HF 1982

1st Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/13/2012 12:12pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing veteran education program;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 197.791,
subdivision 6; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
135A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [135A.53] DEFINITIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Scope. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section and section 135A.54, the
following words have the meanings given them.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Course. new text end

new text begin "Course" means any course of study offered by a state-supported
institution of higher education in the regular curriculum of a department, school, or
subdivision of the institution.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligible person. new text end

new text begin "Eligible person" means a veteran or a veteran's spouse
who meets the criteria under section 135A.54, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Legal resident. new text end

new text begin "Legal resident" means a person who fulfills the residency
criteria applicable to students of a state-supported institution of higher education.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Institution of higher education. new text end

new text begin "Institution of higher education" means a
state university, public two-year college, or the University of Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Veteran. new text end

new text begin "Veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [135A.54] VETERAN EDUCATION PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Fees and tuition. new text end

new text begin (a) Except for an administration fee established
by the governing board at a level to recover costs, to be collected only when a course is
taken for credit, an eligible person who is a legal resident of Minnesota is entitled without
payment of tuition or activity fees to attend courses offered for credit, audit any courses
offered for credit, or enroll in any noncredit courses in any state-supported institution of
higher education in Minnesota when space is available after all tuition-paying students
have been accommodated. An eligible person enrolled under this section must pay any
materials, personal property, or service charges for the course. In addition, an eligible
person who is enrolled in a course for credit must pay an administrative fee in an amount
established by the governing board of the institution to recover costs. An eligible person
shall not be charged an administrative fee for auditing a course.
new text end

new text begin (b) If there is space available in a course after an eligible person has enrolled and
paid for the course, the institution of higher education must apply the tuition to another
course or to any outstanding balance.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin A person is eligible to register and enroll in courses under
subdivision 1 if that person is:
new text end

new text begin (1) a veteran who has been eligible for postsecondary educational assistance
under section 197.791 or any federal educational benefits for veterans but, at the time
of registration, is no longer eligible for assistance under the Minnesota GI Bill, any
other state educational benefit for veterans or Minnesota National Guard, or any federal
educational benefits for veterans; or
new text end

new text begin (2) the spouse of a veteran who has been eligible, as a spouse, for postsecondary
educational assistance under section 197.791 or any federal educational benefits available
to a spouse of veterans but, at the time of registration, is no longer eligible for assistance
under the Minnesota GI Bill or any federal educational benefits available to a veteran's
spouse.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Terms; limits. new text end

new text begin An eligible person may enroll in a lifetime maximum of
24 semester credits under subdivision 1. There are no income limitations imposed in
determining eligibility under subdivision 1. Enrollment in a closed enrollment contract
training program or in any part of a farm or small business management education
program that includes on-site individualized instruction is not eligible for benefits under
subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Catalog statement. new text end

new text begin Each state-supported institution of higher education
shall prominently include in its catalog a statement of benefits provided for eligible
persons.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Determination of qualifications. new text end

new text begin The institution shall determine whether
a person qualifies for, and require execution of appropriate forms to request, the benefits
available under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Reimbursement. new text end

new text begin An institution of higher education with students
enrolled under subdivision 1 may apply to the commissioner of veterans affairs for cost
reimbursement. The commissioner of veterans affairs shall allocate funds remaining
under section 197.791, subdivision 6, after payment of all Minnesota GI Bill educational
benefits, to participating institutions of higher education based on the number of credits
completed by eligible persons. If the remaining appropriation in any fiscal year is
insufficient to meet each higher education institution's application for cost reimbursement,
the commissioner of veterans affairs shall prorate payments to be within the amount of
available appropriations.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 197.791, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Appropriation.

The amount necessary to pay the benefit amounts in
subdivision 5 new text begin and cost reimbursement for higher education institutions for academic
credits taken under section 135A.54 new text end is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner. new text begin After payment of benefit amounts under subdivision 5, the commissioner
shall pay cost reimbursement to higher education institutions that apply under section
135A.54, subdivision 6. Payments to institutions must be based on the number of credits
completed by eligible veterans or spouses. new text end During any fiscal year beginning on or after
July 1, 2013, the amount paid under this subdivision must not exceed $6,000,000.

Sec. 4. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; EXPIRATION.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 3 are effective for academic courses beginning on or after July 1, 2012.
This program expires on June 30, 2019.
new text end