Subdivision 1. Facility improvement expenses. "Facility improvement expenses" means the cost of improvements, equipment, appropriate technology and software, toys, and supplies needed to establish, expand, or improve a licensed child care facility or a child care program under the jurisdiction of a district school board.

Subd. 2. Interim financing. "Interim financing" means funding for up to 18 months:

(1) for activities that are necessary to receive and maintain state child care licensing;

(2) to expand an existing child care program or to improve program quality; and

(3) to operate for a period of six consecutive months after a child care facility becomes licensed or satisfies standards of the commissioner of human services.

Subd. 3. Region. "Region" means a region designated by the governor under section 462.385.

Subd. 4. Training program. "Training program" means child development courses offered by an accredited postsecondary institution or similar training approved by a county board or the commissioner. A training program must be a course of study that teaches specific skills to meet licensing requirements or requirements of the commissioner of human services.

Subd. 5. Child care services grants. "Child care services grants" means grants awarded to child care centers and family child care providers, both licensed and legal nonlicensed, under section 119B.21, subdivision 5.

Subd. 6. District. "District" means the selected geographical area comprising one or more regions defined in subdivision 3. Six district programs and one statewide tribal program provide designated child care resource and referral services for the district area. As determined by the commissioner, the district program shall work in partnership with the regional child care resource and referral programs, local communities, tribal programs, and other early childhood education programs located within the district.

History: 1989 c 282 art 2 s 154; 1990 c 568 art 4 s 55; 1991 c 292 art 5 s 65; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1997 c 162 art 4 s 44-46; 1998 c 397 art 11 s 3; 1998 c 398 art 5 s 55; 1999 c 205 art 5 s 8-11,21; 2003 c 130 s 12; 2004 c 288 art 4 s 20,21; 2010 c 301 art 2 s 1,2