.

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(c) The employer may, within ten days from mailing or personal service of the notice, file an appeal to the commissioner in the time, manner, method, and procedure provided by the commissioner under subdivision 7.

(d) The payment of benefits must not be delayed during an employer's appeal of the revocation of approval of a private plan.

(e) If the commissioner revokes approval of an employer's private plan, that employer is ineligible to apply for approval of another private plan for a period of three years, beginning on the date of revocation.

Subd. 13. Employer penalties. (a) The commissioner may assess the following monetary penalties against an employer with an approved private plan found to have violated this chapter:

(1) $1,000 for the first violation; and

(2) $2,000 for the second, and each successive violation.

(b) The commissioner must waive collection of any penalty if the employer corrects the violation within 30 days of receiving a notice of the violation and the notice is for a first violation.

(c) The commissioner may waive collection of any penalty if the commissioner determines the violation to be an inadvertent error by the employer.

(d) Monetary penalties collected under this section shall be deposited in the family and medical benefit insurance account.

(e) Assessment of penalties under this subdivision may be appealed as provided by the commissioner under subdivision 7.

Subd. 14. Reports, information, and records. Employers with an approved private plan must maintain all reports, information, and records as relating to the private plan and claims for a period of six years from creation and provide to the commissioner upon request.

Subd. 15. Audit and investigation. The commissioner may investigate and audit plans approved under this section both before and after the plans are approved.

Sec. 16. [268B.11] SELF-EMPLOYED AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR ELECTION OF COVERAGE.

Subdivision 1. Election of coverage. (a) A self-employed individual or independent contractor may file with the commissioner by electronic transmission in a format prescribed by the commissioner an application to be entitled to benefits under this chapter for a period not less than 104 consecutive calendar weeks. Upon the approval of the commissioner, sent by United States mail or electronic transmission, the individual is entitled to benefits under this chapter beginning the calendar quarter after the date of approval or beginning in a later calendar quarter if requested by the self-employed individual or independent contractor. The individual ceases to be entitled to benefits as of the first day of January of any calendar year only if, at least 30 calendar days before the first day of January, the individual has filed with the commissioner by electronic transmission in a format prescribed by the commissioner a notice to that effect.

(b) The commissioner may terminate any application approved under this section with 30 calendar days' notice sent by United States mail or electronic transmission if the self-employed individual is delinquent on any premiums due under this chapter. If an approved application is terminated in this manner during the first 104 consecutive calendar weeks of election, the self-employed individual remains obligated to pay the premium under subdivision 3 for the remainder of that 104-week period.

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Subd. 2. Application. A self-employed individual who applies for coverage under this section must provide the commissioner with (1) the amount of the individual's net earnings from self-employment, if any, from the two most recent taxable years and all tax documents necessary to prove the accuracy of the amounts reported, and (2) any other documentation the commissioner requires. A self-employed individual who is covered under this chapter must annually provide the commissioner with the amount of the individual's net earnings from self-employment within 30 days of filing a federal income tax return.

Subd. 3. Premium. A self-employed individual who elects to receive coverage under this chapter must annually pay a premium equal to one-half the percentage in section 268B.14, subdivision 5, clause (1), times the lesser of:

(1) the individual's self-employment premium base; or

(2) the maximum earnings subject to the FICA Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance tax.

Subd. 4. Benefits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, a self-employed individual who has applied to and been approved for coverage by the commissioner under this section is entitled to benefits on the same basis as an employee under this chapter, except that a self-employed individual's weekly benefit amount under section 268B.04, subdivision 1, must be calculated as a percentage of the self-employed individual's self-employment premium base, rather than wages.

Sec. 17. [268B.12] WAGE REPORTING.

Subdivision 1. Wage detail report. (a) Each employer must submit, under the employer premium account described in section 268B.13, a quarterly wage detail report by electronic transmission, in a format prescribed by the commissioner. The report must include for each employee in covered employment during the calendar quarter, the employee's name, Social Security number, the total wages paid to the employee, and total number of paid hours worked. For employees exempt from the definition of employee in section 177.23, subdivision 7, clause (6), the employer must report 40 hours worked for each week any duties were performed by a full-time employee and must report a reasonable estimate of the hours worked for each week duties were performed by a part-time employee. In addition, the wage detail report must include the number of employees employed during the payroll period that includes the 12th day of each calendar month and, if required by the commissioner, the report must be broken down by business location and separate business unit. The report is due and must be received by the commissioner on or before the last day of the month following the end of the calendar quarter. The commissioner may delay the due date on a specific calendar quarter in the event the department is unable to accept wage detail reports electronically.

(b) The employer may report the wages paid to the next lower whole dollar amount.

(c) An employer need not include the name of the employee or other required information on the wage detail report if disclosure is specifically exempted from being reported by federal law.

(d) A wage detail report must be submitted for each calendar quarter even though no wages were paid, unless the business has been terminated.

Subd. 2. Electronic transmission of report required. Each employer must submit the quarterly wage detail report by electronic transmission in a format prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner has the discretion to accept wage detail reports that are submitted by any other means or the commissioner may return the report submitted by other than electronic transmission to the employer, and reports returned are considered as not submitted and the late fees under subdivision 3 may be imposed.

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Subd. 3. Failure to timely file report; late fees. (a) Any employer that fails to submit the quarterly wage detail report when due must pay a late fee of $10 per employee, computed based upon the highest of:

(1) the number of employees reported on the last wage detail report submitted;

(2) the number of employees reported in the corresponding quarter of the prior calendar year; or

(3) if no wage detail report has ever been submitted, the number of employees listed at the time of employer registration.

The late fee is canceled if the wage detail report is received within 30 calendar days after a demand for the report is sent to the employer by mail or electronic transmission. A late fee assessed an employer may not be canceled more than twice each 12 months. The amount of the late fee assessed may not be less than $250.

(b) If the wage detail report is not received in a manner and format prescribed by the commissioner within 30 calendar days after demand is sent under paragraph (a), the late fee assessed under paragraph (a) doubles and a renewed demand notice and notice of the increased late fee will be sent to the employer by mail or electronic transmission.

Subd. 4. Missing or erroneous information. (a) Any employer that submits the wage detail report, but fails to include all required employee information or enters erroneous information, is subject to an administrative service fee of $25 for each employee for whom the information is partially missing or erroneous.

(b) Any employer that submits the wage detail report, but fails to include an employee, is subject to an administrative service fee equal to two percent of the total wages for each employee for whom the information is completely missing.

Subd. 5. Fees. The fees provided for in subdivisions 3 and 4 are in addition to interest and other penalties imposed by this chapter and are collected in the same manner as delinquent taxes and credited to the family and medical benefit insurance account.

Sec. 18. [268B.13] EMPLOYER PREMIUM ACCOUNTS.

The commissioner must maintain a premium account for each employer. The commissioner must assess the premium account for all the premiums due under section 268B.14, and credit the family and medical benefit insurance account with all premiums paid.

Sec. 19. [268B.14] PREMIUMS.

Subdivision 1. Payments. (a) Family and medical leave premiums accrue and become payable by each employer for each calendar year on the taxable wages that the employer paid to employees in covered employment.

Each employer must pay premiums quarterly, at the premium rate defined under this section, on the taxable wages paid to each employee. The commissioner must compute the premium due from the wage detail report required under section 268B.12 and notify the employer of the premium due. The premiums must be paid to the family and medical benefit insurance account and must be received by the department on or before the last day of the month following the end of the calendar quarter.

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(b) If for any reason the wages on the wage detail report under section 268B.12 are adjusted for any quarter, the commissioner must recompute the premiums due for that quarter and assess the employer for any amount due or credit the employer as appropriate.

Subd. 2. Payments by electronic payment required. (a) Every employer must make any payments due under this chapter by electronic payment.

(b) All third-party processors, paying on behalf of a client company, must make any payments due under this chapter by electronic payment.

Subd. 3. Employee charge back. Notwithstanding section 177.24, subdivision 4, or 181.06, subdivision 1, employers and covered business entities may deduct up to 50 percent of annual premiums paid under this section from employee wages. Such deductions for any given employee must be in equal proportion to the premiums paid based on the wages of that employee, and all employees of an employer must be subject to the same percentage deduction. Deductions under this section must not cause an employee's wage, after the deduction, to fall below the rate required to be paid to the worker by law, including any applicable statute, regulation, rule, ordinance, government resolution or policy, contract, or other legal authority, whichever rate of pay is greater.

Subd. 4. Wages and payments subject to premium. The maximum wages subject to premium in a calendar year is equal to the maximum earnings in that year subject to the FICA Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance tax.

