HF 504

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; modifying financial aid
for postsecondary students; appropriating money;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 136A.101,
subdivision 4; 136A.125, subdivisions 1, 3; 136A.232;
136A.233; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapters 136A; 136F; 137.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [136A.096] FINANCIAL AID; PRIVATE COLLEGES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grants; financial assistance. new text end

new text begin The Higher
Education Services Office shall make grants to the Minnesota
Private Colleges Council to administer financial aid programs
based on the financial needs of students attending member
institutions. The programs must include aid for the cost of
attendance, child care assistance, and work-study assistance.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Financial assistance stipends. new text end

new text begin The council, in
consultation with its student association, must develop
guidelines to identify men and women of the state who are
economically disadvantaged and to provide financial assistance
to encourage their educational development. The council must
allocate money appropriated for this purpose to its member
institutions to provide stipends to assist undergraduate
students with the cost of attendance based on a student's
demonstrated financial need. An eligible student must be a
resident of Minnesota as defined in section 136A.101,
subdivision 8. Money provided for financial assistance must be
used only for this purpose.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Work-study assistance. new text end

new text begin The council shall
develop program guidelines and allocate money appropriated for
this purpose to its member institutions for assistance to
students based on demonstrated financial need through work-study
payments. Eligible students must be Minnesota residents as
defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 8.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Child care assistance. new text end

new text begin The council shall
develop program guidelines and allocate money appropriated for
this purpose to its member institutions for assistance to reduce
the cost of child care for students with demonstrated financial
need. Eligible students must be Minnesota residents as defined
in section 136A.101, subdivision 8.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Transfers. new text end

new text begin The council may transfer allocations
for financial aid between programs in this section to meet the
needs of Minnesota undergraduate students attending member
institutions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin The council must report, in a timely
manner, at the end of each academic term to the Higher Education
Services Office on students receiving assistance under this
section. The report must include, but is not limited to, the
number and types of grants and payments made to students at each
member institution, the amount of the award, the educational
status of the grant recipient, and demographic information on
each recipient.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 136A.101,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Eligible institution.

"Eligible institution"
means a new text begin private new text end postsecondary educational institution located in
this state deleted text begin or in a state with which the office has entered into
a higher education reciprocity agreement on state student aid
programs that either (1) is operated by this state, or (2) is
operated publicly or privately and, as determined by the office,
maintains academic standards substantially equivalent to those
of comparable institutions operated in this state deleted text end new text begin that is not a
member of an organization that allocates postsecondary financial
aid to its member institutions through state-funded grants new text end .

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 136A.125,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

A child care grant program
is established under the supervision of the Higher Education
Services Office. The program makes money available to eligible
students to reduce the costs of child care while attending an
eligible new text begin private new text end postsecondary institution. The office shall
develop policies and adopt rules as necessary to implement and
administer the program.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 136A.125,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Eligible institution.

A deleted text begin Minnesota public
postsecondary institution, a deleted text end Minnesota private, baccalaureate
degree granting college or university new text begin that is an eligible
institution under section 136A.101, subdivision 4 new text end , or a
Minnesota nonprofit two-year vocational technical school
granting associate degrees is eligible to receive child care
funds from the office and disburse them to eligible students.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 136A.232, is
amended to read:

136A.232 ADMINISTRATION; AGREEMENTS WITH EDUCATIONAL
FACILITIES.

The Higher Education Services Office shall develop and
administer a work-study program. The office shall enter into
agreements with new text begin eligible private new text end institutions of postsecondary
education.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 136A.233, is
amended to read:

136A.233 WORK-STUDY GRANTS.

Subdivision 1.

Allocation to institutions.

The Higher
Education Services Office shall allocate work-study money to
eligible new text begin private new text end postsecondary institutions according to the
resident full-time equivalent enrollment of all eligible new text begin private
new text end postsecondary institutions that apply to participate in the
program, and the amount of the allocation that an institution
spent during the previous academic year. Each institution
wishing to participate in the work-study program must submit, in
accordance with policies and procedures established by the
office, an estimate of the amount of funds needed by the
institution. Any funds allocated to an institution that exceed
the actual need of the institution shall be reallocated by the
office to other institutions. An institution may carry forward
or backward the same percentage of its initial allocation that
is authorized under federal work-study provisions.

Subd. 2.

Definitions.

For purposes of sections 136A.231
to 136A.233, the words defined in this subdivision have the
meanings ascribed to them.

(a) "Eligible student" means a Minnesota resident enrolled
or intending to enroll at least half time in a degree, diploma,
or certificate program in deleted text begin a deleted text end new text begin an eligible new text end Minnesota new text begin private
new text end postsecondary institution.

