SF 3818

1st Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/24/2022 10:05am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a youth skill path program for employment-based
training; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [124D.351] SKILLS PATH PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Purpose. new text end

new text begin The purpose of the skills path program is to provide students
with clear pathways from high school to careers in skilled work and the trades and create
opportunities for students to enter postsecondary programs and employment-based training
in high school.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Career and technical education dual credit program" means a postsecondary career
or technical education course under section 124D.09, subdivision 5; a secondary course that
has a current articulation agreement for postsecondary credit hours with a participating
institution; or a youth skills training program that awards postsecondary credit to students.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Eligible student" means a student who is in grade 11 or 12, or is age 16 or older,
and is enrolled in a public school, an American Indian-controlled tribal contract or grant
school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, a nonpublic school, is a homeschool student,
is in an approved adult high school diploma program, or has obtained a high school
equivalency diploma from the commissioner of education.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Employment-based training" means a registered apprenticeship or apprenticeship
readiness program, a dual-training program, a workforce training program at an opportunities
industrialization center, or other work-based learning programs in which the student has
paid employment.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligible institutions. new text end

new text begin (a) A public school, an American Indian-controlled tribal
contract or grant school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, or nonpublic school is
eligible to apply for a skills path program designation.
new text end

new text begin (b) A Minnesota state college or university, an institution licensed or registered as a
postsecondary institution by the Office of Higher Education, or an institution exempt from
the provisions of sections 136A.61 to 136A.71, or 136A.822 to 136A.834, as approved by
the Office of Higher Education may partner with an institution in paragraph (a) to provide
a postsecondary options enrollment career and technical education course for eligible students
in a skills path program.
new text end

new text begin (c) An eligible institution may work in partnership with one or more postsecondary
programs designed in paragraph (b) to create a two-year program that incorporates secondary
and postsecondary credit along with employment-based training to award an associate degree
in skilled occupations.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Skills path programs. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of higher education must develop
an application in consultation with the commissioners of education and labor and industry
for programs that provide students with clear pathways from high school to careers in skilled
work and the trades to be designated as skills path programs. Skills path programs must
include career connected learning options, career and technical education dual credit program
options, and employment-based training opportunities to be eligible for this designation.
Applicants must demonstrate how skills path programs will be marketed to students and
what other local partners and employers are involved in developing career pathway
opportunities. Skills path programs may be identified in skilled occupations and the trades,
including manufacturing, construction, health care services, information technology,
agriculture, transportation, childcare, law enforcement, and other related industries.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Interaction with education finance. new text end

new text begin For the purpose of computing state aids
for the school district, students participating in the skills path programs under this section
shall be counted in the average daily membership of the school district.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Academic credit. new text end

new text begin A school district may grant academic credit for skills path
programs under this section in accordance with local requirements.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Grant applications. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of higher education shall award
grants up to $50,000 per grant to eight eligible institutions annually for skills path programs
that align career and technical education dual credit program options with employment-based
training opportunities. Applications must demonstrate how grant funding will provide
students with clear pathways from high school to postsecondary training that lead to careers
in skilled work and the trades.
new text end

new text begin (b) An eligible institution awarded a grant under this section must use the grant award
for any of the following implementation and coordination activities:
new text end

new text begin (1) marketing efforts to students about skills path program opportunities;
new text end

new text begin (2) coordinating academic, vocational, and occupational learning, school-based and
work-based learning, and secondary and postsecondary education for participants in the
program; and
new text end

new text begin (3) any other implementation or coordination activity that the commissioner may direct
or permit the eligible institution to perform.
new text end

new text begin (c) Grant awards may not be used to pay the wages of a student directly or indirectly.
new text end

new text begin (d) The following information must be included in the grant application:
new text end

new text begin (1) the identity of each public school, American Indian-controlled tribal contract or grant
school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, nonpublic school, homeschool, or adult basic
education program that is a participant in the skills path program;
new text end

new text begin (2) the identity of each registered apprenticeship program or apprenticeship readiness
program, dual-training program, workforce training program at an opportunities
industrialization center, or other work-based learning program in which the student has the
opportunity for paid employment that is a participant in the skills path program;
new text end

new text begin (3) the identity of each postsecondary institution, intermediate school district, public
agency, nonprofit organization, union, career and technical education consortium, or
workforce development authority that is a participant in the skills path program;
new text end

new text begin (4) the identity of any employers participating in the skills path program;
new text end

new text begin (5) a description of any career connected learning components;
new text end

new text begin (6) a description of the career and technical education dual credit program options;
new text end

new text begin (7) a description of any postsecondary education components in the skills path program;
new text end

new text begin (8) a description of employment-based training opportunities; and
new text end

new text begin (9) applicable career planning information.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Skills path scholarships. new text end

new text begin Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, an
eligible student enrolled in a skills path program may apply to the Office of Higher Education
on a form prescribed by the commissioner to receive reimbursement of tuition, books,
required tools, and other approved expenses required for participation in the program.
Financial aid from other state student aid programs must be applied prior to the skills path
scholarship.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin SKILLS PATH PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $400,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2023 from the general fund to the commissioner
of higher education to administer skills path grants under Minnesota Statutes, section
124D.351. The base for fiscal years 2024 and later is $400,000.
new text end

new text begin (b) $100,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2023 from the general fund to the commissioner
of higher education to administer skills path scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section
124D.351, subdivision 8. The base for fiscal years 2024 and later is $100,000.
new text end