1.1 	CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT ON H. F. No. 4024
1.2 	A bill for an act
1.3 	relating to higher education; making policy and technical changes to certain higher 
1.4 	education provisions including student sexual misconduct, student aid, student 
1.5 	supports, and institutional registration and contract provisions; modifying allowable 
1.6 	uses for appropriations; requiring reports;amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, 
1.7 	sections 135A.15, subdivisions 1a, 2, 6, 8, by adding a subdivision; 136A.091, 
1.8 	subdivision 3; 136A.1241, subdivision 3; 136A.1701, subdivisions 4, 7; 136A.62, 
1.9 	by adding subdivisions; 136A.63, subdivision 1; 136A.646; 136A.65, subdivision 
1.10 	4; 136A.675, subdivision 2; 136A.821, subdivision 5, by adding a subdivision; 
1.11 	136A.822, subdivisions 1, 2, 6, 7, 8; 136A.828, subdivision 3; 136A.829, 
1.12 	subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, 
1.13 	sections 135A.121, subdivision 2; 135A.15, subdivision 1; 135A.161, by adding 
1.14 	a subdivision; 135A.162, subdivision 2; 136A.1241, subdivision 5; 136A.1465, 
1.15 	subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 136A.62, subdivision 3; 136A.833, subdivision 2; 
1.16 	136F.38, subdivision 3; Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, section 4, subdivision 
1.17 	2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 135A; 136A; 
1.18 	repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 135A.16; Minnesota Statutes 2023 
1.19 	Supplement, section 135A.162, subdivision 7.
1.20 	May 16, 2024
1.21 	The Honorable Melissa Hortman
1.22 	Speaker of the House of Representatives
1.23 	The Honorable Bobby Joe Champion
1.24 	President of the Senate
1.25 	We, the undersigned conferees for H. F. No. 4024 report that we have agreed upon the 
1.26 	items in dispute and recommend as follows:
1.27 	That the Senate recede from its amendment and that H. F. No. 4024 be further amended 
1.28 	as follows:
1.29 	Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:

2.1 	ARTICLE 1
2.2 	HIGHER EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

2.3 	Section 1. Laws 2022, chapter 42, section 2, is amended to read:
2.4 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; ALS RESEARCH.
 2.5 	(a) ~~$20,000,000~~ $396,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to 
2.6 	the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education to award competitive grants to applicants 
2.7 	for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The commissioner may work with 
2.8 	the Minnesota Department of Health to administer the grant program, including identifying 
2.9 	clinical and translational research and innovations, developing outcomes and objectives 
2.10 	with the goal of bettering the lives of individuals with ALS and finding a cure for the disease, 
2.11 	and application review and grant recipient selection. Not more than ~~$400,000~~ $396,000
2.12 	may be used by the commissioner to administer the grant program. This is a onetime 
2.13 	appropriation. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered balances 
2.14 	under this section do not cancel until June 30, 2026.
2.15 	(b) $19,604,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
2.16 	commissioner of the Office of Higher Education to award competitive grants to applicants 
2.17 	for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The commissioner may work with 
2.18 	the Minnesota Department of Health to administer the grant program, including identifying 
2.19 	clinical and translational research and innovations, developing outcomes and objectives 
2.20 	with the goal of bettering the lives of individuals with ALS and finding a cure for the disease, 
2.21 	and application review and grant recipient selection. Up to $15,000,000 may be used by the 
2.22 	commissioner for grants to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, Never Surrender, 
2.23 	or other similar organizations to award and administer competitive grants to applicants for 
2.24 	research into ALS under this section. This is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding 
2.25 	Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered balances under this section do not cancel 
2.26 	until June 30, 2029. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98, subdivision 14, 
2.27 	the commissioner, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, Never Surrender, and 
2.28 	other similar organizations may use up to a total of five percent of this appropriation for 
2.29 	administrative costs.
2.30 	~~(b)~~ (c) Grants shall be awarded to support clinical and translational research related to 
2.31 	ALS. Research topics may include but are not limited to environmental factors, disease 
2.32 	mechanisms, disease models, biomarkers, drug development, clinical studies, precision 
2.33 	medicine, medical devices, assistive technology, and cognitive studies.
3.1 	~~(c)~~ (d) Eligible applicants for the grants are research facilities, universities, and health 
3.2 	systems located in Minnesota. Applicants must submit proposals to the commissioner in 
3.3 	the time, form, and manner established by the commissioner. Applicants may coordinate 
3.4 	research endeavors and submit a joint application. When reviewing the proposals, the 
3.5 	commissioner shall make an effort to avoid approving a grant for an applicant whose research 
3.6 	is duplicative of an existing grantee's research.
3.7 	~~(d)~~ (e) Beginning January 15, 2023, and annually thereafter until January 15, ~~2027~~ 2030, 
3.8 	the commissioner shall submit a report to the legislature specifying the applicants receiving 
3.9 	grants under this section, the amount of each grant, the purposes for which the grant funds 
3.10 	were used, and the amount of the appropriation that is unexpended. The report must also 
3.11 	include relevant findings, results, and outcomes of the grant program, and any other 
3.12 	information which the commissioner deems significant or useful.
3.13 	~~(e) This is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28,~~ 
3.14 	~~unencumbered balances under this section do not cancel until June 30, 2026.~~

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

3.16 	Sec. 2. Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, section 2, subdivision 35, is amended to read:

3.17 | Subd. 35.Hunger-Free Campus Grants | | 1,500,000 | | 1,000,000
3.18 	For the Hunger-Free Campus program under 
3.19 	Minnesota Statutes, section 135A.137. Of this 
3.20 	amount, up to $500,000 the first year is for 
3.21 	grants not to exceed $25,000 to institutions 
3.22 	for equipment necessary to operate an 
3.23 	on-campus food pantry, and is available until 
3.24 	June 30, 2026. The commissioner shall 
3.25 	establish an application and process for 
3.26 	distributing the grant funds. ~~This appropriation~~ 
3.27 	~~is available until June 30, 2026.~~

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

4.1 	Sec. 3. Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, section 2, subdivision 36, is amended to read:

4.2

4.3

Subd. 36.Fostering Independence Higher 
Education Grants

4,247,000

~~4,416,000~~
9,456,000

4.4 	$4,247,000 the first year and ~~$4,416,000~~
4.5 	$9,456,000 the second year are for grants to 
4.6 	eligible students under Minnesota Statutes, 
4.7 	section 136A.1241. The Office of Higher 
4.8 	Education may use no more than three percent 
4.9 	of the appropriation to administer grants. The 
4.10 	base for this appropriation is $4,416,000 for 
4.11 	fiscal year 2026 and thereafter.

4.12 	Sec. 4. Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, section 2, subdivision 49, as amended by Laws 
4.13 	2024, chapter 85, section 111, is amended to read:

4.154.14

Subd. 49.North Star Promise

-0-

~~117,226,000~~
112,186,000

4.16 	~~$117,226,000~~ $112,186,000 the second year 
4.17 	is transferred from the general fund to the 
4.18 	account in the special revenue fund under 
4.19 	Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1465, 
4.20 	subdivision 8. The base for the transfer is 
4.21 	$49,500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and thereafter.

4.22 	Sec. 5. Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, section 4, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

4.23 | Subd. 2.Operations and Maintenance | | 686,558,000 | | 676,294,000
4.24 	(a) $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
4.25 	$15,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are to: (1) 
4.26 	increase the medical school's research 
4.27 	capacity; (2) improve the medical school's 
4.28 	ranking in National Institutes of Health 
4.29 	funding; (3) ensure the medical school's 
4.30 	national prominence by attracting and 
4.31 	retaining world-class faculty, staff, and 
4.32 	students; (4) invest in physician training 
4.33 	programs in rural and underserved 
5.1 	communities; and (5) translate the medical 
5.2 	school's research discoveries into new 
5.3 	treatments and cures to improve the health of 
5.4 	Minnesotans.
5.5 	(b) $7,800,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
5.6 	$7,800,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for health 
5.7 	training restoration. This appropriation must 
5.8 	be used to support all of the following: (1) 
5.9 	faculty physicians who teach at eight residency 
5.10 	program sites, including medical resident and 
5.11 	student training programs in the Department 
5.12 	of Family Medicine; (2) the Mobile Dental 
5.13 	Clinic; and (3) expansion of geriatric 
5.14 	education and family programs.
5.15 	(c) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
5.16 	$4,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for the 
5.17 	Minnesota Discovery, Research, and 
5.18 	InnoVation Economy funding program for 
5.19 	cancer care research.
5.20 	(d) $500,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $500,000 
5.21 	in fiscal year 2025 are for the University of 
5.22 	Minnesota, Morris branch, to cover the costs 
5.23 	of tuition waivers under Minnesota Statutes, 
5.24 	section 137.16.
5.25 	(e) $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
5.26 	$5,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are for 
5.27 	systemwide safety and security measures on 
5.28 	University of Minnesota campuses. The base 
5.29 	amount for this appropriation is $1,000,000 
5.30 	in fiscal year 2026 and later.
5.31 	(f) $366,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $366,000 
5.32 	in fiscal year 2025 are for unemployment 
5.33 	insurance aid under Minnesota Statutes, 
5.34 	section 268.193.
6.1 	(g) $10,000,000 the first year is for programs 
6.2 	at the University of Minnesota Medical School 
6.3 	~~Campus on the~~ CentraCare Health System 
6.4 	Campus in St. Cloud. This appropriation may 
6.5 	be used for tuition support, ~~a residency~~ 
6.6 	~~program, a rural health research program, a~~ 
6.7 	~~program to target scholarships to students from~~ 
6.8 	~~diverse backgrounds, and a scholarship~~ 
6.9 	~~program targeted at students who will practice~~ 
6.10 	~~in rural areas~~ including a scholarship program 
6.11 	targeted at students who will practice in rural 
6.12 	areas and targeted at students from diverse 
6.13 	backgrounds; costs associated with opening 
6.14 	and operating a new regional campus; costs 
6.15 	associated with the expansion of a residency 
6.16 	program; and costs associated with starting 
6.17 	and operating a rural health research program. 
6.18 	This appropriation is available until June 30, 
6.19 	2027, and must be spent ~~on~~ for activities on 
6.20 	or associated with the CentraCare Health 
6.21 	System Campus in the greater St. Cloud area. 
6.22 	This is a onetime appropriation.
6.23 	(h) $374,000 the first year and $110,000 the 
6.24 	second year are to pay the cost of supplies and 
6.25 	equipment necessary to provide access to 
6.26 	menstrual products for purposes of article 2, 
6.27 	section 2.
6.28 	(i) The total operations and maintenance base 
6.29 	for fiscal year 2026 and later is $672,294,000.

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

6.31 	Sec. 6. APPROPRIATION; KIDS ON CAMPUS INITIATIVE.
 6.32 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of 
6.33 	Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to participate in the Kids on 
6.34 	Campus initiative with the National Head Start Association and the Association of 
7.1 	Community College Trustees. This appropriation may be used for a temporary statewide 
7.2 	project coordinator, stipends to campuses and Head Start centers where letters of intent to 
7.3 	officially form a partnership have been signed, engaging with local Head Start programs, 
7.4 	and other costs associated with creating campus Head Start partnerships. Stipends shall be 
7.5 	used to support the formation of parenting student advisory panels to gather perspective 
7.6 	and feedback on proposed partnerships. The duties of the temporary statewide project 
7.7 	coordinator include assessing the feasibility of partnerships between Minnesota State Colleges 
7.8 	and Universities campuses and Head Start programs across the state, consulting with the 
7.9 	Minnesota Head Start Association and existing Head Start partnership programs to develop 
7.10 	best practices, working with campus-based navigators for parenting students to provide 
7.11 	resources for financial aid and basic needs support to Head Start programs, and developing 
7.12 	strategies to grow the early childhood care and education workforce through partnerships 
7.13 	between Head Start programs and early childhood degree and certificate programs. This is 
7.14 	a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026.

7.15 	ARTICLE 2
7.16 	POLICY PROVISIONS

7.17 	Section 1. [135A.062] CONSIDERATION OF CRIMINAL RECORDS LIMITED.
7.18 		Subdivision 1.Applicability. This section applies to postsecondary institutions under 
7.19 	section 136A.155, clause (1), except that the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota 
7.20 	is requested to comply with this section.
7.21 		Subd. 2.Definition. As used in this section, "a violent felony or sexual assault" includes 
7.22 	a felony-level violation or attempted violation of section 609.185; 609.19; 609.195; 609.20; 
7.23 	609.221; 609.2242, subdivision 4; 609.2247; 609.245, subdivision 1; 609.247, subdivision 
7.24 	2; 609.282; 609.322; 609.342; 609.343; 609.344; 609.345; 609.3451; 609.3458; 609.561, 
7.25 	subdivision 1 or 2; 609.582, subdivision 1; 609.66, subdivision 1e; or 609.749; or a statute 
7.26 	from another state, the United States, or a foreign jurisdiction, in conformity with any of 
7.27 	these sections.
7.28 		Subd. 3.Consideration of criminal records limited. A postsecondary institution may 
7.29 	not inquire into, consider, or require disclosure of the criminal record or criminal history 
7.30 	of an applicant for admission. After a postsecondary institution has made an offer of 
7.31 	admission, the postsecondary institution may inquire into, consider, or require disclosure 
7.32 	of a conviction or delinquency adjudication that occurred within the previous five years for 
7.33 	a violent felony or sexual assault. The postsecondary institution must provide the applicant 
7.34 	with an opportunity to submit an explanatory statement, letters of recommendation, evidence 
8.1 	of rehabilitation, and any other supporting documents. The institution must provide clear 
8.2 	and detailed instructions and guidance to applicants related to what criminal history requires 
8.3 	disclosure. The institution must not require the applicant to provide official records of 
8.4 	criminal history. A postsecondary institution that rescinds an offer of admission must:
8.5 	(1) provide an explanation of the basis for the decision to rescind the offer of admission; 
8.6 	and
8.7 	(2) provide the applicant with an opportunity to appeal the decision to rescind.
8.8 		Subd. 4.Other information. This section shall not prohibit or limit a postsecondary 
8.9 	institution from inquiring about student conduct records at the applicant's prior postsecondary 
8.10 	institution after making an offer of admission. This section shall not prohibit or limit a 
8.11 	postsecondary institution from inquiring about a student's ability to meet licensure 
8.12 	requirements in a professional program after making an offer of admission.
8.13 		Subd. 5.Limitation on admissibility. (a) A postsecondary institution that complies 
8.14 	with this section is immune from liability in a civil action arising out of the institution's 
8.15 	decision to admit a student with a criminal history or the institution's failure to conduct a 
8.16 	criminal background check.
8.17 	(b) Nothing in this section creates or establishes a legal duty upon a postsecondary 
8.18 	institution to inquire into or require disclosure of the criminal history or criminal convictions 
8.19 	of a student or an applicant for admission.

