Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to ensure that students attending higher education institutions in Minnesota can receive refunds for any unused balances on their prepaid meal plans. It seeks to prevent students from losing money on meal plan funds that they do not use by the end of an academic term or upon leaving the institution.

Main Provisions

• Meal Plan Refunds: Higher education institutions in Minnesota must refund unused balances from student meal plans. This includes remaining funds or meal credits not used by the student within 30 days after the end of the spring academic term, or upon the student’s withdrawal or matriculation.
• Refund Process and Options: Institutions have 45 days after the end of the spring term or a student's departure to either refund the unused balance to the student or, at the student's request, apply it to the next academic term if the student continues to attend.
• Prohibition Against Forfeiture: Institutions cannot force students to forfeit unused meal balance funds or impose restrictions that would financially disadvantage the student.
• Transparency: Institutions must regularly update students on their meal plan balances and annually report their refund practices and compliance to the Office of Higher Education.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill would introduce a new requirement for institutions to refund unused meal plan balances, introducing an accountability measure that would require annual reporting on compliance. It prevents institutions from financially disadvantaging students by confiscating unused meal plan funds.

Relevant Terms

refund of unused student meal plan balances, higher education institution, meal plan, unused balance, financial aid, meal credits, cash value, forfeiture prohibition, transparency, reporting, compliance.