1999 Minnesota Statutes

     136A.245 Matching grants. 

    Subdivision 1.    Matching grant qualification.  By 
 March 1 of each year, a state matching grant must be added to 
 each account established under the program if the following 
 conditions are met: 

    (1) the contributor applies, in writing in a form 
 prescribed by the director, for a matching grant; 

    (2) a minimum contribution of $200 was made during the 
 preceding calendar year; and 

    (3) the family income of the beneficiary did not exceed 
 $80,000. 

    Subd. 2.    Family income.  For purposes of this 
 section, "family income" means: 

    (1) if the beneficiary is under age 25, the combined 
 adjusted gross income of the beneficiary's parents as reported 
 on the federal tax return or returns for the most recently 
 available tax year; or 

    (2) if the beneficiary is age 25 or older, the combined 
 adjusted gross income of the beneficiary and spouse, if any. 

    Subd. 3.    Amount of matching grant.  The amount of the 
 matching grant for a beneficiary equals: 

    (1) if the beneficiary's family income is $50,000 or less, 
 15 percent of the sum of the contributions made to the 
 beneficiary's account during the calendar year, not to exceed 
 $300; and 

    (2) if the beneficiary's family income is more than $50,000 
 but not more than $80,000, five percent of the sum of the 
 contributions made to the beneficiary's account during the 
 calendar year, not to exceed $300. 

    Subd. 4.    Budget limit.  If the total amount of 
 matching grants determined under subdivision 3 exceeds the 
 amount of the appropriation for the fiscal year, the director 
 shall proportionately reduce each grant so that the total equals 
 the available appropriation. 

    Subd. 5.    Coordination with department of revenue.  In 
 administering matching grants, the director may require that 
 applicants submit sufficient information to determine whether 
 the beneficiary qualifies for a grant, including the social 
 security numbers, family income information, and any other 
 information the director determines necessary.  The applicant or 
 applicants may authorize the director to request information 
 from the commissioner of revenue to verify eligibility for a 
 grant from tax information on file with the commissioner or 
 obtained from the Internal Revenue Service.  If this method is 
 used and the taxpayer has authorized a release of the 
 information to the director, the commissioner of revenue may 
 verify that the beneficiary is eligible for a grant at a 
 specified rate and maximum and disclose that information to the 
 director, notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 270B. 

    Subd. 6.    Private contributions.  (a) The office may 
 solicit and accept contributions from private corporations, 
 other businesses, foundations, employers, or individuals to 
 provide: 

    (1) matching grants under this section in addition to those 
 funded with direct appropriations; 

    (2) grants to students who withdraw money from accounts 
 established under the program; or 

    (3) contributions to an account on behalf of a beneficiary. 

    (b) Amounts contributed may only be used for those 
 purposes.  Amounts contributed are appropriated to the director 
 for the purposes of this subdivision. 

    (c) Contributors may designate a specific field of study, 
 geographic area, or other criteria that govern use of the grants 
 funded with their contributions, but may not discriminate on the 
 basis of race, ethnicity, or gender.  The office may refuse 
 contributions that are subject, in the judgment of the director, 
 to unacceptable conditions on their use. 

    HIST: 1997 c 183 art 2 s 16; 1999 c 214 art 2 s 10