8.20 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 135A.121, subdivision 2, is amended 
8.21 	to read:
8.22 		Subd. 2.Eligibility. To be eligible each year for the program a student must:
8.23 	(1) be enrolled in an undergraduate certificate, diploma, or degree program at the 
8.24 	University of Minnesota or a Minnesota state college or university;
8.25 	(2) be either (i) a Minnesota resident for resident tuition purposes who is an enrolled 
8.26 	member or citizen of a federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Canadian First Nation, 
8.27 	or (ii) an enrolled member or citizen of a Minnesota Tribal Nation, regardless of resident 
8.28 	tuition status; ~~and~~
8.29 	(3) have not (i) obtained a baccalaureate degree, or (ii) been enrolled for ~~180 credits~~ 12 
8.30 	semesters or the equivalent, excluding courses taken that qualify as developmental education 
8.31 	or below college-level~~.~~; and
9.1 	(4) meet satisfactory academic progress as defined under section 136A.101, subdivision 
9.2 	10.

9.3 	Sec. 3. [135A.144] TRANSCRIPT ACCESS.
9.4 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) The terms defined in this subdivision apply to this section.
9.5 	(b) "Debt" means any money, obligation, claim, or sum, due or owed, or alleged to be 
9.6 	due or owed, from a student. Debt does not include the fee, if any, charged to all students 
9.7 	for the actual costs of providing the transcripts.
9.8 	(c) "School" means a public institution governed by the Board of Trustees of the 
9.9 	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, private postsecondary educational institution 
9.10 	as defined under section 136A.62 or 136A.821, or public or private entity that is responsible 
9.11 	for providing transcripts to current or former students of an educational institution. 
9.12 	Institutions governed by the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota are requested 
9.13 	to comply with this section.
9.14 	(d) "Transcript" means the statement of an individual's academic record, including 
9.15 	official transcripts or the certified statement of an individual's academic record provided 
9.16 	by a school, and unofficial transcripts or the uncertified statement of an individual's academic 
9.17 	record provided by a school.
9.18 		Subd. 2.Prohibited practices. (a) A school must not refuse to provide a transcript for 
9.19 	a current or former student because the student owes a debt to the school if:
9.20 	(1) the debt owed is less than $1,000;
9.21 	(2) the student has entered into and, as determined by the institution, is in compliance 
9.22 	with a payment plan with the school;
9.23 	(3) the transcript request is made by a prospective employer for the student;
9.24 	(4) the school has sent the debt for repayment to the Department of Revenue or to a 
9.25 	collection agency, as defined in section 332.31, subdivision 3, external to the institution 
9.26 	and the debt has not been returned to the institution unpaid; or
9.27 	(5) the person is incarcerated at a Minnesota correctional facility.
9.28 	(b) A school must not charge an additional or higher fee for obtaining a transcript or 
9.29 	provide less favorable treatment of a transcript request because a student owes a debt to the 
9.30 	originating school.
10.1 		Subd. 3.Institutional policy. (a) A school that uses transcript issuance as a tool for debt 
10.2 	collection must have a policy accessible to students that outlines how the school collects 
10.3 	on debts owed to the school.
10.4 	(b) A school shall seek to use transcript issuance as a tool for debt collection for the 
10.5 	fewest number of cases possible and in a manner that allows for the quickest possible 
10.6 	resolution of the debt benefitting the student's educational progress.

10.7 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 135A.15, as amended by Laws 2023, chapter 52, 
10.8 	article 5, section 79, is amended to read:
10.9 	135A.15 CAMPUS SEXUAL ~~HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE~~ MISCONDUCT
10.10 	POLICY.
10.11 		Subdivision 1.Applicability; policy required. (a) This section applies to the following 
10.12 	postsecondary institutions:
10.13 	(1) institutions governed by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and 
10.14 	Universities; and
10.15 	(2) private postsecondary institutions that offer in-person courses on a campus located 
10.16 	in Minnesota and which are eligible institutions as defined in section 136A.103, ~~provided~~ 
10.17 	~~that a private postsecondary institution with a systemwide enrollment of fewer than 100~~ 
10.18 	~~students in the previous academic year is exempt from subdivisions 4 to 10~~ paragraph (a), 
10.19 	that are participating in the federal program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 
10.20 	1965, Public Law 89-329, as amended.
10.21 	Institutions governed by the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota are 
10.22 	requested to comply with this section.
10.23 	(b) A postsecondary institution must adopt a clear, understandable written policy on 
10.24 	sexual ~~harassment and sexual violence~~ misconduct that informs victims of their rights under 
10.25 	the crime victims bill of rights, including the right to assistance from the Crime Victims 
10.26 	Reimbursement Board and the commissioner of public safety. The policy must apply to 
10.27 	students and employees and must provide information about their rights and duties. The 
10.28 	policy must apply to criminal incidents against a student or employee of a postsecondary 
10.29 	institution occurring on property owned or leased by the postsecondary system or institution 
10.30 	or at any activity, program, organization, or event sponsored by the system or institution, 
10.31 	or by a fraternity ~~and~~ or sorority, or any activity, program, organization, or event sponsored 
10.32 	by the system or institution, or by a fraternity or sorority, regardless of whether the activity, 
10.33 	program, organization, or event occurs on or off property owned or leased by the 
11.1 	postsecondary system or institution. It must include procedures for reporting incidents of 
11.2 	sexual ~~harassment or sexual violence~~ misconduct and for disciplinary actions against 
11.3 	violators. During student registration, a postsecondary institution shall provide each student 
11.4 	with information regarding its policy. A copy of the policy also shall be posted at appropriate 
11.5 	locations on campus at all times.
11.6 		Subd. 1a.~~Sexual assault definition~~ Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, 
11.7 	the following terms have the meanings given.
11.8 	(b) "Advisor" means a person who is selected by a responding or reporting party to serve 
11.9 	as a support during a campus investigation and disciplinary process. This person may be 
11.10 	an attorney. An advisor serves as a support to a party by offering comfort or attending 
11.11 	meetings.
11.12 	(c) "Domestic violence" has the meaning giving in section 518B.01, subdivision 2.
11.13 	~~(b)~~ (d) "Incident" means one report of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct to a postsecondary 
11.14 	institution, regardless of the number of complainants included in the report, the number of 
11.15 	respondents included in the report, and whether or not the identity of any party is known 
11.16 	by the reporting postsecondary institution. Incident encompasses all nonconsensual events 
11.17 	included within one report if multiple events have been identified.
11.18 	(e) "Intimate partner violence" means any physical or sexual harm or a pattern of any 
11.19 	other coercive behavior committed, enabled, or solicited to gain or maintain power and 
11.20 	control over a victim, including verbal, psychological, economic, or technological abuse 
11.21 	that may or may not constitute criminal behavior against an individual, that may be classified 
11.22 	as a sexual misconduct, dating violence, or domestic violence caused by:
11.23 	(1) a current or former spouse of the individual; or
11.24 	(2) a person in a sexual or romantic relationship with the individual.
11.25 	(f) "Nonconsensual dissemination of sexual images" has the meaning given in section 
11.26 	617.261.
11.27 	(g) "Reporting party" means the party in a disciplinary proceeding who has reported 
11.28 	being subjected to conduct or communication that could constitute sexual misconduct.
11.29 	(h) "Responding party" means the party in a disciplinary proceeding who has been 
11.30 	reported to be the perpetrator of conduct or communication that could constitute sexual 
11.31 	misconduct.
12.1 	~~(c)~~ (i) "Sexual assault" means rape, sex offenses - fondling, sex offenses - incest, or sex 
12.2 	offenses - statutory rape as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, part 668, subpart 
12.3 	D, appendix A, as amended.
12.4 	(j) "Sexual extortion" has the meaning given in section 609.3458.
12.5 	(k) "Sex trafficking" has the meaning given in section 609.321, subdivision 7a.
12.6 	(l) "Sexual harassment" has the meaning given in section 363A.03, subdivision 43.
12.7 	(m) "Sexual misconduct" means an incident of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, 
12.8 	domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, nonconsensual distribution of sexual 
12.9 	images, sexual extortion, nonconsensual dissemination of a deepfake depicting intimate 
12.10 	parts or sexual acts, sex trafficking, or stalking.
12.11 	(n) "Stalking" has the meaning given in section 609.749.
12.12 		Subd. 2.Victims' rights. (a) The policy required under subdivision 1 shall, at a minimum, 
12.13 	require that students and employees be informed of the policy, and shall include provisions 
12.14 	for:
12.15 	(1) filing criminal charges with local law enforcement officials in ~~sexual assault~~ cases
12.16 	defined as sexual misconduct that may constitute criminal behavior;
12.17 	(2) the prompt assistance of campus authorities, at the request of the victim, in notifying 
12.18 	the appropriate law enforcement officials and disciplinary authorities of a sexual ~~assault~~
12.19 	misconduct incident;
12.20 	(3) allowing sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct victims to decide whether to report a case to law 
12.21 	enforcement or not report altogether; participate in a campus investigation, disciplinary 
12.22 	proceeding, or nondisciplinary informal resolution; or not participate altogether;
12.23 	(4) requiring campus authorities to treat sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct victims with dignity;
12.24 	(5) requiring campus authorities to offer sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct victims fair and 
12.25 	respectful health care, counseling services, or referrals to such services;
12.26 	(6) preventing campus authorities from suggesting to a victim of sexual ~~assault~~
12.27 	misconduct that the victim is at fault for the crimes or violations that occurred;
12.28 	(7) preventing campus authorities from suggesting to a victim of sexual ~~assault~~
12.29 	misconduct that the victim should have acted in a different manner to avoid such a crime;
12.30 	(8) subject to ~~subdivision~~ subdivisions 2a and 10, protecting the privacy of sexual ~~assault~~
12.31 	misconduct victims by only disclosing data collected under this section to the victim, persons 
13.1 	whose work assignments reasonably require access, and, at a sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct
13.2 	victim's request, police conducting a criminal investigation;
13.3 	(9) an investigation and resolution of a sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct complaint by campus 
13.4 	disciplinary authorities;
13.5 	(10) a sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct victim's participation in and the presence of the victim's 
13.6 	~~attorney or other support person who is not a fact witness to the sexual assault~~ advisor at 
13.7 	any meeting with campus officials concerning the victim's sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct
13.8 	complaint or campus disciplinary proceeding concerning a sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct
13.9 	complaint;
13.10 	(11) ensuring that a sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct victim may decide when to repeat a 
13.11 	description of the incident of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct;
13.12 	(12) notice to a sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct victim of the availability of a campus or local 
13.13 	program providing ~~sexual assault~~ victim advocacy services and information on free legal 
13.14 	resources and services;
13.15 	(13) notice to a sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct victim of the outcome of any campus 
13.16 	disciplinary proceeding concerning a sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct complaint, consistent with 
13.17 	laws relating to data practices;
13.18 	(14) the complete and prompt assistance of campus authorities, at the direction of law 
13.19 	enforcement authorities, in obtaining, securing, and maintaining evidence in connection 
13.20 	with a sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct incident;
13.21 	(15) the assistance of campus authorities, at the request of the sexual misconduct victim,
13.22 	in preserving ~~for a sexual assault complainant or victim~~ materials relevant to a campus 
13.23 	disciplinary proceeding;
13.24 	(16) during and after the process of investigating a complaint and conducting a campus 
13.25 	disciplinary procedure, the assistance of campus personnel, in cooperation with the 
13.26 	appropriate law enforcement authorities, at a sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct victim's request, in 
13.27 	shielding the victim from unwanted contact with the alleged assailant, including transfer of 
13.28 	the victim to alternative classes or to alternative college-owned housing, if alternative classes 
13.29 	or housing are available and feasible;
13.30 	(17) forbidding retaliation, and establishing a process for investigating complaints of 
13.31 	retaliation, against sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct victims by campus authorities, the accused, 
13.32 	organizations affiliated with the accused, other students, and other employees;
14.1 	(18) at the request of the victim, providing students who reported sexual ~~assaults~~
14.2 	misconduct to the institution and subsequently choose to transfer to another postsecondary 
14.3 	institution with information about resources for victims of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct at the 
14.4 	institution to which the victim is transferring; and
14.5 	(19) consistent with laws governing access to student records, providing a student who 
14.6 	reported an incident of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct with access to the student's description 
14.7 	of the incident as it was reported to the institution, including if that student transfers to 
14.8 	another postsecondary institution.
14.9 	(b) None of the rights given to a student by the policy required by subdivision 1 may be 
14.10 	made contingent upon the victim entering into a nondisclosure agreement or other contract 
14.11 	restricting the victim's ability to discuss information in connection with a sexual misconduct 
14.12 	complaint, investigation, or hearing.
14.13 	(c) A nondisclosure agreement or other contract restricting the victim's ability to discuss 
14.14 	information in connection with a sexual misconduct complaint, investigation, or hearing 
14.15 	may not be used as a condition of financial aid or remedial action.
14.16 		Subd. 2a.Campus investigation and disciplinary hearing procedures. (a) A 
14.17 	postsecondary institution must provide a reporting party an opportunity for an impartial, 
14.18 	timely, and thorough investigation of a report of sexual misconduct against a student. If an 
14.19 	investigation reveals that sexual misconduct has occurred, the institution must take prompt 
14.20 	and effective steps reasonably calculated to end the sexual misconduct, prevent its recurrence, 
14.21 	and, as appropriate, remedy its effects.
14.22 	(b) Throughout any investigation or disciplinary proceeding, a postsecondary institution 
14.23 	must treat the reporting parties, responding parties, witnesses, and other participants in the 
14.24 	proceeding with dignity and respect.
14.25 	(c) If a postsecondary institution conducts a hearing, an advisor may provide opening 
14.26 	and closing remarks on behalf of a party or assist with formulating questions to the other 
14.27 	party or witnesses about related evidence or credibility.
14.28 		Subd. 3.Uniform amnesty. The sexual ~~harassment and violence~~ misconduct policy 
14.29 	required by subdivision 1 must include a provision that a witness or victim of an incident 
14.30 	of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct who reports the incident in good faith shall not be sanctioned 
14.31 	by the institution for admitting in the report to a violation of the institution's student conduct 
14.32 	policy on the personal use of drugs or alcohol.
15.1 		Subd. 4.Coordination with local law enforcement. (a) A postsecondary institution 
15.2 	must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the primary local law enforcement 
15.3 	agencies that serve its campus. The memorandum must be entered into no later than January 
15.4 	1, 2017, and updated every two years thereafter. This memorandum shall clearly delineate 
15.5 	responsibilities and require information sharing, in accordance with applicable state and 
15.6 	federal privacy laws, about certain crimes including, but not limited to, sexual assault. This 
15.7 	memorandum of understanding shall provide:
15.8 	(1) delineation and sharing protocols of investigative responsibilities;
15.9 	(2) protocols for investigations, including standards for notification and communication 
15.10 	and measures to promote evidence preservation; and
15.11 	(3) a method of sharing information about specific crimes, when directed by the victim, 
15.12 	and a method of sharing crime details anonymously in order to better protect overall campus 
15.13 	safety.
15.14 	(b) Prior to the start of each academic year, a postsecondary institution shall distribute 
15.15 	an electronic copy of the memorandum of understanding to all employees on the campus 
15.16 	that are subject to the memorandum.
15.17 	(c) An institution is exempt from the requirement that it develop a memorandum of 
15.18 	understanding under this section if the institution and local or county law enforcement 
15.19 	agencies establish a sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct protocol team to facilitate effective cooperation 
15.20 	and collaboration between the institution and law enforcement.
15.21 		Subd. 5.Online reporting system. (a) A postsecondary institution must provide an 
15.22 	online reporting system to receive complaints of sexual ~~harassment and sexual violence~~
15.23 	misconduct from students and employees. The system must permit anonymous reports, 
15.24 	provided that the institution is not obligated to investigate an anonymous report unless a 
15.25 	formal report is submitted through the process established in the institution's sexual 
15.26 	~~harassment and sexual violence~~ misconduct policy.
15.27 	(b) A postsecondary institution must provide students making reports under this 
15.28 	subdivision with information about who will receive and have access to the reports filed, 
15.29 	how the information gathered through the system will be used, and contact information for 
15.30 	on-campus and off-campus organizations serving victims of sexual ~~violence~~ misconduct.
15.31 	(c) Data collected under this subdivision is classified as private data on individuals as 
15.32 	defined by section 13.02, subdivision 12. Postsecondary institutions not otherwise subject 
16.1 	to chapter 13 must limit access to the data to only the data subject and persons whose work 
16.2 	assignments reasonably require access.
16.3 		Subd. 6.Data collection and reporting. (a) Postsecondary institutions must annually 
16.4 	report statistics on sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct. This report must be prepared in addition to 
16.5 	any federally required reporting on campus security, including reports required by the Jeanne 
16.6 	Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, United States 
16.7 	Code, title 20, section 1092(f). The report must include, but not be limited to, the number 
16.8 	of incidents of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct of each offense listed under the definition in 
16.9 	subdivision 1a, reported to the institution in the previous calendar year, as follows:
16.10 	(1) the number that were investigated by the institution;
16.11 	(2) the number that were referred for a disciplinary proceeding at the institution;
16.12 	(3) the number the victim chose to report to local or state law enforcement;
16.13 	(4) the number for which a campus disciplinary proceeding is pending, but has not 
16.14 	reached a final resolution;
16.15 	(5) the number in which the alleged perpetrator was found responsible by the disciplinary 
16.16 	proceeding at the institution;
16.17 	(6) the number that resulted in any action by the institution greater than a warning issued 
16.18 	to the accused;
16.19 	(7) the number that resulted in a disciplinary proceeding at the institution that closed 
16.20 	without resolution;
16.21 	(8) the number that resulted in a disciplinary proceeding at the institution that closed 
16.22 	without resolution because the accused withdrew from the institution;
16.23 	(9) the number that resulted in a disciplinary proceeding at the institution that closed 
16.24 	without resolution because the victim chose not to participate in the procedure; and
16.25 	(10) the number of reports made through the online reporting system established in 
16.26 	subdivision 5, excluding reports submitted anonymously.
16.27 	(b) If an institution previously submitted a report indicating that one or more disciplinary 
16.28 	proceedings was pending, but had not reached a final resolution, and one or more of those 
16.29 	disciplinary proceedings reached a final resolution within the previous calendar year, that 
16.30 	institution must submit updated totals from the previous year that reflect the outcome of 
16.31 	the pending case or cases.
17.1 	(c) The reports required by this subdivision must be submitted to the Office of Higher 
17.2 	Education by October 1 of each year. Each report must contain the data required under 
17.3 	paragraphs (a) and (b) from the previous calendar year.
17.4 	(d) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education shall calculate statewide numbers 
17.5 	for each data item reported by an institution under this subdivision. The statewide numbers 
17.6 	must include data from postsecondary institutions that the commissioner could not publish 
17.7 	due to federal laws governing access to student records.
17.8 	(e) The Office of Higher Education shall publish on its website:
17.9 	(1) the statewide data calculated under paragraph (d); and
17.10 	(2) the data items required under paragraphs (a) and (b) for each postsecondary institution 
17.11 	in the state.
17.12 	Each postsecondary institution shall publish on the institution's website the data items 
17.13 	required under paragraphs (a) and (b) for that institution.
17.14 	(f) Reports and data required under this subdivision must be prepared and published as 
17.15 	summary data, as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 19, and must be consistent with 
17.16 	applicable law governing access to educational data. If an institution or the Office of Higher 
17.17 	Education does not publish data because of applicable law, the publication must explain 
17.18 	why data are not included.
17.19 		Subd. 7.Access to data; audit trail. (a) Data on incidents of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct
17.20 	shared with campus security officers or campus administrators responsible for investigating 
17.21 	or adjudicating complaints of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct are classified as private data on 
17.22 	individuals as defined by section 13.02, subdivision 12, for the purposes of postsecondary 
17.23 	institutions subject to the requirements of chapter 13. Postsecondary institutions not otherwise 
17.24 	subject to chapter 13 must limit access to the data to only the data subject and persons whose 
17.25 	work assignments reasonably require access.
17.26 	(b) Only individuals with explicit authorization from an institution may enter, update, 
17.27 	or access electronic data related to an incident of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct collected, 
17.28 	created, or maintained under this section. The ability of authorized individuals to enter, 
17.29 	update, or access these data must be limited through the use of role-based access that 
17.30 	corresponds to the official duties or training level of the individual and the institutional 
17.31 	authorization that grants access for that purpose. All actions in which the data related to an 
17.32 	incident of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct are entered, updated, accessed, shared, or disseminated 
17.33 	outside of the institution must be recorded in a data audit trail. An institution shall 
18.1 	immediately and permanently revoke the authorization of any individual determined to have 
18.2 	willfully entered, updated, accessed, shared, or disseminated data in violation of this 
18.3 	subdivision or any provision of chapter 13. If an individual is determined to have willfully 
18.4 	gained access to data without explicit authorization, the matter shall be forwarded to a 
18.5 	county attorney for prosecution.
18.6 		Subd. 8.Comprehensive training. (a) A postsecondary institution must provide campus 
18.7 	security officers and campus administrators responsible for investigating or adjudicating 
18.8 	complaints of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct with comprehensive training on preventing and 
18.9 	responding to sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct in collaboration with the Bureau of Criminal 
18.10 	Apprehension or another law enforcement agency with expertise in criminal sexual conduct. 
18.11 	The training for campus security officers shall include a presentation on the dynamics of 
18.12 	sexual assault, neurobiological responses to trauma, and best practices for preventing, 
18.13 	responding to, and investigating sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct. The training for campus 
18.14 	administrators responsible for investigating or adjudicating complaints on sexual ~~assault~~
18.15 	misconduct shall include presentations on preventing sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct, responding 
18.16 	to incidents of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct, the dynamics of sexual assault, neurobiological 
18.17 	responses to trauma, and compliance with state and federal laws on sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct.
18.18 	(b) The following categories of students who attend, or will attend, one or more courses 
18.19 	on campus or will participate in on-campus activities must be provided sexual ~~assault~~
18.20 	misconduct training:
18.21 	(1) students pursuing a degree or certificate;
18.22 	(2) students who are taking courses through the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act; 
18.23 	and
18.24 	(3) any other categories of students determined by the institution.
18.25 	Students must complete such training no later than ten business days after the start of a 
18.26 	student's first semester of classes. Once a student completes the training, institutions must 
18.27 	document the student's completion of the training and provide proof of training completion 
18.28 	to a student at the student's request. Students enrolled at more than one institution within 
18.29 	the same system at the same time are only required to complete the training once.
18.30 	The training shall include information about topics including but not limited to sexual 
18.31 	~~assault~~ misconduct as defined in subdivision 1a; consent as defined in section 609.341, 
18.32 	subdivision 4; preventing and reducing the prevalence of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct; 
18.33 	procedures for reporting campus sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct; and campus resources on sexual 
18.34 	~~assault~~ misconduct, including organizations that support victims of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct.
19.1 	(c) A postsecondary institution shall annually train individuals responsible for responding 
19.2 	to reports of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct. This training shall include information about best 
19.3 	practices for interacting with victims of sexual ~~assault~~ misconduct, including how to reduce 
19.4 	the emotional distress resulting from the reporting, investigatory, and disciplinary process.
19.5 	(d) To the extent possible, trainings must be culturally responsive and address the unique 
19.6 	experiences and challenges faced by students based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, 
19.7 	disability, socioeconomic status, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and 
19.8 	pregnancy or parenting status.
19.9 		Subd. 9.Student health services. (a) An institution's student health service providers 
19.10 	must screen students for incidents of sexual ~~violence and sexual harassment~~ misconduct. 
19.11 	Student health service providers shall offer students information on resources available to 
19.12 	victims and survivors of sexual ~~violence and sexual harassment~~ misconduct including 
19.13 	counseling, mental health services, and procedures for reporting incidents to the institution.
19.14 	(b) Each institution offering student health or counseling services must designate an 
19.15 	existing staff member or existing staff members as confidential resources for victims of 
19.16 	sexual ~~violence or sexual harassment~~ misconduct. The confidential resource must be available 
19.17 	to meet with victims of sexual ~~violence and sexual harassment~~ misconduct. The confidential 
19.18 	resource must provide victims with information about locally available resources for victims 
19.19 	of sexual ~~violence and sexual harassment~~ misconduct including, but not limited to, mental 
19.20 	health services and legal assistance. The confidential resource must provide victims with 
19.21 	information about the process for reporting an incident of sexual ~~violence and sexual~~ 
19.22 	~~harassment~~ misconduct to campus authorities or local law enforcement. The victim shall 
19.23 	decide whether to report an incident of sexual ~~violence and sexual harassment~~ misconduct
19.24 	to campus authorities or local law enforcement. Confidential resources must be trained in 
19.25 	all aspects of responding to incidents of sexual ~~violence and sexual harassment~~ misconduct
19.26 	including, but not limited to, best practices for interacting with victims of trauma, preserving 
19.27 	evidence, campus disciplinary and local legal processes, and locally available resources for 
19.28 	victims. Data shared with a confidential resource is classified as sexual assault 
19.29 	communication data as defined by section 13.822, subdivision 1.
19.30 		Subd. 10.Applicability of other laws. This section does not exempt mandatory reporters 
19.31 	from the requirements of section 626.557 or chapter 260E governing the reporting of 
19.32 	maltreatment of minors or vulnerable adults. Nothing in this section limits the authority of 
19.33 	an institution to comply with other applicable state or federal laws related to investigations 
19.34 	or reports of sexual ~~harassment, sexual violence, or sexual assault~~ misconduct.

