SF 184

3rd Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 05/14/2010 12:01pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; authorizing data matching; modifying institution
eligibility; establishing award procedures; establishing scholarship priorities;
establishing powers and duties; providing for school closures; modifying
security requirements; regulating the use of certain revenues; providing for
refunds; modifying licensure provisions related to certain schools; providing
for certain bond transfers and allocations; reducing appropriation base for
MNSCU operations and maintenance; requiring MNSCU to streamline services;
allowing certain postretirement health insurance premium reimbursement;
allowing reserve of grant funds; establishing pilot projects; defining terms;
making technical corrections; requiring studies, reports, monitoring, and
public education; governing reductions in grants; providing for credit transfer
improvements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 135A.15,
subdivision 1; 135A.155; 135A.51, subdivision 2; 136A.101, subdivision
10; 136A.126, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 136A.15, subdivision
6; 136A.16, subdivision 14; 136A.62, subdivision 3; 136A.645; 136A.646;
136F.581, by adding a subdivision; 141.25, subdivisions 7, 13, by adding a
subdivision; 141.251, subdivision 2; 141.28, subdivision 2; 474A.04, subdivision
6; 474A.091, subdivision 3; Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, sections
136A.01, subdivision 2; 136A.101, subdivision 4; 136A.127, subdivisions 2, 4;
Laws 2009, chapter 95, article 2, section 40; Laws 2010, chapter 215, article 2,
sections 4, subdivision 3; 6; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 136A.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 135A.15, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:

Subdivision 1.

Policy required.

The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities shall, and the University of Minnesota is requested to, adopt
a clear, understandable written policy on sexual harassment and sexual violence that
informs victims of their rights under the crime victims bill of rights, including the right to
assistance from the Crime Victims Reparations Board and the commissioner of public
safety. The policy must apply to students and employees and must provide information
about their rights and duties. The policy must apply to criminal incidents occurring on
property owned by the postsecondary system or institution in which the victim is a
student or employee of that system or institution. It must include procedures for reporting
incidents of sexual harassment or sexual violence and for disciplinary actions against
violators. During student registration, each technical college, community college, or state
university shall, and the University of Minnesota is requested to, provide each student with
information regarding its policy. A copy of the policy also shall be posted at appropriate
locations on campus at all times. Each private postsecondary institution that is an eligible
institution as defined in section deleted text begin 136A.101, subdivision 4 deleted text end new text begin 136A.155 new text end , must adopt a policy
that meets the requirements of this section.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 135A.155, is amended to read:

135A.155 HAZING POLICY.

The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities shall, and
the University of Minnesota is requested to, adopt a clear, understandable written policy
on student conduct, including hazing. The policy must include procedures for reporting
incidents of inappropriate hazing and for disciplinary actions against individual violators
and organizations. The policy shall be made available to students by appropriate means as
determined by each institution, which may include publication in a student handbook or
other institutional publication, or posting by electronic display on the Internet, and shall
be posted at appropriate locations on campus. A private postsecondary institution that
is an eligible institution as defined in section deleted text begin 136A.101, subdivision 4 deleted text end new text begin 136A.155 new text end , must
adopt a policy that meets the requirements of this section.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 135A.51, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Senior citizen.

"Senior citizen" means a person who has reached deleted text begin 62 deleted text end new text begin 66 new text end
years of age before the beginning of any term, semester or quarter, in which a course of
study is pursued, or a person receiving a railroad retirement annuity who has reached 60
years of age before the beginning of the term.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 136A.01, subdivision 2, is
amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Responsibilities.

new text begin (a) new text end The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is
responsible for:

(1) necessary state level administration of financial aid programs, including
accounting, auditing, and disbursing state and federal financial aid funds, and reporting on
financial aid programs to the governor and the legislature;

(2) approval, registration, licensing, and financial aid eligibility of private collegiate
and career schools, under sections 136A.61 to 136A.71 and chapter 141;

(3) negotiating and administering reciprocity agreements;

(4) publishing and distributing financial aid information and materials, and other
information and materials under section 136A.87, to students and parents;

(5) collecting and maintaining student enrollment and financial aid data and
reporting data on students and postsecondary institutions to develop and implement a
process to measure and report on the effectiveness of postsecondary institutions;

(6) administering the federal programs that affect students and institutions on a
statewide basis; and

(7) prescribing policies, procedures, and rules under chapter 14 necessary to
administer the programs under its supervision.

new text begin (b) The office may match individual student data from the student record enrollment
database with individual student financial aid data collected and maintained by the office
in order to audit or evaluate federal or state supported education programs as permitted by
United States Code, title 20, section 1232g(b)(3), and Code of Federal Regulations, title
34, section 99.35. The office shall not release data that personally identifies parents or
students other than to employees and contractors of the office.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 136A.101, subdivision 4, is
amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Eligible institution.

