1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing a pilot program to explore the development of 
1.3 	a regional center for visual arts; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. PILOT PROGRAM TO EXPLORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A 
1.6 	REGIONAL CENTER FOR VISUAL ARTS.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; eligibility. (a) A pilot program for fiscal years 
1.8 	2008 and 2009 is established to explore the development of a regional center for visual 
1.9 	arts in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. A program developed under this section must 
1.10 	offer secondary school students interested in a visual arts career access to a regional 
1.11 	metropolitan center that enables the students to:
1.12 	(1) develop relevant, technology-based academic and career and technical knowledge 
1.13 	and skills related to visual arts, consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.024;
1.14 	(2) participate in concurrent, dual enrollment course options so that they may 
1.15 	satisfy both secondary and postsecondary education requirements and receive secondary 
1.16 	and postsecondary credits; and
1.17 	(3) explore and understand visual arts-related careers beginning in middle school 
1.18 	grades.
1.19 	(b) School districts, charter schools, intermediate school districts, postsecondary 
1.20 	institutions, and other interested community-based education or career and technical 
1.21 	organizations with relevant visual arts expertise may apply jointly to the commissioner 
1.22 	of education, in the form and manner the commissioner determines, to participate in this 
1.23 	program. The application must describe how the applicant proposes to establish and 
1.24 	operate a regional center that satisfies the requirements in paragraph (a), and ensures 
2.1 	an ongoing relationship with local visual arts businesses able to offer students visual 
2.2 	arts training during and outside the school day and school year and specialized visual 
2.3 	arts knowledge and skills that are consistent with students' education and career goals. 
2.4 	The commissioner may require applicants to provide additional information related to 
2.5 	establishing and operating this pilot program.
2.6 		Subd. 2.Application review and grant award. (a) When reviewing applications, 
2.7 	the commissioner must determine whether an applicant has satisfied the requirements in 
2.8 	subdivision 1, and also may consider the following criteria when reviewing applications:
2.9 	(1) the number and demographic characteristics of students likely to participate 
2.10 	in the program;
2.11 	(2) the ability and willingness of the applicant to provide information about its 
2.12 	program to other education entities; and
2.13 	(3) the relevant experience of and the education and career and technical resources 
2.14 	available to the applicant.
2.15 	(b) The commissioner must select one qualified applicant to participate in this pilot 
2.16 	program. The grant recipient must use the grant to implement this pilot program.
2.17 		Subd. 3.Evaluation. The commissioner must provide for an evaluation of the pilot 
2.18 	program and must recommend to the house of representatives and senate committees 
2.19 	with jurisdiction over education policy and finance by February 15, 2010, how to 
2.20 	develop regional centers throughout Minnesota that provide students with relevant, 
2.21 	technology-based academic and career and technical knowledge and skills related to 
2.22 	particular industries able to accommodate changing societal needs and expectations and 
2.23 	global economic conditions.

2.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
2.25 	and applies to fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

2.26 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.27 	$3,900,000 in fiscal year 2008 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
2.28 	commissioner of education for implementing a pilot program to explore the development 
2.29 	of a regional center for visual arts in the Twin Cities metropolitan area under section 1. 
2.30 	Funds unexpended in fiscal year 2008 do not cancel and are available in fiscal year 2009.