20.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2025.

20.2 	Sec. 5. [135A.1581] NAVIGATORS FOR PARENTING STUDENTS.
20.3 		Subdivision 1.Applicability. (a) This section applies to the following postsecondary 
20.4 	institutions:
20.5 	(1) institutions governed by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and 
20.6 	Universities; and
20.7 	(2) private postsecondary institutions that offer in-person courses on a campus located 
20.8 	in Minnesota and which are eligible institutions as defined in section 136A.103.
20.9 	(b) Institutions governed by the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota are 
20.10 	requested to comply with this section.
20.11 		Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
20.12 	meanings given.
20.13 	(b) "Institutions of higher education" means an institution of higher education under 
20.14 	subdivision 1.
20.15 	(c) "Parenting student" means a student enrolled at an institution of higher education 
20.16 	who is the parent or legal guardian of or can claim as a dependent a child under the age of 
20.17 	18.
20.18 		Subd. 3.Navigators. An institution of higher education must designate at least one 
20.19 	employee of the institution to act as a college navigator for current or incoming students at 
20.20 	the institution who are parenting students. The navigator must provide to the students 
20.21 	information regarding support services and other resources available to the students at the 
20.22 	institution, including:
20.23 	(1) medical and behavioral health coverage and services;
20.24 	(2) public benefit programs, including programs related to food security, affordable 
20.25 	housing, and housing subsidies;
20.26 	(3) parenting and child care resources;
20.27 	(4) employment assistance;
20.28 	(5) transportation assistance; and
20.29 	(6) any other resources developed by the institution to assist the students, including 
20.30 	student academic success strategies.
21.1 		Subd. 4.Report. (a) By June 30, 2026, an institution of higher education must establish 
21.2 	a process for collecting the parenting status of each enrolled student. By November 30, 
21.3 	2026, the Office of Higher Education shall establish a process for collecting this information 
21.4 	from institutions.
21.5 	(b) Annually, beginning January 15, 2028, the Office of Higher Education must submit 
21.6 	a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with 
21.7 	jurisdiction over higher education and children, youth, and families. The report must include 
21.8 	the following for parenting students:
21.9 	(1) summary demographic data;
21.10 	(2) enrollment patterns;
21.11 	(3) retention rates;
21.12 	(4) completion rates;
21.13 	(5) average cumulative debt at exit or graduation as possible; and
21.14 	(6) time to completion.
21.15 	Data must be disaggregated by institution, academic year, race and ethnicity, gender, and 
21.16 	other factors determined to be relevant by the commissioner.

21.17 	Sec. 6. [135A.1582] PROTECTIONS FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING 
21.18 	STUDENTS.
21.19 		Subdivision 1.Definition. (a) For the purpose of this section, the following term has 
21.20 	the meaning given.
21.21 	(b) "Parenting student" means a student enrolled at a public college or university who 
21.22 	is the parent or legal guardian of or can claim as a dependent a child under the age of 18.
21.23 		Subd. 2.Rights and protections. (a) A Minnesota state college or university may not 
21.24 	require and the University of Minnesota is requested not to require a pregnant or parenting 
21.25 	student, solely because of the student's status as a pregnant or parenting student or due to 
21.26 	issues related to the student's pregnancy or parenting, to:
21.27 	(1) take a leave of absence or withdraw from the student's degree or certificate program;
21.28 	(2) limit the student's studies;
21.29 	(3) participate in an alternative program;
21.30 	(4) change the student's major, degree, or certificate program; or
22.1 	(5) refrain from joining or cease participating in any course, activity, or program at the 
22.2 	college or university.
22.3 	(b) A Minnesota state college or university shall provide and the University of Minnesota 
22.4 	is requested to provide reasonable modifications to a pregnant student, including 
22.5 	modifications that:
22.6 	(1) would be provided to a student with a temporary medical condition; or
22.7 	(2) are related to the health and safety of the student and the student's unborn child, such 
22.8 	as allowing the student to maintain a safe distance from substances, areas, and activities 
22.9 	known to be hazardous to pregnant women or unborn children.
22.10 	(c) A Minnesota state college or university must and the University of Minnesota is 
22.11 	requested to, for reasons related to a student's pregnancy, childbirth, or any resulting medical 
22.12 	status or condition:
22.13 	(1) excuse the student's absence;
22.14 	(2) allow the student to make up missed assignments or assessments;
22.15 	(3) allow the student additional time to complete assignments in the same manner as the 
22.16 	institution allows for a student with a temporary medical condition; and
22.17 	(4) provide the student with access to instructional materials and video recordings of 
22.18 	lectures for classes for which the student has an excused absence under this section to the 
22.19 	same extent that instructional materials and video recordings of lectures are made available 
22.20 	to any other student with an excused absence.
22.21 	(d) A Minnesota state college or university must and the University of Minnesota is 
22.22 	requested to allow a pregnant or parenting student to:
22.23 	(1) take a leave of absence; and
22.24 	(2) if in good academic standing at the time the student takes a leave of absence, return 
22.25 	to the student's degree or certificate program in good academic standing without being 
22.26 	required to reapply for admission.
22.27 	(e) If a public college or university provides early registration for courses or programs 
22.28 	at the institution for any group of students, the Minnesota state college or university must 
22.29 	provide and the University of Minnesota is requested to provide early registration for those 
22.30 	courses or programs for pregnant or parenting students in the same manner.
23.1 		Subd. 3.Policy on discrimination. Each Minnesota state college or university must 
23.2 	adopt and the University of Minnesota is requested to adopt a policy for students on 
23.3 	pregnancy and parenting discrimination. The policy must:
23.4 	(1) include the contact information of the Title IX coordinator who is the designated 
23.5 	point of contact for a student requesting each protection or modification under this section. 
23.6 	Contact information must include the Title IX coordinator's name, phone number, email, 
23.7 	and office;
23.8 	(2) be posted in an easily accessible, straightforward format on the college or university's 
23.9 	website; and
23.10 	(3) be made available annually to faculty, staff, and employees of the college or 
23.11 	university.
23.12 		Subd. 4.Administration. The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education must, 
23.13 	in consultation with the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities 
23.14 	and the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, establish guidelines, as necessary, 
23.15 	to administer this section. The guidelines must establish minimum periods for which a 
23.16 	pregnant or parenting student must be given a leave of absence under subdivision 2, paragraph 
23.17 	(d). In establishing the minimum periods, the Office of Higher Education shall consider the 
23.18 	maximum amount of time a student may be absent without significantly interfering with 
23.19 	the student's ability to complete the student's degree or certificate program.

