SF 1325

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 02/21/2025 10:13 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; making grants for dental assisting and hygiene
education programs; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [116J.4181] DENTAL ASSISTING AND DENTAL HYGIENE
EDUCATION PROGRAM EXPANDED-CAPACITY GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grant program established. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of employment and
economic development shall make grants available to dental assisting higher education
programs and dental hygiene higher education programs that are accredited by the
Commission on Dental Accreditation for eligible projects to expand student enrollment
capacity. The commissioner may consider programs that have applied for but have not yet
received accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Eligible projects
include but are not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) expanding or improving existing clinic physical infrastructure;
new text end

new text begin (2) creating and building new clinic physical infrastructure;
new text end

new text begin (3) improving classroom physical structure;
new text end

new text begin (4) creating student scholarships;
new text end

new text begin (5) improving faculty and staff salaries;
new text end

new text begin (6) obtaining needed equipment and educational resources; and
new text end

new text begin (7) addressing other needs identified by an applicant.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program oversight. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall award grants based on
information provided in the grant application. The commissioner may request additional
information from applicants when determining eligibility.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall give priority to programs that have the highest potential to
increase student capacity and increase the dental assisting or hygiene workforce pipeline.
new text end

new text begin (c) When making determinations, the commissioner shall not demonstrate any preference
between dental hygiene and dental assisting programs.
new text end

new text begin (d) A higher education institution with both dental hygiene and dental assisting programs
that is interested in applying for grants may submit one joint application.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; DENTAL ASSISTING AND DENTAL HYGIENE
EDUCATION PROGRAM EXPANDED-CAPACITY GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the workforce development fund
to the commissioner of employment and economic development for the dental assisting and
dental hygiene education program expanded-capacity grants in section 116J.4181. This is
a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027.
new text end