"Eligible institution" means deleted text begin a postsecondary
educational institution located in this state or in a state with which the office has entered
into a higher education reciprocity agreement on state student aid programs that (1) is
operated by this state or the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, or (2)
is operated privately and, as determined by the office, meets all of the following: (i)
maintains academic standards substantially equivalent to those of comparable institutions
operated in this state; (ii) is licensed or registered as a postsecondary institution by the
office or another state agency; and (iii) by July 1, 2013, is participating in the federal
Pell Grant program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended deleted text end new text begin an
institution that meets the eligibility requirements under section 136A.103 new text end .

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 136A.101, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Satisfactory academic progress.

"Satisfactory academic progress"
means deleted text begin that: deleted text end new text begin satisfactory academic progress as defined under Code of Federal Regulations,
title 34, sections 668.16(e), 668.32(f), and 668.34.
new text end

deleted text begin (1) by the end of a student's second academic year of attendance at an institution, the
student has at least a cumulative grade point average of C or its equivalent, or academic
standing consistent with the institution's graduation requirements; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) by the end of the first term of the third and fourth academic year of attendance,
the student has a cumulative grade point average of at least a C or its equivalent.
deleted text end

Sec. 7.

new text begin [136A.103] INSTITUTION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) A postsecondary institution is eligible for state student aid under chapter 136A
and sections 197.791 and 299A.45, if the institution is located in this state and:
new text end

new text begin (1) is operated by this state or the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota;
or
new text end

new text begin (2) is operated privately and, as determined by the office, meets the requirements of
paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin (b) A private institution must:
new text end

new text begin (1) maintain academic standards substantially equivalent to those of comparable
institutions operated in this state;
new text end

new text begin (2) be licensed or registered as a postsecondary institution by the office; and
new text end

new text begin (3)(i) by July 1, 2010, participate in the federal Pell Grant program under Title IV of
the Higher Education Act of 1965, Public Law 89-329, as amended; or
new text end

new text begin (ii) if an institution was participating in state student aid programs as of June 30,
2010, and the institution did not participate in the federal Pell Grant program by June 30,
2010, the institution must require every student who enrolls to sign a disclosure form,
provided by the office, stating that the institution is not participating in the federal Pell
Grant program.
new text end

new text begin (c) An institution that offers only graduate-level degrees or graduate-level nondegree
programs, or that offers only degrees or programs that do not meet the required minimum
program length to participate in the federal Pell Grant program, is an eligible institution if
the institution is licensed or registered as a postsecondary institution by the office.
new text end

new text begin (d) An eligible institution under paragraph (b), clause (3), item (ii), that changes
ownership as defined in section 136A.63, subdivision 2, must participate in the federal
Pell Grant program within four calendar years of the first ownership change to continue
eligibility.
new text end

new text begin (e) An institution that loses its eligibility for the federal Pell Grant program is not an
eligible institution.
new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 136A.126, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Student eligibility.

The director of the Office of Higher Education
shall establish procedures for the distribution of scholarships to a Minnesota resident
student new text begin as defined under section 136A.101, subdivision 8, new text end who:

(1) is of one-fourth or more Indian ancestry;

(2) has applied for other existing state and federal scholarship and grant programs;

(3) new text begin is meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined under section 136A.101,
subdivision 10;
new text end

new text begin (4) is not in default, as defined by the office, of a federal or state student educational
loan;
new text end

new text begin (5) new text end if enrolled in an undergraduate program, is eligible or would be eligible to
receive a federal Pell Grant or a state grant based on the federal needs analysis and is
enrolled for nine semester credits per term or more, or the equivalent;

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end if enrolled in a graduate program, demonstrates a remaining financial need in
the award amount calculation and is enrolled, per term, on a half-time basis or more as
defined by the postsecondary institution; and

