SF 1716

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 09/30/2015 01:38pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; authorizing grants for agricultural growth, research,
and innovation programs; appropriating money for agriculture-related programs,
grants, and activities; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 41A.12,
subdivisions 2, 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 41A.12, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Activities authorized.

new text begin (a) new text end For the purposes of this program, the
commissioner may issue grants, loans, or other forms of financial assistance. Eligible
activities include, but are not limited to, grants to livestock producers under the livestock
investment grant program under section 17.118, bioenergy awards made by the NextGen
Energy Board under section 41A.105, cost-share grants for the installation of biofuel
blender pumps, and financial assistance to support other rural economic infrastructure
activities.

new text begin (b) $1,000,000 of the amount appropriated in each fiscal year to the agricultural
growth, research, and innovation program is reserved for rental subsidy grants to owners
of agricultural land:
new text end

new text begin (1) to expand access to rental land; or
new text end

new text begin (2) to lower rental costs for school districts that provide agricultural education and
community-oriented agricultural programs.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 41A.12, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Sunset.

This section expires on June 30, deleted text begin 2015 deleted text end new text begin 2025 new text end .

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; ONLINE COURSE CREATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $100,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $100,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities for developing online courses in farm business management and farm and
ranch management at colleges that currently offer those programs.
new text end

new text begin (b) Institutions developing courses under this section shall focus on introductory
coursework, and must coordinate with one another to offer complimentary courses
and avoid duplication. The appropriation may not be used to develop courses already
available through another state college or university. Institutions receiving funds from
this appropriation must have one course developed and ready for student enrollment
within one year of receiving funds.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION; MINNESOTA AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
new text end

new text begin (a) $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants to the Minnesota
Agricultural Education Leadership Council to:
new text end

new text begin (1) increase student awareness of the courses created using the funds appropriated
in section 3 among high school students eligible to take such courses through the
postsecondary enrollment option in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09; and
new text end

new text begin (2) establish a regional agriculture educator advisor program to provide in-person
contact for students participating in the postsecondary enrollment option in Minnesota
Statutes, section 124D.09, to ensure that the students are eligible for Future Farmers
of America participation.
new text end

new text begin (b) The appropriations in this section are added to the base for the Minnesota
Agricultural Education Leadership Council.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin APPROPRIATION; AGRICULTURE EDUCATOR GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants to the Minnesota
Agricultural Education Leadership Council. The Minnesota Agricultural Education
Leadership Council must develop criteria and award grants to agriculture educators
licensed under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 122A, for activities that advance the agricultural
education of students but are not compensated by the agriculture educator's employer.
new text end

new text begin (b) The appropriations in this section are added to the base for the Minnesota
Agricultural Education Leadership Council.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin APPROPRIATION; COLLEGE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $500,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities to create and develop a teacher preparation program leading to licensure in
agricultural education at Southwest Minnesota State University.
new text end

new text begin (b) $500,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the University of Minnesota to create and develop a teacher
preparation program leading to licensure in agricultural education at the Crookston campus.
new text end

new text begin (c) An institution receiving funds under this section must consult with existing
programs in agricultural education at the University of Minnesota during the process of
creating such a program.
new text end

new text begin (d) An institution receiving funds under this section shall provide the committees of
the legislature with primary jurisdiction over agriculture policy, K-12 education policy,
and higher education policy and finance with a report on the institution's progress in
creating an agricultural education licensure program and increasing the number of students
receiving a teaching license in agricultural education. Each institution must submit a
report as required under this section by February 15, 2016, and by February 15, 2017.
new text end