HF 2916

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/15/2023 09:09am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing a grant program for social work students
completing an internship or practicum; requiring a report; 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.1285] SOCIAL WORK INTERNSHIP GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Program established; definition. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of the Office of
Higher Education shall establish a grant program for Minnesota students preparing to become
licensed social workers and working in an internship or practicum.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligible students. new text end

new text begin (a) A student is eligible for a grant under this section if the
student:
new text end

new text begin (1) is a resident student as defined in section 136A.101;
new text end

new text begin (2) is in good academic standing and making satisfactory academic progress as defined
in section 136A.101;
new text end

new text begin (3) has submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
new text end

new text begin (4) is enrolled at an eligible institution, as defined in section 136A.101, in a baccalaureate
or postbaccalaureate degree-granting social work program accredited by the Council of
Social Work Education that requires completion of an internship or practicum; and
new text end

new text begin (5) will be completing an internship or practicum in the academic term for which the
grant will be awarded.
new text end

new text begin (b) To receive a grant under this section, a student must apply in the form and manner
specified by the commissioner. The application must include information about the student's
internship or practicum, verified by the individual responsible for supervising the internship
or practicum, including but not limited to information about compensation to the student
and work hours sufficient to calculate a grant award under subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin (c) A student may not receive more than one grant under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grant amounts. new text end

new text begin (a) A grant award amount under this section may not exceed
$10,000 and must be used in a single academic year.
new text end

new text begin (b) Subject to the award maximum in paragraph (a), a student's grant award amount shall
equal the state minimum wage multiplied by the total number of hours to be worked in the
internship or practicum in a single academic year less any compensation to be paid to the
student by the internship or practicum.
new text end

new text begin (c) The grant shall be paid directly to the institution where the recipient is enrolled.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Insufficient appropriation. new text end

new text begin If the amount appropriated for this program is
determined by the office to be insufficient to make full awards to all eligible applicants, the
commissioner shall prioritize awards to eligible applicants based on the applicants' individual
financial needs as determined by the federal needs analysis.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report required. new text end

new text begin By February 15 of each year, the commissioner of the Office
of Higher Education shall submit a report on the details of the program under this section
to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy and
to the Legislative Reference Library as provided by section 3.195. The report shall include
the following information for the previous fiscal year:
new text end

new text begin (1) the number of students applying for an award and receiving an award disaggregated
by institution attended and relevant demographic categories;
new text end

new text begin (2) the total number of awards, the total dollar amount of all awards, and the average
award amount;
new text end

new text begin (3) other information identified by the commissioner as outcome indicators, if any; and
new text end

new text begin (4) recommendations to the legislature regarding the program, if any.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. The
commissioner shall begin offering grants under this section in the 2024-2025 academic
year.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; SOCIAL WORK GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2024 and $....... in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for the social work
internship grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1285.
new text end

new text begin (b) The office may use no more than three percent of the amount appropriated under
this section to administer the grant program.
new text end