1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to higher education; providing funding and policy related changes for the 
1.3 	Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the 
1.4 	University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic; creating and modifying certain 
1.5 	scholarships and student aid programs; creating and modifying grant programs to 
1.6 	higher education institutions; establishing the Inclusive Higher Education Technical 
1.7 	Assistance Center; creating a direct admissions program; establishing higher 
1.8 	education bonding policy; requiring reports; appropriating money;amending 
1.9 	Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 136A.101, subdivisions 5a, 7; 136A.121, 
1.10 	subdivisions 6, 9, 13; 136A.1241, subdivision 5; 136A.125, subdivision 4; 
1.11 	136A.126, subdivision 4; 136A.1312; 136A.1791, subdivision 3a; 136A.246, 
1.12 	subdivisions 4, 5, 6, 8; 136F.04, subdivision 1; 136F.38, subdivisions 3, 4, 5; 
1.13 	175.45, subdivision 1; 354B.23, subdivision 3; proposing coding for new law in 
1.14 	Minnesota Statutes, chapters 135A; 136A; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, 
1.15 	sections 136F.03; 136F.38, subdivision 2.
1.16 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.17 	ARTICLE 1
1.18 	APPROPRIATIONS

1.19	Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
1.20 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies 
1.21 	and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the general fund, 
1.22 	or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. 
1.23 	The figures "2024" and "2025" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under 
1.24 	them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, or June 30, 2025, respectively. 
1.25 	"The first year" is fiscal year 2024. "The second year" is fiscal year 2025. "The biennium" 
1.26 	is fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

1.27				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.28				Available for the Year
	
2.1				Ending June 30
	
2.2					2024
		2025

2.3
2.4	Sec. 2. MINNESOTA OFFICE OF HIGHER 
EDUCATION

2.5	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	347,030,000
	$
	322,383,000
	
2.6 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
2.7 	purpose are specified in the following 
2.8 	subdivisions.

2.9	Subd. 2.State Grants
 		234,744,000
		224,167,000
	
2.10 	If the appropriation in this subdivision for 
2.11 	either year is insufficient, the appropriation 
2.12 	for the other year is available for it.

2.13	Subd. 3.Child Care Grants
 		6,694,000
		6,694,000

2.14	Subd. 4.State Work-Study
 		14,502,000
		14,502,000

2.15	Subd. 5.Interstate Tuition Reciprocity
 		8,500,000
		8,500,000
	
2.16 	If the appropriation in this subdivision for 
2.17 	either year is insufficient, the appropriation 
2.18 	for the other year is available to meet 
2.19 	reciprocity contract obligations.

2.20	Subd. 6.Safety Officer's Survivors
 		100,000
		100,000
	
2.21 	This appropriation is to provide educational 
2.22 	benefits under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.23 	299A.45, to eligible dependent children and 
2.24 	to the spouses of public safety officers killed 
2.25 	in the line of duty.
2.26 	If the appropriation in this subdivision for 
2.27 	either year is insufficient, the appropriation 
2.28 	for the other year is available for it.

2.29	Subd. 7.American Indian Scholarships
 		3,500,000
		3,500,000
	
2.30 	The commissioner must contract with or 
2.31 	employ at least one person with demonstrated 
2.32 	competence in American Indian culture and 
2.33 	residing in or near the city of Bemidji to assist 
3.1 	students with the scholarships under 
3.2 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.126, and 
3.3 	with other information about financial aid for 
3.4 	which the students may be eligible. This 
3.5 	appropriation includes funding to administer 
3.6 	the American Indian scholarship program.

3.7
3.8	Subd. 8.Tribal College Supplemental Assistance 
Grants
 		3,150,000
		3,150,000
	
3.9 	(a) For Tribal college assistance grants under 
3.10 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1796.
3.11 	(b) In addition to grants made pursuant to 
3.12 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1796, the 
3.13 	commissioner shall use this appropriation to 
3.14 	make grants of $1,000,000 each to Leech Lake 
3.15 	Tribal College, White Earth Tribal College, 
3.16 	and Red Lake Nation Tribal College, to be 
3.17 	used for the Tribal colleges' general operations 
3.18 	and maintenance expenses. By September 30, 
3.19 	2024, each Tribal college receiving a grant 
3.20 	under this paragraph must submit a report to 
3.21 	the commissioner of the Office of Higher 
3.22 	Education and to the chairs and ranking 
3.23 	minority members of the legislative 
3.24 	committees with jurisdiction over higher 
3.25 	education finance and policy. The report must 
3.26 	include an accurate and detailed account of 
3.27 	how the funds were spent and a copy of the 
3.28 	college's most recent audit report.
3.29 	(c) The commissioner may use no more than 
3.30 	three percent of this appropriation to 
3.31 	administer the program grants.

3.32
3.33	Subd. 9.Intervention for College Attendance 
Program Grants
 		1,942,000
		1,142,000
	
4.1 	For the intervention for college attendance 
4.2 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
4.3 	136A.861.
4.4 	$300,000 in fiscal year 2024 is for providing 
4.5 	onetime catalyst funding on a competitive 
4.6 	basis to postsecondary institutions, nonprofit 
4.7 	organizations, and local government 
4.8 	organizations to create or enhance supports, 
4.9 	navigation, and precollege services for 
4.10 	students who were formerly incarcerated.
4.11 	The commissioner may use no more than three 
4.12 	percent of this appropriation to administer the 
4.13 	intervention for college attendance program 
4.14 	grants.

4.15	Subd. 10.Student-Parent Information
 		122,000
		122,000

4.16	Subd. 11.Get Ready!
 		180,000
		180,000

4.17
4.18	Subd. 12.Minnesota Education Equity 
Partnership
 		45,000
		45,000

4.19	Subd. 13.Midwest Higher Education Compact
 		115,000
		115,000

4.20
4.21	Subd. 14.United Family Medicine Residency 
Program
 		501,000
		501,000
	
4.22 	For a grant to United Family Medicine 
4.23 	residency program. This appropriation shall 
4.24 	be used to support up to 21 resident physicians 
4.25 	each year in family practice at United Family 
4.26 	Medicine residency programs and shall 
4.27 	prepare doctors to practice family care 
4.28 	medicine in underserved rural and urban areas 
4.29 	of the state. It is intended that this program 
4.30 	will improve health care in underserved 
4.31 	communities, provide affordable access to 
4.32 	appropriate medical care, and manage the 
4.33 	treatment of patients in a cost-effective 
4.34 	manner.

5.1	Subd. 15.MnLINK Gateway and Minitex
 		6,555,000
		6,605,000
	
5.2 	The base for this appropriation for fiscal year 
5.3 	2026 is $6,655,000 and for fiscal year 2027 is 
5.4 	$6,708,000.

5.5
5.6	Subd. 16.Statewide Longitudinal Education 
Data System
 		2,550,000
		2,550,000

5.7	Subd. 17.Hennepin Healthcare
 		645,000
		645,000
	
5.8 	For transfer to Hennepin Healthcare for 
5.9 	graduate family medical education programs 
5.10 	at Hennepin Healthcare.

5.11	Subd. 18.College Possible
 		550,000
		550,000
	
5.12 	(a) This appropriation is for immediate transfer 
5.13 	to College Possible to support programs of 
5.14 	college admission and college graduation for 
5.15 	low-income students through an intensive 
5.16 	curriculum of coaching and support at both 
5.17 	the high school and postsecondary levels.
5.18 	(b) This appropriation must be used by College 
5.19 	Possible only for programs supporting students 
5.20 	who are residents of Minnesota and attending 
5.21 	colleges or universities within Minnesota.
5.22 	(c) By February 1 of each year, College 
5.23 	Possible must report to the chairs and ranking 
5.24 	minority members of the legislative 
5.25 	committees and divisions with jurisdiction 
5.26 	over higher education and E-12 education on 
5.27 	activities funded by this appropriation. The 
5.28 	report must include but is not limited to 
5.29 	information about the work of College 
5.30 	Possible Minnesota throughout the state; the 
5.31 	number of College Possible coaches hired; the 
5.32 	number of existing partner high schools; the 
5.33 	geographic distribution of participants; the 
5.34 	number of high school and college students 
6.1 	specifically supported by the appropriations 
6.2 	funds; the percentages of students who applied 
6.3 	to college, were admitted into college, and 
6.4 	enrolled in college from the previous program 
6.5 	year; the number of college graduates 
6.6 	supported by the appropriation funding in the 
6.7 	previous program year; and a list of all 
6.8 	communities and partner institutions 
6.9 	benefiting from coaching and support through 
6.10 	College Possible programming.

6.11
6.12	Subd. 19.Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic 
Brain Injury Research Grant Program
 		3,000,000
		3,000,000
	
6.13 	For transfer to the spinal cord and traumatic 
6.14 	brain injury grant account in the special 
6.15 	revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, 
6.16 	section 136A.901, subdivision 1.
6.17 	The commissioner may use no more than three 
6.18 	percent of the amount transferred under this 
6.19 	subdivision to administer the grant program.

6.20
6.21	Subd. 20.Summer Academic Enrichment 
Program
 		250,000
		250,000
	
6.22 	For summer academic enrichment grants under 
6.23 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.091.
6.24 	The commissioner may use no more than three 
6.25 	percent of this appropriation to administer the 
6.26 	grant program under this subdivision.

6.27
6.28	Subd. 21.Dual Training Competency Grants; 
Office of Higher Education
 		6,632,000
		2,632,000
	
6.29 	For transfer to the Dual Training Competency 
6.30 	Grants account in the special revenue fund 
6.31 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.246, 
6.32 	subdivision 10. $132,000 each year is for 
6.33 	transfer to the Department of Labor and 
6.34 	Industry.

7.1	Subd. 22.Campus Sexual Assault Reporting
 		25,000
		25,000
	
7.2 	For the sexual assault reporting required under 
7.3 	Minnesota Statutes, section 135A.15.

7.4
7.5	Subd. 23.Campus Sexual Violence Prevention 
and Response Coordinator
 		150,000
		150,000
	
7.6 	For the Office of Higher Education to staff a 
7.7 	campus sexual violence prevention and 
7.8 	response coordinator to serve as a statewide 
7.9 	resource providing professional development 
7.10 	and guidance on best practices for 
7.11 	postsecondary institutions. $50,000 each year 
7.12 	is for administrative funding to conduct 
7.13 	trainings and provide materials to 
7.14 	postsecondary institutions.

7.15
7.16	Subd. 24.Emergency Assistance for 
Postsecondary Students
 		3,173,000
		3,173,000
	
7.17 	(a) For the Office of Higher Education to 
7.18 	allocate grant funds on a matching basis to 
7.19 	eligible institutions as defined under 
7.20 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.103, located 
7.21 	in Minnesota with a demonstrable homeless 
7.22 	student population.
7.23 	(b) This appropriation shall be used to meet 
7.24 	immediate student needs that could result in 
7.25 	a student not completing the term or their 
7.26 	program including, but not limited to, 
7.27 	emergency housing, food, and transportation. 
7.28 	Institutions shall minimize any negative 
7.29 	impact on student financial aid resulting from 
7.30 	the receipt of emergency funds.
7.31 	(c) The commissioner shall determine the 
7.32 	application process and the grant amounts. 
7.33 	The Office of Higher Education shall partner 
7.34 	with interested postsecondary institutions, 
8.1 	other state agencies, and student groups to 
8.2 	establish the programs.
8.3 	(d) The base amount for this appropriation for 
8.4 	fiscal year 2026 is $2,926,000.