23.20 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 135A.161, is amended by adding a 
23.21 	subdivision to read:
23.22 		Subd. 5.Reporting. The director must evaluate the development and implementation 
23.23 	of the Minnesota inclusive higher education initiatives receiving a grant under section 
23.24 	135A.162. The director must submit an annual report by October 1 on the progress to expand 
23.25 	Minnesota inclusive higher education options for students with intellectual disabilities to 
23.26 	the commissioner and chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees 
23.27 	with jurisdiction over higher education policy and finance. The report must include statutory 
23.28 	and budget recommendations.

24.1 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 135A.162, subdivision 2, is amended 
24.2 	to read:
24.3 		Subd. 2.Eligible grantees. A Tribal college or public or nonprofit postsecondary 
24.4 	two-year or four-year institution is eligible to apply for a grant under this section if the 
24.5 	institution:
24.6 	(1) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission; and
24.7 	(2) meets the eligibility requirements under section 136A.103.

24.8 	Sec. 9. [135A.163] STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES; ACCOMMODATIONS; 
24.9 	GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.
24.10 		Subdivision 1.Short title. This act may be cited as the "Minnesota Respond, Innovate, 
24.11 	Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act."
24.12 		Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
24.13 	meanings given.
24.14 	(b) "Institution of higher education" means a public institution of higher education, 
24.15 	Tribal college, and private institution of higher education that receives federal funding. The 
24.16 	Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota is requested to comply with this section.
24.17 	(c) "Plain language" means communication the audience can understand the first time 
24.18 	the audience reads or hears it.
24.19 	(d) "Student with a disability" means an admitted or enrolled student who meets the 
24.20 	definition of an individual with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and 
24.21 	includes a student with an intellectual disability as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, 
24.22 	title 34, section 668.231, who is admitted or enrolled in a comprehensive transition and 
24.23 	postsecondary program.
24.24 		Subd. 3.Students with disabilities policy; dissemination of policy. (a) Each institution 
24.25 	of higher education shall adopt a policy making self-disclosure by a student with a disability 
24.26 	sufficient to start the interactive process for reasonable accommodations under subdivision 
24.27 	4.
24.28 	(b) The policy adopted under this section must be transparent and explicit. The policy 
24.29 	must include information describing the process by which the institution of higher education 
24.30 	determines eligibility for accommodations for an individual with a disability and information 
24.31 	about the disability resource center and other areas within the institution that provide student 
24.32 	accommodations, such as housing and residence life. Each institution of higher education 
25.1 	shall disseminate the information to applicants, students, parents, and faculty in plain 
25.2 	language and in accessible formats. The information must be available during the student 
25.3 	application process, during student orientation, in academic catalogs, and on the institution's 
25.4 	public website.
25.5 		Subd. 4.Establishment of reasonable accommodation; documentation. (a) An 
25.6 	institution of higher education shall engage in an interactive process to document the student's 
25.7 	accommodation needs to establish a reasonable accommodation. An institution may request 
25.8 	documentation as part of the interactive process to establish accommodations for the student 
25.9 	with a disability.
25.10 	(b) The following documentation submitted by an admitted or enrolled student is 
25.11 	sufficient documentation for the interactive process to establish reasonable accommodations 
25.12 	for a student with a disability:
25.13 	(1) documentation that the individual has had an individualized education program (IEP). 
25.14 	The institution of higher education may request additional documentation from an individual 
25.15 	who has had an IEP if the IEP was not in effect immediately before the date when the 
25.16 	individual exited high school;
25.17 	(2) documentation that the individual has received services or accommodations under 
25.18 	a section 504 plan. The institution of higher education may request additional documentation 
25.19 	from an individual who has received services or accommodations provided to the individual 
25.20 	under a section 504 plan if the section 504 plan was not in effect immediately before the 
25.21 	date when the individual exited high school;
25.22 	(3) documentation of a plan or record of service for the individual from a private school, 
25.23 	a local educational agency, a state educational agency, or an institution of higher education 
25.24 	provided under a section 504 plan or in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities 
25.25 	Act of 1990;
25.26 	(4) a record or evaluation from an appropriately qualified health or other service 
25.27 	professional who is knowledgeable about the individual's condition, finding that the 
25.28 	individual has a disability;
25.29 	(5) a plan or record of a disability from another institution of higher education;
25.30 	(6) documentation of a disability due to military service; or
25.31 	(7) additional information from an appropriately qualified health or other service 
25.32 	professional who is knowledgeable about the student's condition and can clarify the need 
25.33 	for a new accommodation not included in subdivision 4, paragraph (b), clauses (1) to (6).
26.1 	(c) An institution of higher education may establish less burdensome criteria to determine 
26.2 	reasonable accommodations for an enrolled or admitted student with a disability.
26.3 	(d) An institution of higher education shall include a representative list of potential 
26.4 	reasonable accommodations and disability resources for individuals with a disability that 
26.5 	is accessible to applicants, students, parents, and faculty in plain language and in accessible 
26.6 	formats. The information must be provided during the student application process, during 
26.7 	student orientation, in academic catalogs, and on the institution's public website. The 
26.8 	reasonable accommodations and disability resources available to students are individualized 
26.9 	and not limited to the list.
26.10 		Subd. 5.Higher education requirements for students with disabilities. Institutions 
26.11 	of higher education shall:
26.12 	(1) before the beginning of each academic term, offer an opportunity for admitted students 
26.13 	to self-identify as having a disability for which they may request an accommodation. The 
26.14 	person or office responsible for arranging accommodations at the institution must initiate 
26.15 	contact with any student who has self-identified under this clause. This does not preclude 
26.16 	a student from requesting an accommodation for a disability at any other time;
26.17 	(2) not require a student to be reevaluated for or submit documentation to prove the 
26.18 	presence of a permanent disability if the student previously provided proof of their disability 
26.19 	status and is not requesting any new accommodations;
26.20 	(3) provide the student's accommodation letter to the student's instructors, if the student 
26.21 	gives affirmative permission to share the information, and, if requested by the student, 
26.22 	facilitate communication between the student and the student's instructors;
26.23 	(4) if a course instructor cannot provide an accommodation because it would 
26.24 	fundamentally alter the nature of that course, require an instructor to provide a notification 
26.25 	detailing why an accommodation cannot be provided to the student and submit that 
26.26 	information to the student and the person or office responsible for arranging accommodations; 
26.27 	and
26.28 	(5) provide a student with a disability who is denied accommodations the option to 
26.29 	include the person or office responsible for arranging accommodations in the institution's 
26.30 	grievance or appeal process, to resolve equitable access barriers and prevent academic or 
26.31 	financial penalty due to no fault of the student.

26.32 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2025.

27.1 	Sec. 10. [135A.195] REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO ONLINE PROGRAM 
27.2 	MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.
27.3 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
27.4 	the meanings given.
27.5 	(b) "Contract" means an agreement entered into by an institution of higher education 
27.6 	with an online program management company. Contract includes any amendment or 
27.7 	addendum to the agreement.
27.8 	(c) "Institution of higher education" means an institution governed by either the Board 
27.9 	of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities or the Board of Regents of the 
27.10 	University of Minnesota. The Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota is requested 
27.11 	to comply with this section.
27.12 	(d) "Managed program" means an online course or program that is fully delivered online 
27.13 	in a virtual space.
27.14 	(e) "Online program management company" means a private, for-profit, third-party 
27.15 	entity that enters into a contract with an institution of higher education to provide bundled 
27.16 	products and services to develop, deliver, or provide managed programs, when the services 
27.17 	provided include recruitment and marketing.
27.18 	(f) "Tuition sharing" means compensation or payment to an online program management 
27.19 	company based on a percentage of revenue or fees collected from managed programs.
27.20 		Subd. 2.Contract stipulations. A contract must not contain any provision that:
27.21 	(1) includes or allows for tuition sharing;
27.22 	(2) grants the online program management company ownership rights to any or all 
27.23 	intellectual property rights, patentable discoveries, or inventions of faculty members of an 
27.24 	institution of higher education; or
27.25 	(3) grants the online program management company decision making authority over:
27.26 	(i) curriculum development, design, or maintenance;
27.27 	(ii) student assessment and grading;
27.28 	(iii) course assessment;
27.29 	(iv) admissions requirements;
27.30 	(v) appointment of faculty;
27.31 	(vi) faculty assessment;
28.1 	(vii) decision to award course credit or credential; or
28.2 	(viii) institutional governance.
28.3 		Subd. 3.Mandatory contract review and approval. Prior to being executed, a contract 
28.4 	must be reviewed and approved by the institution of higher education's governing board. 
28.5 	The Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota is requested to comply with this 
28.6 	subdivision. The review must include an analysis of the contract's compliance with 
28.7 	subdivision 2 prior to approval. A governing board must not approve a contract unless the 
28.8 	contract complies with subdivision 2.
28.9 		Subd. 4.Reporting requirements. An institution of higher education that contracts 
28.10 	with an online program management company shall annually submit to the chairs and 
28.11 	ranking minority members of the committees in the senate and house of representatives 
28.12 	with jurisdiction over higher education finance an assessment and analysis that provides 
28.13 	for a rigorous review and monitoring of online program management. The Board of Regents 
28.14 	of the University of Minnesota is requested to comply with this subdivision. The report 
28.15 	must, at a minimum, include:
28.16 	(1) a comparison of the actual enrollment and revenue and the enrollment and revenue 
28.17 	projections outlined in the financial pro forma;
28.18 	(2) enrollment data reporting in 2026 and each year thereafter that includes measures 
28.19 	of student persistence and completion;
28.20 	(3) evidence of good standing and engagement with the Higher Learning Commission 
28.21 	and any applicable specialized accreditors and licensing bodies, and evidence of any 
28.22 	approvals that may be required to offer courses and programs;
28.23 	(4) an assessment of the degree to which the programs offered compete with similar 
28.24 	programs;
28.25 	(5) a description and evidence of how institutions gather student feedback and student 
28.26 	complaints related to online program management courses and program offerings, and the 
28.27 	process for addressing any concerns and complaints; and
28.28 	(6) the most recent compliance analysis under subdivision 3.
28.29 		Subd. 5.Marketing requirements. (a) An institution of higher education that retains 
28.30 	an online program management company to provide marketing services for its academic 
28.31 	degree programs shall require that:
29.1 	(1) the online program management company must clearly disclose the third-party 
29.2 	relationship between the online program management company and the institution each 
29.3 	time it engages in recruitment or marketing activities for an academic program of the 
29.4 	institution; and
29.5 	(2) all recruitment and marketing communications from the online program management 
29.6 	company receive prior approval from the institution.
29.7 	(b) An institution of higher education that contracts with an online program management 
29.8 	company shall make publicly available on its website a list of the online programs that are 
29.9 	supported by the online program management company.
29.10 		Subd. 6.Exemption. Notwithstanding subdivision 1, paragraph (b), this section does 
29.11 	not apply to an addendum or amendment to a contract entered into by an institution of higher 
29.12 	education on or before July 1, 2023, that increases or decreases the number of managed 
29.13 	programs. This subdivision expires July 1, 2028.

29.14 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024, and applies to contracts 
29.15 	entered into on or after that date, subject to the exemption in subdivision 6.

29.16 	Sec. 11. [136A.053] CONSOLIDATED STUDENT AID REPORTING.
29.17 	(a) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education shall report annually beginning 
29.18 	February 15, 2026, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees 
29.19 	with jurisdiction over higher education, on the details of programs administered under 
29.20 	sections 136A.091 to 136A.1276, 136A.1465, and 136A.231 to 136A.246, including the:
29.21 	(1) total funds appropriated and expended;
29.22 	(2) total number of students applying for funds;
29.23 	(3) total number of students receiving funds;
29.24 	(4) average and total award amounts;
29.25 	(5) summary demographic data on award recipients;
29.26 	(6) retention rates of award recipients;
29.27 	(7) completion rates of award recipients;
29.28 	(8) average cumulative debt at exit or graduation; and
29.29 	(9) average time to completion.
30.1 	(b) Data must be disaggregated by program, institution, aid year, race and ethnicity, 
30.2 	gender, income, family type, dependency status, and any other factors determined to be 
30.3 	relevant by the commissioner. The commissioner must report any additional data and 
30.4 	outcomes relevant to the evaluation of programs administered under sections 136A.091 to 
30.5 	136A.1276, 136A.1465, and 136A.231 to 136A.246 as evidenced by activities funded under 
30.6 	each program.

30.7 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.091, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
30.8 		Subd. 3.Financial need. Need for financial assistance is based on student eligibility for 
30.9 	free or reduced-price school meals under the national school lunch program. Student 
30.10 	eligibility shall be verified by sponsors of approved academic programs. The office shall 
30.11 	award stipends for students within the limits of available appropriations for this section. If 
30.12 	the amount appropriated is insufficient, the office shall allocate the available appropriation 
30.13 	in the manner it determines. A stipend must not exceed $1,000 per student.

30.14 	Sec. 13. [136A.097] ORDER OF AID CALCULATIONS.
30.15 	The commissioner must calculate aid for programs in the order of their original enactment 
30.16 	from oldest to most recent. The commissioner may determine the order of calculating state 
30.17 	financial aid if:
30.18 	(1) a student is eligible for multiple state financial aid programs; and
30.19 	(2) two or more of those programs calculate funding after accounting for other state aid.
30.20 	If the commissioner determines that a greater amount of financial aid would be available 
30.21 	to students by calculating aid in a particular order, the commissioner may calculate aid in 
30.22 	that order.

