Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5435

 

 

STATE OF MINNESOTA

 

 

NINETY-SECOND SESSION - 2021

 

_____________________

 

FORTY-SECOND DAY

 

Saint Paul, Minnesota, Monday, April 19, 2021

 

 

      The House of Representatives convened at 12:00 noon and was called to order by Andrew Carlson, Speaker pro tempore.

 

      Prayer was offered by the Reverend Ingrid C. A. Rasmussen, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

      The members of the House gave the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

 

      The roll was called and the following members were present:

 


Acomb

Agbaje

Akland

Albright

Anderson

Backer

Bahner

Bahr

Becker-Finn

Bennett

Berg

Bernardy

Bierman

Bliss

Boe

Boldon

Burkel

Carlson

Christensen

Daniels

Daudt

Davids

Davnie

Demuth

Dettmer

Drazkowski

Ecklund

Edelson

Elkins

Erickson

Feist

Fischer

Franke

Franson

Frazier

Frederick

Freiberg

Garofalo

Gomez

Green

Greenman

Grossell

Gruenhagen

Haley

Hamilton

Hansen, R.

Hanson, J.

Hassan

Hausman

Heinrich

Heintzeman

Her

Hertaus

Hollins

Hornstein

Howard

Huot

Igo

Johnson

Jordan

Jurgens

Keeler

Kiel

Klevorn

Koegel

Kotyza-Witthuhn

Koznick

Kresha

Lee

Liebling

Lillie

Lippert

Lislegard

Long

Lucero

Lueck

Mariani

Marquart

Masin

McDonald

Mekeland

Miller

Moller

Moran

Morrison

Mortensen

Mueller

Munson

Murphy

Nash

Nelson, M.

Nelson, N.

Neu Brindley

Noor

Novotny

O'Driscoll

Olson, B.

Olson, L.

O'Neill

Pelowski

Petersburg

Pfarr

Pierson

Pinto

Poston

Pryor

Quam

Raleigh

Rasmusson

Reyer

Richardson

Robbins

Sandell

Sandstede

Schomacker

Schultz

Scott

Stephenson

Sundin

Swedzinski

Theis

Thompson

Torkelson

Urdahl

Vang

Wazlawik

West

Winkler

Wolgamott

Xiong, J.

Xiong, T.

Youakim


 

      A quorum was present.

 

      Baker was excused.

 

      Hortman was excused until 1:15 p.m.

 

      The Chief Clerk proceeded to read the Journal of the preceding day.  There being no objection, further reading of the Journal was dispensed with and the Journal was approved as corrected by the Chief Clerk.


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REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES AND DIVISIONS

 

 

Lee from the Committee on Capital Investment to which was referred:

 

H. F. No. 337, A bill for an act relating to capital investment; amending prior appropriations for capital improvement projects; refunding deposits to bond issuers on applications for bonding authority allocations from the 2020 housing pool; amending Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, sections 16, subdivisions 7, 36; 20, subdivision 5; 22, subdivisions 18, 19, 21, 23, 28, 33.

 

Reported the same back with the following amendments:

 

Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:

 

"ARTICLE 1

APPROPRIATIONS

 

Section 1.  CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT APPROPRIATIONS. 

 

The sums shown in the column under "Appropriations" are appropriated from the bond proceeds fund, or another named fund, to the state agencies or officials indicated, to be spent for public purposes.  Appropriations of bond proceeds must be spent as authorized by the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 5, clause (a), to acquire and better public land and buildings and other public improvements of a capital nature, or as authorized by the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 5, clauses (b) to (j), or article XIV.  Unless otherwise specified, money appropriated in this act:

 

(1) may be used to pay state agency staff costs that are attributed directly to the capital program or project in accordance with accounting policies adopted by the commissioner of management and budget;

 

(2) is available until the project is completed or abandoned subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642;

 

(3) for activities under Minnesota Statutes, sections 16B.307, 84.946, and 135A.046, should not be used for projects that can be financed within a reasonable time frame under Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.322 or 16C.144; and

 

(4) is available for a grant to a political subdivision after the commissioner of management and budget determines that an amount sufficient to complete the project as described in this act has been committed to the project, as required by Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.502.

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROPRIATIONS

 

Sec. 2.  UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

 

 

 

$32,000,000

 

To the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, to be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 135A.046.

 

Sec. 3.  MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

 

 

 

$32,000,000

 

To the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, to be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 135A.046.


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Sec. 4.  EDUCATION

 

 

 

$3,150,000

 

To the commissioner of education for library construction grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 134.45.

 

Sec. 5.  MINNESOTA STATE ACADEMIES

 

 

 

$1,224,000

 

To the commissioner of administration for capital asset preservation improvements and betterments on both campuses of the Minnesota State Academies, to be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307.

 

Sec. 6.  PERPICH CENTER FOR ARTS EDUCATION

 

 

$1,500,000

 

To the commissioner of administration for capital asset preservation improvements and betterments at the Perpich Center for Arts Education, to be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307.

 

Sec. 7.  NATURAL RESOURCES

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$53,650,000

 

(a) To the commissioner of natural resources for the purposes specified in this section.

 

(b) The appropriations in this section are subject to the requirements of the natural resources capital improvement program under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.12, unless this section or the statutes referred to in this section provide more specific standards, criteria, or priorities for projects than Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.12.

 

(c) The unspent portion of an appropriation for a project in this section, upon written notice to the commissioner of management and budget, is available for asset preservation under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.946.  Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, applies from the date of the original appropriation to the unspent amount transferred.

 

Subd. 2.  Natural Resources Asset Preservation

 

 

 

27,000,000

 

For the renovation of state-owned facilities and recreational assets operated by the commissioner of natural resources to be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 84.946.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 84.946, the commissioner may use this appropriation to replace buildings if, considering the embedded energy in the building, that is the most energy-efficient and carbon-reducing method of renovation.


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Subd. 3.  Flood Hazard Mitigation

 

 

 

2,000,000

 

(a) For the state share of flood hazard mitigation grants for publicly owned capital improvements to prevent or alleviate flood damage under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.161.

 

(b) To the extent practicable, levee projects shall meet the state standard of three feet above the 100-year flood elevation.

 

(c) The commissioner shall give priority to the city of Moorhead to continue flood mitigation and acquisition of flood-prone properties to address the North Moorhead Project (Oakport area) and gaps in city-wide protection consistent with and compatible to the Fargo‑Moorhead Diversion.

 

(d) This appropriation may be used to alleviate high water on landlocked basins.

 

(e) To the extent practicable and consistent with the project, recipients of appropriations for flood control projects in this subdivision shall create wetlands that are eligible for wetland replacement credit to replace wetlands drained or filled as the result of repair, reconstruction, replacement, or rehabilitation of an existing public road under Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.222, subdivision 1, paragraphs (l) and (m).

 

(f) To the extent that the cost of a project exceeds two percent of the median household income in a municipality or township multiplied by the number of households in the municipality or township, this appropriation is also for the local share of the project.

 

Subd. 4.  State Forest Nursery Facilities

 

 

 

3,600,000

 

To predesign, design, renovate, and construct improvements to the state forest nursery facilities at Badoura.  The project includes renovation and improvements to the seed extractor and cooler storage, construction of a new cooler storage facility, and energy efficient upgrades to all heating, ventilating, and cooling systems.

 

Subd. 5.  Reforestation

 

 

 

5,000,000

 

For reforestation and stand improvement on state forest lands to meet the reforestation requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 89.002, subdivision 2, including purchasing native seeds and native seedlings, planting, seeding, site preparation, and protection on state lands administered by the commissioner.