8.5
8.6	Subd. 25.Grants to Student Teachers in 
Shortage Areas
 		4,000,000
		4,000,000
	
8.7 	For grants to student teachers in shortage areas 
8.8 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1275.
8.9 	The commissioner may use no more than three 
8.10 	percent of the appropriation for administration 
8.11 	of the program.

8.12
8.13	Subd. 26.Grants to Underrepresented Student 
Teachers
 		2,625,000
		2,625,000
	
8.14 	For grants to underrepresented student teachers 
8.15 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1274.
8.16 	The commissioner may use no more than three 
8.17 	percent of the appropriation for administration 
8.18 	of the program.

8.19	Subd. 27.Teacher Shortage Loan Repayment
 		3,200,000
		3,200,000
	
8.20 	For transfer to the teacher shortage loan 
8.21 	repayment account in the special revenue fund 
8.22 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1791, 
8.23 	subdivision 8.
8.24 	The commissioner may use no more than three 
8.25 	percent of the amount transferred under this 
8.26 	subdivision to administer the program.

8.27
8.28	Subd. 28.Large Animal Veterinarian Loan 
Forgiveness Program
 		375,000
		375,000
	
8.29 	For transfer to the large animal veterinarian 
8.30 	loan forgiveness program account in the 
8.31 	special revenue fund under Minnesota 
8.32 	Statutes, section 136A.1795, subdivision 2.

9.1
9.2	Subd. 29.Agricultural Educators Loan 
Forgiveness
 		50,000
		50,000
	
9.3 	For transfer to the agricultural education loan 
9.4 	forgiveness account in the special revenue 
9.5 	fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 
9.6 	136A.1794, subdivision 2.

9.7
9.8	Subd. 30.Aviation Degree Loan Forgiveness 
Program
 		25,000
		25,000
	
9.9 	For transfer to the aviation degree loan 
9.10 	forgiveness program account in the special 
9.11 	revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, 
9.12 	section 136A.1789, subdivision 2.

9.13
9.14	Subd. 31.Grants for Students with Intellectual 
and Developmental Disabilities
 		200,000
		200,000
	
9.15 	For grants for students with intellectual and 
9.16 	developmental disabilities under Minnesota 
9.17 	Statutes, section 136A.1215.

9.18	Subd. 32.Loan Repayment Assistance Program
 		25,000
		25,000
	
9.19 	For a grant to the Loan Repayment Assistance 
9.20 	Program of Minnesota to provide education 
9.21 	debt relief to attorneys with full-time 
9.22 	employment providing legal advice or 
9.23 	representation to low-income clients or support 
9.24 	services for this work.

9.25
9.26	Subd. 33.Minnesota Independence College and 
Community
 		1,000,000
		1,000,000
	
9.27 	For a grant to Minnesota Independence 
9.28 	College and Community for need-based 
9.29 	scholarships and tuition reduction. Beginning 
9.30 	with students first enrolled in the fall of 2019, 
9.31 	eligibility is limited to resident students as 
9.32 	defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 
9.33 	136A.101, subdivision 8.

9.34	Subd. 34.Student Loan Debt Counseling
 		200,000
		200,000
	
10.1 	For student loan debt counseling under 
10.2 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1788.
10.3 	The Office of Higher Education may use no 
10.4 	more than three percent of the appropriation 
10.5 	to administer the student loan debt counseling 
10.6 	program.

10.7	Subd. 35.Hunger-Free Campus Grants
 		102,000
		102,000
	
10.8 	For the Office of Higher Education to provide 
10.9 	initial and sustaining grants to Minnesota 
10.10 	public postsecondary institutions and Tribal 
10.11 	colleges under Minnesota Statutes, section 
10.12 	135A.137, subdivision 3, to meet and maintain 
10.13 	the criteria in that same section to address food 
10.14 	insecurity on campus.

10.15
10.16	Subd. 36.Fostering Independence Higher 
Education Grants
 		4,311,000
		4,311,000
	
10.17 	For grants to eligible students under Minnesota 
10.18 	Statutes, section 136A.1241. The base amount 
10.19 	for this appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and 
10.20 	later is $4,411,000.
10.21 	The Office of Higher Education may use no 
10.22 	more than three percent of the appropriation 
10.23 	to administer the grants.

10.24	Subd. 37.Concurrent Enrollment Grants
 		340,000
		340,000
	
10.25 	For concurrent enrollment grants under 
10.26 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.91.

10.27	Subd. 38.Student Parent Support Initiative
 		4,425,000
		4,000,000
	
10.28 	For grants to support student parents under 
10.29 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1251. Of 
10.30 	this amount, up to $314,000 each year is for 
10.31 	administrative costs, and up to $25,000 each 
10.32 	year is for program marketing and outreach.
11.1 	The base amount for this appropriation in 
11.2 	fiscal year 2026 and later is $3,500,000.

11.3	Subd. 39.Director of Tribal Relations
 		134,000
		143,000

11.4	Subd. 40.Direct Admissions Program
 		500,000
		500,000
	
11.5 	For the direct admissions program under 
11.6 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.84.

11.7	Subd. 41.American Indian Scholars
 		8,500,000
		8,500,000
	
11.8 	To support implementation of Minnesota 
11.9 	Statutes, section 135A.121.
11.10 	Of this amount, $4,032,000 in fiscal year 2024 
11.11 	and $4,032,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for 
11.12 	transfer to the Board of Regents of the 
11.13 	University of Minnesota.
11.14 	Of this amount, $4,468,000 in fiscal year 2024 
11.15 	and $4,468,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for 
11.16 	transfer to the Board of Trustees of the 
11.17 	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

11.18	Subd. 42.Next Generation Nursing Initiative
 		1,500,000
		1,500,000
	
11.19 	For transfer to the Board of Trustees of the 
11.20 	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for 
11.21 	HealthForce Minnesota to coordinate and 
11.22 	implement the Next Generation Nursing 
11.23 	Assistant Training Program for the recruitment 
11.24 	and training of students to become certified 
11.25 	nursing assistants. The program must use a 
11.26 	"free up-front" model for covering the student 
11.27 	costs. This appropriation may also be used for 
11.28 	marketing and outreach across the state and 
11.29 	covering the cost for retraining, retesting, and 
11.30 	refresher courses.

11.31	Subd. 43.Child Development Associate Pathway
 		475,000
		-0-
	
11.32 	For transfer to the Board of Trustees of the 
11.33 	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to 
12.1 	develop a transparent pathway for current 
12.2 	child development associate credential holders 
12.3 	to be awarded academic credit that aligns with 
12.4 	related academic certificate, diploma, and 
12.5 	degree programs. Funds must be used to 
12.6 	develop curriculum at eight colleges and 
12.7 	universities, develop training and advising 
12.8 	tools for those institutions, and form a 
12.9 	statewide advisory committee to advise the 
12.10 	project development.

12.11
12.12	Subd. 44.Higher Education Public Service 
Feasibility Study
 		75,000
		-0-
	
12.13 	For the commissioner of the Office of Higher 
12.14 	Education to conduct a feasibility study on 
12.15 	creating and implementing a Minnesota 
12.16 	service initiative. By October 31, 2023, the 
12.17 	commissioner shall report to the chairs and 
12.18 	ranking minority members of the legislative 
12.19 	committees with jurisdiction over higher 
12.20 	education on the feasibility of creating and 
12.21 	implementing a Minnesota service initiative 
12.22 	to increase student civic engagement. The 
12.23 	report must include but is not limited to 
12.24 	information about the program design, 
12.25 	implementation challenges and 
12.26 	recommendations, outcomes, and the 
12.27 	feasibility of scaling the program over time.

12.28	Subd. 45.Inclusive Higher Education
 		1,000,000
		1,000,000
	
12.29 	Of this amount, $250,000 in fiscal year 2024 
12.30 	and $250,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for the 
12.31 	Office of Higher Education to enter into a 
12.32 	contract establishing the Inclusive Higher 
12.33 	Education Technical Assistance Center under 
12.34 	Minnesota Statutes, section 135A.161, and 
12.35 	$750,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $750,000 in 
13.1 	fiscal year 2025 are for transfer to the 
13.2 	inclusive higher education grant account under 
13.3 	Minnesota Statutes, section 135A.162, 
13.4 	subdivision 4.
13.5 	The Office of Higher Education may use no 
13.6 	more than three percent of the appropriation 
13.7 	to administer the program.

13.8	Subd. 46.Paramedic Scholarship Program
 		3,200,000
		-0-
	
13.9 	For the paramedic scholarship program under 
13.10 	article 2, section 26. Of this amount:
13.11 	(1) $3,000,000 is for awarding 600 student 
13.12 	scholarships;
13.13 	(2) $100,000 is for promotion of the program 
13.14 	and student recruitment efforts; and
13.15 	(3) $100,000 is for administering the program.
13.16 	This appropriation is available until expended 
13.17 	or until June 30, 2026, whichever occurs first.

13.18
13.19	Subd. 47.Addiction Medicine Graduate Medical 
Education Fellowship
 		270,000
		270,000
	
13.20 	(a) For a grant to Hennepin County Medical 
13.21 	Center to support up to six physicians enrolled 
13.22 	in an addiction medicine fellowship program. 
13.23 	If the appropriation for either year is 
13.24 	insufficient, the appropriation for the other 
13.25 	year is available for it.
13.26 	(b) Each year, in order to receive funds under 
13.27 	this subdivision, Hennepin County Medical 
13.28 	Center must certify to the commissioner the 
13.29 	number of physicians actually enrolled in an 
13.30 	addiction medicine fellowship for that year. 
13.31 	The commissioner shall transfer to Hennepin 
13.32 	County Medical Center $90,000 for each 
13.33 	physician enrolled in an addiction medicine 
14.1 	fellowship subject to the total funds 
14.2 	appropriated by this subdivision.
14.3 	(c) This appropriation shall be used to prepare 
14.4 	fellows to practice addiction medicine in rural 
14.5 	and underserved areas of the state, and to train 
14.6 	fellows in: diagnostic interviewing; 
14.7 	motivational interviewing; addiction 
14.8 	counseling; recognition and care of common 
14.9 	acute withdrawal syndromes and 
14.10 	complications; pharmacotherapies of addictive 
14.11 	disorders; epidemiology and pathophysiology 
14.12 	of addiction; identification and treatment of 
14.13 	addictive disorders in special populations; 
14.14 	secondary interventions; the use of screening 
14.15 	and diagnostic instruments; inpatient care; and 
14.16 	working within a multidisciplinary team.