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (7) new text end in the opinion of the director of the Office of Higher Education, based upon
postsecondary institution recommendations, has the capabilities to benefit from further
education.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 136A.126, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Awarding procedure. new text end

new text begin (a) Awards must be made on a first-come,
first-served basis in the order complete applications are received. If there are multiple
applications with identical completion dates, those applications are further sorted by
application receipt date.
new text end

new text begin (b) Awards are made to eligible students until the appropriation is expended.
new text end

new text begin (c) Applicants not receiving a grant and for whom the office has received a
completed application are placed on a waiting list in order of application completion date.
new text end

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 136A.127, subdivision 2,
is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Definition; qualifying program.

For the purposes of this section, a
"qualifying program" means a rigorous secondary school program of study deleted text begin defined deleted text end
new text begin for Minnesota high school graduates recognized new text end by the deleted text begin Department of Education under
agreement with the deleted text end Secretary of Education for the purposes of determining eligibility
for the federal Academic Competitiveness Grant Program under Title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended new text begin on August 14, 2008 new text end . If a qualifying program includes
a foreign language requirement, the foreign language requirement is waived for a student
whose first language is not English and who attains English language proficiency.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 136A.127, subdivision 4,
is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Student eligibility.

To be eligible to receive a scholarship under this
section, in addition to the requirements listed under section 136A.121, a student must:

(1) submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);

(2) complete a qualifying program in a high school or in a home-school setting
under section 120A.22, graduate from a Minnesota high school, and graduate with an
unweighted grade point average of 2.5 or higher;

(3) qualify for a federal Pell Grant or state grant under section 136A.121;

(4) be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen, as defined in section 484 of the
Higher Education Act, United States Code, title 20, sections 1091 et seq., as amended,
and Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 668.33;

(5) new text begin meet satisfactory academic progress as defined under section 136A.101,
subdivision 10;
new text end

new text begin (6) new text end be a Minnesota resident, as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision 8; and

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (7) new text end enroll full-time in a degree, diploma, or certificate program during the
academic year immediately following high school graduation at an eligible institution as
defined under section 136A.101, subdivision 4.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 136A.15, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Eligible institution.

"Eligible institution" means deleted text begin a postsecondary
educational institution that (1) is operated or regulated by this state or the Board of Regents
of the University of Minnesota; (2) is operated publicly or privately in another state, is
approved by the United States Secretary of Education, and, as determined by the office,
maintains academic standards substantially equal to those of comparable institutions
operated in this state; (3) is licensed or registered as a postsecondary institution by the
office or another state agency; and (4) by July 1, 2011, is participating in the federal Pell
Grant program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. It also
includes any institution chartered in a province deleted text end new text begin an institution that meets the eligibility
requirements under section 136A.155 new text end .

Sec. 13.

new text begin [136A.155] ADDITIONAL INSTITUTION ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS.
new text end

new text begin A postsecondary institution is an eligible institution for purposes of sections
136A.15 to 136A.1702, if the institution:
new text end

new text begin (1) meets the eligibility requirements under section 136A.103; or
new text end

new text begin (2) is operated publicly or privately in another state, is approved by the United States
Secretary of Education, and, as determined by the office, maintains academic standards
substantially equal to those of comparable institutions operated in this state.
new text end

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 136A.16, subdivision 14, is amended to read:

Subd. 14.

Notes.

The office may sell at public or private sale, at the price or prices
determined by the office, any note or other instrument or obligation evidencing or securing
a loan made by the office or its predecessor, new text begin including new text end the Minnesota Higher Education
Coordinating Board new text begin and the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office new text end .

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 136A.62, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

School.

"School" means:

(1) any partnership, company, firm, society, trust, association, corporation, or any
combination thereof, which (i) is, owns, or operates a private, nonprofit postsecondary
education institution; (ii) is, owns, or operates a private, for-profit postsecondary education
institution; or (iii) provides a postsecondary instructional program or course leading to a
degree whether or not for profit;

(2) any public new text begin or private new text end postsecondary educational institution located in another
state or country which offers or makes available to a Minnesota resident any course,
program or educational activity which does not require the leaving of the state for its
completion; or

(3) any individual, entity, or postsecondary institution located in another state
that contracts with any school located within the state of Minnesota for the purpose of
providing educational programs, training programs, or awarding postsecondary credits
or continuing education credits to Minnesota residents that may be applied to a degree
program.