 

Subd. 6.  Scientific and Natural Areas

 

 

 

4,000,000

 

To acquire land for scientific and natural areas and to make improvements of a capital nature to scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5.


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Subd. 7.  State Trails

 

 

 

4,800,000

 

To renovate paved and unpaved state trails established under Minnesota Statutes, section 85.015, according to the commissioner's priorities and as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 84.946.

 

Subd. 8.  Acquisition and Betterment of Buildings

 

 

 

7,000,000

 

For acquisition, design, and construction to improve existing facilities or to replace existing facilities that no longer meet the business needs of the department.

 

Subd. 9.  Upper Sioux Agency State Park Bond Defeasance

 

 

250,000

 

From the general fund in fiscal year 2022 to the commissioner of management and budget to prepay and defease any outstanding state general obligation bonds used for improvements and betterments at Upper Sioux Agency State Park, including Minnesota Historical Society property located within the park's boundaries, and other associated financing costs.  This amount may be deposited, invested, and applied to accomplish the purposes of this section as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 475.67, subdivisions 5 to 10 and 13.  Upon the prepayment and defeasance of all associated debt on the real property and improvements, all conditions set forth in Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.695, subdivision 3, shall be deemed to have been satisfied and the real property and improvements shall no longer constitute state bond financed property under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.695.

 

Sec. 8.  BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES

 

 

$14,307,000

 

To the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire conservation easements from landowners to preserve, restore, create, and enhance wetlands and associated uplands of prairie and grasslands, and to restore and enhance rivers and streams, riparian lands, and associated uplands of prairie and grasslands, in order to protect soil and water quality, support fish and wildlife habitat, reduce flood damage, and provide other public benefits.  The provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515, apply to this program.  The board shall give priority to leveraging federal money by enrolling targeted new lands or enrolling environmentally sensitive lands that have expiring federal conservation agreements.  The board is authorized to enter into new agreements and amend past agreements with landowners as required by Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515, subdivision 5, to allow for restoration.  Up to five percent of this appropriation may be used for restoration and enhancement.


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5440

Sec. 9.  MINNESOTA ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$12,500,000

 

To the Minnesota Zoological Board for the purposes specified in this section.

 

Subd. 2.  Animal Hospital Renovation

 

 

 

5,000,000

 

To design, renovate, construct, furnish, and equip the animal hospital at the Minnesota Zoological Garden.

 

Subd. 3.  Reopen the Nocturnal Trail

 

 

 

4,000,000

 

To design, renovate, construct, furnish, and equip the closed portion of the Nocturnal Trail.

 

Subd. 4.  Asset Preservation

 

 

 

3,500,000

 

For capital asset preservation improvements and betterments to infrastructure and exhibits at the Minnesota Zoological Garden, to be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307.  Notwithstanding the specified uses of money under Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307, the board may use this appropriation to replace buildings that are in poor condition, outdated, and no longer support the work of the Minnesota Zoological Garden site.

 

Sec. 10.  ADMINISTRATION

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$51,133,000

 

To the commissioner of administration for the purposes specified in this section.

 

Subd. 2.  Capital Asset Preservation and Replacement Account

 

 

 

3,133,000

 

To be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.632.

 

Subd. 3.  Capitol Complex - Physical Security Upgrades Phase II

 

 

 

43,000,000

 

For the continuation of the design, construction, and equipping required to upgrade the physical security elements and systems for the Capitol Mall and the buildings listed in this subdivision, their attached tunnel systems, their surrounding grounds, and parking facilities as identified in the 2017 Minnesota State Capitol Complex Physical Security Predesign completed by Miller Dunwiddie and an updated assessment to be completed in 2021.  Work includes but is not limited to the installation of bollards,


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5441

blast protection, infrastructure security screen walls, door access controls, emergency call stations, surveillance systems, security kiosks, locking devices, and traffic and crowd control devices.  This appropriation includes money for work associated with the following buildings:  Administration, Ag/Health Lab, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Capitol, Centennial, Governor's Residence, Judicial Center, Minnesota History Center, Capitol Complex Power Plant and Shops, Stassen, State Office, and Veterans Service.  $12,000,000 of this appropriation is from the general fund in fiscal year 2022 to be used at the Andersen, Freeman, Minnesota Senate, Retirement Systems, and Transportation buildings for the purposes described in this subdivision.

 

Subd. 4.  State Buildings; Solar Energy Generation

 

 

 

5,000,000

 

To provide funds to state agencies for solar energy generation improvements under article 4, section 2.

 

Sec. 11.  AMATEUR SPORTS COMMISSION

 

 

 

$3,500,000

 

To the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission for grants to local governments under Minnesota Statutes, section 240A.09, paragraph (b), to improve indoor air quality or eliminate R-22.  This appropriation shall not be used to acquire ice resurfacing or edging equipment.  The commission may prioritize grants to projects in environmental justice areas of concern.  For the purposes of this section, "environmental justice area of concern" means one or more census blocks in Minnesota in which, based on the most recent data published by the United States Census Bureau:

 

(1) 40 percent or more of the population is nonwhite;

 

(2) 35 percent or more of the households have an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; or

 

(3) 40 percent or more of the population over the age of five have limited English proficiency.

 

Sec. 12.  TRANSPORTATION

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$77,500,000

 

To the commissioner of transportation for the purposes specified in this section.

 

Subd. 2.  Local Road Improvement Fund Grants

 

 

 

10,000,000

 

From the bond proceeds account in the state transportation fund as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.50, for eligible trunk highway corridor improvement projects under Minnesota Statutes,


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5442

section 174.52, subdivision 2, for construction and reconstruction of local roads with statewide or regional significance under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.52, subdivision 4, or for grants to counties to assist in paying the costs of rural road safety capital improvement projects on county state-aid highways under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.52, subdivision 4a.  Of this appropriation, at least $1,000,000 is for projects on town roads.

 

Subd. 3.  Local Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation

 

 

30,000,000

 

(a) From the bond proceeds account in the state transportation fund to match federal money and to replace or rehabilitate local deficient bridges as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.50.

 

(b) $3,500,000 of this appropriation is for a grant to Washington County to predesign, design, engineer, construct, and equip the reconstruction of the 4th Street Bridge over marked Interstate Highway 694 in the city of Oakdale.

 

Subd. 4.  Safe Routes to School

 

 

 

8,000,000

 

For grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.40.

 

Subd. 5.  Port Development Assistance

 

 

 

4,000,000

 

For grants under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 457A.  Any improvements made with the proceeds of these grants must be publicly owned.  This appropriation shall be evenly distributed to ports in the following cities:

 

(1) Duluth;

 

(2) Red Wing;

 

(3) St. Paul; and

 

(4) Winona.

 

Subd. 6.  Passenger Rail

 

 

 

25,500,000

 

(a) For intercity passenger rail projects on phase I corridors as identified in the 2015 update to the state rail plan under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.03, subdivision 1b.  This appropriation may only be used for projects that have received environmental approval.

 

(b) This appropriation is for expenditure by the commissioner and is available for:  program delivery, design, preliminary, and final engineering; environmental analysis and mitigation; acquisition of land and right-of-way; and construction.


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5443

Sec. 13.  METROPOLITAN COUNCIL

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$68,700,000

 

To the Metropolitan Council for the purposes specified in this section.