14.17
14.18	Subd. 48.Allied Health Technician Scholarship 
Program
 		5,380,000
		-0-
	
14.19 	(a) For the allied health technician scholarship 
14.20 	program under article 2, section 27. Of the 
14.21 	amount appropriated: (1) $5,000,000 is for 
14.22 	awarding 1,000 student scholarships; (2) 
14.23 	$230,000 is for promotion of the program and 
14.24 	student recruitment efforts; and (3) $150,000 
14.25 	is for administering the program.
14.26 	(b) This is a onetime appropriation. This 
14.27 	appropriation is available until expended or 
14.28 	until June 30, 2026, whichever occurs first.

14.29	Subd. 49.Unemployment Insurance Aid
 		495,000
		495,000
	
14.30 	For unemployment insurance aid to Tribal 
14.31 	colleges under Minnesota Statutes, section 
14.32 	268.193. Of the amount appropriated, $24,000 
14.33 	each year is for administration of the 
14.34 	unemployment insurance aid.

15.1	Subd. 50.Foster Care Grant
 		500,000
		500,000
	
15.2 	For a grant to a nonprofit organization for an 
15.3 	education support and wraparound service 
15.4 	program that provides assistance and support 
15.5 	to individuals who were in foster care at the 
15.6 	age of 13 or later, and for individuals who are 
15.7 	transitioning from foster care to adulthood, up 
15.8 	to age 27, to improve the likelihood of 
15.9 	completing a degree and securing a stable 
15.10 	career. The program shall provide one-on-one 
15.11 	mentoring, leadership development, and 
15.12 	additional resources to support each student's 
15.13 	education journey through high school 
15.14 	graduation and institutions of higher 
15.15 	education. The commissioner shall develop 
15.16 	an application process for the grant. This is a 
15.17 	onetime appropriation. The base for this 
15.18 	appropriation is $0 in fiscal year 2026 and 
15.19 	later.

15.20	Subd. 51.Agency Administration
 		6,498,000
		6,724,000
	
15.21 	The base amount for this appropriation for 
15.22 	fiscal years 2026 and later is $6,096,000.

15.23	Subd. 52.Balances Forward
 					
15.24 	A balance in the first year under this section 
15.25 	does not cancel, but is available for the second 
15.26 	year.

15.27	Subd. 53.Transfers
 					
15.28 	The commissioner of the Office of Higher 
15.29 	Education may transfer unencumbered 
15.30 	balances from the appropriations in this 
15.31 	section to the state grant appropriation, the 
15.32 	interstate tuition reciprocity appropriation, the 
15.33 	child care grant appropriation, the Indian 
15.34 	scholarship appropriation, the state work-study 
16.1 	appropriation, the get ready appropriation, the 
16.2 	intervention for college attendance 
16.3 	appropriation, the student-parent information 
16.4 	appropriation, the summer academic 
16.5 	enrichment program appropriation, the public 
16.6 	safety officers' survivors appropriation, and 
16.7 	the fostering independence higher education 
16.8 	grant program. The commissioner may transfer 
16.9 	unencumbered balances from the hunger-free 
16.10 	campus appropriations to the emergency 
16.11 	assistance for postsecondary students grant. 
16.12 	To the extent there is a projected surplus in 
16.13 	the appropriation for either the student 
16.14 	teachers in shortage areas grant program or 
16.15 	the underrepresented student teacher grant 
16.16 	program, the commissioner may transfer 
16.17 	unencumbered balances between the two 
16.18 	programs as needed to meet demand. Transfers 
16.19 	from the child care, state work-study, or the 
16.20 	hunger-free campus appropriations may only 
16.21 	be made to the extent there is a projected 
16.22 	surplus in the appropriation. A transfer may 
16.23 	be made only with prior written notice to the 
16.24 	chairs and ranking minority members of the 
16.25 	senate and house of representatives 
16.26 	committees with jurisdiction over higher 
16.27 	education finance.

16.28
16.29
16.30	Sec. 3. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE 
MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND 
UNIVERSITIES

16.31	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	967,781,000
	$
	942,792,000
	
16.32 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
16.33 	purpose are specified in the following 
16.34 	subdivisions.

16.35
16.36	Subd. 2.Central Office and Shared Services 
Unit
 		34,401,000
		34,401,000
	
17.1 	For the Office of the Chancellor and the 
17.2 	Shared Services Division.

17.3	Subd. 3.Operations and Maintenance
 		929,265,000
		904,276,000
	
17.4 	(a) This appropriation includes $25,000,000 
17.5 	in fiscal year 2024 and $50,000,000 in fiscal 
17.6 	year 2025 for student tuition relief. The Board 
17.7 	of Trustees may not set the tuition rates in any 
17.8 	undergraduate degree-granting program for 
17.9 	the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years 
17.10 	at a rate greater than the 2022-2023 academic 
17.11 	year rates. The student tuition relief may not 
17.12 	be offset by increases in mandatory fees, 
17.13 	charges, or other assessments to the student. 
17.14 	Colleges and universities are permitted to 
17.15 	increase differential tuition charges in fiscal 
17.16 	years 2024 and 2025 where costs for course 
17.17 	or program delivery have increased due to 
17.18 	extraordinary circumstances beyond the 
17.19 	control of the college or university. Rates and 
17.20 	rationale must be approved by the Board of 
17.21 	Trustees.
17.22 	(b) This appropriation includes $50,000,000 
17.23 	in fiscal year 2024 for onetime campus 
17.24 	support. The Board of Trustees must allocate 
17.25 	this amount to all colleges and universities 
17.26 	based upon each institution's estimated tuition 
17.27 	revenue loss due to declines in enrollment 
17.28 	from fiscal year 2019 to fiscal year 2023, 
17.29 	except that no institution shall receive an 
17.30 	allocation less than $200,000. This is a 
17.31 	onetime appropriation. The base for this 
17.32 	appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and later is 
17.33 	$0.
17.34 	(c) $5,700,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
17.35 	$5,700,000 in fiscal year 2025 are to provide 
18.1 	supplemental aid for operations and 
18.2 	maintenance to the president of each two-year 
18.3 	institution in the system with at least one 
18.4 	campus that is not located in a metropolitan 
18.5 	county, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, 
18.6 	section 473.121, subdivision 4. The board 
18.7 	shall transfer at least $158,000 for each 
18.8 	campus not located in a metropolitan county 
18.9 	in each year to the president of each institution 
18.10 	that includes such a campus.
18.11 	(d) The Board of Trustees is requested to help 
18.12 	Minnesota close the attainment gap by funding 
18.13 	activities which improve retention and 
18.14 	completion for students of color.
18.15 	(e) $10,750,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
18.16 	$10,750,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for 
18.17 	workforce development scholarships under 
18.18 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.38. 
18.19 	$6,250,000 in fiscal year 2025 must be 
18.20 	matched with cash or in-kind contributions 
18.21 	from nonstate sources. The base amount for 
18.22 	this appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and later 
18.23 	is $4,500,000.
18.24 	(f) $300,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $300,000 
18.25 	in fiscal year 2025 are for transfer to the Cook 
18.26 	County Higher Education Board to provide 
18.27 	educational programming, workforce 
18.28 	development, and academic support services 
18.29 	to remote regions in northeastern Minnesota. 
18.30 	The Cook County Higher Education Board 
18.31 	shall continue to provide information to the 
18.32 	Board of Trustees on the number of students 
18.33 	served, credit hours delivered, and services 
18.34 	provided to students.
19.1 	(g) $40,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $40,000 
19.2 	in fiscal year 2025 to implement the sexual 
19.3 	assault policies required under Minnesota 
19.4 	Statutes, section 135A.15.
19.5 	(h) $9,500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
19.6 	$9,500,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for 
19.7 	enterprise-wide technology, including 
19.8 	upgrading the Integrated Statewide Record 
19.9 	System and maintaining enterprise-wide 
19.10 	technology services. The base for this 
19.11 	appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and later is 
19.12 	$9,100,000.
19.13 	(i) $1,050,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
19.14 	$1,050,000 in fiscal year 2025 are to reduce 
19.15 	students' out-of-pocket costs by expanding 
19.16 	free offerings in course materials and 
19.17 	resources, including through open educational 
19.18 	resources, open textbooks, and implementation 
19.19 	of Z-Degrees under Minnesota Statutes, 
19.20 	section 136F.305. The base for this 
19.21 	appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and later is 
19.22 	$50,000.
19.23 	(j) $13,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
19.24 	$13,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are to expand 
19.25 	student support services. This appropriation 
19.26 	provides funding to campuses to address basic 
19.27 	needs insecurity, mental health, and other 
19.28 	high-need student support services by 
19.29 	increasing the amount of available resources 
19.30 	to students. In addition, this funding provides 
19.31 	systemwide resources and coordination, 
19.32 	including electronic connections for peer 
19.33 	support and professional clinical support for 
19.34 	mental health. These systemwide resources 
19.35 	must be available online 24 hours a day, seven 
20.1 	days a week. The base amount for this 
20.2 	appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and later is 
20.3 	$2,000,000.
20.4 	(k) $12,500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
20.5 	$12,500,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for 
20.6 	upgrades to college and university equipment 
20.7 	and learning environments. The amount 
20.8 	appropriated in fiscal year 2025 must be 
20.9 	matched with cash or in-kind contributions 
20.10 	from nonstate sources. Up to 1.5 percent of 
20.11 	the appropriation may be used for 
20.12 	administration of the program. This is a 
20.13 	onetime appropriation. The base for this 
20.14 	appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and later is 
20.15 	$0.
20.16 	(l) $6,250,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
20.17 	$6,250,000 in fiscal year 2025 are to develop 
20.18 	and expand industry sector programming to 
20.19 	build capacity and support new and redesigned 
20.20 	curricular options with an emphasis on 
20.21 	offering students work-based learning 
20.22 	experiences. The amount appropriated in fiscal 
20.23 	year 2025 must be matched with cash or 
20.24 	in-kind contributions from nonstate sources. 
20.25 	Up to 1.5 percent of the appropriation may be 
20.26 	used for administration of the program. This 
20.27 	is a onetime appropriation. The base for this 
20.28 	appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and later is 
20.29 	$0.
20.30 	(m) $861,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $872,000 
20.31 	in fiscal year 2025 are for costs associated 
20.32 	with the increased employer contribution rates 
20.33 	for the higher education individual retirement 
20.34 	account plan under Minnesota Statutes, section 
20.35 	354B.23, subdivision 3. The base for fiscal 
21.1 	year 2026 is $883,000 and for fiscal year 2027 
21.2 	is $894,000.
21.3 	(n) $809,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $809,000 
21.4 	in fiscal year 2025 are for unemployment 
21.5 	insurance aid under Minnesota Statutes, 
21.6 	section 268.193, to institutions within the 
21.7 	system.
21.8 	(o) The total operations and maintenance base 
21.9 	for fiscal year 2026 is $852,787,000 and for 
21.10 	fiscal year 2027 and later is $852,798,000.

21.11	Subd. 4.Learning Network of Minnesota
 		4,115,000
		4,115,000

21.12
21.13	Sec. 4. BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE 
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

21.14	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	788,279,000
	$
	788,279,000

21.15	Appropriations by Fund
	
21.16		2024
	2025
	
21.17	General
	786,122,000
	786,122,000
	
21.18	Health Care Access
	2,157,000
	2,157,000
	
21.19 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
21.20 	purpose are specified in the following 
21.21 	subdivisions.