(b) "Minnesota resident" means a student who meets the
conditions in section 136A.101, subdivision 8.

(c) "Financial need" means the need for financial
assistance in order to attend a postsecondary institution as
determined by deleted text begin a deleted text end new text begin an eligible private new text end postsecondary institution
according to guidelines established by the Higher Education
Services Office.

(d) "Eligible employer" means any eligible postsecondary
institution, any nonprofit, nonsectarian agency or state
institution located in the state of Minnesota, a handicapped
person or a person over 65 who employs a student to provide
personal services in or about the person's residence, or a
private, for-profit employer employing a student as an intern in
a position directly related to the student's field of study that
will enhance the student's knowledge and skills in that field.

(e) "Eligible postsecondary institution" means any new text begin private
new text end postsecondary institution eligible for participation in the
Minnesota state grant program as specified in section 136A.101,
subdivision 4.

(f) "Independent student" has the meaning given it in the
Higher Education Act of 1965, United States Code, title 20,
section 1070a-6, and applicable regulations.

(g) "Half-time" for undergraduates has the meaning given in
section 136A.101, subdivision 7b, and for graduate students is
defined by the institution.

Subd. 3.

Payments.

Work-study payments shall be made to
eligible students by new text begin eligible private new text end postsecondary institutions
as provided in this subdivision.

(a) Students shall be selected for participation in the
program by the new text begin eligible private new text end postsecondary institution on the
basis of student financial need.

(b) In selecting students for participation, priority must
be given to students enrolled for at least 12 credits.

(c) Students will be paid for hours actually worked and the
maximum hourly rate of pay shall not exceed the maximum hourly
rate of pay permitted under the federal college work-study
program.

(d) Minimum pay rates will be determined by an applicable
federal or state law.

(e) The office shall annually establish a minimum
percentage rate of student compensation to be paid by an
eligible employer.

(f) Each new text begin private new text end postsecondary institution receiving money
for state work-study grants shall make a reasonable effort to
place work-study students in employment with eligible employers
outside the institution. However, a public employer other than
the institution may not terminate, lay off, or reduce the
working hours of a permanent employee for the purpose of hiring
a work-study student, or replace a permanent employee who is on
layoff from the same or substantially the same job by hiring a
work-study student.

(g) The percent of the institution's work-study allocation
provided to graduate students shall not exceed the percent of
graduate student enrollment at the participating institution.

(h) An institution may use up to 30 percent of its
allocation for student internships with private, for-profit
employers.

Subd. 4.

Cooperation with local schools.

Each deleted text begin campus
deleted text end new text begin private postsecondary institution new text end using the state work study
program is encouraged to cooperate with its local public
elementary and secondary schools to place college work study
students in activities in the schools, such as tutoring.
Students must be placed in meaningful activities that directly
assist students in kindergarten through grade 12 in meeting
graduation standards including the profiles of learning.
College students shall work under direct supervision; therefore,
school hiring authorities are not required to request criminal
background checks on these students under section 123B.03.

Sec. 7.

new text begin [136F.29] FINANCIAL AID GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Financial assistance; stipends. new text end

new text begin The Board
of Trustees, in consultation with the statewide student
associations, shall develop guidelines to identify men and women
of the state who are economically disadvantaged, and to provide
financial assistance to encourage their educational
development. The board must allocate money appropriated for
this purpose to its institutions to provide stipends to assist
undergraduate students with the cost of attendance based on a
student's demonstrated financial need. An eligible student must
be a resident of Minnesota as defined in section 136A.101,
subdivision 8. Money appropriated for financial assistance must
be used only for this purpose.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Work-study assistance. new text end

new text begin The board shall develop
program guidelines and allocate money appropriated for this
purpose to its institutions for assistance to students based on
demonstrated financial need through work-study payments.
Eligible students must be Minnesota residents as defined in
section 136A.101, subdivision 8, attending an institution under
the control of the board.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Child care assistance. new text end

new text begin The board shall develop
program guidelines and allocate money appropriated for this
purpose to its institutions for assistance to reduce the cost of
child care for students with demonstrated financial need.
Eligible students must be Minnesota residents as defined in
section 136A.101, subdivision 8, attending an institution under
the control of the board.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Transfers. new text end

new text begin The board may transfer
appropriations for financial aid between programs in this
section to meet the needs of Minnesota undergraduate students
attending institutions of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin The board must report, in a timely
manner at the end of each academic term, to the Higher Education
Services Office on students receiving assistance under this
section. The report must include, but is not limited to, the
number and types of grants and payments made to students at each
institution or campus, the amount of the award, the educational
status of the grant recipient, and demographic information on
each recipient.
new text end

Sec. 8.

