S.F. No. 2170 Summary

• Establishes a new Department of Early Childhood effective July 1, 2023, designated as a state department with a commissioner appointed by the governor with senate consent.

• Transfers early childhood programs from the Departments of Health, Human Services, and Education to the new department, including child care assistance, Head Start, early childhood screening, family home visiting, and related programs.

• Sets the commissioner's salary at the same range as the commissioner of management and budget, capped at 133 percent of the governor's salary with annual adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index.

• Requires the commissioner to develop program objectives and performance measures addressing racial inequities, kindergarten readiness, program coordination, and family service accessibility, with reports due January 15, 2024, and biennially thereafter.

• Authorizes the commissioner to amend Minnesota Rules to conform to the transfer of duties and allows the governor to appoint a commissioner-designee by January 15, 2023, to prepare for the department's establishment.