30.23 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.1241, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
30.24 		Subd. 3.Eligibility. (a) An individual who is eligible for the Education and Training 
30.25 	Voucher Program is eligible for a foster grant.
30.26 	(b) If the individual is not eligible for the Education and Training Voucher Program, in 
30.27 	order to receive a foster grant, an individual must:
30.28 	(1) meet the definition of a resident student under section 136A.101, subdivision 8;
30.29 	(2) be at least 13 years of age but fewer than 27 years of age;
31.1 	(3) after the individual's 13th birthday, be in or have been in foster care in Minnesota 
31.2 	before, on, or after June 27, 2021, including any of the following:
31.3 	(i) placement in foster care at any time while 13 years of age or older;
31.4 	(ii) adoption from foster care at any time after reaching 13 years of age; or
31.5 	(iii) placement from foster care with a permanent legal custodian at any time after 
31.6 	reaching 13 years of age;
31.7 	(4) have graduated from high school or completed the equivalent as approved by the 
31.8 	Department of Education;
31.9 	(5) have been accepted for admission to, or be currently attending, an eligible institution;
31.10 	(6) have submitted a FAFSA; ~~and~~
31.11 	(7) be meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined under section 136A.101, 
31.12 	subdivision 10~~.~~;
31.13 	(8) not be in default, as defined by the office, of any federal or state student educational 
31.14 	loan;
31.15 	(9) not be more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected 
31.16 	or enforced by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement or, if the 
31.17 	applicant is more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or 
31.18 	enforced by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement, be complying 
31.19 	with a written payment agreement under section 518A.69 or order for arrearages; and
31.20 	(10) not have been convicted of or pled nolo contendere or guilty to a crime involving 
31.21 	fraud in obtaining federal Title IV funds within the meaning of Code of Federal Regulations, 
31.22 	subtitle B, chapter VI, part 668, subpart C.

31.23 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 136A.1241, subdivision 5, is 
31.24 	amended to read:
31.25 		Subd. 5.Foster grant amount; payment; opt-out. (a) Each student shall be awarded 
31.26 	a foster grant based on the federal need analysis. Applicants are encouraged to apply for all 
31.27 	other sources of financial aid. The amount of the foster grant must be equal to the applicant's 
31.28 	recognized cost of attendance after accounting for:
31.29 	(1) the results of the federal need analysis;
31.30 	(2) the amount of a federal Pell Grant award for which the applicant is eligible;
31.31 	(3) the amount of the state grant;
32.1 	(4) the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant;
32.2 	(5) the sum of all Tribal scholarships;
32.3 	(6) the amount of any other state and federal gift aid;
32.4 	(7) the Education and Training Voucher Program;
32.5 	(8) extended foster care benefits under section 260C.451;
32.6 	(9) the amount of any private grants or scholarships, excluding grants and scholarships 
32.7 	provided by the private institution of higher education in which the eligible student is 
32.8 	enrolled; and
32.9 	(10) for public institutions, the sum of all institutional grants, scholarships, tuition 
32.10 	waivers, and tuition remission amounts.
32.11 	(b) The foster grant shall be paid directly to the eligible institution where the student is 
32.12 	enrolled.
32.13 	(c) An eligible private institution may opt out of participating in the foster grant program 
32.14 	established under this section. To opt out, the institution shall provide notice to the office 
32.15 	by March 1 for the next academic year. An institution that opts out of participating, but 
32.16 	participated in the program a previous year, must hold harmless currently enrolled recipients 
32.17 	by continuing to provide the benefit under paragraph (d) as long as the student remains 
32.18 	eligible.
32.19 	(d) An eligible private institution that does not opt out under paragraph (c) and accepts 
32.20 	the student's application to attend the institution must provide institutional grants, 
32.21 	scholarships, tuition waivers, or tuition remission in an amount equal to the difference 
32.22 	between:
32.23 	(1) the institution's cost of attendance as calculated under subdivision 4, paragraph (b), 
32.24 	clause (1); and
32.25 	(2) the sum of the foster grant under this subdivision and the sum of the amounts in 
32.26 	paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (9).
32.27 	(e) An undergraduate student who is eligible may apply for and receive a foster grant 
32.28 	in any year of undergraduate study unless the student has obtained a baccalaureate degree 
32.29 	or received foster grant funds for a period of ten full-time semesters or the equivalent for a 
32.30 	four-year undergraduate degree. A foster grant student enrolled in a two-year degree, 
32.31 	certificate, or diploma program may apply for and receive a foster grant in any year of 
33.1 	undergraduate study unless the student has obtained a baccalaureate degree or received 
33.2 	foster grant funds for a period of six full-time semesters or the equivalent.
33.3 	(f) Foster grants may be awarded to an eligible student for four quarters, three semesters, 
33.4 	or the equivalent during the course of a single fiscal year. In calculating the award amount, 
33.5 	the office must use the same calculation it would for any other term.
33.6 	(g) The commissioner shall establish a priority application deadline.
33.7 	(h) If there is a projected shortfall in available resources, the commissioner must 
33.8 	proportionately reduce awards to keep spending within available resources.
33.9 	(i) Applicants applying after the priority deadline for whom the office has received a 
33.10 	completed application must be placed on a waiting list in order of application completion 
33.11 	date. Awards must be made on a first-come, first-served basis in the order complete 
33.12 	applications are received. Students who received the Fostering Independence Grant in the 
33.13 	previous year shall be given priority. If there are multiple applications with identical 
33.14 	completion dates, those applications must be further sorted by application receipt date. 
33.15 	Awards must be made to eligible students until the appropriation is expended.

33.16 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 136A.1465, subdivision 1, is 
33.17 	amended to read:
33.18 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. The following terms have the meanings given:
33.19 	(1) "eligible student" means a resident student under section 136A.101, subdivision 8, 
33.20 	who is enrolled in any public postsecondary educational institution or Tribal college and 
33.21 	who meets the eligibility requirements in subdivision 2;
33.22 	(2) "gift aid" ~~means all~~ includes:
33.23 	(i) all federal financial aid that is not a loan or pursuant to a work-study program;
33.24 	(ii) state financial aid, unless designated for other expenses, that is not a loan or pursuant 
33.25 	to a work-study program;
33.26 	(iii) institutional financial aid ~~designated for the student's educational expenses~~, including 
33.27 	a grant, scholarship, tuition waiver, fellowship stipend, or other ~~third-party~~ payment, unless 
33.28 	designated for other expenses, that is not a loan or pursuant to a work-study program; and
33.29 	(iv) all private financial aid that is not a loan or pursuant to a work-study program.
34.1 	Financial aid from the state, public postsecondary educational institutions, and Tribal colleges 
34.2 	that is specifically designated for other expenses is not gift aid for purposes of the North 
34.3 	Star Promise scholarship.
34.4 	~~(3) "office" means the Office of Higher Education;~~
34.5 	(3) "other expenses" includes books, required supplies, child care, emergency assistance, 
34.6 	food, and housing;
34.7 	(4) "public postsecondary educational institution" means an institution operated by this 
34.8 	state, or the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota~~, or a Tribal college~~;
34.9 	(5) "recognized cost of attendance" has the meaning given in United States Code, title 
34.10 	20, chapter 28, subchapter IV, part F, section 1087ll;
34.11 	~~(5) "scholarship" means funds to pay 100 percent of tuition and fees remaining after~~ 
34.12 	~~deducting grants and other scholarships;~~
34.13 	(6) "Tribal college" means a college defined in section 136A.1796, subdivision 1, 
34.14 	paragraph (c); and
34.15 	(7) "tuition and fees" means the actual tuition and mandatory fees charged by an 
34.16 	institution.

34.17 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 136A.1465, subdivision 2, is 
34.18 	amended to read:
34.19 		Subd. 2.Conditions for eligibility. A scholarship may be awarded to an eligible student 
34.20 	who:
34.21 	(1) has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the state 
34.22 	aid application;
34.23 	(2) has a family adjusted gross income below $80,000;
34.24 	(3) is a graduate of a secondary school or its equivalent, or is 17 years of age or over 
34.25 	and has met all requirements for admission as a student to an eligible college or university;
34.26 	~~(3)~~ (4) has not earned a baccalaureate degree at the time the scholarship is awarded;
34.27 	~~(4)~~ (5) is enrolled in at least one credit per fall, spring, or summer semester; ~~and~~
34.28 	(6) is enrolled in a program or course of study that applies to a degree, diploma, or 
34.29 	certificate;
35.1 	(7) is not in default, as defined by the office, of any federal or state student educational 
35.2 	loan;
35.3 	(8) is not more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or 
35.4 	enforced by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement or, if the applicant 
35.5 	is more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or enforced 
35.6 	by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement, but is complying with a 
35.7 	written payment agreement under section 518A.69 or order for arrearages;
35.8 	(9) has not been convicted of or pled nolo contendere or guilty to a crime involving 
35.9 	fraud in obtaining federal Title IV funds within the meaning of Code of Federal Regulations, 
35.10 	subtitle B, chapter VI, part 668, subpart C; and
35.11 	~~(5)~~ (10) is meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined in section 136A.101, 
35.12 	subdivision 10.

35.13 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 136A.1465, subdivision 3, is 
35.14 	amended to read:
35.15 		Subd. 3.Scholarship. (a) Beginning in the fall term of the 2024-2025 academic year, 
35.16 	scholarships shall be awarded to eligible students in an amount not to exceed 100 percent 
35.17 	of tuition and fees after ~~grants and other scholarships are~~ gift aid is deducted.
35.18 	(b) For the 2024-2025, 2025-2026, and 2026-2027 academic years, if funds remain after 
35.19 	scholarships are awarded under paragraph (a), supplemental grants shall be awarded to 
35.20 	eligible students in an amount ~~equal to 100 percent of tuition and fees plus, subject to~~ 
35.21 	~~available funds,~~ up to 50 percent of the amount of a Pell grant the student would receive 
35.22 	based on household size, family adjusted gross income, and results of the federal needs 
35.23 	analysis ~~after other gift aid is deducted~~, not to exceed the student's recognized cost of 
35.24 	attendance. The commissioner may adjust the supplemental grant amount based on the 
35.25 	availability of funds.

35.26 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 136A.1465, subdivision 4, is 
35.27 	amended to read:
35.28 		Subd. 4.Maintain current levels of institutional assistance. (a) Commencing with 
35.29 	the 2024-2025 academic year, a public postsecondary educational institution or Tribal 
35.30 	college shall not reduce the institutional gift aid offered or awarded to a student who is 
35.31 	eligible to receive funds under this program unless the student's gift aid exceeds the student's 
35.32 	annual recognized cost of attendance.
36.1 	(b) The public postsecondary educational institution or Tribal college may reduce the 
36.2 	institutional gift aid offer of a student who is eligible to receive funds under this program 
36.3 	by no more than the amount of the student's gift aid that is in excess of the student's annual 
36.4 	recognized cost of attendance.
36.5 	(c) The public postsecondary educational institution or Tribal college shall not consider 
36.6 	receipt or anticipated receipt of funds under this program when considering a student for 
36.7 	qualification for institutional gift aid.
36.8 	(d) To ensure financial aid is maximized, a public postsecondary educational institution
36.9 	or Tribal college is encouraged to implement efforts to avoid scholarship displacement 
36.10 	through consultation with the Office of Higher Education ~~and students to avoid situations~~ 
36.11 	~~where institutional gift aid can only be used for specific purposes~~.

36.12 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 136A.1465, subdivision 5, is 
36.13 	amended to read:
36.14 		Subd. 5.Duration of scholarship authorized; scholarship paid to institution. (a) 
36.15 	Each scholarship is for a period of one semester. A scholarship may be renewed provided 
36.16 	that the eligible student continues to meet the conditions of eligibility.
36.17 	(b) Scholarships may be provided to an eligible student ~~for up to 60 credits for~~ pursuing
36.18 	the completion of a certificate or an associate degree ~~and up to 120 credits for the completion~~ 
36.19 	~~of a bachelor's degree~~ who has not previously received the scholarship for four full-time 
36.20 	semesters or the equivalent. Scholarships may be provided to an eligible student pursuing 
36.21 	the completion of a bachelor's degree who has not previously received the scholarship for 
36.22 	eight full-time semesters or the equivalent. The maximum ~~credits~~ for which a student is 
36.23 	eligible is a total of ~~120 credits~~ eight full-time semesters or the equivalent. Courses taken 
36.24 	that qualify as developmental education or below college-level shall be excluded from the 
36.25 	limit.
36.26 	(c) A student is entitled to an additional semester or the equivalent of grant eligibility 
36.27 	if the student withdraws from enrollment:
36.28 	(1) for active military service because the student was ordered to active military service 
36.29 	as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5b or 5c;
36.30 	(2) for a serious health condition, while under the care of a medical professional, that 
36.31 	substantially limits the student's ability to complete the term; or
36.32 	(3) while providing care that substantially limits the student's ability to complete the 
36.33 	term to the student's spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.
37.1 	~~(c) The commissioner shall determine a time frame by which the eligible student must~~ 
37.2 	~~complete the credential.~~
37.3 	(d) The scholarship must be paid directly to the eligible institution where the student is 
37.4 	enrolled.

37.5 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.1701, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
37.6 		Subd. 4.Terms and conditions of loans. (a) The office may loan money upon such 
37.7 	terms and conditions as the office may prescribe.
37.8 	(b) The minimum loan amount and a maximum loan amount to students must be 
37.9 	determined annually by the office. Loan limits are defined based on the type of program 
37.10 	enrollment, such as a certificate, an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate 
37.11 	program. The aggregate principal amount of all loans made subject to this paragraph to a 
37.12 	student as an undergraduate and graduate student must not exceed $140,000. The amount 
37.13 	of the loan must not exceed the cost of attendance as determined by the eligible institution 
37.14 	less all other financial aid, including PLUS loans or other similar parent loans borrowed on 
37.15 	the student's behalf. A student may borrow up to the maximum amount twice in the same 
37.16 	grade level.
37.17 	(c) The cumulative borrowing maximums must be determined annually by the office 
37.18 	and are defined based on program enrollment. In determining the cumulative borrowing 
37.19 	maximums, the office shall, among other considerations, take into consideration the maximum 
37.20 	SELF loan amount, student financing needs, funding capacity for the SELF program, 
37.21 	delinquency and default loss management, and current financial market conditions.

37.22 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.1701, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
37.23 		Subd. 7.Repayment of loans.  The office shall establish repayment procedures for loans 
37.24 	made under this section in accordance with the policies, rules, and conditions authorized 
37.25 	under section 136A.16, subdivision 2. The office will take into consideration the loan limits 
37.26 	and current financial market conditions when establishing repayment terms. The office shall 
37.27 	not require a minimum annual payment, though the office may require minimum monthly 
37.28 	payments.

