HF 2366

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 05/02/2019 03:44pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing Hunger Free Campus Act, Hunger Free
Campus designation requirements; requiring campus food shelves at all Minnesota
State community and technical colleges; appropriating money for Hunger Free
Campus grants; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136F.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [136F.245] HUNGER FREE CAMPUS DESIGNATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin A Hunger Free Campus designation for Minnesota State
community and technical colleges is established. In order to be awarded the designation, a
campus must meet the following minimum criteria:
new text end

new text begin (1) have an established on-campus food pantry or partnership with a local food bank to
provide regular, on-campus food distributions;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide information to students on SNAP, MFIP, and other programs that reduce
food insecurity;
new text end

new text begin (3) hold or participate in one hunger awareness event per academic year;
new text end

new text begin (4) have an established emergency assistance grant that is available to students; and
new text end

new text begin (5) establish a hunger task force that meets a minimum of three times per academic year.
The task force must include at least two students currently enrolled at the college.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Designation approval. new text end

new text begin The statewide student association representing the
community and technical colleges shall create an application process and an award, and
provide final approval for the designation at each college. Designations shall last three
academic years and be reviewed by the statewide student association for renewal.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION FOR HUNGER FREE CAMPUS GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $77,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $77,000 in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from
the general fund to the Office of Higher Education to provide grants for campuses to meet
the criteria in Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.245, and to address food insecurity on
campus. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (b) Awards must be based on college head count for the most recently completed
academic year. The maximum grant award shall be $8,000.
new text end

new text begin (c) Campuses must provide matching funds to receive the hunger free campus grant.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education may transfer unencumbered
balances from the appropriations in this section to the emergency assistance for postsecondary
students grant. Transfers from this appropriation may only be made to the extent there is a
projected surplus in the appropriation. A transfer may be made only with prior written notice
to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives
committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance.
new text end

new text begin (e) The statewide student association representing the community and technical colleges
shall develop an application, review all grant applications, and provide final approval of all
grant disbursements from the Office of Higher Education.
new text end