SF 1308

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/18/2019 02:33pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; creating a college promise grant program; creating
an accelerated study in associate program; appropriating money; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [136A.1202] COLLEGE PROMISE GRANT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the terms in this subdivision
have the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "College" means a public postsecondary institution in the University of Minnesota
or Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Eligible individual" means an individual who:
new text end

new text begin (1) is a current or incoming resident student as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision
8, clauses (1) to (4) or is a prior resident student as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision
8, clauses (1) to (4) who has between six and 59 college credits; and
new text end

new text begin (2) is a dependent student reporting a potential federal adjusted gross income on a Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or equivalent form of $125,000 or less, or is
an independent student reporting a family adjusted gross income on a FAFSA of $75,000
or less.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Grant" means a scholarship for undergraduate instruction granted under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall implement a college promise grant
program to provide grants to eligible individuals to attend a college.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin Application for a grant shall be made by a FAFSA and on any
additional form required by the commissioner and on a schedule set by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Grant amount. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall award grants in the amount of the
actual cost of tuition, fees, and course materials at the student's college of attendance, minus
any federal Pell grant received, any state grant for which the student is eligible, and any
other scholarships awarded to the student. For purposes of this subdivision, "fees" has the
meaning given in section 136A.121, subdivision 6. The commissioner shall not award grants
for tuition and fees for graduate-level or professional-level instruction.
new text end

new text begin (b) Students eligible for Pell grants shall receive the grant amount plus an additional
$2,000 grant to cover other expenses.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Satisfactory academic progress. new text end

new text begin An individual is eligible for a grant if the
individual is making satisfactory academic progress as defined under section 136A.101,
subdivision 10, and has a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale at
the end of the first academic year and at the end of each academic term after the first
academic year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Grant renewal. new text end

new text begin A grant may be renewed annually for up to two academic
years. A student who transfers to an eligible college to complete a bachelor's degree is
authorized to renew the grant for a third academic year. Application for renewal must be
on a form provided by the commissioner and on a schedule set by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin The amount necessary to implement the college promise grant
program in this section is annually appropriated form the general fund to the commissioner.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [136A.1212] MINNESOTA ACCELERATED STUDY IN ASSOCIATES
PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must develop and implement accelerated
study in associate programs at each community and technical college by July 1, 2022. At a
minimum, the program must:
new text end

new text begin (1) require students to meet with a program adviser twice each month during the first
semester and as directed by the program adviser in subsequent semesters. At a minimum,
the program adviser shall:
new text end

new text begin (i) provide comprehensive academic and personal advising;
new text end

new text begin (ii) create and implement an academic plan for the student to graduate on time; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) assist interested students in following transfer pathways to a four-year higher
education institution.
new text end

new text begin (2) require students to meet with an on-campus career adviser or participate in a career
services event once each semester; and
new text end

new text begin (3) require students enrolled in developmental education courses to complete three hours
of tutoring per month. Tutoring may be on campus, online, with an instructor, or peer
tutoring.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2020 and $....... in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from the general
fund to the Office of Higher Education to provide grants for campuses to establish accelerated
study in associate programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1212.
new text end