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 136A.645, is amended to read:

136A.645 SCHOOL CLOSURE.

new text begin (a) new text end When a school decides to cease postsecondary education operations, it must
cooperate with the office in assisting students to find alternative means to complete their
studies with a minimum of disruption, and inform the office of the following:

(1) the planned date for termination of postsecondary education operations;

(2) the planned date for the transfer of the student records;

(3) confirmation of the name and address of the organization to receive and hold
the student records; and

(4) the official at the organization receiving the student records who is designated to
provide official copies of records or transcripts upon request.

new text begin (b) new text end Upon notice from a school of its intention to cease operations, the office shall
notify the school of the date on which it must cease the enrollment of students and all
postsecondary educational operations.

new text begin Without limitation as to other circumstance, a school shall be deemed to have ceased
operations when the school:
new text end

new text begin (1) has an unscheduled nonemergency closure or cancellation of classes for more
than 24 hours without prior notice to the office;
new text end

new text begin (2) announces it is closed or closing; or
new text end

new text begin (3) files for bankruptcy.
new text end

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 136A.646, is amended to read:

136A.646 ADDITIONAL SECURITY.

new text begin (a) new text end In the event any registered institution is notified by the United States Department
of Education that it has fallen below minimum financial standards and that its continued
participation in Title IV will be conditioned upon its satisfying either the Zone Alternative,
Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 668.175, paragraph (f), or a Letter of Credit
Alternative, Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 668.175, paragraph (c), the
institution shall provide a surety bond conditioned upon the faithful performance of all
contracts and agreements with students in a sum equal to the "letter of credit" required by
the United States Department of Education in the Letter of Credit Alternative, but in no
event shall such bond be less than $10,000 nor more than $250,000.

new text begin (b) In lieu of a bond, the applicant may deposit with the commissioner of
management and budget:
new text end

new text begin (1) a sum equal to the amount of the required surety bond in cash; or
new text end

new text begin (2) securities, as may be legally purchased by savings banks or for trust funds, in an
aggregate market value equal to the amount of the required surety bond.
new text end

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 136F.581, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Food products grown in state. new text end

new text begin Colleges and universities must make a
reasonable attempt to identify and purchase food products that are grown within the state.
new text end

Sec. 19.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 141.25, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Refunds. new text end

new text begin If a contract is deemed unenforceable under subdivision 2, a
school must refund tuition, fees, and other charges received from a student or on behalf
of a student within 30 days of receiving written notification and demand for refund from
the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
new text end

Sec. 20.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 141.25, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Minimum standards.

A license shall be issued if the office first
determines:

(1) that the applicant has a sound financial condition with sufficient resources
available to:

(i) meet the school's financial obligations;

(ii) refund all tuition and other charges, within a reasonable period of time, in the
event of dissolution of the school or in the event of any justifiable claims for refund against
the school by the student body;

(iii) provide adequate service to its students and prospective students; and

(iv) maintain and support the school;

(2) that the applicant has satisfactory facilities with sufficient tools and equipment
and the necessary number of work stations to prepare adequately the students currently
enrolled, and those proposed to be enrolled;

(3) that the applicant employs a sufficient number of qualified teaching personnel to
provide the educational programs contemplated;

(4) that the school has an organizational framework with administrative and
instructional personnel to provide the programs and services it intends to offer;

(5) that the premises and conditions under which the students work and study are
sanitary, healthful, and safe deleted text begin , according to modern standards deleted text end ;

(6) that the quality and content of each occupational course or program of study
provides education and adequate preparation to enrolled students for entry level positions
in the occupation for which prepared;

(7) that the living quarters which are owned, maintained, recommended, or approved
by the applicant for students are sanitary and safe;

(8) that the contract or enrollment agreement used by the school complies with
the provisions in section 141.265;

(9) that contracts and agreements do not contain a wage assignment provision or a
confession of judgment clause; and

(10) that there has been no adjudication of fraud or misrepresentation in any
criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding in any jurisdiction against the school or its
owner, officers, agents, or sponsoring organization.

Sec. 21.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 141.25, subdivision 13, is amended to read:

Subd. 13.

