Senate higher education committee passes omnibus bill
The Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy committee discussed their omnibus bill yesterday, amended it, passed it, and referred it to the Senate Finance Committee where it will be heard next. As a reminder, the bill, which can be found here, does not include additional spending, but does reallocate $1 million of surplus funding from the college occupational scholarship pilot program administered by the Office of Higher Education and appropriates that funding to the following:
- $500,000 to Minnesota State for renewal of workforce development scholarships
- $300,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the State Grant program
- $100,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the Agricultural Educators Loan Forgiveness program
- $50,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the Student Loan Debt Counseling program
- $50,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for a Teacher Preparation Program Design Grant
Many amendments were offered in committee, including an amendment that would expand the list of provisions that must be included in an institution’s sexual assault policy by adding a requirement that the policy provide for notice to a sexual assault victim regarding available legal resources. This amendment, offered by Sen. Greg Clausen, DFL-Apple Valley, passed and will be included in the bill.
Sen. Jason Isaacson, DFL-Shoreview, offered many amendments that did not pass, including an amendment that would appropriate $10 million to Minnesota State for general campus support. Chair Michelle Fischbach, R-Paynesville, told committee members she cannot vote for an amendment that adds funding to the bill when the committee does not have a budget target with which to work. Sen. Fischbach added that she is disappointed she does not have additional funding, and will continue to work with legislative leadership on trying to get a budget target for her committee.
Other highlights in the bill include:
- Establishes a program administered by the Office of Higher Education to provide grants to qualified organizations offering student loan debt repayment counseling
- Requires Minnesota State to develop a plan to increase the use of affordable textbooks and instructional materials. The plan must be submitted to the Legislature by January 15, 2020.
- Language that allows for the Office of Higher Education to make a grant to an institution of higher education to explore, design, and plan for a teacher preparation program leading to licensure as a teacher of the blind or visually impaired.
House higher education bill introduced in committee, public testimony taken today
The House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance committee rolled out the committee’s omnibus bill yesterday. The bill can be found here. The committee amended the bill, and laid it on the table for public testimony and further discussion today. As shared earlier, the committee received a $5 million target. The bill appropriates the $5 million to the cyber security program at Metropolitan State University.
Similar to the Senate higher education omnibus bill, the House bill reallocates $1 million of surplus funding from the college occupational scholarship pilot program administered by the Office of Higher Education and appropriates that funding to the following:
- $500,000 to Minnesota State for renewal of workforce development scholarships – this is a onetime appropriation available until June 30, 2020 (in Senate bill)
- $350,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the State Grant program (Senate bill appropriates $300,000)
- $100,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the Agricultural Educators Loan Forgiveness program (in Senate bill)
- $50,000 one-time appropriation to the Office of Higher Education for the Student Loan Debt Counseling program (in Senate bill)
Other provisions in the bill include:
- Establishes a program administered by the Office of Higher Education to provide grants to qualified organizations offering student loan debt repayment counseling
- Requires Minnesota State to develop a plan to increase the use of affordable textbooks and instructional materials. The plan must be submitted to the Legislature by January 15, 2020.
- Expands the list of provisions that must be included in an institution’s sexual assault policy by adding a requirement that the policy provide for notice to a sexual assault victim regarding available legal resources
The bill will be discussed in committee today at 3:00 p.m. in Room 5 of the State Office Building. The link to view the hearing through webcast or mobile streaming can be found at: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp
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