21.22	Subd. 2.Operations and Maintenance
 		717,684,000
		717,684,000
	
21.23 	(a) $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
21.24 	$15,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are to: (1) 
21.25 	increase the medical school's research 
21.26 	capacity; (2) improve the medical school's 
21.27 	ranking in National Institutes of Health 
21.28 	funding; (3) ensure the medical school's 
21.29 	national prominence by attracting and 
21.30 	retaining world-class faculty, staff, and 
21.31 	students; (4) invest in physician training 
21.32 	programs in rural and underserved 
21.33 	communities; and (5) translate the medical 
21.34 	school's research discoveries into new 
22.1 	treatments and cures to improve the health of 
22.2 	Minnesotans.
22.3 	(b) $7,800,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
22.4 	$7,800,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for health 
22.5 	training restoration. This appropriation must 
22.6 	be used to support all of the following: (1) 
22.7 	faculty physicians who teach at eight residency 
22.8 	program sites, including medical resident and 
22.9 	student training programs in the Department 
22.10 	of Family Medicine; (2) the Mobile Dental 
22.11 	Clinic; and (3) expansion of geriatric 
22.12 	education and family programs.
22.13 	(c) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
22.14 	$4,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for the 
22.15 	Minnesota Discovery, Research, and 
22.16 	InnoVation Economy funding program for 
22.17 	cancer care research.
22.18 	(d) $500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $500,000 
22.19 	in fiscal year 2025 are for the University of 
22.20 	Minnesota, Morris branch, to cover the costs 
22.21 	of tuition waivers under Minnesota Statutes, 
22.22 	section 137.16.
22.23 	(e) $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
22.24 	$5,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for 
22.25 	systemwide safety and security measures on 
22.26 	University of Minnesota campuses. The base 
22.27 	amount for this appropriation is $2,000,000 
22.28 	in fiscal year 2026 and later.
22.29 	(f) $366,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $366,000 
22.30 	in fiscal year 2025 are for unemployment 
22.31 	insurance aid under Minnesota Statutes, 
22.32 	section 268.193.
22.33 	(g) The total operations and maintenance base 
22.34 	for fiscal year 2026 and later is $695,684,000.

23.1	Subd. 3.Primary Care Education Initiatives
 		2,157,000
		2,157,000
	
23.2 	This appropriation is from the health care 
23.3 	access fund.

23.4	Subd. 4.Special Appropriations

23.5	(a) Agriculture and Extension Service
		42,922,000
		42,922,000
	
23.6 	For the Agricultural Experiment Station and 
23.7 	the Minnesota Extension Service:
23.8 	(1) the agricultural experiment stations and 
23.9 	Minnesota Extension Service must convene 
23.10 	agricultural advisory groups to focus research, 
23.11 	education, and extension activities on producer 
23.12 	needs and implement an outreach strategy that 
23.13 	more effectively and rapidly transfers research 
23.14 	results and best practices to producers 
23.15 	throughout the state;
23.16 	(2) this appropriation includes funding for 
23.17 	research and outreach on the production of 
23.18 	renewable energy from Minnesota biomass 
23.19 	resources, including agronomic crops, plant 
23.20 	and animal wastes, and native plants or trees. 
23.21 	The following areas should be prioritized and 
23.22 	carried out in consultation with Minnesota 
23.23 	producers, renewable energy, and bioenergy 
23.24 	organizations:
23.25 	(i) biofuel and other energy production from 
23.26 	perennial crops, small grains, row crops, and 
23.27 	forestry products in conjunction with the 
23.28 	Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI);
23.29 	(ii) alternative bioenergy crops and cropping 
23.30 	systems; and
23.31 	(iii) biofuel coproducts used for livestock feed;
23.32 	(3) this appropriation includes funding for the 
23.33 	College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural 
24.1 	Resources Sciences to establish and provide 
24.2 	leadership for organic agronomic, 
24.3 	horticultural, livestock, and food systems 
24.4 	research, education, and outreach and for the 
24.5 	purchase of state-of-the-art laboratory, 
24.6 	planting, tilling, harvesting, and processing 
24.7 	equipment necessary for this project;
24.8 	(4) this appropriation includes funding for 
24.9 	research efforts that demonstrate a renewed 
24.10 	emphasis on the needs of the state's agriculture 
24.11 	community. The following areas should be 
24.12 	prioritized and carried out in consultation with 
24.13 	Minnesota farm organizations:
24.14 	(i) vegetable crop research with priority for 
24.15 	extending the Minnesota vegetable growing 
24.16 	season;
24.17 	(ii) fertilizer and soil fertility research and 
24.18 	development;
24.19 	(iii) soil, groundwater, and surface water 
24.20 	conservation practices and contaminant 
24.21 	reduction research;
24.22 	(iv) discovering and developing plant varieties 
24.23 	that use nutrients more efficiently;
24.24 	(v) breeding and development of turf seed and 
24.25 	other biomass resources in all three Minnesota 
24.26 	biomes;
24.27 	(vi) development of new disease-resistant and 
24.28 	pest-resistant varieties of turf and agronomic 
24.29 	crops;
24.30 	(vii) utilizing plant and livestock cells to treat 
24.31 	and cure human diseases;
24.32 	(viii) the development of dairy coproducts;
25.1 	(ix) a rapid agricultural response fund for 
25.2 	current or emerging animal, plant, and insect 
25.3 	problems affecting production or food safety;
25.4 	(x) crop pest and animal disease research;
25.5 	(xi) developing animal agriculture that is 
25.6 	capable of sustainably feeding the world;
25.7 	(xii) consumer food safety education and 
25.8 	outreach;
25.9 	(xiii) programs to meet the research and 
25.10 	outreach needs of organic livestock and crop 
25.11 	farmers; and
25.12 	(xiv) alternative bioenergy crops and cropping 
25.13 	systems; and growing, harvesting, and 
25.14 	transporting biomass plant material; and
25.15 	(5) by February 1, 2025, the Board of Regents 
25.16 	must submit a report to the legislative 
25.17 	committees and divisions with jurisdiction 
25.18 	over agriculture and higher education finance 
25.19 	on the status and outcomes of research and 
25.20 	initiatives funded in this paragraph.

25.21	(b) Health Sciences
		9,204,000
		9,204,000
	
25.22 	$346,000 each year is to support up to 12 
25.23 	resident physicians in the St. Cloud Hospital 
25.24 	family practice residency program. The 
25.25 	program must prepare doctors to practice 
25.26 	primary care medicine in rural areas of the 
25.27 	state. The legislature intends this program to 
25.28 	improve health care in rural communities, 
25.29 	provide affordable access to appropriate 
25.30 	medical care, and manage the treatment of 
25.31 	patients in a more cost-effective manner. The 
25.32 	remainder of this appropriation is for the rural 
25.33 	physicians associates program; the Veterinary 
26.1 	Diagnostic Laboratory; health sciences 
26.2 	research; dental care; the Biomedical 
26.3 	Engineering Center; and the collaborative 
26.4 	partnership between the University of 
26.5 	Minnesota and Mayo Clinic for regenerative 
26.6 	medicine, research, clinical translation, and 
26.7 	commercialization.

26.8	(c) College of Science and Engineering
		1,140,000
		1,140,000
	
26.9 	For the geological survey and the talented 
26.10 	youth mathematics program.

26.11	(d) System Special
		7,181,000
		7,181,000
	
26.12 	For general research, the Labor Education 
26.13 	Service, Natural Resources Research Institute, 
26.14 	Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, Bell 
26.15 	Museum of Natural History, and the 
26.16 	Humphrey exhibit.
26.17 	$2,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $2,000,000 
26.18 	in fiscal year 2025 are for the Natural 
26.19 	Resources Research Institute to invest in 
26.20 	applied research for economic development.

26.21
26.22	(e) University of Minnesota and Mayo 
Foundation Partnership
		7,991,000
		7,991,000
	
26.23 	This appropriation is for the following 
26.24 	activities:
26.25 	(1) $7,491,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
26.26 	$7,491,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for the 
26.27 	direct and indirect expenses of the 
26.28 	collaborative research partnership between the 
26.29 	University of Minnesota and the Mayo 
26.30 	Foundation for research in biotechnology and 
26.31 	medical genomics. An annual report on the 
26.32 	expenditure of these funds must be submitted 
26.33 	to the governor and the chairs of the legislative 
27.1 	committees responsible for higher education 
27.2 	finance by June 30 of each fiscal year.
27.3 	(2) $500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $500,000 
27.4 	in fiscal year 2025 are to award competitive 
27.5 	grants to conduct research into the prevention, 
27.6 	treatment, causes, and cures of Alzheimer's 
27.7 	disease and other dementias.

27.8	Subd. 5.Academic Health Center
 					
27.9 	The appropriation for Academic Health Center 
27.10 	funding under Minnesota Statutes, section 
27.11 	297F.10, is estimated to be $22,250,000 each 
27.12 	year.

27.13	Sec. 5. MAYO CLINIC

27.14	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	1,799,000
	$
	1,799,000
	
27.15 	The amounts that may be spent are specified 
27.16 	in the following subdivisions.

27.17	Subd. 2.Medical School
 		665,000
		665,000
	
27.18 	The state must pay a capitation each year for 
27.19 	each student who is a resident of Minnesota. 
27.20 	The appropriation may be transferred between 
27.21 	each year of the biennium to accommodate 
27.22 	enrollment fluctuations. It is intended that 
27.23 	during the biennium the Mayo Clinic use the 
27.24 	capitation money to increase the number of 
27.25 	doctors practicing in rural areas in need of 
27.26 	doctors.

27.27
27.28	Subd. 3.Family Practice and Graduate 
Residency Program
 		1,134,000
		1,134,000
	
27.29 	The state must pay stipend support for up to 
27.30 	42 residents each year.

28.1 	ARTICLE 2
28.2 	HIGHER EDUCATION PROVISIONS

28.3 	Section 1. [135A.121] AMERICAN INDIAN SCHOLARS.
28.4 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The American Indian Scholars program is established 
28.5 	to provide a first-dollar tuition and fee free pathway for eligible Minnesota American Indian 
28.6 	students to complete an undergraduate education.
28.7 		Subd. 2.Eligibility. To be eligible each year for the program a student must:
28.8 	(1) be enrolled in an undergraduate certificate, diploma, or degree program at the 
28.9 	University of Minnesota or a Minnesota state college or university;
28.10 	(2) be either (i) a Minnesota resident for resident tuition purposes who is an enrolled 
28.11 	member or citizen of a federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Canadian First Nation, 
28.12 	or (ii) an enrolled member or citizen of a Minnesota Tribal Nation, regardless of resident 
28.13 	tuition status; and
28.14 	(3) have not (i) obtained a baccalaureate degree, or (ii) been enrolled for 180 credits or 
28.15 	the equivalent, excluding courses taken that qualify as developmental education or below 
28.16 	college-level.
28.17 		Subd. 3.Administration. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must and the 
28.18 	University of Minnesota is requested to provide a full tuition and fee waiver to a student 
28.19 	eligible under subdivision 2. Funds appropriated with reference to this section may be used 
28.20 	to offset the institutional costs of the waivers; fund existing waivers, scholarships, or grant 
28.21 	programs for students eligible under subdivision 2; provide student supports for eligible 
28.22 	students; and administer these programs.
28.23 		Subd. 4.Reports. (a) Each institution receiving funds under this section must annually 
28.24 	report to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education the following:
28.25 	(1) how the systems or institutions have administered, distributed, and awarded the 
28.26 	funds;
28.27 	(2) enrollment and graduation data for all eligible students, including applicants and 
28.28 	recipients of funds; and
28.29 	(3) the aggregate awarded financial aid information for all recipients of funds under this 
28.30 	program.
29.1 	(b) Using the data submitted to the office by institutions pursuant to paragraph (a), as 
29.2 	well as other data available to the office, the office shall provide the following on its website 
29.3 	by placing a prominent link on its website home page:
29.4 	(1) information made available in a searchable database, including but not limited to 
29.5 	persistence and completion, debt of graduates, employment and wage information, and other 
29.6 	relevant data for each institution subject to paragraph (a); and
29.7 	(2) other information and links that are useful to students and parents who are in the 
29.8 	process of selecting a college or university.

