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; establishing the Minnesota Commitment 
1.6 	to Higher Education tuition free program; creating a direct admissions program; 
1.7 	requiring reports; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 
1.8 	135A.137, subdivisions 2, 3; 136A.031, subdivision 3; 136A.101, subdivisions 
1.9 	5a, 7; 136A.121, subdivisions 6, 9, 13; 136A.1241, subdivision 5; 136A.125, 
1.10 	subdivision 4; 136A.126, subdivision 4; 136A.1312; 136A.1791, subdivision 3a; 
1.11 	136A.246, subdivisions 5, 6, 8; 136F.38, subdivision 3; 175.45, subdivision 1; 
1.12 	354B.23, subdivision 3; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.13 	chapters 135A; 136A.
1.14 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.15 	ARTICLE 1
1.16 	APPROPRIATIONS

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

1.25				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.26				Available for the Year
	
1.27				Ending June 30
	
1.28					2024
		2025

2.1
2.2	Sec. 2. MINNESOTA OFFICE OF HIGHER 
EDUCATION

2.3	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	338,507,000
	$
	505,219,000
	
2.4 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
2.5 	purpose are specified in the following 
2.6 	subdivisions.

2.7	Subd. 2.State Grants
 		236,717,000
		229,046,000
	
2.8 	(a) If the appropriation in this subdivision for 
2.9 	either year is insufficient, the appropriation 
2.10 	for the other year is available for it.
2.11 	(b) The base for this appropriation is 
2.12 	$225,066,000 for fiscal year 2026 and later.

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 
3.1 	residing in or near the city of Bemidji to assist 
3.2 	students with the scholarships under 
3.3 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.126, and 
3.4 	with other information about financial aid for 
3.5 	which the students may be eligible. This 
3.6 	appropriation includes funding to administer 
3.7 	the American Indian scholarship program.

3.8	Subd. 8.Tribal College 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. A Tribal college 
3.19 	must use grant funds received under this 
3.20 	section to supplement, not supplant, any 
3.21 	existing funding. By September 30, 2024, each 
3.22 	Tribal college receiving a grant under this 
3.23 	paragraph must submit a report to the 
3.24 	commissioner of the Office of Higher 
3.25 	Education and to the chairs and ranking 
3.26 	minority members of the legislative 
3.27 	committees with jurisdiction over higher 
3.28 	education finance and policy. The report must 
3.29 	include an accurate and detailed account of 
3.30 	how the funds were spent, and a copy of the 
3.31 	college's most recent audit report.
3.32 	(c) The commissioner may use no more than 
3.33 	three percent of this appropriation to 
3.34 	administer the program grants.

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

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

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

4.19
4.20	Subd. 12.Minnesota Education Equity 
Partnership
 		45,000
		45,000

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

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

5.3	Subd. 15.MnLINK Gateway and Minitex
 		5,905,000
		5,905,000

5.4
5.5	Subd. 16.Statewide Longitudinal Education 
Data System
 		2,550,000
		2,550,000

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

5.10	Subd. 18.College Possible
 		550,000
		550,000
	
5.11 	(a) This appropriation is for immediate transfer 
5.12 	to College Possible to support programs of 
5.13 	college admission and college graduation for 
5.14 	low-income students through an intensive 
5.15 	curriculum of coaching and support at both 
5.16 	the high school and postsecondary levels.
5.17 	(b) This appropriation must, to the extent 
5.18 	possible, be proportionately allocated between 
5.19 	students from greater Minnesota and students 
5.20 	in the seven-county metropolitan area.
5.21 	(c) This appropriation must be used by College 
5.22 	Possible only for programs supporting students 
5.23 	who are residents of Minnesota and attending 
5.24 	colleges or universities within Minnesota.
5.25 	(d) By February 1 of each year, College 
5.26 	Possible must report to the chairs and ranking 
5.27 	minority members of the legislative 
5.28 	committees and divisions with jurisdiction 
5.29 	over higher education and E-12 education on 
5.30 	activities funded by this appropriation. The 
5.31 	report must include but is not limited to 
5.32 	information about the work of College 
5.33 	Possible Minnesota throughout the state; the 
5.34 	number of College Possible coaches hired; the 
6.1 	number of existing partner high schools; the 
6.2 	geographic distribution of participants; the 
6.3 	number of high school and college students 
6.4 	specifically supported by the appropriations 
6.5 	funds; the percentages of students who applied 
6.6 	to college, were admitted into college, and 
6.7 	enrolled in college from the previous program 
6.8 	year; the number of college graduates 
6.9 	supported by the appropriation funding in the 
6.10 	previous program year; and a list of all 
6.11 	communities and partner institutions 
6.12 	benefiting from coaching and support through 
6.13 	College Possible programming.
6.14 	(e) The base is $0 for fiscal year 2026 and 
6.15 	thereafter.

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

6.25
6.26	Subd. 20.Summer Academic Enrichment 
Program
 		750,000
		750,000
	
6.27 	For summer academic enrichment grants under 
6.28 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.091.
6.29 	The commissioner may use no more than three 
6.30 	percent of this appropriation to administer the 
6.31 	grant program under this subdivision. The base 
6.32 	is $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and thereafter.

6.33
6.34	Subd. 21.Dual Training Competency Grants; 
Office of Higher Education
 		4,132,000
		4,132,000
	
7.1 	For transfer to the Dual Training Competency 
7.2 	Grants account in the special revenue fund 
7.3 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.246, 
7.4 	subdivision 10. The base for this transfer is 
7.5 	$2,132,000 for fiscal year 2026 and thereafter. 
7.6 	$132,000 each year is for transfer to the 
7.7 	Department of Labor and Industry.

7.8	Subd. 22.Campus Sexual Assault Reporting
 		25,000
		25,000
	
7.9 	For the sexual assault reporting required under 
7.10 	Minnesota Statutes, section 135A.15.

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

7.22
7.23	Subd. 24.Emergency Assistance for 
Postsecondary Students
 		7,550,000
		7,550,000
	
7.24 	(a) $7,550,000 the first year and $7,550,000 
7.25 	the second year are for emergency assistance 
7.26 	for postsecondary students. Of this 
7.27 	appropriation:
7.28 	(1) $5,000,000 the first year and $5,000,000 
7.29 	the second year are for the Minnesota State 
7.30 	Colleges and Universities for direct emergency 
7.31 	grants to students;
7.32 	(2) $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000 
7.33 	the second year are for the University of 
8.1 	Minnesota for direct emergency grants to 
8.2 	students;
8.3 	(3) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the 
8.4 	second year are for the Office of Higher 
8.5 	Education to allocate emergency grant funds 
8.6 	to Minnesota Tribal Colleges and eligible 
8.7 	nonprofit institutions as defined under 
8.8 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.103, located 
8.9 	in Minnesota with a demonstrable homeless 
8.10 	student population. The Office of Higher 
8.11 	Education shall develop a plan to distribute 
8.12 	funds to institutions and provide guidance as 
8.13 	to how grants are disbursed to students. The 
8.14 	commissioner shall determine the application 
8.15 	process and the grant amounts; and
8.16 	(4) $50,000 per year may be used by the 
8.17 	commissioner for the administrative costs 
8.18 	associated with this section.
8.19 	(b) The funds must be used for emergency 
8.20 	grants to students to meet immediate student 
8.21 	needs that could result in a student not 
8.22 	completing the term or their program 
8.23 	including, but not limited to, emergency 
8.24 	housing, food, and transportation. Institutions 
8.25 	shall minimize any negative impact on student 
8.26 	financial aid resulting from the receipt of 
8.27 	emergency funds.
8.28 	(c) The commissioner must not distribute the 
8.29 	funds under this section until the Office of 
8.30 	Higher Education has worked with the 
8.31 	institutions and approved their plans for the 
8.32 	distribution of the grants to students and the 
8.33 	method of their reporting requirements.
9.1 	(d) At the end of each biennium, institutions 
9.2 	must return any unused funds to the Office of 
9.3 	Higher Education.

9.4
9.5	Subd. 25.Grants to Student Teachers in 
Shortage Areas
 		500,000
		500,000
	
9.6 	For grants to student teachers in shortage areas 
9.7 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1275.
9.8 	The commissioner may use no more than three 
9.9 	percent of the appropriation for administration 
9.10 	of the program.

9.11
9.12	Subd. 26.Grants to Underrepresented Student 
Teachers
 		1,125,000
		1,125,000
	
9.13 	For grants to underrepresented student teachers 
9.14 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1274.
9.15 	The commissioner may use no more than three 
9.16 	percent of the appropriation for administration 
9.17 	of the program.

9.18	Subd. 27.Teacher Shortage Loan Repayment
 		1,075,000
		1,075,000
	
9.19 	For transfer to the teacher shortage loan 
9.20 	repayment account in the special revenue fund 
9.21 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1791, 
9.22 	subdivision 8.
9.23 	The commissioner may use no more than three 
9.24 	percent of the amount transferred under this 
9.25 	subdivision to administer the program. The 
9.26 	base is $200,000 for fiscal year 2026 and 
9.27 	thereafter.

9.28
9.29	Subd. 28.Large Animal Veterinarian Loan 
Forgiveness Program
 		375,000
		375,000
	
9.30 	For transfer to the large animal veterinarian 
9.31 	loan forgiveness program account in the 
9.32 	special revenue fund under Minnesota 
9.33 	Statutes, section 136A.1795, subdivision 2.

10.1
10.2	Subd. 29.Agricultural Educators Loan 
Forgiveness
 		50,000
		50,000
	
10.3 	For transfer to the agricultural education loan 
10.4 	forgiveness account in the special revenue 
10.5 	fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 
10.6 	136A.1794, subdivision 2.

10.7
10.8	Subd. 30.Aviation Degree Loan Forgiveness 
Program
 		25,000
		25,000
	
10.9 	For transfer to the aviation degree loan 
10.10 	forgiveness program account in the special 
10.11 	revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, 
10.12 	section 136A.1789, subdivision 2.

10.13
10.14	Subd. 31.Grants for Students with Intellectual 
and Developmental Disabilities
 		200,000
		200,000
	
10.15 	For grants for students with intellectual and 
10.16 	developmental disabilities under Minnesota 
10.17 	Statutes, section 136A.1215.

10.18	Subd. 32.Loan Repayment Assistance Program
 		55,000
		55,000
	
10.19 	For a grant to the Loan Repayment Assistance 
10.20 	Program of Minnesota to provide education 
10.21 	debt relief to attorneys with full-time 
10.22 	employment providing legal advice or 
10.23 	representation to low-income clients or support 
10.24 	services for this work.

