1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to education; requiring the provision of 
  1.3             certain technical education diplomas and certificates; 
  1.4             amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 136F.32. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 136F.32, is 
  1.7   amended to read: 
  1.8      136F.32 [DEGREES; DIPLOMAS; CERTIFICATES.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [APPROVAL.] The board may approve awarding 
  1.10  of appropriate certificates, diplomas, or degrees to persons who 
  1.11  complete a prescribed curriculum. 
  1.12     Subd. 2.  [DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES.] For each technical 
  1.13  education program offering an associate in applied science 
  1.14  degree, the technical college or consolidated community and 
  1.15  technical college must provide students the option of choosing 
  1.16  to earn a diploma or certificate without a general education 
  1.17  component.  All credits earned for the diploma or certificate 
  1.18  shall be applicable toward a degree in the same program if 
  1.19  students choose to earn the degree at a later time.  This 
  1.20  subdivision does not apply to programs in which a degree is 
  1.21  necessary for licensure or as a required credential for career 
  1.22  placement.