Merit Institute Merit

The Minnesota Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (MN-ACSA)

Minnesota state companion to ACSA. Extends licensure recognition under M.S. Ch. 214, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, Governor's Workforce Development Board, and M.S. Ch. 290 income-tax credits, with labor-protective provisions.

THE MINNESOTA WORKER-MERIT CREDENTIALING ACT (MN-ACSA)

Vehicle: State passage. Minnesota Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Higher Education / Workforce / Taxes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Minnesota Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (MN-ACSA).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Minnesota occupational licensure operates under M.S. Ch. 214; that Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (Minn. State) operates under M.S. Ch. 136F; that the Governor’s Workforce Development Board operates under M.S. Ch. 116L; that M.S. Ch. 290 (individual income tax) and Ch. 290 Subd. 6 (corporate tax) authorize tax credits; and that M.S. Ch. 181 and Ch. 363A protections apply to all employment relationships. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH MINNESOTA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Minnesota Recognized Merit Credential” or “MNRMC” means a competency-based credential designated by the Chancellor of Minn. State in coordination with GWDB under Sec. 201.
  2. (b) “Federal FRAC” means a Federally Recognized Alternative Credential under Section 202 of the federal ACSA.
  3. (c) “Covered State licensing authority” means a board under M.S. Ch. 214.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Minnesota Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • M.S. Ch. 214 (professional licensing).
  • M.S. Ch. 136F (Minn. State).
  • M.S. Ch. 116L (GWDB).
  • M.S. Ch. 290 (taxation).
  • M.S. Ch. 181; Ch. 363A.

TITLE II — MINNESOTA RECOGNIZED MERIT CREDENTIALS

Sec. 201. Designation Authority

  1. (a) The Chancellor of Minn. State, in coordination with GWDB, shall maintain a Minnesota Recognized Merit Credentials registry (“MNRMC Registry”) in machine-readable form, updated at least annually, crosswalked to Federal FRAC.

Sec. 202. Degree-Optional State Employment

  1. (a) Minnesota Management and Budget, acting under M.S. Ch. 43A, shall apply classifications so that an MNRMC-holder satisfies any position qualification stated in terms of a college degree, unless expressly required by Minnesota statute.

TITLE III — WORKFORCE-TRAINING TAX CREDIT (Worker-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 301. Skills-Based Hiring Tax Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to M.S. Ch. 290 equal to a percentage of qualified first-year wages paid to a Minnesota-resident employee whose qualifying pathway is an MNRMC or Federal FRAC.
  2. (b) Credit availability is conditioned on compliance with M.S. Ch. 181 and Ch. 363A.
  3. (c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45AA; aggregate cap.
  4. (d) Department of Revenue administers.

TITLE IV — OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE PORTABILITY

Sec. 401. Licensure by Demonstrated Competency

  1. (a) Demonstrated-competency pathway accepting MNRMC, Federal FRAC, or examination-plus-supervised-experience, subject to public health and safety requirements.

Sec. 402. Interstate Recognition for Federal-Fund Recipients

  1. (a) Recognition by federally-funded authorities, consistent with Section 401 of the federal ACSA.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: ACSA. Other Minnesota bills: MN-MEWRA, MN-GT&P, MN-AI-Workforce.