 

Subd. 2.  Metropolitan Cities Inflow and Infiltration Grants

 

 

15,000,000

 

(a) For grants to cities within the metropolitan area, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, for capital improvements in municipal wastewater collection systems to reduce the amount of inflow and infiltration to the Metropolitan Council's metropolitan sanitary sewer disposal system.  Grants from this appropriation are for up to 50 percent of the cost to mitigate inflow and infiltration in the publicly owned municipal wastewater collection systems.  To be eligible for a grant, a city must be identified by the council as a contributor of excessive inflow and infiltration in the metropolitan disposal system or have a measured flow rate within 20 percent of its allowable council‑determined inflow and infiltration limits.  The council must award grants based on applications from cities that identify eligible capital costs and include a timeline for inflow and infiltration mitigation construction, pursuant to guidelines established by the council.

 

(b) The council may prioritize grants to projects in environmental justice areas of concern.  For the purposes of this subdivision, "environmental justice area of concern" means one or more census blocks in Minnesota in which, based on the most recent data published by the United States Census Bureau:

 

(1) 40 percent or more of the population is nonwhite;

 

(2) 35 percent or more of the households have an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; or

 

(3) 40 percent or more of the population over the age of five have limited English proficiency.

 

Subd. 3.  Metropolitan Regional Parks and Trails

 

 

 

11,500,000

 

(a) For the cost of improvements and betterments of a capital nature and acquisition by the council and local government units of regional recreational open-space lands in accordance with the council's policy plan as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.147.  This appropriation must not be used to purchase easements.


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(b) $4,000,000 of this appropriation is for right-of-way acquisition and for predesign, design, engineering, and construction of pedestrian safety related improvements including grade-separated crossings of railroads and multilane highways, for the purpose of completing a segment of a regional greenway that:

 

(1) is within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area;

 

(2) is located in an industrial area;

 

(3) is crossed by a skewed rail line at greater than a 30 degree angle; and

 

(4) is 2-1/2 miles in length.

 

Subd. 4.  Bus Rapid Transit Lines

 

 

 

40,000,000

 

For environmental analysis, design, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of the E line bus rapid transit project from Minneapolis to Southdale Transit Center.

 

Subd. 5.  Electric Transit Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

 

 

1,000,000

 

From the general fund for the purpose of financing the cost of acquiring and installing electric transit vehicle charging infrastructure on council-owned property.  For the purposes of this subdivision, "electric transit vehicle charging infrastructure" means on-route charging stations and charging stations in garage facilities for buses, coaches, and paratransit vehicles owned by the Metropolitan Council.

 

Subd. 6.  St. Paul; Como Zoo

 

 

 

1,200,000

 

For a grant to the city of St. Paul for asset preservation improvements and betterments of a capital nature to infrastructure and exhibits at Como Zoo.

 

Sec. 14.  HUMAN SERVICES

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$21,063,000

 

To the commissioner of administration or other named entity for the purposes of this section.

 

Subd. 2.  Asset Preservation

 

 

 

2,213,000

 

For asset preservation improvements and betterments of a capital nature at Department of Human Services facilities statewide, to be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307.


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Subd. 3.  St. Peter Regional Treatment Center Campus - Phase 2

 

 

 

8,850,000

 

To design, renovate, construct, furnish, and equip the second phase of a multiphase project to develop additional residential, program, activity, and ancillary facilities for the Minnesota sex offender program on the lower campus of the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center.  This appropriation includes money to design, renovate, construct, furnish, and equip the west, south, and north wings of the Sunrise Building.  This appropriation also includes money to:  replace or renovate HVAC, plumbing, electrical, security, and life safety systems; address fire and life safety, and other building code deficiencies; replace windows and doors; tuck-point exterior building envelopes; reconfigure and remodel space; design and abate asbestos and other hazardous materials; remove or demolish nonfunctioning building components; and complete site work necessary to support the programmed use of the building.

 

Subd. 4.  Early Childhood Learning Facilities

 

 

 

10,000,000

 

To the commissioner of human services for grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 256E.37, to construct and rehabilitate early childhood learning facilities.  Notwithstanding the limitations and requirements for geographic distribution in Minnesota Statutes, section 256E.37, the commissioner of human services may distribute grants to facilities located in any county.

 

Sec. 15.  VETERANS AFFAIRS

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$8,500,000

 

To the commissioner of administration for the purposes specified in this section.

 

Subd. 2.  Asset Preservation

 

 

 

4,000,000

 

For asset preservation improvements and betterments of a capital nature at the veterans homes in Minneapolis, Hastings, Fergus Falls, Silver Bay, and Luverne, and the Little Falls Cemetery, to be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307.

 

Subd. 3.  New State Veterans Cemetery

 

 

 

4,500,000

 

To design, construct, furnish, and equip a new State Veterans Cemetery in Redwood County.

 

Sec. 16.  CORRECTIONS

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$9,120,000

 

For the purposes specified in this section.


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Subd. 2.  Asset Preservation

 

 

 

8,445,000

 

To the commissioner of administration for asset preservation improvements and betterments of a capital nature at Minnesota correctional facilities statewide, to be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307.

 

Subd. 3.  Regional and County Jails Study and Report

 

 

 

675,000

 

From the general fund to the commissioner of corrections for the costs of completing the study and report required in article 4.  This appropriation is onetime and is available until December 31, 2022.

 

Sec. 17.  EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$6,200,000

 

To the commissioner of employment and economic development for the purposes of this section.

 

Subd. 2.  Greater Minnesota Child Care Facility Program

 

 

5,000,000

 

For the greater Minnesota child care facility capital grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.417.

 

Subd. 3.  Lake Superior Zoo

 

 

 

1,200,000

 

For a grant to the city of Duluth for asset preservation at the Lake Superior Zoo.

 

Sec. 18.  PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$15,000,000

 

To the Public Facilities Authority for the purposes specified in this section.

 

Subd. 2.  Water Infrastructure Funding Program

 

 

 

15,000,000

 

(a) For grants to eligible municipalities under the water infrastructure funding program under Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.072.

 

(b) $7,500,000 is for wastewater projects listed on the Pollution Control Agency's project priority list in the fundable range under the clean water revolving fund program.

 

(c) $7,500,000 is for drinking water projects listed on the commissioner of health's project priority list in the fundable range under the drinking water revolving fund program.


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(d) After all eligible projects under paragraph (b) or (c) have been funded in a fiscal year, the Public Facilities Authority may transfer any remaining, uncommitted money to eligible projects under a program defined in paragraph (b) or (c) based on that program's project priority list.

 

Sec. 19.  MINNESOTA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

 

 

$100,000,000

 

To the commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for transfer to the housing development fund to finance the costs of rehabilitation to preserve public housing under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.202, subdivision 3a.  For purposes of this section, "public housing" means housing for low-income persons and households financed by the federal government and owned and operated by the public housing authorities and agencies formed by cities and counties.  Priority must be given to proposals that maximize federal or local resources to finance the capital costs.  The priority in Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.202, subdivision 3a, for projects to increase the supply of affordable housing and the restrictions of Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.202, subdivision 7, do not apply to this appropriation.

 

Sec. 20.  MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

 

 

$2,375,000

 

To the Minnesota Historical Society for capital improvements and betterments at state historic sites, buildings, landscaping at historic buildings, exhibits, markers, and monuments, to be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307.  The society shall determine project priorities as appropriate based on need.

 

Sec. 21.  BOND SALE EXPENSES

 

 

 

$503,000

 

To the commissioner of management and budget from the bond proceeds fund for bond sale expenses under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.641, subdivision 8.

 

Sec. 22.  BOND SALE AUTHORIZATION.

 

Subdivision 1.  Bond proceeds fund.  To provide the money appropriated in this act from the bond proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue bonds of the state in an amount up to $460,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with the effect prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.

