HF 25

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 01/13/2017 09:54am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; providing extended financial aid eligibility; facilitating
credit transfer; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters
135A; 136A.

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

Section 1.

[135A.082] CREDIT TRANSFER FOR STUDENTS OF CLOSED
FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS.

(a) The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the
Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota must award transfer credit to an admitted
student who enrolls because the student was unable to complete a course of study at a private,
for-profit postsecondary institution located in Minnesota as a result of that institution's
closure.

(b) The number of credits an institution must award under this section must be based
upon:

(1) the number of credits the student completed at the closed for-profit postsecondary
institution; and

(2) the relationship of the transferred credits to the student's new program or course of
study.

(c) An institution that accepts transfer credits under this section must count as completed
any goal area within the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum that the transferred credits fulfill.

(d) This section only requires an award of transfer credits if a student transfers within
two years of the closure of a private, for-profit postsecondary institution. An institution
covered by this section may choose to award transfer credits after two years have elapsed.

Sec. 2.

[136A.1251] FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY FOR STUDENTS OF CLOSED
FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS.

(a) If a student attended a private, for-profit postsecondary education institution located
in Minnesota and was unable to complete a course of study at the institution due to the
institution's closure, the commissioners of higher education and veterans affairs must grant
the student additional eligibility for state financial aid programs, as provided in this section.

(b) If the student applies for:

(1) a child care grant under section 136A.125, the commissioner of higher education
must not count any semester the student attended the closed institution towards the
eight-semester limit in section 136A.125, subdivision 2, paragraph (a);

(2) a state grant under section 136A.121, the commissioner of higher education must
not count any semester the student attended the closed institution towards the eight-semester
limit in section 136A.121, subdivision 9; and

(3) a Minnesota GI Bill benefit under section 197.791, the commissioner of veterans
affairs must not count any awards received while attending the closed institution toward
the per semester, per fiscal year, or lifetime award limits in section 197.791, subdivision 5.