HF 3915

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/03/2022 02:04pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; providing funding for various Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities appropriations; amending Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement,
sections 136F.20, subdivision 4; 136F.202, subdivision 1; Laws 2021, First Special
Session chapter 2, article 1, section 3, subdivision 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 136F.20, subdivision 4, is amended
to read:

Subd. 4.

Mental health awareness program.

(a) The board shall implement a mental
health awareness program at each Minnesota state college and university by the start of the
2022-2023 academic year. A mental health awareness program shall include:

(1) a web page at each institution that includes links to existing self-assessment resources,
resources connecting students to campus and community-based resources, and emergency
contact information and resources;

(2) mandatory mental health first aid training, evidence-based suicide prevention training,
or other similar mental health training for faculty, staff, and students, giving priority to those
who serve in roles that include increased direct contact with students who are experiencing
mental health concerns, such as student housing and campus safety employees. Each college
and university shall identify the appropriate faculty, staff, and students to receive training
based on college or university structure and available funding;

(3) a session at each student orientation program that includes information about
maintaining good mental health, the symptoms of mental health conditions common among
college students, and mental health resources and services available to students;

(4) a messaging strategy to send students information on available mental health resources
and services at least once per term, and during periods of high academic stress; and

(5) distributing the suicide prevention helpline and text line contact information in a
way that increases accessibility and awareness of that information to students.

(b) The board shall create and maintain a mental health community of practice including
faculty and staff with subject matter expertise in mental health to identify resources and
best practices to inform campus-based strategies to raise awareness of local and state
resources and implement appropriate training experiences.

(c) The board shall make grants to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to establish
a peer support pilot program designed to assist students with a mental health condition. The
program shall utilize student peers to support students living with mental health conditions
on campus. The peer support program may be housed within the counseling center, wellness
center, or resident assistance programs on campus. The peer support program leaders must
be trained to facilitate discussions on mental health, identify students who may be in crisis,
and refer students to programs for mental health support.

new text begin (d) The board shall pursue additional centralized mental health resources, training
opportunities, and support that will enhance student mental health capacity on college and
university campuses and in local communities.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 136F.202, subdivision 1, is amended
to read:

Subdivision 1.

Basic needs resources.

(a) Each college and university shall create and
maintain a web page that clearly identifies basic needs resources available at the college or
university. This web page shall clearly identify at least one staff member, faculty member,
or department as a point of contact to whom students may direct questions. Each college
and university shall also make the information under this paragraph available on the college
or university mobile application, if possible.

(b) The board shall pursue the creation of a centralized basic needs online resource web
page that will raise awareness of campus-based resources available at colleges and
universities and local, state, and national resources that can assist in addressing basic needs
insecurity.

new text begin (c) The board shall pursue additional centralized basic needs resources, training
opportunities, and support that will enhance student basic needs capacity on college and
university campuses and in local communities.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 2, article 1, section 3, subdivision 3, is
amended to read:

Subd. 3. Operations and Maintenance

753,795,000

deleted text begin 751,295,000 deleted text end new text begin 811,295,000 new text end

(a) new text begin $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is to
maintain 2021-2022 academic year tuition
rates for the 2022-2023 academic year. new text end The
Board of Trustees must establish tuition rates
as follows:

(1) for the deleted text begin 2021-2022 and deleted text end 2022-2023
academic deleted text begin years deleted text end new text begin year new text end , tuition rates for
undergraduate students at colleges and
universities must not be increased deleted text begin by more
than 3.5 percent as compared to deleted text end new text begin from new text end the
previous academic year, except that a
university may change base tuition to adjust
for the reduction of online differential charges
provided the change is revenue-neutral; and

(2) the student tuition relief may not be offset
by increases in mandatory fees, charges, or
other assessments to the student. Colleges and
universities are permitted to increase
differential tuition charges in fiscal years 2022
and 2023 where costs for course or program
delivery have increased due to extraordinary
circumstances beyond the control of the
college or university. Rates and rationale must
be approved by the Board of Trustees.

(b) The Board of Trustees must request
guidance from the United States Department
of Education regarding whether it is
permissible to allocate federal funds received
under section 314 of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021, as provided by
Public Law 116-260, and section 2003 of the
American Rescue Plan Act, as provided by
Public Law 117-2, to provide a tuition credit
for enrolled students or refund for students
who are no longer enrolled in an amount equal
to the amount of the online differential tuition
rate charged to students for courses moved
online due to the coronavirus pandemic during
the 2020-2021 academic year that were not
offered as online courses during the previous
academic year. If the department advises that
this is a permissible use of the federal funds,
institutions must issue such tuition credits to
enrolled students and must inform students
who are no longer enrolled in the institution
of their eligibility for a refund. In order to
receive a refund, the student must apply for
the refund.