29.9 	Sec. 2. [135A.161] INCLUSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
29.10 	CENTER.
29.11 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section and section 135A.162, the 
29.12 	following terms have the meanings given.
29.13 	(b) "Center" means the Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance Center.
29.14 	(c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education.
29.15 	(d) "Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual 
29.16 	disabilities" means a degree, certificate, or nondegree program that is offered by an institution 
29.17 	of higher education for students with intellectual disabilities and approved by the United 
29.18 	States Department of Education.
29.19 	(e) "Director" means the director of the Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance 
29.20 	Center.
29.21 	(f) "Inclusive higher education" means institution-approved access to higher education 
29.22 	for students with an intellectual disability that allows for the same rights, privileges, 
29.23 	experiences, benefits, and outcomes that result from a college experience the same as a 
29.24 	matriculating student, resulting in a meaningful credential conferred by the institution of 
29.25 	higher education. Inclusive higher education includes:
29.26 	(1) academic access and inclusive instruction;
29.27 	(2) person-centered planning;
29.28 	(3) career development;
29.29 	(4) campus engagement;
29.30 	(5) self-determination;
29.31 	(6) paid internships and employment;
30.1 	(7) on- or off-campus living, when available to other students;
30.2 	(8) campus community clubs, events, and activity participation;
30.3 	(9) peer mentors and support; and
30.4 	(10) a degree, certificate, or nondegree credential.
30.5 	(g) "National Coordinating Center" means the federally funded National Coordinating 
30.6 	Center, as identified in United States Code, title 20, section 1140q, that provides training 
30.7 	and technical assistance supporting evidence-based and student-centered research and 
30.8 	practice for inclusive higher education initiatives for students with intellectual disabilities.
30.9 	(h) "Office" means the Office of Higher Education.
30.10 	(i) "Student with an intellectual disability" means a student with an intellectual disability 
30.11 	as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 668.231.
30.12 		Subd. 2.Establishment. The commissioner must contract with the Institute on 
30.13 	Community Integration at the University of Minnesota to establish the Inclusive Higher 
30.14 	Education Technical Assistance Center. The purpose of the center is to increase access to 
30.15 	self-sustaining postsecondary education options across Minnesota for students with an 
30.16 	intellectual disability to earn meaningful credentials through degree, certificate, and 
30.17 	nondegree initiatives leading to competitive integrated employment, genuine community 
30.18 	membership, and more independent living. The center must:
30.19 	(1) coordinate and facilitate the statewide initiative to expand and enhance inclusive 
30.20 	higher education opportunities;
30.21 	(2) provide expertise in inclusive higher education for students with an intellectual 
30.22 	disability;
30.23 	(3) provide technical assistance:
30.24 	(i) to Minnesota institutions of higher education;
30.25 	(ii) to local education agencies; and
30.26 	(iii) as requested by the commissioner; and
30.27 	(4) provide information to students with intellectual disabilities and their families.
30.28 		Subd. 3.Director; advisory committee. (a) The center must name a director.
30.29 	(b) The center must make hiring decisions based on the Institute on Community 
30.30 	Integration's values of diversity and inclusion of staff with disabilities.
31.1 	(c) The director must appoint an advisory committee and seek the committee's review 
31.2 	and recommendations on broad programmatic direction. The advisory committee must be 
31.3 	composed of 50 percent students with an intellectual disability. The remaining positions 
31.4 	must be filled by family members, key stakeholders, and allies. The director must convene 
31.5 	the advisory committee at least quarterly. The advisory committee shall:
31.6 	(1) review and recommend inclusive higher education offerings;
31.7 	(2) review and recommend updates to state policy and practice;
31.8 	(3) document existing and potential funding sources; and
31.9 	(4) identify obstacles and barriers to students with an intellectual disability to access 
31.10 	inclusive higher education opportunities.
31.11 		Subd. 4.Responsibilities. (a) The center must advise and offer technical assistance to 
31.12 	all Minnesota institutions of higher education planning or offering an inclusive higher 
31.13 	education initiative to operate in accordance with federal requirements, the model Program 
31.14 	Accreditation Standards for Postsecondary Education Programs for Students with Intellectual 
31.15 	Disabilities, and guiding principles for inclusive higher education as developed by the 
31.16 	National Coordinating Center.
31.17 	(b) The center must monitor federal and state law related to inclusive higher education 
31.18 	and notify the governor, the legislature, and the Office of Higher Education of any change 
31.19 	in law which may impact inclusive higher education.
31.20 	(c) The center must provide technical assistance to institutions of higher education, 
31.21 	administrators, faculty, and staff by:
31.22 	(1) offering institution faculty and staff training and professional development to start, 
31.23 	operate, or enhance their inclusive higher education initiative;
31.24 	(2) providing faculty and staff with information, training, and consultation on the 
31.25 	comprehensive transition and postsecondary program requirements, model Program 
31.26 	Accreditation Standards for Postsecondary Education Programs for Students with Intellectual 
31.27 	Disabilities, and guiding principles;
31.28 	(3) organizing and offering learning community events, an annual inclusive higher 
31.29 	education conference and community of practice events to share best practices, provide 
31.30 	access to national experts, and address challenges and concerns;
32.1 	(4) assisting institutions of higher education with identifying existing or potential funding 
32.2 	sources for the institution of higher education, student financial aid, and funding for students 
32.3 	with an intellectual disability; and
32.4 	(5) advising faculty and staff with an inclusive higher education option of specific grant 
32.5 	applications and funding opportunities.
32.6 	(d) The center must disseminate information to students with an intellectual disability, 
32.7 	their parents, and local education agencies, including but not limited to information about:
32.8 	(1) postsecondary education options, services, and resources that are available at inclusive 
32.9 	institutions of higher education;
32.10 	(2) technical assistance and training provided by the center, the National Coordinating 
32.11 	Center, and key stakeholder organizations and agencies; and
32.12 	(3) mentoring, networking, and employment opportunities.

32.13 	Sec. 3. [135A.162] INCLUSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS.
32.14 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. (a) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education 
32.15 	in collaboration with the director of the Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance 
32.16 	Center must establish a competitive grant program for Minnesota institutions of higher 
32.17 	education to develop new or enhance existing inclusive higher education initiatives to enroll 
32.18 	or increase enrollment of students with an intellectual disability. The commissioner and 
32.19 	director must collaborate to establish the grant program framework, including:
32.20 	(1) minimum grant requirements;
32.21 	(2) application format;
32.22 	(3) criteria for evaluating applications;
32.23 	(4) grant selection process;
32.24 	(5) milestones and accountability; and
32.25 	(6) reporting.
32.26 	(b) The commissioner must send a description of the competitive grants, including 
32.27 	materials describing the grant purpose and goals, an application, compliance requirements, 
32.28 	and available funding to each institution of higher education that meets the requirements 
32.29 	of subdivision 2, clauses (1) and (2).
32.30 		Subd. 2.Eligible grantees. A public postsecondary two-year or four-year institution is 
32.31 	eligible to apply for a grant under this section if the institution:
33.1 	(1) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission; and
33.2 	(2) meets the eligibility requirements under section 136A.103.
33.3 		Subd. 3.Application. (a) Applications must be made to the commissioner on a form 
33.4 	developed and provided by the commissioner. The commissioner must, to the greatest extent 
33.5 	possible, make the application form as short and simple to complete as is reasonably possible. 
33.6 	The commissioner must establish a schedule for applications and grants. The application 
33.7 	must include without limitation a written plan to develop or enhance a sustainable inclusive 
33.8 	higher education initiative that:
33.9 	(1) offers the necessary supports to students with an intellectual disability to access the 
33.10 	same rights, privileges, experiences, benefits, and outcomes of a typically matriculating 
33.11 	student;
33.12 	(2) includes the development of a meaningful credential for students with an intellectual 
33.13 	disability to attain upon successful completion of the student's postsecondary education;
33.14 	(3) adopts admission standards that do not require a student with an intellectual disability 
33.15 	to complete a curriculum-based, achievement college entrance exam that is administered 
33.16 	nationwide;
33.17 	(4) ensures that students with an intellectual disability:
33.18 	(i) have access and choice in a wide array of academic courses to enroll in for credit or 
33.19 	audit that align with the student's interest areas and are attended by students without 
33.20 	disabilities;
33.21 	(ii) have the option to live on or off campus in housing that is available to typically 
33.22 	matriculating students;
33.23 	(iii) have access and support for genuine membership in campus life, including events, 
33.24 	social activities and organizations, institution facilities, and technology; and
33.25 	(iv) are able to access and utilize campus resources available to typical matriculating 
33.26 	students;
33.27 	(5) provides students with an intellectual disability with the supports and experiences 
33.28 	necessary to seek and sustain competitive integrated employment;
33.29 	(6) develops and promotes the self-determination skills of students with an intellectual 
33.30 	disability;
34.1 	(7) utilizes peer mentors who support enrolled students with an intellectual disability in 
34.2 	academic, campus engagement, residence life, employment, and campus clubs and 
34.3 	organizations;
34.4 	(8) provides professional development and resources for university professors and 
34.5 	instructors to utilize universal design for learning and differentiated instruction that supports 
34.6 	and benefits all students; and
34.7 	(9) presents a ten-year plan including student enrollment projections for sustainability 
34.8 	of an initiative that is financially accessible and equitable for all interested students with an 
34.9 	intellectual disability.
34.10 	(b) Eligible institutions of higher education may apply for funding in subsequent years 
34.11 	for up to a total of ten years of funding.
34.12 	(c) Receipt of grant funds does not preclude nor replace the provision of accommodation 
34.13 	for enrolled students with disabilities.
34.14 		Subd. 4.Grant account. An inclusive higher education grant account is created in the 
34.15 	special revenue fund for depositing money appropriated to or received by the commissioner 
34.16 	for the program. Money deposited in the account is appropriated to the commissioner, does 
34.17 	not cancel, and is continuously available for grants under this section. The commissioner 
34.18 	may use up to five percent of the amount deposited into the account for the administration 
34.19 	of this section.
34.20 		Subd. 5.Grant awards. (a) The commissioner must award grants to eligible institutions 
34.21 	of higher education on a competitive basis using criteria established in collaboration with 
34.22 	the center. The commissioner must consider and prioritize applicants that have submitted 
34.23 	for or received a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program designation, or 
34.24 	applicants with documented progress or intent toward submitting for federal approval. An 
34.25 	eligible institution of higher education may apply annually for and receive up to $200,000 
34.26 	per year for four years and $100,000 in subsequent years pending performance and the 
34.27 	funding limitation in subdivision 3, paragraph (b).
34.28 	(b) A grant recipient must:
34.29 	(1) adopt the model Program Accreditation Standards for Postsecondary Education 
34.30 	Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities and the inclusive higher education 
34.31 	guiding principles as developed by the National Coordinating Center;
34.32 	(2) provide a 25 percent match for the grant funds, either monetary or in-kind; and
35.1 	(3) collaborate with the Office of Higher Education, the center, and key stakeholders in 
35.2 	the development of the inclusive higher education initiative.
35.3 		Subd. 6.Grantee reporting. By August 1 and January 1 following a fiscal year in which 
35.4 	a grant was received and for five years thereafter, the grantee must submit a report to the 
35.5 	director that includes the status and outcomes of the initiative funded. The report must 
35.6 	include performance indicators and information deemed relevant by the director and 
35.7 	commissioner. The report must include the following performance indicators:
35.8 	(1) student recruitment and number of students enrolled;
35.9 	(2) student retainment effort and retention rate;
35.10 	(3) initiative goals and outcomes;
35.11 	(4) student attainment rate;
35.12 	(5) graduated student employment rates and salary levels at year one and year five after 
35.13 	completion; and
35.14 	(6) additional performance indicators or information established under subdivision 1, 
35.15 	paragraph (a), clauses (5) and (6).
35.16 		Subd. 7.Reporting. The director must evaluate the development and implementation 
35.17 	of the Minnesota inclusive higher education initiatives receiving a grant under this section. 
35.18 	The director must submit an annual report by October 1 on the progress to expand Minnesota 
35.19 	inclusive higher education options for students with intellectual disabilities to the 
35.20 	commissioner and chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with 
35.21 	jurisdiction over higher education policy and finance. The report must include statutory and 
35.22 	budget recommendations.

