MN SF1452

Governor appoints an ombudsperson in classified service for two-year terms to assist child care providers with licensing, compliance, correction orders, and other regulatory issues.

Ombudsperson duties include addressing provider concerns, assisting with county licensor interactions and appeals, providing improvement recommendations, operating a telephone helpline, and assisting license applicants.

Ombudsperson must have at least five years of child care experience and expertise in government relations, law interpretation, investigations, record keeping, public speaking, and management; cannot currently hold public office or have worked for Department of Human Services or as county licensor.

Ombudsperson receives access to state agency records including confidential data, and state agencies must provide quarterly copies of correction orders, penalty assessments, and complaint investigation reports for all child care providers.

$78,000 appropriated for fiscal year 2020 and $82,000 for fiscal year 2021 from general fund to commissioner of human services, effective July 1, 2019.