Subd. 5. Annual premium rates. The employer premium rates for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2024, shall be as follows:

(1) for employers participating in both family and medical benefit programs, 0.6 percent;

(2) for an employer participating in only the medical benefit program and with an approved private plan for the family benefit program, 0.486 percent; and

(3) for an employer participating in only the family benefit program and with an approved private plan for the medical benefit program, 0.114 percent.

Subd. 6. Premium rate adjustments. (a) Beginning January 1, 2026, and each calendar year thereafter, the commissioner must adjust the annual premium rates using the formula in paragraph (b).

(b) To calculate the employer rates for a calendar year, the commissioner must:

(1) multiply 1.45 times the amount disbursed from the family and medical benefit insurance account for the 52‑week period ending September 30 of the prior year;

(2) subtract the amount in the family and medical benefit insurance account on that September 30 from the resulting figure;

(3) divide the resulting figure by twice the total wages in covered employment of employees of employers without approved private plans under section 268B.10 for either the family or medical benefit program. For employers with an approved private plan for either the medical benefit program or the family benefit program, but not both, count only the proportion of wages in covered employment associated with the program for which the employer does not have an approved private plan; and

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(4) round the resulting figure down to the nearest one-hundredth of one percent.

(c) The commissioner must apportion the premium rate between the family and medical benefit programs based on the relative proportion of expenditures for each program during the preceding year.

Subd. 7. Deposit of premiums. All premiums collected under this section must be deposited into the family and medical benefit insurance account.

Subd. 8. Nonpayment of premiums by employer. The failure of an employer to pay premiums does not impact the right of an employee to benefits, or any other right, under this chapter.

Sec. 20. [268B.145] INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING.

If the Internal Revenue Service determines that benefits are subject to federal income tax, and an applicant elects to have federal income tax deducted and withheld from the applicant's benefits, the commissioner must deduct and withhold the amount specified in the Internal Revenue Code in a manner consistent with state law.

Sec. 21. [268B.15] COLLECTION OF PREMIUMS.

Subdivision 1. Amount computed presumed correct. Any amount due from an employer, as computed by the commissioner, is presumed to be correctly determined and assessed, and the burden is upon the employer to show its incorrectness. A statement by the commissioner of the amount due is admissible in evidence in any court or administrative proceeding and is prima facie evidence of the facts in the statement.

Subd. 2. Priority of payments. (a) Any payment received from an employer must be applied in the following order:

(1) family and medical leave premiums under this chapter; then

(2) interest on past due premiums; then

(3) penalties, late fees, administrative service fees, and costs.

(b) Paragraph (a) is the priority used for all payments received from an employer, regardless of how the employer may designate the payment to be applied, except when:

(1) there is an outstanding lien and the employer designates that the payment made should be applied to satisfy the lien;

(2) the payment is specifically designated by the employer to be applied to an outstanding overpayment of benefits of an applicant;

(3) a court or administrative order directs that the payment be applied to a specific obligation;

(4) a preexisting payment plan provides for the application of payment; or

(5) the commissioner, under the compromise authority of section 268B.16, agrees to apply the payment to a different priority.

Subd. 3. Estimating the premium due. Only if an employer fails to make all necessary records available for an audit under section 268B.21 and the commissioner has reason to believe the employer has not reported all the required wages on the quarterly wage detail reports, may the commissioner then estimate the amount of premium due and assess the employer the estimated amount due.

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Subd. 4. Costs. (a) Any employer and any applicant subject to section 268B.185, subdivision 2, that fails to pay any amount when due under this chapter is liable for any filing fees, recording fees, sheriff fees, costs incurred by referral to any public or private collection agency, or litigation costs, including attorney fees, incurred in the collection of the amounts due.

(b) If any tendered payment of any amount due is not honored when presented to a financial institution for payment, any costs assessed the department by the financial institution and a fee of $25 must be assessed to the person.

(c) Costs and fees collected under this subdivision are credited to the enforcement account under section 268B.185, subdivision 3.

Subd. 5. Interest on amounts past due. If any amounts due from an employer under this chapter are not received on the date due, the commissioner must assess interest on any amount that remains unpaid. Interest is assessed at the rate of one percent per month or any part of a month. Interest is not assessed on unpaid interest. Interest collected under this subdivision is credited to the account.

Subd. 6. Interest on judgments. Regardless of section 549.09, if a judgment is entered upon any past due amounts from an employer under this chapter, the unpaid judgment bears interest at the rate specified in subdivision 5 until the date of payment.

Subd. 7. Credit adjustments; refunds. (a) If an employer makes an application for a credit adjustment of any amount paid under this chapter within four years of the date that the payment was due, in a manner and format prescribed by the commissioner, and the commissioner determines that the payment or any portion thereof was erroneous, the commissioner must make an adjustment and issue a credit without interest. If a credit cannot be used, the commissioner must refund, without interest, the amount erroneously paid. The commissioner, on the commissioner's own motion, may make a credit adjustment or refund under this subdivision.

(b) Any refund returned to the commissioner is considered unclaimed property under chapter 345.

(c) If a credit adjustment or refund is denied in whole or in part, a determination of denial must be sent to the employer by mail or electronic transmission. The determination of denial is final unless an employer files an appeal within 20 calendar days after sending. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268B.08.

(d) If an employer receives a credit adjustment or refund under this section, the employer must determine the amount of any overpayment attributable to a deduction from employee wages under section 268B.14, subdivision 3, and return any amount erroneously deducted to each affected employee.

Subd. 8. Priorities under legal dissolutions or distributions. In the event of any distribution of an employer's assets according to an order of any court, including any receivership, assignment for benefit of creditors, adjudicated insolvency, or similar proceeding, premiums then or thereafter due must be paid in full before all other claims except claims for wages of not more than $1,000 per former employee, earned within six months of the commencement of the proceedings. In the event of an employer's adjudication in bankruptcy under federal law, premiums then or thereafter due are entitled to the priority provided in that law for taxes due in any state.

Sec. 22. [268B.155] CHILD SUPPORT DEDUCTION FROM BENEFITS.

Subdivision 1. Definitions. As used in this section:

(1) "child support agency" means the public agency responsible for child support enforcement, including federally approved comprehensive Tribal IV-D programs; and

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(2) "child support obligations" means obligations that are being enforced by a child support agency in accordance with a plan described in United States Code, title 42, sections 454 and 455 of the Social Security Act that has been approved by the secretary of health and human services under part D of title IV of the Social Security Act. This does not include any type of spousal maintenance or foster care payments.

Subd. 2. Notice upon application. In an application for family or medical leave benefits, the applicant must disclose if child support obligations are owed and, if so, in what state and county. If child support obligations are owed, the commissioner must, if the applicant establishes a benefit account, notify the child support agency.

Subd. 3. Withholding of benefit. The commissioner must deduct and withhold from any family or medical leave benefits payable to an applicant who owes child support obligations:

(1) the amount required under a proper order of a court or administrative agency; or

(2) if clause (1) is not applicable, the amount determined under an agreement under United States Code, title 42, section 454 (20)(B)(i), of the Social Security Act; or

(3) if clause (1) or (2) is not applicable, the amount specified by the applicant.

Subd. 4. Payment. Any amount deducted and withheld must be paid to the child support agency, must for all purposes be treated as if it were paid to the applicant as family or medical leave benefits and paid by the applicant to the child support agency in satisfaction of the applicant's child support obligations.

Subd. 5. Payment of costs. The child support agency must pay the costs incurred by the commissioner in the implementation and administration of this section and sections 518A.50 and 518A.53.

Sec. 23. [268B.16] COMPROMISE.

(a) The commissioner may compromise in whole or in part any action, determination, or decision that affects only an employer and not an applicant. This paragraph applies if it is determined by a court of law, or a confession of judgment, that an applicant, while employed, wrongfully took from the employer $500 or more in money or property.

(b) The commissioner may at any time compromise any premium or reimbursement due from an employer under this chapter.

(c) Any compromise involving an amount over $10,000 must be authorized by an attorney licensed to practice law in Minnesota who is an employee of the department designated by the commissioner for that purpose.

(d) Any compromise must be in the best interest of the state of Minnesota.

Sec. 24. [268B.17] ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

From January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, the commissioner may spend up to seven percent of premiums collected under section 268B.15 for administration of this chapter. Beginning January 1, 2025, and each calendar year thereafter, the commissioner may spend up to seven percent of projected benefit payments for that calendar year for the administration of this chapter. The department may enter into interagency agreements with the Department of Labor and Industry, including agreements to transfer funds, subject to the limit in this section, for the Department of Labor and Industry to fulfill its enforcement authority of this chapter.