10.25
10.26	Subd. 33.Minnesota Independence College and 
Community
 		2,000,000
		2,000,000
	
10.27 	For a grant to Minnesota Independence 
10.28 	College and Community for need-based 
10.29 	scholarships and tuition reduction. Beginning 
10.30 	with students first enrolled in the fall of 2019, 
10.31 	eligibility is limited to resident students as 
10.32 	defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 
10.33 	136A.101, subdivision 8. This is a onetime 
10.34 	appropriation and is available until June 30, 
10.35 	2027.

11.1	Subd. 34.Student Loan Debt Counseling
 		200,000
		200,000
	
11.2 	For student loan debt counseling under 
11.3 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1788.
11.4 	The Office of Higher Education may use no 
11.5 	more than three percent of the appropriation 
11.6 	to administer the student loan debt counseling 
11.7 	program.

11.8	Subd. 35.Hunger-Free Campus Grants
 		1,500,000
		1,000,000
	
11.9 	(a) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 
11.10 	the second year are for the Hunger-Free 
11.11 	Campus program under Minnesota Statutes, 
11.12 	section 135A.137.
11.13 	(b) $500,000 the first year is for grants not to 
11.14 	exceed $25,000 to institutions for equipment 
11.15 	necessary to operate an on-campus food 
11.16 	pantry. The commissioner shall establish an 
11.17 	application and process for distributing the 
11.18 	grant funds. This appropriation is available 
11.19 	until June 30, 2026.

11.20
11.21	Subd. 36.Fostering Independence Higher 
Education Grants
 		4,747,000
		4,916,000
	
11.22 	(a) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the 
11.23 	second year are for a grant to the Foster 
11.24 	Advocates Nonprofit Organization for an 
11.25 	education support and wraparound service 
11.26 	program that provides assistance and support 
11.27 	to individuals who were in foster care at the 
11.28 	age of 13 or later, and for individuals who are 
11.29 	transitioning from foster care to adulthood, up 
11.30 	to age 27, to improve the likelihood of 
11.31 	completing a degree and securing a stable 
11.32 	career. The program shall provide one-on-one 
11.33 	mentoring, leadership development, and 
11.34 	additional resources to support each student's 
12.1 	education journey through high school 
12.2 	graduation and institutions of higher 
12.3 	education. This is a onetime appropriation.
12.4 	(b) $4,247,000 the first year and $4,416,000 
12.5 	the second year are for grants to eligible 
12.6 	students under Minnesota Statutes, section 
12.7 	136A.1241. The base under this paragraph is 
12.8 	$4,416,000 for fiscal year 2026 and thereafter. 
12.9 	The Office of Higher Education may use no 
12.10 	more than three percent of the appropriation 
12.11 	to administer grants.

12.12	Subd. 37.Concurrent Enrollment Grants
 		340,000
		340,000
	
12.13 	For concurrent enrollment grants under 
12.14 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.91.

12.15	Subd. 38.Student Parent Support Initiative
 		6,668,000
		6,182,000
	
12.16 	(a) $6,330,000 the first year and $5,844,000 
12.17 	the second year are for grants to support 
12.18 	student parents under Minnesota Statutes, 
12.19 	section 136A.1251. This is a onetime 
12.20 	appropriation. These appropriations are 
12.21 	available until June 30, 2026.
12.22 	(b) $338,000 the first year and $338,000 the 
12.23 	second year are for administrative and 
12.24 	promotion costs. The base is $338,000 for 
12.25 	fiscal year 2026 and 2027 for the appropriation 
12.26 	under this paragraph.

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

12.28	Subd. 40.Direct Admissions Program
 		500,000
		500,000
	
12.29 	For the direct admissions program under 
12.30 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.84.

12.31	Subd. 41.American Indian Scholars
 		8,500,000
		8,500,000
	
12.32 	To support implementation of Minnesota 
12.33 	Statutes, section 135A.121.
13.1 	$4,032,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $4,032,000 
13.2 	in fiscal year 2025 are for transfer to the Board 
13.3 	of Regents of the University of Minnesota.
13.4 	$4,468,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $4,468,000 
13.5 	in fiscal year 2025 are for transfer to the Board 
13.6 	of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges 
13.7 	and Universities.

13.8
13.9	Subd. 42.Higher Education Public Service 
Feasibility Study
 		75,000
		-0-
	
13.10 	For the commissioner of the Office of Higher 
13.11 	Education to conduct a feasibility study on 
13.12 	creating and implementing a Minnesota 
13.13 	service initiative. By October 31, 2023, the 
13.14 	commissioner shall report to the chairs and 
13.15 	ranking minority members of the legislative 
13.16 	committees with jurisdiction over higher 
13.17 	education on the feasibility of creating and 
13.18 	implementing a Minnesota service initiative 
13.19 	to increase student civic engagement. The 
13.20 	report must include but is not limited to 
13.21 	information about the program design, 
13.22 	implementation challenges and 
13.23 	recommendations, outcomes, and the 
13.24 	feasibility of scaling the program over time.

13.25	Subd. 43.Child Development Associate Pathway
 		475,000
		-0-
	
13.26 	For transfer to the Board of Trustees of the 
13.27 	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to 
13.28 	develop a transparent pathway for current 
13.29 	child development associate credential holders 
13.30 	to be awarded academic credit that aligns with 
13.31 	related academic certificate, diploma, and 
13.32 	degree programs. Funds must be used to 
13.33 	develop curriculum at eight colleges and 
13.34 	universities, develop training and advising 
13.35 	tools for those institutions, and form a 
14.1 	statewide advisory committee to advise the 
14.2 	project development.

14.3
14.4	Subd. 44.Minnesota Commitment to Higher 
Education
 		496,000
		177,105,000
	
14.5 	(a) $176,903,000 the second year is transferred 
14.6 	from the general fund to the account in the 
14.7 	special revenue fund under Minnesota 
14.8 	Statutes, section 136A.1465, subdivision 6. 
14.9 	The base for the transfer under this paragraph 
14.10 	is $49,306,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
14.11 	thereafter.
14.12 	(b) $496,000 the first year and $202,000 the 
14.13 	second year are appropriated from the general 
14.14 	fund to the commissioner of the Office of 
14.15 	Higher Education for administrative and 
14.16 	promotion expenses to implement and direct 
14.17 	the scholarship awards under Minnesota 
14.18 	Statutes, section 136A.1465.

14.19
14.20	Subd. 45.Inclusive Higher Education Technical 
Assistance Center
 		1,000,000
		1,000,000
	
14.21 	(a) $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the 
14.22 	second year are to enter into a contract 
14.23 	establishing the Inclusive Higher Education 
14.24 	Technical Assistance Center under Minnesota 
14.25 	Statutes, section 135A.161.
14.26 	(b) $750,000 the first year and $750,000 the 
14.27 	second year are transferred from the general 
14.28 	fund to the inclusive higher education grant 
14.29 	account under Minnesota Statutes, section 
14.30 	135A.162, subdivision 4. Up to five percent 
14.31 	of the transfer can be used for administrative 
14.32 	expenses.

15.1
15.2	Subd. 46.Postsecondary Student Basic Needs 
Working Group
 		44,000
		-0-
	
15.3 	$44,000 the first year is to administer the 
15.4 	postsecondary student basic needs working 
15.5 	group under article 2, section 27, and provide 
15.6 	stipends to participants of the working group 
15.7 	who are students. A student participant must 
15.8 	receive a stipend, as determined by the 
15.9 	commissioner, for each meeting the student 
15.10 	attends. This is a onetime appropriation.

15.11
15.12	Subd. 47.Minnesota Association of Black 
Lawyers
 		350,000
		350,000
	
15.13 	(a) $350,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $350,000 
15.14 	in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the 
15.15 	general fund to the commissioner of the Office 
15.16 	of Higher Education for a grant to the 
15.17 	Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers to 
15.18 	be used for a pilot program supporting black 
15.19 	undergraduate students pursuing admission to 
15.20 	law school in Minnesota. This is a onetime 
15.21 	appropriation.
15.22 	(b) The pilot program under paragraph (a) 
15.23 	must:
15.24 	(1) enroll an initial cohort of ten to 20 black 
15.25 	Minnesota resident students attending a 
15.26 	baccalaureate degree-granting postsecondary 
15.27 	institution in Minnesota full time;
15.28 	(2) support each of the program's students with 
15.29 	an academic scholarship in the amount of 
15.30 	$4,000 per academic year;
15.31 	(3) organize events and programming, 
15.32 	including but not limited to one-on-one 
15.33 	mentoring, to familiarize enrolled students 
15.34 	with law school and legal careers; and
16.1 	(4) provide the program's students free test 
16.2 	preparation materials, academic support, 
16.3 	registration for the Law School Admission 
16.4 	Test (LSAT) examination, and submission of 
16.5 	test results to law schools in Minnesota.
16.6 	(c) The Minnesota Association of Black 
16.7 	Lawyers may use grant funds under paragraph 
16.8 	(a) for costs related to:
16.9 	(1) student scholarships;
16.10 	(2) academic events and programming, 
16.11 	including food and transportation costs for 
16.12 	students;
16.13 	(3) LSAT preparation materials, courses, 
16.14 	registrations, and submission of test results to 
16.15 	law schools in Minnesota; and
16.16 	(4) hiring staff for the program.
16.17 	(d) By January 30, 2025, and again by January 
16.18 	30, 2026, the Minnesota Association of Black 
16.19 	Lawyers must submit a report to the 
16.20 	commissioner of the Office of Higher 
16.21 	Education and to the chairs and ranking 
16.22 	minority members of the legislative 
16.23 	committees with jurisdiction over higher 
16.24 	education finance and policy. The report must 
16.25 	include an accurate and detailed account of 
16.26 	the pilot program, its outcomes, and its 
16.27 	revenues and expenses, including the use of 
16.28 	all state funds appropriated in paragraph (a).

16.29
16.30	Subd. 48.Report on Minnesota State Colleges 
and Universities Course Placement Practices
 		250,000
		-0-
	
16.31 	$250,000 the first year is for the purposes of 
16.32 	creating a report on Minnesota State Colleges 
16.33 	and Universities placement practice under 
17.1 	article 2, section 28. This is a onetime 
17.2 	appropriation.

17.3	Subd. 49.Agency Administration
 		6,498,000
		6,724,000
	
17.4 	The base amount for this appropriation for 
17.5 	fiscal years 2026 and later is $6,096,000.

17.6	Subd. 50.Balances Forward
 					
17.7 	A balance in the first year under this section 
17.8 	does not cancel, but is available for the second 
17.9 	year.

