HF 5299

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/24/2024 02:07pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; providing for funding and related policy changes to
certain bonding, licensure, and grant provisions; establishing fees; appropriating
money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 136A.29, subdivision 9;
136A.69, subdivision 1; 136A.824, subdivisions 1, 2; Laws 2022, chapter 42,
section 2; Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, section 2, subdivisions 36, 49, as
amended.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.29, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Revenue bonds; limit.

The authority is authorized and empowered to issue
revenue bonds whose aggregate principal amount at any time shall not exceed deleted text begin $1,300,000,000 deleted text end new text begin
$2,000,000,000 new text end and to issue notes, bond anticipation notes, and revenue refunding bonds
of the authority under the provisions of sections 136A.25 to 136A.42, to provide funds for
acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, remodeling, renovating, improving,
furnishing, or equipping one or more projects or parts thereof.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.69, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Registration fees.

(a) The office shall collect reasonable registration fees
that are sufficient to recover, but do not exceed, its costs of administering the registration
program. The office shall charge the fees listed in paragraphs (b) deleted text begin and (c) deleted text end new text begin to (d) new text end for new
registrations.

(b) A new school offering no more than one degree at each level during its first year
must pay registration fees for each applicable level in the following amounts:

associate degree	$2,000
baccalaureate degree	$2,500
master's degree	$3,000
doctorate degree	$3,500

(c) A new school that will offer more than one degree per level during its first year must
pay registration fees in an amount equal to the fee for the first degree at each degree level
under paragraph (b), plus fees for each additional nondegree program or degree as follows:

nondegree program	$250
additional associate degree	$250
additional baccalaureate degree	$500
additional master's degree	$750
additional doctorate degree	$1,000

new text begin (d) In addition to the fees under paragraphs (b) and (c), a fee of $600 must be paid for
an initial application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or
application reminders for the same application or registration requirement; or (2) cumulatively
has had six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the
same license application and the school seeks to continue with the application process with
additional application submissions. If this fee is paid, the school may submit two final
application submissions for review prior to application denial under section 136A.65,
subdivision 8. This provision excludes from its scope any initial process or interpretation
questions or inquiries, initiated by the school, that do not necessitate substantial staff effort
to review amendments or corrections, or when the office requests initial verification or
validation of a completed application.
new text end

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end The annual renewal registration fee is $1,500.

new text begin (f) In addition to the fee under paragraph (e), a fee of $600 must be paid for a renewal
application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application
reminders for the same application or registration requirement; or (2) cumulatively has had
six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the same license
application and the school seeks to continue with the application process with additional
application submissions. If this fee is paid, the school may submit two final application
submissions for review prior to application denial under section 136A.65, subdivision 8.
This provision excludes from its scope any initial process or interpretation questions or
inquiries, initiated by the school, that do not necessitate substantial staff effort to review
amendments or corrections, or when the office requests initial verification or validation of
a completed application.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.824, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Initial licensure fee.

new text begin (a) new text end The office processing fee for an initial licensure
application is:

(1) $2,500 for a private career school that will offer no more than one program during
its first year of operation;

(2) $750 for a private career school licensed exclusively due to the use of the term
"college," "university," "academy," or "institute" in its name, or licensed exclusively in
order to participate in state grant or SELF loan financial aid programs; and

(3) $2,500, plus $500 for each additional program offered by the private career school,
for a private career school during its first year of operation.

new text begin (b) In addition to the fee under paragraph (a), a fee of $600 must be paid for an initial
application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application
reminders for the same application or licensure requirement; or (2) cumulatively has had
six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the same license
application and the private career school seeks to continue with the application process with
additional application submissions. If this fee is paid, the private career school may submit
two final application submissions for review prior to application denial under section
136A.829, subdivision 1, clause (2). This provision excludes from its scope any initial
process or interpretation questions or inquiries, initiated by the school, that do not necessitate
substantial staff effort to review amendments or corrections, or when the office requests
initial verification or validation of a completed application.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.824, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Renewal licensure fee; late fee.

(a) The office processing fee for a renewal
licensure application is:

(1) for a private career school that offers one program, the license renewal fee is $1,150;

(2) for a private career school that offers more than one program, the license renewal
fee is $1,150, plus $200 for each additional program with a maximum renewal licensing
fee of $2,000;

(3) for a private career school licensed exclusively due to the use of the term "college,"
"university," "academy," or "institute" in its name, the license renewal fee is $750; and

(4) for a private career school licensed by another state agency and also licensed with
the office exclusively in order to participate in state student aid programs, the license renewal
fee is $750.

(b) If a license renewal application is not received by the office by the close of business
at least 60 days before the expiration of the current license, a late fee of $100 per business
day, not to exceed $3,000, shall be assessed.

new text begin (c) In addition to the fee under paragraph (a), a fee of $600 must be paid for a renewal
application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application
reminders for the same application or licensure requirement; or (2) cumulatively has had
six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the same license
application and the private career school seeks to continue with the application process with
additional application submissions. If this fee is paid, the private career school may submit
two final application submissions for review prior to application denial under section
136A.829, subdivision 1, clause (2). This provision excludes from its scope any initial
process or interpretation questions or inquiries, initiated by the school, that do not necessitate
substantial staff effort to review amendments or corrections, or when the office requests
initial verification or validation of a completed application.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Laws 2022, chapter 42, section 2, is amended to read:

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; ALS RESEARCH.