Schools licensed by another state agency or board.

A school required
to obtain a private career school license due to the use of "academy," "institute," "college,"
or "university" in its name new text begin or licensed for the purpose of participating in state financial aid
under chapter 136A, new text end and which is also licensed by another state agency or board shall be
required to satisfy only the requirements of subdivisions 3, clauses (1), (2), (3), (5), (7),
and (10); 4; 5, paragraph (b), clause (2); 7, clauses (1) and (10); 8; 9, clause (13); and 12.

Sec. 22.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 141.251, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Conditions.

The office shall adopt rules establishing the conditions for
renewal of a license. The conditions shall permit two levels of renewal based on the record
of the school. A school that has demonstrated the quality of its program and operation
through longevity and performance in the state may renew its license based on a relaxed
standard of scrutiny. A school that has been in operation in Minnesota for a limited period
of time or that has not performed adequately on performance indicators shall renew its
license based on a strict standard of scrutiny. The office shall specify minimum longevity
standards and performance indicators that must be met before a school may be permitted
to operate under the relaxed standard of scrutiny. The performance indicators used in this
determination shall include, but not be limited to: deleted text begin degree granting status, deleted text end regional or
national accreditation, loan default rates, placement rate of graduates, student withdrawal
rates, audit results, student complaints, and school status with the United States
Department of Education. Schools that meet the requirements established in rule shall be
required to submit a full relicensure report once every four years, and in the interim years
will be exempt from the requirements of section 141.25, subdivision 3, clauses (4), (5),
and (8), and Minnesota Rules, parts 4880.1700, subpart 6; and 4880.2100, subpart 4.

Sec. 23.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 141.28, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Unlawful designation.

No school organized after November 15, 1969,
shall apply to itself either as a part of its name or in any other manner the designation of
"college" or "university" deleted text begin unless such school applies for and receives certification from the
office that it meets appropriate standards and is entitled to such designation deleted text end . Operating
schools now using such designation may continue use thereof.

Sec. 24.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 474A.04, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Entitlement transfers.

An entitlement issuer may enter into an agreement
with another entitlement issuer whereby the recipient entitlement issuer issues obligations
pursuant to bonding authority allocated to the original entitlement issuer under this
section. An entitlement issuer may enter into an agreement with an issuer which is not
an entitlement issuer whereby the recipient issuer issues qualified mortgage bonds, up to
$100,000 of which are issued pursuant to bonding authority allocated to the original
entitlement issuer under this section. The agreement may be approved and executed by the
mayor of the entitlement issuer with or without approval or review by the city council. new text begin
Notwithstanding section 474A.091, subdivision 4, prior to December 1, the Minnesota
Housing Finance Agency, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, and Minnesota Rural
Finance Authority may transfer allocated bonding authority made available under this
chapter to one another under an agreement by each agency and the commissioner.
new text end

Sec. 25.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 474A.091, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Allocation procedure.

(a) The commissioner shall allocate available
bonding authority under this section on the Monday of every other week beginning with
the first Monday in August through and on the last Monday in November. Applications
for allocations must be received by the department by 4:30 p.m. on the Monday preceding
the Monday on which allocations are to be made. If a Monday falls on a holiday, the
allocation will be made or the applications must be received by the next business day
after the holiday.

(b) Prior to October 1, only the following applications shall be awarded allocations
from the unified pool. Allocations shall be awarded in the following order of priority:

(1) applications for residential rental project bonds;

(2) applications for small issue bonds for manufacturing projects; and

(3) applications for small issue bonds for agricultural development bond loan
projects.

(c) On the first Monday in October through the last Monday in November,
allocations shall be awarded from the unified pool in the following order of priority:

(1) applications for student loan bonds issued by or on behalf of the Minnesota
Office of Higher Education;

(2) applications for mortgage bonds;

(3) applications for public facility projects funded by public facility bonds;

(4) applications for small issue bonds for manufacturing projects;

(5) applications for small issue bonds for agricultural development bond loan
projects;

(6) applications for residential rental project bonds;

(7) applications for enterprise zone facility bonds;

(8) applications for governmental bonds; and

(9) applications for redevelopment bonds.

