HF 3978

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/02/2020 02:03pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; adding a postgraduation, in-state work requirement
to the state grant program; authorizing rulemaking; amending Minnesota Statutes
2018, sections 136A.121, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; 270B.14, by
adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 136A.121, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Eligibility for grants.

(a) An applicant is eligible to be considered for a grant,
regardless of the applicant's sex, creed, race, color, national origin, or ancestry, under sections
136A.095 to 136A.131 if the office finds that the applicant:

(1) is a resident of the state of Minnesota;

(2) is a graduate of a secondary school or its equivalent, or is 17 years of age or over,
and has met all requirements for admission as a student to an eligible college or technical
college of choice as defined in sections 136A.095 to 136A.131;

(3) has met the financial need criteria established in Minnesota Rules;

(4) is not in default, as defined by the office, of any federal or state student educational
loan; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(5) is not more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or
enforced by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement or, if the applicant
is more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or enforced
by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement, but is complying with a
written payment agreement under section 518A.69 or order for arrearages deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (6) has signed a contract with the office to have the applicant's total grant award converted
to a student loan if the applicant fails to fulfill the employment requirement in subdivision
2a.
new text end

(b) A student who withdraws from enrollment for active military service after December
31, 2002, because the student was ordered to active military service as defined in section
190.05, subdivision 5b or 5c, or who withdraws from enrollment for a major illness, while
under the care of a medical professional, that substantially limits the student's ability to
complete the term is entitled to an additional semester or the equivalent of grant eligibility.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 136A.121, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Minnesota employment requirement. new text end

new text begin (a) To receive a grant, an applicant
must agree to be employed exclusively in Minnesota for a two-year term beginning within
six months of completing the degree or credential program for which the grant was awarded.
If a grant recipient fails to meet this employment requirement, the commissioner must
convert the recipient's total grant award to a student loan.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall waive the employment requirement for a grant recipient if,
within six years of the initial grant award:
new text end

new text begin (1) the grant recipient has not completed the degree or credential program for which the
grant was awarded; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the recipient is no longer enrolled in a postsecondary institution.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner shall defer the employment requirement:
new text end

new text begin (1) to allow a grant recipient who previously completed a degree or credential program
to continue undergraduate study, provided that the recipient is currently enrolled on at least
a half-time basis in a degree or credential program;
new text end

new text begin (2) to allow a grant recipient to attend graduate school, provided that the recipient is
enrolled on at least a half-time basis in a graduate program;
new text end

new text begin (3) to allow a grant recipient to perform full-time volunteer service through Peace Corps,
AmeriCorps, or a similar program; or
new text end

new text begin (4) for circumstances involving extreme hardship.
new text end

new text begin (d) A grant recipient who transfers from an eligible institution to an ineligible institution,
including an institution in another state or country, remains subject to the employment
requirement and must complete the requirement within four years of transferring, unless
the recipient qualifies for deferment under paragraph (c).
new text end

new text begin (e) A student who receives grant awards for more than one degree or credential program
within six consecutive years is only required to meet the employment requirement once.
Full-time volunteer service as part of AmeriCorps or a similar program qualifies as
employment for purposes of the employment requirement. Any obligation to comply with
this paragraph cancels upon the death or permanent and total disability of the grant recipient.
new text end

new text begin (f) A student who receives a grant award, according to rules adopted by the commissioner,
must submit to the commissioner:
new text end

new text begin (1) an affidavit, prescribed by the commissioner, affirming the grant recipient's
employment in Minnesota; and
new text end

new text begin (2) any additional information required by the commissioner in order to determine if the
employment requirement has been met.
new text end

new text begin (g) The commissioner must adopt rules under chapter 14 to administer this subdivision.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 270B.14, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 22. new text end

new text begin Disclosure to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education. new text end

new text begin On
request of the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education, the commissioner may
disclose returns and return information with respect to returns filed under chapter 290, to
the extent necessary to confirm documentation submitted under section 136A.121, subdivision
2a.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin This act is effective for grants awarded for the 2021-2022 academic year and later.
new text end