35.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2023, except that the reporting 
35.24 	requirements under subdivision 7 are effective July 1, 2024.

35.25 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.101, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
35.26 		Subd. 5a.Assigned family responsibility. "Assigned family responsibility" means the 
35.27 	amount of a family's contribution to a student's cost of attendance, as determined by a federal 
35.28 	need analysis. For dependent students, the assigned family responsibility is 79 percent of 
35.29 	the parental contribution. If the parental contribution is less than $0, the assigned family 
35.30 	responsibility is 100 percent of the parental contribution. For independent students with 
35.31 	dependents other than a spouse, the assigned family responsibility is 71 percent of the student 
35.32 	contribution. For independent students without dependents other than a spouse, the assigned 
36.1 	family responsibility is 35 percent of the student contribution. If the student contribution is 
36.2 	less than $0, the assigned family responsibility is 100 percent of the student contribution. 
36.3 	For a student registering for less than full time, the office shall prorate the assigned family 
36.4 	responsibility using the ratio of the number of credits the student is enrolled in to the number 
36.5 	of credits for full-time enrollment.

36.6 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.101, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
36.7 		Subd. 7.Student. "Student" means a person who is enrolled for at least three credits
36.8 	one credit per term, in a program or course of study that applies to a degree, diploma, or 
36.9 	certificate. Credit equivalencies assigned by an institution that are applicable to federal Pell 
36.10 	grant calculations shall be counted as part of a student's credit load.

36.11 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.121, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
36.12 		Subd. 6.Cost of attendance. (a) The recognized cost of attendance consists of: (1) an 
36.13 	allowance specified in law for living and miscellaneous expenses, and (2) an allowance for 
36.14 	tuition and fees equal to the lesser of the average tuition and fees charged by the institution, 
36.15 	or a tuition and fee maximum if one is established in law. If no living and miscellaneous 
36.16 	expense allowance is established in law, the allowance is equal to 109 115 percent of the 
36.17 	federal poverty guidelines for a one person household in Minnesota for nine months. If no 
36.18 	tuition and fee maximum is established in law, the allowance for tuition and fees is equal 
36.19 	to the lesser of: (1) the average tuition and fees charged by the institution, and (2) for 
36.20 	two-year programs, an amount equal to the highest tuition and fees charged at a public 
36.21 	two-year institution, or for four-year programs, an amount equal to the highest tuition and 
36.22 	fees charged at a public university.
36.23 	(b) For a student registering for less than full time, the office shall prorate the cost of 
36.24 	attendance to the actual number of credits for which the student is enrolled using the ratio 
36.25 	of the number of credits the student is enrolled in to the number of credits for full-time 
36.26 	enrollment.
36.27 	(c) The recognized cost of attendance for a student who is confined to a Minnesota 
36.28 	correctional institution shall consist of the tuition and fee component in paragraph (a), with 
36.29 	no allowance for living and miscellaneous expenses.
36.30 	(d) For the purpose of this subdivision, "fees" include only those fees that are mandatory 
36.31 	and charged to full-time resident students attending the institution. Fees do not include 
36.32 	charges for tools, equipment, computers, or other similar materials where the student retains 
37.1 	ownership. Fees include charges for these materials if the institution retains ownership. Fees 
37.2 	do not include optional or punitive fees.

37.3 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.121, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
37.4 		Subd. 9.Awards. An undergraduate student who meets the office's requirements is 
37.5 	eligible to apply for and receive a grant in any year of undergraduate study unless the student 
37.6 	has obtained a baccalaureate degree or previously has been enrolled full time or the equivalent 
37.7 	for eight semesters or the equivalent previously has received a state grant award for 180 
37.8 	credits or the equivalent, excluding (1) courses taken from a Minnesota school or 
37.9 	postsecondary institution which is not participating in the state grant program and from 
37.10 	which a student transferred no credit, and (2) courses taken that qualify as developmental 
37.11 	education or below college-level. A student enrolled in a two-year program at a four-year 
37.12 	institution is only eligible for the tuition and fee maximums established by law for two-year 
37.13 	institutions.

37.14 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.121, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
37.15 		Subd. 13.Deadline. The deadline for the office to accept applications for state grants 
37.16 	for a term is 30 days after the start of that term June 30 of the fiscal year for which the 
37.17 	student applies for a grant.

37.18 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.1241, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
37.19 		Subd. 5.Foster grant amount; payment; opt-out. (a) Each student shall be awarded 
37.20 	a foster grant based on the federal need analysis. Applicants are encouraged to apply for all 
37.21 	other sources of financial aid. The amount of the foster grant must be equal to the applicant's 
37.22 	recognized cost of attendance after deducting accounting for:
37.23 	(1) the student aid index as calculated by results of the federal need analysis;
37.24 	(2) the amount of a federal Pell Grant award for which the applicant is eligible;
37.25 	(3) the amount of the state grant;
37.26 	(4) the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant;
37.27 	(5) the sum of all Tribal scholarships;
37.28 	(6) the amount of any other state and federal gift aid;
37.29 	(7) the Education and Training Voucher Program;
37.30 	(8) extended foster care benefits under section 260C.451;
38.1 	(9) the amount of any private grants or scholarships, excluding grants and scholarships 
38.2 	provided by the private institution of higher education in which the eligible student is 
38.3 	enrolled; and
38.4 	(10) for public institutions, the sum of all institutional grants, scholarships, tuition 
38.5 	waivers, and tuition remission amounts.
38.6 	(b) The foster grant shall be paid directly to the eligible institution where the student is 
38.7 	enrolled.
38.8 	(c) An eligible private institution may opt out of participating in the foster grant program 
38.9 	established under this section. To opt out, the institution shall provide notice to the office 
38.10 	by September 1 for the next academic year.
38.11 	(d) An eligible private institution that does not opt out under paragraph (c) and accepts 
38.12 	the student's application to attend the institution must provide institutional grants, 
38.13 	scholarships, tuition waivers, or tuition remission in an amount equal to the difference 
38.14 	between:
38.15 	(1) the institution's cost of attendance as calculated under subdivision 4, paragraph (b), 
38.16 	clause (1); and
38.17 	(2) the sum of the foster grant under this subdivision and the sum of the amounts in 
38.18 	paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (9).
38.19 	(e) An undergraduate student who is eligible may apply for and receive a foster grant 
38.20 	in any year of undergraduate study unless the student has obtained a baccalaureate degree 
38.21 	or previously has been enrolled full time as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 7a, 
38.22 	or the equivalent for eight semesters or the equivalent, or received a foster grant for five 
38.23 	years, whichever occurs first. A foster grant must not be awarded to a student for more than 
38.24 	three years for a two-year degree, certificate, or diploma, or five years for a four-year 
38.25 	undergraduate degree.
38.26 	(f) Foster grants may be awarded to an eligible student for four quarters, three semesters, 
38.27 	or the equivalent during the course of a single fiscal year. In calculating the award amount, 
38.28 	the office must use the same calculation it would for any other term.

38.29 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.125, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
38.30 		Subd. 4.Amount and length of grants. (a) The maximum award to the applicant shall 
38.31 	be $6,500 for each eligible child per academic year, except that the campus financial aid 
39.1 	officer may apply to the office for approval to increase grants by up to ten percent to 
39.2 	compensate for higher market charges for infant care in a community.
39.3 	(b) Applicants with expected family contributions at or below the qualifying expected 
39.4 	family contribution as determined by the federal need analysis for the federal Pell Grant, 
39.5 	as determined by the commissioner, qualify for the maximum award. Applicants with 
39.6 	expected family contributions as determined by the federal need analysis exceeding that 
39.7 	threshold but less than 200 percent of the qualifying expected family contribution receive 
39.8 	an amount proportional to their expected family contribution as determined by the 
39.9 	commissioner.
39.10 	(c) The academic year award amount must be disbursed by academic term using the 
39.11 	following formula:
39.12 	(1) the academic year amount described in paragraph (a);
39.13 	(2) divided by the number of terms in the academic year; and
39.14 	(3) multiplied by the applicable enrollment factor:
39.15 	(i) 1.00 for undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more semester credits or the 
39.16 	equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in six or more semester credits or the equivalent;
39.17 	(ii) 0.75 for undergraduate students enrolled in nine, ten, or 11 semester credits or the 
39.18 	equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in five semester credits or the equivalent;
39.19 	(iii) 0.50 for undergraduate students enrolled in six, seven, or eight semester credits or 
39.20 	the equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in three or four semester credits or the 
39.21 	equivalent; and
39.22 	(iv) 0.25 for undergraduate students enrolled in at least one but less than six semester 
39.23 	credits or the equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in one or two semester credits or 
39.24 	the equivalent.
39.25 	(d) Payments shall be made each academic term to the student or to the child care 
39.26 	provider, as determined by the institution. Institutions may make payments more than once 
39.27 	within the academic term.

