S.F. No. 1288 Summary

• Establishes an allied health technician scholarship program administered by the Commissioner of the Office of Higher Education to provide up to 1,000 scholarships by 2026.

• Provides $5,000 per scholarship to eligible resident students enrolled in their first term of nationally accredited programs in medical laboratory technologist, medical laboratory technician, respiratory therapist, radiology technologist, or surgical technologist fields.

• Requires eligible students to attend Minnesota eligible institutions, submit an affidavit affirming intent to work in the health technician field after graduation, and may only receive one scholarship.

• Appropriates $5,380,000 in fiscal year 2024, with $5,000,000 for scholarships, $230,000 for program promotion and recruitment, and $150,000 for administration, available until expended or June 30, 2026.

• Requires reports to legislature by February 1, 2025 and February 1, 2026 detailing program information, health technician demand data, and scholarship distribution by year, institution, field, and recipient demographics; program expires June 30, 2026.