37.29 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.29, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
37.30 		Subd. 9.Revenue bonds; limit. The authority is authorized and empowered to issue 
37.31 	revenue bonds whose aggregate principal amount at any time shall not exceed ~~$1,300,000,000~~
37.32 	$2,000,000,000 and to issue notes, bond anticipation notes, and revenue refunding bonds 
38.1 	of the authority under the provisions of sections 136A.25 to 136A.42, to provide funds for 
38.2 	acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, remodeling, renovating, improving, 
38.3 	furnishing, or equipping one or more projects or parts thereof.

38.4 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 136A.62, subdivision 3, is amended 
38.5 	to read:
38.6 		Subd. 3.School. "School" means:
38.7 	(1) a Tribal college that has a physical presence in Minnesota;
38.8 	(2) any partnership, company, firm, society, trust, association, corporation, or any 
38.9 	combination thereof, with a physical presence in Minnesota, which: (i) is, owns, or operates 
38.10 	a private, nonprofit postsecondary education institution; (ii) is, owns, or operates a private, 
38.11 	for-profit postsecondary education institution; or (iii) provides a postsecondary instructional 
38.12 	program or course leading to a degree whether or not for profit; or
38.13 	(3) any public or private postsecondary educational institution located in another state 
38.14 	or country ~~which offers or makes available to a Minnesota resident any course, program or~~ 
38.15 	~~educational activity which does not require the leaving of the state for its completion; or~~
38.16 	with a physical presence in Minnesota.
38.17 	~~(4) any individual, entity, or postsecondary institution located in another state that~~ 
38.18 	~~contracts with any school located within the state of Minnesota for the purpose of providing~~ 
38.19 	~~educational programs, training programs, or awarding postsecondary credits or continuing~~ 
38.20 	~~education credits to Minnesota residents that may be applied to a degree program.~~

38.21 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.62, is amended by adding a subdivision 
38.22 	to read:
38.23 		Subd. 8.Postsecondary education. "Postsecondary education" means the range of 
38.24 	formal learning opportunities beyond high school, including those aimed at learning an 
38.25 	occupation or earning an academic credential.

38.26 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.62, is amended by adding a subdivision 
38.27 	to read:
38.28 		Subd. 9.Physical presence. "Physical presence" means a presence within the state of 
38.29 	Minnesota for the purpose of conducting activity related to any program at the degree level 
38.30 	or courses that may be applied to a degree program. Physical presence includes:
38.31 	(1) operating a location within the state;
39.1 	(2) offering instruction within or originating from Minnesota designed to impart 
39.2 	knowledge with response utilizing teachers, trainers, counselors or computer resources, 
39.3 	computer linking, or any form of electronic means; and
39.4 	(3) granting an educational credential from a location within the state or to a student 
39.5 	within the state.
39.6 	Physical presence does not include field trips, sanctioned sports recruiting activities, or 
39.7 	college fairs or other assemblies of schools in Minnesota. No school may enroll an individual, 
39.8 	allow an individual to sign any agreement obligating the person to the school, accept any 
39.9 	moneys from the individual, or follow up with an individual by means of an in-person 
39.10 	meeting in Minnesota at a college fair or assembly.

39.11 	Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.63, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
39.12 		Subdivision 1.Annual registration. All schools ~~located within Minnesota and all schools~~ 
39.13 	~~located outside Minnesota~~ with a physical presence in Minnesota which offer degree 
39.14 	programs or courses within Minnesota shall register annually with the office.

39.15 	Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.646, is amended to read:
39.16 	136A.646 ADDITIONAL SECURITY.
39.17 	(a) New institutions that have been granted conditional approval for degrees or names 
39.18 	to allow them the opportunity to apply for and receive accreditation under section 136A.65, 
39.19 	subdivision 7, shall provide a surety bond in a sum equal to ten percent of the net revenue 
39.20 	from tuition and fees in the registered institution's prior fiscal year, but in no case shall the 
39.21 	bond be less than $10,000.
39.22 	(b) Any registered institution that is notified by the United States Department of Education 
39.23 	that it has fallen below minimum financial standards and that its continued participation in 
39.24 	Title IV will be conditioned upon its satisfying ~~either the Zone Alternative,~~an alternative 
39.25 	standard set forth in Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 668.175, ~~paragraph (f),~~ 
39.26 	~~or a Letter of Credit Alternative, Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 668.175,~~ 
39.27 	~~paragraph (c),~~ shall provide a surety bond in a sum equal to the "letter of credit" required 
39.28 	by the United States Department of Education in the Letter of Credit Alternative, but in no 
39.29 	event shall such bond be less than $10,000 nor more than $250,000. If the letter of credit 
39.30 	required by the United States Department of Education is higher than ten percent of the 
39.31 	Title IV, Higher Education Act program funds received by the institution during its most 
39.32 	recently completed fiscal year, the office shall reduce the office's surety requirement to 
40.1 	represent ten percent of the Title IV, Higher Education Act program funds received by the 
40.2 	institution during its most recently completed fiscal year, subject to the minimum and 
40.3 	maximum in this paragraph.
40.4 	(c) In lieu of a bond, the applicant may deposit with the commissioner of management 
40.5 	and budget:
40.6 	(1) a sum equal to the amount of the required surety bond in cash;
40.7 	(2) securities, as may be legally purchased by savings banks or for trust funds, in an 
40.8 	aggregate market value equal to the amount of the required surety bond; or
40.9 	(3) an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a financial institution to the amount of the 
40.10 	required surety bond.
40.11 	(d) The surety of any bond may cancel it upon giving 60 days' notice in writing to the 
40.12 	office and shall be relieved of liability for any breach of condition occurring after the 
40.13 	effective date of cancellation.
40.14 	(e) In the event of a school closure, the additional security must first be used to destroy 
40.15 	any private educational data under section 13.32 left at a physical campus in Minnesota 
40.16 	after all other governmental agencies have recovered or retrieved records under their record 
40.17 	retention policies. Any remaining funds must then be used to reimburse tuition and fee costs 
40.18 	to students that were enrolled at the time of the closure or had withdrawn in the previous 
40.19 	~~120~~ 180 calendar days but did not graduate. Priority for refunds will be given to students 
40.20 	in the following order:
40.21 	(1) cash payments made by the student or on behalf of a student;
40.22 	(2) private student loans; and
40.23 	(3) Veteran Administration education benefits that are not restored by the Veteran 
40.24 	Administration. If there are additional security funds remaining, the additional security 
40.25 	funds may be used to cover any administrative costs incurred by the office related to the 
40.26 	closure of the school.

40.27 	Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.65, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
40.28 		Subd. 4.Criteria for approval. (a) A school applying to be registered and to have its 
40.29 	degree or degrees and name approved must substantially meet the following criteria:
40.30 	(1) the school has an organizational framework with administrative and teaching personnel 
40.31 	to provide the educational programs offered;
41.1 	(2) the school has financial resources sufficient to meet the school's financial obligations, 
41.2 	including refunding tuition and other charges consistent with its stated policy if the institution 
41.3 	is dissolved, or if claims for refunds are made, to provide service to the students as promised, 
41.4 	and to provide educational programs leading to degrees as offered;
41.5 	(3) the school operates in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 
41.6 	according to the type of school;
41.7 	(4) the school provides an educational program leading to the degree it offers;
41.8 	(5) the school provides appropriate and accessible library, laboratory, and other physical 
41.9 	facilities to support the educational program offered;
41.10 	(6) the school has a policy on freedom or limitation of expression and inquiry for faculty 
41.11 	and students which is published or available on request;
41.12 	(7) the school uses only publications and advertisements which are truthful and do not 
41.13 	give any false, fraudulent, deceptive, inaccurate, or misleading impressions about the school, 
41.14 	its personnel, programs, services, or occupational opportunities for its graduates for promotion 
41.15 	and student recruitment;
41.16 	(8) the school's compensated recruiting agents who are operating in Minnesota identify 
41.17 	themselves as agents of the school when talking to or corresponding with students and 
41.18 	prospective students;
41.19 	(9) the school provides information to students and prospective students concerning:
41.20 	(i) comprehensive and accurate policies relating to student admission, evaluation, 
41.21 	suspension, and dismissal;
41.22 	(ii) clear and accurate policies relating to granting credit for prior education, training, 
41.23 	and experience and for courses offered by the school;
41.24 	(iii) current schedules of fees, charges for tuition, required supplies, student activities, 
41.25 	housing, and all other standard charges;
41.26 	(iv) policies regarding refunds and adjustments for withdrawal or modification of 
41.27 	enrollment status; and
41.28 	(v) procedures and standards used for selection of recipients and the terms of payment 
41.29 	and repayment for any financial aid program;
41.30 	(10) the school must not withhold a student's official transcript because the student is 
41.31 	in arrears or in default on any loan issued by the school to the student if the loan qualifies 
41.32 	as an institutional loan under United States Code, title 11, section 523(a)(8)(b); ~~and~~
42.1 	(11) the school has a process to receive and act on student complaints;
42.2 	(12) the school includes a joint and several liability provision for torts and compliance 
42.3 	with the requirements of sections 136A.61 to 136A.71 in any contract effective after July 
42.4 	1, 2026, with any individual, entity, or postsecondary school located in another state for the 
42.5 	purpose of providing educational or training programs or awarding postsecondary credits 
42.6 	or continuing education credits to Minnesota residents that may be applied to a degree 
42.7 	program; and
42.8 	(13) the school must not use nondisclosure agreements or other contracts restricting a 
42.9 	student's ability to disclose information in connection with school actions or conduct that 
42.10 	would be covered under section 136A.672.
42.11 	(b) An application for degree approval must also include:
42.12 	(i) title of degree and formal recognition awarded;
42.13 	(ii) location where such degree will be offered;
42.14 	(iii) proposed implementation date of the degree;
42.15 	(iv) admissions requirements for the degree;
42.16 	(v) length of the degree;
42.17 	(vi) projected enrollment for a period of five years;
42.18 	(vii) the curriculum required for the degree, including course syllabi or outlines;
42.19 	(viii) statement of academic and administrative mechanisms planned for monitoring the 
42.20 	quality of the proposed degree;
42.21 	(ix) statement of satisfaction of professional licensure criteria, if applicable;
42.22 	(x) documentation of the availability of clinical, internship, externship, or practicum 
42.23 	sites, if applicable; and
42.24 	(xi) statement of how the degree fulfills the institution's mission and goals, complements 
42.25 	existing degrees, and contributes to the school's viability.

42.26 	Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.675, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
42.27 		Subd. 2.Additional reporting. (a) In addition to the information required for the 
42.28 	indicators in subdivision 1, an institution must notify the office within ten business days if 
42.29 	any of the events in paragraphs (b) to (e) occur.
42.30 	(b) Related to revenue, debt, and cash flow, notice is required if:
43.1 	(1) the institution defaulted on a debt payment or covenant and has not received a waiver 
43.2 	of the violation from the financial institution within 60 days;
43.3 	(2) for institutions with a federal composite score of less than 1.5, the institution's owner 
43.4 	withdraws equity that directly results in a composite score of less than 1.0, unless the 
43.5 	withdrawal is a transfer between affiliated entities included in a common composite score;
43.6 	(3) the United States Department of Education requires a 25 percent or greater Letter of 
43.7 	Credit, except when the Letter of Credit is imposed due to a change of ownership;
43.8 	(4) the United States Department of Education requires Heightened Cash Monitoring 2;
43.9 	(5) the institution receives written notification that it violated the United States 
43.10 	Department of Education's revenue requirement under United States Code, title 20, section 
43.11 	1094(a)(24), as amended; or
43.12 	(6) the institution receives written notification by the United States Department of 
43.13 	Education that it has fallen below minimum financial standards and that its continued 
43.14 	participation in Title IV is conditioned upon satisfying ~~either the Zone Alternative,~~an 
43.15 	alternative standard set forth in Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 668.175~~,~~ 
43.16 	~~paragraph (f), or a Letter of Credit Alternative, Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section~~ 
43.17 	~~668.175, paragraph (c)~~.
43.18 	(c) Related to accreditation and licensing, notice is required if:
43.19 	(1) the institution receives written notification of probation, warning, show-cause, or 
43.20 	loss of institutional accreditation;
43.21 	(2) the institution receives written notification that its institutional accreditor lost federal 
43.22 	recognition; or
43.23 	(3) the institution receives written notification that it has materially violated state 
43.24 	authorization or institution licensing requirements in a different state that may lead to or 
43.25 	has led to the termination of the institution's ability to continue to provide educational 
43.26 	programs or otherwise continue to operate in that state.
43.27 	(d) Related to securities, notice is required if:
43.28 	(1) the Securities and Exchange Commission (i) issues an order suspending or revoking 
43.29 	the registration of the institution's securities, or (ii) suspends trading of the institution's 
43.30 	securities on any national securities exchange;
44.1 	(2) the national securities exchange on which the institution's securities are traded notifies 
44.2 	the institution that it is not in compliance with the exchange's listing requirements and the 
44.3 	institution's securities are delisted; or
44.4 	(3) the Securities and Exchange Commission is not in timely receipt of a required report 
44.5 	and did not issue an extension to file the report.
44.6 	(e) Related to criminal and civil investigations, notice is required if:
44.7 	(1) the institution receives written notification of a felony criminal indictment or charges 
44.8 	of the institution's owner;
44.9 	(2) the institution receives written notification of criminal indictment or charges of the 
44.10 	institution's officers related to operations of the institution; or
44.11 	(3) there has been a criminal, civil, or administrative adjudication of fraud or 
44.12 	misrepresentation in Minnesota or in another state or jurisdiction against the institution or 
44.13 	its owner, officers, agents, or sponsoring organization.

44.14 	Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.69, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
44.15 		Subdivision 1.Registration fees. (a) The office shall collect reasonable registration fees 
44.16 	that are sufficient to recover, but do not exceed, its costs of administering the registration 
44.17 	program. The office shall charge the fees listed in paragraphs (b) ~~and (c)~~ to (d) for new 
44.18 	registrations.
44.19 	(b) A new school offering no more than one degree at each level during its first year 
44.20 	must pay registration fees for each applicable level in the following amounts:

44.21 | associate degree | $2,000
44.22 | baccalaureate degree | $2,500
44.23 | master's degree | $3,000
44.24 | doctorate degree | $3,500
44.25 	(c) A new school that will offer more than one degree per level during its first year must 
44.26 	pay registration fees in an amount equal to the fee for the first degree at each degree level 
44.27 	under paragraph (b), plus fees for each additional nondegree program or degree as follows:

44.28 | nondegree program | $250
44.29 | additional associate degree | $250
44.30 | additional baccalaureate degree | $500
44.31 | additional master's degree | $750
44.32 | additional doctorate degree | $1,000
45.1 	(d) In addition to the fees under paragraphs (b) and (c), a fee of $600 must be paid for 
45.2 	an initial application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or 
45.3 	application reminders for the same application or registration requirement; or (2) cumulatively 
45.4 	has had six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the 
45.5 	same license application and the school seeks to continue with the application process with 
45.6 	additional application submissions. If this fee is paid, the school may submit two final 
45.7 	application submissions for review prior to application denial under section 136A.65, 
45.8 	subdivision 8. This provision excludes from its scope nonrepetitive questions or clarifications 
45.9 	initiated by the school before the submission of the application, initial interpretation questions 
45.10 	or inquiries from the office regarding a completed application, and initial requests from the 
45.11 	office for verification or validation of a completed application.
45.12 	~~(d)~~ (e) The annual renewal registration fee is $1,500.
45.13 	(f) In addition to the fee under paragraph (e), a fee of $600 must be paid for a renewal 
45.14 	application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application 
45.15 	reminders for the same application or registration requirement; or (2) cumulatively has had 
45.16 	six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the same license 
45.17 	application and the school seeks to continue with the application process with additional 
45.18 	application submissions. If this fee is paid, the school may submit two final application 
45.19 	submissions for review prior to application denial under section 136A.65, subdivision 8. 
45.20 	This provision excludes from its scope nonrepetitive questions or clarifications initiated by 
45.21 	the school before the submission of the application, initial interpretation questions or inquiries 
45.22 	from the office regarding a completed application, and initial requests from the office for 
45.23 	verification or validation of a completed application.