39.28 	Sec. 11. [136A.1251] STUDENT-PARENT SUPPORT INITIATIVE.
39.29 		Subdivision 1.Grants. (a) To address the needs and support the educational goals of 
39.30 	expectant and parenting college students across Minnesota, the commissioner shall award 
39.31 	grants and provide support services to institutions and partnering entities that assist expectant 
39.32 	parents and parents of young children. Grants shall be awarded to postsecondary institutions, 
40.1 	professional organizations, community-based organizations, or other applicants deemed 
40.2 	appropriate by the commissioner. Grants must be used to offer services to support the 
40.3 	academic goals, health, and well-being of student parents. Services and costs eligible for 
40.4 	grant funding include but are not limited to:
40.5 	(1) program development costs;
40.6 	(2) costs related to the start-up of on-campus child care;
40.7 	(3) evaluation and data collection; and
40.8 	(4) direct assistance to student parents including:
40.9 	(i) scholarships;
40.10 	(ii) basic needs support; and
40.11 	(iii) expenses related to child care.
40.12 	(b) Postsecondary institutions may act as the fiscal agents in partnership with a local 
40.13 	nongovernmental agency, child care center, or other organization that serves student parents.
40.14 		Subd. 2.Application process. The commissioner shall develop a grant application 
40.15 	process. The commissioner shall support projects in a manner that attempts to ensure eligible 
40.16 	students throughout the state have access to program services.
40.17 		Subd. 3.Health-related supports. The commissioner, in partnership with the Department 
40.18 	of Health, shall provide health-related supports. Activities for health-related supports include:
40.19 	(1) ensuring programs, services, and materials are medically accurate, age appropriate, 
40.20 	culturally and linguistically appropriate, and inclusive of all populations;
40.21 	(2) working with community health care providers and other service support organizations 
40.22 	that serve the target population for this program; and
40.23 	(3) providing technical assistance and training for institutional parent support center 
40.24 	staff on how to conduct screenings and referrals for the health concerns of student parents, 
40.25 	including alcohol misuse, substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, intimate partner 
40.26 	violence, tobacco and nicotine, and other health concerns.
40.27 		Subd. 4.Report and evaluation. By August 1 of each odd-numbered year, the 
40.28 	commissioner shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
40.29 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance regarding the grant 
40.30 	recipients and their activities. The report shall include information about the students served, 
40.31 	the organizations providing services, program activities, program goals, and outcomes.

41.1 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.126, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
41.2 		Subd. 4.Award amount. (a) Each student shall be awarded a scholarship based on the 
41.3 	federal need analysis. Applicants are encouraged to apply for all other sources of financial 
41.4 	aid. The amount of the award must not exceed the applicant's cost of attendance, as defined 
41.5 	in subdivision 3, after deducting accounting for:
41.6 	(1) the expected family contribution as calculated by results of the federal need analysis;
41.7 	(2) the amount of a federal Pell Grant award for which the applicant is eligible;
41.8 	(3) the amount of the state grant;
41.9 	(4) the federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant;
41.10 	(5) the sum of all institutional grants, scholarships, tuition waivers, and tuition remission 
41.11 	amounts;
41.12 	(6) the sum of all Tribal scholarships;
41.13 	(7) the amount of any other state and federal gift aid; and
41.14 	(8) the amount of any private grants or scholarships.
41.15 	(b) The award shall be paid directly to the postsecondary institution where the student 
41.16 	receives federal financial aid.
41.17 	(c) Awards are limited as follows:
41.18 	(1) the maximum award for an undergraduate is $4,000 per academic year;
41.19 	(2) the maximum award for a graduate student is $6,000 per academic year; and
41.20 	(3) the minimum award for all students is $100 per academic year.
41.21 	(d) Scholarships may not be given to any Indian student for more than three years of 
41.22 	study for a two-year degree, certificate, or diploma program or five years of study for a 
41.23 	four-year degree program at the undergraduate level and for more than five years at the 
41.24 	graduate level. Students may acquire only one degree per level and one terminal graduate 
41.25 	degree. Scholarships may not be given to any student for more than ten years including five 
41.26 	years of undergraduate study and five years of graduate study.
41.27 	(e) Scholarships may be given to an eligible student for four quarters, three semesters, 
41.28 	or the equivalent during the course of a single fiscal year. In calculating the award amount, 
41.29 	the office must use the same calculation it would for any other term.

42.1 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.1312, is amended to read:
42.2 	136A.1312 FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATOR, PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT.
42.3 	Nothing in this chapter or in the office's rules shall be interpreted as limiting the ability 
42.4 	of student financial aid administrators, on the basis of adequate documentation, to make 
42.5 	necessary adjustments to the cost of attendance and expected family contribution 
42.6 	computations adjust a student's dependency status or elements of a student's cost of attendance 
42.7 	for federal needs analysis calculation to allow for treatment of individual students with 
42.8 	special circumstances, with the exception of the cost of attendance defined under section 
42.9 	136A.121, subdivision 6. In addition, nothing in this chapter or in the office's rules shall be 
42.10 	interpreted as limiting the ability of the student financial aid administrator to use 
42.11 	supplementary information about the financial status of eligible applicants with special 
42.12 	circumstances in selecting recipients of state financial aid and determining the amount of 
42.13 	awards. Nothing in this section precludes a financial aid administrator from establishing an 
42.14 	appeals process for other extenuating circumstances.

42.15 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.1791, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
42.16 		Subd. 3a.Eligibility. To be eligible for a disbursement under this section, a teacher must 
42.17 	belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce, 
42.18 	teach. To the extent that funds are available, a teacher who teaches in a rural school district,
42.19 	or teach teaches in a license shortage area may also be eligible for a disbursement under 
42.20 	this section.

42.21 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.246, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
42.22 		Subd. 4.Application. Applications must be made to the commissioner on a form provided 
42.23 	by the commissioner. The commissioner must, to the extent possible, make the application 
42.24 	form as short and simple to complete as is reasonably possible. The commissioner shall 
42.25 	establish a schedule for applications and grants. The application must include, without 
42.26 	limitation:
42.27 	(1) the projected number of employee trainees;
42.28 	(2) the competency standard for which training will be provided;
42.29 	(3) the credential the employee will receive upon completion of training;
42.30 	(4) the name and address of the eligible training provider;
42.31 	(5) the period of the training; and
43.1 	(6) the cost of the training charged by the eligible training provider. The cost of training 
43.2 	includes tuition, fees, and required and recommended books and materials.
43.3 	An application may be made for training of employees of multiple employers either by 
43.4 	the employers or by an organization on their behalf.

43.5 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.246, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
43.6 		Subd. 5.Grant criteria. (a) The commissioner shall make at least an approximately 
43.7 	equal dollar amount of grants for training for employees whose work site is projected to be 
43.8 	outside the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, as for employees 
43.9 	whose work site is projected to be within the metropolitan area.
43.10 	(b) In determining the award of grants, the commissioner must consider, among other 
43.11 	factors:
43.12 	(1) the aggregate state and regional need for employees with the competency to be 
43.13 	trained;
43.14 	(2) the competency standards developed by the commissioner of labor and industry as 
43.15 	part of the Minnesota PIPELINE Project dual-training pipeline program;
43.16 	(3) the per employee cost of training;
43.17 	(4) the additional employment opportunities for employees because of the training;
43.18 	(5) the on-the-job training the employee receives;
43.19 	(6) the employer's demonstrated ability to recruit, train, and retain employees who are 
43.20 	recent high school graduates or who recently passed high school equivalency tests;
43.21 	(7) projected increases in compensation for employees receiving the training; and
43.22 	(8) the amount of employer training cost match, if required, on both a per employee and 
43.23 	aggregate basis.; and
43.24 	(9) the employer's demonstrated ability to recruit, train, and retain employees who are 
43.25 	employees of color, American Indian employees, and employees with disabilities.

43.26 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.246, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
43.27 		Subd. 6.Employer match. A large employer must pay for at least 25 percent of the 
43.28 	eligible training provider's charge for the eligible training to the provider cost of training. 
43.29 	For the purpose of this subdivision, a "large employer" means a business with more than 
43.30 	$25,000,000 in annual gross revenue in the previous calendar year.

44.1 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.246, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
44.2 		Subd. 8.Grant amounts. (a) The maximum grant for an application for the cost of 
44.3 	training is $150,000. The maximum grant for an application for trainee support is ten percent 
44.4 	of the grant amount for the cost of training. The maximum total grant per application is 
44.5 	$165,000. A grant may not exceed $6,000 per year for a maximum of four years $24,000
44.6 	per employee.
44.7 	(b) An employee who is attending an eligible training provider that is an institution under 
44.8 	section 136A.103 must apply for Pell and state grants as a condition of payment for training 
44.9 	that employee under this section.

44.10 	Sec. 19. [136A.84] DIRECT ADMISSIONS PROGRAM.
44.11 		Subdivision 1.Authorization. The commissioner shall administer the direct admissions 
44.12 	program in consultation with stakeholders, including Minnesota State Colleges and 
44.13 	Universities, the University of Minnesota, the Student Advisory Council under section 
44.14 	136A.031, the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Association of Secondary 
44.15 	School Principals, and the Minnesota School Board Association, to automatically offer 
44.16 	conditional admission into Minnesota public colleges and universities to Minnesota high 
44.17 	school seniors based on a student's high school grade point average, high school and college 
44.18 	transcript information, standardized tests, statewide assessments, and other measures as 
44.19 	determined by stakeholders.
44.20 		Subd. 2.Implementation. The program shall establish and, to the extent feasible, 
44.21 	implement a process for leveraging existing kindergarten through grade 12 and higher 
44.22 	education student information systems to automate the admissions process for students. The 
44.23 	program must specifically evaluate the impact this process has on outcomes for students 
44.24 	with lower levels of college knowledge, low-income students, and students from populations 
44.25 	underserved in higher education. The office shall attempt to achieve statewide representation 
44.26 	and may prioritize program participants to include high schools with a significant number 
44.27 	of students of color, low-income students, or both.
44.28 		Subd. 3.Report. Annually, by February 1, the Office of Higher Education shall report 
44.29 	to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education 
44.30 	finance and policy and higher education on activities occurring under this section. The report 
44.31 	must include but is not limited to information about implementation, recommendations, and 
44.32 	outcomes.

45.1 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136F.04, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
45.2 		Subdivision 1.Responsibility. Notwithstanding section 136F.03, The State University 
45.3 	Student Association and the State College Student Association shall each have the 
45.4 	responsibility for recruiting, screening, and recommending qualified candidates for their 
45.5 	student members of the board.

