1.    There is created in the state treasury the skilled workforce scholarship fund. The fund consists of moneys transferred into the fund by the legislative assembly, matching funds received, and scholarship repayments. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the state board of higher education on a continuing basis for the purpose of providing grants to institutions of higher education related to skilled workforce scholarships. Institutions of higher education include institutions under the control of the state board of higher education, North Dakota nonpublic accredited institutions of higher education, tribally controlled community colleges, state-approved educator training programs, and North Dakota institutions approved to operate by the North Dakota board of career and technical education. The state board of higher education may transfer money between this fund and the skilled workforce student loan repayment program fund established in section 15-10-38.1.

2.    The state board of higher education shall adopt policies and procedures to develop, implement, promote, and administer a skilled workforce scholarship program in cooperation with the Bank of North Dakota and the North Dakota workforce development council with the intent of attracting and retaining individuals for professional or technical skills in high demand in this state.

3.    The North Dakota workforce development council in cooperation with job service North Dakota shall use available labor market information to determine annually the eligible high-demand professional and technical skills and emerging occupations in this state.

4.    The state board of higher education and the workforce development council shall compile a list of qualifying educational programs annually. A qualifying educational program is a program resulting in attainment of an associate’s degree or lower credential program that may be completed within four semesters, six quarters, or the final two years of a baccalaureate program. A qualifying educational program also must pertain to the professional and technical skills and emerging occupations in high demand in this state, as determined under subsection 3. Qualifying educational programs may include degree or certificate programs.

5.    Individuals enrolled in a qualifying educational program in this state may apply for a scholarship under this section. Scholarships are limited to the amount charged each quarter, semester, or term by the educational institution for the tuition, fees, books, and supplies required for the qualifying educational program. The scholarships are intended to supplement any other scholarship or financial aid grant received by a student to assist the student with the costs of the qualifying educational program. An individual may not receive a combined total exceeding seventeen thousand dollars under this section and the skilled workforce loan repayment program under section 15-10-38.1.

6.    To be eligible for a scholarship payment under this section, a student must be enrolled full time in an eligible program and have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average, based on a 4.0 grading system, or maintain academic progress in the program according to program requirements. A student may not receive scholarships under this section for more than the equivalent of four semesters of full-time enrollment or six quarters of full-time enrollment.

     7. Upon completion of a qualifying educational program, a student who received a scholarship under this section must reside and work in this state in an eligible high-demand or emerging occupation for a minimum of three years.

8.    An individual shall repay the scholarship pursuant to the terms in the individual’s scholarship award agreement if the individual fails to maintain either a 2.5 cumulative grade point average or academic progress according to program requirements while enrolled, withdraws voluntarily or involuntarily before the completion of the program for which a scholarship has been received, or fails to reside and work in this state in an eligible high-demand or emerging occupation for at least three years following degree or certificate completion.

9.    The state board of higher education, in conjunction with the Bank of North Dakota, may allow an individual who received payment under this section to delay or cancel repayment under this section due to financial difficulty, military service, death, or total disability.

10.    Each quarter, semester, or term, the state board of higher education shall distribute grants to institutions of higher education to provide the amounts necessary for the scholarships awarded to the students enrolled in each institution.

11.    The state board of higher education shall provide one dollar of funding for each one dollar raised from the private sector or other public sources. Any matching funds received must be deposited in the skilled workforce scholarship fund.

12.    The state board of higher education shall provide a biennial program report to the legislative management by September first of each even-numbered year. The report must include information regarding:

a. The eligible high-demand professional and technical skills and emerging occupations; b.    The qualifying educational programs; c.    The number of applicants, eligible applicants, and applicants receiving awards; d.    The amount of matching funds raised; and

e.    The average and total amounts awarded under the program.