Section 1, Subdivision 1 [Establishment] establishes the Getting to Work grant program. Directs the commissioner of employment and economic development to make grants to nonprofit organizations to establish and operate programs that provide, repair, or maintain motor vehicles to assist eligible individuals to obtain or maintain employment.

Subdivision 2 [Qualified grantee] requires a grantee to be a 501(c)(3) entity and have the capacity to offer a motor vehicle program that meets the requirements of the program.

Subdivision 3 [Program requirements] requires a program to offer one or more of the following services:

• provision of a new or used motor vehicle by gift, sale or lease;
• motor vehicle repair and maintenance services; or
• motor vehicle loans.

Requires a qualifying program to offer at least one of the following services:

• financial literacy;
• education on budgeting for vehicle ownership;
• car maintenance and repair instruction;
• credit counseling; or
• job training related to motor vehicle maintenance and repair.

Subdivision 4 [Application] requires grant applications to specify a description of the services to be offered, the area the service will be offered, and an estimate of the number of program participants and a plan for leveraging assistance from: auto dealers, auto parts dealers, independent mechanics and repair facilities, banks and credit unions, employers, employment and training agencies, insurance companies and agents, local workforce centers, and educational institutions.

Subdivision 5 [Participant eligibility] requires an individual to:

• have a household income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level;
• be at least 22 years old;
• have a valid driver’s license;
• provide proof of insurance; and
• demonstrate to the grantee that motor vehicle ownership is required to obtain or maintain employment.

Subdivision 6 [Report to legislature] requires an outcome evaluation and report on the grant program to the legislature by February 15, 2019.

Section 2 [Appropriation] appropriates $1,000,000 as a onetime appropriation from the general fund in fiscal year 2018 for the new grant program.

CDF/syl