 

Subd. 2.  Transportation fund.  To provide the money appropriated in this act from the bond proceeds account in the state transportation fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue bonds of the state in an amount up to $40,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with the effect prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.


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Sec. 23.  BOND SALE SCHEDULE.

 

The commissioner of management and budget shall schedule the sale of state general obligation bonds so that, during the biennium ending June 30, 2023, no more than $1,286,432,000 will need to be transferred from the general fund to the state bond fund to pay principal and interest due and to become due on outstanding state general obligation bonds.  During the biennium, before each sale of state general obligation bonds, the commissioner of management and budget shall calculate the amount of debt service payments needed on bonds previously issued and shall estimate the amount of debt service payments that will be needed on the bonds scheduled to be sold.  The commissioner shall adjust the amount of bonds scheduled to be sold so as to remain within the limit set by this section.  The amount needed to make the debt service payments is appropriated from the general fund as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.641.

 

Sec. 24.  EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

This article is effective the day following final enactment.

 

ARTICLE 2

APPROPRIATION AND HOUSING

INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS

 

Section 1.  PURPOSE.

 

The financing provided by Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.962, is for the public purpose of redeveloping the areas in Minneapolis and St. Paul damaged in May and June of 2020, by civil unrest which led to severe damage or destruction to small businesses, private property, and public property in Minneapolis and St. Paul.  The public purpose of the redevelopment is to create or retain jobs, preserve the tax base and support enterprise development and wealth creation for persons adversely affected by long-standing structural racial discrimination and poverty and prevent displacement of small businesses owned by people of color and indigenous people.

 

Sec. 2.  [16A.962] REDEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATION BONDS.

 

Subdivision 1.  Definitions.  (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.

 

(b) "Appropriation bond" or "bond" means a bond, note, or other similar instrument of the state payable during a biennium from one or more of the following sources:

 

(1) money appropriated by law from the general fund in any biennium for debt service due with respect to obligations described in subdivision 2, paragraph (a);

 

(2) proceeds of the sale of obligations described in subdivision 2, paragraph (a);

 

(3) payments received for that purpose under agreements and ancillary arrangements described in subdivision 2, paragraph (d); and

 

(4) investment earnings on amounts in clauses (1) to (3).

 

(c) "City" means Minneapolis or St. Paul, or an agency of Minneapolis or St. Paul.

 

(d) "Debt service" means the amount payable in any biennium of principal, premium, if any, and interest on appropriation bonds, and the fees, charges, and expenses related to the bonds.


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(e) "Eligible area" means an area in Minneapolis or St. Paul adversely affected by civil unrest during the events leading up to and surrounding the peacetime emergency declared in Emergency Executive Order 20-64.

 

(f) "Redevelopment" may include the acquisition of real property; site preparation; predesign, design, engineering, repair, or renovation of facilities damaged during the civil unrest and construction of buildings, infrastructure, and related site amenities, including energy conservation improvements as defined in section 216B.241, subdivision 1, paragraph (e); landscaping; street-scaping; land-banking for future development or redevelopment; or financing any of these activities taken on by a private party pursuant to an agreement with the city.  Redevelopment does not include project costs eligible for compensation or assistance available through insurance policies or from other organizations or government agencies.

 

Subd. 2.  Authorization to issue appropriation bonds.  (a) Subject to the limitations of this subdivision, the commissioner may sell and issue appropriation bonds of the state under this section for public purposes as provided by law, including for the purposes of capitalizing an account in the city of Minneapolis' commercial property development fund and an account in the St. Paul housing and redevelopment authority's funds to pay for redevelopment in the eligible areas.  Appropriation bonds may be sold and issued in amounts that, in the opinion of the commissioner, are necessary to provide sufficient money to the commissioner of employment and economic development under subdivision 7, not to exceed $300,000,000 net of costs of issuance, for the purposes as provided under this subdivision; to pay debt service including capitalized interest, costs of issuance, and costs of credit enhancement; or to make payments under other agreements entered into under paragraph (d).

 

(b) Proceeds of the appropriation bonds must be credited to a special appropriation redevelopment bond proceeds fund in the state treasury.  All income from investment of the bond proceeds is appropriated to the commissioner for the payment of principal and interest on the appropriation bonds.

 

(c) Appropriation bonds may be issued in one or more issues or series on the terms and conditions the commissioner determines to be in the best interests of the state, but the term on any series of appropriation bonds may not exceed 21 years.  The appropriation bonds of each issue and series thereof shall be dated and bear interest from the date of issuance, and may be includable in or excludable from the gross income of the owners for federal income tax purposes.

 

(d) At the time of, or in anticipation of, issuing the appropriation bonds, and at any time thereafter so long as the appropriation bonds are outstanding, the commissioner may enter into agreements and ancillary arrangements relating to the appropriation bonds, including but not limited to trust indentures, grant agreements, lease or use agreements, operating agreements, management agreements, liquidity facilities, remarketing or dealer agreements, letter of credit agreements, insurance policies, guaranty agreements, reimbursement agreements, indexing agreements, or interest exchange agreements.  Any payments made or received according to the agreement or ancillary arrangement shall be made from or deposited as provided in the agreement or ancillary arrangement.  The determination of the commissioner, included in an interest exchange agreement, that the agreement relates to an appropriation bond, shall be conclusive.

 

(e) The commissioner may enter into written agreements or contracts relating to the continuing disclosure of information necessary to comply with or facilitate the issuance of appropriation bonds in accordance with federal securities laws, rules, and regulations, including Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations in Code of Federal Regulations, title 17, section 240.15c 2-12.  An agreement may be in the form of covenants with purchasers and holders of appropriation bonds set forth in the order or resolution authorizing the issuance of the appropriation bonds, or a separate document authorized by the order or resolution.

 

(f) The appropriation bonds are not subject to chapter 16C.


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Subd. 3.  Form; procedure.  (a) Appropriation bonds may be issued in the form of bonds, notes, or other similar instruments in the manner provided in section 16A.672.  In the event that any provision of section 16A.672 conflicts with this section, this section shall control.

 

(b) Every appropriation bond shall include a conspicuous statement of the limitation established in subdivision 6.

 

(c) Appropriation bonds may be sold at either public or private sale upon such terms as the commissioner shall determine are not inconsistent with this section and may be sold at any price or percentage of par value.  Any bid received may be rejected.

 

(d) Appropriation bonds must bear interest at a fixed or variable rate.

 

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, appropriation bonds issued under this section shall be fully negotiable.

 

Subd. 4.  Refunding bonds.  The commissioner may issue appropriation bonds for the purpose of refunding any appropriation bonds issued under subdivision 2 then outstanding, including the payment of any redemption premiums on the bonds, any interest accrued or to accrue to the redemption date, and costs related to the issuance and sale of the refunding bonds.  The proceeds of any refunding bonds may, at the discretion of the commissioner, be applied to the purchase or payment at maturity of the appropriation bonds to be refunded, to the redemption of the outstanding appropriation bonds on any redemption date, or to pay interest on the refunding bonds and may, pending application, be placed in escrow to be applied to the purchase, payment, retirement, or redemption.  Any escrowed proceeds, pending such use, may be invested and reinvested in obligations that are authorized investments under section 11A.24.  The income earned or realized on the investment may also be applied to the payment of the appropriation bonds to be refunded or interest or premiums on the refunded appropriation bonds, or to pay interest on the refunding bonds.  After the terms of the escrow have been fully satisfied, any balance of the proceeds and any investment income may be returned to the general fund or, if applicable, the special appropriation redevelopment bond proceeds fund for use in any lawful manner.  All refunding bonds issued under this subdivision must be prepared, executed, delivered, and secured by appropriations in the same manner as the appropriation bonds to be refunded.

