HF 3401

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/18/2020 11:27am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; expanding grants for students with intellectual and
developmental disabilities to institutions in states sharing a geographic border with
Minnesota; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 136A.1215, as amended.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 136A.1215, as amended by Laws 2019, chapter
64, article 2, section 6, is amended to read:

136A.1215 GRANTS FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

A program is established to provide financial assistance
to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities that attend a Minnesota
postsecondary institution.

Subd. 2.

Eligible students.

A postsecondary student is eligible for a grant under this
section if the student:

(1) meets the eligibility requirements in section 136A.121, subdivision 2;

(2) is a student with an intellectual disability, as defined in Code of Federal Regulations,
title 34, section 668.231, and is enrolled in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary
program under that section; and

(3) attends an eligible institution deleted text begin , as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 4 deleted text end .

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Eligible institution. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, an eligible institution
is:
new text end

new text begin (1) an eligible institution, as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 4; or
new text end

new text begin (2) a postsecondary institution that:
new text end

new text begin (i) is located in a state that shares a geographic border with Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (ii) operates a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program, as defined in Code
of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 668.231;
new text end

new text begin (iii) participates in federal student aid programs;
new text end

new text begin (iv) maintains academic standards substantially equivalent to those of comparable
institutions operated in Minnesota; and
new text end

new text begin (v) has established an institutional participation agreement with the Minnesota Office
of Higher Education.
new text end

Subd. 3.

Application.

To receive a grant under this section, a student must apply in the
form and manner specified by the commissioner.

Subd. 4.

Maximum grant amounts.

(a) The amount of a grant under this section equals
the tuition and fees at the student's postsecondary institution, minus:

(1) any Pell or state grants the student receives; and

(2) any institutional aid the student receives.

(b) If appropriations are insufficient to provide the full amount calculated under paragraph
(a) to all eligible applicants, the commissioner must reduce the maximum grant amount
available to recipients.

new text begin (c) No more than 25 percent of the total amount of all grants in a given year shall be
awarded to students attending eligible institutions in states that share a geographic border
with Minnesota. If needed to comply with this paragraph, the commissioner may reduce all
grant awards to students attending eligible institutions in states that share a geographic
border with Minnesota and allocate additional funds to eligible students attending eligible
institutions in Minnesota.
new text end

Subd. 5.

Reporting.

By February 15 of each year, the commissioner of higher education
must submit a report on the details of the program under this section to the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy. The report must
include the following information, broken out by postsecondary institution:

(1) the number of students receiving an award;

(2) the average and total award amounts; and

(3) summary demographic data on award recipients.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2021.
new text end