1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to higher education; appropriating money for a grant to the Minnesota 
1.3 	Association of Black Lawyers for a pilot program for black Minnesota 
1.4 	undergraduates exploring law school and legal careers; requiring a report.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF BLACK 
1.7 	LAWYERS.
 1.8 	(a) $350,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $350,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from 
1.9 	the general fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for a grant to the 
1.10 	Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers to be used for a pilot program supporting black 
1.11 	undergraduate students pursuing admission to law school. This is a onetime appropriation.
1.12 	(b) The pilot program under paragraph (a) must:
1.13 	(1) enroll an initial cohort of ten to 20 black Minnesota resident students attending a 
1.14 	baccalaureate degree-granting postsecondary institution in Minnesota full-time;
1.15 	(2) support each of the program's students with an academic scholarship in the amount 
1.16 	of $4,000 per academic year;
1.17 	(3) organize events and programming, including but not limited to one-on-one mentoring, 
1.18 	to familiarize enrolled students with law school and legal careers; and
1.19 	(4) provide the program's students free test preparation materials, academic support, and 
1.20 	registration for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) examination.
1.21 	(c) The Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers may use grant funds under paragraph 
1.22 	(a) for costs related to:
2.1 	(1) student scholarships;
2.2 	(2) academic events and programming, including food and transportation costs for 
2.3 	students;
2.4 	(3) LSAT preparation materials, courses, and registrations; and
2.5 	(4) hiring staff for the program.
2.6 	(d) By January 30, 2024, and again by January 30, 2025, the Minnesota Association of 
2.7 	Black Lawyers must submit a report to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education 
2.8 	and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
2.9 	over higher education finance and policy. The report must include an accurate and detailed 
2.10 	account of the pilot program, its outcomes, and its revenues and expenses, including the 
2.11 	use of all state funds appropriated in paragraph (a).