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Sec. 25. [268B.18] PUBLIC OUTREACH.

Beginning January 1, 2024, the commissioner must use at least 0.5 percent of revenue collected under this chapter for the purpose of outreach, education, and technical assistance for employees, employers, and self‑employed individuals eligible to elect coverage under section 268B.11. The department may enter into interagency agreements with the Department of Labor and Industry, including agreements to transfer funds, subject to the limit in section 268B.17, to accomplish the requirements of this section. At least one-half of the amount spent under this section must be used for grants to community-based groups.

Sec. 26. [268B.185] BENEFIT OVERPAYMENTS.

Subdivision 1. Repaying an overpayment. (a) Any applicant who (1) because of a determination or amended determination issued under this chapter, or (2) because of a benefit law judge's decision under section 268B.08, has received any family or medical leave benefits that the applicant was held not entitled to, is overpaid the benefits and must promptly repay the benefits to the family and medical benefit insurance account.

(b) If the applicant fails to repay the benefits overpaid, including any penalty and interest assessed under subdivisions 2 and 4, the total due may be collected by the methods allowed under state and federal law.

Subd. 2. Overpayment because of misrepresentation. (a) An applicant has committed misrepresentation if the applicant is overpaid benefits by making a false statement or representation without a good faith belief as to the correctness of the statement or representation.

(b) After the discovery of facts indicating misrepresentation, the commissioner must issue a determination of overpayment penalty assessing a penalty equal to 20 percent of the amount overpaid. This penalty is in addition to penalties under section 268B.19.

(c) Unless the applicant files an appeal within 30 calendar days after the sending of a determination of overpayment penalty to the applicant by mail or electronic transmission, or within 60 calendar days, if the applicant establishes good cause for not appealing within 30 days, the determination is final. For the purposes of this paragraph, "good cause" means a reason that would have prevented an applicant from acting with due diligence in appealing within 30 days and includes any illness, disability, or linguistic and literacy limitation of the applicant, along with other relevant factors. If an applicant claims good cause for a late appeal, the applicant must be granted a hearing on the issue of timeliness. This hearing can be held at the same time as a hearing on the merits of the appeal. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268B.08.

(d) A determination of overpayment penalty must state the methods of collection the commissioner may use to recover the overpayment, penalty, and interest assessed. Money received in repayment of overpaid benefits, penalties, and interest is first applied to the benefits overpaid, second to the penalty amount due, and third to any interest due.

(e) The department is authorized to issue a determination of overpayment penalty under this subdivision within 48 months of the establishment of the benefit account upon which the benefits were obtained through misrepresentation.

Subd. 3. Family and medical benefit insurance enforcement account created. The family and medical benefit insurance enforcement account is created in the state treasury. Any penalties and interest collected under this section shall be deposited into the account under this subdivision and shall be used only for the purposes of administering and enforcing this chapter. Only the commissioner may authorize expenditures from the account under this subdivision.

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Subd. 4. Interest. For any family and medical leave benefits obtained by misrepresentation, and any penalty amounts assessed under subdivision 2, the commissioner must assess interest on any amount that remains unpaid beginning 30 calendar days after the date of a determination of overpayment penalty. Interest is assessed at the rate of one percent per month or any part of a month. A determination of overpayment penalty must state that interest will be assessed. Interest is not assessed on unpaid interest. Interest collected under this subdivision is credited to the family and medical benefit insurance enforcement account.

Subd. 5. Offset of benefits. The commissioner may offset from any future family and medical leave benefits otherwise payable the amount of a nonmisrepresentation overpayment. Except when the nonmisrepresentation overpayment resulted because the applicant failed to report deductible earnings or deductible or benefit delaying payments, no single offset may exceed 50 percent of the amount of the payment from which the offset is made.

Subd. 6. Cancellation of overpayments. (a) If family and medical leave benefits overpaid for reasons other than misrepresentation are not repaid or offset from subsequent benefits within six years after the date of the determination or decision holding the applicant overpaid, the commissioner must cancel the overpayment balance, and no administrative or legal proceedings may be used to enforce collection of those amounts.

(b) If family and medical leave benefits overpaid because of misrepresentation including penalties and interest are not repaid within ten years after the date of the determination of overpayment penalty, the commissioner must cancel the overpayment balance and any penalties and interest due, and no administrative or legal proceeding may be used to enforce collection of those amounts.

(c) The commissioner may cancel at any time any overpayment, including penalties and interest that the commissioner determines is uncollectible because of death or bankruptcy.

Subd. 7. Court fees; collection fees. (a) If the department is required to pay any court fees in an attempt to enforce collection of overpaid family and medical leave benefits, penalties, or interest, the amount of the court fees may be added to the total amount due.

(b) If an applicant who has been overpaid family and medical leave benefits because of misrepresentation seeks to have any portion of the debt discharged under the federal bankruptcy code, and the department files an objection in bankruptcy court to the discharge, the cost of any court fees may be added to the debt if the bankruptcy court does not discharge the debt.

(c) If the Internal Revenue Service assesses the department a fee for offsetting from a federal tax refund the amount of any overpayment, including penalties and interest, the amount of the fee may be added to the total amount due. The offset amount must be put in the family and medical benefit insurance enforcement account and that amount credited to the total amount due from the applicant.

Subd. 8. Collection of overpayments. (a) The commissioner has discretion regarding the recovery of any overpayment for reasons other than misrepresentation. Regardless of any law to the contrary, the commissioner is not required to refer any overpayment for reasons other than misrepresentation to a public or private collection agency, including agencies of this state.

(b) Amounts overpaid for reasons other than misrepresentation are not considered a "debt" to the state of Minnesota for purposes of any reporting requirements to the commissioner of management and budget.

(c) A pending appeal under section 268B.08 does not suspend the assessment of interest, penalties, or collection of an overpayment.

(d) Section 16A.626 applies to the repayment by an applicant of any overpayment, penalty, or interest.

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Sec. 27. [268B.19] APPLICANT ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.

(a) Any applicant who makes a false statement or representation without a good faith belief as to the correctness of the statement or representation in order to obtain or in an attempt to obtain benefits may be assessed, in addition to any other penalties, an administrative penalty of being ineligible for benefits for 13 to 104 weeks.

(b) A determination of ineligibility setting out the weeks the applicant is ineligible must be sent to the applicant by mail or electronic transmission. The department is authorized to issue a determination of ineligibility under this subdivision within 48 months of the establishment of the benefit account upon which the benefits were obtained, or attempted to be obtained. Unless an appeal is filed within 20 calendar days of sending, the determination is final. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268B.08.

Sec. 28. [268B.20] EMPLOYER MISCONDUCT; PENALTY.

(a) The commissioner must penalize an employer if that employer or any employee, officer, or agent of that employer is in collusion with any applicant for the purpose of assisting the applicant in receiving benefits fraudulently. The penalty is $500 or the amount of benefits determined to be overpaid, whichever is greater.

(b) The commissioner must penalize an employer if that employer or any employee, officer, or agent of that employer:

(1) made a false statement or representation knowing it to be false;

(2) made a false statement or representation without a good-faith belief as to the correctness of the statement or representation; or

(3) knowingly failed to disclose a material fact.

(1) the amount of any overpaid benefits to an applicant;

(2) the amount of benefits not paid to an applicant that would otherwise have been paid; or

(3) the amount of any payment required from the employer under this chapter that was not paid.

(d) Penalties must be paid within 30 calendar days of issuance of the determination of penalty and credited to the family and medical benefit insurance account.

(e) The determination of penalty is final unless the employer files an appeal within 30 calendar days after the sending of the determination of penalty to the employer by United States mail or electronic transmission.

Sec. 29. [268B.21] RECORDS; AUDITS.

Subdivision 1. Employer records; audits. (a) Each employer must keep true and accurate records on individuals performing services for the employer, containing the information the commissioner may require under this chapter. The records must be kept for a period of not less than four years in addition to the current calendar year.

(b) For the purpose of administering this chapter, the commissioner has the power to audit, examine, or cause to be supplied or copied, any books, correspondence, papers, records, or memoranda that are the property of, or in the possession of, an employer or any other person at any reasonable time and as often as may be necessary. Subpoenas may be issued under section 268B.22 as necessary, for an audit.

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(c) An employer or other person that refuses to allow an audit of its records by the department or that fails to make all necessary records available for audit in the state upon request of the commissioner may be assessed an administrative penalty of $500. The penalty collected is credited to the family and medical benefit insurance account.