17.10	Subd. 51.Transfers
 					
17.11 	The commissioner of the Office of Higher 
17.12 	Education may transfer unencumbered 
17.13 	balances from the appropriations in this 
17.14 	section to the state grant appropriation, the 
17.15 	interstate tuition reciprocity appropriation, the 
17.16 	child care grant appropriation, the Indian 
17.17 	scholarship appropriation, the state work-study 
17.18 	appropriation, the get ready appropriation, the 
17.19 	intervention for college attendance 
17.20 	appropriation, the student-parent information 
17.21 	appropriation, the summer academic 
17.22 	enrichment program appropriation, the public 
17.23 	safety officers' survivors appropriation, and 
17.24 	the fostering independence higher education 
17.25 	grant program. The commissioner may transfer 
17.26 	unencumbered balances from the hunger-free 
17.27 	campus appropriations to the emergency 
17.28 	assistance for postsecondary students grant. 
17.29 	To the extent there is a projected surplus in 
17.30 	the appropriation for either the student 
17.31 	teachers in shortage areas grant program or 
17.32 	the underrepresented student teacher grant 
17.33 	program, the commissioner may transfer 
17.34 	unencumbered balances between the two 
18.1 	programs as needed to meet demand. Transfers 
18.2 	from the child care, state work-study, or the 
18.3 	hunger-free campus appropriations may only 
18.4 	be made to the extent there is a projected 
18.5 	surplus in the appropriation. A transfer may 
18.6 	be made only with prior written notice to the 
18.7 	chairs and ranking minority members of the 
18.8 	senate and house of representatives 
18.9 	committees with jurisdiction over higher 
18.10 	education finance.

18.11
18.12
18.13	Sec. 3. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE 
MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND 
UNIVERSITIES

18.14	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	932,265,000
	$
	903,242,000
	
18.15 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
18.16 	purpose are specified in the following 
18.17 	subdivisions.

18.18
18.19	Subd. 2.Central Office and Shared Services 
Unit
 		35,401,000
		36,401,000
	
18.20 	For the Office of the Chancellor and the 
18.21 	Shared Services Division.

18.22	Subd. 3.Operations and Maintenance
 		877,749,000
		847,726,000
	
18.23 	(a) $38,000,000 the first year and $81,000,000 
18.24 	the second year are to stabilize system 
18.25 	operations, maintain academic programs, and 
18.26 	keep tuition affordable.
18.27 	(b) This appropriation includes $74,000,000 
18.28 	in fiscal year 2024 for onetime campus 
18.29 	support. The Board of Trustees must allocate 
18.30 	this amount to all colleges and universities 
18.31 	based upon each institution's estimated tuition 
18.32 	revenue loss due to declines in enrollment 
18.33 	from fiscal year 2019 to fiscal year 2023, 
18.34 	except that no institution shall receive an 
18.35 	allocation less than $300,000. This is a 
19.1 	onetime appropriation. The base for this 
19.2 	appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and later is 
19.3 	$0.
19.4 	(c) $5,700,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
19.5 	$5,700,000 in fiscal year 2025 are to provide 
19.6 	supplemental aid for operations and 
19.7 	maintenance to the president of each two-year 
19.8 	institution in the system with at least one 
19.9 	campus that is not located in a metropolitan 
19.10 	county, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, 
19.11 	section 473.121, subdivision 4. The board 
19.12 	shall transfer at least $158,000 for each 
19.13 	campus not located in a metropolitan county 
19.14 	in each year to the president of each institution 
19.15 	that includes such a campus.
19.16 	(d) The Board of Trustees is requested to help 
19.17 	Minnesota close the attainment gap by funding 
19.18 	activities which improve retention and 
19.19 	completion for students of color.
19.20 	(e) $4,500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
19.21 	$4,500,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for 
19.22 	workforce development scholarships under 
19.23 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.38. The base 
19.24 	amount for this appropriation for fiscal year 
19.25 	2026 and later is $4,500,000.
19.26 	(f) $300,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $300,000 
19.27 	in fiscal year 2025 are for transfer to the Cook 
19.28 	County Higher Education Board to provide 
19.29 	educational programming, workforce 
19.30 	development, and academic support services 
19.31 	to remote regions in northeastern Minnesota. 
19.32 	The Cook County Higher Education Board 
19.33 	shall continue to provide information to the 
19.34 	Board of Trustees on the number of students 
20.1 	served, credit hours delivered, and services 
20.2 	provided to students.
20.3 	(g) $40,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $40,000 
20.4 	in fiscal year 2025 to implement the sexual 
20.5 	assault policies required under Minnesota 
20.6 	Statutes, section 135A.15.
20.7 	(h) $9,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
20.8 	$10,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for 
20.9 	enterprise-wide technology, including 
20.10 	upgrading the Integrated Statewide Record 
20.11 	System and maintaining enterprise-wide 
20.12 	technology services. The base for this 
20.13 	appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and later is 
20.14 	$10,000,000.
20.15 	(i) $50,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $50,000 in 
20.16 	fiscal year 2025 to implement the Z-Degree 
20.17 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
20.18 	136F.305.
20.19 	(j) $13,000,000 the first year and $13,000,000 
20.20 	the second year are to expand student support 
20.21 	services. This appropriation provides funding 
20.22 	to campuses to address basic needs insecurity, 
20.23 	mental health, and other high-need student 
20.24 	support services by increasing the amount of 
20.25 	available resources to students. In addition, 
20.26 	this funding provides systemwide resources 
20.27 	and coordination, including electronic 
20.28 	connections for peer support and professional 
20.29 	clinical support for mental health. These 
20.30 	systemwide resources must be available online 
20.31 	and via telephone and text, 24 hours a day, 
20.32 	seven days a week. The base for the 
20.33 	appropriation under this clause is $5,000,000 
20.34 	for fiscal year 2026 and thereafter.
21.1 	(k) $172,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $349,000 
21.2 	in fiscal year 2025 are for costs associated 
21.3 	with the increased employer contribution rates 
21.4 	for the Higher Education Individual 
21.5 	Retirement Account Plan under Minnesota 
21.6 	Statutes, section 354B.23, subdivision 3. The 
21.7 	base for fiscal year 2026 is $530,000 and for 
21.8 	fiscal year 2027 and later is $715,000.
21.9 	(l) $482,000 the first year and $282,000 the 
21.10 	second year are to pay the cost of supplies and 
21.11 	equipment necessary to provide access to 
21.12 	menstrual products for purposes of Minnesota 
21.13 	Statutes, section 135A.1365.
21.14 	(m) The total operations and maintenance base 
21.15 	is $839,907,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
21.16 	$840,092,000 in fiscal year 2027.

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

21.18	Subd. 5.Workforce Development
 		15,000,000
		15,000,000
	
21.19 	(a) $10,000,000 the first year and $10,000,000 
21.20 	the second year are to upgrade college and 
21.21 	university equipment and learning 
21.22 	environments to provide students with 
21.23 	state-of-the-art learning opportunities for 
21.24 	career and technical education and to enhance 
21.25 	applied research laboratories for interactive, 
21.26 	hands-on, multidisciplinary approaches to 
21.27 	science, technology, engineering, and math 
21.28 	education. $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 
21.29 	must be matched with cash or in-kind 
21.30 	contributions from nonstate sources. This is a 
21.31 	onetime appropriation and is available until 
21.32 	June 30, 2026. Up to 1.5 percent of the 
21.33 	appropriation may be used for administration 
21.34 	of the program.
22.1 	(b) $5,000,000 the first year and $5,000,000 
22.2 	the second year are to develop and expand 
22.3 	industry sector programming to build capacity 
22.4 	and support new and redesigned curricular 
22.5 	options with an emphasis on offering students 
22.6 	work-based learning experiences. $5,000,000 
22.7 	in fiscal year 2025 must be matched with cash 
22.8 	or in-kind contributions from nonstate sources. 
22.9 	This is a onetime appropriation and is 
22.10 	available until June 30, 2026. Up to 1.5 
22.11 	percent of the appropriation may be used for 
22.12 	administration of the program.

22.13
22.14	Sec. 4. BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE 
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

22.15	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	738,787,000
	$
	738,523,000

22.16	Appropriations by Fund
	
22.17		2024
	2025
	
22.18	General
	736,630,000
	736,366,000
	
22.19	Health Care Access
	2,157,000
	2,157,000
	
22.20 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
22.21 	purpose are specified in the following 
22.22 	subdivisions.

22.23	Subd. 2.Operations and Maintenance
 		646,192,000
		655,928,000
	
22.24 	(a) $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
22.25 	$15,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are to: (1) 
22.26 	increase the medical school's research 
22.27 	capacity; (2) improve the medical school's 
22.28 	ranking in National Institutes of Health 
22.29 	funding; (3) ensure the medical school's 
22.30 	national prominence by attracting and 
22.31 	retaining world-class faculty, staff, and 
22.32 	students; (4) invest in physician training 
22.33 	programs in rural and underserved 
22.34 	communities; and (5) translate the medical 
22.35 	school's research discoveries into new 
23.1 	treatments and cures to improve the health of 
23.2 	Minnesotans.
23.3 	(b) $7,800,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
23.4 	$7,800,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for health 
23.5 	training restoration. This appropriation must 
23.6 	be used to support all of the following: (1) 
23.7 	faculty physicians who teach at eight residency 
23.8 	program sites, including medical resident and 
23.9 	student training programs in the Department 
23.10 	of Family Medicine; (2) the Mobile Dental 
23.11 	Clinic; and (3) expansion of geriatric 
23.12 	education and family programs.
23.13 	(c) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
23.14 	$4,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for the 
23.15 	Minnesota Discovery, Research, and 
23.16 	InnoVation Economy funding program for 
23.17 	cancer care research.
23.18 	(d) $500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $500,000 
23.19 	in fiscal year 2025 are for the University of 
23.20 	Minnesota, Morris branch, to cover the costs 
23.21 	of tuition waivers under Minnesota Statutes, 
23.22 	section 137.16.
23.23 	(e) $374,000 the first year and $110,000 the 
23.24 	second year are to pay the cost of supplies and 
23.25 	equipment necessary to provide access to 
23.26 	menstrual products for purposes of article 2, 
23.27 	section 2.
23.28 	(f) The total operations and maintenance base 
23.29 	for fiscal year 2026 and later is $665,928,000.

