MN HF2651

Establishes a 19-member Child Care Advisory Working Group to advise the Department of Human Services on child care licensing policy, with members including legislators, parents, providers, teachers, and caregivers from both metropolitan and rural areas, with appointments due by July 1, 2019.

Requires the working group to make recommendations on improving licensing processes, assess cost implications of licensing standards versus reimbursement rates, clarify teacher and caregiver qualifications, survey providers about licensing requirements, identify barriers to provider recruitment, and consider rural-specific licensing requirements, with a report due by February 1, 2020.

Directs the commissioner to develop an electronic system by January 1, 2020 for counties and providers to track child care authorizations and ensure reported attendance does not exceed authorized capacity.

Requires counties to provide written notice to applicants at initial application and redetermination listing child care fraud activities and consequences, with written acknowledgment required.

Directs the commissioner to develop equity and implicit bias training for licensors (required within 30 days of hire and every two years), actively recruit diverse licensors, create a complaint process for providers, hire an equity coordinator, reorganize to move licensing out of the Office of Inspector General, and report implementation by January 1, 2020.