HF 1645

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/27/2019 01:04pm

A bill for an act
relating to veterans; establishing a scholarship program for veterans enrolled in
teacher preparation programs; appropriating money; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [136A.1265] MILITARY VETERAN TEACHER CANDIDATE
SCHOLARSHIPS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin A scholarship program for military veteran teacher
candidates is established to provide scholarships to qualified candidates.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin A person may apply for a scholarship if the person:
new text end

new text begin (1) has been admitted to a teacher preparation program approved by the Professional
Educator Licensing and Standards Board;
new text end

new text begin (2) is a military veteran as defined in section 197.447;
new text end

new text begin (3) is meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined under section 136A.101,
subdivision 10; and
new text end

new text begin (4) is a resident student as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 8.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Amount. new text end

new text begin (a) The maximum scholarship amount is $10,000 per year for full-time
study distributed up to $5,000 per academic term. The commissioner of higher education
must establish a sliding scale of scholarship amounts based on the amount of available
funding and the number of qualified applicants. Established amounts are not rulemaking
for purposes of chapter 14 or section 14.386. The minimum scholarship under this section
for full-time study must be no less than $1,000 per year.
new text end

new text begin (b) The amount determined under paragraph (a) must be reduced and prorated per credit
for part-time study.
new text end

new text begin (c) The maximum total amount of scholarships from this scholarship per candidate is
$25,000.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Distribution. new text end

new text begin Scholarships must be paid to the teacher preparation institution
on behalf of the candidate after the institution has informed the Office of Higher Education
of candidates' names, veteran status, licensure area sought, and full-time or part-time status.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2020 and $....... in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of higher education for military veteran teacher candidate
scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1265.
new text end

new text begin (b) Up to five percent of the appropriation may be used for administration of the program.
new text end

new text begin (c) Any balance in the first year does not cancel, but is available in the second year.
new text end