(d) An employer, or other person, that fails to provide a weekly breakdown of money earned by an applicant upon request of the commissioner, information necessary for the detection of applicant misrepresentation under section 268B.185, subdivision 2, may be assessed an administrative penalty of $100. Any notice requesting a weekly breakdown must clearly state that a $100 penalty may be assessed for failure to provide the information. The penalty collected is credited to the family and medical benefit insurance account.

Subd. 2. Department records; destruction. (a) The commissioner may make summaries, compilations, duplications, or reproductions of any records pertaining to this chapter that the commissioner considers advisable for the preservation of the information.

(b) Regardless of any law to the contrary, the commissioner may destroy any records that are no longer necessary for the administration of this chapter. In addition, the commissioner may destroy any record from which the information has been electronically captured and stored.

Sec. 30. [268B.22] SUBPOENAS; OATHS.

(a) The commissioner or benefit judge has authority to administer oaths and affirmations, take depositions, certify to official acts, and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of individuals and the production of documents and other personal property necessary in connection with the administration of this chapter.

(b) Individuals subpoenaed, other than applicants or officers and employees of an employer that is the subject of the inquiry, are paid witness fees the same as witness fees in civil actions in district court. The fees need not be paid in advance.

Sec. 31. [268B.23] LIEN; LEVY; SETOFF; AND CIVIL ACTION.

Subdivision 1. Lien. (a) Any amount due under this chapter, from an applicant or an employer, becomes a lien upon all the property, within this state, both real and personal, of the person liable, from the date of assessment. For the purposes of this section, "date of assessment" means the date the obligation was due.

(b) The lien is not enforceable against any purchaser, mortgagee, pledgee, holder of a Uniform Commercial Code security interest, mechanic's lien, or judgment lien creditor, until a notice of lien has been filed with the county recorder of the county where the property is situated, or in the case of personal property belonging to a nonresident person in the Office of the Secretary of State. When the notice of lien is filed with the county recorder, the fee for filing and indexing is as provided in sections 272.483 and 272.484.

(c) Notices of liens, lien renewals, and lien releases, in a form prescribed by the commissioner, may be filed with the county recorder or the secretary of state by mail, personal delivery, or electronic transmission into the computerized filing system of the secretary of state. The secretary of state must, on any notice filed with that office, transmit the notice electronically to the appropriate county recorder. The filing officer, whether the county recorder or the secretary of state, must endorse and index a printout of the notice as if the notice had been mailed or delivered.

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(d) County recorders and the secretary of state must enter information on lien notices, renewals, and releases into the central database of the secretary of state. For notices filed electronically with the county recorders, the date and time of receipt of the notice and county recorder's file number, and for notices filed electronically with the secretary of state, the secretary of state's recording information, must be entered into the central database before the close of the working day following the day of the original data entry by the commissioner.

(e) The lien imposed on personal property, even though properly filed, is not enforceable against a purchaser of tangible personal property purchased at retail or personal property listed as exempt in sections 550.37, 550.38, and 550.39.

(f) A notice of lien filed has priority over any security interest arising under chapter 336, article 9, that is perfected prior in time to the lien imposed by this subdivision, but only if:

(1) the perfected security interest secures property not in existence at the time the notice of lien is filed; and

(2) the property comes into existence after the 45th calendar day following the day the notice of lien is filed, or after the secured party has actual notice or knowledge of the lien filing, whichever is earlier.

(g) The lien is enforceable from the time the lien arises and for ten years from the date of filing the notice of lien. A notice of lien may be renewed before expiration for an additional ten years.

(h) The lien is enforceable by levy under subdivision 2 or by judgment lien foreclosure under chapter 550.

(i) The lien may be imposed upon property defined as homestead property in chapter 510 but may be enforced only upon the sale, transfer, or conveyance of the homestead property.

(j) The commissioner may sell and assign to a third party the commissioner's right of redemption in specific real property for liens filed under this subdivision. The assignee is limited to the same rights of redemption as the commissioner, except that in a bankruptcy proceeding, the assignee does not obtain the commissioner's priority. Any proceeds from the sale of the right of redemption are credited to the family and medical benefit insurance account.

Subd. 2. Levy. (a) If any amount due under this chapter, from an applicant or an employer, is not paid when due, the amount may be collected by the commissioner by direct levy upon all property and rights of property of the person liable for the amount due except property exempt from execution under section 550.37. For the purposes of this section, "levy" includes the power of distraint and seizure by any means.

(b) In addition to a direct levy, the commissioner may issue a warrant to the sheriff of any county who must proceed within 60 calendar days to levy upon the property or rights to property of the delinquent person within the county, except property exempt under section 550.37. The sheriff must sell that property necessary to satisfy the total amount due, together with the commissioner's and sheriff's costs. The sales are governed by the law applicable to sales of like property on execution of a judgment.

(c) Notice and demand for payment of the total amount due must be mailed to the delinquent person at least ten calendar days before action being taken under paragraphs (a) and (b).

(d) If the commissioner has reason to believe that collection of the amount due is in jeopardy, notice and demand for immediate payment may be made. If the total amount due is not paid, the commissioner may proceed to collect by direct levy or issue a warrant without regard to the ten calendar day period.

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(e) In executing the levy, the commissioner must have all of the powers provided in chapter 550 or any other law that provides for execution against property in this state. The sale of property levied upon and the time and manner of redemption is as provided in chapter 550. The seal of the court is not required. The levy may be made whether or not the commissioner has commenced a legal action for collection.

(f) Where any assessment has been made by the commissioner, the property seized for collection of the total amount due must not be sold until any determination of liability has become final. No sale may be made unless a portion of the amount due remains unpaid for a period of more than 30 calendar days after the determination of liability becomes final. Seized property may be sold at any time if:

(1) the delinquent person consents in writing to the sale; or

(2) the commissioner determines that the property is perishable or may become greatly reduced in price or value by keeping, or that the property cannot be kept without great expense.

(g) Where a levy has been made to collect the amount due and the property seized is properly included in a formal proceeding commenced under sections 524.3-401 to 524.3-505 and maintained under full supervision of the court, the property may not be sold until the probate proceedings are completed or until the court orders.

(h) The property seized must be returned if the owner:

(1) gives a surety bond equal to the appraised value of the owner's interest in the property, as determined by the commissioner; or

(2) deposits with the commissioner security in a form and amount the commissioner considers necessary to insure payment of the liability.

(i) If a levy or sale would irreparably injure rights in property that the court determines superior to rights of the state, the court may grant an injunction to prohibit the enforcement of the levy or to prohibit the sale.

(j) Any person who fails or refuses to surrender without reasonable cause any property or rights to property subject to levy is personally liable in an amount equal to the value of the property or rights not so surrendered, but not exceeding the amount due.

(k) If the commissioner has seized the property of any individual, that individual may, upon giving 48 hours notice to the commissioner and to the court, bring a claim for equitable relief before the district court for the release of the property upon terms and conditions the court considers equitable.

(l) Any person in control or possession of property or rights to property upon which a levy has been made who surrenders the property or rights to property, or who pays the amount due is discharged from any obligation or liability to the person liable for the amount due with respect to the property or rights to property.

(m) The notice of any levy may be served personally or by mail.

(n) The commissioner may release the levy upon all or part of the property or rights to property levied upon if the commissioner determines that the release will facilitate the collection of the liability, but the release does not prevent any subsequent levy. If the commissioner determines that property has been wrongfully levied upon, the commissioner must return:

(1) the specific property levied upon, at any time; or

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(2) an amount of money equal to the amount of money levied upon, at any time before the expiration of nine months from the date of levy.

(o) Regardless of section 52.12, a levy upon a person's funds on deposit in a financial institution located in this state, has priority over any unexercised right of setoff of the financial institution to apply the levied funds toward the balance of an outstanding loan or loans owed by the person to the financial institution. A claim by the financial institution that it exercised its right to setoff before the levy must be substantiated by evidence of the date of the setoff, and verified by an affidavit from a corporate officer of the financial institution. For purposes of determining the priority of any levy under this subdivision, the levy is treated as if it were an execution under chapter 550.

Subd. 3. Right of setoff. (a) Upon certification by the commissioner to the commissioner of management and budget, or to any state agency that disburses its own funds, that a person, applicant, or employer has a liability under this chapter, and that the state has purchased personal services, supplies, contract services, or property from that person, the commissioner of management and budget or the state agency must set off and pay to the commissioner an amount sufficient to satisfy the unpaid liability from funds appropriated for payment of the obligation of the state otherwise due the person. No amount may be set off from any funds exempt under section 550.37 or funds due an individual who receives assistance under chapter 256.

