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] SKILLS PATH PROGRAM.
1.6 		Subdivision 1.Purpose. The purpose of the skills path program is to provide students 
1.7 	with clear pathways from high school to careers in skilled work and the trades and create 
1.8 	opportunities for students to enter postsecondary programs and employment-based training 
1.9 	in high school.
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, is a homeschool student, 
1.19 	is in an approved adult high school diploma program, or has obtained a high school 
1.20 	equivalency diploma from the commissioner of education.
1.21 	(d) "Employment-based training" means a registered apprenticeship or apprenticeship 
1.22 	readiness program, a dual-training program, a workforce training program at an opportunities 
2.1 	industrialization center, or other work-based learning programs in which the student has 
2.2 	paid employment.
2.3 		Subd. 3.Eligible institutions. (a) A public school, an American Indian-controlled tribal 
2.4 	contract or grant school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, or nonpublic school is 
2.5 	eligible to apply for a skills path program designation.
2.6 	(b) A Minnesota state college or university, an institution licensed or registered as a 
2.7 	postsecondary institution by the Office of Higher Education, or an institution exempt from 
2.8 	the provisions of sections 136A.61 to 136A.71, or 136A.822 to 136A.834, as approved by 
2.9 	the Office of Higher Education may partner with an institution in paragraph (a) to provide 
2.10 	a postsecondary options enrollment career and technical education course for eligible students 
2.11 	in a skills path program.
2.12 	(c) An eligible institution may work in partnership with one or more postsecondary 
2.13 	programs designed in paragraph (b) to create a two-year program that incorporates secondary 
2.14 	and postsecondary credit along with employment-based training to award an associate degree 
2.15 	in skilled occupations.
2.16 		Subd. 4.Skills path programs. The commissioner of higher education must develop 
2.17 	an application in consultation with the commissioners of education and labor and industry 
2.18 	for programs that provide students with clear pathways from high school to careers in skilled 
2.19 	work and the trades to be designated as skills path programs. Skills path programs must 
2.20 	include career connected learning options, career and technical education dual credit program 
2.21 	options, and employment-based training opportunities to be eligible for this designation. 
2.22 	Applicants must demonstrate how skills path programs will be marketed to students and 
2.23 	what other local partners and employers are involved in developing career pathway 
2.24 	opportunities. Skills path programs may be identified in skilled occupations and the trades, 
2.25 	including manufacturing, construction, health care services, information technology, 
2.26 	agriculture, transportation, childcare, law enforcement, and other related industries.
2.27 		Subd. 5.Interaction with education finance. For the purpose of computing state aids 
2.28 	for the school district, students participating in the skills path programs under this section 
2.29 	shall be counted in the average daily membership of the school district.
2.30 		Subd. 6.Academic credit. A school district may grant academic credit for skills path 
2.31 	programs under this section in accordance with local requirements.
2.32 		Subd. 7.Grant applications. (a) The commissioner of higher education shall award 
2.33 	grants up to $50,000 per grant to eight eligible institutions annually for skills path programs 
2.34 	that align career and technical education dual credit program options with employment-based 
3.1 	training opportunities. Applications must demonstrate how grant funding will provide 
3.2 	students with clear pathways from high school to postsecondary training that lead to careers 
3.3 	in skilled work and the trades.
3.4 	(b) An eligible institution awarded a grant under this section must use the grant award 
3.5 	for any of the following implementation and coordination activities:
3.6 	(1) marketing efforts to students about skills path program opportunities;
3.7 	(2) coordinating academic, vocational, and occupational learning, school-based and 
3.8 	work-based learning, and secondary and postsecondary education for participants in the 
3.9 	program; and
3.10 	(3) any other implementation or coordination activity that the commissioner may direct 
3.11 	or permit the eligible institution to perform.
3.12 	(c) Grant awards may not be used to pay the wages of a student directly or indirectly.
3.13 	(d) The following information must be included in the grant application:
3.14 	(1) the identity of each public school, American Indian-controlled tribal contract or grant 
3.15 	school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, nonpublic school, homeschool, or adult basic 
3.16 	education program that is a participant in the skills path program;
3.17 	(2) the identity of each registered apprenticeship program or apprenticeship readiness 
3.18 	program, dual-training program, workforce training program at an opportunities 
3.19 	industrialization center, or other work-based learning program in which the student has the 
3.20 	opportunity for paid employment that is a participant in the skills path program;
3.21 	(3) the identity of each postsecondary institution, intermediate school district, public 
3.22 	agency, nonprofit organization, union, career and technical education consortium, or 
3.23 	workforce development authority that is a participant in the skills path program;
3.24 	(4) the identity of any employers participating in the skills path program;
3.25 	(5) a description of any career connected learning components;
3.26 	(6) a description of the career and technical education dual credit program options;
3.27 	(7) a description of any postsecondary education components in the skills path program;
3.28 	(8) a description of employment-based training opportunities; and
3.29 	(9) applicable career planning information.
3.30 		Subd. 8.Skills path scholarships. Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, an 
3.31 	eligible student enrolled in a skills path program may apply to the Office of Higher Education 
4.1 	on a form prescribed by the commissioner to receive reimbursement of tuition, books, 
4.2 	required tools, and other approved expenses required for participation in the program. 
4.3 	Financial aid from other state student aid programs must be applied prior to the skills path 
4.4 	scholarship.

4.5 	Sec. 2. SKILLS PATH PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
 4.6 	(a) $400,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2023 from the general fund to the commissioner 
4.7 	of higher education to administer skills path grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 
4.8 	124D.351. The base for fiscal years 2024 and later is $400,000.
4.9 	(b) $100,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2023 from the general fund to the commissioner 
4.10 	of higher education to administer skills path scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section 
4.11 	124D.351, subdivision 8. The base for fiscal years 2024 and later is $100,000.