HF 3231

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/20/2014 02:07pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; authorizing participation in interstate reciprocity
agreement; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 136A.01, subdivision 2;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136A.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 136A.01, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Responsibilities.

(a) The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is
responsible for:

(1) necessary state level administration of financial aid programs, including
accounting, auditing, and disbursing state and federal financial aid funds, and reporting on
financial aid programs to the governor and the legislature;

(2) approval, registration, licensing, and financial aid eligibility of private collegiate
and career schools, under sections 136A.61 to 136A.71 and chapter 141;

new text begin (3) determining whether or not to enter into an interstate reciprocity agreement
regarding postsecondary distance education with similar agencies in other states;
new text end

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end negotiating and administering reciprocity agreements;

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end publishing and distributing financial aid information and materials, and other
information and materials under section 136A.87, to students and parents;

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end collecting and maintaining student enrollment and financial aid data and
reporting data on students and postsecondary institutions to develop and implement a
process to measure and report on the effectiveness of postsecondary institutions;

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (7) new text end administering the federal programs that affect students and institutions on a
statewide basis; and

deleted text begin (7) deleted text end new text begin (8) new text end prescribing policies, procedures, and rules under chapter 14 necessary to
administer the programs under its supervision.

(b) The office may match individual student data from the student record enrollment
database with individual student financial aid data collected and maintained by the office
in order to audit or evaluate federal or state supported education programs as permitted by
United States Code, title 20, section 1232g(b)(3), and Code of Federal Regulations, title
34, section 99.35. The office shall not release data that personally identifies parents or
students other than to employees and contractors of the office.

Sec. 2.

new text begin [136A.658] EXEMPTION; STATE AUTHORIZATION RECIPROCITY
AGREEMENT SCHOOLS.
new text end

new text begin (a) The office may participate in an interstate reciprocity agreement with similar
agencies in other states if it determines that participation is in the best interest of
Minnesota postsecondary students.
new text end

new text begin (b) If the office decides to participate in an interstate reciprocity agreement, an
institution that meets the following requirements is exempt from the provisions of sections
136A.61 to 136A.71:
new text end

new text begin (1) the institution is situated in a state which is also participating in the interstate
reciprocity agreement;
new text end

new text begin (2) the institution has been approved to participate in the interstate reciprocity
agreement by the institution's home state and other entities with oversight of the interstate
reciprocity agreement; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the institution has elected to participate in and operate in compliance with the
terms of the interstate reciprocity agreement.
new text end