 

Subd. 5.  Appropriation bonds as legal investments.  Any of the following entities may legally invest any sinking funds, money, or other funds belonging to them or under their control in any appropriation bonds issued under this section:

 

(1) the state, the investment board, public officers, municipal corporations, political subdivisions, and public bodies;

 

(2) banks and bankers, savings and loan associations, credit unions, trust companies, savings banks and institutions, investment companies, insurance companies, insurance associations, and other persons carrying on a banking or insurance business; and

 

(3) personal representatives, guardians, trustees, and other fiduciaries.

 

Subd. 6.  No full faith and credit; state not required to make appropriations.  The appropriation bonds are not public debt of the state, and the full faith, credit, and taxing powers of the state are not pledged to the payment of the appropriation bonds or to any payment that the state agrees to make under this section.  Appropriation bonds shall not be obligations paid directly, in whole or in part, from a tax of statewide application on any class of property, income, transaction, or privilege.  Appropriation bonds shall be payable in each fiscal year only from amounts that the legislature may appropriate for debt service for any fiscal year, provided that nothing in this section shall be construed to require the state to appropriate money sufficient to make debt service payments with respect to the appropriation bonds in any fiscal year.  Appropriation bonds shall be canceled and shall no longer be outstanding on the earlier of (1) the first day of a fiscal year for which the legislature shall not have appropriated amounts sufficient for debt service, or (2) the date of final payment of the principal of and interest on the appropriation bonds.


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Subd. 7.  Appropriation of proceeds.  The proceeds of appropriation bonds issued under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), and interest credited to the special appropriation redevelopment bond proceeds fund are appropriated as follows:

 

(1) to the commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant of $200,000,000 to the city of Minneapolis and a grant of $100,000,000 to the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and as further specified in subdivision 2, paragraph (a); and

 

(2) to the commissioner of management and budget for debt service on the bonds including capitalized interest, nonsalary costs of issuance of the bonds, costs of credit enhancement of the bonds, and payments under any agreements entered into under subdivision 2, paragraph (d), as permitted by state and federal law.

 

Subd. 8.  Appropriation for debt service and other purposes.  An amount needed to pay principal and interest on appropriation bonds issued under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), is appropriated each fiscal year from the general fund to the commissioner, subject to repeal, unallotment under section 16A.152, or cancellation, otherwise pursuant to subdivision 6, for deposit into the bond payments account established for such purpose in the special appropriation redevelopment bond proceeds fund.  The appropriation is available beginning in fiscal year 2022 and remains available through fiscal year 2043.

 

Subd. 9.  Waiver of immunity.  The waiver of immunity by the state provided for by section 3.751, subdivision 1, shall be applicable to the appropriation bonds and any ancillary contracts to which the commissioner is a party.

 

Subd. 10.  Grant requirements.  In addition to any other terms in a grant agreement with the commissioner of employment and economic development, a grant of special appropriation redevelopment bonds proceeds must:

 

(1) require the city to segregate the grant money in a separate account;

 

(2) require the payment to the state, for deposit into the bond payments account established for such purpose in the special appropriation redevelopment bond proceeds fund, the proceeds of the sale of any property financed with a grant under this section in an amount up to the amount of the grant, if the sale of the property occurs during the term of the grant agreement, except that a sale of a property to a qualified person as determined by the grant recipient's program or project funding criteria is exempt from the requirements of this clause;

 

(3) require each grant recipient in subdivision 7, to enhance economic opportunities for long-term residents, to prioritize businesses owned or operated by a minority person as defined in section 116M.14, and to prioritize the retention and rebuilding of impacted businesses and infrastructure in the eligible area;

 

(4) require that all new and substantially reconstructed buildings receiving grant funds, which includes projects encompassing at least 10,000 square feet or no less than the replacement of the mechanical, ventilation, or cooling system of a building or a building section, meet the building performance standards described in section 216B.241, subdivision 9; and

 

(5) beginning on December 1, 2022, and each year thereafter until all grant funds have been expended, require an annual report to the commissioner of employment and economic development from each grant recipient on the expenditures made from the accounts funded with a grant made under this section in the form that the commissioner prescribes and include any documentation of and supporting information regarding the expenditures that the commissioner requires.  This report must include any measures of success toward achieving the goals and standards outlined in clauses (3) and (4).

 

Subd. 11.  Audit.  The commissioner of employment and economic development must review the report of expenditures made by the cities.


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Subd. 12.  Prevailing wage requirement.  During the construction, installation, remodeling, and repair of any project funded by bonds sold under this section, laborers and mechanics at the site must be paid the prevailing wage rate as defined in section 177.42, subdivision 6, and the project is subject to the requirements of sections 177.30 and 177.41 to 177.44.

 

Subd. 13.  Zoning exemption.  (a) A property financed with a grant under this section is exempt from minimum height and minimum floor area ratio standards through June 30, 2025, provided that a proposed redevelopment on a property that conformed to such standards on May 1, 2020, is subject to all other applicable zoning standards.

 

(b) Notwithstanding section 462.357, subdivision 1e, or municipal ordinance, a property financed with a grant under this section may apply through June 30, 2025, for a building permit to reconstruct a nonconforming use or nonconforming structure that is comparable to a use or structure that existed on the property on May 1, 2020.

 

(c) A property subject to the zoning and building permit exemptions in this subdivision is exempt from public hearing processes to obtain approval unless the request expands a nonconforming use.  The city may impose reasonable conditions upon a zoning or building permit to mitigate any newly created impact on adjacent property.

 

Subd. 14.  Report to the legislature.  By December 31, 2023, and every December 31 thereafter, the commissioner of employment and economic development must submit a report as required under section 3.195 that details the use of money under this section, including any measures of success toward achieving the goals under subdivision 10, clause (3).  A copy of this report must also be sent to the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees of the house of representatives and the senate having jurisdiction over economic development and capital investment.

 

Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 462A.37, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

 

Subdivision 1.  Definitions.  (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.

 

(b) "Abandoned property" has the meaning given in section 117.025, subdivision 5.

 

(c) "Community land trust" means an entity that meets the requirements of section 462A.31, subdivisions 1 and 2.

 

(d) "Debt service" means the amount payable in any fiscal year of principal, premium, if any, and interest on housing infrastructure bonds and the fees, charges, and expenses related to the bonds.

 

(e) "Foreclosed property" means residential property where foreclosure proceedings have been initiated or have been completed and title transferred or where title is transferred in lieu of foreclosure.

 

(f) "Housing infrastructure bonds" means bonds issued by the agency under this chapter that:

 

(1) are qualified 501(c)(3) bonds, within the meaning of section 145(a) of the Internal Revenue Code;

 

(2) finance qualified residential rental projects within the meaning of section 142(d) of the Internal Revenue Code;

 

(3) finance the construction or rehabilitation of single-family houses that qualify for mortgage financing within the meaning of section 143 of the Internal Revenue Code; or

 

(4) are tax-exempt bonds that are not private activity bonds, within the meaning of section 141(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, for the purpose of financing or refinancing affordable housing authorized under this chapter.

 

(g) "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.


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(h) "Naturally occurring affordable housing" or "NOAH" means multiunit rental housing where the majority of the units are affordable to individuals and families with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income, that otherwise does not receive place-based state or federal governmental subsidies.

 

(i) "Senior" means a person 55 years of age or older with an annual income not greater than 50 percent of:

 

(1) the metropolitan area median income for persons in the metropolitan area; or

 

(2) the statewide median income for persons outside the metropolitan area.

