1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to higher education; providing for funding and related policy changes to 
1.3 	certain licensure and grant provisions; prohibiting postsecondary institutions from 
1.4 	considering certain criminal records during the application process; providing that 
1.5 	postsecondary education participation satisfies employment requirements for 
1.6 	persons on postprison supervised release; providing funds related to child care; 
1.7 	establishing fees; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 
1.8 	136A.29, subdivision 9; 136A.69, subdivision 1; 136A.824, subdivisions 1, 2; 
1.9 	Laws 2022, chapter 42, section 2; Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, sections 2, 
1.10 	subdivisions 36, 49, as amended; 4, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law 
1.11 	in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 135A; 136A; 241; 244; repealing Minnesota Statutes 
1.12 	2022, sections 241.265; 609B.311.
1.13 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.14 	ARTICLE 1
1.15 	HIGHER EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

1.16 	Section 1. Laws 2022, chapter 42, section 2, is amended to read:
1.17 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; ALS RESEARCH.
 1.18 	(a) $20,000,000 $396,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to 
1.19 	the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education to award competitive grants to applicants 
1.20 	for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The commissioner may work with 
1.21 	the Minnesota Department of Health to administer the grant program, including identifying 
1.22 	clinical and translational research and innovations, developing outcomes and objectives 
1.23 	with the goal of bettering the lives of individuals with ALS and finding a cure for the disease, 
1.24 	and application review and grant recipient selection. Not more than $400,000 may be used 
1.25 	by the commissioner to administer the grant program. This is a onetime appropriation. 
2.1 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered balances under this 
2.2 	section do not cancel until June 30, 2026.
2.3 	(b) $19,604,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
2.4 	commissioner of the Office of Higher Education to award competitive grants to applicants 
2.5 	for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The commissioner may work with 
2.6 	the Minnesota Department of Health to administer the grant program, including identifying 
2.7 	clinical and translational research and innovations, developing outcomes and objectives 
2.8 	with the goal of bettering the lives of individuals with ALS and finding a cure for the disease, 
2.9 	and application review and grant recipient selection. Up to $15,000,000 may be used by the 
2.10 	commissioner for grants to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, Never Surrender, 
2.11 	or other similar organizations to award and administer competitive grants to applicants for 
2.12 	research into ALS under this section. This is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding 
2.13 	Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered balances under this section do not cancel 
2.14 	until June 30, 2029.
2.15 	(b) (c) Grants shall be awarded to support clinical and translational research related to 
2.16 	ALS. Research topics may include but are not limited to environmental factors, disease 
2.17 	mechanisms, disease models, biomarkers, drug development, clinical studies, precision 
2.18 	medicine, medical devices, assistive technology, and cognitive studies.
2.19 	(c) (d) Eligible applicants for the grants are research facilities, universities, and health 
2.20 	systems located in Minnesota. Applicants must submit proposals to the commissioner in 
2.21 	the time, form, and manner established by the commissioner. Applicants may coordinate 
2.22 	research endeavors and submit a joint application. When reviewing the proposals, the 
2.23 	commissioner shall make an effort to avoid approving a grant for an applicant whose research 
2.24 	is duplicative of an existing grantee's research.
2.25 	(d) (e) Beginning January 15, 2023, and annually thereafter until January 15, 2027 2030, 
2.26 	the commissioner shall submit a report to the legislature specifying the applicants receiving 
2.27 	grants under this section, the amount of each grant, the purposes for which the grant funds 
2.28 	were used, and the amount of the appropriation that is unexpended. The report must also 
2.29 	include relevant findings, results, and outcomes of the grant program, and any other 
2.30 	information which the commissioner deems significant or useful.
2.31 	(e) This is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, 
2.32 	unencumbered balances under this section do not cancel until June 30, 2026.

3.1 	Sec. 2. Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, section 2, subdivision 36, is amended to read:

3.2
3.3	Subd. 36.Fostering Independence Higher 
Education Grants
 		4,247,000
		4,416,000
9,456,000
	
3.4 	$4,247,000 the first year and $4,416,000
3.5 	$9,456,000 the second year are for grants to 
3.6 	eligible students under Minnesota Statutes, 
3.7 	section 136A.1241. The Office of Higher 
3.8 	Education may use no more than three percent 
3.9 	of the appropriation to administer grants. The 
3.10 	base for this appropriation is $4,416,000 for 
3.11 	fiscal year 2026 and thereafter.