(b) All funds, whether general or dedicated, are subject to setoff.

(c) Regardless of any law to the contrary, the commissioner has first priority to setoff from any funds otherwise due from the department to a delinquent person.

Subd. 4. Collection by civil action. (a) Any amount due under this chapter, from an applicant or employer, may be collected by civil action in the name of the state of Minnesota. Civil actions brought under this subdivision must be heard as provided under section 16D.14. In any action, judgment must be entered in default for the relief demanded in the complaint without proof, together with costs and disbursements, upon the filing of an affidavit of default.

(b) Any person that is not a resident of this state and any resident person removed from this state, is considered to appoint the secretary of state as its agent for the acceptance of process in any civil action. The commissioner must file process with the secretary of state, together with a payment of a fee of $15 and that service is considered sufficient service and has the same force and validity as if served personally within this state. Notice of the service of process, together with a copy of the process, must be sent by certified mail to the person's last known address. An affidavit of compliance with this subdivision, and a copy of the notice of service must be appended to the original of the process and filed in the court.

(c) No court filing fees, docketing fees, or release of judgment fees may be assessed against the state for actions under this subdivision.

Subd. 5. Injunction forbidden. No injunction or other legal action to prevent the determination, assessment, or collection of any amounts due under this chapter, from an applicant or employer, are allowed.

Sec. 32. [268B.24] CONCILIATION SERVICES.

The Department of Labor and Industry may offer conciliation services to employers and employees to resolve disputes concerning alleged violations of employment protections identified in section 268B.09.

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Sec. 33. [268B.25] ANNUAL REPORTS.

(a) Beginning on or before December 1, 2024, the commissioner must annually report to the Department of Management and Budget and the house of representatives and senate committee chairs with jurisdiction over this chapter on program administrative expenditures and revenue collection for the prior fiscal year, including but not limited to:

(1) total revenue raised through premium collection;

(2) the number of self-employed individuals or independent contractors electing coverage under section 268B.11 and amount of associated revenue;

(3) the number of covered business entities paying premiums under this chapter and associated revenue;

(4) administrative expenditures including transfers to other state agencies expended in the administration of the chapter;

(5) summary of contracted services expended in the administration of this chapter;

(6) grant amounts and recipients under sections 268B.29 and 268B.18;

(7) an accounting of required outreach expenditures;

(8) summary of private plan approvals including the number of employers and employees covered under private plans; and

(9) adequacy and use of the private plan approval and oversight fee.

(b) Beginning on or before December 1, 2025, the commissioner must annually publish a publicly available report providing the following information for the previous fiscal year:

(1) total eligible claims;

(2) the number and percentage of claims attributable to each category of benefit;

(3) claimant demographics by age, gender, average weekly wage, occupation, and the type of leave taken;

(4) the percentage of claims denied and the reasons therefor, including but not limited to insufficient information and ineligibility and the reason therefor;

(5) average weekly benefit amount paid for all claims and by category of benefit;

(6) changes in the benefits paid compared to previous fiscal years;

(7) processing times for initial claims processing, initial determinations, and final decisions;

(8) average duration for cases completed; and

(9) the number of cases remaining open at the close of such year.

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Sec. 34. [268B.26] NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Each employer must post in a conspicuous place on each of its premises a workplace notice prepared or approved by the commissioner providing notice of benefits available under this chapter. The required workplace notice must be in English and each language other than English which is the primary language of five or more employees or independent contractors of that workplace, if such notice is available from the department.

(b) Each employer must issue to each employee not more than 30 days from the beginning date of the employee's employment, or 30 days before premium collection begins, whichever is later, the following written information provided or approved by the department in the primary language of the employee:

(1) an explanation of the availability of family and medical leave benefits provided under this chapter, including rights to reinstatement and continuation of health insurance;

(2) the amount of premium deductions made by the employer under this chapter;

(3) the employer's premium amount and obligations under this chapter;

(4) the name and mailing address of the employer;

(5) the identification number assigned to the employer by the department;

(6) instructions on how to file a claim for family and medical leave benefits;

(7) the mailing address, email address, and telephone number of the department; and

(8) any other information required by the department.

Delivery is made when an employee provides written acknowledgment of receipt of the information, or signs a statement indicating the employee's refusal to sign such acknowledgment.

(c) Each employer shall provide to each independent contractor with whom it contracts, at the time such contract is made or, for existing contracts, within 30 days of the effective date of this section, the following written information provided or approved by the department in the self-employed individual's primary language:

(1) the address and telephone number of the department; and

(2) any other information required by the department.

(d) An employer that fails to comply with this subdivision may be issued, for a first violation, a civil penalty of $50 per employee and per independent contractor with whom it has contracted, and for each subsequent violation, a civil penalty of $300 per employee or self-employed individual with whom it has contracted. The employer shall have the burden of demonstrating compliance with this section.

(e) Employer notice to an employee under this section may be provided in paper or electronic format. For notice provided in electronic format only, the employer must provide employee access to an employer-owned computer during an employee's regular working hours to review and print required notices.

Sec. 35. [268B.27] RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LEAVE; CONSTRUCTION.

Subdivision 1. Concurrent leave. An employer may require leave taken under this chapter to run concurrently with leave taken for the same purpose under section 181.941 or the Family and Medical Leave Act, United States Code, title 29, sections 2601 to 2654, as amended.

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Subd. 2. Construction. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to:

(1) allow an employer to compel an employee to exhaust accumulated sick, vacation, or personal time before or while taking leave under this chapter;

(2) except as provided under section 268B.01, subdivision 37, prohibit an employer from providing additional benefits, including but not limited to covering the portion of earnings not provided under this chapter during periods of leave covered under this chapter; or

(3) limit the parties to a collective bargaining agreement from bargaining and agreeing with respect to leave benefits and related procedures and employee protections that meet or exceed, and do not otherwise conflict with, the minimum standards and requirements in this chapter.

Sec. 36. [268B.28] SEVERABLE.

If the United States Department of Labor or a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of the family and medical benefit insurance program under this chapter is not in conformity with, or is inconsistent with, the requirements of federal law, the provision has no force or effect. If only a portion of the provision, or the application to any person or circumstances, is determined not in conformity, or determined inconsistent, the remainder of the provision and the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances are not affected.

Sec. 37. [268B.29] SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

(a) Employers with 50 or fewer employees may apply to the department for grants under this section.

(b) The commissioner may approve a grant of up to $3,000 if the employer hires a temporary worker to replace an employee on family or medical leave for a period of seven days or more.

(c) For an employee's family or medical leave, the commissioner may approve a grant of up to $1,000 as reimbursement for significant additional wage-related costs due to the employee's leave.

(d) To be eligible for consideration for a grant under this section, the employer must provide the department written documentation showing the temporary worker hired or significant wage-related costs incurred are due to an employee's use of leave under this chapter.

(e) The grants under this section may be funded from the family and medical benefit insurance account.

(f) For the purposes of this section, the commissioner shall average the number of employees reported by an employer over the last four completed calendar quarters to determine the size of the employer.

(g) An employer who has an approved private plan is not eligible to receive a grant under this section.

(h) The commissioner may award grants under this section only up to a maximum of $5,000,000 per calendar year.

Sec. 38. EFFECTIVE DATES.

(a) Sections 1, 4, 5, 6, and 36 are effective July 1, 2022.

(b) Section 15 is effective July 1, 2023.

(d) Sections 2, 3, 16 to 19, 21, 23 to 25, 28 to 31, and 33 are effective January 1, 2024.

(e) Sections 7 to 14, 20, 22, 26 to 27, 32, 35, and 37 are effective January 1, 2025.

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ARTICLE 4

FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE BENEFIT AS EARNINGS

Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 256J.561, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 4. Parents receiving family and medical leave benefits. A parent who meets the criteria under subdivision 2 and who receives benefits under chapter 268B is not required to participate in employment services.

Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 256J.95, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3. Eligibility for diversionary work program. (a) Except for the categories of family units listed in clauses (1) to (8), all family units who apply for cash benefits and who meet MFIP eligibility as required in sections 256J.11 to 256J.15 are eligible and must participate in the diversionary work program. Family units or individuals that are not eligible for the diversionary work program include:

(1) child only cases;

(2) single-parent family units that include a child under 12 months of age. A parent is eligible for this exception once in a parent's lifetime;

(3) family units with a minor parent without a high school diploma or its equivalent;

(4) family units with an 18- or 19-year-old caregiver without a high school diploma or its equivalent who chooses to have an employment plan with an education option;

(5) family units with a caregiver who received DWP benefits within the 12 months prior to the month the family applied for DWP, except as provided in paragraph (c);

(6) family units with a caregiver who received MFIP within the 12 months prior to the month the family applied for DWP;

(7) family units with a caregiver who received 60 or more months of TANF assistance; ~~and~~

(8) family units with a caregiver who is disqualified from the work participation cash benefit program, DWP, or MFIP due to fraud.; and

(9) single-parent family units where a parent is receiving family and medical leave benefits under chapter 268B.

