MN
Minnesota House Bill HF165

Minnesota 2023-2024 Regular Session

Minnesota House Bill HF165

Introduced
1/9/23  

Caption

Paramedic scholarship program established, reports required, and money appropriated.

Impact

This bill will directly impact Minnesota's higher education landscape by establishing a dedicated funding stream for students in paramedic training. The program is designed to promote enrollment in paramedic programs, which is particularly critical in light of the ongoing demand for qualified healthcare professionals in emergency services. This effort to support aspiring paramedics not only provides immediate financial assistance but also aims to bolster the state’s public safety infrastructure, ensuring that communities have access to trained emergency responders.

Summary

House File 165, introduced by Representative Coulter, establishes a Paramedic Scholarship Program in Minnesota. The program aims to provide financial assistance to students pursuing careers as paramedics in the state, with scholarships available to up to 600 eligible students by the year 2026. Each scholarship will award $5,000, directly paid to the educational institution, thereby alleviating some financial burdens on students enrolled in accredited paramedic programs. The initiative reflects the state's commitment to enhancing its emergency medical services workforce and addressing public safety needs.

Contention

While the establishment of the scholarship program has received broad support for its potential benefits to workforce development, there are discussions regarding the cap on scholarship awards and eligibility. The program allows eligible students to receive scholarships no more than two times, which raises questions about the accessibility of funds for those who may need more comprehensive support throughout their education. Additionally, the bill includes a provision for reporting by the commissioner on the program's effectiveness, which will help assess the actual impact and scalability of the initiative as the paramedic workforce demand evolves.

Companion Bills

MN SF1594

Similar To Paramedic scholarship program establishment and appropriation

Previously Filed As

MN SF1594

Paramedic scholarship program establishment and appropriation

MN HF1603

Paramedic scholarship program made permanent, and money appropriated.

MN HF1340

Allied health technician scholarship program established, report required, and money appropriated.

MN SF1940

Current paramedic scholarship program continuation

MN HF2639

Allied health technician scholarship program established, report required, and money appropriated.

MN HF2914

Last-dollar scholarship program established for students preparing to become licensed social workers, report required, and money appropriated.

MN HF4493

Promise equalization scholarship program established to supplement state grant awards for students attending Minnesota private nonprofit postsecondary institutions, report required, and money appropriated.

MN SF1288

Allied health technician scholarship program establishment

MN HF3194

Shakopee; area workforce development scholarship pilot program established, and money appropriated.

MN HF3067

State employee scholarship created, report required, and money appropriated.

Similar Bills

UT HB0398

Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program Amendments

UT SB0107

Education Scholarship Amendments

UT SB0062

Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program Amendments

CA AB2480

Income taxes: credit: Scholarship Tax Credit Program Act.

AL HB442

To create the Alabama Fits All Scholarship Program; require the State Board of Education to contract with a program manager to administer the program; to authorize the program manager to establish scholarship accounts on behalf of eligible students; to prohibit a program manager from accepting scholarship funds in certain circumstances; to require fiscal safeguards and accountability measures; to require eligible schools and service providers to meet certain standards to be eligible to receive scholarship funds; to authorize the program manager to distribute scholarship funds; to require the State Board of Education to provide limited oversight of the program manager, including an appeal process for the program manager's administrative decisions; to prohibit certain regulations of eligible schools and eligible service providers; to require criminal history background information checks for employees and officers of a program manager; to provide for program funding; and to require the program manager and the board to submit reports on the program to the Legislature.

MS HB747

Mississippi Scholarship Act; create to provide scholarships to K-12 public school students.

MS HB874

Mississippi Scholarship Act; create to provide scholarships to K-12 public school students.

UT HB0529

Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Amendments