45.24 	Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.821, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
45.25 		Subd. 5.Private career school. "Private career school" means a person who maintains~~,~~ 
45.26 	~~advertises, administers, solicits for, or conducts~~ a physical presence for any program at less 
45.27 	than an associate degree level; is not registered as a private institution under sections 136A.61
45.28 	to 136A.71; and is not specifically exempted by section 136A.833.

45.29 	Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.821, is amended by adding a subdivision 
45.30 	to read:
45.31 		Subd. 20.Physical presence. "Physical presence" means presence within the state of 
45.32 	Minnesota for the purpose of conducting activity related to any program at less than an 
45.33 	associate degree level. Physical presence includes:
46.1 	(1) operating a location within the state;
46.2 	(2) offering instruction within or originating from Minnesota designed to impart 
46.3 	knowledge with response utilizing teachers, trainers, counselors or computer resources, 
46.4 	computer linking, or any form of electronic means;
46.5 	(3) granting an educational credential from a location within the state or to a student 
46.6 	within the state; and
46.7 	(4) using an agent, recruiter, institution, or business that solicits for enrollment or credits 
46.8 	or for the award of an educational credential.
46.9 	Physical presence does not include field trips, sanctioned sports recruiting activities, or 
46.10 	college fairs or other assemblies of schools in Minnesota. No school may enroll an individual, 
46.11 	allow an individual to sign any agreement obligating the person to the school, accept any 
46.12 	moneys from the individual, or follow up with an individual by means of an in-person 
46.13 	meeting in Minnesota at a college fair or assembly.

46.14 	Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.822, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
46.15 		Subdivision 1.Required. A private career school must not maintain~~, advertise, solicit~~ 
46.16 	~~for, administer, or conduct~~ a physical presence for any program in Minnesota without first 
46.17 	obtaining a license from the office.

46.18 	Sec. 35. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.822, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
46.19 		Subd. 2.Contract unenforceable. A contract entered into with a person for a program 
46.20 	by or on behalf of a person operating a private career school with a physical presence in 
46.21 	Minnesota to which a license has not been issued under sections 136A.821 to 136A.833, is 
46.22 	unenforceable in any action.

46.23 	Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.822, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
46.24 		Subd. 6.Bond. (a) No license shall be issued to any private career school ~~which~~ 
46.25 	~~maintains, conducts, solicits for, or advertises~~ with a physical presence within the state of 
46.26 	Minnesota for any program, unless the applicant files with the office a continuous corporate 
46.27 	surety bond written by a company authorized to do business in Minnesota conditioned upon 
46.28 	the faithful performance of all contracts and agreements with students made by the applicant.
46.29 	(b)(1) The amount of the surety bond shall be ten percent of the preceding year's net 
46.30 	revenue from student tuition, fees, and other required institutional charges collected, but in 
46.31 	no event less than $10,000, except that a private career school may deposit a greater amount 
47.1 	at its own discretion. A private career school in each annual application for licensure must 
47.2 	compute the amount of the surety bond and verify that the amount of the surety bond complies 
47.3 	with this subdivision. A private career school that operates at two or more locations may 
47.4 	combine net revenue from student tuition, fees, and other required institutional charges 
47.5 	collected for all locations for the purpose of determining the annual surety bond requirement. 
47.6 	The net revenue from tuition and fees used to determine the amount of the surety bond 
47.7 	required for a private career school having a license for the sole purpose of recruiting students 
47.8 	in Minnesota shall be only that paid to the private career school by the students recruited 
47.9 	from Minnesota.
47.10 	(2) A person required to obtain a private career school license due to the use of 
47.11 	"academy," "institute," "college," or "university" in its name and which is also licensed by 
47.12 	another state agency or board, except not including those schools licensed exclusively in 
47.13 	order to participate in state grants or SELF loan financial aid programs, shall be required 
47.14 	to provide a school bond of $10,000.
47.15 	(c) The bond shall run to the state of Minnesota and to any person who may have a cause 
47.16 	of action against the applicant arising at any time after the bond is filed and before it is 
47.17 	canceled for breach of any contract or agreement made by the applicant with any student. 
47.18 	The aggregate liability of the surety for all breaches of the conditions of the bond shall not 
47.19 	exceed the principal sum deposited by the private career school under paragraph (b). The 
47.20 	surety of any bond may cancel it upon giving 60 days' notice in writing to the office and 
47.21 	shall be relieved of liability for any breach of condition occurring after the effective date 
47.22 	of cancellation.
47.23 	(d) In lieu of bond, the applicant may deposit with the commissioner of management 
47.24 	and budget a sum equal to the amount of the required surety bond in cash, an irrevocable 
47.25 	letter of credit issued by a financial institution equal to the amount of the required surety 
47.26 	bond, or securities as may be legally purchased by savings banks or for trust funds in an 
47.27 	aggregate market value equal to the amount of the required surety bond.
47.28 	(e) Failure of a private career school to post and maintain the required surety bond or 
47.29 	deposit under paragraph (d) may result in denial, suspension, or revocation of the school's 
47.30 	license.

47.31 	Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.822, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
47.32 		Subd. 7.Resident agent. Private career schools located outside the state of Minnesota 
47.33 	that ~~offer, advertise, solicit for, or conduct any program~~ have a physical presence within 
47.34 	the state of Minnesota shall first file with the secretary of state a sworn statement designating 
48.1 	a resident agent authorized to receive service of process. The statement shall designate the 
48.2 	secretary of state as resident agent for service of process in the absence of a designated 
48.3 	agent. If a private career school fails to file the statement, the secretary of state is designated 
48.4 	as the resident agent authorized to receive service of process. The authorization shall be 
48.5 	irrevocable as to causes of action arising out of transactions occurring prior to the filing of 
48.6 	written notice of withdrawal from the state of Minnesota filed with the secretary of state.

48.7 	Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.822, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
48.8 		Subd. 8.Minimum standards. A license shall be issued if the office first determines:
48.9 	(1) that the applicant has a sound financial condition with sufficient resources available 
48.10 	to:
48.11 	(i) meet the private career school's financial obligations;
48.12 	(ii) refund all tuition and other charges, within a reasonable period of time, in the event 
48.13 	of dissolution of the private career school or in the event of any justifiable claims for refund 
48.14 	against the private career school by the student body;
48.15 	(iii) provide adequate service to its students and prospective students; and
48.16 	(iv) maintain and support the private career school;
48.17 	(2) that the applicant has satisfactory facilities with sufficient tools and equipment and 
48.18 	the necessary number of work stations to prepare adequately the students currently enrolled, 
48.19 	and those proposed to be enrolled;
48.20 	(3) that the applicant employs a sufficient number of qualified teaching personnel to 
48.21 	provide the educational programs contemplated;
48.22 	(4) that the private career school has an organizational framework with administrative 
48.23 	and instructional personnel to provide the programs and services it intends to offer;
48.24 	(5) that the quality and content of each occupational course or program of study provides 
48.25 	education and adequate preparation to enrolled students for entry level positions in the 
48.26 	occupation for which prepared;
48.27 	(6) that the premises and conditions where the students work and study and the student 
48.28 	living quarters which are owned, maintained, recommended, or approved by the applicant 
48.29 	are sanitary, healthful, and safe, as evidenced by certificate of occupancy issued by the 
48.30 	municipality or county where the private career school is physically situated, a fire inspection 
48.31 	by the local or state fire marshal, or another verification deemed acceptable by the office;
49.1 	(7) that the contract or enrollment agreement used by the private career school complies 
49.2 	with the provisions in section 136A.826;
49.3 	(8) that contracts and agreements do not contain a wage assignment provision or a 
49.4 	confession of judgment clause; ~~and~~
49.5 	(9) that there has been no adjudication of fraud or misrepresentation in any criminal, 
49.6 	civil, or administrative proceeding in any jurisdiction against the private career school or 
49.7 	its owner, officers, agents, or sponsoring organization;
49.8 	(10) that the private career school or its owners, officers, agents, or sponsoring 
49.9 	organization has not had a license revoked under section 136A.829 or its equivalent in other 
49.10 	states or has closed the institution prior to all students, enrolled at the time of the closure, 
49.11 	completing their program within two years of the effective date of the revocation; and
49.12 	(11) that the school includes a joint and several liability provision for torts and compliance 
49.13 	with the requirements of sections 136A.82 to 136A.834 in any contract effective after July 
49.14 	1, 2026, with any individual, entity, or postsecondary school located in another state for the 
49.15 	purpose of providing educational or training programs or awarding postsecondary credits 
49.16 	to Minnesota residents that may be applied to a program.

49.17 	Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.824, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
49.18 		Subdivision 1.Initial licensure fee. (a) The office processing fee for an initial licensure 
49.19 	application is:
49.20 	(1) $2,500 for a private career school that will offer no more than one program during 
49.21 	its first year of operation;
49.22 	(2) $750 for a private career school licensed exclusively due to the use of the term 
49.23 	"college," "university," "academy," or "institute" in its name, or licensed exclusively in 
49.24 	order to participate in state grant or SELF loan financial aid programs; and
49.25 	(3) $2,500, plus $500 for each additional program offered by the private career school, 
49.26 	for a private career school during its first year of operation.
49.27 	(b) In addition to the fee under paragraph (a), a fee of $600 must be paid for an initial 
49.28 	application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application 
49.29 	reminders for the same application or licensure requirement; or (2) cumulatively has had 
49.30 	six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the same license 
49.31 	application and the private career school seeks to continue with the application process with 
49.32 	additional application submissions. If this fee is paid, the private career school may submit 
50.1 	two final application submissions for review prior to application denial under section 
50.2 	136A.829, subdivision 1, clause (2). This provision excludes from its scope nonrepetitive 
50.3 	questions or clarifications initiated by the school before the submission of the application, 
50.4 	initial interpretation questions or inquiries from the office regarding a completed application, 
50.5 	and initial requests from the office for verification or validation of a completed application.

50.6 	Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.824, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
50.7 		Subd. 2.Renewal licensure fee; late fee. (a) The office processing fee for a renewal 
50.8 	licensure application is:
50.9 	(1) for a private career school that offers one program, the license renewal fee is $1,150;
50.10 	(2) for a private career school that offers more than one program, the license renewal 
50.11 	fee is $1,150, plus $200 for each additional program with a maximum renewal licensing 
50.12 	fee of $2,000;
50.13 	(3) for a private career school licensed exclusively due to the use of the term "college," 
50.14 	"university," "academy," or "institute" in its name, the license renewal fee is $750; and
50.15 	(4) for a private career school licensed by another state agency and also licensed with 
50.16 	the office exclusively in order to participate in state student aid programs, the license renewal 
50.17 	fee is $750.
50.18 	(b) If a license renewal application is not received by the office by the close of business 
50.19 	at least 60 days before the expiration of the current license, a late fee of $100 per business 
50.20 	day, not to exceed $3,000, shall be assessed.
50.21 	(c) In addition to the fee under paragraph (a), a fee of $600 must be paid for a renewal 
50.22 	application that: (1) has had four revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application 
50.23 	reminders for the same application or licensure requirement; or (2) cumulatively has had 
50.24 	six revisions, corrections, amendment requests, or application reminders for the same license 
50.25 	application and the private career school seeks to continue with the application process with 
50.26 	additional application submissions. If this fee is paid, the private career school may submit 
50.27 	two final application submissions for review prior to application denial under section 
50.28 	136A.829, subdivision 1, clause (2). This provision excludes from its scope nonrepetitive 
50.29 	questions or clarifications initiated by the school before the submission of the application, 
50.30 	initial interpretation questions or inquiries from the office regarding a completed application, 
50.31 	and initial requests from the office for verification or validation of a completed application.

51.1 	Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.828, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
51.2 		Subd. 3.False statements. (a) A private career school, agent, or solicitor shall not make, 
51.3 	or cause to be made, any statement or representation, oral, written or visual, in connection 
51.4 	with the offering or publicizing of a program, if the private career school, agent, or solicitor 
51.5 	knows or reasonably should have known the statement or representation to be false, 
51.6 	fraudulent, deceptive, substantially inaccurate, or misleading.
51.7 	(b) Other than opinion-based statements or puffery, a school shall only make claims that 
51.8 	are evidence-based, can be validated, and are based on current conditions and not on 
51.9 	conditions that are no longer relevant.
51.10 	(c) A school shall not guarantee or imply the guarantee of employment.
51.11 	(d) A school shall not guarantee or advertise any certain wage or imply earnings greater 
51.12 	than the prevailing wage for entry-level wages in the field of study for the geographic area 
51.13 	unless advertised wages are based on verifiable wage information from graduates.
51.14 	(e) If placement statistics are used in advertising or other promotional materials, the 
51.15 	school must be able to substantiate the statistics with school records. These records must 
51.16 	be made available to the office upon request. A school is prohibited from reporting the 
51.17 	following in placement statistics:
51.18 	(1) a student required to receive a job offer or start a job to be classified as a graduate;
51.19 	(2) a graduate if the graduate held a position before enrolling in the program, unless 
51.20 	graduating enabled the graduate to maintain the position or the graduate received a promotion 
51.21 	or raise upon graduation;
51.22 	(3) a graduate who works less than 20 hours per week; and
51.23 	(4) a graduate who is not expected to maintain the position for at least 180 days.
51.24 	(f) A school shall not use endorsements, commendations, or recommendations by a 
51.25 	student in favor of a school except with the consent of the student and without any offer of 
51.26 	financial or other material compensation. Endorsements may be used only when they portray 
51.27 	current conditions.
51.28 	(g) A school may advertise that the school or its programs have been accredited by an 
51.29 	accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council 
51.30 	for Higher Education Accreditation, but shall not advertise any other accreditation unless 
51.31 	approved by the office. The office may approve an institution's advertising of accreditation 
51.32 	that is not recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for 
52.1 	Higher Education if that accreditation is industry specific. Clear distinction must be made 
52.2 	when the school is in candidacy or application status versus full accreditation.
52.3 	(h) A school may advertise that financial aid is available, including a listing of the 
52.4 	financial aid programs in which the school participates, but federal or state financial aid 
52.5 	shall not be used as a primary incentive in advertisement, promotion, or recruitment.
52.6 	(i) A school may advertise placement or career assistance, if offered, but shall not use 
52.7 	the words "wanted," "help wanted," or "trainee," either in the headline or the body of the 
52.8 	advertisement.
52.9 	(j) A school shall not be advertised under any "help wanted," "employment," or similar 
52.10 	classification.
52.11 	(k) A school shall not falsely claim that it is conducting a talent hunt, contest, or similar 
52.12 	test.
52.13 	(l) A school shall not make a claim that its program qualifies for a national certification 
52.14 	if that national certification entity is not accepted or recognized by Minnesota employers. 
52.15 	A school may validate that a national certification is accepted or recognized by Minnesota 
52.16 	employers by providing three certified letters from employers that the national certification 
52.17 	entity is recognized in Minnesota by employers.
52.18 	~~(l)~~ (m) The commissioner, at any time, may require a retraction of a false, misleading, 
52.19 	or deceptive claim. To the extent reasonable, the retraction must be published in the same 
52.20 	manner as the original claim.

