SF 4402

2nd Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/05/2024 02:53pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying SNAP eligibility for students enrolled in
higher education; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
256D.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [256D.66] CAMPUS-BASED EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Designation. new text end

new text begin (a) Within six months of the effective date of this section,
the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must, and the Board of
Regents of the University of Minnesota is requested to, submit an application to the
commissioner of human services verifying whether each of its institutions meets the
requirements to be a campus-based employment and training program that qualifies for the
student exemption for supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) eligibility, as
described in the Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 273.5(b)(11)(iv).
new text end

new text begin (b) An institution of higher education must be designated as a campus-based employment
and training program by the commissioner of human services if that institution meets the
requirements set forth in the guidance under subdivision 3. The commissioner of human
services must maintain a list of approved programs on its website.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Student eligibility. new text end

new text begin A student is eligible to participate in a campus-based
employment and training program under this section if they are enrolled in:
new text end

new text begin (1) a public two-year community or technical college and received a state grant under
section 136A.121, received a federal Pell grant, or has a student aid index of $0 or less;
new text end

new text begin (2) a Tribal college as defined in section 136A.62 and received a state grant under section
136A.121, received a federal Pell grant, or has a student aid index of $0 or less; or
new text end

new text begin (3) a public four-year university and received a state grant under section 136A.121,
received a federal Pell grant, or has a student aid index of $0 or less.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Guidance. new text end

new text begin Within three months of the effective date of this section and annually
thereafter, the commissioner of human services, in consultation with the commissioner of
higher education, must issue guidance to counties, Tribal Nations, Tribal colleges, and
Minnesota public postsecondary institutions that:
new text end

new text begin (1) clarifies the state and federal eligibility requirements for campus-based employment
and training programs for low-income households;
new text end

new text begin (2) clarifies the application process for campus-based employment and training programs
for low-income households including, but not limited to, providing a list of the supporting
documents required for program approval;
new text end

new text begin (3) clarifies how students in an institution of higher education approved as campus-based
employment and training program for low-income households qualify for a SNAP student
exemption; and
new text end

new text begin (4) clarifies the SNAP eligibility criteria for students that qualify for a SNAP student
exemption under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin Within three months of the effective date of this section, the
commissioner of human services, in consultation with the commissioner of higher education,
must design an application for institutions of higher education to apply for a campus-based
employment and training program designation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Notice. new text end

new text begin At the beginning of each academic semester, an institution of higher
education with a designated campus-based employment and training program must send a
letter to students eligible under this section to inform them that they may qualify for SNAP
benefits and direct them to resources to apply. The letter under this subdivision shall serve
as proof of a student's enrollment in a campus-based employment and training program.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon federal approval. The commissioner
of human services must notify the revisor of statutes when federal approval is obtained.
new text end