SF 3155

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 04/25/2018 11:41am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; changing eligibility for the state grant program;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 136A.103.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 136A.103, is amended to read:

136A.103 INSTITUTION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

(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:

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

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

(b) A private institution must:

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

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

(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

(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.

(c) An institution that offers only graduate-level degrees or graduate-level nondegree
programs is an eligible institution if the institution is licensed or registered as a postsecondary
institution by the office.

(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.

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

(f) An institution must maintain adequate administrative and financial standards and
compliance with all state statutes, rules, and administrative policies related to state financial
aid programs.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for grants for students enrolling for the
first time in the fall of 2019.
new text end