23.30	Subd. 3.Primary Care Education Initiatives
 		2,157,000
		2,157,000
	
23.31 	This appropriation is from the health care 
23.32 	access fund.

23.33	Subd. 4.Special Appropriations

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

26.17	(b) Health Sciences
		29,204,000
		9,204,000
	
26.18 	(1) $346,000 each year is to support up to 12 
26.19 	resident physicians in the St. Cloud Hospital 
26.20 	family practice residency program. The 
26.21 	program must prepare doctors to practice 
26.22 	primary care medicine in rural areas of the 
26.23 	state. The legislature intends this program to 
26.24 	improve health care in rural communities, 
26.25 	provide affordable access to appropriate 
26.26 	medical care, and manage the treatment of 
26.27 	patients in a more cost-effective manner. The 
26.28 	remainder of this appropriation is for the rural 
26.29 	physicians associates program; the Veterinary 
26.30 	Diagnostic Laboratory; health sciences 
26.31 	research; dental care; the Biomedical 
26.32 	Engineering Center; and the collaborative 
26.33 	partnership between the University of 
26.34 	Minnesota and Mayo Clinic for regenerative 
27.1 	medicine, research, clinical translation, and 
27.2 	commercialization.
27.3 	(2) $20,000,000 the first year is for programs 
27.4 	at the University of Minnesota Medical School 
27.5 	Campus on the CentraCare Health System 
27.6 	Campus in St. Cloud. This appropriation may 
27.7 	be used for tuition support, a residency 
27.8 	program, a rural health research program, a 
27.9 	program to target scholarships to students from 
27.10 	diverse backgrounds, and a scholarship 
27.11 	program targeted at students who will practice 
27.12 	in rural areas. This appropriation is available 
27.13 	June 30, 2027, and must be spent on the 
27.14 	CentraCare Health System Campus in the 
27.15 	greater St. Cloud area.

27.16	(c) College of Science and Engineering
		1,140,000
		1,140,000
	
27.17 	For the geological survey and the talented 
27.18 	youth mathematics program.

27.19	(d) System Special
		9,181,000
		9,181,000
	
27.20 	(1) For general research, the Labor Education 
27.21 	Service, Natural Resources Research Institute, 
27.22 	Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, Bell 
27.23 	Museum of Natural History, and the 
27.24 	Humphrey exhibit. The base is $8,181,000 for 
27.25 	fiscal year 2026 and thereafter.
27.26 	(2) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
27.27 	$4,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for the 
27.28 	Natural Resources Research Institute to invest 
27.29 	in applied research in natural resource 
27.30 	stewardship and economic development to 
27.31 	attract and retain top talent; provide matching 
27.32 	funds for federal grants; upgrade facilities, 
27.33 	equipment, and training; and expand 
27.34 	entrepreneurial support and outreach efforts. 
28.1 	The base for fiscal year 2026 and later is 
28.2 	$3,000,000.

28.3
28.4	(e) University of Minnesota and Mayo 
Foundation Partnership
		7,991,000
		7,991,000
	
28.5 	This appropriation is for the following 
28.6 	activities:
28.7 	(1) $7,491,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
28.8 	$7,491,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for the 
28.9 	direct and indirect expenses of the 
28.10 	collaborative research partnership between the 
28.11 	University of Minnesota and the Mayo 
28.12 	Foundation for research in biotechnology and 
28.13 	medical genomics. An annual report on the 
28.14 	expenditure of these funds must be submitted 
28.15 	to the governor and the chairs of the legislative 
28.16 	committees responsible for higher education 
28.17 	finance by June 30 of each fiscal year.
28.18 	(2) $500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $500,000 
28.19 	in fiscal year 2025 are to award competitive 
28.20 	grants to conduct research into the prevention, 
28.21 	treatment, causes, and cures of Alzheimer's 
28.22 	disease and other dementias.

28.23	Subd. 5.Academic Health Center
 					
28.24 	The appropriation for Academic Health Center 
28.25 	funding under Minnesota Statutes, section 
28.26 	297F.10, is estimated to be $22,250,000 each 
28.27 	year.

28.28	Sec. 5. MAYO CLINIC

28.29	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	1,799,000
	$
	1,799,000
	
28.30 	The amounts that may be spent are specified 
28.31 	in the following subdivisions.

28.32	Subd. 2.Medical School
 		665,000
		665,000
	
29.1 	The state must pay a capitation each year for 
29.2 	each student who is a resident of Minnesota. 
29.3 	The appropriation may be transferred between 
29.4 	each year of the biennium to accommodate 
29.5 	enrollment fluctuations. It is intended that 
29.6 	during the biennium the Mayo Clinic use the 
29.7 	capitation money to increase the number of 
29.8 	doctors practicing in rural areas in need of 
29.9 	doctors.

29.10
29.11	Subd. 3.Family Practice and Graduate 
Residency Program
 		1,134,000
		1,134,000
	
29.12 	The state must pay stipend support for up to 
29.13 	27 residents each year.

29.14 	ARTICLE 2
29.15 	HIGHER EDUCATION PROVISIONS

29.16 	Section 1. [135A.121] AMERICAN INDIAN SCHOLARS.
29.17 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The American Indian Scholars program is established 
29.18 	to provide a first-dollar tuition and fee free pathway for eligible Minnesota American Indian 
29.19 	students to complete an undergraduate education.
29.20 		Subd. 2.Eligibility. To be eligible each year for the program a student must:
29.21 	(1) be enrolled in an undergraduate certificate, diploma, or degree program at the 
29.22 	University of Minnesota or a Minnesota state college or university;
29.23 	(2) be either (i) a Minnesota resident for resident tuition purposes who is an enrolled 
29.24 	member or citizen of a federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Canadian First Nation, 
29.25 	or (ii) an enrolled member or citizen of a Minnesota Tribal Nation, regardless of resident 
29.26 	tuition status; and
29.27 	(3) have not (i) obtained a baccalaureate degree, or (ii) been enrolled for 180 credits or 
29.28 	the equivalent, excluding courses taken that qualify as developmental education or below 
29.29 	college-level.
29.30 		Subd. 3.Administration. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must and the 
29.31 	University of Minnesota is requested to provide a full tuition and fee waiver to a student 
29.32 	eligible under subdivision 2. Funds appropriated with reference to this section may be used 
29.33 	to offset the institutional costs of the waivers; fund existing waivers, scholarships, or grant 
30.1 	programs for students eligible under subdivision 2; provide student supports for eligible 
30.2 	students; and administer these programs.
30.3 		Subd. 4.Reports. (a) Each institution receiving funds under this section must annually 
30.4 	report to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education the following:
30.5 	(1) how the systems or institutions have administered, distributed, and awarded the 
30.6 	funds;
30.7 	(2) enrollment and graduation data for all eligible students, including applicants and 
30.8 	recipients of funds; and
30.9 	(3) the aggregate awarded financial aid information for all recipients of funds under this 
30.10 	program.
30.11 	(b) Using the data submitted to the office by institutions pursuant to paragraph (a), as 
30.12 	well as other data available to the office, the office shall provide the following on its website 
30.13 	by placing a prominent link on its website home page:
30.14 	(1) information made available in a searchable database, including but not limited to 
30.15 	persistence and completion, debt of graduates, employment and wage information, and other 
30.16 	relevant data for each institution subject to paragraph (a); and
30.17 	(2) other information and links that are useful to students and parents who are in the 
30.18 	process of selecting a college or university.

30.19 	Sec. 2. [135A.1365] ACCESS TO MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS.
30.20 	The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities shall, and the 
30.21 	Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota is requested to, provide students with 
30.22 	access to menstrual products at no charge. The products must be available in restrooms used 
30.23 	by students. For purposes of this section, "menstrual products" means pads, tampons, or 
30.24 	other similar products used in connection with the menstrual cycle.

30.25 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 135A.137, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
30.26 		Subd. 2.Designation approval. (a) The statewide student associations representing the 
30.27 	state community and technical colleges and the state universities student advisory council 
30.28 	under section 136A.031 shall create an application process and an award for institutions 
30.29 	applying for grant funds. The student advisory council shall review applications and provide
30.30 	make recommendations to the commissioner. The commissioner shall have final approval 
30.31 	for the designation at each state college and university, respectively and the award amount.
31.1 	(b) The University of Minnesota Student Association at each institution shall create an 
31.2 	application process and an award and provide final approval for the designation at each 
31.3 	University of Minnesota institution.
31.4 	(c) The Minnesota Association of Private College Students and the Student Advisory 
31.5 	Council member representing Tribal colleges pursuant to section 136A.031, subdivision 3, 
31.6 	shall create an application process and an award and provide final approval for the designation 
31.7 	at each nonprofit degree-granting institution.

31.8 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 135A.137, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
31.9 		Subd. 3.Competitive grant. (a) Institutions eligible for a grant under this subdivision 
31.10 	include public postsecondary institutions, nonprofit private postsecondary institutions, and 
31.11 	Tribal colleges.
31.12 	(b) The commissioner shall establish a competitive grant program to distribute grants 
31.13 	to eligible institutions to meet and maintain the requirements under subdivision 1, paragraph 
31.14 	(a). Initial grants shall be made to institutions that have not earned the designation and 
31.15 	demonstrate a need for funding to meet the hunger-free campus designation requirements. 
31.16 	Sustaining grants shall be made to institutions that have earned the designation and 
31.17 	demonstrate both a partnership with a local food bank or organization that provides regular, 
31.18 	on-campus food distributions and a need for funds to maintain the requirements under 
31.19 	subdivision 1, paragraph (a).
31.20 	(c) The commissioner shall give preference to applications for initial grants and to 
31.21 	applications from institutions with the highest number of federal Pell Grant eligible students 
31.22 	enrolled. The commissioner shall consider the head count at the institution when awarding 
31.23 	grants. The maximum grant award for an initial institution designation is $8,000 $25,000. 
31.24 	The maximum grant award for sustaining an institution designation is $5,000 $15,000.
31.25 	(d) The commissioner, in collaboration with student associations representing eligible 
31.26 	institutions, shall create an application process and establish selection criteria for awarding 
31.27 	the grants.
31.28 	(e) No more than 20 percent of the total grant awards each fiscal year shall be for grants 
31.29 	to nonprofit private postsecondary institutions.

