1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing a youth skill path program for employment-based 
1.3 	training;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. [124D.351] YOUTH SKILL PATH PROGRAM.
1.6 		Subdivision 1.Purpose. The purpose of this section is to promote career pathway 
1.7 	opportunities that combine high school career and technical education and youth skills 
1.8 	training programs with postsecondary credit, dual training and registered apprenticeship 
1.9 	programs, and employment.
1.10 		Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
1.11 	meanings given.
1.12 	(b) "Career and technical education dual credit program" means a postsecondary career 
1.13 	or technical education course under section 124D.09, subdivision 5; a secondary course that 
1.14 	has a current articulation agreement for postsecondary credit hours with a participating 
1.15 	institution; or a youth skills training program that awards postsecondary credit to students.
1.16 	(c) "Eligible student" means a student who is in grade 11 or 12, or is age 16 or older, 
1.17 	and is enrolled in a public school, an American Indian-controlled Tribal contract or grant 
1.18 	school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, a nonpublic school, or is a homeschool student.
1.19 	(d) "Employment-based training" means a registered apprenticeship or apprenticeship 
1.20 	readiness program, a dual-training program, a workforce training program at an opportunities 
1.21 	industrialization center, or other work-based learning programs in which the student has 
1.22 	paid employment.
2.1 		Subd. 3.List of youth skill path programs. The Departments of Education and Labor 
2.2 	must jointly develop a list of programs for high school students that combine career and 
2.3 	technical education dual credit with employment-based training to be designated as youth 
2.4 	skill path programs. The list must be published on the websites of the Department of 
2.5 	Education, the Department of Labor, the Department of Employment and Economic 
2.6 	Development, and the Office of Higher Education. Youth skill path programs must be 
2.7 	identified in skilled occupations, including advanced manufacturing, health care services, 
2.8 	information technology, agriculture, transportation, childcare, and law enforcement.
2.9 		Subd. 4.Eligible students. Notwithstanding section 124D.09, subdivision 5a, a student 
2.10 	who is in grade 11 or 12, is age 16 or older, or is enrolled in a nonpublic school or 
2.11 	homeschool may enroll in a postsecondary enrollment options career and technical education 
2.12 	course that is part of the youth skill path program. Eligible students must be enrolled in a 
2.13 	career and technical dual credit program applicable to the specific employment-based training 
2.14 	program for which they are applying.
2.15 		Subd. 5.Eligible institution. (a) A Minnesota state college or university, an institution 
2.16 	licensed or registered as a postsecondary institution by the Office of Higher Education, or 
2.17 	an institution exempt from the provisions of sections 136A.61 to 136A.71 or 136A.822 to 
2.18 	136A.834 as approved by the Office of Higher Education may provide a postsecondary 
2.19 	options enrollment career and technical education course for eligible students in a youth 
2.20 	skill path program.
2.21 	(b) Youth skill path programs must include career and technical education dual credit 
2.22 	program courses and employment-based training but must not be required to be completed 
2.23 	concurrently.
2.24 		Subd. 6.Exemption. The Department of Labor must grant an exemption from the 
2.25 	provisions of chapter 181A for student learners in a youth skill path program. For the 
2.26 	operation of equipment and machinery defined as hazardous, employment-based training 
2.27 	for students 16 or 17 years of age may be simulated cooperatively at a training site.
2.28 		Subd. 7.Two-year program. A secondary education institution may work in partnership 
2.29 	with one or more eligible institutions to create a two-year program that incorporates 
2.30 	secondary and postsecondary credit along with employment-based training to award an 
2.31 	associate's degree.