(b) A two-parent family must participate in DWP unless both caregivers meet the criteria for an exception under paragraph (a), clauses (1) through (5), or the family unit includes a parent who meets the criteria in paragraph (a), clause (6), (7), or (8).

(c) Once DWP eligibility is determined, the four months run consecutively. If a participant leaves the program for any reason and reapplies during the four-month period, the county must redetermine eligibility for DWP.

Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 256J.95, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11. Universal participation required. (a) All DWP caregivers, except caregivers who meet the criteria in paragraph (d), are required to participate in DWP employment services. Except as specified in paragraphs (b) and (c), employment plans under DWP must, at a minimum, meet the requirements in section 256J.55, subdivision 1.

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(b) A caregiver who is a member of a two-parent family that is required to participate in DWP who would otherwise be ineligible for DWP under subdivision 3 may be allowed to develop an employment plan under section 256J.521, subdivision 2, that may contain alternate activities and reduced hours.

(c) A participant who is a victim of family violence shall be allowed to develop an employment plan under section 256J.521, subdivision 3. A claim of family violence must be documented by the applicant or participant by providing a sworn statement which is supported by collateral documentation in section 256J.545, paragraph (b).

(d) One parent in a two-parent family unit ~~that has a natural born child under 12 months of age~~ is not required to have an employment plan until the child reaches 12 months of age unless the family unit has already used the exclusion under section 256J.561, subdivision 3, or the previously allowed child under age one exemption under section 256J.56, paragraph (a), clause (5). if that parent:

(1) receives family and medical leave benefits under chapter 268B; or

(2) has a natural born child under 12 months of age until the child reaches 12 months of age unless the family unit has already used the exclusion under section 256J.561, subdivision 3, or the previously allowed child under age one exemption under section 256J.56, paragraph (a), clause (5).

(e) The provision in paragraph (d) ends the first full month after the child reaches 12 months of age. This provision is allowable only once in a caregiver's lifetime. In a two-parent household, only one parent shall be allowed to use this category.

(f) The participant and job counselor must meet in the month after the month the child reaches 12 months of age to revise the participant's employment plan. The employment plan for a family unit that has a child under 12 months of age that has already used the exclusion in section 256J.561 must be tailored to recognize the caregiving needs of the parent.

Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 256P.01, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3. Earned income. "Earned income" means income earned through the receipt of wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, tips, gratuities, profit from employment activities, net profit from self-employment activities, payments made by an employer for regularly accrued vacation or sick leave, severance pay based on accrued leave time, benefits paid under chapter 268B, royalties, honoraria, or other profit from activity that results from the client's work, effort, or labor for purposes other than student financial assistance, rehabilitation programs, student training programs, or service programs such as AmeriCorps. The income must be in return for, or as a result of, legal activity.

Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATES.

Sections 1 to 4 are effective January 1, 2025.

ARTICLE 5

LABOR AND INDUSTRY APPROPRIATIONS

Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS.

Journal of the House - 102nd Day - Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - Top of Page 12775	APPROPRIATIONS
	Available for the Year
	Ending June 30
	2022	2023

Sec. 2. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY

Subdivision 1. Total Appropriation

$-0-

$10,332,000

Appropriations by Fund
	2022	2023
General	-0-	7,117,000
Workers' Compensation	-0-	82,000
Workforce Development	-0-	3,133,000

Subd. 2. Labor Standards and Apprenticeship

-0-

5,996,000

Appropriations by Fund
	2022	2023
General Fund	-0-	2,863,000
Workforce Development	-0-	3,133,000

(a) $1,059,000 in fiscal year 2023 is from the workforce development fund for labor education and advancement program grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 178.11, to expand and promote registered apprenticeship training for people of color, Indigenous people, and women. Of this amount:

(1) $159,000 is available for program administration; and

(2) at least $500,000 must be awarded to community-based organizations.

(b) $316,000 is from the workforce development fund for administration of the apprenticeship program under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 178.

(d) $196,000 in fiscal year 2023 is to expand and strengthen fair labor standards for agricultural and food processing workers. In fiscal year 2024 and beyond, the base is $146,000.

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(e) $500,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for the loggers safety grant program under Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 10, article 3, section 21. This is a onetime appropriation.

(f) $200,000 in fiscal year 2023 is to establish a Veterans Liaison Coordinator position in the Registered Apprenticeship Division. The position is responsible for collaborating with Minnesota stakeholders and state and federal agencies to: promote and increase veterans in the trades; support initiatives for veterans seeking a living wage and sustainable employment; and increase awareness of registered apprenticeship opportunities in Minnesota. Of this amount, up to $150,000 is for salary and benefits for the position, and $50,000 is for administrative support services, marketing, and paid communications. The base for this appropriation is $180,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $160,000 in fiscal year 2025.

(g) $1,367,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for enforcement and other duties regarding earned sick and safe time under Minnesota Statutes, sections 181.9445 to 181.9448, and chapter 177. In fiscal year 2024, the base for this appropriation is $2,018,000. In fiscal year 2025, the base for this appropriation is $1,708,000.

(h) $300,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for earned sick and safe time grants to community organizations under Minnesota Statutes, section 177.50, subdivision 4. In fiscal year 2024, the base for this appropriation is $300,000. In fiscal year 2025, the base for this appropriation is $0.

(i) $300,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for a grant to Building Strong Communities, Inc., for a statewide apprenticeship readiness program to prepare women, BIPOC community members, and veterans to enter the building and construction trades. This is a onetime appropriation.

Subd. 3. Workforce Development Initiatives

-0-

747,000

(a) $500,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for youth skills training grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 175.46.

(b) $247,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for administration of the youth skills training grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 175.46. In fiscal year 2024, the base for this appropriation is $258,000. In fiscal year 2025, the base for this appropriation is $270,000.

Subd. 4. Combative Sports

-0-

150,000

Subd. 5. Transfer to Construction Code Fund

-0-

2,850,000

$2,850,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for transfer to the construction code fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 326B.04, subdivision 1. In fiscal year 2024, the base for this appropriation is $4,477,000. In fiscal year 2025, the base for this appropriation is $0.

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Subd. 6. Agricultural Worker Wellness

-0-

507,000

(a) $255,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for the ombudsperson for the safety, health, and well-being of agricultural and food processing workers under Minnesota Statutes, section 179.911.

(b) $252,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for the agricultural worker wellness committee under Minnesota Statutes, section 179.912.

Subd. 7. Warehouse Distribution Worker Safety

-0-

82,000

$82,000 in fiscal year 2023 is from the workers' compensation fund for enforcement and other duties regarding warehouse distribution workers safety under Minnesota Statutes, section 182.6526. In fiscal year 2024 and beyond, the base is $56,000 each year.

Sec. 3. WORKERS' COMPENSATION COURT OF APPEALS

$-0-

$300,000

(a) This appropriation is from the workers' compensation fund. Of this amount, $100,000 is for rulemaking. This appropriation is onetime.

(b) In fiscal years 2024 and 2025, $200,000 is added to the agency's base.

Sec. 4. BUREAU OF MEDIATION SERVICES

$-0-

$400,000

This appropriation is for purposes of the Public Employment Relations Board under Minnesota Statutes, section 179A.041. In fiscal years 2024 and 2025, the base is $525,000.

Sec. 5. MINNESOTA MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

$-0-

$54,000

(a) $3,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for printing costs associated with earned sick and safe time. This is a onetime appropriation.

(b) $51,000 in fiscal year 2023 is to allocate money to executive branch state agencies, boards, and commissions to offset the cost of earned sick and safe time leave required under Minnesota Statutes, sections 181.9445 to 181.9448. The commissioner of management and budget must determine an allocation of the amount appropriated for each executive branch state agency, board, and commission. In fiscal year 2024 and beyond, the base for this appropriation is $102,000.

Sec. 6. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

$-0-

$18,000

$18,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for modifying the timecard and human resources systems as necessary to comply with earned sick and safe time requirements under Minnesota Statutes, sections 181.9445 to 181.9448. This is a onetime appropriation.