 

(i) (j) "Senior housing" means housing intended and operated for occupancy by at least one senior per unit with at least 80 percent of the units occupied by at least one senior per unit, and for which there is publication of, and adherence to, policies and procedures that demonstrate an intent by the owner or manager to provide housing for seniors.  Senior housing may be developed in conjunction with and as a distinct portion of mixed-income senior housing developments that use a variety of public or private financing sources.

 

(j) (k) "Supportive housing" means housing that is not time-limited and provides or coordinates with linkages to services necessary for residents to maintain housing stability and maximize opportunities for education and employment.

 

Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 462A.37, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Authorization.  (a) The agency may issue up to $30,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of housing infrastructure bonds in one or more series to which the payment made under this section may be pledged.  The housing infrastructure bonds authorized in this subdivision may be issued to fund loans, or grants for the purposes of clause (4), on terms and conditions the agency deems appropriate, made for one or more of the following purposes:

 

(1) to finance the costs of the construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of supportive housing for individuals and families who are without a permanent residence;

 

(2) to finance the costs of the acquisition and rehabilitation of foreclosed or abandoned housing to be used for affordable rental housing and the costs of new construction of rental housing on abandoned or foreclosed property where the existing structures will be demolished or removed;

 

(3) to finance that portion of the costs of acquisition of property that is attributable to the land to be leased by community land trusts to low- and moderate-income home buyers;

 

(4) to finance the acquisition, improvement, and infrastructure of manufactured home parks under section 462A.2035, subdivision 1b;

 

(5) to finance the costs of acquisition, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, or new construction of senior housing;

 

(6) to finance the costs of acquisition and rehabilitation of federally assisted rental housing and for the refinancing of costs of the construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of federally assisted rental housing, including providing funds to refund, in whole or in part, outstanding bonds previously issued by the agency or another government unit to finance or refinance such costs; and

 

(7) to finance the costs of acquisition, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, or new construction of single-family housing.;

 

(8) to finance the costs of acquisition, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, or new construction of multifamily rental housing for households with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income.  Among comparable proposals, the agency shall give priority to requests for projects that serve households at the lowest incomes; and


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(9) to finance the costs of acquisition and rehabilitation of naturally occurring affordable housing in order to preserve a long-term source of affordable housing.

 

(b) Among comparable proposals for permanent supportive housing, preference shall be given to permanent supportive housing for veterans and other individuals or families who:

 

(1) either have been without a permanent residence for at least 12 months or at least four times in the last three years; or

 

(2) are at significant risk of lacking a permanent residence for 12 months or at least four times in the last three years.

 

(c) Among comparable proposals for senior housing, the agency must give priority to requests for projects that:

 

(1) demonstrate a commitment to maintaining the housing financed as affordable to seniors;

 

(2) leverage other sources of funding to finance the project, including the use of low-income housing tax credits;

 

(3) provide access to services to residents and demonstrate the ability to increase physical supports and support services as residents age and experience increasing levels of disability;

 

(4) provide a service plan containing the elements of clause (3) reviewed by the housing authority, economic development authority, public housing authority, or community development agency that has an area of operation for the jurisdiction in which the project is located; and

 

(5) include households with incomes that do not exceed 30 percent of the median household income for the metropolitan area.

 

(d) To the extent practicable, the agency shall balance the loans made between projects in the metropolitan area and projects outside the metropolitan area.  Of the loans made to projects outside the metropolitan area, the agency shall, to the extent practicable, balance the loans made between projects in counties or cities with a population of 20,000 or less, as established by the most recent decennial census, and projects in counties or cities with populations in excess of 20,000.

 

Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 462A.37, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

 

Subd. 2h.  Additional authorization.  In addition to the amount authorized in subdivisions 2 to 2g, the agency may issue up to $150,000,000 in housing infrastructure bonds in one or more series to which the payments under this section may be pledged.

 

Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 462A.37, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5.  Additional appropriation.  (a) The agency must certify annually to the commissioner of management and budget the actual amount of annual debt service on each series of bonds issued under this section.

 

(b) Each July 15, beginning in 2015 and through 2037, if any housing infrastructure bonds issued under subdivision 2a remain outstanding, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer to the housing infrastructure bond account established under section 462A.21, subdivision 33, the amount certified under paragraph (a), not to exceed $6,400,000 annually.  The amounts necessary to make the transfers are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget.


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(c) Each July 15, beginning in 2017 and through 2038, if any housing infrastructure bonds issued under subdivision 2b remain outstanding, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer to the housing infrastructure bond account established under section 462A.21, subdivision 33, the amount certified under paragraph (a), not to exceed $800,000 annually.  The amounts necessary to make the transfers are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget.

 

(d) Each July 15, beginning in 2019 and through 2040, if any housing infrastructure bonds issued under subdivision 2c remain outstanding, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer to the housing infrastructure bond account established under section 462A.21, subdivision 33, the amount certified under paragraph (a), not to exceed $2,800,000 annually.  The amounts necessary to make the transfers are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget.

 

(e) Each July 15, beginning in 2020 and through 2041, if any housing infrastructure bonds issued under subdivision 2d remain outstanding, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer to the housing infrastructure bond account established under section 462A.21, subdivision 33, the amount certified under paragraph (a).  The amounts necessary to make the transfers are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget.

 

(f) Each July 15, beginning in 2020 and through 2041, if any housing infrastructure bonds issued under subdivision 2e remain outstanding, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer to the housing infrastructure bond account established under section 462A.21, subdivision 33, the amount certified under paragraph (a).  The amounts necessary to make the transfers are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget.

 

(g) Each July 15, beginning in 2022 and through 2043, if any housing infrastructure bonds issued under subdivision 2f remain outstanding, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer to the housing infrastructure bond account established under section 462A.21, subdivision 33, the amount certified under paragraph (a).  The amounts necessary to make the transfers are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget.

 

(h) Each July 15, beginning in 2022 and through 2043, if any housing infrastructure bonds issued under subdivision 2g remain outstanding, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer to the housing infrastructure bond account established under section 462A.21, subdivision 33, the amount certified under paragraph (a).  The amounts necessary to make the transfers are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget.

 

(i) Each July 15, beginning in 2023 and through 2044, if any housing infrastructure bonds issued under subdivision 2h remain outstanding, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer to the housing infrastructure bond account established under section 462A.21, subdivision 33, the amount certified under paragraph (a).  The amounts necessary to make the transfers are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget.

 

(i) (j) The agency may pledge to the payment of the housing infrastructure bonds the payments to be made by the state under this section.

 

Sec. 7.  HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS; SHELTER FACILITIES.

 

Subdivision 1.  Definition.  For the purposes of this section, "shelter facility" means a facility having a primary purpose to provide a temporary shelter for the homeless in general, or for a specific homeless population, and does not require occupants to sign leases or occupancy agreements.


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Subd. 2.  Authorized use.  In fiscal year 2022 only, housing infrastructure bonds under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.37, may be issued to finance the costs of acquisition, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and new construction of shelter facilities in accordance with this section.

 

Subd. 3.  Additional authorization.  In addition to the amount authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.37, subdivisions 2 to 2h, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency may issue up to $50,000,000 in housing infrastructure bonds in one or more series to which the payments under this section must be pledged for shelter facilities.  $10,000,000 of this authorization must fund one or more grants to Simpson Housing Services, a not‑for‑profit corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, to construct and renovate shelter facilities in the city of Minneapolis.

 

Subd. 4.  Debt service.  Each July 15, beginning in 2023 and through 2044, if any housing infrastructure bonds issued under this section remain outstanding, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer to the housing infrastructure bond account established under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.21, subdivision 33, the amount certified under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.37, subdivision 5, paragraph (a).  The amounts necessary to make the transfers are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget.