3.12 	Sec. 3. Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, section 2, subdivision 49, as amended by Laws 
3.13 	2024, chapter 85, section 111, is amended to read:

3.153.14
	Subd. 49.North Star Promise
 		-0-
		117,226,000
112,186,000
	
3.16 	$117,226,000 $112,186,000 the second year 
3.17 	is transferred from the general fund to the 
3.18 	account in the special revenue fund under 
3.19 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1465, 
3.20 	subdivision 8. The base for the transfer is 
3.21 	$49,500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and thereafter.

3.22 	Sec. 4. Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, section 4, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

3.23	Subd. 2.Operations and Maintenance
 		686,558,000
		676,294,000
	
3.24 	(a) $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
3.25 	$15,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are to: (1) 
3.26 	increase the medical school's research 
3.27 	capacity; (2) improve the medical school's 
3.28 	ranking in National Institutes of Health 
3.29 	funding; (3) ensure the medical school's 
3.30 	national prominence by attracting and 
3.31 	retaining world-class faculty, staff, and 
3.32 	students; (4) invest in physician training 
3.33 	programs in rural and underserved 
4.1 	communities; and (5) translate the medical 
4.2 	school's research discoveries into new 
4.3 	treatments and cures to improve the health of 
4.4 	Minnesotans.
4.5 	(b) $7,800,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
4.6 	$7,800,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for health 
4.7 	training restoration. This appropriation must 
4.8 	be used to support all of the following: (1) 
4.9 	faculty physicians who teach at eight residency 
4.10 	program sites, including medical resident and 
4.11 	student training programs in the Department 
4.12 	of Family Medicine; (2) the Mobile Dental 
4.13 	Clinic; and (3) expansion of geriatric 
4.14 	education and family programs.
4.15 	(c) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
4.16 	$4,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for the 
4.17 	Minnesota Discovery, Research, and 
4.18 	InnoVation Economy funding program for 
4.19 	cancer care research.
4.20 	(d) $500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $500,000 
4.21 	in fiscal year 2025 are for the University of 
4.22 	Minnesota, Morris branch, to cover the costs 
4.23 	of tuition waivers under Minnesota Statutes, 
4.24 	section 137.16.
4.25 	(e) $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
4.26 	$5,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for 
4.27 	systemwide safety and security measures on 
4.28 	University of Minnesota campuses. The base 
4.29 	amount for this appropriation is $1,000,000 
4.30 	in fiscal year 2026 and later.
4.31 	(f) $366,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $366,000 
4.32 	in fiscal year 2025 are for unemployment 
4.33 	insurance aid under Minnesota Statutes, 
4.34 	section 268.193.
5.1 	(g) $10,000,000 the first year is for programs 
5.2 	at the University of Minnesota Medical School 
5.3 	Campus on the CentraCare Health System 
5.4 	Campus in St. Cloud. This appropriation may 
5.5 	be used for tuition support, a residency 
5.6 	program, a rural health research program, a 
5.7 	program to target scholarships to students from 
5.8 	diverse backgrounds, and a scholarship 
5.9 	program targeted at students who will practice 
5.10 	in rural areas including a scholarship 
5.11 	endowment fund targeted at students who will 
5.12 	practice in rural areas and targeted at students 
5.13 	from diverse backgrounds; costs associated 
5.14 	with opening and operating a new regional 
5.15 	campus; costs associated with the expansion 
5.16 	of a residency program; and costs associated 
5.17 	with starting and operating a rural health 
5.18 	research program. This appropriation is 
5.19 	available until June 30, 2027, and must be 
5.20 	spent on for activities on or associated with
5.21 	the CentraCare Health System Campus in the 
5.22 	greater St. Cloud area. This is a onetime 
5.23 	appropriation.
5.24 	(h) $374,000 the first year and $110,000 the 
5.25 	second year are to pay the cost of supplies and 
5.26 	equipment necessary to provide access to 
5.27 	menstrual products for purposes of article 2, 
5.28 	section 2.
5.29 	(i) The total operations and maintenance base 
5.30 	for fiscal year 2026 and later is $672,294,000.

