39.47 Minnesota-Wisconsin student reciprocity agreement.

(1) There is established, to be administered by the board, a Minnesota-Wisconsin student reciprocity agreement, the purpose of which shall be to ensure that neither state shall profit at the expense of the other and that the determination of any amounts owed by either state under the agreement shall be based on an equitable formula which reflects the educational costs incurred by the 2 states, reflects any differentials in usage by residents of either state of the public institutions of higher education located in the other state, and reflects any differentials in the resident tuition charged at comparable public institutions of higher education of the 2 states. The board, representing this state, shall enter into an agreement meeting the requirements of this section with the designated body representing the state of Minnesota.

(2) The agreement under this section shall provide for the waiver of nonresident tuition for a resident of either state who is enrolled in a public vocational school located in the other state. The agreement shall also establish a reciprocal fee structure for residents of either state who are enrolled in public institutions of higher education, other than vocational schools, located in the other state. The reciprocal fee may not exceed the higher of the resident tuition that would be charged the student at the public institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled or the resident tuition that would be charged the student at comparable public institutions of higher education located in his or her state of residence, as specified in the annual administrative memorandum under sub. (2g). The agreement shall take effect on July 1, 2007. The agreement is subject to the approval of the joint committee on finance under s. 39.42.

(2g) Prior to each academic year, the board and the designated body representing the state of Minnesota shall prepare an administrative memorandum that establishes policies and procedures for implementation of the agreement for the upcoming academic year, including a description of how the reciprocal fee structure shall be determined for purposes of sub. (2), and the board shall submit the administrative memorandum to the joint committee on finance. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the board that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the administrative memorandum within 14 working days after the date of the submittal, the administrative memorandum may be implemented as proposed by the board. If, within 14 working days after the date of the submittal, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the board that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the administrative memorandum, the administrative memorandum may be implemented only upon approval of the committee.

(2m) No resident of this state whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b) may receive a waiver of nonresident tuition under this section, unless the resident provides to the board a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a).

(3) At the end of each semester or academic term, each state shall determine the number of students for whom nonresident tuition has been waived under the agreement. Each state shall certify to the other state, in addition to the number of students so determined, the aggregate amount of its reimbursement obligation. The state with the larger reimbursement obligation shall pay as provided in the agreement an amount determined by subtracting the reimbursement obligation of the state with the smaller reimbursement obligation from the reimbursement obligation of the state with the larger reimbursement obligation. The agreement shall provide a reasonable date for payment of any such sums due and owing, after which date interest may be charged on the amount owed. The methodology for determination of the appropriate interest rate shall be included in the agreement. Any payments received by this state under this subsection shall be deposited in the general fund.

History: 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 221; 1983 a. 27; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 184; 1995 a. 27, 404; 1997 a. 27, 200; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20.