SF 1788

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/04/2021 03:43pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; modifying teacher shortage loan forgiveness eligibility
to include nonpublic schools; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section
136A.1791, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.1791, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) The terms used in this section have the meanings given
them in this subdivision.

(b) "Qualified educational loan" means a government, commercial, or foundation loan
for actual costs paid for tuition and reasonable educational and living expenses related to a
teacher's preparation or further education.

(c) "School district" means an independent school district, special school district,
intermediate district, education district, special education cooperative, service cooperative,
a cooperative center for vocational education, deleted text begin or deleted text end a charter school new text begin , or a nonpublic school,
excluding a home school, new text end located in Minnesota.

(d) "Teacher" means an individual holding a teaching license issued by the Professional
Educator Licensing and Standards Board who is employed by a school district to provide
classroom instruction.

(e) "Teacher shortage area" means:

(1) the licensure fields and economic development regions reported by the Professional
Educator Licensing and Standards Board in coordination with the commissioner as
experiencing a teacher shortage; and

(2) economic development regions where there is a shortage of licensed teachers who
reflect the racial or ethnic diversity of students in the region as reported by the Professional
Educator Licensing and Standards Board in coordination with the commissioner.

(f) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education unless
indicated otherwise.