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Sec. 7. SUPREME COURT

$-0-

$1,000

$1,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for purposes of earned sick and safe time under Minnesota Statutes, sections 181.9445 to 181.9448. In fiscal year 2024, the base for this appropriation is $492,000. In fiscal year 2025, the base for this appropriation is $459,000.

Sec. 8. Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 10, article 1, section 5, is amended to read:

Sec. 5. BUREAU OF MEDIATION SERVICES

$2,370,000

$2,415,000

(a) $125,000 each year is for purposes of the Public Employment Relations Board under Minnesota Statutes, section 179A.041. This is a onetime appropriation.

(b) $68,000 each year is for grants to area labor management committees. Grants may be awarded for a 12-month period beginning July 1 each year. Any unencumbered balance remaining at the end of the first year does not cancel but is available for the second year.

~~(c)~~ (b) $47,000 each year is for rulemaking, staffing, and other costs associated with peace officer grievance procedures.

Sec. 9. DUPLICATE APPROPRIATIONS GIVEN EFFECT ONCE.

If an appropriation in this act is enacted more than once during the 2022 regular session, the appropriation is to be given effect only once.

ARTICLE 6

LABOR AND INDUSTRY POLICY AND TECHNICAL

Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 175.16, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1. Established. The Department of Labor and Industry shall consist of the following divisions: Division of Workers' Compensation, Division of Construction Codes and Licensing, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Statistics, Division of Labor Standards, and Division of Apprenticeship, and such other divisions as the commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry may deem necessary and establish. Each division of the department and persons in charge thereof shall be subject to the supervision of the commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry and, in addition to such duties as are or may be imposed on them by statute, shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to them by the commissioner. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the commissioner is the administrator and supervisor of all of the department's dispute resolution functions and personnel and may delegate authority to compensation judges and others to make determinations under sections 176.106, 176.238, and 176.239 and to approve settlement of claims under section 176.521.

Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 177.26, is amended to read:

177.26 DIVISION OF LABOR STANDARDS.

Subdivision 1. Creation. The Division of Labor Standards ~~and Apprenticeship~~ in the Department of Labor and Industry is supervised and controlled by the commissioner of labor and industry.

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Subd. 2. Powers and duties. The Division of Labor Standards ~~and Apprenticeship~~ shall administer this chapter and chapters ~~178,~~ 181, 181A, and 184.

~~Subd. 3.~~ ~~Employees; transfer from Division of Women and Children.~~ All persons employed by the department in the Division of Women and Children are transferred to the Division of Labor Standards. A transferred person does not lose rights acquired by reason of employment at the time of transfer.

Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 177.27, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4. Compliance orders. The commissioner may issue an order requiring an employer to comply with sections 177.21 to 177.435, 181.02, 181.03, 181.031, 181.032, 181.101, 181.11, 181.13, 181.14, 181.145, 181.15, 181.172, paragraph (a) or (d), 181.275, subdivision 2a, 181.722, 181.79, ~~and~~ 181.939 to 181.943, or 181.991, and with any rule promulgated under section 177.28. The commissioner shall issue an order requiring an employer to comply with sections 177.41 to 177.435 if the violation is repeated. For purposes of this subdivision only, a violation is repeated if at any time during the two years that preceded the date of violation, the commissioner issued an order to the employer for violation of sections 177.41 to 177.435 and the order is final or the commissioner and the employer have entered into a settlement agreement that required the employer to pay back wages that were required by sections 177.41 to 177.435. The department shall serve the order upon the employer or the employer's authorized representative in person or by certified mail at the employer's place of business. An employer who wishes to contest the order must file written notice of objection to the order with the commissioner within 15 calendar days after being served with the order. A contested case proceeding must then be held in accordance with sections 14.57 to 14.69. If, within 15 calendar days after being served with the order, the employer fails to file a written notice of objection with the commissioner, the order becomes a final order of the commissioner.

EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and applies to franchise agreements entered into or amended on or after that date.

Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 178.01, is amended to read:

178.01 PURPOSES.

The purposes of this chapter are: to open to all people regardless of race, sex, creed, color or national origin, the opportunity to obtain training and on-the-job learning that will equip them for profitable employment and citizenship; to establish as a means to this end, a program of voluntary apprenticeship under approved apprenticeship agreements providing facilities for their training and guidance in the arts, skills, and crafts of industry and trade or occupation, with concurrent, supplementary instruction in related subjects; to promote apprenticeship opportunities under conditions providing adequate training and on-the-job learning and reasonable earnings; to relate the supply of skilled workers to employment demands; to establish standards for apprentice training; to establish an Apprenticeship Board and apprenticeship committees to assist in effectuating the purposes of this chapter; to provide for a Division of ~~Labor Standards and~~ Apprenticeship within the Department of Labor and Industry; to provide for reports to the legislature regarding the status of apprentice training in the state; to establish a procedure for the determination of apprenticeship agreement controversies; and to accomplish related ends.

Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 178.011, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7. Division. "Division" means the department's ~~Labor Standards and~~ Apprenticeship Division, established under sections 175.16 and 178.03, and the State Apprenticeship Agency as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 29, part 29, section 29.2.

Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 178.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1. Establishment of division. There is established a Division of ~~Labor Standards and~~ Apprenticeship in the Department of Labor and Industry. This division shall be administered by a director, and be under the supervision of the commissioner.

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Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 178.11, is amended to read:

178.11 LABOR EDUCATION ADVANCEMENT GRANT PROGRAM.

The commissioner shall establish the labor education advancement grant program for the purpose of facilitating the participation or retention of ~~minorities~~ people of color, Indigenous people, and women in ~~apprenticeable trades and occupations~~ registered apprenticeship programs. The commissioner shall award grants to community-based and nonprofit organizations and Minnesota Tribal governments as defined in section 10.65, serving the targeted populations on a competitive request-for-proposal basis. Interested organizations shall apply for the grants in a form prescribed by the commissioner. As part of the application process, applicants must provide a statement of need for the grant, a description of the targeted population and apprenticeship opportunities, a description of activities to be funded by the grant, evidence supporting the ability to deliver services, information related to coordinating grant activities with other employment and learning programs, identification of matching funds, a budget, and performance objectives. Each submitted application shall be evaluated for completeness and effectiveness of the proposed grant activity.

Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 181.9435, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1. Investigation. The Division of Labor Standards ~~and Apprenticeship~~ shall receive complaints of employees against employers relating to sections 181.172, paragraph (a) or (d), and 181.939 to 181.9436 and investigate informally whether an employer may be in violation of sections 181.172, paragraph (a) or (d), and 181.939 to 181.9436. The division shall attempt to resolve employee complaints by informing employees and employers of the provisions of the law and directing employers to comply with the law. For complaints related to section 181.939, the division must contact the employer within two business days and investigate the complaint within ten days of receipt of the complaint.

Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 181.9436, is amended to read:

181.9436 POSTING OF LAW.

The Division of Labor Standards ~~and Apprenticeship~~ shall develop, with the assistance of interested business and community organizations, an educational poster stating employees' rights under sections 181.940 to 181.9436. The department shall make the poster available, upon request, to employers for posting on the employer's premises.

Sec. 10. [181.988] COVENANTS NOT TO COMPETE VOID IN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS; SUBSTANTIVE PROTECTIONS OF MINNESOTA LAW APPLY.

Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) "Covenant not to compete" means an agreement between an employee and employer that restricts the employee, after termination of the employment, from performing:

(1) work for another employer for a specified period of time;

(2) work in a specified geographical area; or

(3) work for another employer in a capacity that is similar to the employee's work for the employer that is party to the agreement.

(b) "Employer" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, or any person or group of persons acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee.

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Subd. 2. Covenants not to compete void and unenforceable. (a) Subject to the exception in paragraph (b), any covenant not to compete contained in a contract or agreement is void and unenforceable.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a covenant not to compete between an employer and employee is valid and enforceable if:

(1) the employee earned an annual salary from the employer at least equal to the median family income for a four-person family in Minnesota, as determined by the United States Census Bureau, for the most recent year available at the time of the employee's termination; and

(2) the employer agrees to pay the employee on a pro rata basis during the entirety of the restricted period of the covenant not to compete at least 50 percent of the employee's highest annualized base salary paid by the employer within the two years preceding the employee's separation from employment.

(c) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to render void or unenforceable any other provisions in a contract or agreement containing a void or unenforceable covenant not to compete.

(d) In addition to injunctive relief and any other remedies available, a court may award an employee who is enforcing rights under this section reasonable attorney fees.