32.1 	Sec. 5. [135A.161] INCLUSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
32.2 	CENTER.
32.3 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section and section 135A.162, the 
32.4 	following terms have the meanings given.
32.5 	(b) "Center" means the Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance Center.
32.6 	(c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education.
32.7 	(d) "Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual 
32.8 	disabilities" means a degree, certificate, or nondegree program that is offered by an institution 
32.9 	of higher education for students with intellectual disabilities and approved by the United 
32.10 	States Department of Education.
32.11 	(e) "Director" means the director of the Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance 
32.12 	Center.
32.13 	(f) "Inclusive higher education" means institution-approved access to higher education 
32.14 	for students with an intellectual disability that allows for the same rights, privileges, 
32.15 	experiences, benefits, and outcomes that result from a college experience the same as a 
32.16 	matriculating student, resulting in a meaningful credential conferred by the institution of 
32.17 	higher education. Inclusive higher education includes:
32.18 	(1) academic access and inclusive instruction;
32.19 	(2) person-centered planning;
32.20 	(3) career development;
32.21 	(4) campus engagement;
32.22 	(5) self-determination;
32.23 	(6) paid internships and employment;
32.24 	(7) on- or off-campus living, when available to other students;
32.25 	(8) campus community clubs, events, and activity participation;
32.26 	(9) peer mentors and support; and
32.27 	(10) a degree, certificate, or nondegree credential.
32.28 	(g) "National Coordinating Center" means the federally funded National Coordinating 
32.29 	Center, as identified in United States Code, title 20, section 1140q, that provides training 
33.1 	and technical assistance supporting evidence-based and student-centered research and 
33.2 	practice for inclusive higher education initiatives for students with intellectual disabilities.
33.3 	(h) "Office" means the Office of Higher Education.
33.4 	(i) "Student with an intellectual disability" means a student with an intellectual disability 
33.5 	as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 668.231.
33.6 		Subd. 2.Establishment. The commissioner must contract with the Institute on 
33.7 	Community Integration at the University of Minnesota to establish the Inclusive Higher 
33.8 	Education Technical Assistance Center. The purpose of the center is to increase access to 
33.9 	self-sustaining postsecondary education options across Minnesota for students with an 
33.10 	intellectual disability to earn meaningful credentials through degree, certificate, and 
33.11 	nondegree initiatives leading to competitive integrated employment, genuine community 
33.12 	membership, and more independent living. The center must:
33.13 	(1) coordinate and facilitate the statewide initiative to expand and enhance inclusive 
33.14 	higher education opportunities;
33.15 	(2) provide expertise in inclusive higher education for students with an intellectual 
33.16 	disability;
33.17 	(3) provide technical assistance:
33.18 	(i) to Minnesota institutions of higher education;
33.19 	(ii) to local education agencies; and
33.20 	(iii) as requested by the commissioner; and
33.21 	(4) provide information to students with intellectual disabilities and their families.
33.22 		Subd. 3.Director; advisory committee. (a) The center must name a director.
33.23 	(b) The center must make hiring decisions based on the Institute on Community 
33.24 	Integration's values of diversity and inclusion of staff with disabilities.
33.25 	(c) The director must appoint an advisory committee and seek the committee's review 
33.26 	and recommendations on broad programmatic direction. The advisory committee must be 
33.27 	composed of 50 percent students with an intellectual disability. The remaining positions 
33.28 	must be filled by family members, key stakeholders, and allies. The director must convene 
33.29 	the advisory committee at least quarterly. The advisory committee shall:
33.30 	(1) review and recommend inclusive higher education offerings;
33.31 	(2) review and recommend updates to state policy and practice;
34.1 	(3) document existing and potential funding sources; and
34.2 	(4) identify obstacles and barriers to students with an intellectual disability to access 
34.3 	inclusive higher education opportunities.
34.4 		Subd. 4.Responsibilities. (a) The center must advise and offer technical assistance to 
34.5 	all Minnesota institutions of higher education planning or offering an inclusive higher 
34.6 	education initiative to operate in accordance with federal requirements, the model Program 
34.7 	Accreditation Standards for Postsecondary Education Programs for Students with Intellectual 
34.8 	Disabilities, and guiding principles for inclusive higher education as developed by the 
34.9 	National Coordinating Center.
34.10 	(b) The center must monitor federal and state law related to inclusive higher education 
34.11 	and notify the governor, the legislature, and the Office of Higher Education of any change 
34.12 	in law which may impact inclusive higher education.
34.13 	(c) The center must provide technical assistance to institutions of higher education, 
34.14 	administrators, faculty, and staff by:
34.15 	(1) offering institution faculty and staff training and professional development to start, 
34.16 	operate, or enhance their inclusive higher education initiative;
34.17 	(2) providing faculty and staff with information, training, and consultation on the 
34.18 	comprehensive transition and postsecondary program requirements, model Program 
34.19 	Accreditation Standards for Postsecondary Education Programs for Students with Intellectual 
34.20 	Disabilities, and guiding principles;
34.21 	(3) organizing and offering learning community events, an annual inclusive higher 
34.22 	education conference and community of practice events to share best practices, provide 
34.23 	access to national experts, and address challenges and concerns;
34.24 	(4) assisting institutions of higher education with identifying existing or potential funding 
34.25 	sources for the institution of higher education, student financial aid, and funding for students 
34.26 	with an intellectual disability; and
34.27 	(5) advising faculty and staff with an inclusive higher education option of specific grant 
34.28 	applications and funding opportunities.
34.29 	(d) The center must disseminate information to students with an intellectual disability, 
34.30 	their parents, and local education agencies, including but not limited to information about:
34.31 	(1) postsecondary education options, services, and resources that are available at inclusive 
34.32 	institutions of higher education;
35.1 	(2) technical assistance and training provided by the center, the National Coordinating 
35.2 	Center, and key stakeholder organizations and agencies; and
35.3 	(3) mentoring, networking, and employment opportunities.

35.4 	Sec. 6. [135A.162] INCLUSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS.
35.5 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. (a) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education 
35.6 	in collaboration with the director of the Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance 
35.7 	Center must establish a competitive grant program for Minnesota institutions of higher 
35.8 	education to develop new or enhance existing inclusive higher education initiatives to enroll 
35.9 	or increase enrollment of students with an intellectual disability. The commissioner and 
35.10 	director must collaborate to establish the grant program framework, including:
35.11 	(1) minimum grant requirements;
35.12 	(2) application format;
35.13 	(3) criteria for evaluating applications;
35.14 	(4) grant selection process;
35.15 	(5) milestones and accountability; and
35.16 	(6) reporting.
35.17 	(b) The commissioner must send a description of the competitive grants, including 
35.18 	materials describing the grant purpose and goals, an application, compliance requirements, 
35.19 	and available funding to each institution of higher education that meets the requirements 
35.20 	of subdivision 2, clauses (1) and (2).
35.21 		Subd. 2.Eligible grantees. A public or nonprofit postsecondary two-year or four-year 
35.22 	institution is eligible to apply for a grant under this section if the institution:
35.23 	(1) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission; and
35.24 	(2) meets the eligibility requirements under section 136A.103.
35.25 		Subd. 3.Application. (a) Applications must be made to the commissioner on a form 
35.26 	developed and provided by the commissioner. The commissioner must, to the greatest extent 
35.27 	possible, make the application form as short and simple to complete as is reasonably possible. 
35.28 	The commissioner must establish a schedule for applications and grants. The application 
35.29 	must include without limitation a written plan to develop or enhance a sustainable inclusive 
35.30 	higher education initiative that:
36.1 	(1) offers the necessary supports to students with an intellectual disability to access the 
36.2 	same rights, privileges, experiences, benefits, and outcomes of a typically matriculating 
36.3 	student;
36.4 	(2) includes the development of a meaningful credential for students with an intellectual 
36.5 	disability to attain upon successful completion of the student's postsecondary education;
36.6 	(3) adopts admission standards that do not require a student with an intellectual disability 
36.7 	to complete a curriculum-based, achievement college entrance exam that is administered 
36.8 	nationwide;
36.9 	(4) ensures that students with an intellectual disability:
36.10 	(i) have access and choice in a wide array of academic courses to enroll in for credit or 
36.11 	audit that align with the student's interest areas and are attended by students without 
36.12 	disabilities;
36.13 	(ii) have the option to live on or off campus in housing that is available to typically 
36.14 	matriculating students;
36.15 	(iii) have access and support for genuine membership in campus life, including events, 
36.16 	social activities and organizations, institution facilities, and technology; and
36.17 	(iv) are able to access and utilize campus resources available to typical matriculating 
36.18 	students;
36.19 	(5) provides students with an intellectual disability with the supports and experiences 
36.20 	necessary to seek and sustain competitive integrated employment;
36.21 	(6) develops and promotes the self-determination skills of students with an intellectual 
36.22 	disability;
36.23 	(7) utilizes peer mentors who support enrolled students with an intellectual disability in 
36.24 	academic, campus engagement, residence life, employment, and campus clubs and 
36.25 	organizations;
36.26 	(8) provides professional development and resources for university professors and 
36.27 	instructors to utilize universal design for learning and differentiated instruction that supports 
36.28 	and benefits all students; and
36.29 	(9) presents a ten-year plan including student enrollment projections for sustainability 
36.30 	of an initiative that is financially accessible and equitable for all interested students with an 
36.31 	intellectual disability.
37.1 	(b) Eligible institutions of higher education may apply for funding in subsequent years 
37.2 	for up to a total of ten years of funding.
37.3 	(c) Receipt of grant funds does not preclude nor replace the provision of accommodation 
37.4 	for enrolled students with disabilities.
37.5 		Subd. 4.Grant account. An inclusive higher education grant account is created in the 
37.6 	special revenue fund for depositing money appropriated to or received by the commissioner 
37.7 	for the program. Money deposited in the account is appropriated to the commissioner, does 
37.8 	not cancel, and is continuously available for grants under this section. The commissioner 
37.9 	may use up to five percent of the amount deposited into the account for the administration 
37.10 	of this section.
37.11 		Subd. 5.Grant awards. (a) The commissioner must award grants to eligible institutions 
37.12 	of higher education on a competitive basis using criteria established in collaboration with 
37.13 	the center. The commissioner must consider and prioritize applicants that have submitted 
37.14 	for or received a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program designation, or 
37.15 	applicants with documented progress or intent toward submitting for federal approval. An 
37.16 	eligible institution of higher education may apply annually for and receive up to $200,000 
37.17 	per year for four years and $100,000 in subsequent years pending performance and the 
37.18 	funding limitation in subdivision 3, paragraph (b).
37.19 	(b) A grant recipient must:
37.20 	(1) adopt the model Program Accreditation Standards for Postsecondary Education 
37.21 	Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities and the inclusive higher education 
37.22 	guiding principles as developed by the National Coordinating Center;
37.23 	(2) provide a 25 percent match for the grant funds, either monetary or in-kind; and
37.24 	(3) collaborate with the Office of Higher Education, the center, and key stakeholders in 
37.25 	the development of the inclusive higher education initiative.
37.26 		Subd. 6.Grantee reporting. By August 1 and January 1 following a fiscal year in which 
37.27 	a grant was received and for five years thereafter, the grantee must submit a report to the 
37.28 	director that includes the status and outcomes of the initiative funded. The report must 
37.29 	include performance indicators and information deemed relevant by the director and 
37.30 	commissioner. The report must include the following performance indicators:
37.31 	(1) student recruitment and number of students enrolled;
37.32 	(2) student retainment effort and retention rate;
38.1 	(3) initiative goals and outcomes;
38.2 	(4) student attainment rate;
38.3 	(5) graduated student employment rates and salary levels at year one and year five after 
38.4 	completion; and
38.5 	(6) additional performance indicators or information established under subdivision 1, 
38.6 	paragraph (a), clauses (5) and (6).
38.7 		Subd. 7.Reporting. The director must evaluate the development and implementation 
38.8 	of the Minnesota inclusive higher education initiatives receiving a grant under this section. 
38.9 	The director must submit an annual report by October 1 on the progress to expand Minnesota 
38.10 	inclusive higher education options for students with intellectual disabilities to the 
38.11 	commissioner and chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with 
38.12 	jurisdiction over higher education policy and finance. The report must include statutory and 
38.13 	budget recommendations.

