House Ways and Means panel backs $100 million to cover summer unemployment for hourly school workers

The Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee on May 15 recommended House File 1143, as amended, for placement on the general register by voice vote. The DE3 amendment to HF 1143 would appropriate $100 million from the general fund to the school unemployment aid account to fund unemployment benefits for hourly school employees, including bus drivers, paraprofessionals and food-service workers, who rely on unemployment insurance during the summer months.

The amendment’s sponsor said the appropriation "is a hundred million dollar appropriation that funds the unemployment insurance aid account" and that it "provides state funding to our school districts to support the bus drivers, the paras, the food service workers who rely on unemployment insurance as a lifeline during the summer months." The sponsor said a portion of the funding comes from the Northern Lights Express (NLLX) account and that the amendment realizes $22 million in savings by shifting certain costs.

Nonpartisan fiscal staff explained how the change…