(d) If there are two or more applications for manufacturing projects from the
unified pool and there is insufficient bonding authority to provide allocations for all
manufacturing projects in any one allocation period, the available bonding authority shall
be awarded based on the number of points awarded a project under section 474A.045
with those projects receiving the greatest number of points receiving allocation first. If
two or more applications for manufacturing projects receive an equal amount of points,
available bonding authority shall be awarded by lot unless otherwise agreed to by the
respective issuers.

(e) If there are two or more applications for enterprise zone facility projects from
the unified pool and there is insufficient bonding authority to provide allocations for
all enterprise zone facility projects in any one allocation period, the available bonding
authority shall be awarded based on the number of points awarded a project under section
474A.045 with those projects receiving the greatest number of points receiving allocation
first. If two or more applications for enterprise zone facility projects receive an equal
amount of points, available bonding authority shall be awarded by lot unless otherwise
agreed to by the respective issuers.

(f) If there are two or more applications for residential rental projects from the
unified pool and there is insufficient bonding authority to provide allocations for all
residential rental projects in any one allocation period, the available bonding authority
shall be awarded in the following order of priority: (1) projects that preserve existing
federally subsidized housing; (2) projects that are not restricted to persons who are 55
years of age or older; and (3) other residential rental projects.

(g) From the first Monday in August through the last Monday in November,
$20,000,000 of bonding authority or an amount equal to the total annual amount of
bonding authority allocated to the small issue pool under section 474A.03, subdivision 1,
less the amount allocated to issuers from the small issue pool for that year, whichever is
less, is reserved within the unified pool for small issue bonds to the extent such amounts
are available within the unified pool.

(h) The total amount of allocations for mortgage bonds from the housing pool and
the unified pool may not exceed:

(1) $10,000,000 for any one city; or

(2) $20,000,000 for any number of cities in any one county.

(i) The total amount of allocations for student loan bonds from the unified pool may
not exceed deleted text begin $10,000,000 deleted text end new text begin $25,000,000 new text end per year.

(j) If there is insufficient bonding authority to fund all projects within any qualified
bond category other than enterprise zone facility projects, manufacturing projects, and
residential rental projects, allocations shall be awarded by lot unless otherwise agreed to
by the respective issuers.

(k) If an application is rejected, the commissioner must notify the applicant and
return the application deposit to the applicant within 30 days unless the applicant requests
in writing that the application be resubmitted.

(l) The granting of an allocation of bonding authority under this section must be
evidenced by issuance of a certificate of allocation.

Sec. 26.

Laws 2009, chapter 95, article 2, section 40, is amended to read:

Sec. 40. TEACHER EDUCATION REPORT.

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education and Minnesota Department of Education
must report to the committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over teacher education on
best practices in innovative teacher education programs and teacher education research.
The report must include, at a minimum, information on:

(1) teacher education preparation program curricula that will prepare prospective
teachers to teach an increasingly diverse student population;

(2) opportunities for mid-career professionals employed in professions in which
there is a shortage of teachers to pursue a teaching career; and

(3) enhancing the ability of teachers to use technology in the classroom.

The report must be submitted by deleted text begin June deleted text end new text begin August new text end 15, 2010.

Sec. 27.

Laws 2010, chapter 215, article 2, section 4, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3. Operations and Maintenance

-0-

(9,967,000)

For fiscal years 2012 and 2013, the base for
operations and maintenance is deleted text begin $592,792,000 deleted text end
new text begin $580,802,000 new text end each year.

Sec. 28.

Laws 2010, chapter 215, article 2, section 6, the effective date, is amended to
read:

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective deleted text begin the day following final enactment deleted text end new text begin
for grants made on and after July 1, 2010 new text end .

Sec. 29. new text begin STUDY OF CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS; EDUCATIONAL
CAREER PATH.
new text end

new text begin The Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, in conjunction
with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, representatives of industry groups, and labor
unions, shall study the program requirements for certificates and diplomas awarded by
the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to determine the feasibility of designing
technical education programs to allow students to have more opportunities to earn
credentials with lower credit requirements that could be combined into higher level
certificates or diplomas. The study must consult with business and industry representatives
as well as labor unions and faculty on the types of credentials that would be recognized for
employment purposes. In addition, the study must address the feasibility of increasing
the capacity to accumulate credentials in related programs into an educational career path
leading to a diploma or degree. The study must also address the need for workers in
other fields and take into account other job training programs provided by labor unions
and business.
new text end

new text begin The board must report the study findings to the committees of the legislature with
responsibility for postsecondary education finance by February 15, 2011.
new text end

