S.F. No. 655 Summary

• Establishes the Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance Center through a contract with the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration to expand postsecondary education access for students with intellectual disabilities.

• Creates a competitive grant program awarding up to $200,000 per year for four years and $100,000 in subsequent years to eligible Minnesota institutions of higher education to develop or enhance inclusive higher education initiatives, with a 25 percent match requirement.

• Requires grant recipients to adopt model Program Accreditation Standards and provide students with intellectual disabilities access to academic courses, campus housing, peer mentors, paid internships, and meaningful credentials aligned with competitive integrated employment.

• Appropriates $250,000 in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 for the Technical Assistance Center and $750,000 in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 for the inclusive higher education grant account.

• Requires grantees to submit biannual reports on enrollment, retention, employment outcomes, and other performance indicators, with the center director submitting annual reports to the legislature by October 1.