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

38.16 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.031, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
38.17 		Subd. 3.Student Advisory Council. (a) A Student Advisory Council (SAC) to the 
38.18 	office is established. The members of SAC shall include: the chair of the University of 
38.19 	Minnesota student senate; the state chair of the Minnesota State University Student 
38.20 	Association; the president of the Minnesota State College Student Association and an officer 
38.21 	of the Minnesota State College Student Association, one in a community college course of 
38.22 	study and one in a technical college course of study; a student who is enrolled in a private 
38.23 	nonprofit postsecondary institution, to be elected by students enrolled in Minnesota Private 
38.24 	College Council institutions; a student who is enrolled in a private career school, to be 
38.25 	elected by students enrolled in Minnesota private career schools; and a student who is 
38.26 	enrolled in a Minnesota tribal college to be elected by students enrolled in Minnesota tribal 
38.27 	colleges. If students from the private career schools or tribal colleges do not elect a 
38.28 	representative, the commissioner must appoint a student representative. If students from 
38.29 	the Minnesota Private College Council institutions do not elect a representative, the 
38.30 	Minnesota Private College Council must appoint the private nonprofit representative. A 
38.31 	member may be represented by a student designee who attends an institution from the same 
38.32 	system that the absent member represents. The SAC shall select one of its members to serve 
38.33 	as chair.
39.1 	(b) The office shall inform the SAC of all matters related to student issues under 
39.2 	consideration. The SAC shall report to the office quarterly and at other times that the SAC 
39.3 	considers desirable. The SAC shall determine its meeting times, but it shall also meet with 
39.4 	the office within 30 days after the commissioner's request for a meeting.
39.5 	(c) The SAC shall:
39.6 	(1) bring to the attention of the office any matter that the SAC believes needs the attention 
39.7 	of the office;
39.8 	(2) fulfill the requirements under section 135A.137, subdivision 2;
39.9 	(3) make recommendations to the office as it finds appropriate; and
39.10 	(3) (4) approve student appointments by the office for each advisory group as provided 
39.11 	in subdivision 4.

39.12 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.101, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
39.13 		Subd. 5a.Assigned family responsibility. "Assigned family responsibility" means the 
39.14 	amount of a family's contribution to a student's cost of attendance, as determined by a federal 
39.15 	need analysis. For dependent students, the assigned family responsibility is 79 percent of 
39.16 	the parental contribution. If the parental contribution is less than $0, the assigned family 
39.17 	responsibility is 100 percent of the parental contribution. For independent students with 
39.18 	dependents other than a spouse, the assigned family responsibility is 71 percent of the student 
39.19 	contribution. For independent students without dependents other than a spouse, the assigned 
39.20 	family responsibility is 35 percent of the student contribution. If the student contribution is 
39.21 	less than $0, the assigned family responsibility is 100 percent of the student contribution. 
39.22 	For a student registering for less than full time, the office shall prorate the assigned family 
39.23 	responsibility using the ratio of the number of credits the student is enrolled in to the number 
39.24 	of credits for full-time enrollment.

39.25 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.101, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
39.26 		Subd. 7.Student. "Student" means a person who is enrolled for at least three credits
39.27 	one credit per term, in a program or course of study that applies to a degree, diploma, or 
39.28 	certificate. Credit equivalencies assigned by an institution that are applicable to federal Pell 
39.29 	grant calculations shall be counted as part of a student's credit load.

40.1 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.121, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
40.2 		Subd. 6.Cost of attendance. (a) The recognized cost of attendance consists of: (1) an 
40.3 	allowance specified in law for living and miscellaneous expenses, and (2) an allowance for 
40.4 	tuition and fees equal to the lesser of the average tuition and fees charged by the institution, 
40.5 	or a tuition and fee maximum if one is established in law. If no living and miscellaneous 
40.6 	expense allowance is established in law, the allowance is equal to 109 115 percent of the 
40.7 	federal poverty guidelines for a one person household in Minnesota for nine months. If no 
40.8 	tuition and fee maximum is established in law, the allowance for tuition and fees is equal 
40.9 	to the lesser of: (1) the average tuition and fees charged by the institution, and (2) for 
40.10 	two-year programs, an amount equal to the highest tuition and fees charged at a public 
40.11 	two-year institution, or for four-year programs, an amount equal to the highest tuition and 
40.12 	fees charged at a public university.
40.13 	(b) For a student registering for less than full time, the office shall prorate the cost of 
40.14 	attendance to the actual number of credits for which the student is enrolled using the ratio 
40.15 	of the number of credits the student is enrolled in to the number of credits for full-time 
40.16 	enrollment.
40.17 	(c) The recognized cost of attendance for a student who is confined to a Minnesota 
40.18 	correctional institution shall consist of the tuition and fee component in paragraph (a), with 
40.19 	no allowance for living and miscellaneous expenses.
40.20 	(d) For the purpose of this subdivision, "fees" include only those fees that are mandatory 
40.21 	and charged to full-time resident students attending the institution. Fees do not include 
40.22 	charges for tools, equipment, computers, or other similar materials where the student retains 
40.23 	ownership. Fees include charges for these materials if the institution retains ownership. Fees 
40.24 	do not include optional or punitive fees.

40.25 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.121, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
40.26 		Subd. 9.Awards. An undergraduate student who meets the office's requirements is 
40.27 	eligible to apply for and receive a grant in any year of undergraduate study unless the student 
40.28 	has obtained a baccalaureate degree or previously has been enrolled full time or the equivalent 
40.29 	for eight semesters or the equivalent previously has received a state grant award for 180 
40.30 	credits or the equivalent, excluding (1) courses taken from a Minnesota school or 
40.31 	postsecondary institution which is not participating in the state grant program and from 
40.32 	which a student transferred no credit, and (2) courses taken that qualify as developmental 
40.33 	education or below college-level. A student enrolled in a two-year program at a four-year 
41.1 	institution is only eligible for the tuition and fee maximums established by law for two-year 
41.2 	institutions.

41.3 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.121, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
41.4 		Subd. 13.Deadline. The deadline for the office to accept applications for state grants 
41.5 	for a term is 30 days after the start of that term June 30 of the fiscal year for which the 
41.6 	student applies for a grant.

41.7 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.1241, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
41.8 		Subd. 5.Foster grant amount; payment; opt-out. (a) Each student shall be awarded 
41.9 	a foster grant based on the federal need analysis. Applicants are encouraged to apply for all 
41.10 	other sources of financial aid. The amount of the foster grant must be equal to the applicant's 
41.11 	recognized cost of attendance after deducting accounting for:
41.12 	(1) the student aid index as calculated by results of the federal need analysis;
41.13 	(2) the amount of a federal Pell Grant award for which the applicant is eligible;
41.14 	(3) the amount of the state grant;
41.15 	(4) the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant;
41.16 	(5) the sum of all Tribal scholarships;
41.17 	(6) the amount of any other state and federal gift aid;
41.18 	(7) the Education and Training Voucher Program;
41.19 	(8) extended foster care benefits under section 260C.451;
41.20 	(9) the amount of any private grants or scholarships, excluding grants and scholarships 
41.21 	provided by the private institution of higher education in which the eligible student is 
41.22 	enrolled; and
41.23 	(10) for public institutions, the sum of all institutional grants, scholarships, tuition 
41.24 	waivers, and tuition remission amounts.
41.25 	(b) The foster grant shall be paid directly to the eligible institution where the student is 
41.26 	enrolled.
41.27 	(c) An eligible private institution may opt out of participating in the foster grant program 
41.28 	established under this section. To opt out, the institution shall provide notice to the office 
41.29 	by September 1 for the next academic year.
42.1 	(d) An eligible private institution that does not opt out under paragraph (c) and accepts 
42.2 	the student's application to attend the institution must provide institutional grants, 
42.3 	scholarships, tuition waivers, or tuition remission in an amount equal to the difference 
42.4 	between:
42.5 	(1) the institution's cost of attendance as calculated under subdivision 4, paragraph (b), 
42.6 	clause (1); and
42.7 	(2) the sum of the foster grant under this subdivision and the sum of the amounts in 
42.8 	paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (9).
42.9 	(e) An undergraduate student who is eligible may apply for and receive a foster grant 
42.10 	in any year of undergraduate study unless the student has obtained a baccalaureate degree 
42.11 	or previously has been enrolled full time as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 7a, 
42.12 	or the equivalent for eight semesters or the equivalent, or received a foster grant for five 
42.13 	years, whichever occurs first. A foster grant must not be awarded to a student for more than 
42.14 	three years for a two-year degree, certificate, or diploma, or five years for a four-year 
42.15 	undergraduate degree.
42.16 	(f) Foster grants may be awarded to an eligible student for four quarters, three semesters, 
42.17 	or the equivalent during the course of a single fiscal year. In calculating the award amount, 
42.18 	the office must use the same calculation it would for any other term.

42.19 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.125, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
42.20 		Subd. 4.Amount and length of grants. (a) The maximum award to the applicant shall 
42.21 	be $6,500 for each eligible child per academic year, except that the campus financial aid 
42.22 	officer may apply to the office for approval to increase grants by up to ten percent to 
42.23 	compensate for higher market charges for infant care in a community.
42.24 	(b) Applicants with expected family contributions at or below the qualifying expected 
42.25 	family contribution as determined by the federal need analysis for the federal Pell Grant, 
42.26 	as determined by the commissioner, qualify for the maximum award. Applicants with 
42.27 	expected family contributions as determined by the federal need analysis exceeding that 
42.28 	threshold but less than 200 percent of the qualifying expected family contribution receive 
42.29 	an amount proportional to their expected family contribution as determined by the 
42.30 	commissioner.
42.31 	(c) The academic year award amount must be disbursed by academic term using the 
42.32 	following formula:
42.33 	(1) the academic year amount described in paragraph (a);
43.1 	(2) divided by the number of terms in the academic year; and
43.2 	(3) multiplied by the applicable enrollment factor:
43.3 	(i) 1.00 for undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more semester credits or the 
43.4 	equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in six or more semester credits or the equivalent;
43.5 	(ii) 0.75 for undergraduate students enrolled in nine, ten, or 11 semester credits or the 
43.6 	equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in five semester credits or the equivalent;
43.7 	(iii) 0.50 for undergraduate students enrolled in six, seven, or eight semester credits or 
43.8 	the equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in three or four semester credits or the 
43.9 	equivalent; and
43.10 	(iv) 0.25 for undergraduate students enrolled in at least one but less than six semester 
43.11 	credits or the equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in one or two semester credits or 
43.12 	the equivalent.
43.13 	(d) Payments shall be made each academic term to the student or to the child care 
43.14 	provider, as determined by the institution. Institutions may make payments more than once 
43.15 	within the academic term.

