The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136F.38, subdivision 3, to expand the eligibility criteria for workforce development scholarships in higher education. It introduces a new area of study, cybersecurity, as an eligible program for scholarship awards, while also renumbering the existing programs accordingly. The bill maintains the requirement that scholarships are awarded only to students eligible for resident tuition and enrolled in specific programs of study or certification, which now includes cybersecurity as the eleventh option.

Additionally, the bill allows each institution to add one more area of study or certification based on regional workforce shortages, as identified by the Department of Employment and Economic Development's job vacancy survey data. This flexibility enables institutions to adapt their offerings to meet local employment needs. The eligibility criteria for students remain that they must be enrolled for at least nine credits in a two-year college or a four-year university within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to qualify for the scholarships.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 136F.38