1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; establishing a program of 
  1.3             tuition and textbook reimbursement grants for students 
  1.4             enrolled in accredited post-secondary Minnesota school 
  1.5             guidance counseling training institutions; 
  1.6             appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.7             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 122A. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  [122A.655] [SCHOOL GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING 
  1.10  INCENTIVE GRANTS.] 
  1.11     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] In order to increase the 
  1.12  number of future school guidance counselors in elementary and 
  1.13  secondary schools, a scholarship grant program is established 
  1.14  for students enrolled in accredited post-secondary Minnesota 
  1.15  school guidance counseling training institutions. 
  1.16     Subd. 2.  [ELIGIBILITY.] (a) Eligibility is limited to a 
  1.17  student enrolled in accredited post-secondary Minnesota school 
  1.18  guidance counseling training institutions who: 
  1.19     (1) is a resident of this state; 
  1.20     (2) is attending a post-secondary educational institution, 
  1.21  as defined by section 136A.15, subdivision 6; 
  1.22     (3) provides verification of enrollment in, and evidence 
  1.23  of, a plan of study for completion of degree and licensure as a 
  1.24  school guidance counselor; 
  1.25     (4) consents, unconditionally, to recoupment if the student 
  1.26  fails to complete the plan of study; and 
  2.1      (5) consents, unconditionally, to be employed for five 
  2.2   years as a school guidance counselor in a Minnesota school 
  2.3   district. 
  2.4      (b) Additional eligibility criteria for the grant may be 
  2.5   determined by the commissioner of children, families, and 
  2.6   learning in collaboration with representatives from state school 
  2.7   guidance counseling training institutions. 
  2.8      (c) Tuition and textbook reimbursement grants received 
  2.9   under this section may not be considered by the Minnesota higher 
  2.10  education services office or by any other state board, 
  2.11  commission, or entity in determining a person's eligibility for 
  2.12  a scholarship or grant-in-aid under sections 136A.095 to 
  2.13  136A.1311. 
  2.14     Subd. 3.  [APPLICATION PROCESS.] The commissioner of 
  2.15  children, families, and learning in consultation with 
  2.16  representatives from state school guidance counselor training 
  2.17  institutions shall develop a grant process for applicants.  
  2.18  Post-secondary school students must request application forms 
  2.19  from the commissioner. 
  2.20     Subd. 4.  [INCENTIVE GRANTS; AMOUNTS.] (a) The commissioner 
  2.21  may award up to ... grants in fiscal year 2000, and an 
  2.22  additional ... grants in fiscal year 2001. 
  2.23     (b) Incentive grants are available up to an amount equal to 
  2.24  the sum of 75 percent of the tuition and textbook costs of 
  2.25  students enrolled in school counseling training institutions. 
  2.26     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.27     $....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2000 from the 
  2.28  general fund to the commissioner of children, families, and 
  2.29  learning for the purposes of the grant program under section 1.  
  2.30  Of this amount, $....... is available in fiscal year 2000 and 
  2.31  $....... is available in fiscal year 2001. 
  2.32     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.33     Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final 
  2.34  enactment.