Sec. 30. new text begin STREAMLINED MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES SYSTEM OFFICE.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any law or policy to the contrary, the Board of Trustees of
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities shall streamline services provided through
the system's central service office to reduce expenditures, better target the use of state
resources, and provide services at the most appropriate and efficient level so as not
to duplicate any services provided at the institutional level. These actions must be
implemented so as to achieve budgetary savings and efficiencies in delivery of services
and the accomplishment of the academic mission. The board must revise any board
policies in a way that is consistent with the requirements of this section.
new text end

Sec. 31. new text begin POSTRETIREMENT HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM
REIMBURSEMENT.
new text end

new text begin The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system shall waive premium
reimbursement payments including any late payment charges, fees, penalties, or interest
payments imposed on overdue health insurance premium reimbursements owed by a
college retiree to the college under a contractual or collective bargaining agreement
providing for postretirement health insurance benefits arising from employment under
a contract or collective bargaining agreement with a school district or technical college
prior to July 1, 1995, and who became an employee of Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities on July 1, 1995. This section applies only if the college has failed to bill
the retiree for the premium reimbursement payments as required under the applicable
collective bargaining or contractual agreement, or if not otherwise established, within 90
days following the date on which the premium was due.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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

Sec. 32. new text begin SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS PILOT PROJECT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Surgical technologists; training and employment pilot project.
new text end

new text begin The Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities shall establish a pilot
project to develop partnerships and training and employment opportunities for surgical
technologists. The pilot project must develop partnerships between a health care facility
located within 25 miles of an accredited surgical technologist program offered by a
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities institution and the institution. The partnerships
must promote the employment and retention of surgical technologists, working in
accordance with law, regulations, including Code of Federal Regulations, title 42,
section 482.51, and contract provisions, who have successfully completed an accredited
educational program and who hold and maintain a certified surgical technology credential
from a nationally recognized and accredited surgical technologist certifying body.
new text end

new text begin This subdivision expires June 30, 2014.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The board of trustees shall report on the pilot project under this
section to the appropriate legislative chairs by January 1, 2013, with recommendations
to enhance surgical technologist training and to ensure an adequate supply of surgical
technologist graduates to meet the needs of facilities.
new text end

Sec. 33. new text begin PILOT PROJECT; LOCAL DEPOSIT OF RESERVES OF
MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin To increase the distribution of potential economic
benefit of deposits of reserve funds of the institutions of Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities, a pilot project is established to transfer certain reserve deposits of selected
institutions from the state treasury to a community financial institution. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.27, by January 2, 2011, the commissioner of management
and budget shall transfer the specified amount of board-required reserve funds of colleges
and universities selected by the board of trustees under subdivision 2, to a community
financial institution designated for each of the participating colleges and universities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Participating colleges and universities. new text end

new text begin By August 15, 2010, colleges
and universities may apply to the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities for participation in the pilot project. Each applicant must designate one
or more community financial institutions for the deposit of a specified amount of
board-required reserves, with the terms of the deposit for each designated community
financial institution. The designated community financial institution must be located in the
geographic area of a participating campus. From the applicants, the board shall select up to
eight postsecondary institutions to participate in the local deposit pilot project. In making
its selection, the board must consider the size of the institution's reserves and the terms
offered by the designated community financial institutions. Unless there are not sufficient
applicants, two-year and four-year institutions must be selected to participate in the pilot
project and the majority of the selected institutions must be located in greater Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin By December 1, 2010, the board must notify the commissioner of management and
budget of the participating colleges and universities, the deposit amount for each institution
and the associated community financial institutions. The pilot project shall provide for the
transfer of deposits for no more than the period January 2, 2011, to December 31, 2012.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Community financial institution. new text end

new text begin As used in this section, "community
financial institution" means a federally insured bank or credit union, chartered as a bank
or credit union by the state of Minnesota or the United States, that is headquartered in
Minnesota and that has no more than $2,500,000,000 in assets.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Evaluation and report. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of management and budget and
the board of trustees shall independently evaluate the effectiveness or harm of the local
deposit pilot project in increasing the use of community financial institutions and providing
wider distribution of the economic benefit of the deposit of postsecondary reserves. Each
evaluation must include the participating colleges, universities, and community financial
institutions. The commissioner of management and budget and the board shall report on
the pilot project evaluation to the appropriate committees of the legislature by February 1,
2013, with recommendations on the future implementation of the pilot project.
new text end

