SF 2140

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing grants for construction management
education; adding a surcharge to permit fees; establishing an account; requiring
a report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section
16B.70, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 16B.

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

Section 1. new text begin FINDINGS; CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT EDUCATION
PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin The legislature finds an increasing need exists for construction management
education programs and resources within the state's public postsecondary education
system to prepare graduates for the management of construction operations.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 16B.70, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Construction management education surcharge and account. new text end

new text begin (a)
For nonresidential construction building permits, the surcharge under subdivision 1
is increased by an amount equal to one-quarter mill (.00025) of the fee or 25 cents,
whichever amount is greater, and designated for and deposited in the construction
management education account.
new text end

new text begin (b) The construction management education account is created as an account in
the special revenue fund, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry for
the purpose of enhancing construction management education in public postsecondary
institutions. Funds in the account are appropriated to the commissioner for the purposes
of section 16B.702.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [16B.702] CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT EDUCATION
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Construction Management Education Account Advisory
Committee. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of labor and industry must establish a four-member
advisory committee to oversee the construction management education account and to
award grants. The commissioner must appoint the members of the committee as follows:
the executive director of the Associated General Contractors of Minnesota or designee,
two members of the nonresidential construction industry, and a construction management
program coordinator or director from an accredited construction management program in
the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities or the University of Minnesota. Members
serve three-year terms. Advisory committee members are reimbursed for traveling and
other expenses related to committee activities. The committee may accept funds from
federal, state, or local public agencies, or from private foundations or individuals for
deposit into the construction management education account. All money in the account
must be used for the purposes of this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The Construction Management Education Account Advisory
Committee must maintain and increase the quality and availability of education programs
for the construction industry by providing financial resources to accredited construction
management programs in Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the University
of Minnesota. Grants must be used to maintain and upgrade facilities and provide
greater industry access to modern construction standards and management practices,
the committee must:
new text end

new text begin (1) confirm the qualifications of programs applying for grants;
new text end

new text begin (2) affirm applications for American Council for Construction Education
accreditation and, when funds are available, award grants to complete the accreditation
process;
new text end

new text begin (3) promote close ties between feeder technical and community colleges and
four-year construction management programs; and
new text end

new text begin (4) support development of new educational programs with specific emphasis on
outreach to the construction industry at large.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grant awards. new text end

new text begin (a) The committee may award grants to qualified public
postsecondary educational institutions for the support of construction management
education.
new text end

new text begin (b) The committee may award grants to any organization or association of
contractors, or organization of contractor organizations to promote outreach and
continuing education in the construction industry up to an amount equal to 25 percent of
the total funds available under this article.
new text end

new text begin (c) To be eligible for a grant under this section a public postsecondary educational
institution must provide one of the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) a bachelor of science construction management degree accredited by the
American Council for Construction Education;
new text end

new text begin (2) a degree with an American Council for Construction Education accredited
option, including, but not limited to, Engineering Technology and Industrial Technology;
new text end

new text begin (3) a bachelor of science degree program documenting placement of more than 50
percent of their graduates with Minnesota nonresidential contractors; and
new text end

new text begin (4) the development of a construction management curriculum to meet the American
Council for Construction Education criteria.
new text end

new text begin The committee may also consider other specific grant requests, including requests
from the construction industry.
new text end

new text begin (d) Grant awards must be made to eligible public postsecondary institutions under
this subdivision in the following amounts:
new text end

new text begin (1) $3,000 per graduate during the past academic year up to a maximum of $100,000
for institutions qualifying under paragraph (c), clause (1);
new text end

new text begin (2) $3,000 per graduate during the past academic year up to a maximum of $100,000
for institutions qualifying under paragraph (c), clause (2);
new text end

new text begin (3) $3,000 per graduate placed with Minnesota nonresidential contractors during the
past academic year to a maximum of $20,000 for institutions qualifying under paragraph
(c), clause (3). These funds shall be used for the purpose of becoming accredited by
the American Council for Construction Education and shall be available for up to three
years. The board may continue to provide a grant to an institution that, in its judgment, is
meeting the intent of this program and is continuing progress towards accreditation; and
new text end

new text begin (4) institutions qualifying under paragraph (c), clause (4), may receive a grant in
an amount up to $25,000 per year for up to two years. Thereafter, these institutions may
receive grants based upon the criteria described in paragraph (c), clauses (1) to (3).
new text end

new text begin (e) Grant awards may be made to eligible organizations after funding paragraph
(d), as follows:
new text end

new text begin (i) to support and develop outreach, continuing education, and cooperative education
or internship programs;
new text end

new text begin (ii) for administrative and clerical support positions; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) for faculty recruitment and development, including support for postgraduate
work leading to advanced degrees, visiting lecturer compensation and expenses, teaching
assistant positions, and faculty positions.
new text end

new text begin (f) Grants under this section may also be used to support general classroom and
laboratory operating expenses and related administrative supplies, including, but not
limited to, reference materials, testing equipment, and equipment maintenance. Grants
may only be awarded from the construction management education account to the extent
that funds are available. No other state funding may be provided for these grants.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin (a) The committee shall report to the commissioner annually
on the grant program, including the names of the public postsecondary educational
institutions receiving grants, the amount of the grant, the purposes for each grant, the
number of students served, the number of placements made to the construction industry
for the previous academic year, and any other information the committee considers
relevant to the program.
new text end

new text begin (b) After receiving an initial grant, the president of each public postsecondary
educational institution must annually submit a report to the committee listing the amount
of all past grants awarded from the construction management education account and the
uses of those funds. The report must be submitted with a request for a new or continuing
grant and at a minimum must include the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) the number of graduates placed with the Minnesota contractors during the
previous academic year;
new text end

new text begin (2) the expected enrollment in construction management courses in the upcoming
academic year; and
new text end

new text begin (3) continuing education and extension courses offered in construction management
during the previous academic year and their enrollments.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Administration. new text end

new text begin Up to $15,000 per year from the construction
management education account may be used for the administration of this program.
new text end