5.31 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

5.32 	Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION; KIDS ON CAMPUS INITIATIVE.
 5.33 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of 
5.34 	Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to participate in the Kids on 
6.1 	Campus initiative with the National Head Start Association and the Association of 
6.2 	Community College Trustees. This appropriation may be used for a temporary statewide 
6.3 	project coordinator, stipends to campuses and Head Start centers where letters of intent to 
6.4 	officially form a partnership have been signed, engaging with local Head Start programs, 
6.5 	and other costs associated with creating campus Head Start partnerships. Stipends shall be 
6.6 	used to support the formation of parenting student advisory panels to gather perspective 
6.7 	and feedback on proposed partnerships. The duties of the temporary statewide project 
6.8 	coordinator include assessing the feasibility of partnerships between Minnesota State Colleges 
6.9 	and Universities campuses and Head Start programs across the state, consulting with the 
6.10 	Minnesota Head Start Association and existing Head Start partnership programs to develop 
6.11 	best practices, working with campus-based navigators for parenting students to provide 
6.12 	resources for financial aid and basic needs support to Head Start programs, and developing 
6.13 	strategies to grow the early childhood care and education workforce through partnerships 
6.14 	between Head Start programs and early childhood degree and certificate programs. This is 
6.15 	a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026.

6.16 	ARTICLE 2
6.17 	HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY

6.18 	Section 1. [135A.062] CONSIDERATION OF CRIMINAL RECORDS LIMITED.
6.19 		Subdivision 1.Applicability. This section applies to postsecondary institutions under 
6.20 	section 136A.155, except that the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota is 
6.21 	requested to comply with this section.
6.22 		Subd. 2.Definition. As used in this section, "a violent felony or sexual assault" includes 
6.23 	a felony-level violation or attempted violation of section 609.185; 609.19; 609.195; 609.20; 
6.24 	609.221; 609.2242, subdivision 4; 609.2247; 609.245, subdivision 1; 609.247, subdivision 
6.25 	2; 609.282; 609.322; 609.342; 609.343; 609.344; 609.345; 609.3451; 609.3458; 609.561, 
6.26 	subdivision 1 or 2; 609.582, subdivision 1; 609.66, subdivision 1e; or 609.749.
6.27 		Subd. 3.Consideration of criminal records limited. A postsecondary institution may 
6.28 	not inquire into, consider, or require disclosure of the criminal record or criminal history 
6.29 	of an applicant for admission. After a postsecondary institution has made an offer of 
6.30 	admission, the postsecondary institution may inquire into, consider, or require disclosure 
6.31 	of a conviction that occurred within the previous five years for a violent felony or sexual 
6.32 	assault. The postsecondary institution must provide the applicant with an opportunity to 
6.33 	submit an explanatory statement, letters of recommendation, evidence of rehabilitation, and 
6.34 	any other supporting documents. The institution must provide clear and detailed instructions 
7.1 	and guidance to applicants related to what criminal history requires disclosure. The institution 
7.2 	must not require the applicant to provide official records of criminal history. A postsecondary 
7.3 	institution that rescinds an offer of admission must:
7.4 	(1) provide an explanation of the basis for the decision to rescind the offer of admission; 
7.5 	and
7.6 	(2) provide the applicant with an opportunity to appeal the decision to rescind.
7.7 		Subd. 4.Other information. This section shall not prohibit or limit a postsecondary 
7.8 	institution from inquiring about student conduct records at the applicant's prior postsecondary 
7.9 	institution after making an offer of admission. This section shall not prohibit or limit a 
7.10 	postsecondary institution from inquiring about a student's ability to meet licensure 
7.11 	requirements in a professional program after making an offer of admission.
7.12 		Subd. 5.Limitation on admissibility. (a) A postsecondary institution that complies 
7.13 	with this section is immune from liability in a civil action arising out of the institution's 
7.14 	decision to admit a student with a criminal history or the institution's failure to conduct a 
7.15 	criminal background check.
7.16 	(b) Nothing in this section creates or establishes a legal duty upon a postsecondary 
7.17 	institution to inquire into or require disclosure of the criminal history or criminal convictions 
7.18 	of a student or an applicant for admission.

