Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF2931 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to higher education; establishing a law enforcement grant program to help
3	3	1.3 recruit and retain law enforcement officers; appropriating money; proposing coding
4	4	1.4 for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136A.
5	5	1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
6	6	1.6 Section 1. [136A.1245] LAW ENFORCEMENT GRANTS.
7	7	1.7 Subdivision 1.Establishment.To help recruit and retain law enforcement officers in
8	8	1.8the state, the office must establish a grant program to cover the cost of tuition and fees at
9	9	1.9public postsecondary educational institutions for students who satisfy the eligibility
10	10	1.10requirements under subdivision 3.
11	11	1.11 Subd. 2.Definitions.For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings
12	12	1.12given:
13	13	1.13 (1) "gift aid" has the meaning given in section 136A.1465, subdivision 1, clause (2);
14	14	1.14 (2) "law enforcement agency" has the meaning given in section 626.84, subdivision 1,
15	15	1.15paragraph (f);
16	16	1.16 (3) "other expenses" has the meaning given in section 136A.1465, subdivision 1, clause
17	17	1.17(3);
18	18	1.18 (4) "peace officer" has the meaning given in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph
19	19	1.19(c);
20	20	1.20 (5) "public postsecondary educational institution" means an institution operated by the
21	21	1.21Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities or the Board of Regents
22	22	1.22of the University of Minnesota;
23	23	1Section 1.
24	24	25-04703 as introduced03/11/25 REVISOR VH/RC
25	25	SENATE
26	26	STATE OF MINNESOTA
27	27	S.F. No. 2931NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
28	28	(SENATE AUTHORS: SEEBERGER and Duckworth)
29	29	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
30	30	Introduction and first reading03/24/2025
31	31	Referred to Higher Education 2.1 (6) "total and permanent duty disability" means a condition qualifying for benefits under
32	32	2.2section 353.656, subdivision 1a; and
33	33	2.3 (7) "tuition and fees" means the actual tuition and mandatory fees charged by the public
34	34	2.4postsecondary institution attended by the eligible student.
35	35	2.5 Subd. 3.Eligibility.(a) An individual is eligible for a grant under this section if the
36	36	2.6individual:
37	37	2.7 (1) applies in the form and manner specified by the office;
38	38	2.8 (2) is a resident student, as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 8;
39	39	2.9 (3) is a graduate of a secondary school or its equivalent, or is 17 years of age or older
40	40	2.10and has met all requirements for admission as a student to a public postsecondary educational
41	41	2.11institution;
42	42	2.12 (4) has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the state
43	43	2.13aid application;
44	44	2.14 (5) is enrolled in at least one credit per fall, spring, or summer semester in an
45	45	2.15undergraduate certificate, diploma, or degree program at a public postsecondary educational
46	46	2.16institution;
47	47	2.17 (6) has not (i) obtained a baccalaureate degree, or (ii) been enrolled for 12 semesters or
48	48	2.18the equivalent, excluding courses taken that qualify as developmental education or below
49	49	2.19college-level and are subject to subdivision 5, paragraph (b);
50	50	2.20 (7) is not in default, as defined by the office, for any federal or state student educational
51	51	2.21loan;
52	52	2.22 (8) is not more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or
53	53	2.23enforced by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement or, is more than
54	54	2.2430 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or enforced by the public
55	55	2.25authority responsible for child support enforcement, but is complying with a written payment
56	56	2.26agreement under section 518A.69 or order for arrearages;
57	57	2.27 (9) has not been convicted of or pled nolo contendere or guilty to a crime involving
58	58	2.28fraud in obtaining federal Title IV funds within the meaning of Code of Federal Regulations,
59	59	2.29title 34, section 668.32;
60	60	2.30 (10) is meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision
61	61	2.3110; and
62	62	2.32 (11) is either:
63	63	2Section 1.
64	64	25-04703 as introduced03/11/25 REVISOR VH/RC 3.1 (i) a peace officer employed by a Minnesota law enforcement agency;
65	65	3.2 (ii) the dependent child of a peace officer employed by a Minnesota law enforcement
66	66	3.3agency; or
67	67	3.4 (iii) the dependent child of an individual who, while employed by a Minnesota law
68	68	3.5enforcement agency as a peace officer, suffered a total and permanent duty disability.
69	69	3.6 (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), clause (5), an individual who is eligible for a grant
70	70	3.7under paragraph (a), clause (11), item (i), must be enrolled in at least one credit per fall,
71	71	3.8spring, or summer semester in an undergraduate baccalaureate degree program at a public
72	72	3.9postsecondary educational institution in the field of criminal justice, law enforcement, or a
73	73	3.10similar field.
74	74	3.11 Subd. 4.Award amount.(a) Scholarships must be awarded to eligible students in an
75	75	3.12amount equal to 100 percent of tuition and fees after gift aid is deducted.
76	76	3.13 (b) If there is a projected shortfall in available resources, the commissioner may
77	77	3.14proportionately reduce awards to keep spending within available resources.
78	78	3.15 Subd. 5.Duration of grant.(a) Each scholarship is for a period of one semester or
79	79	3.16equivalent term. A scholarship may be renewed if the eligible student continues to meet the
80	80	3.17conditions of eligibility. A grant award is terminated upon failure to meet the eligibility
81	81	3.18requirements under subdivision 3.
82	82	3.19 (b) A student is entitled to an additional semester or the equivalent of grant eligibility
83	83	3.20if the student withdraws from enrollment:
84	84	3.21 (1) for active military service because the student was ordered to active military service
85	85	3.22as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5b or 5c;
86	86	3.23 (2) for a serious health condition, while under the care of a medical professional, that
87	87	3.24substantially limits the student's ability to complete the term; or
88	88	3.25 (3) while providing care that substantially limits the student's ability to complete the
89	89	3.26term to the student's spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.
90	90	3.27 Subd. 6.Administration.(a) The office must determine the time and manner of grant
91	91	3.28applications. The office must require an applicant to provide documentation verifying that
92	92	3.29the applicant meets the eligibility criteria under subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (11).
93	93	3.30 (b) The scholarship must be paid directly to the eligible institution where the student is
94	94	3.31enrolled.
95	95	3Section 1.
96	96	25-04703 as introduced03/11/25 REVISOR VH/RC 4.1 (c) The office must prepare promotional and informational materials about the grant
97	97	4.2program under this section and disseminate the materials to law enforcement agencies
98	98	4.3throughout the state. The office and the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training may
99	99	4.4collaborate on promotion of the program.
100	100	4.5 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; LAW ENFORCEMENT GRANTS.
101	101	4.6 $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general
102	102	4.7fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for law enforcement grants
103	103	4.8under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1245.
104	104	4Sec. 2.
105	105	25-04703 as introduced03/11/25 REVISOR VH/RC