HF 4175

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/14/2024 03:39pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; expanding program eligibility for workforce
development scholarships; amending Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section
136F.38, subdivision 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 136F.38, subdivision 3, is amended
to read:

Subd. 3.

Program eligibility.

(a) Scholarships shall be awarded only to a student eligible
for resident tuition, as defined in section 135A.043, who is enrolled in any of the following
programs of study or certification: (1) advanced manufacturing; (2) agriculture; (3) health
care services; (4) information technology; (5) early childhood; (6) transportation; (7)
construction; (8) education; (9) public safety; new text begin (10) energy; new text end or deleted text begin (10) deleted text end new text begin (11) new text end a program of study
under paragraph (b).

(b) Each institution may add one additional area of study or certification, based on a
workforce shortage for full-time employment requiring postsecondary education that is
unique to the institution's specific region, as reported in the most recent Department of
Employment and Economic Development job vacancy survey data for the economic
development region in which the institution is located. A workforce shortage area is one in
which the job vacancy rate for full-time employment in a specific occupation in a region is
higher than the state average vacancy rate for that same occupation. The institution may
change the area of study or certification based on new data once every two years.

(c) The student must be enrolled for at least nine credits in a two-year college in the
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to be eligible for first- and second-year
scholarships.

(d) The student is eligible for a one-year transfer scholarship if the student transfers from
a two-year college after two or more terms, and the student is enrolled for at least nine
credits in a four-year university in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.