45.6 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136F.38, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
45.7 		Subd. 3.Program eligibility. (a) Scholarships shall be awarded only to a student eligible 
45.8 	for resident tuition, as defined in section 135A.043, who is enrolled in any of the following 
45.9 	programs of study or certification: (1) advanced manufacturing; (2) agriculture; (3) health 
45.10 	care services; (4) information technology; (5) early childhood; (6) transportation; or (7) 
45.11 	construction; (8) education; (9) public safety; or (10) a program of study under paragraph 
45.12 	(b).
45.13 	(b) Each institution may add one additional area of study or certification, based on a 
45.14 	workforce shortage for full-time employment requiring postsecondary education that is 
45.15 	unique to the institution's specific region, as reported in the most recent Department of 
45.16 	Employment and Economic Development job vacancy survey data for the economic 
45.17 	development region in which the institution is located. A workforce shortage area is one in 
45.18 	which the job vacancy rate for full-time employment in a specific occupation in a region is 
45.19 	higher than the state average vacancy rate for that same occupation. The institution may 
45.20 	change the area of study or certification based on new data once every two years.
45.21 	(c) The A student must be in an eligible field enrolled for at least nine credits in a two-year 
45.22 	college in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to be is eligible for first- 
45.23 	and second-year scholarships of $2,500.
45.24 	(d) The student is eligible for a one-year transfer scholarship if the student transfers from 
45.25 	a two-year college after two or more terms, and the student is enrolled for at least nine 
45.26 	credits in a four-year university in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
45.27 	(d) A student in an eligible field enrolled for at least nine credits in a four-year university 
45.28 	in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is eligible for first-year and 
45.29 	second-year scholarships of $3,500.
45.30 	(e) A student in an eligible field enrolled in a select short-term credit and noncredit 
45.31 	certificate program may receive scholarships of up to $1,500 or the full cost of instruction 
45.32 	and credit for prior learning fees, whichever is less.

46.1 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136F.38, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
46.2 		Subd. 4.Renewal; cap. A student who has received a scholarship may apply again but 
46.3 	total lifetime awards are not to exceed $7,500 $12,000 per student. Students may only be 
46.4 	awarded a second scholarship upon completion of two academic terms. Students may be 
46.5 	awarded a third scholarship if the student transfers to a corresponding program at a Minnesota 
46.6 	state university.

46.7 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136F.38, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
46.8 		Subd. 5.Administration. (a) The board shall establish an application process and other 
46.9 	guidelines for implementing this program.
46.10 	(b) The board shall give preference to students in financial need.
46.11 	(c) Up to 1.5 percent of funds appropriated for this program may be used for the 
46.12 	administration of this program, including outreach to students and promotion of programs 
46.13 	where graduates and certificate holders are currently most needed.

46.14 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 175.45, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
46.15 		Subdivision 1.Duties; goal. The commissioner of labor and industry shall convene 
46.16 	industry representatives, identify occupational competency standards, and provide technical 
46.17 	assistance to develop dual-training programs. The competency standards shall be identified 
46.18 	for employment in occupations in advanced manufacturing, health care services, information 
46.19 	technology, and agriculture, transportation, and child care. Competency standards are not 
46.20 	rules and are exempt from the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14, and the provisions in 
46.21 	section 14.386 concerning exempt rules do not apply.

46.22 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 354B.23, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
46.23 		Subd. 3.Employer contribution rate. The employer contribution rate on behalf of 
46.24 	participants in the individual retirement account plan is six 8.75 percent of salary.

46.25 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and 
46.26 	applies at the beginning of the next full pay period.

46.27 	Sec. 26. PARAMEDIC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
 46.28 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education 
46.29 	shall establish a program to provide up to 600 scholarships to students entering paramedic 
46.30 	programs by 2026.
47.1 		Subd. 2.Eligible students. (a) To be eligible for a scholarship under this section, a 
47.2 	student must:
47.3 	(1) apply in the form and manner specified by the commissioner;
47.4 	(2) be a resident student, as defined by Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.101, subdivision 
47.5 	8;
47.6 	(3) attend an eligible institution, as defined by Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.101, 
47.7 	subdivision 4;
47.8 	(4) be enrolled in a nationally accredited, degree- or diploma-awarding paramedic 
47.9 	program at that institution; and
47.10 	(5) submit to the commissioner a completed affidavit, prescribed by the commissioner, 
47.11 	affirming the student's intent to work as a paramedic in Minnesota after graduation.
47.12 	(b) An eligible student may receive a scholarship under this section no more than two 
47.13 	times.
47.14 		Subd. 3.Administration; award amount. (a) The commissioner must establish an 
47.15 	application process and other guidelines for implementing the paramedic scholarship 
47.16 	program. The first set of scholarships must be awarded for the 2024-2025 academic year.
47.17 	(b) The amount of a scholarship awarded under this section is $5,000. The scholarship 
47.18 	must be paid in a lump sum directly to the institution where the recipient is enrolled.
47.19 		Subd. 4.Reporting. By February 1, 2025, and again by February 1, 2026, the 
47.20 	commissioner must submit a report on the program to the chairs and ranking minority 
47.21 	members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and 
47.22 	policy. The report must include the following information and any other information the 
47.23 	commissioner considers relevant:
47.24 	(1) information about all postsecondary programs giving rise to eligibility for a 
47.25 	scholarship under this section, including the programs' locations, costs, enrollment capacities, 
47.26 	acceptance rates, and other relevant information;
47.27 	(2) available data on the current and forecasted demand for paramedics in Minnesota; 
47.28 	and
47.29 	(3) the total number of scholarships issued, disaggregated by:
47.30 	(i) year of award;
47.31 	(ii) postsecondary institution attended; and
48.1 	(iii) relevant and available demographic data about award recipients.
48.2 		Subd. 5.Expiration. This section expires June 30, 2026.

48.3 	Sec. 27. ALLIED HEALTH TECHNICIAN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
 48.4 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education 
48.5 	shall establish a program to provide up to 1,000 scholarships to students entering specified 
48.6 	health technician programs by 2026.
48.7 		Subd. 2.Eligible students. (a) To be eligible for a scholarship under this section, a 
48.8 	student must:
48.9 	(1) apply in the form and manner specified by the commissioner;
48.10 	(2) be a resident student, as defined by Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.101, subdivision 
48.11 	8;
48.12 	(3) attend an eligible institution, as defined by Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.101, 
48.13 	subdivision 4;
48.14 	(4) be enrolled in the student's first term in a nationally accredited degree, diploma, or 
48.15 	certificate program in one of the following health technician fields:
48.16 	(i) medical laboratory technologist;
48.17 	(ii) medical laboratory technician;
48.18 	(iii) respiratory therapist;
48.19 	(iv) radiology technologist; or
48.20 	(v) surgical technologist; and
48.21 	(5) submit to the commissioner a completed affidavit, prescribed by the commissioner, 
48.22 	affirming the student's intent to work in Minnesota in the specified health technician field 
48.23 	following graduation.
48.24 	(b) A student may receive a scholarship under this section only once.
48.25 		Subd. 3.Administration; award amount. (a) The commissioner must establish an 
48.26 	application process and other guidelines for implementing this program. The first set of 
48.27 	scholarships must be awarded for the 2024-2025 academic year.
48.28 	(b) The amount of a scholarship awarded under this section is $5,000. The scholarship 
48.29 	shall be paid in a lump sum directly to the institution where the recipient is enrolled.
49.1 		Subd. 4.Reporting. By February 1, 2025, and again by February 1, 2026, the 
49.2 	commissioner must submit a report on the program to the chairs and ranking minority 
49.3 	members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and 
49.4 	policy. The report must include the following information as well as any other information 
49.5 	the commissioner considers relevant:
49.6 	(1) information about all postsecondary health technician programs giving rise to 
49.7 	eligibility for a scholarship under this section, including the programs' locations, costs, 
49.8 	enrollment capacities, acceptance rates, and other relevant information;
49.9 	(2) available data on the current and forecasted demand for health technicians in 
49.10 	Minnesota; and
49.11 	(3) the total number of scholarships issued broken out by:
49.12 	(i) year of award;
49.13 	(ii) postsecondary institution attended;
49.14 	(iii) health technician field; and
49.15 	(iv) relevant and available demographic data about award recipients.
49.16 		Subd. 5.Expiration. This section expires June 30, 2026.

49.17 	Sec. 28. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AID REPORTS.
 49.18 	By January 15 of each year, the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, the 
49.19 	Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and the Office of Higher 
49.20 	Education, in consultation with the Department of Employment and Economic Development, 
49.21 	must each report to the higher education committees of the legislature the balances in 
49.22 	unemployment insurance aid accounts and information about the annual changes in 
49.23 	reimbursable costs for higher education workers receiving unemployment insurance benefits. 
49.24 	To the extent possible, the report must break out the costs by campus and major job classes. 
49.25 	The report must be filed according to Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195.

49.26 	Sec. 29. HIGHER EDUCATION BONDING POLICY.
 49.27 	It is the policy of the legislature that:
49.28 	(1) an appropriation from the bond proceeds fund to either the Board of Regents of the 
49.29 	University of Minnesota or the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and 
49.30 	Universities shall fund the full cost of projects benefiting institutions within those public 
49.31 	postsecondary systems; and
50.1 	(2) neither the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota nor the Board of Trustees 
50.2 	of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities shall be obligated to pay debt service on 
50.3 	the principal amount of state general obligation bonds sold to finance projects benefiting 
50.4 	institutions within those public postsecondary systems.

50.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2024, and applies to 
50.6 	appropriations of bond proceeds on or after that date.

50.7 	Sec. 30. REPEALER.
 50.8 	Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 136F.03; and 136F.38, subdivision 2, are repealed.

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: H2073-1 

136F.03 CANDIDATE ADVISORY COUNCIL.Subdivision 1.Purpose. 
A Candidate Advisory Council for the board shall assist the governor in determining criteria for, and identifying and recruiting qualified candidates for, nonstudent membership on the board. 

Subd. 2.Membership. 
The advisory council consists of 24 members. Twelve members are appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the senate. Twelve members are appointed by the speaker of the house. No more than one-third of the members appointed by each appointing authority may be current or former legislators. No more than two-thirds of the members appointed by each appointing authority may belong to the same political party; however, political activity or affiliation is not required for the appointment of a member. Geographical representation must be taken into consideration when making appointments. Section 15.0575 governs the advisory council, except that the members must be appointed to six-year terms. 

Subd. 3.Duties. 
(a) The advisory council shall: 

(1) develop a statement of the selection criteria to be applied and a description of the responsibilities and duties of a member of the board and shall distribute this to potential candidates; and 

(2) for each position on the board, identify and recruit qualified candidates for the board, based on the background and experience of the candidates, and their potential for discharging the responsibilities of a member of the board. 

(b) Selection criteria developed under this section must include the requirement that trustees represent diversity in geography, gender, race, occupation, and experience. 

(c) Selection criteria developed under this section must also include the identification of the membership needs of the board for individual skills relevant to the governance of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the needs for certain individual characteristics that include geographic location, gender, race, occupation, and experience. 

Subd. 4.Recommendations. 
Except for seats filled under sections 136F.04 and 136F.045, the advisory council shall recommend at least two and not more than four candidates for each seat. By April 15 of each even-numbered year in which the governor makes appointments to the board, the advisory council shall submit its recommendations to the governor and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher education policy and finance. The governor is not bound by these recommendations. 

Subd. 5.Support services. 
The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall provide administrative and support services for the advisory council. 

136F.38 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS.Subd. 2.Scholarship awards. 
The program shall award scholarships at the beginning of an academic term, in the amount of $2,500, to be distributed evenly between two terms.