HF 907

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/25/2013 02:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; requiring reduced or capped tuition rates at the
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities in certain circumstances; requiring
certification of reduced or capped tuition at the University of Minnesota prior
to distribution of state-appropriated funds in certain circumstances; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 136F; 137.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [136F.702] TUITION RATES; LIMITATION IN CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES.
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 following terms
have the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Estimated direct cost of attendance" means tuition and any other fees, charges,
or assessments directly attributable to the board, institution, or program in which the
student is enrolled.
new text end

new text begin (c) "State appropriation" means any appropriation provided by law to the Board
of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities but does not include an
appropriation for capital improvements.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Tuition reduction. new text end

new text begin (a) For academic years occurring during the biennium
ending June 30, 2015, the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities may not charge tuition for courses in any baccalaureate, graduate, or
professional program at a rate greater than 97 percent of the rate applied to the same or
substantially similar program courses during the 2012-2013 academic year.
new text end

new text begin (b) A reduction in tuition required by this subdivision may not be offset by increases
in fees, charges, or other assessments that would result in an estimated direct cost of
attendance greater than 97 percent of the estimated direct cost of attendance during the
2012-2013 academic year.
new text end

new text begin (c) This subdivision is effective if the state appropriation to the Board of Trustees of
the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for the biennium ending June 30, 2015,
is at least 103 percent of the state appropriation to the board for the biennium ending
June 30, 2013.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Tuition cap. new text end

new text begin (a) For academic year 2015-2016 and thereafter, the Board
of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities may not charge tuition for
courses in any baccalaureate, graduate, or professional program at a rate greater than that
charged during the 2014-2015 academic year, except where otherwise authorized by law.
new text end

new text begin (b) The limitation on tuition required by this subdivision may not be offset by
increases in fees, charges, or other assessments that would result in an estimated direct cost
of attendance greater than the estimated direct cost of attendance during the 2014-2015
academic year.
new text end

new text begin (c) This subdivision is effective for any biennium ending June 30, 2017, or thereafter,
if the state appropriation to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities for that biennium is at least 103 percent of the state appropriation to the
board during the prior biennium.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [137.095] TUITION RATES; CERTIFICATION PRIOR TO
DISTRIBUTION OF STATE APPROPRIATION.
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 following terms
have the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Estimated direct cost of attendance" means tuition and any other fees, charges,
or assessments directly attributable to the board, institution, or program in which the
student is enrolled.
new text end

new text begin (c) "State appropriation" means any appropriation provided by law to the Board of
Regents of the University of Minnesota but does not include an appropriation for capital
improvements or an appropriation authorized under sections 137.51 to 137.60 or 137.61
to 137.65.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Certification of tuition reduction. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of management
and budget may not distribute any appropriation provided by law to the Board of Regents
of the University of Minnesota for the biennium ending June 30, 2015, until the board
certifies to the commissioner that it has established tuition rates for courses in all
baccalaureate, graduate, and professional programs to be conducted during that biennium
at a rate no greater than 97 percent of the rate applied to the same or substantially similar
program courses during the 2012-2013 academic year, and that the reduction in tuition
rates is not offset by increases in fees, charges, or other assessments that would result in an
estimated direct cost of attendance greater than 97 percent of the estimated direct cost of
attendance during the 2012-2013 academic year.
new text end

new text begin (b) This subdivision is effective if the state appropriation to the Board of Regents of
the University of Minnesota for the biennium ending June 30, 2015, is at least 103 percent
of the state appropriation to the board for the biennium ending June 30, 2013.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Certification of tuition cap. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of management and
budget may not distribute any appropriation provided by law to the Board of Regents of
the University of Minnesota for a biennium ending on or after June 30, 2017, until the
board certifies to the commissioner that it has established tuition rates for courses in all
baccalaureate, graduate, and professional programs to be conducted during the biennium
at a rate no greater than that charged during the 2014-2015 academic year, and that the
tuition rate is not offset by increases in fees, charges, or other assessments that would
result in an estimated direct cost of attendance greater than the estimated direct cost of
attendance during the 2014-2015 academic year.
new text end

new text begin (b) This subdivision is effective for any biennium ending on or after June 30, 2017,
in which the state appropriation to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota
for the biennium is at least 103 percent of the state appropriation to the board during
the prior biennium.
new text end