7.19 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.29, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
7.20 		Subd. 9.Revenue bonds; limit. The authority is authorized and empowered to issue 
7.21 	revenue bonds whose aggregate principal amount at any time shall not exceed $1,300,000,000
7.22 	$2,000,000,000 and to issue notes, bond anticipation notes, and revenue refunding bonds 
7.23 	of the authority under the provisions of sections 136A.25 to 136A.42, to provide funds for 
7.24 	acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, remodeling, renovating, improving, 
7.25 	furnishing, or equipping one or more projects or parts thereof.

7.26 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.69, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
7.27 		Subdivision 1.Registration fees. (a) The office shall collect reasonable registration fees 
7.28 	that are sufficient to recover, but do not exceed, its costs of administering the registration 
7.29 	program. The office shall charge the fees listed in paragraphs (b) and (c) to (d) for new 
7.30 	registrations.
7.31 	(b) A new school offering no more than one degree at each level during its first year 
7.32 	must pay registration fees for each applicable level in the following amounts:

8.1	associate degree
	$2,000
	
8.2	baccalaureate degree
	$2,500
	
8.3	master's degree
	$3,000
	
8.4	doctorate degree
	$3,500
	
8.5 	(c) A new school that will offer more than one degree per level during its first year must 
8.6 	pay registration fees in an amount equal to the fee for the first degree at each degree level 
8.7 	under paragraph (b), plus fees for each additional nondegree program or degree as follows:

8.8	nondegree program
	$250
	
8.9	additional associate degree
	$250
	
8.10	additional baccalaureate degree
	$500
	
8.11	additional master's degree
	$750
	
8.12	additional doctorate degree
	$1,000
	
8.13 	(d) In addition to the fees under paragraphs (b) and (c), a fee of $600 must be paid for 
8.14 	an initial application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or 
8.15 	application reminders for the same application or registration requirement; or (2) cumulatively 
8.16 	has had six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the 
8.17 	same license application and the school seeks to continue with the application process with 
8.18 	additional application submissions. If this fee is paid, the school may submit two final 
8.19 	application submissions for review prior to application denial under section 136A.65, 
8.20 	subdivision 8. This provision excludes from its scope any initial process or interpretation 
8.21 	questions or inquiries, initiated by the school, that do not necessitate substantial staff effort 
8.22 	to review amendments or corrections, or when the office requests initial verification or 
8.23 	validation of a completed application.
8.24 	(d) (e) The annual renewal registration fee is $1,500.
8.25 	(f) In addition to the fee under paragraph (e), a fee of $600 must be paid for a renewal 
8.26 	application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application 
8.27 	reminders for the same application or registration requirement; or (2) cumulatively has had 
8.28 	six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the same license 
8.29 	application and the school seeks to continue with the application process with additional 
8.30 	application submissions. If this fee is paid, the school may submit two final application 
8.31 	submissions for review prior to application denial under section 136A.65, subdivision 8. 
8.32 	This provision excludes from its scope any initial process or interpretation questions or 
8.33 	inquiries, initiated by the school, that do not necessitate substantial staff effort to review 
8.34 	amendments or corrections, or when the office requests initial verification or validation of 
8.35 	a completed application.

9.1 	Sec. 4. [136A.786] INCARCERATED STUDENT AID BORROWERS.
9.2 	The commissioner of corrections shall collect information upon intake about incarcerated 
9.3 	persons who have self-identified as federal student aid borrowers. The commissioner of 
9.4 	corrections shall relay this information to the commissioner of higher education. The 
9.5 	commissioner of corrections, in consultation with the commissioner of higher education, 
9.6 	shall develop a plan by December 1, 2024, to assist incarcerated persons in enrolling in a 
9.7 	federal income-driven repayment plan in which there are no monthly payments or accrual 
9.8 	of interest for borrowers with earnings below the federal poverty guidelines.

