| 1 | 1 | | 1.1 A bill for an act |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | 1.2 relating to higher education; modifying workforce development scholarship program |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | 1.3 parameters; appropriating money for various needs of the Minnesota State Colleges |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | 1.4 and Universities; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136F.38, subdivisions |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | 1.5 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | 1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | 1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136F.38, subdivision 1, is amended to read: |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | 1.8 Subdivision 1.Program established.The board shall develop a scholarship program |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | 1.9to incentivize new students and students returning from the workforce to enter high-demand |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | 1.10occupations upon graduation, with an emphasis on skill-based outcomes, stackable |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | 1.11credentials, and credit for prior learning pathways. |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | 1.12 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136F.38, subdivision 2, is amended to read: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | 1.13 Subd. 2.Scholarship awards.(a) The program shall award scholarships at the beginning |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | 1.14of an academic term, in the amount of $2,500, to be distributed evenly between two terms |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | 1.15to support student participation in eligible credit-based and noncredit programs. |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | 1.16 (b) For credit-based programs, a student in a two-year college in the Minnesota State |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | 1.17Colleges and Universities system is eligible for up to $2,500 per academic year, which may |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | 1.18be distributed flexibly across terms based on the student's enrollment and program |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | 1.19requirements. |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | 1.20 (c) For noncredit programs, a student in a two-year college in the Minnesota State |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | 1.21Colleges and Universities system is eligible for up to $1,500 per eligible program, not to |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | 1Sec. 2. |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | 25-04167 as introduced03/04/25 REVISOR VH/HL |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | SENATE |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | STATE OF MINNESOTA |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | S.F. No. 2518NINETY-FOURTH SESSION |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | (SENATE AUTHORS: KUPEC, Fateh and Putnam) |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | Introduction and first reading03/13/2025 |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | Referred to Higher Education 2.1exceed the total cost of tuition, fees, required materials, and industry-recognized certification |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | 2.2exams. |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | 2.3 (d) For credit-based programs, a student in a four-year university in the Minnesota State |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | 2.4Colleges and Universities system is eligible for annual scholarships of up to $3,500 each. |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 2.5 (e) Scholarship money may be used flexibly throughout the academic year to |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 2.6accommodate variations in enrollment intensity or academic calendar structures, such as |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | 2.7accelerated or modular programs; seasonal or program-specific costs, including tools, |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | 2.8equipment, transportation, and uniforms; support for stackable credentials and transitions |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | 2.9from noncredit to credit-based pathways; and payment of fees for credit for prior learning |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | 2.10assessments that award academic credit based on a student's demonstrated knowledge, skills, |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | 2.11or competencies. |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | 2.12 (f) Money may roll over within an academic year and, where applicable, may be applied |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | 2.13to subsequent terms or programs. |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | 2.14 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136F.38, subdivision 3, is amended to read: |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | 2.15 Subd. 3.Program eligibility.(a) Scholarships shall be awarded only to a student eligible |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | 2.16for resident tuition, as defined in section 135A.043, who is enrolled in any of the following |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | 2.17programs of study or certification: (1) advanced manufacturing; (2) agriculture; (3) health |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | 2.18care services; (4) information technology; (5) early childhood; (6) transportation; (7) |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | 2.19construction; (8) education; (9) public safety; (10) energy; or (11) a program of study under |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | 2.20paragraph (b). |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | 2.21 (b) Each institution may add one additional area of study or certification, based on a |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | 2.22workforce shortage for full-time employment requiring postsecondary education that is |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | 2.23unique to the institution's specific region, as reported in the most recent Department of |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | 2.24Employment and Economic Development job vacancy survey data for the economic |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | 2.25development region in which the institution is located. A workforce shortage area is one in |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | 2.26which the job vacancy rate for full-time employment in a specific occupation in a region is |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | 2.27higher than the state average vacancy rate for that same occupation. The institution may |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | 2.28change the area of study or certification based on new data once every two years. |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | 2.29 (c) The student must be enrolled for at least nine credits in a two-year college in the |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | 2.30Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to be eligible for first- and second-year |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | 2.31scholarships for credit programs. |
