<div class="xtend">
         <div class="xtend_ce"><a id="pl.1.1"></a><var>1.1</var>A bill for an act<br />
            		
         </div><a id="pl.1.2"></a><var>1.2</var>relating to higher education; requiring the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>State Colleges and Universities to study technical education credentials.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br />
         		<br />
         		<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section 1. <b>STUDY OF CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS; EDUCATIONAL </b><br />
         		<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var><b>CAREER PATH.</b><br />
         		<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, in <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>conjunction with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, representatives of industry <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>groups, and labor unions, shall study the program requirements for certificates and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>diplomas awarded by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to determine the <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>feasibility of designing technical education programs to allow students to have more <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>opportunities to earn credentials with lower credit requirements that could be combined <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>into higher level certificates or diplomas. The study must consult with business and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>industry representatives as well as labor unions and faculty on the types of credentials that <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>would be recognized for employment purposes. In addition, the study must address the <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>feasibility of increasing the capacity to accumulate credentials in related programs into <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>an educational career path leading to a diploma or degree. The study must also address <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>the need for workers in other fields and take into account other job training programs <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>provided by labor unions and business.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>The board must report the study findings to the committees of the legislature with <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>responsibility for postsecondary education finance by February 15, 2011.<br />
         		
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