52.21 	Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.828, is amended by adding a subdivision 
52.22 	to read:
52.23 		Subd. 7.Nondisclosure agreements. No private career school shall use nondisclosure 
52.24 	agreements or other contracts restricting a student's ability to disclose information in 
52.25 	connection with school actions or conduct that would be covered under section 136A.8295.

52.26 	Sec. 43. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.829, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
52.27 		Subd. 3.Powers and duties. The office shall have (in addition to the powers and duties 
52.28 	now vested therein by law) the following powers and duties:
52.29 	(a) To negotiate and enter into interstate reciprocity agreements with similar agencies 
52.30 	in other states, if in the judgment of the office such agreements are or will be helpful in 
52.31 	effectuating the purposes of Laws 1973, chapter 714;
53.1 	(b) To grant conditional private career school license for periods of less than one year 
53.2 	if in the judgment of the office correctable deficiencies exist at the time of application and 
53.3 	when refusal to issue private career school license would adversely affect currently enrolled 
53.4 	students;
53.5 	(c) The office may upon its own motion, and shall upon the verified complaint in writing 
53.6 	of any person setting forth fact which, if proved, would constitute grounds for refusal or 
53.7 	revocation under Laws 1973, chapter 714, investigate the actions of any applicant or any 
53.8 	person or persons holding or claiming to hold a license or permit. However, before proceeding 
53.9 	to a hearing on the question of whether a license or permit shall be refused, revoked or 
53.10 	suspended for any cause enumerated in subdivision 1, the office shall grant a reasonable 
53.11 	time to the holder of or applicant for a license or permit to correct the situation. If within 
53.12 	such time the situation is corrected and the private career school is in compliance with the 
53.13 	provisions of sections 136A.82 to 136A.834, no further action leading to refusal, revocation, 
53.14 	or suspension shall be taken.
53.15 	(d) To grant a private career school a probationary license for periods of less than three 
53.16 	years if, in the judgment of the office, correctable deficiencies exist at the time of application 
53.17 	that need more than one year to correct and when the risk of harm to students can be 
53.18 	minimized through the use of restrictions and requirements as conditions of the license. 
53.19 	Probationary licenses may include requirements and restrictions for:
53.20 	(1) periodic monitoring and submission of reports on the school's deficiencies to ascertain 
53.21 	whether compliance improves;
53.22 	(2) periodic collaborative consultations with the school on noncompliance with sections 
53.23 	136A.82 to 136A.834 or how the institution is managing compliance;
53.24 	(3) the submission of contingency plans such as teach-out plans or transfer pathways 
53.25 	for students;
53.26 	(4) a prohibition from accepting tuition and fee payments prior to the add/drop period 
53.27 	of the current period of instruction or before the funds have been earned by the school 
53.28 	according to the refund requirements of section 136A.827;
53.29 	(5) a prohibition from enrolling new students;
53.30 	(6) enrollment caps;
53.31 	(7) the initiation of alternative processes and communications with students enrolled at 
53.32 	the school to notify students of deficiencies or probation status;
54.1 	(8) the submission of a surety under section 136A.822, subdivision 6, paragraph (b), 
54.2 	clause (1), that exceeds ten percent of the preceding year's net revenue from student tuition, 
54.3 	fees, and other required institutional charges collected; or
54.4 	(9) submission of closure information under section 136A.8225.

54.5 	Sec. 44. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 136A.829, is amended by adding a subdivision 
54.6 	to read:
54.7 		Subd. 4.Effect. A private career school or its owners, officers, or sponsoring organization 
54.8 	is prohibited from applying for licensure under section 136A.822 within two years of the 
54.9 	effective date of a revocation or within two years from the last date of instruction if the 
54.10 	school closed prior to all students completing their courses and programs. A school applying 
54.11 	for licensure must:
54.12 	(1) meet the requirements for licensure under section 136A.822;
54.13 	(2) pay the licensure fees as a new school under section 136A.824, subdivision 1;
54.14 	(3) correct any deficiencies that were identified in the revocation order or closed school 
54.15 	requests under section 136A.8225;
54.16 	(4) pay any outstanding fines or penalties under section 136A.832; and
54.17 	(5) pay any outstanding student refunds under section 136A.827.

54.18 	Sec. 45. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 136A.833, subdivision 2, is amended 
54.19 	to read:
54.20 		Subd. 2.Exemption reasons. Sections 136A.821 to 136A.832 shall not apply to the 
54.21 	following:
54.22 	(1) public postsecondary institutions;
54.23 	(2) postsecondary institutions registered under sections 136A.61 to 136A.71;
54.24 	(3) postsecondary institutions exempt from registration under sections 136A.653, 
54.25 	subdivisions 1b, 2, 3, and 3a; 136A.657; and 136A.658;
54.26 	~~(4) private career schools of nursing accredited by the state Board of Nursing or an~~ 
54.27 	~~equivalent public board of another state or foreign country;~~
54.28 	~~(5)~~ (4) private schools complying with the requirements of section 120A.22, subdivision 
54.29 	4;
55.1 	~~(6)~~ (5) courses taught to students in an apprenticeship program registered by the United 
55.2 	States Department of Labor or Minnesota Department of Labor and taught by or required 
55.3 	by a trade union. A trade union is an organization of workers in the same skilled occupation 
55.4 	or related skilled occupations who act together to secure all members favorable wages, 
55.5 	hours, and other working conditions;
55.6 	~~(7)~~ (6) private career schools exclusively engaged in training physically or mentally 
55.7 	disabled persons ~~for the state of Minnesota~~;
55.8 	~~(8)~~ (7) private career schools licensed or approved by boards authorized under Minnesota 
55.9 	law to issue licenses for training programs except private career schools required to obtain 
55.10 	a private career school license due to the use of "academy," "institute," "college," or 
55.11 	"university" in their names;
55.12 	~~(9)~~ (8) private career schools and educational programs, or training programs, contracted 
55.13 	for by persons, firms, corporations, government agencies, or associations, for the training 
55.14 	of their own employees, for which no fee is charged the employee, regardless of whether 
55.15 	that fee is reimbursed by the employer or third party after the employee successfully 
55.16 	completes the training;
55.17 	~~(10)~~ (9) private career schools engaged exclusively in the teaching of purely avocational, 
55.18 	recreational, or remedial subjects that are not advertised or maintained for vocational or 
55.19 	career advancement, including adult basic education, as determined by the office except 
55.20 	private career schools required to obtain a private career school license due to the use of 
55.21 	~~"academy," "institute,"~~ "college~~,~~" or "university" in their names ~~unless the private career~~ 
55.22 	~~school used "academy" or "institute" in its name prior to August 1, 2008~~;
55.23 	~~(11)~~ (10) classes, courses, or programs conducted by a bona fide trade, professional, or 
55.24 	fraternal organization, solely for that organization's membership and not available to the 
55.25 	public. In making the determination that the organization is bona fide, the office may request 
55.26 	the school provide three certified letters from persons that qualify as evaluators under section 
55.27 	136A.828, subdivision 3, paragraph (l), that the organization is recognized in Minnesota;
55.28 	~~(12)~~ (11) programs in the fine arts provided by organizations exempt from taxation under 
55.29 	section 290.05 and registered with the attorney general under chapter 309. For the purposes 
55.30 	of this clause, "fine arts" means activities resulting in artistic creation or artistic performance 
55.31 	of works of the imagination which are engaged in for the primary purpose of creative 
55.32 	expression rather than commercial sale, vocational or career advancement, or employment. 
55.33 	In making this determination the office may seek the advice and recommendation of the 
55.34 	Minnesota Board of the Arts;
56.1 	~~(13)~~ (12) classes, courses, or programs intended to fulfill the continuing education 
56.2 	requirements for a bona fide licensure or certification in a profession, that have been approved 
56.3 	by a legislatively or judicially established board or agency responsible for regulating the 
56.4 	practice of the profession or by an industry-specific certification entity, and that are offered 
56.5 	exclusively to individuals with the professional licensure or certification. In making the 
56.6 	determination that the licensure or certification is bona fide, the office may request the 
56.7 	school provide three certified letters from persons that qualify as evaluators under section 
56.8 	136A.828, subdivision 3, paragraph (l), that the licensure and certification is recognized in 
56.9 	Minnesota;
56.10 	~~(14)~~ (13) review classes, courses, or programs intended to prepare students to sit for 
56.11 	undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, or occupational licensing, certification, or entrance 
56.12 	examinations and does not include the instruction to prepare students for that license, 
56.13 	occupation, certification, or exam;
56.14 	~~(15)~~ (14) classes, courses, or programs providing 16 or fewer clock hours of instruction;
56.15 	~~(16)~~ (15) classes, courses, or programs providing instruction in personal development
56.16 	that is not advertised or maintained for vocational or career advancement, modeling, or 
56.17 	acting;
56.18 	~~(17)~~ (16) private career schools with no physical presence in Minnesota~~, as determined~~ 
56.19 	~~by the office,~~ engaged exclusively in offering distance instruction that are located in and 
56.20 	regulated by other states or jurisdictions if the distance education instruction does not include 
56.21 	internships, externships, field placements, or clinical placements for residents of Minnesota; 
56.22 	and
56.23 	~~(18)~~ (17) private career schools providing exclusively training, instructional programs, 
56.24 	or courses where tuition, fees, and any other charges, regardless of payment or reimbursement 
56.25 	method, for a student to participate do not exceed $100.

56.26 	Sec. 46. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 136F.38, subdivision 3, is amended 
56.27 	to read:
56.28 		Subd. 3.Program eligibility. (a) Scholarships shall be awarded only to a student eligible 
56.29 	for resident tuition, as defined in section 135A.043, who is enrolled in any of the following 
56.30 	programs of study or certification: (1) advanced manufacturing; (2) agriculture; (3) health 
56.31 	care services; (4) information technology; (5) early childhood; (6) transportation; (7) 
56.32 	construction; (8) education; (9) public safety; (10) energy; or ~~(10)~~ (11) a program of study 
56.33 	under paragraph (b).
57.1 	(b) Each institution may add one additional area of study or certification, based on a 
57.2 	workforce shortage for full-time employment requiring postsecondary education that is 
57.3 	unique to the institution's specific region, as reported in the most recent Department of 
57.4 	Employment and Economic Development job vacancy survey data for the economic 
57.5 	development region in which the institution is located. A workforce shortage area is one in 
57.6 	which the job vacancy rate for full-time employment in a specific occupation in a region is 
57.7 	higher than the state average vacancy rate for that same occupation. The institution may 
57.8 	change the area of study or certification based on new data once every two years.
57.9 	(c) The student must be enrolled for at least nine credits in a two-year college in the 
57.10 	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to be eligible for first- and second-year 
57.11 	scholarships.
57.12 	(d) The student is eligible for a one-year transfer scholarship if the student transfers from 
57.13 	a two-year college after two or more terms, and the student is enrolled for at least nine 
57.14 	credits in a four-year university in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

57.15 	Sec. 47. [137.375] DISABLED VETERANS; UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 
57.16 	LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM.
57.17 	(a) For purposes of this section, "disabled veteran" means a veteran as defined in section 
57.18 	197.447 who is certified as disabled. "Certified as disabled" means certified in writing by 
57.19 	the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the state commissioner of veterans 
57.20 	affairs as having a permanent service-connected disability.
57.21 	(b) The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is requested to provide a disabled 
57.22 	veteran unlimited access to the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum located in 
57.23 	the city of Chaska free of charge. The disabled veteran must provide a veteran photo 
57.24 	identification card with the term "service-connected" on the identification card, verifying 
57.25 	that the disabled veteran has a service-connected disability.

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

57.27 	Sec. 48. REPEALER.
 57.28 	(a) Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 135A.16, is repealed.
57.29 	(b) Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 135A.162, subdivision 7, is repealed.

57.30 	EFFECTIVE DATE. Paragraph (a) is effective January 1, 2025.
57.31 	Delete the title and insert:
58.1 	A bill for an act
58.2 	relating to higher education; providing for funding and policy and technical changes 
58.3 	to certain higher education provisions, including student sexual misconduct, student 
58.4 	admissions, student aid, student supports, and institutional registration and contract 
58.5 	provisions; modifying the bonding authority of the Minnesota Higher Education 
58.6 	Facilities Authority; modifying previous appropriations; establishing fees; requiring 
58.7 	reports; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 
58.8 	135A.15, as amended; 136A.091, subdivision 3; 136A.1241, subdivision 3; 
58.9 	136A.1701, subdivisions 4, 7; 136A.29, subdivision 9; 136A.62, by adding 
58.10 	subdivisions; 136A.63, subdivision 1; 136A.646; 136A.65, subdivision 4; 
58.11 	136A.675, subdivision 2; 136A.69, subdivision 1; 136A.821, subdivision 5, by 
58.12 	adding a subdivision; 136A.822, subdivisions 1, 2, 6, 7, 8; 136A.824, subdivisions 
58.13 	1, 2; 136A.828, subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision; 136A.829, subdivision 3, 
58.14 	by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, sections 135A.121, 
58.15 	subdivision 2; 135A.161, by adding a subdivision; 135A.162, subdivision 2; 
58.16 	136A.1241, subdivision 5; 136A.1465, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 136A.62, 
58.17 	subdivision 3; 136A.833, subdivision 2; 136F.38, subdivision 3; Laws 2022, 
58.18 	chapter 42, section 2; Laws 2023, chapter 41, article 1, sections 2, subdivisions 
58.19 	35, 36, 49, as amended; 4, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in 
58.20 	Minnesota Statutes, chapters 135A; 136A; 137; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, 
58.21 	section 135A.16; Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 135A.162, 
58.22 	subdivision 7.

59.1 | We request the adoption of this report and repassage of the bill.

59.2

House Conferees:
........

59.3 | ........ | | ........
59.4 | Gene Pelowski Jr. | | Dan Wolgamott
59.5 | ........ | |
59.6 | Joe McDonald | |

59.7

Senate Conferees:
........

59.8 | ........ | | ........
59.9 | Omar Fateh | | Aric Putnam
59.10 | ........ | |
59.11 | Zach Duckworth | |