1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; modifying uses of the special education teacher pipeline 
1.3 	grant;amending Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 122A.77, 
1.4 	subdivisions 2, 3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 122A.77, subdivision 2, is 
1.7 	amended to read:
1.8 		Subd. 2.Grant uses. (a) A grant recipient must use grant funds to support participants 
1.9 	who are employed by the grant recipient as either a paraprofessional or other unlicensed 
1.10 	staff, or a teacher with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 license, or a teacher with a Tier 3 license adding 
1.11 	a field license in special education, and demonstrate a willingness to be a special education 
1.12 	teacher after completing the program.
1.13 	(b) A grant recipient may use grant funds for:
1.14 	(1) tuition assistance or stipends for participants;
1.15 	(2) supports for participants, including mentoring, licensure test preparation, and 
1.16 	technology support; or
1.17 	(3) participant recruitment.

1.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 122A.77, subdivision 3, is amended 
2.2 	to read:
2.3 		Subd. 3.Grant procedure. (a) Applicants must apply for a grant under this section in 
2.4 	the form and manner specified by the commissioner.
2.5 	(b) In awarding grants, the commissioner must prioritize funding for training to allow 
2.6 	participants holding a Tier 1 or Tier 2 special education license to obtain a Tier 3 special 
2.7 	education license and participants holding a Tier 3 license to add a field license in special 
2.8 	education.
2.9 	(c) To the extent that there are sufficient applications, the commissioner must, to the 
2.10 	extent practicable, award an equal number of grants between applicants in greater Minnesota 
2.11 	and applicants in the metropolitan area.

2.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.