(a) deleted text begin $20,000,000 deleted text end new text begin $396,000 new text end in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to
the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education to award competitive grants to applicants
for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The commissioner may work with
the Minnesota Department of Health to administer the grant program, including identifying
clinical and translational research and innovations, developing outcomes and objectives
with the goal of bettering the lives of individuals with ALS and finding a cure for the disease,
and application review and grant recipient selection. Not more than $400,000 may be used
by the commissioner to administer the grant program. new text begin This is a onetime appropriation.
Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered balances under this
section do not cancel until June 30, 2026.
new text end

new text begin (b) $19,604,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of the Office of Higher Education to award competitive grants to applicants
for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The commissioner may work with
the Minnesota Department of Health to administer the grant program, including identifying
clinical and translational research and innovations, developing outcomes and objectives
with the goal of bettering the lives of individuals with ALS and finding a cure for the disease,
and application review and grant recipient selection. Up to $15,000,000 may be used by the
commissioner for grants to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, Never Surrender,
or other similar organizations to award and administer a competitive grant to applicants for
research into ALS under this section. This is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered balances under this section do not cancel
until June 30, 2029.
new text end

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (c) new text end Grants shall be awarded to support clinical and translational research related to
ALS. Research topics may include but are not limited to environmental factors, disease
mechanisms, disease models, biomarkers, drug development, clinical studies, precision
medicine, medical devices, assistive technology, and cognitive studies.

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end Eligible applicants for the grants are research facilities, universities, and health
systems located in Minnesota. Applicants must submit proposals to the commissioner in
the time, form, and manner established by the commissioner. Applicants may coordinate
research endeavors and submit a joint application. When reviewing the proposals, the
commissioner shall make an effort to avoid approving a grant for an applicant whose research
is duplicative of an existing grantee's research.

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end Beginning January 15, 2023, and annually thereafter until January 15, deleted text begin 2027 deleted text end new text begin 2030 new text end ,
the commissioner shall submit a report to the legislature specifying the applicants receiving
grants under this section, the amount of each grant, the purposes for which the grant funds
were used, and the amount of the appropriation that is unexpended. The report must also
include relevant findings, results, and outcomes of the grant program, and any other
information which the commissioner deems significant or useful.

deleted text begin (e) This is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28,
unencumbered balances under this section do not cancel until June 30, 2026.
deleted text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, section 2, subdivision 36, is amended to read:

Subd. 36. Fostering Independence Higher Education Grants

4,247,000

deleted text begin 4,416,000 deleted text end new text begin 9,456,000 new text end

$4,247,000 the first year and deleted text begin $4,416,000 deleted text end new text begin
$9,456,000 new text end the second year are for grants to
eligible students under Minnesota Statutes,
section 136A.1241. The Office of Higher
Education may use no more than three percent
of the appropriation to administer grants. new text begin The
base for this appropriation is $4,416,000 for
fiscal year 2026 and thereafter.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, section 2, subdivision 49, as amended by Laws
2024, chapter 85, section 111, is amended to read:

Subd. 49. North Star Promise

-0-

deleted text begin 117,226,000 deleted text end new text begin 112,186,000 new text end

deleted text begin $117,226,000 deleted text end new text begin $112,186,000 new text end the second year
is transferred from the general fund to the
account in the special revenue fund under
Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1465,
subdivision 8. The base for the transfer is
$49,500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and thereafter.

Sec. 8. new text begin APPROPRIATION; KIDS ON CAMPUS INITIATIVE.
new text end

new text begin $500,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of
Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to participate in the Kids on
Campus initiative with the National Head Start Association and the Association of
Community College Trustees. This appropriation may be used for a temporary statewide
project coordinator, stipends to campuses and Head Start centers where letters of intent to
officially form a partnership have been signed, engaging with local Head Start programs,
and other costs associated with creating campus Head Start partnerships. Stipends shall be
used to support the formation of parenting student advisory panels to gather perspective
and feedback on proposed partnerships. The duties of the temporary statewide project
coordinator include assessing the feasibility of partnerships between Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities campuses and Head Start programs across the state, consulting with the
Minnesota Head Start Association and existing Head Start partnership programs to develop
best practices, working with campus-based navigators for parenting students to provide
resources for financial aid and basic needs support to Head Start programs, and developing
strategies to grow the early childhood care and education workforce through partnerships
between Head Start programs and early childhood degree and certificate programs. This is
a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026. By June 30, 2026, the temporary
statewide project coordinator must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher education policy and finance
on the outcomes of the Kids on Campus initiative in Minnesota, including an account of
how the appropriated funds were spent and the status of prospective on-campus Head Start
partnerships or programs.
new text end