43.16 	Sec. 15. [136A.1251] STUDENT-PARENT SUPPORT INITIATIVE.
43.17 		Subdivision 1.Grants. (a) To address the needs and support the educational goals of 
43.18 	expectant and parenting college students across Minnesota, the commissioner shall award 
43.19 	grants and provide support services to institutions and partnering entities that assist expectant 
43.20 	parents and parents of young children. Grants shall be awarded to postsecondary institutions, 
43.21 	professional organizations, community-based organizations, or other applicants deemed 
43.22 	appropriate by the commissioner. Grants must be used to offer services to support the 
43.23 	academic goals, health, and well-being of student parents. Services and costs eligible for 
43.24 	grant funding include but are not limited to:
43.25 	(1) program development costs;
43.26 	(2) costs related to the start-up of on-campus child care;
43.27 	(3) evaluation and data collection; and
43.28 	(4) direct assistance to student parents including:
43.29 	(i) scholarships;
43.30 	(ii) basic needs support; and
43.31 	(iii) expenses related to child care.
44.1 	(b) Postsecondary institutions may act as the fiscal agents in partnership with a local 
44.2 	nongovernmental agency, child care center, or other organization that serves student parents.
44.3 		Subd. 2.Application process. The commissioner shall develop a grant application 
44.4 	process. The commissioner shall support projects in a manner that attempts to ensure eligible 
44.5 	students throughout the state have access to program services.
44.6 		Subd. 3.Health-related supports. The commissioner, in partnership with the Department 
44.7 	of Health, shall provide health-related supports. Activities for health-related supports include:
44.8 	(1) ensuring programs, services, and materials are medically accurate, age appropriate, 
44.9 	culturally and linguistically appropriate, and inclusive of all populations;
44.10 	(2) working with community health care providers and other service support organizations 
44.11 	that serve the target population for this program; and
44.12 	(3) providing technical assistance and training for institutional parent support center 
44.13 	staff on how to conduct screenings and referrals for the health concerns of student parents, 
44.14 	including alcohol misuse, substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, intimate partner 
44.15 	violence, tobacco and nicotine, and other health concerns.
44.16 		Subd. 4.Report and evaluation. By August 1 of each odd-numbered year, the 
44.17 	commissioner shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
44.18 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance regarding the grant 
44.19 	recipients and their activities. The report shall include information about the students served, 
44.20 	the organizations providing services, program activities, program goals, and outcomes.

44.21 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.126, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
44.22 		Subd. 4.Award amount. (a) Each student shall be awarded a scholarship based on the 
44.23 	federal need analysis. Applicants are encouraged to apply for all other sources of financial 
44.24 	aid. The amount of the award must not exceed the applicant's cost of attendance, as defined 
44.25 	in subdivision 3, after deducting accounting for:
44.26 	(1) the expected family contribution as calculated by results of the federal need analysis;
44.27 	(2) the amount of a federal Pell Grant award for which the applicant is eligible;
44.28 	(3) the amount of the state grant;
44.29 	(4) the federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant;
44.30 	(5) the sum of all institutional grants, scholarships, tuition waivers, and tuition remission 
44.31 	amounts;
45.1 	(6) the sum of all Tribal scholarships;
45.2 	(7) the amount of any other state and federal gift aid; and
45.3 	(8) the amount of any private grants or scholarships.
45.4 	(b) The award shall be paid directly to the postsecondary institution where the student 
45.5 	receives federal financial aid.
45.6 	(c) Awards are limited as follows:
45.7 	(1) the maximum award for an undergraduate is $4,000 per academic year;
45.8 	(2) the maximum award for a graduate student is $6,000 per academic year; and
45.9 	(3) the minimum award for all students is $100 per academic year.
45.10 	(d) Scholarships may not be given to any Indian student for more than three years of 
45.11 	study for a two-year degree, certificate, or diploma program or five years of study for a 
45.12 	four-year degree program at the undergraduate level and for more than five years at the 
45.13 	graduate level. Students may acquire only one degree per level and one terminal graduate 
45.14 	degree. Scholarships may not be given to any student for more than ten years including five 
45.15 	years of undergraduate study and five years of graduate study.
45.16 	(e) Scholarships may be given to an eligible student for four quarters, three semesters, 
45.17 	or the equivalent during the course of a single fiscal year. In calculating the award amount, 
45.18 	the office must use the same calculation it would for any other term.

45.19 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.1312, is amended to read:
45.20 	136A.1312 FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATOR, PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT.
45.21 	Nothing in this chapter or in the office's rules shall be interpreted as limiting the ability 
45.22 	of student financial aid administrators, on the basis of adequate documentation, to make 
45.23 	necessary adjustments to the cost of attendance and expected family contribution 
45.24 	computations adjust a student's dependency status or elements of a student's cost of attendance 
45.25 	for federal needs analysis calculation to allow for treatment of individual students with 
45.26 	special circumstances, with the exception of the cost of attendance defined under section 
45.27 	136A.121, subdivision 6. In addition, nothing in this chapter or in the office's rules shall be 
45.28 	interpreted as limiting the ability of the student financial aid administrator to use 
45.29 	supplementary information about the financial status of eligible applicants with special 
45.30 	circumstances in selecting recipients of state financial aid and determining the amount of 
45.31 	awards. Nothing in this section precludes a financial aid administrator from establishing an 
45.32 	appeals process for other extenuating circumstances.

46.1 	Sec. 18. [136A.1465] MINNESOTA COMMITMENT TO HIGHER EDUCATION 
46.2 	ACT.
46.3 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. The following terms have the meanings given:
46.4 	(1) "eligible student" means a resident student under section 136A.101, subdivision 8, 
46.5 	who is enrolled in any public postsecondary educational institution or Tribal college;
46.6 	(2) "gift aid" means all financial aid designated for the student's educational expenses, 
46.7 	including a grant, scholarship, tuition waiver, fellowship stipend, or other third-party 
46.8 	payment, that is not a loan or pursuant to a work-study program;
46.9 	(3) "office" means the Office of Higher Education;
46.10 	(4) "public postsecondary educational institution" means an institution operated by this 
46.11 	state, the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, or a Tribal college;
46.12 	(5) "scholarship" means funds to pay 100 percent of tuition and fees remaining after 
46.13 	deducting grants and other scholarships;
46.14 	(6) "Tribal college" means a college defined in section 136A.1796, subdivision 1, 
46.15 	paragraph (c); and
46.16 	(7) "tuition and fees" means the actual tuition and fees charged by an institution.
46.17 		Subd. 2.Conditions for eligibility. A scholarship may be awarded to an eligible student 
46.18 	who:
46.19 	(1) has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the state 
46.20 	aid application;
46.21 	(2) has an adjusted gross household income below $80,000;
46.22 	(3) has not earned a baccalaureate degree at the time the scholarship is awarded;
46.23 	(4) is enrolled in at least one credit per fall, spring, or summer semester;
46.24 	(5) is not participating in the University of Minnesota Promise Plus Free Tuition program; 
46.25 	and
46.26 	(6) is meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 
46.27 	10.
46.28 		Subd. 3.Scholarship. (a) Beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year, scholarships shall 
46.29 	be awarded to eligible students in an amount not to exceed 100 percent of tuition and fees 
46.30 	after grants and other scholarships are deducted.
47.1 	(b) For the 2024-2025, 2025-2026, and 2026-2027 academic years, if funds remain after 
47.2 	scholarships are awarded under paragraph (a), grants shall be awarded to Pell grant eligible 
47.3 	students in an amount equal to 50 percent of the student's Pell grant. The commissioner 
47.4 	may adjust the grant amount based on the availability of funds.
47.5 		Subd. 3a.Maintain current levels of institutional assistance. (a) Commencing with 
47.6 	the 2023-2024 academic year, a public postsecondary educational institution shall not reduce 
47.7 	the institutional gift aid offered or awarded to a student who is eligible to receive funds 
47.8 	under this program unless the student's gift aid exceeds the student's annual cost of 
47.9 	attendance.
47.10 	(b) The public postsecondary educational institution may reduce the institutional gift 
47.11 	aid offer of a student who is eligible to receive funds under this program by no more than 
47.12 	the amount of the student's gift aid that is in excess of the student's annual cost of attendance.
47.13 	(c) The public postsecondary educational institution shall not consider receipt or 
47.14 	anticipated receipt of funds under this program when considering a student for qualification 
47.15 	for institutional gift aid.
47.16 	(d) To ensure financial aid is maximized, a public postsecondary educational institution 
47.17 	is encouraged to implement efforts to avoid scholarship displacement through consultation 
47.18 	with the Office of Higher Education and students to avoid situations where institutional gift 
47.19 	aid can only be used for specific purposes.
47.20 		Subd. 4.Duration of scholarship authorized; scholarship paid to institution. (a) 
47.21 	Each scholarship is for a period of one semester. A scholarship may be renewed provided 
47.22 	that the eligible student continues to meet the conditions of eligibility.
47.23 	(b) Scholarships may be provided to an eligible student for up to 60 credits for the 
47.24 	completion of a certificate or an associate degree and up to 120 credits for the completion 
47.25 	of a bachelor's degree. The maximum credits for which a student is eligible is a total of 120 
47.26 	credits.
47.27 	(c) The commissioner shall determine a time frame by which the eligible student must 
47.28 	complete the credential.
47.29 	(d) The scholarship must be paid directly to the eligible institution where the student is 
47.30 	enrolled.
47.31 		Subd. 5.Termination of scholarship authorized. A scholarship is terminated upon 
47.32 	occurrence of:
48.1 	(1) failure to meet satisfactory academic progress as defined in section 136A.101, 
48.2 	subdivision 10; or
48.3 	(2) substantial noncompliance by the eligible student with the requirements of the 
48.4 	program.
48.5 		Subd. 6.Account established; appropriation. An account is created in the special 
48.6 	revenue fund for receiving money to provide scholarship awards. Money deposited in the 
48.7 	account is appropriated to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for scholarship 
48.8 	awards.
48.9 		Subd. 7.Office administration. The office is authorized to administer the program.  If 
48.10 	funds are insufficient, the office shall determine the scholarship amount or number of 
48.11 	scholarships awarded. If a student withdraws or is no longer enrolled during a semester in 
48.12 	which a scholarship was awarded, the office may determine how this will affect the 
48.13 	scholarship.
48.14 		Subd. 8.Report. The commissioner of higher education shall submit a preliminary 
48.15 	report by September 1, 2025, and an annual report beginning February 15, 2026, to the 
48.16 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
48.17 	higher education, on the details of the program, including the:
48.18 	(1) status of the scholarship fund; and
48.19 	(2) Minnesota Commitment to Higher Education Act participation data aggregated for 
48.20 	each eligible institution to show the:
48.21 	(i) number of eligible students who received scholarships in the prior academic year;
48.22 	(ii) average and total award amounts;
48.23 	(iii) summary demographic data on award recipients;
48.24 	(iv) total number of students enrolled in eligible institutions in the prior academic year;
48.25 	(v) retention rates of participating students; and
48.26 	(vi) number of eligible students who graduated with a degree and, for each eligible 
48.27 	student, the number of consecutive semesters and nonconsecutive semesters attended prior 
48.28 	to graduation.

