SF5218

Purpose

• The bill aims to remove the processing fee for lifetime substitute teaching license applications, specifically for lifetime qualified short-call or long-call substitute licenses. It maintains existing rules for other teacher licenses and seeks to ease the licensure process for substitutes while keeping fees for other licenses in place.

Main Provisions

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 122A.21 subdivision 1 (Licensure applications).
• Replaces the current requirement to pay a processing fee of $57 for all teacher license applications with a carve-out: applicants for a lifetime qualified short-call or long-call substitute teaching license do not have to pay the processing fee.
• The processing fee (when required) for teacher licenses and licenses for supervisory personnel remains payable to the executive secretary of the board and deposited in the state treasury.
• Fees set by the board are nonrefundable if an applicant does not qualify for a license.
• The commissioner of management and budget must refund a fee if the applicant already holds a valid unexpired license.
• The board may waive or reduce fees for applicants who apply for more than one license at the same time.
• The board may require payment for a required background study as described in section 122A.18 subdivision 8.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Eliminates the processing fee requirement specifically for lifetime substitute teaching licenses (short-call and long-call).
• Maintains and clarifies other fee rules, including refunds for existing license holders, potential fee waivers/reductions for multiple licenses, and the possibility of a background study fee.
• Keeps the foundational role of the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board in setting and collecting applicable license fees.

Administrative and Financial Details

• Fees are collected by the executive secretary of the relevant board and deposited in the state treasury.
• The board has discretion to waive or reduce fees when applying for multiple licenses at once.
• The nonrefundable nature of most license fees remains for applicants who fail to qualify for a license; exceptions include refunds when the applicant already holds a valid unexpired license.

Background Study

• A background study fee may be required, in line with section 122A.18 subdivision 8; the board has authority to require payment for this study.

Implementation Notes

• The excerpt does not specify an effective date; implementation timing would appear after passage and approval in statute.

Relevant Terms - processing fee - lifetime qualified short-call substitute teaching license - lifetime qualified long-call substitute teaching license - substituting license (short-call/long-call) - Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 122A.21 subdivision 1 - background study (section 122A.18 subdivision 8) - executive secretary - state treasury - nonrefundable fees - refunds - fee waivers or reductions - licensure applications - license renewal or extension - licensure via portfolio - licenses for supervisory personnel