MN HF3638

Creates a grant program administered by the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development to reimburse employers for up to 50 percent of educational costs for employees or prospective employees completing qualifying academic programs at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Eligible employers must have at least one job vacancy in a high-demand occupation in their economic development region, with qualifying academic programs limited to degrees, diplomas, or certificates requiring no more than 60 credits.

Grant allocation must split funding 50-50 between employers in the seven metropolitan counties and employers outside those counties, with commissioner discretion to prioritize specific high-demand occupations with 30 days' notice.

Requires at least two application rounds per calendar year and mandates annual reporting to legislature including completion rates, occupation classifications, costs paid by employers and employees, and program efficacy assessment.

Appropriates $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 as a one-time grant fund available until December 31, 2019, plus $300,000 annually for program administration.