HF 4493

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/13/2024 12:49pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing a promise equalization scholarship
program to supplement state grant awards for students attending Minnesota private
nonprofit postsecondary institutions; requiring a report; appropriating money;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [136A.1212] PROMISE EQUALIZATION SCHOLARSHIP.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) In an academic term, a student is eligible for a scholarship
under this section if the student:
new text end

new text begin (1) is eligible for and receives a state grant award under section 136A.121 for that same
academic term; and
new text end

new text begin (2) is enrolled in at least one credit at a Minnesota private nonprofit postsecondary
institution that is an eligible institution as defined by section 136A.101, subdivision 4.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall make scholarship awards to eligible students who apply for
and receive a state grant award under section 136A.121.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Award amount. new text end

new text begin An eligible student's scholarship award under this section
shall be an amount determined by the commissioner based upon the funds available for the
program, provided that the amount may not exceed 33 percent of the student's state grant
award under section 136A.121.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Administration; report. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall administer this program
and may establish guidelines and procedures necessary for its implementation.
new text end

new text begin (b) By February 15 each year, the commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher
education on the details of the promise equalization scholarship program, including summary
data on promise equalization scholarship awards at each eligible Minnesota private nonprofit
postsecondary institution showing:
new text end

new text begin (1) the total number of students who received promise equalization scholarships in the
prior academic year and this number as a percentage of the institution's total undergraduate
enrollment;
new text end

new text begin (2) average and total promise equalization scholarship award amounts;
new text end

new text begin (3) relevant demographic data on promise equalization scholarship recipients; and
new text end

new text begin (4) enrollment, retention, degree completion, and other relevant student outcome data
on promise equalization scholarship recipients.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Scholarships under this section shall be awarded beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; PROMISE EQUALIZATION SCHOLARSHIP.
new text end

new text begin (a) $18,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for the promise equalization scholarship
under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1212.
new text end

new text begin (b) The base for this appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and later is $18,000,000 plus an
additional percentage equal to the annual percentage increase, if any, in the highest tuition
and fees charged at a Minnesota public postsecondary institution.
new text end