new text begin [137.25] FINANCIAL AID GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Financial assistance; stipends. new text end

new text begin The Board
of Regents, in consultation with its student associations, shall
develop guidelines to identify men and women of the state who
are economically disadvantaged, and to provide financial
assistance to encourage their educational development. The
Board of Regents must allocate money appropriated for this
purpose to its campuses to provide stipends to assist students
with the cost of attendance, based on a student's demonstrated
financial need. An eligible student must be a resident of
Minnesota as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 8. Money
appropriated for financial assistance must be used only for this
purpose.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Work-study assistance. new text end

new text begin The board shall develop
program guidelines and allocate money appropriated for this
purpose to its institutions for assistance to students based on
demonstrated financial need through work-study payments.
Eligible students must be Minnesota residents as defined in
section 136A.101, subdivision 8, attending a campus under the
control of the board.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Child care assistance. new text end

new text begin The board shall develop
program guidelines and allocate money appropriated for this
purpose to its institutions for assistance to reduce the cost of
child care for students with demonstrated financial need.
Eligible students must be Minnesota residents as defined in
section 136A.101, subdivision 8, attending a campus under the
control of the board.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Transfers. new text end

new text begin The board may transfer
appropriations for financial aid between programs in this
section to meet the needs of Minnesota undergraduate students
attending the University of Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin The board must report, in a timely
manner at the end of each academic term, to the Higher Education
Services Office on students receiving assistance under this
section. The report must include, but is not limited to, the
number and types of grants and payments made to students at each
institution or campus, the amount of the award, the educational
status of the grant recipient, and demographic information on
each recipient.
new text end

Sec. 9. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Financial assistance for the cost of
attendance. new text end

new text begin (a) $...,...,... for fiscal year 2006 and
$...,...,... for fiscal year 2007 is appropriated from the
general fund for aid for Minnesota undergraduate students to
assist with the cost of attendance at a Minnesota postsecondary
institution as provided in this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (b) $..,...,... for fiscal year 2006 and $..,...,... for
fiscal year 2007 is appropriated to the Board of Regents of the
University of Minnesota for financial aid under section 8,
subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin (c) $..,...,... for fiscal year 2006 and $..,...,... for
fiscal year 2007 is appropriated to the Board of Trustees of the
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for financial aid
under section 7, subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin (d) $..,...,... for fiscal year 2006 and $..,...,... for
fiscal year 2007 is appropriated to the Higher Education
Services Office for financial aid under section 1 and Minnesota
Statutes, sections 136A.101 to 136A.121. Of this amount,
$..,...,... in fiscal year 2006 and $..,...,... in fiscal year
2007 is for a grant to the Minnesota Private Colleges Council
for the purposes of section 1, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Work study. new text end

new text begin (a) $..,...,... for fiscal year
2006 and $..,...,... for fiscal year 2007 is appropriated from
the general fund for assistance for work-study aid for Minnesota
residents attending postsecondary institutions in Minnesota, as
provided in this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (b) $.,...,... for fiscal year 2006 and $.,...,... for
fiscal year 2007 is appropriated to the Board of Regents of the
University of Minnesota for work-study aid under section 8,
subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (c) $.,...,... for fiscal year 2006 and $.,...,... for
fiscal year 2007 is appropriated to the Board of Trustees of the
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for work-study aid
under section 7, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (d) $.,...,... for fiscal year 2006 and $.,...,... for
fiscal year 2007 is appropriated to the Higher Education
Services Office for work-study aid under Minnesota Statutes,
section 136A.232. Of this amount, $.,...,... for fiscal year
2006 and $.,...,... for fiscal year 2007 is for a grant to the
Minnesota Private Colleges Council for the purposes of section
1, subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Child care assistance. new text end

new text begin (a) $.,...,... for
fiscal year 2006 and $.,...,... for fiscal year 2007 is
appropriated from the general fund for child care assistance for
Minnesota residents attending postsecondary institutions in
Minnesota, as provided in this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (b) $...,... for fiscal year 2006 and $...,... for fiscal
year 2007 is appropriated to the Board of Regents of the
University of Minnesota for child care assistance under section
8, subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin (c) $.,...,... for fiscal year 2006 and $.,...,... for
fiscal year 2007 is appropriated to the Board of Trustees of the
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for child care
assistance under section 7, subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin (d) $...,... for fiscal year 2006 and $...,... for fiscal
year 2007 is appropriated to the Higher Education Services
Office for child care assistance under Minnesota Statutes,
section 136A.125. Of this amount, $..,... for fiscal year 2006
and $..,... for fiscal year 2007 is for a grant to the Minnesota
Private Colleges Council for the purposes of section 1,
subdivision 4.
new text end