1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to workforce development; requiring a report; appropriating money for a
1.3 grant to the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers for a program for Black
1.4 Minnesota undergraduates exploring law school and legal careers.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS; MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF BLACK
1.7LAWYERS.
1.8 (a) $350,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $350,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from
1.9the workforce development fund to the commissioner of employment and economic
1.10development for a grant to the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers to be used for a
1.11program supporting Black undergraduate students pursuing admission to law school.
1.12 (b) The program under paragraph (a) must:
1.13 (1) enroll Black Minnesota resident students attending a baccalaureate degree-granting
1.14postsecondary institution in Minnesota full-time;
1.15 (2) support each of the program's students with an academic scholarship in the amount
1.16of $4,000 per academic year;
1.17 (3) organize events and programming, including but not limited to one-on-one mentoring,
1.18to familiarize enrolled students with law school and legal careers; and
1.19 (4) provide the program's students free test preparation materials, academic support, and
1.20registration for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) examination.
1.21 (c) The Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers may use grant money under paragraph
1.22(a) for costs related to:
1Section 1.
25-05014 as introduced03/20/25 REVISOR SS/VJ
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 3111NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: CHAMPION)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading04/01/2025
Referred to Jobs and Economic Development 2.1 (1) student scholarships;
2.2 (2) academic events and programming, including food and transportation costs for
2.3students;
2.4 (3) LSAT preparation materials, courses, and registrations; and
2.5 (4) hiring staff for the program.
2.6 (d) By January 30, 2026, and again by January 30, 2027, the Minnesota Association of
2.7Black Lawyers must submit a report to the commissioner of employment and economic
2.8development and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
2.9with jurisdiction over workforce development and policy. The report must include an accurate
2.10and detailed account of the program, the program's outcomes, and the program's revenues
2.11and expenses, including the use of all state money appropriated in paragraph (a).
2Section 1.
25-05014 as introduced03/20/25 REVISOR SS/VJ