The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136F.38, subdivision 3, to expand the eligibility criteria for workforce development scholarships in higher education. It specifies that scholarships will now be awarded to students who are eligible for resident tuition and enrolled in various programs of study, including a newly added category of cybersecurity. The previous list of eligible programs has been updated to reflect this addition, with the former item (11) being renumbered to (12).

Additionally, the bill allows each institution to include one more area of study or certification that addresses a workforce shortage specific to its region, as identified by the Department of Employment and Economic Development's job vacancy survey data. This area can be updated every two years based on new data. The eligibility requirements for students include being enrolled for at least nine credits in a two-year college for first- and second-year scholarships, and for transfer scholarships, students must transfer from a two-year college after two or more terms and be enrolled for at least nine credits in a four-year university.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 136F.38