SF 1594

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 06/14/2023 08:39am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing a paramedic scholarship program;
appropriating money; requiring reports.

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

Section 1. new text begin PARAMEDIC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education
shall establish a program to provide up to 600 scholarships to students entering paramedic
programs by 2026.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligible students. new text end

new text begin (a) To be eligible for a scholarship under this section, a
student must:
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new text begin (1) apply in the form and manner specified by the commissioner;
new text end

new text begin (2) be a resident student, as defined by Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.101, subdivision
8;
new text end

new text begin (3) attend an eligible institution, as defined by Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.101,
subdivision 4;
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new text begin (4) be enrolled in a nationally accredited, degree- or diploma-awarding paramedic
program at that institution; and
new text end

new text begin (5) submit to the commissioner a completed affidavit, prescribed by the commissioner,
affirming the student's intent to work as a paramedic in Minnesota after graduation.
new text end

new text begin (b) An eligible student may receive a scholarship under this section no more than two
times.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Administration; award amount. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must establish an
application process and other guidelines for implementing the paramedic scholarship
program. The first set of scholarships must be awarded for the 2024-2025 academic year.
new text end

new text begin (b) The amount of a scholarship awarded under this section is $5,000. The scholarship
must be paid in a lump sum directly to the institution where the recipient is enrolled.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin By February 1, 2025, and again by February 1, 2026, the
commissioner must submit a report on the program to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and
policy. The report must include the following information and any other information the
commissioner considers relevant:
new text end

new text begin (1) information about all postsecondary programs giving rise to eligibility for a
scholarship under this section, including the programs' locations, costs, enrollment capacities,
acceptance rates, and other relevant information;
new text end

new text begin (2) available data on the current and forecasted demand for paramedics in Minnesota;
and
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new text begin (3) the total number of scholarships issued, disaggregated by:
new text end

new text begin (i) year of award;
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new text begin (ii) postsecondary institution attended; and
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new text begin (iii) relevant and available demographic data about award recipients.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires June 30, 2026.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; PARAMEDIC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
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new text begin (a) $3,200,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for the paramedic scholarship program
under section 1. Of this amount:
new text end

new text begin (1) $3,000,000 is for awarding 600 student scholarships;
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new text begin (2) $100,000 is for promotion of the program and student recruitment efforts; and
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new text begin (3) $100,000 is for administering the program.
new text end

new text begin (b) This is a onetime appropriation. This appropriation is available until expended or
until June 30, 2026, whichever occurs first.
new text end