 

Sec. 8.  EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

This article is effective the day following final enactment.

 

ARTICLE 3

EQUITY APPROPRIATIONS

 

Section 1.  CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT APPROPRIATIONS.

 

The sums shown in the column under "Appropriations" are appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2022 to the state agencies or entities indicated, to be spent for public purposes.  The appropriations in this article are onetime and are available until the project is completed or abandoned subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROPRIATIONS

 

Sec. 2.  METROPOLITAN COUNCIL

 

 

 

$1,200,000

 

To the Metropolitan Council for a grant to the city of St. Paul for the Wakan Tipi Center project.  This appropriation is in addition to the appropriation for the Nature Sanctuary Visitor Center in Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 1, section 17, subdivision 6, and the appropriation for the Wakan Tipi Center project in Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 17, subdivision 11, and is for the same purposes.

 

Sec. 3.  EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$13,789,000

 

To the commissioner of employment and economic development for the purposes of this section.


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Subd. 2.  African Economic Development Solutions

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

For a grant to African Economic Development Solutions to rehabilitate property that supports business incubation and workforce development and technical assistance to support new and existing African immigrant entrepreneurs aimed at addressing pervasive economic inequities.

 

Subd. 3.  30,000 Feet; Black Arts Center

 

 

 

1,500,000

 

For a grant to 30,000 Feet, a nonprofit organization, to acquire property, design, construct, renovate, furnish, and equip a Black Arts Center to increase the number of African American youth and families served through culturally responsive arts and technology education, social-emotional learning, and African American history and culture.

 

Subd. 4.  Latino Economic Development Center

 

 

 

950,000

 

For a grant to the Latino Economic Development Center for replacement of mechanical systems, construction or renovation of interior spaces, and other improvements of a capital nature to the building that will operate as a small business incubator on Payne Avenue and serve other community uses.

 

Subd. 5.  East Side Freedom Library

 

 

 

300,000

 

For a grant to the city of St. Paul for asset preservation at the Carnegie Library, formerly known as the Arlington Hills Public Library.

 

Subd. 6.  Food Relief Organizations

 

 

 

1,200,000

 

For grants to Minnesota food relief organizations for infrastructure needs and improvements of a capital nature.  Of this amount:

 

(1) $300,000 is for Keystone Community Services capital improvements at a new community food site in Ramsey County;

 

(2) $300,000 is for Southern Anoka Community Assistance for capital improvements at a new food shelf;

 

(3) $300,000 is for 360 Communities for capital improvements at a new resource center and food shelf in Dakota County; and

 

(4) $300,000 is for Community Pathways of Steele County for capital improvements at the current food shelf location.

 

Subd. 7.  Funny Asian Women Kollective Arts Center

 

 

1,000,000

 

For a grant to Funny Asian Women Kollective for the acquisition of property, predesign, design, site preparation, preconstruction services, and renovation of an arts center in the city of St. Paul.


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Subd. 8.  Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Veterans Building

 

 

2,000,000

 

For a grant to the Tribal council of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe for demolition of an existing structure and predesign, design, site preparation, and preconstruction services for a new veterans building.

 

Subd. 9.  Mercado Central

 

 

 

850,000

 

For a grant to Mercado Central, LLC, to design and construct a parking lot, roof replacement, and interior repairs of a capital nature to the marketplace facility in the city of Minneapolis.

 

Subd. 10.  Native American Community Clinic

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

For a grant to the Native American Community Clinic in the city of Minneapolis for predesign, design, renovation, and construction of the building in which the clinic is located.

 

Subd. 11.  Minneapolis Regional Apprenticeship Training Center

 

 

 

789,000

 

For a grant to Northgate Development, LLC, to renovate, equip, and furnish a former state workforce center building for a regional apprenticeship training center in the city of Minneapolis to provide skills training to students and young adults in emerging energy‑related and utility careers.  This appropriation includes money for financing of energy efficient upgrades and renewable energy investments in the property. 

 

Subd. 12.  Meat Processing Businesses in a Redevelopment Area

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

For a grant to the South St. Paul Economic Development Authority to design one or more USDA-grade food processing facilities in a new or expanded industrial park to replace existing food processing facilities currently located within the Hardman Triangle Redevelopment Area aimed at creating new, value-added economic opportunities for Minnesotans of Southeast Asian descent.  This appropriation includes, but is not limited to, architectural and structural design of new food processing facilities; civil engineering of storm water, wastewater, and other utility infrastructure systems to service new food processing facilities; engineering, design, and development of specifications for machinery and equipment customarily used in the food processing industry; and site design for the new food processing facilities.


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Subd. 13.  Youth Mental Health and Wellness Community Center

 

 

 

1,200,000

 

(a) The following appropriations are for one or more grants to 846s.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, for a youth mental health and wellness community center to address community youth mental health concerns and offer academic, career, and entrepreneurial programming for local youth and their families.  If any of these appropriations for a specified phase is not needed to complete that phase, the unexpended and unencumbered amount may be applied to another phase of the project for which an appropriation is made in this subdivision.  Each appropriation for a phase is available when the commissioner of management and budget determines that an amount sufficient to complete that phase is committed to the project.

 

(b) $500,000 is appropriated for Phase 1, for property acquisition for the youth mental health and wellness community center.

 

(c) $700,000 is appropriated for Phase 2, for site preparation for the youth mental health and wellness community center.

 

(d) Minority business enterprises, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 116M.14, subdivision 5, may be prioritized for awards of contracts for the purpose of this project.

 

Subd. 14.  New American Center for Health Workforce Development

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

For a grant to the New American Center for Health Workforce Development to renovate the existing building located at 2220 Riverside Avenue in Minneapolis to provide programming and increase immigrant access to information, services, and resources, and establish, expand, and sustain a public health workforce.

 

Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

This article is effective the day following final enactment.

 

ARTICLE 4

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 16A.86, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Budget request.  (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a political subdivision that requests an appropriation of state money for a local capital improvement project is encouraged to submit the request to the commissioner of management and budget by July 15 of an odd-numbered year to ensure its full consideration.  The requests must be submitted in the form and with the supporting documentation required by the commissioner of management and budget.  All requests timely received by the commissioner must be submitted to the legislature, along with the governor's recommendations, whether or not the governor recommends that a request be funded, by the deadline established in section 16A.11, subdivision 1.


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(b) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of corrections, must evaluate the need of any capital improvement project that requests an appropriation of state money to construct a jail facility or for capital improvements to expand the number of incarcerated offenders at an existing jail facility.  The commissioner shall use the regional and county jails report submitted to the legislature on or before December 1, 2022, by the commissioner of corrections to inform the evaluation.  The commissioner must submit all evaluations under this paragraph as part of the submission to the legislature under paragraph (a).

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective January 1, 2023.

 

Sec. 2.  [16B.324] STATE BUILDINGS; SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION FUND.

 

Subdivision 1.  Definitions.  (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them.

 

(b) "Solar energy generation improvement" means the predesign, design, acquisition, construction, or installation of a solar energy system for a state building that:

 

(1) is incorporated into the building or is a permanent fixture;

 

(2) has a useful life of more than ten years; and

 

(3) is designed to result in a demand-side net reduction in energy use by the state building's electrical, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, or hot water systems, which extends the life or enhances the value of the state building.

 

(c) "State agency" means an agency in the executive branch of state government, but does not include constitutional officers.

 

(d) "State building" means a building owned by the state of Minnesota.

