Committee hears request to restore and expand Minnesota Youth Program funding; bill laid over
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
Representatives and workforce boards urged renewed appropriations for the Minnesota Youth Program (MYP) to support paid work experience, career advising and increased placements for high-school and other youth; the committee laid HF 2039 over as amended.
House File 2039, carried by Representative Sensa Murrow, would increase state funding for the Minnesota Youth Program (MYP), which workforce development boards implement statewide to provide paid work experience, career advising, and in-school outreach for youth ages 14'24.
Nicole Swanson, director at Anoka County Job Training Center and spokeswoman for the Minnesota Association of Workforce Boards, told the committee MYP enables at-risk youth to access paid, supervised work experiences, build soft and hard work skills, and explore career paths. She said state investment had not increased above $4 million since 2003 and that a recent increase allowed local boards to scale delivery substantially; without renewed state funds, Swanson said thousands fewer youth would have access to placements and schools would see reduced career advising capacity.
A youth participant from Rochester described hands-on construction experiences and the chance to grow leadership skills through a local program funded by MYP.
Representative Sensa Murrow asked the committee to fund the program so boards can continue placements and outreach. Committee members had no recorded roll-call on the motion; after testimony the chair laid HF 2039, as amended, over for future consideration.
Ending: Testimony highlighted MYP's role in connecting youth to employment and keeping youth engaged in positive coursework and training; the committee will consider funding as part of broader budget deliberations.