1.1.................... moves to amend H.F. No. 1982 as follows:
1.2Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:
1.3 "Section 1.
[135A.53] DEFINITIONS.
1.4 Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of this section and section 135A.54, the
1.5following words have the meanings given them.
1.6 Subd. 2. Course. "Course" means any course of study offered by a state-supported
1.7institution of higher education in the regular curriculum of a department, school, or
1.8subdivision of the institution.
1.9 Subd. 3. Eligible person. "Eligible person" means a veteran or a veteran's spouse
1.10who meet the criteria under section 135A.54, subdivision 2.
1.11 Subd. 4. Legal resident. "Legal resident" means a person who fulfills the residency
1.12criteria applicable to students of a state-supported institution of higher education.
1.13 Subd. 5. Institution of higher education. "Institution of higher education" means a
1.14state university, public two-year college, or the University of Minnesota.
1.15 Subd. 6. Veteran. "Veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447.
1.16 Sec. 2.
[135A.54] VETERAN EDUCATION PROGRAM.
1.17 Subdivision 1. Fees and tuition. (a) Except for an administration fee established
1.18by the governing board at a level to recover costs, to be collected only when a course is
1.19taken for credit, an eligible person who is a legal resident of Minnesota is entitled without
1.20payment of tuition or activity fees to attend courses offered for credit, audit any courses
1.21offered for credit, or enroll in any noncredit courses in any state-supported institution of
1.22higher education in Minnesota when space is available after all tuition-paying students
1.23have been accommodated. An eligible person enrolled under this section must pay any
1.24materials, personal property, or service charges for the course. In addition, an eligible
1.25person who is enrolled in a course for credit must pay an administrative fee in an amount
2.1established by the governing board of the institution to recover costs. An eligible person
2.2shall not be charged an administrative fee for auditing a course.
2.3(b) If there is space available in a course after an eligible person has enrolled and
2.4paid for the course, the institution of higher education must apply the tuition to another
2.5course or to any outstanding balance.
2.6 Subd. 2. Eligibility. A person is eligible to register and enroll in courses under
2.7subdivision 1, if that person is:
2.8(1) a veteran who has been eligible for postsecondary educational assistance
2.9under section 197.791 or any federal educational benefits for veterans but, at the time
2.10of registration, is no longer eligible for assistance under the Minnesota G.I. Bill, any
2.11other state educational benefit for veterans or Minnesota National Guard, or any federal
2.12educational benefits for veterans; or
2.13(2) the spouse of a veteran who has been eligible, as a spouse, for postsecondary
2.14educational assistance under section 197.791 or any federal educational benefits available
2.15to a spouse of veterans but, at the time of registration, is no longer eligible for assistance
2.16under the Minnesota G.I. Bill or any federal educational benefits available to a veteran's
2.17spouse.
2.18 Subd. 3. Terms; limits. An eligible person may enroll in a lifetime maximum of
2.1924 semester credits under subdivision 1. There are no income limitations imposed in
2.20determining eligibility under subdivision 1. Enrollment in a closed enrollment contract
2.21training program or in any part of a farm or small business management education
2.22program that includes on-site individualized instruction is not eligible for benefits under
2.23subdivision 1.
2.24 Subd. 4. Catalogue statement. Each state-supported institution of higher education
2.25shall prominently include in its catalogue a statement of benefits provided for eligible
2.26persons.
2.27 Subd. 5. Determination of qualifications. The institution shall determine whether
2.28a person qualifies for, and require execution of appropriate forms to request, the benefits
2.29available under this section.
2.30 Subd. 6. Reimbursement. An institution of higher education with students
2.31enrolled under subdivision 1 may apply to the commissioner of veterans affairs for cost
2.32reimbursement. The commissioner of veterans affairs shall allocate funds remaining
2.33under section 197.791, subdivision 6, after payment of all Minnesota G.I. Bill educational
2.34benefits, to participating institutions of higher education based on the number of credits
2.35completed by eligible persons. If the remaining appropriation in any fiscal year is
2.36insufficient to meet each higher education institution's application for cost reimbursement,
3.1the commissioner of veterans affairs shall prorate payments to be within the amount of
3.2available appropriations.
3.3 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 197.791, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
3.4 Subd. 6.
Appropriation. The amount necessary to pay the benefit amounts in
3.5subdivision 5
and cost reimbursement for higher education institutions for academic
3.6credits taken under section 135A.54 is appropriated from the general fund to the
3.7commissioner.
After payment of benefit amounts under subdivision 5, the commissioner
3.8shall pay cost reimbursement to higher education institutions that apply under section
3.9135A.54, subdivision 6. Payments to institutions must be based on the number of credits
3.10completed by eligible veterans or spouses. During any fiscal year beginning on or after
3.11July 1, 2013, the amount paid under this subdivision must not exceed $6,000,000.
3.12 Sec. 4.
EFFECTIVE DATE; EXPIRATION.
3.13Sections 1 to 3 are effective for academic courses beginning on or after July 1, 2012.
3.14This program expires on June 30, 2019."
3.15Amend the title accordingly