SF4963

Purpose

To provide one-time funding from the general fund to support leadership, mentoring, and youth development programs run by the Power of People Leadership Institute. The aim is to help students—especially girls of color facing social, demographic, racial, and economic barriers—improve graduation rates, pursue postsecondary education, and access workforce opportunities.

Main Provisions

• Appropriates $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 for a grant to the Power of People Leadership Institute to sustain and expand the Girls Taking Action program. This includes mentoring, academic support, health and wellness counseling, financial education, and career development.
• Requires part of the appropriations for Girls Taking Action to be used to continue expanding services outside the seven-county metropolitan area.
• Appropriates $500,000 in fiscal year 2027 for a grant to sustain the five community-based Girls Taking Action programs in the seven-county metropolitan area and one community chapter in St. Cloud.
• Appropriates $500,000 in fiscal year 2027 for a grant to sustain and expand the Boys of Hope program to support boys in at least 14 schools in the seven-county metropolitan area and St. Cloud, with the goal of increasing academic engagement and decreasing violence and behavior referrals.

Funding Details and Administration

• All funding is a one-time appropriation.
• Source: General Fund.
• Administration: through the commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Geographic Reach and Target Beneficiaries

• Geographic scope includes the seven-county metropolitan area and St. Cloud; expansion of services beyond the seven-county area is permitted for Girls Taking Action.
• Target beneficiaries include students, with a special emphasis on girls of color facing barriers to educational success and workforce opportunities; Boys of Hope targets boys in participating schools.

Relationship to Existing Law

• The bill provides appropriations rather than creating new ongoing programs or policy changes. It authorizes one-time funding to support the specified programs and does not imply permanent changes to existing law beyond the appropriation.

Impact Indicators (implied)

• Potentially higher graduation rates and increased pursuit of postsecondary education for targeted students.
• Expanded access to mentoring, health and wellness support, financial literacy, and career development.
• Increased academic engagement for both girls and boys and a reduction in violence or behavioral referrals in participating schools.

Relevant Terms Power of People Leadership Institute Girls Taking Action Boys of Hope seven-county metropolitan area St. Cloud general fund commissioner of employment and economic development mentoring academic support health and wellness counseling financial education career development graduation rates postsecondary education workforce opportunities girls of color social demographic racial and economic barriers one-time appropriation fiscal year 2027