1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing a grant program to increase student support 
1.3 	services personnel in Minnesota schools; establishing a grant program to 
1.4 	provide funding for postsecondary institutions that train student support services 
1.5 	personnel; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.6 	Statutes, chapter 121A.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. [121A.395] TITLE.
1.9 	This act may be cited as the "Student Support Services Personnel Act."

1.10 	Sec. 2. [121A.3951] STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PERSONNEL GRANT 
1.11 	PROGRAM.
1.12 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For the purposes of sections 121A.395 to 121A.3952, 
1.13 	the following terms have the meanings given them:
1.14 	(1) "student support services personnel" includes individuals licensed to serve as a 
1.15 	school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, school nurse, or chemical 
1.16 	dependency counselor in Minnesota; and
1.17 	(2) "new position" means a student support services personnel full-time or part-time 
1.18 	position not under contract by a school at the start of the 2014-2015 school year.
1.19 		Subd. 2.Purpose. The purpose of the student support services personnel grant 
1.20 	program is to:
1.21 	(1) address shortages of student support services personnel within Minnesota schools;
1.22 	(2) decrease caseloads for existing student support services personnel to ensure 
1.23 	effective services;
2.1 	(3) ensure that students receive effective academic guidance and integrated and 
2.2 	comprehensive services to improve kindergarten through grade 12 school outcomes and 
2.3 	career and college readiness;
2.4 	(4) ensure that student support services personnel serve within the scope and practice 
2.5 	of their training and licensure;
2.6 	(5) fully integrate learning supports, instruction, and school management within a 
2.7 	comprehensive approach that facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration; and
2.8 	(6) improve school safety and school climate to support academic success and 
2.9 	career and college readiness.
2.10 		Subd. 3.Grant eligibility and application. (a) A school district, charter school, 
2.11 	intermediate school district, or other cooperative unit is eligible to apply for a six-year 
2.12 	grant under this section.
2.13 	(b) The commissioner of education shall specify the form and manner of the grant 
2.14 	application. In awarding grants, the commissioner must give priority to schools in which 
2.15 	student support services personnel positions do not currently exist. Additional criteria 
2.16 	must include at least the following:
2.17 	(1) existing student support services personnel caseloads;
2.18 	(2) school demographics;
2.19 	(3) Title 1 revenue;
2.20 	(4) Minnesota student survey data;
2.21 	(5) graduation rates; and
2.22 	(6) postsecondary completion rates.
2.23 		Subd. 4.Allowed uses; match requirements. A grant under this section must be 
2.24 	used to hire a new position. A school that receives a grant must match the grant with local 
2.25 	funds in each year of the grant. In each of the first four years of the grant, the local match 
2.26 	equals $1 for every $1 awarded in the same year. In years five and six of the grant, the 
2.27 	local match equals $3 for every $1 awarded in the same year. The local match may not 
2.28 	include federal reimbursements attributable to the new position.
2.29 		Subd. 5.Report required.  By February 1 following any fiscal year in which a grant 
2.30 	was received, a school must submit a written report to the commissioner indicating how 
2.31 	the new positions affected two or more of the following measures:
2.32 	(1) school climate;
2.33 	(2) attendance rates;
2.34 	(3) academic achievement;
2.35 	(4) career and college readiness; and
2.36 	(5) postsecondary completion rates.

3.1 	Sec. 3. [121A.3952] STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PERSONNEL TRAINING 
3.2 	GRANTS.
3.3 		Subdivision 1.Purpose. Student support services personnel training grants are 
3.4 	intended to increase the number of postsecondary graduates qualified to serve as student 
3.5 	support services personnel in Minnesota schools.
3.6 		Subd. 2.Eligible institutions; application. (a) Any Minnesota institution of higher 
3.7 	education that offers a preparation program that meets the requirements for licensure of 
3.8 	student support services personnel is eligible to apply for a six-year grant in the form 
3.9 	and manner specified by the commissioner.
3.10 	(b) The commissioner of education shall develop criteria for awarding grants 
3.11 	consistent with the purposes of this section.
3.12 		Subd. 3.Allowed uses; match requirements. An institution that receives a grant 
3.13 	under this section must use the grant to hire staff as necessary to meet the purposes of 
3.14 	this section, and must match the grant with local funds in each year of the grant. In each 
3.15 	of the first four years of the grant, the local match equals $1 for every $1 awarded in 
3.16 	the same year. In years five and six of the grant, the local match equals $3 for every $1 
3.17 	awarded in the same year. A grant must be used to supplement, not supplant, existing 
3.18 	funding for uses under this subdivision.
3.19 		Subd. 4.Report required. By February 1 following any fiscal year in which a grant 
3.20 	was received, an institution must submit a written report to the commissioner indicating 
3.21 	how the new positions affected:
3.22 	(1) the number of students enrolled in programs that lead to licensure of student 
3.23 	support services personnel;
3.24 	(2) the number of graduates of programs that lead to licensure of student support 
3.25 	services personnel; and
3.26 	(3) employment outcomes for graduates of programs that lead to licensure of student 
3.27 	support services personnel, including employment in Minnesota schools.

3.28 	Sec. 4. APPROPRIATIONS.
 3.29 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
3.30 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal years 
3.31 	designated.
3.32 		Subd. 2.Student support services personnel grants. For student support services 
3.33 	personnel grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.3951:

4.1		$
	95,000,000
	.....
	2016
	
4.2		$
	-0-
	.....
	2017
	
4.3 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, this appropriation is available 
4.4 	until June 30, 2022. Any balance remaining after June 30, 2022, shall cancel to the 
4.5 	general fund.
4.6 		Subd. 3.Student support services personnel training grants. For student support 
4.7 	services personnel training grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.3952:

4.8		$
	500,000
	.....
	2016
	
4.9		$
	500,000
	.....
	2017
	
4.10 		Subd. 4.Department. (a) For the Department of Education:

4.11		$
	.......
	.....
	2016
	
4.12		$
	.......
	.....
	2017
	
4.13 	Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
4.14 	(b) $250,000 in fiscal year 2016 only is for administration of the Student Support 
4.15 	Services Personnel Act under Minnesota Statutes, sections 121A.395 to 121A.3952.