48.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024.

49.1 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.1791, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
49.2 		Subd. 3a.Eligibility. To be eligible for a disbursement under this section, a teacher must 
49.3 	belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce,. 
49.4 	To the extent that funds are available, eligibility extends to teachers who teach in a rural 
49.5 	school district, or teach in a license shortage area.

49.6 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.246, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
49.7 		Subd. 5.Grant criteria. (a) The commissioner shall make at least an approximately 
49.8 	equal dollar amount of grants for training for employees whose work site is projected to be 
49.9 	outside the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, as for employees 
49.10 	whose work site is projected to be within the metropolitan area.
49.11 	(b) In determining the award of grants, the commissioner must consider, among other 
49.12 	factors:
49.13 	(1) the aggregate state and regional need for employees with the competency to be 
49.14 	trained;
49.15 	(2) the competency standards developed by the commissioner of labor and industry as 
49.16 	part of the Minnesota PIPELINE Project dual-training pipeline program;
49.17 	(3) the per employee cost of training;
49.18 	(4) the additional employment opportunities for employees because of the training;
49.19 	(5) the on-the-job training the employee receives;
49.20 	(6) the employer's demonstrated ability to recruit, train, and retain employees who are 
49.21 	recent high school graduates or who recently passed high school equivalency tests;
49.22 	(7) projected increases in compensation for employees receiving the training; and
49.23 	(8) the amount of employer training cost match, if required, on both a per employee and 
49.24 	aggregate basis.; and
49.25 	(9) the employer's demonstrated ability to recruit, train, and retain employees who are 
49.26 	employees of color, American Indian employees, and employees with disabilities.

49.27 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.246, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
49.28 		Subd. 6.Employer match. A large employer must pay for at least 25 percent of the 
49.29 	eligible training provider's charge for the eligible training to the provider cost of training. 
50.1 	For the purpose of this subdivision, a "large employer" means a business with more than 
50.2 	$25,000,000 in annual gross revenue in the previous calendar year.

50.3 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.246, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
50.4 		Subd. 8.Grant amounts. (a) The maximum grant for an application for the cost of 
50.5 	training is $150,000. The maximum grant for an application for trainee support is ten percent 
50.6 	of the grant amount for the cost of training. The maximum total grant per application is 
50.7 	$165,000. A grant may not exceed $6,000 per year for a maximum of four years $24,000
50.8 	per employee.
50.9 	(b) An employee who is attending an eligible training provider that is an institution under 
50.10 	section 136A.103 must apply for Pell and state grants as a condition of payment for training 
50.11 	that employee under this section.

50.12 	Sec. 23. [136A.84] DIRECT ADMISSIONS PROGRAM.
50.13 		Subdivision 1.Authorization. The commissioner shall administer the direct admissions 
50.14 	program in consultation with stakeholders, including Minnesota State Colleges and 
50.15 	Universities, the University of Minnesota, the Student Advisory Council under section 
50.16 	136A.031, the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Association of Secondary 
50.17 	School Principals, and the Minnesota School Board Association, to automatically offer 
50.18 	conditional admission into Minnesota public colleges and universities to Minnesota high 
50.19 	school seniors based on a student's high school grade point average, high school and college 
50.20 	transcript information, standardized tests, statewide assessments, and other measures as 
50.21 	determined by stakeholders.
50.22 		Subd. 2.Implementation. The program shall establish and, to the extent feasible, 
50.23 	implement a process for leveraging existing kindergarten through grade 12 and higher 
50.24 	education student information systems to automate the admissions process for students. The 
50.25 	program must specifically evaluate the impact this process has on outcomes for students 
50.26 	with lower levels of college knowledge, low-income students, and students from populations 
50.27 	underserved in higher education. The office shall attempt to achieve statewide representation 
50.28 	and may prioritize program participants to include high schools with a significant number 
50.29 	of students of color, low-income students, or both.
50.30 		Subd. 3.Information. The commissioner shall provide information about the Minnesota 
50.31 	state grant program and the Minnesota commitment to higher education act and encourage 
50.32 	students to determine their eligibility for financial aid based on FAFSA and state financial 
50.33 	aid application completion.
51.1 		Subd. 4.Report. Annually, by February 1, the Office of Higher Education shall report 
51.2 	to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education 
51.3 	finance and policy and higher education on activities occurring under this section. The report 
51.4 	must include but is not limited to information about implementation, recommendations, and 
51.5 	outcomes.

51.6 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136F.38, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
51.7 		Subd. 3.Program eligibility. (a) Scholarships shall be awarded only to a student eligible 
51.8 	for resident tuition, as defined in section 135A.043, who is enrolled in any of the following 
51.9 	programs of study or certification: (1) advanced manufacturing; (2) agriculture; (3) health 
51.10 	care services; (4) information technology; (5) early childhood; (6) transportation; or (7)
51.11 	construction; (8) education; (9) public safety; or (10) a program of study under paragraph 
51.12 	(b).
51.13 	(b) Each institution may add one additional area of study or certification, based on a 
51.14 	workforce shortage for full-time employment requiring postsecondary education that is 
51.15 	unique to the institution's specific region, as reported in the most recent Department of 
51.16 	Employment and Economic Development job vacancy survey data for the economic 
51.17 	development region in which the institution is located. A workforce shortage area is one in 
51.18 	which the job vacancy rate for full-time employment in a specific occupation in a region is 
51.19 	higher than the state average vacancy rate for that same occupation. The institution may 
51.20 	change the area of study or certification based on new data once every two years.
51.21 	(c) The student must be enrolled for at least nine credits in a two-year college in the 
51.22 	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to be eligible for first- and second-year 
51.23 	scholarships.
51.24 	(d) The student is eligible for a one-year transfer scholarship if the student transfers from 
51.25 	a two-year college after two or more terms, and the student is enrolled for at least nine 
51.26 	credits in a four-year university in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

51.27 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 175.45, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
51.28 		Subdivision 1.Duties; goal. The commissioner of labor and industry shall convene 
51.29 	industry representatives, identify occupational competency standards, and provide technical 
51.30 	assistance to develop dual-training programs. The competency standards shall be identified 
51.31 	for employment in occupations in advanced manufacturing, health care services, information 
51.32 	technology, and agriculture, transportation, and child care. Competency standards are not 
52.1 	rules and are exempt from the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14, and the provisions in 
52.2 	section 14.386 concerning exempt rules do not apply.

52.3 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 354B.23, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
52.4 		Subd. 3.Employer contribution rate. The employer contribution rate on behalf of 
52.5 	participants in the individual retirement account plan is six percent the following percentage
52.6 	of salary.:

52.7		from July 1, 1993, to June 30, 2023
	6
	
52.8		from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024
	6.55
	
52.9		from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025
	7.1
	
52.10		from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026
	7.65
	
52.11		from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027
	7.65
	
52.12		after June 30, 2027
	8.75

52.13 	Sec. 27. POSTSECONDARY STUDENT BASIC NEEDS WORKING GROUP; 
52.14 	REPORT.
 52.15 		Subdivision 1.Direction. By September 1, 2023, the commissioner of the Office of 
52.16 	Higher Education shall convene a working group on postsecondary student basic needs. 
52.17 	The commissioner shall invite representatives from Minnesota State Colleges and 
52.18 	Universities, the University of Minnesota, nonprofit private colleges, Tribal colleges and 
52.19 	universities, student organizations, faculty and staff bargaining units, state agencies, and 
52.20 	other interested parties as determined by the commissioner to participate in the working 
52.21 	group.
52.22 		Subd. 2.Duties. The working group must review, assess, and make specific 
52.23 	recommendations on strategies to meet the basic needs of higher education students. The 
52.24 	report must include a comprehensive plan on how to identify, assess, and support students 
52.25 	who are experiencing housing and food insecurity. The report may also include proposals 
52.26 	for substantive and technical amendments to Minnesota Statutes, chapters 135A to 137, and 
52.27 	any other laws that relate to higher education. The working group may also make specific 
52.28 	recommendations with regard to policy changes for the Office of Higher Education and 
52.29 	postsecondary institutions.
52.30 		Subd. 3.Report to legislature. The commissioner of higher education shall submit a 
52.31 	report detailing the working group's findings and recommendations to the chairs and ranking 
52.32 	minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over higher education 
52.33 	policy and finance by September 1, 2024.

53.1 	Sec. 28. REPORT ON MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
53.2 	COURSE PLACEMENT PRACTICES.
 53.3 		Subdivision 1.Review. (a) The Office of Higher Education shall document, review, and 
53.4 	analyze college admission and course placement policies, practices, and assessments used 
53.5 	by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. The review shall seek to determine 
53.6 	if policies, practices, and assessments used have:
53.7 	(1) adverse consequences for a student and their family, including burdensome economic 
53.8 	and related costs of delaying their degree plans;
53.9 	(2) hindered the participation of students;
53.10 	(3) hindered the placement, retention, or timely college graduation of students; and
53.11 	(4) excluded students from admission thereby hindering their full participation in higher 
53.12 	education.
53.13 	(b) The review must consider impacts for various student communities, including but 
53.14 	not limited to Indigenous students, English as a second language (ESL) students, and students 
53.15 	of color.
53.16 		Subd. 2.Determination. Utilizing the review conducted under subdivision 1, the 
53.17 	commissioner shall determine whether:
53.18 	(1) students, including Indigenous students, ESL students, and students of color, are:
53.19 	(i) denied admission;
53.20 	(ii) disproportionately assigned to enroll in developmental courses; or
53.21 	(iii) delayed or deterred in their educational progress; and
53.22 	(2) policies, practices, and instruments:
53.23 	(i) are disproportionately reliant on test scores;
53.24 	(ii) impose barriers for students in terms of enrollment, retention, and completion; and
53.25 	(iii) may be culturally biased.
53.26 		Subd. 3.Recommendation. The commissioner shall recommend changes based on the 
53.27 	information obtained in subdivisions 1 and 2 to existing measures, instruments, and placement 
53.28 	practices. By February 1, 2024, the commissioner shall report the recommendations to the 
53.29 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
53.30 	higher education. The commissioner shall seek external advice and expertise to address the 
53.31 	above reviews, determinations, findings, and recommendations.