|---|
| 61 | 61 | | 2Sec. 3. |
|---|
| 62 | 62 | | 25-04167 as introduced03/04/25 REVISOR VH/HL 3.1 (d) The student is eligible for a one-year transfer scholarship if the student transfers from |
|---|
| 63 | 63 | | 3.2a two-year college after two or more terms, and the student is enrolled for at least nine |
|---|
| 64 | 64 | | 3.3credits in a four-year university in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. |
|---|
| 65 | 65 | | 3.4 (d) Students pursuing noncredit programs that lead to industry-recognized credentials |
|---|
| 66 | 66 | | 3.5or certifications aligned with high-demand occupations are eligible for scholarships. |
|---|
| 67 | 67 | | 3.6Noncredit program participants may apply unused money toward credit-bearing programs, |
|---|
| 68 | 68 | | 3.7stackable credentials, or credit for prior learning assessments. |
|---|
| 69 | 69 | | 3.8 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136F.38, subdivision 4, is amended to read: |
|---|
| 70 | 70 | | 3.9 Subd. 4.Renewal; cap.A student who has received a scholarship may apply again but |
|---|
| 71 | 71 | | 3.10total lifetime awards are not to exceed $7,500 $8,500 per student, which may include a |
|---|
| 72 | 72 | | 3.11combination of awards for credit and noncredit programs. Students may only be awarded |
|---|
| 73 | 73 | | 3.12a second scholarship upon completion of two academic terms or a corresponding noncredit |
|---|
| 74 | 74 | | 3.13program. Students may only be awarded a third scholarship if the student transfers to a |
|---|
| 75 | 75 | | 3.14corresponding four-year program at a Minnesota state university or is already in a four-year |
|---|
| 76 | 76 | | 3.15program at a Minnesota state university. |
|---|
| 77 | 77 | | 3.16 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136F.38, subdivision 5, is amended to read: |
|---|
| 78 | 78 | | 3.17 Subd. 5.Administration.(a) The board shall establish an application process and other |
|---|
| 79 | 79 | | 3.18guidelines for implementing this program, including procedures for flexible distribution of |
|---|
| 80 | 80 | | 3.19money. |
|---|
| 81 | 81 | | 3.20 (b) The board shall give preference to students in financial need. |
|---|
| 82 | 82 | | 3.21 (c) Up to one and one-half percent of the money appropriated for this program may be |
|---|
| 83 | 83 | | 3.22used for the administration of this program, including outreach to students and promotion |
|---|
| 84 | 84 | | 3.23of programs where graduates and certificate holders are currently most needed. |
|---|
| 85 | 85 | | 3.24 (d) Institutions may allocate scholarships across terms or programs to support variations |
|---|
| 86 | 86 | | 3.25in student enrollment, unexpected life circumstances, or unique program needs. Institutions |
|---|
| 87 | 87 | | 3.26are also authorized to use scholarship money for nontuition costs such as certification exams, |
|---|
| 88 | 88 | | 3.27tools, transportation, and credit for prior learning assessments. |
|---|
| 89 | 89 | | 3.28 Sec. 6. APPROPRIATIONS. |
|---|
| 90 | 90 | | 3.29 (a) $237,958,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $236,958,000 in fiscal year 2027 are |
|---|
| 91 | 91 | | 3.30appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges |
|---|
| 92 | 92 | | 3.31and Universities for operations and maintenance of the Minnesota State Colleges and |
|---|
| 93 | 93 | | 3Sec. 6. |
|---|
| 94 | 94 | | 25-04167 as introduced03/04/25 REVISOR VH/HL 4.1Universities. The base for this appropriation is $236,958,000 in fiscal year 2028 and later. |
|---|
| 95 | 95 | | 4.2Of the amounts appropriated in this paragraph: |
|---|
| 96 | 96 | | 4.3 (1) $50,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is for repair or replacement of existing on-campus |
|---|
| 97 | 97 | | 4.4buildings and infrastructure; |
|---|
| 98 | 98 | | 4.5 (2) $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is for demolition of obsolete buildings and |
|---|
| 99 | 99 | | 4.6infrastructure and restoration of the vacant sites; |
|---|
| 100 | 100 | | 4.7 (3) $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is for development and implementation of the |
|---|
| 101 | 101 | | 4.8Workday Student information system; |
|---|
| 102 | 102 | | 4.9 (4) $19,408,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $19,408,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to expand |
|---|
| 103 | 103 | | 4.10student support services; |
|---|
| 104 | 104 | | 4.11 (5) $1,050,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,050,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to develop and |
|---|
| 105 | 105 | | 4.12expand the availability of free course materials; |
|---|
| 106 | 106 | | 4.13 (6) $93,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $192,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to address |
|---|
| 107 | 107 | | 4.14personnel and nonpersonnel cost increases, maintain academic programs, and limit tuition |
|---|
| 108 | 108 | | 4.15changes to instances where there is compelling need to better align rates with costs; |
|---|
| 109 | 109 | | 4.16 (7) $4,250,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $4,250,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to support the |
|---|
| 110 | 110 | | 4.17maintenance of high-cost and high-demand career and technical, baccalaureate, and graduate |
|---|
| 111 | 111 | | 4.18programs; |
|---|
| 112 | 112 | | 4.19 (8) $6,750,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $6,750,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to upgrade |
|---|
| 113 | 113 | | 4.20college and university equipment and learning environments and to enhance applied research |
|---|
| 114 | 114 | | 4.21laboratories; |
|---|
| 115 | 115 | | 4.22 (9) $6,750,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $6,750,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to develop and |
|---|
| 116 | 116 | | 4.23expand industry sector programming to build capacity and support new and redesigned |
|---|
| 117 | 117 | | 4.24curricular options with an emphasis on offering students work-based learning experiences; |
|---|
| 118 | 118 | | 4.25and |
|---|
| 119 | 119 | | 4.26 (10) $6,750,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $6,750,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to expand |
|---|
| 120 | 120 | | 4.27the workforce development scholarship program under Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.38. |
|---|
| 121 | 121 | | 4.28 (b) $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated |
|---|
| 122 | 122 | | 4.29from the general fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for emergency |
|---|
| 123 | 123 | | 4.30grants to students of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to meet immediate needs |
|---|
| 124 | 124 | | 4.31that could interfere with the student completing the term or their program. |
|---|
| 125 | 125 | | 4Sec. 6. |
|---|
| 126 | 126 | | 25-04167 as introduced03/04/25 REVISOR VH/HL |
|---|