The bill proposes the establishment of a higher education liaison position within the Minnesota Department of Corrections, with an appropriation of funds from the general fund for fiscal year 2025. This liaison will facilitate coordination between the Department of Corrections and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. Additionally, the bill mandates that the commissioner of the Department of Corrections conduct outreach in all correctional facilities to inform incarcerated individuals about the federal Fresh Start program, encouraging eligible participants to enroll. The commissioner is also required to collaborate with a student loan debt counseling grantee to assist applicants in enrolling in income-driven repayment plans.
Furthermore, the bill stipulates that the commissioner must submit a report by January 15, 2025, to the relevant legislative committees. This report will detail the outreach efforts made in correctional facilities, the assistance provided to Fresh Start applicants, the number of incarcerated individuals served by the counseling grantee, and the number of individuals who reached out to the U.S. Department of Education regarding enrollment in the Fresh Start program in the previous year.