SF 1004

1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; creating a Rochester
Higher Education Development Committee; appropriating
money.

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

Section 1. new text begin ROCHESTER HIGHER EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The Rochester Higher
Education Development Committee is established to research and
make recommendations to the governor and legislature on the
creation of mission-driven postsecondary educational programs or
institutions in the Rochester area that meet the educational
needs of the region and the state and that capitalize on the
unique opportunities for educational partnerships presented in
the Rochester area.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin The committee is composed of 11
members, to be appointed by the governor, as follows:
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new text begin (1) a trustee of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities, or the trustee's designee;
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new text begin (2) a regent of the University of Minnesota, or the
regent's designee;
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new text begin (3) six persons from the Rochester area representing
business, health and medical sciences, and technology;
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new text begin (4) the commissioner of finance, or the commissioner's
designee;
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new text begin (5) one person who by training or experience has special
expertise in postsecondary finance and planning; and
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new text begin (6) one person who by training or experience has special
expertise in postsecondary academic planning and programming.
new text end

new text begin Before the first meeting of the committee, the governor
shall select one person from the committee who shall serve as
chair.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Compensation and removal. new text end

new text begin Appointments to the
committee are not subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 15.0597.
Members of the committee are not entitled to reimbursement under
Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 6. Members may
be removed and vacancies filled pursuant to Minnesota Statutes,
section 15.059, subdivision 4. The director of the Higher
Education Services Office may provide administrative support to
the committee.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The committee shall develop a
recommendation for establishment and implementation of expanded
higher education programs or institutions in Rochester. The
committee's report must include recommendations on:
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new text begin (1) the mission and focus of the programs or institutions;
new text end

new text begin (2) the nature of undergraduate and graduate programs to be
offered;
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new text begin (3) site and facility needs;
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new text begin (4) funding sources and opportunities;
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new text begin (5) operational needs;
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new text begin (6) status and benefits of potential employees, including
coverage under the Minnesota State Retirement System;
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new text begin (7) alliances or other types of cooperative arrangements
with public and private institutions;
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new text begin (8) governance structures; and
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new text begin (9) mechanisms to ensure that the expanded programs are
aligned with the unique needs and opportunities of the Rochester
area and that programs take advantage of opportunities presented
by regional business and industry.
new text end

new text begin (b) The committee must consider specifically whether
expansion of the University of Minnesota in Rochester is the
most appropriate method of meeting the region's needs.
new text end

new text begin (c) The committee may also research and provide
recommendations on sites for the facilities and programs. The
committee shall recommend any changes to Minnesota law required
to implement recommendations of the committee.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The committee must issue a report with
recommendations to the governor and the legislature by January
15, 2006.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Sunset. new text end

new text begin The committee expires on December 31,
2007.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin ROCHESTER HIGHER EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT.
new text end

new text begin A Rochester higher education development account is created
in the state treasury in the special revenue fund. Money in
this account is appropriated to the Higher Education Services
Office for allocation to the committee established in section 1
and the implementation activities outlined in section 3. The
office shall serve as fiscal agent for the committee established
in section 1.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Planning activities. new text end

new text begin $200,000 is
appropriated to the Higher Education Services Office from the
general fund for fiscal year 2006, for the purposes of section 1.
This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Implementation funding. new text end

new text begin $.,...,... is
appropriated from the general fund to the Higher Education
Services Office for fiscal year 2006. This is a onetime
appropriation that must be deposited into the Rochester higher
education development account. With the approval of the Higher
Education Services Office, money in this account may be used to:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide additional planning and development funds, if
needed;
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new text begin (2) provide initial funding for academic program
development; or
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new text begin (3) provide funding related to academic facilities, if
needed.
new text end

new text begin The appropriation under this subdivision is available until
June 30, 2009.
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Sec. 4. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

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