(c) $5,700,000 in fiscal year 2022 and
$5,700,000 in fiscal year 2023 are to provide
supplemental aid for operations and
maintenance to the president of each two-year
institution in the system with at least one
campus that is not located in a metropolitan
county, as defined in Minnesota Statutes,
section 473.121, subdivision 4. The board
shall transfer at least $158,000 for each
campus not located in a metropolitan county
in each year to the president of each institution
that includes such a campus.

(d) The Board of Trustees is requested to help
Minnesota close the attainment gap by funding
activities which improve retention and
completion for students of color.

(e) $4,500,000 in fiscal year 2022 and
$4,500,000 in fiscal year 2023 are for
workforce development scholarships under
Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.38. new text begin Of this
appropriation, up to $250,000 is available for
the biennium to administer the program.
new text end

(f) new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is to address
workforce gaps in high-demand sectors.
High-demand sectors may include advanced
manufacturing, agriculture, health care
services, information technology, early
childhood, transportation, and other areas with
local need. Funds may be used at colleges or
universities for costs including but not limited
to:
new text end

new text begin (1) developing new or sustaining existing
programs in high-growth, high-demand
industries;
new text end

new text begin (2) aligning programming for the Minnesota
Future Together grant program through the
Office of Higher Education to meet the needs
of high-demand sectors; and
new text end

new text begin (3) supporting innovative career, technical,
and professional education programs including
partnerships with local businesses to connect
high school students with in-demand skilled
and technical careers.
new text end

new text begin The base for this appropriation is $2,000,000
in fiscal year 2024 and later.
new text end

new text begin (g) new text end $300,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $300,000
in fiscal year 2023 are for transfer to the Cook
County Higher Education Board to provide
educational programming, workforce
development, and academic support services
to remote regions in northeastern Minnesota.
The Cook County Higher Education Board
shall continue to provide information to the
Board of Trustees on the number of students
served, credit hours delivered, and services
provided to students.

deleted text begin (g) deleted text end new text begin (h) new text end This appropriation includes $40,000 in
fiscal year 2022 and $40,000 in fiscal year
2023 to implement the sexual assault policies
required under Minnesota Statutes, section
135A.15.

deleted text begin (h) deleted text end new text begin (i) new text end This appropriation includes $8,000,000
in fiscal year 2022 and $8,000,000 in fiscal
year 2023 for upgrading the Integrated
Statewide Record System.

deleted text begin (i) deleted text end new text begin (j) new text end This appropriation includes $250,000
in fiscal year 2022 and $250,000 in fiscal year
2023 to implement the Z-Degree program
under Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.305.
The base for this appropriation is $50,000 in
fiscal year 2024 and later.

deleted text begin (j) deleted text end new text begin (k) new text end $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2022 deleted text begin is deleted text end new text begin and
$2,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 are new text end for the
mental health awareness program for students
required under Minnesota Statutes, section
136F.20, subdivision 4. Of this amount:
$500,000 new text begin in the first year new text end must be used for
training opportunities under Minnesota
Statutes, section 136F.20, subdivision 4,
paragraph (a), clause (2); and $200,000 new text begin in the
first year new text end must be used for grants to colleges
and universities to establish peer support pilot
programs in Minnesota Statutes, section
136F.20, subdivision 4, paragraph (c). The
Board of Trustees shall convene a committee
that includes students to review and approve
grant applications. Notwithstanding Minnesota
Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered
balances under this paragraph do not cancel
until July 1, 2025.

deleted text begin (k) deleted text end new text begin (l) new text end $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 deleted text begin is deleted text end new text begin and
$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 are new text end for colleges
and universities to comply with the student
basic needs requirements under Minnesota
Statutes, section 136F.202. The Board of
Trustees must use at least 25 percent of this
appropriation for grants to colleges and
universities to comply with Minnesota
Statutes, section 136F.202, subdivision 1,
paragraph (a). The board must use a
consultation and committee process that
includes students to review and approve grant
applications. Notwithstanding Minnesota
Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered
balances under this paragraph do not cancel
until July 1, 2025.

deleted text begin (l) deleted text end new text begin (m) new text end The total operations and maintenance
base for fiscal year 2024 and later is
deleted text begin $751,095,000 deleted text end new text begin $811,095,000 new text end .