HF 3138

as introduced - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to higher education; establishing low-income 
  1.3             nursing student scholarship program; appropriating 
  1.4             money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes, chapter 136A. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [136A.126] [LOW-INCOME NURSING STUDENT 
  1.8   SCHOLARSHIPS.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [CREATED.] The Higher Education Services 
  1.10  Office shall, to the extent of available appropriations, 
  1.11  administer a scholarship program for low-income nursing students.
  1.12     Subd. 2.  [ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.] An applicant is eligible to 
  1.13  be considered for a scholarship if the applicant is: 
  1.14     (1) a resident of Minnesota; 
  1.15     (2) currently enrolled in a program leading to a degree in 
  1.16  practical or registered nursing in a public or private 
  1.17  postsecondary education institution located in Minnesota; 
  1.18     (3) not in default of any federal or state student 
  1.19  educational loan; and 
  1.20     (4) working at least an average of 15 hours per week.  
  1.21     Subd. 3.  [PRIORITIES.] Scholarships shall be awarded to 
  1.22  applicants in a priority based upon lowest family income, 
  1.23  followed in order of ascending family income.  Family income 
  1.24  shall be determined by the office.  Priority shall also be given 
  1.25  to a student who is a resident of a rural or urban Health 
  2.1   Professional Shortage Area (Primary Care Designation) as 
  2.2   determined by the Minnesota Department of Health.  
  2.3      Subd. 4.  [AMOUNT AND USE OF SCHOLARSHIP.] (a) The amount 
  2.4   of the scholarship is:  
  2.5      (1) at public postsecondary institutions, an amount equal 
  2.6   to the cost of tuition and fees for attendance for one academic 
  2.7   year not to exceed $5,550, and an $800 book and supply 
  2.8   allowance; or 
  2.9      (2) at private postsecondary institutions, $3,000 for one 
  2.10  academic year.  
  2.11     (b) Money awarded by a scholarship under this section may 
  2.12  be applied only to education costs.  Scholarships under this 
  2.13  section must not exceed the applicant's education costs.  For 
  2.14  purposes of this section, "education costs" means tuition, fees, 
  2.15  books, and supplies.  
  2.16     Subd. 5.  [APPLICATION; SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS.] 
  2.17  Applicants shall apply on a form and in a manner prescribed by 
  2.18  the office, including application and award dates and 
  2.19  procedures, criteria to be considered, and methods of selecting 
  2.20  students to receive and renew scholarships.  
  2.21     Subd. 6.  [RENEWALS.] The scholarship may be renewed yearly 
  2.22  for up to three additional academic years if the student 
  2.23  maintains enrollment in the nursing degree program and is 
  2.24  achieving satisfactory progress toward completion of the nursing 
  2.25  degree. 
  2.26     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.27     $1,500,000 is appropriated to the Higher Education Services 
  2.28  Office for fiscal year 2005 for scholarships under Minnesota 
  2.29  Statutes, section 136A.126.