SF 4965

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/15/2024 09:35am

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; modifying the allowed uses of student support
personnel aid for school districts and charter schools with declining enrollment;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 124D.901, subdivision
4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 124D.901, subdivision 4, is
amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Allowed uses.

(a) Aid under this section must be used to hire new positions
for student support services personnel or increase a current position that is less than 1.0
full-time equivalent to a greater number of service hours or make permanent a position hired
using onetime resources awarded through the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic
Security Act, the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, the federal Division
M-Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, or the federal
American Rescue Plan Act, or to maintain a position that would otherwise be eliminated.

(b) Cooperative student support personnel aid must be transferred to the intermediate
district or other cooperative unit of which the district is a member and used to hire new
positions for student support services personnel or increase a current position that is less
than 1.0 full-time equivalent to a greater number of service hours or make permanent a
position hired using onetime resources awarded through the American Rescue Plan Act at
the intermediate district or cooperative unit.

(c) If a school district, charter school, or cooperative unit does not receive at least two
applications and is not able to hire a new full-time equivalent position with student support
personnel aid, the aid may be used for contracted services from individuals licensed to serve
as a school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, school nurse, or chemical
dependency counselor in Minnesota.

new text begin (d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (c), a declining enrollment district may use aid
under this section to maintain existing student support services personnel positions or
contracted services, including positions or contracted services established prior to the
2023-2024 school year. For purposes of this paragraph, "declining enrollment district"
means a school district or charter school for which the enrollment on October 1 of the
previous fiscal year is less than the enrollment on October 1 of the second previous fiscal
year. A school district or charter school that qualifies as a declining enrollment district under
this paragraph remains eligible to allocate aid as provided under this paragraph for each of
the next four fiscal years.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for revenue in fiscal year 2025 and later.
new text end