Bill Summary

• Appropriates $2.82 billion from general and health care access funds for higher education in fiscal years 2014-2015, distributed to the Office of Higher Education ($451.6M), Minnesota State Colleges and Universities ($1.19B), University of Minnesota ($1.17B), and Mayo Clinic ($2.7M)

• Includes $25.5M in FY2014 and $52.5M in FY2015 for tuition relief at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and $14.2M in FY2014 and $28.4M in FY2015 for University of Minnesota tuition relief, with restrictions on fee increases to offset the aid

• Establishes the Minnesota Discovery, Research, and InnoVation Economy (MnDRIVE) funding program at the University of Minnesota with $17.8M-$17.9M annually to support research in engineering, science, technology, food-related solutions, and health/environmental initiatives

• Implements the Prosperity Act, allowing students without lawful immigration status to qualify for in-state tuition rates if they attended Minnesota high school for 3+ years and meet additional requirements including selective service registration and filing for legal status if possible

• Modifies state grant program requirements by reducing assigned family responsibility for independent students without dependents from 68% to 50% of student contribution, and increases child care grant maximum from $2,600 to $2,800 per eligible child annually