Minnesota Legislature
HF 1802
as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/17/2021 01:41pm
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing grant and waiver programs for certain
students formerly in foster care; transferring money; requiring reports; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136A.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
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[136A.1241] FOSTERING HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
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(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section
and section 136A.1242.
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(b) "Adoption" means adoption of an individual who has been in the care and custody
of a responsible social services agency or tribal social services agency and in foster care.
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(c) "Cost of attendance" means tuition, fees, books and supplies, meal plan, and room
and board.
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(d) "Eligible state institution" means an institution operated by the state or the Board of
Regents of the University of Minnesota.
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(e) "Eligible private institution" means an institution eligible for state student aid under
section 136A.103, paragraph (a), clause (2).
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(f) "Foster care" has the meaning given in section 260C.007, subdivision 18.
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(g) "Responsible social services agency" has the meaning given in section 260C.007,
subdivision 27a.
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(h) "Tribal social services agency" has the meaning given in section 260.755, subdivision
21.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Establishment. new text end
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(a) The office must establish a grant program for individuals
who satisfy the eligibility requirements under subdivision 3. Each eligible state institution
shall award a grant for undergraduate courses at the institution for an individual who is
eligible under subdivision 3. The grant amount equals the cost of attendance minus the
amount of any federal grants, state grants, or other scholarships or grants the individual
receives. An individual shall receive a fostering independence grant under this act for five
years, whether or not consecutive, or until the individual reaches 27 years of age, whichever
occurs first, as long as the individual remains eligible under subdivision 3.
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(b) The fostering higher education account is established in the special revenue fund for
depositing money appropriated to or received by the commissioner for the program. Money
deposited in the account is appropriated to the commissioner, does not cancel, and is
continuously available for grants under this section.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Eligibility. new text end
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(a) In order to receive a grant under this section, an individual must:
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(1) meet the definition of a resident student under section 136A.101, subdivision 8;
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(2) be at least 13 years of age but under 27 years of age;
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(3) after the individual's thirteenth birthday, be in or have been in foster care in Minnesota
before, on, or after the effective date of this section, including any of the following:
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(i) placement in foster care at any time while 13 years of age or older;
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(ii) adoption from foster care at any time after reaching 13 years of age; and
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(iii) placement from foster care with a permanent legal custodian at any time after
reaching 13 years of age;
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(4) have graduated from high school or completed the equivalent as approved by the
Department of Education;
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(5) have been accepted for admission to, or be currently attending, an eligible state
institution;
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(6) have submitted a FAFSA; and
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(7) have maintained satisfactory progress after admission as defined by the eligible state
institution attended.
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(b) Using available FAFSA data, the office shall identify eligible students and inform
them and the institutions they have applied to or are attending of their eligibility for the
grant. Eligibility for assistance in applying for the program or eligible state and private
institutions under this section begins before meeting the requirements of paragraph (a),
clauses (4) and (5), if it is anticipated that the requirement under paragraph (a), clause (4),
will be fulfilled within the next 12 months.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Accessibility. new text end
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The office shall work with the Department of Education, the
Department of Labor and Industry, and the Department of Human Services to assist
individuals eligible for the program under subdivision 3 to apply for all available federal
and state grants, including Chafee and Education and Training Voucher programs.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Dissemination of information. new text end
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The office, in conjunction with the Department
of Human Services, shall, by January 1, 2022, and January 1 each year thereafter, prepare
and provide the information to be disseminated by responsible social services agencies,
tribal social services agencies, the office, the Department of Human Services, and eligible
state and private institutions that:
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(1) describes the availability of the program established under this section and section
136A.1242;
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(2) explains how to participate in the program; and
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(3) includes information on all available federal and state grants identified under
subdivision 4.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end
new text begin Assistance from eligible state institutions. new text end
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An eligible state institution must
assist an applicant or enrollee eligible under subdivision 3 by:
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(1) providing technical assistance in completing admissions applications and financial
aid applications;
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(2) obtaining verification of eligibility for the program from the courts, the responsible
social services agency, the tribal social services agency, or the Department of Human
Services;
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(3) accessing available federal and state financial aid resources and identifying further
scholarship and grant opportunities; and
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(4) providing information and referrals for on-campus support services and resources,
including admissions, housing, financial aid, health, mental health, tutoring, career, academic
advising, and other services.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end
new text begin Allocation to institutions. new text end
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(a) The office shall base yearly allocations on the
need for funds using relevant factors as determined by the office in consultation with the
institutions. Up to five percent, as determined by the office, of the money appropriated for
purposes of this section may be added to a student's grant amount for the institution's
administrative expenses related to the program. An institution may carry forward ten percent
of its annual administrative expenses to be used for expenses in subsequent academic years.
