SF 4402

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/07/2024 04:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to human services; modifying SNAP eligibility for students enrolled in
higher education; requiring reports; 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] MODIFYING SNAP ELIGIBILITY; STUDENTS ENROLLED
IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Guidance letter. new text end

new text begin By September 1, 2024, the commissioner of human
services must issue a guidance letter to counties and Minnesota public postsecondary
institutions that does the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) clarifies the state and federal eligibility requirements for a program at a Minnesota
public postsecondary institution to be a state-approved local educational program that
increases employability 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), and is consistent with the Code of Federal Regulations, title
7, section 273.7(e)(1);
new text end

new text begin (2) clarifies the application and approval process for a program to be approved by the
commissioner as a state-approved local educational program that increases employability,
as described in clause (1), including but not limited to clarifying the supporting documents
required for program approval; and
new text end

new text begin (3) states that a student enrolled at a four-year Minnesota public postsecondary institution
with an approved campus-based program may not receive SNAP benefits under this section
unless they are eligible for a federal Pell grant.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Certification application. new text end

new text begin A program at a Minnesota public postsecondary
institution that meets the eligibility requirements to be a state-approved local educational
program that increases employability on or before January 1, 2025, must submit a certification
application to the commissioner. A program that meets the eligibility requirements after
January 1, 2025, must submit a certification application within six months following the
formation of the program. If the program is available at more than one campus, the
application must list each campus at which the program is available.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Approval of campus-based programs. new text end

new text begin Upon receipt of a certification
application from a program pursuant to subdivision 2, the commissioner must approve the
program if it meets the eligibility requirements to be a state-approved local educational
program that increases employability, as established in the guidance letter issued by the
commissioner under subdivision 1. The commissioner must maintain a list of approved
programs on the department's website.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Student eligibility. new text end

new text begin A student enrolled at a four-year Minnesota public
postsecondary institution with an approved campus-based program may not receive SNAP
benefits under this section unless they are eligible for a federal Pell grant.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, the commissioner
must provide a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over higher education and human services, and the legislative
reference library, that contains the following information:
new text end

new text begin (1) the number of state-approved local educational programs that increase employability
that are approved by the commissioner under subdivision 4, disaggregated by name and
campus;
new text end

new text begin (2) the number of pending applications, disaggregated by name and campus; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the number of applications denied and the reason for the denial, disaggregated by
name and campus.
new text end