House File No. 1020, authored by Hill, Virnig, and Bennett, is a legislative bill focusing on the education sector, specifically related to services for children with developmental delays. The main proposal in this bill is the creation of a working group by the Minnesota Department of Education. This group's task will be to evaluate the age eligibility for children to receive special education services for developmental delays.

Key components of the bill include:

1. Establishment of a Working Group: The Department of Education is tasked with forming a group to assess current policies regarding the eligibility age for developmental delay interventions, which is presently capped at six years. The group will consider the implications of extending this age to seven years.

2. Composition of the Working Group: The group will consist of diverse members, including:

   • The commissioner or their designee from the Department of Education.
   • Representatives from the Minnesota Administrators for Special Education.
   • A member from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board.
   • Representatives from the Minnesota Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
   • Members from Education Minnesota from different geographic regions.
   • Representatives from the PACER Center.

3. Duties and Timeline: The working group is expected to meet regularly to review the policies and prepare a comprehensive report on their findings. This report is due to the legislative committees responsible for K-12 education by February 1, 2026.

4. Administrative Support: The group will be provided with necessary support facilities by the Department of Education, and the initial meeting will be convened by the commissioner or their designee.

5. Compensation: Members of the working group will not receive any compensation or payment for their expenses.

6. Expiration: The working group will disband either on February 1, 2026, or upon the submission of their report, depending on which occurs first.

Overall, the bill seeks to potentially extend the support for children with developmental delays, enhancing the educational provisions and adapting them to better meet the needs of this demographic.