9.9 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.824, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
9.10 		Subdivision 1.Initial licensure fee. (a) The office processing fee for an initial licensure 
9.11 	application is:
9.12 	(1) $2,500 for a private career school that will offer no more than one program during 
9.13 	its first year of operation;
9.14 	(2) $750 for a private career school licensed exclusively due to the use of the term 
9.15 	"college," "university," "academy," or "institute" in its name, or licensed exclusively in 
9.16 	order to participate in state grant or SELF loan financial aid programs; and
9.17 	(3) $2,500, plus $500 for each additional program offered by the private career school, 
9.18 	for a private career school during its first year of operation.
9.19 	(b) In addition to the fee under paragraph (a), a fee of $600 must be paid for an initial 
9.20 	application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application 
9.21 	reminders for the same application or licensure requirement; or (2) cumulatively has had 
9.22 	six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the same license 
9.23 	application and the private career school seeks to continue with the application process with 
9.24 	additional application submissions. If this fee is paid, the private career school may submit 
9.25 	two final application submissions for review prior to application denial under section 
9.26 	136A.829, subdivision 1, clause (2). This provision excludes from its scope any initial 
9.27 	process or interpretation questions or inquiries, initiated by the school, that do not necessitate 
9.28 	substantial staff effort to review amendments or corrections, or when the office requests 
9.29 	initial verification or validation of a completed application.

9.30 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.824, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
9.31 		Subd. 2.Renewal licensure fee; late fee. (a) The office processing fee for a renewal 
9.32 	licensure application is:
10.1 	(1) for a private career school that offers one program, the license renewal fee is $1,150;
10.2 	(2) for a private career school that offers more than one program, the license renewal 
10.3 	fee is $1,150, plus $200 for each additional program with a maximum renewal licensing 
10.4 	fee of $2,000;
10.5 	(3) for a private career school licensed exclusively due to the use of the term "college," 
10.6 	"university," "academy," or "institute" in its name, the license renewal fee is $750; and
10.7 	(4) for a private career school licensed by another state agency and also licensed with 
10.8 	the office exclusively in order to participate in state student aid programs, the license renewal 
10.9 	fee is $750.
10.10 	(b) If a license renewal application is not received by the office by the close of business 
10.11 	at least 60 days before the expiration of the current license, a late fee of $100 per business 
10.12 	day, not to exceed $3,000, shall be assessed.
10.13 	(c) In addition to the fee under paragraph (a), a fee of $600 must be paid for a renewal 
10.14 	application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application 
10.15 	reminders for the same application or licensure requirement; or (2) cumulatively has had 
10.16 	six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the same license 
10.17 	application and the private career school seeks to continue with the application process with 
10.18 	additional application submissions. If this fee is paid, the private career school may submit 
10.19 	two final application submissions for review prior to application denial under section 
10.20 	136A.829, subdivision 1, clause (2). This provision excludes from its scope any initial 
10.21 	process or interpretation questions or inquiries, initiated by the school, that do not necessitate 
10.22 	substantial staff effort to review amendments or corrections, or when the office requests 
10.23 	initial verification or validation of a completed application.

10.24 	Sec. 7. [241.267] PRISON EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS.
10.25 	The commissioner may not enter into an agreement or establish a prison education 
10.26 	partnership with a higher education institution that:
10.27 	(1) is organized as a private for-profit postsecondary institution as described in section 
10.28 	136A.62, subdivision 3, clause (2), item (ii); or
10.29 	(2) charges incarcerated students a higher per-credit rate than the rate for nonincarcerated 
10.30 	students.

11.1 	Sec. 8. [244.60] SUPERVISED RELEASE EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENT; 
11.2 	POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.
11.3 	If the commissioner of corrections imposes a requirement on a person placed on 
11.4 	supervised release that the person work or be employed, the commissioner shall provide 
11.5 	that enrollment and participation in postsecondary education satisfies this requirement.

11.6 	Sec. 9. REPEALER.
 11.7 	Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 241.265; and 609B.311, are repealed.

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: S5326-1 

241.265 HIGHER EDUCATION; CERTAIN PAYMENTS PROHIBITED.
The commissioner may not pay for a college education program beyond the associate of arts degree level for an inmate convicted of first- or second-degree murder. The commissioner of corrections may only pay for an associate of arts college education program for an inmate convicted of first or second degree murder if the inmate's participation in the program does not increase the cost of the program to the institution. 

609B.311 MURDER CONVICTION; HIGHER EDUCATION PAYMENTS FOR PRISON INMATES LIMITED.
Section 241.265 prohibits the commissioner of corrections from paying for certain higher education programs for an inmate convicted of first- or second-degree murder.