SF3510 - Higher Education Bill Summary

• Supplemental appropriations of $5.7 billion for Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and University of Minnesota for fiscal years 2022-2023, including funding for grants to law enforcement students, workforce development scholarships, and campus safety improvements.

• Skills Path Program creates clear pathways from high school to skilled trades careers by establishing grant programs (up to $50,000 annually to schools) that combine career and technical education with employment-based training opportunities.

• New law enforcement grant program provides $3,000 annual grants to eligible students pursuing law enforcement degree or nondegree programs, with lifetime limits of $3,000 (nondegree), $6,000 (associate), or $12,000 (baccalaureate).

• Renamed and expanded authority - Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority renamed to Minnesota Health and Education Facilities Authority with authority to finance both education and health care facilities; increases bonding limit from $1.3 billion to $4 billion ($1.75 billion for education, $2.25 billion for health care).

• Developmental education terminology change replaces "remedial" with "developmental" throughout statutes; allows multiple measures for placement decisions instead of testing alone.