HF 2177

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/05/2012 03:31pm

A bill for an act
relating to workforce training; creating Minnesota opportunity training grants;
appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin MINNESOTA OPPORTUNITY TRAINING GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The Office of Higher Education must develop
and implement the Minnesota opportunity training grant program to provide financial
assistance to adults who enroll in and complete short-term education and training
programs to meet the workforce needs of high-demand occupations paying livable wages.
The office must establish procedures for determining program and applicant eligibility
and for awarding grants. Eligible programs include those for which credit is offered and
noncredit courses or programs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin An applicant is eligible to be considered for a grant under this
section if the applicant is a Minnesota resident who has graduated from high school or
is 18 years of age or older and has been accepted into a training program that meets the
requirements under subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Program requirements. new text end

new text begin Grants awarded under this section must be
used for a maximum of two semesters or the equivalent of training at a Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities System institution. Training must be for an occupation that is
classified as having long-term demand, as measured by average or above average growth
rates and current demand indicators of at least four stars as designated by the Minnesota
Department of Employment and Economic Development's Occupations in Demand
analysis. In addition, training must be for an occupation in which the average wage is
175 percent of the federal poverty guideline for a family of three. The training must be
designed to be completed in the equivalent of no more than two semesters of study.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Awards. new text end

new text begin With state appropriations made specifically for these grants,
the office must award $2,000 grants to up to 2,000 eligible applicants for training and
education in the top programs at a Minnesota State Colleges and Universities institution
that meet the wage, growth, and length of study criteria in subdivision 3. Grants may be
awarded to individual applicants or to participating programs for the benefit of eligible
applicants.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin An institution that provides training and education to Minnesota
opportunity training grant recipients must annually report for three years, as required by
the office, on outcomes for grant recipients, including but not limited to job placement and
wages. The office must provide an annual summary report on the grants to the committees
of the legislature responsible for higher education and workforce development.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Sunset. new text end

new text begin Except for the reporting requirements in subdivision 5, this section
expires June 30, 2013.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2013 is appropriated from the general fund to the Office of
Higher Education for the Minnesota opportunity training grants under section 1.
new text end