Any amount above this, must be returned to the office for redistribution under paragraph
(b).
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(b) The office shall establish procedures to (1) continually monitor the use of funds
throughout the year, (2) identify areas of unmet need for grants, and (3) redistribute available
funds in a timely manner to meet the needs of eligible recipients.
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new text begin Subd. 8. new text end
new text begin Report. new text end
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(a) The office, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services,
shall prepare an anonymized report to be submitted by January 15 of each year to the
chairperson and minority chairperson of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
higher education and human services that contains:
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(1) the number of students receiving grants;
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(2) the retention rates of students receiving grants;
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(3) impediments to retaining students receiving grants; and
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(4) recommendations on ways to improve the delivery of services to students who are
receiving grants and to address the impediments identified under clause (3).
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(b) Eligible state institutions must submit the information necessary to compile the report
in paragraph (a) in the form and manner requested by the commissioner.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. new text end
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This section is effective the day following
final enactment and applies to grants awarded beginning the 2022-2023 academic year. The
first report under subdivision 8 must be submitted by January 15, 2024.
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Sec. 2.
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[136A.1242] FOSTERING HIGHER EDUCATION WAIVER.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Waiver. new text end
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An eligible private institution must waive any cost of attendance
in excess of the total of all federal grants, state grants, and other scholarships or grants an
individual who would be eligible for the fostering higher education grant under section
136A.1241 receives.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Assistance from eligible private institutions. new text end
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An eligible private institution
must assist an applicant or enrollee who would be eligible under section 136A.1241,
subdivision 3, by:
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(1) providing technical assistance in completing admissions applications and financial
aid applications;
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(2) obtaining verification of eligibility for the program from the courts, the responsible
social services agency, the tribal social services agency, or the Department of Human
Services;
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(3) accessing available federal and state financial aid resources and identifying further
scholarship and grant opportunities; and
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(4) providing information and referrals for on-campus support services and resources,
including admissions, housing, financial aid, health, mental health, tutoring, career, academic
advising, and other services.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Report. new text end
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(a) The office, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services,
shall prepare an anonymized report to be submitted by January 15 of each year to the
chairperson and minority chairperson of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
higher education and human services that contains all of the following:
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(1) the number of students receiving waivers;
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(2) the retention rates of students receiving waivers;
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(3) the amount waived by each eligible private institution;
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(4) impediments to retaining students receiving waivers; and
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(5) recommendations on ways to improve the delivery of services to students who are
receiving waivers and to address the impediments identified under clause (4).
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(b) Eligible private institutions must submit the information necessary to compile the
report in paragraph (a) in the form and manner requested by the commissioner.
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(c) The report required under this section may be combined with the report required
under section 136A.1241.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. new text end
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This section is effective the day following
final enactment and applies beginning the 2022-2023 academic year. The first report under
subdivision 3 must be submitted by January 15, 2024.
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Sec. 3. new text begin TRANSFERS.
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$....... in fiscal year 2022 is transferred from the general fund to the fostering higher
education account in the special revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1241,
subdivision 2. The base for this transfer is $....... in fiscal year 2023 and $....... in fiscal year
2024.
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