Subd. 3. Choice of law; venue. (a) An employer must not require an employee who primarily resides and works in Minnesota, as a condition of employment, to agree to a provision in an agreement or contract that would do either of the following:

(1) require the employee to adjudicate outside of Minnesota a claim arising in Minnesota; or

(2) deprive the employee of the substantive protection of Minnesota law with respect to a controversy arising in Minnesota.

(b) Any provision of a contract or agreement that violates paragraph (a) is voidable at any time by the employee and if a provision is rendered void at the request of the employee, the matter shall be adjudicated in Minnesota and Minnesota law shall govern the dispute.

(c) In addition to injunctive relief and any other remedies available, a court may award an employee who is enforcing rights under this section reasonable attorney fees.

(d) For purposes of this section, adjudication includes litigation and arbitration.

(e) This subdivision shall not apply to a contract with an employee who is in fact individually represented by legal counsel in negotiating the terms of an agreement to designate either the venue or forum in which a controversy arising from the employment contract may be adjudicated or the choice of law to be applied.

Subd. 4. Severability. If any provision of this section is found to be unconstitutional and void, the remaining provisions of this section are valid.

EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and applies to contracts and agreements entered into on or after that date.

Sec. 11. [181.991] RESTRICTIVE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS PROHIBITED.

Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them.

(b) "Employee" means an individual employed by an employer and includes independent contractors.

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(d) "Franchise," "franchisee," and "franchisor" have the meanings given in section 80C.01, subdivisions 4 to 6.

Subd. 2. Prohibition on restrictive franchise agreements. (a) No franchisor may restrict, restrain, or prohibit in any way a franchisee from soliciting or hiring an employee of a franchisee of the same franchisor.

(b) No franchisor may restrict, restrain, or prohibit in any way a franchisee from soliciting or hiring an employee of the franchisor.

Subd. 3. Franchise agreement amendment. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than one year from the effective date of this section, franchisors shall amend existing franchise agreements to remove any restrictive employment provision that violates subdivision 2.

Subd. 4. Civil action; penalties. (a) An employee alleging a violation of this section may bring a civil action for damages and injunctive relief against the employer.

(b) If the court finds that a franchisor has violated this section, the court shall enter judgment, grant injunctive relief as deemed appropriate, and award the employee plaintiff the greater of:

(1) the actual damages incurred by the plaintiff, plus any injunctive relief, costs, and reasonable attorney fees; or

(2) a $5,000 penalty.

(c) If no civil action is commenced, the commissioner of labor and industry shall assess a $5,000 per employee penalty for violations of this section. This assessment is in addition to the commissioner's authority under section 177.27, subdivisions 4 and 7. Any penalty assessed under this subdivision shall be awarded to the employee plaintiff and not to the commissioner or the department.

Subd. 5. Severability. If any provision of this section is found to be unconstitutional and void, the remaining provisions of this section are valid.

EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and applies to franchise agreements entered into or amended on or after that date.

Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 326B.092, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7. License fees and license renewal fees. (a) The license fee for each license is the base license fee plus any applicable board fee, continuing education fee, and contractor recovery fund fee and additional assessment, as set forth in this subdivision.

(b) For purposes of this section, "license duration" means the number of years for which the license is issued except that if the initial license is not issued for a whole number of years, the license duration shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

(c) If there is a continuing education requirement for renewal of the license, then a continuing education fee must be included in the renewal license fee. The continuing education fee for all license classifications is $5.

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(d) The base license fee shall depend on whether the license is classified as an entry level, master, journeyworker, or business license, and on the license duration. The base license fee shall be:

License Classification	License Duration
	1 year	2 years
Entry level	$10	$20
Journeyworker	$20	$40
Master	$40	$80
Business		$180

(e) If the license is issued under sections 326B.31 to 326B.59 or 326B.90 to 326B.925, then a board fee must be included in the license fee and the renewal license fee. The board fee for all license classifications shall be: $4 if the license duration is one year; and $8 if the license duration is two years.

(f) If the application is for the renewal of a license issued under sections 326B.802 to 326B.885, then the contractor recovery fund fee required under section 326B.89, subdivision 3, and any additional assessment required under section 326B.89, subdivision 16, must be included in the license renewal fee.

(g) Notwithstanding the fee amounts described in paragraphs (d) to (f), for the period October 1, 2021, through ~~September~~ June 30, ~~2023~~ 2022, the following fees apply:

License Classification	License Duration
	1 year	2 years
Entry level	$10	$20
Journeyworker	$15	$30
Master	$30	$60
Business		$120

(h) For the period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024, no fees described in paragraphs (c) to (e) shall apply, except as described in paragraph (i).

(i) Notwithstanding the fee amounts described in paragraphs (d) to (f), for the period of October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2023, the base license fee for business licenses shall be $120.

Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 326B.103, subdivision 13, is amended to read:

Subd. 13. State licensed facility. "State licensed facility" means a building and its grounds that are licensed by the state as a hospital, nursing home, supervised living facility, free-standing outpatient surgical center, correctional facility, boarding care home, or residential hospice, or assisted living facility, including assisted living facility with dementia care.

Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 326B.106, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1. Adoption of code. (a) Subject to paragraphs (c) and (d) and sections 326B.101 to 326B.194, the commissioner shall by rule and in consultation with the Construction Codes Advisory Council establish a code of standards for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, and repair of buildings, governing matters of structural materials, design and construction, fire protection, health, sanitation, and safety, including design and construction

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standards regarding heat loss control, illumination, and climate control. The code must also include duties and responsibilities for code administration, including procedures for administrative action, penalties, and suspension and revocation of certification. The code must conform insofar as practicable to model building codes generally accepted and in use throughout the United States, including a code for building conservation. In the preparation of the code, consideration must be given to the existing statewide specialty codes presently in use in the state. Model codes with necessary modifications and statewide specialty codes may be adopted by reference. The code must be based on the application of scientific principles, approved tests, and professional judgment. To the extent possible, the code must be adopted in terms of desired results instead of the means of achieving those results, avoiding wherever possible the incorporation of specifications of particular methods or materials. To that end the code must encourage the use of new methods and new materials. Except as otherwise provided in sections 326B.101 to 326B.194, the commissioner shall administer and enforce the provisions of those sections.

(b) The commissioner shall develop rules addressing the plan review fee assessed to similar buildings without significant modifications including provisions for use of building systems as specified in the industrial/modular program specified in section 326B.194. Additional plan review fees associated with similar plans must be based on costs commensurate with the direct and indirect costs of the service.

(c) Beginning with the 2018 edition of the model building codes and every six years thereafter, the commissioner shall review the new model building codes and adopt the model codes as amended for use in Minnesota, within two years of the published edition date. The commissioner may adopt amendments to the building codes prior to the adoption of the new building codes to advance construction methods, technology, or materials, or, where necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, or to improve the efficiency or the use of a building.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (c), the commissioner shall act on each new model residential energy code and the new model commercial energy code in accordance with federal law for which the United States Department of Energy has issued an affirmative determination in compliance with United States Code, title 42, section 6833. The commissioner shall act on the new model commercial energy code by adopting each new published edition and amending it as necessary to achieve a minimum of eight percent energy efficiency. The commissioner may adopt amendments prior to adoption of the new energy codes, as amended for use in Minnesota, to advance construction methods, technology, or materials, or, where necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, or to improve the efficiency or use of a building.

Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 326B.106, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4. Special requirements. (a) Space for commuter vans. The code must require that any parking ramp or other parking facility constructed in accordance with the code include an appropriate number of spaces suitable for the parking of motor vehicles having a capacity of seven to 16 persons and which are principally used to provide prearranged commuter transportation of employees to or from their place of employment or to or from a transit stop authorized by a local transit authority.

(b) Smoke detection devices. The code must require that all dwellings, lodging houses, apartment houses, and hotels as defined in section 299F.362 comply with the provisions of section 299F.362.

(c) Doors in nursing homes and hospitals. The State Building Code may not require that each door entering a sleeping or patient's room from a corridor in a nursing home or hospital with an approved complete standard automatic fire extinguishing system be constructed or maintained as self-closing or automatically closing.

(d) Child care facilities in churches; ground level exit. A licensed day care center serving fewer than 30 preschool age persons and which is located in a belowground space in a church building is exempt from the State Building Code requirement for a ground level exit when the center has more than two stairways to the ground level and its exit.

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(e) Family and group family day care. Until the legislature enacts legislation specifying appropriate standards, the definition of dwellings constructed in accordance with the International Residential Code as adopted as part of the State Building Code applies to family and group family day care homes licensed by the Department of Human Services under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502.

(f) Enclosed stairways. No provision of the code or any appendix chapter of the code may require stairways of existing multiple dwelling buildings of two stories or less to be enclosed.