Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to improve employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Minnesota by providing financial support to initiatives that create inclusive work environments and offer career skills development.

Main Provisions

• The bill allocates funds to Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI) for specific employment programs aimed at individuals with disabilities.
• A total of $450,000 is allocated each year for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the workforce development fund to support MDI in providing inclusive employment opportunities and services.
• An additional $250,000 is allocated for fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to support MDI's career skills programming, which includes both online and in-person classes enhanced with virtual reality tools.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new one-time financial appropriation specifically targeting the employment needs of individuals with disabilities, emphasizing innovative approaches such as virtual reality in career skills education.
• Requires MDI to submit a report by January 15, 2028, detailing participant demographics, programming hours, employer outreach efforts, and future recommendations related to career skills delivery.

Relevant Terms

• Economic development
• Workforce development fund
• General fund
• Inclusive employment opportunities
• Career skills programming
• Virtual reality tools
• Individuals with disabilities