Sec. 34. new text begin NANOTECHNOLOGY REPORT.
new text end

new text begin By February 1, 2011, the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota are
requested to, and the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
shall, study nanotechnology research and education and report to the committees of the
legislature with responsibility for higher education, economic development, environment,
and public health on the ethical issues and the principles for nanotechnology research and
development and education they utilize in their institutions and nanotechnology initiatives.
The report must assess ways they ensure that nanotechnology is used responsibly through
standards and guidelines that protect public health and the environment and provide for
occupational health and safety.
new text end

Sec. 35. new text begin FEDERAL HEALTH CARE REFORM.
new text end

new text begin The regents of the University of Minnesota are requested to direct the area health
education centers to conduct public education related to the provisions of federal health
care reform legislation, as enacted under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,
Public Law 111-148, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, Public Law
111-152, and the potential impacts of federal health care reform to Minnesota citizens,
employers, and health care providers.
new text end

Sec. 36. new text begin MONITORING OF FEDERAL POSTSECONDARY TEXTBOOK
DISCLOSURE LAW.
new text end

new text begin The Office of Higher Education shall monitor the implementation of the Higher
Education Opportunity Act, Public Law 110-315, as it relates to disclosure of textbook
pricing and other information to students. The monitoring shall be done in a manner that
the office determines will allow it to determine whether students are receiving information
required or encouraged to be disclosed to students under the act. The office shall report the
results of its monitoring along with any recommendations for legislation to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over
higher education finance and policy by February 1, 2011.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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

Sec. 37. new text begin REDUCTION IN GRANTS FOR INSUFFICIENT APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin In fiscal year 2011, the dollar amount reductions in state grants under Minnesota
Statutes, section 136A.121, subdivision 7, may be approximately equal for the surcharge
on family responsibility and the percentage increase on the assigned student responsibility.
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education may reserve up to five percent of the projected
demand for grant awards in fiscal year 2011 to manage uncertainty of demand based on
enrollment or income changes of applicants. After reduced grant awards are made for
fiscal year 2011, the office must distribute any remaining funds to increase the living and
miscellaneous expenses allowance consistent with the office's distribution of surplus
appropriations under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.121, subdivision 7a; provided
that if the office determines that the remaining funds are less than $1,500,000 the office
may, in lieu of increasing the allowance, transfer all of the remaining funds to the state
work-study program.
new text end

Sec. 38. new text begin CREDIT TRANSFER; MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES.
new text end

new text begin (a) The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must
develop and implement a plan to improve credit transfers within the system. At a
minimum, the board must:
new text end

new text begin (1) enhance information on transferring and tracking credits;
new text end

new text begin (2) improve training for all staff involved with credit transfer;
new text end

new text begin (3) identify discrepancies in transferring and accepting credits by institutions within
the system and devise methods to improve the uniform treatment of credit transfers; and
new text end

new text begin (4) require, to the extent feasible, institutional rather than student obligation to
provide prompt required documentation for course equivalency determinations.
new text end

new text begin (b) The board may convene working groups of affected faculty, staff, students, and
administrators representing institutions and academic and technical disciplines in the
system to work on issues and barriers to credit transfer.
new text end

new text begin (c) The board must provide systemwide transfer information on the Internet that is
easily accessible and maintained in a current and accurate status. Each system college
and university shall post information necessary to determine the transferability of course
credits on their institutional Web sites. The working groups must develop a template to be
used by the colleges and universities to ensure consistency in the information available to
students. The links to each institution's informational Web site shall be submitted to the
office of the chancellor for publication on the MinnesotaTransfer.org Web site.
new text end

new text begin (d) The board shall report on February 15, 2011, and annually thereafter through
2014, on its activities to achieve the credit transfer goals in this section and the results
of those activities. The report shall be made to the chairs and ranking minority members
of the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher education policy and
finance. The goals of this section should be fully achieved as soon as possible, but no later
than the start of the 2015-2016 academic year.
new text end