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SF 1153

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/05/2015 09:01am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing a merit-based academic excellence
grant program for certain Minnesota undergraduate students; appropriating
money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [136A.123] ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Eligibility for grants. new text end

new text begin An applicant is eligible to be considered for
an academic excellence grant if the applicant:
new text end

new text begin (1) is a resident of the state of Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (2) is a graduate of a secondary school or its equivalent, or is 17 years or over,
and has met all the requirements for admission as a student to an eligible postsecondary
institution operated by the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota or the Board
of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities;
new text end

new text begin (3) is not in default, as defined by the office, of any federal or state educational loan;
new text end

new text begin (4) has a family adjusted gross income of less than $100,000;
new text end

new text begin (5) plans to enroll in or is currently enrolled in a four-year degree program; and
new text end

new text begin (6) meets the academic eligibility requirements established in this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Academic eligibility requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) A student meets the academic
eligibility requirements to receive a grant under this section if the applicant:
new text end

new text begin (1) received a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale across all years
that the student attended high school; and
new text end

new text begin (2) received a score of 25 or higher on the American College Testing (ACT) college
readiness test, or an equivalent score on the College Board's SAT.
new text end

new text begin (b) If an eligible student attended a high school that did not calculate grade point
averages on a 4.0 scale, the commissioner must convert the student's grade point average
to a 4.0 scale when determining if the student is academically eligible for a grant under
this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin To receive an academic excellence grant, students must
submit an application to the office in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner
demonstrating that they are eligible for a grant and have met the academic eligibility
requirements established in this section. The deadline for the office to accept applications
for academic excellence grants for a term is 30 days after the start of that term.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Allocation. new text end

new text begin Grants must be awarded on a funds-available basis to those
applicants who meet the office's requirements.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Grant stipends. new text end

new text begin Grant stipends shall pay for the cost of tuition and fees
not covered by the federal Pell grant or other state grants and scholarships awarded under
sections 136A.101 to 136A.1311.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Insufficient appropriation. new text end

new text begin If the amount appropriated is determined by
the commissioner to be insufficient to make full awards to applicants under subdivision 4,
the commissioner must reduce awards proportionally for all grant recipients.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Awards. new text end

new text begin An undergraduate student who meets the requirements of this
section is eligible to apply for and receive a grant in any year of undergraduate study unless:
new text end

new text begin (1) the student has obtained a baccalaureate degree; or
new text end

new text begin (2) the student has previously been enrolled at an eligible institution full time
or the equivalent for eight semesters or the equivalent, excluding courses taken from a
Minnesota school or postsecondary institution which is not eligible for the grant program
and from which a student transferred no credit.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Renewal. new text end

new text begin Each grant is renewable contingent on continued residency in
Minnesota and satisfactory academic progress, and on the recommendation of the eligible
institution currently attended. To continue to receive a grant, the student must apply for
renewal each year.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2016 and $....... in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education to fund the academic
excellence grant program established in section 1.
new text end