 

Subd. 2.  Establishment.  A state building solar energy generation fund is established to provide funds to state agencies for the purpose of implementing solar energy generation improvements at state buildings.

 

Subd. 3.  Fund management.  The commissioner shall manage and administer the state building solar energy generation fund through an office established to manage environmental sustainability measures for state property.

 

Subd. 4.  Applications.  A state agency applying for solar energy generation improvement funds must submit an application to the commissioner on a form, in the manner, and at the time prescribed by the commissioner.  An applicant must supply the following information:

 

(1) the total estimated cost of the solar energy generation improvements and the amount sought;

 

(2) a description of the solar energy generation improvements;

 

(3) a detailed budget for the project, including all sources and uses of money;

 

(4) calculations sufficient to demonstrate the expected energy and monetary savings that will result from construction and installation of the solar energy generation improvements;

 

(5) information demonstrating that extended life or increased value of the state building will result from construction and installation of the solar energy generation improvements; and

 

(6) any additional information requested by the commissioner.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.


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Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 16B.325, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Lowest possible cost; energy conservation.  The guidelines must:

 

(1) focus on achieving the lowest possible lifetime cost, considering both construction and operating costs, for new buildings and major renovations, and;

 

(2) allow for changes in the guidelines revisions that encourage continual energy conservation improvements in new buildings and major renovations.  The guidelines shall;

 

(3) define "major renovations" for purposes of this section.  The definition may not allow "major renovations" to encompass not less than 10,000 square feet or to encompass not less than the replacement of the mechanical, ventilation, or cooling system of the a building or a building section of the building.  The design guidelines must;

 

(4) establish sustainability guidelines that include air quality and lighting standards and that create and maintain a healthy environment and facilitate productivity improvements;

 

(5) establish resiliency guidelines to encourage design that allows buildings to adapt to and accommodate projected climate-related changes reflected in both acute events and chronic trends, including but not limited to changes in temperature and precipitation levels;

 

(6) specify ways to reduce material costs; and must

 

(7) consider the long-term operating costs of the building, including the use of renewable energy sources and distributed electric energy generation that uses a renewable source or natural gas or a fuel that is as clean or cleaner than natural gas.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 469.53, is amended to read:

 

469.53 REGIONAL EXCHANGE DISTRICT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

 

(a) The following projects shall be eligible for state appropriation support payments upon approval by the Duluth City Council.  Costs may be reimbursed for eligible projects that begin construction prior to September 30, 2020, but in no case may the total state payment per project exceed the amount established in this section.  Eligible projects include:

 

(1) two levels of expansion replace a skywalk connected to an existing medical district parking ramp and skywalk replacement in an amount not to exceed $13,010,000 $2,100,000, including any land acquisition;

 

(2) a ramp with up to 1,400 new parking stalls and a skywalk to serve medical entity west in an amount not to exceed $36,400,000 $37,900,000, including any land acquisition;

 

(3) extension of 6th Avenue East from 2nd Street to 1st Street in an amount not to exceed $5,900,000 $6,650,000, including any land acquisition;

 

(4) demolition of existing hospital structure for site reuse, to accomplish the purposes in section 469.51, subdivision 2, in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000 $11,829,000;

 

(5) roadway, utility, and site improvements and capacity upgrades to support medical entity west hospital construction in an amount not to exceed $11,410,000 $18,250,000;


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(6) district energy connections, capacity enhancement, and a pressure pump station, and district energy utility improvements outside of the district reasonably necessary and advantageous to serve developments within the district in an amount not to exceed $7,000,000; and

 

(7) a ramp with up to 400 new parking stalls to serve medical entity east in an amount not to exceed $14,000,000.

 

(b) Upon notice to the commissioner of employment and economic development, any unexpended amount for the projects described in paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (4), may fund the project in paragraph (a), clause (5).  The unexpended amounts applied to the project in paragraph (a), clause (5), count toward the state payment limit for the project.  The Duluth City Council must submit a written plan to the commissioner of employment and economic development to use unexpended funds in the manner under this paragraph.

 

(b) (c) For any public infrastructure project that will not be let by the city for which state support is sought, the project must proceed and comply with any state and local contracting requirements otherwise applicable to the city had the city let the project.  The city shall have the right to inspect, upon reasonable notice, the construction contracts and related documentation for any public infrastructure project for which state support is sought.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day after the governing body of the city of Duluth and its chief clerical officer timely comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3.

 

Sec. 5.  Laws 2009, chapter 93, article 1, section 14, subdivision 3, as amended by Laws 2011, First Special Session chapter 12, section 37, and Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 2, section 23, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 3.  Veterans Cemeteries

 

 

 

1,500,000

 

Of this amount, up to $500,000 is to acquire land located in southeastern, southwestern, and northeastern Minnesota for publicly owned veterans cemeteries, to be operated by the commissioner of veterans affairs.  The commissioner also must seek donations of land for the cemeteries.  The balance of the appropriation is to predesign and, design, construct, and equip the cemeteries.  Federal reimbursement of design, construction, and equipping costs for each cemetery must be deposited in the state treasury and is appropriated to the commissioner of veterans affairs to design, construct, and equip the remaining cemeteries.  Following completion of design of the legislatively authorized Minnesota state veterans cemeteries in Redwood, St. Louis, and Fillmore Counties, final federal reimbursement of predesign and, design, construction, and equipping costs is appropriated to the commissioner for asset preservation of veterans homes statewide, to be spent in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307.  Federal reimbursement may be sought for each cemetery and must be spent to acquire land for, to predesign and, design, construct, and equip additional cemeteries, or for asset preservation as provided in this subdivision.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, the bond sale authorization and appropriation of bond proceeds for this project are available until December 31, 2022 2024.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.


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Sec. 6.  Laws 2014, chapter 294, article 1, section 21, subdivision 21, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 21.  Thief River Falls Airport - Public Infrastructure

 

 

650,000

 

For a grant to the Thief River Falls Airport Authority to predesign, design, engineer, and construct infrastructure to transfer wastewater from the Thief River Falls Regional Airport to the city wastewater collection and treatment system, and to eliminate the airport wastewater treatment pond located on airport property.  This appropriation is not available until the commissioner of management and budget has determined that at least $153,360 has been committed to the At least 20 percent of the total cost of the project must be committed from nonstate sources.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 7.  Laws 2014, chapter 294, article 1, section 21, subdivision 23, as amended by Laws 2015, First Special Session chapter 5, article 3, section 23, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 23.  Virginia - Highway 53 Utilities Relocation

 

 

 

19,500,000

 

(a) $500,000 of this appropriation is for a grant to the city of Virginia Public Utilities Commission to acquire land, predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip an electrical substation along or within six miles of the relocated U.S. Highway 53 in Virginia as part of relocating the electrical utilities.  This appropriation fully funds the project described in this paragraph and meets the requirements in Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.502, that the project be fully funded.  This appropriation does not require a nonstate match.

 

(b) $19,000,000 of this appropriation is for:

 

(1) a grant to the city of Virginia Public Utilities Commission to acquire land, predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip relocated water, electrical, and gas utilities along or within six miles of the relocated U.S. Highway 53 in Virginia, Eveleth, Gilbert, and Fayal Township;

 

(2) a grant to the city of Virginia to acquire land, predesign, construct, furnish, and equip relocated storm water and sanitary sewer along or within six miles of the relocated U.S. Highway 53 in Virginia, Eveleth, Gilbert, and Fayal Township; and

 

(3) a grant to the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority to acquire land, predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip trails to handle bicycles, pedestrians, snowmobiles, and ATVs along or within six miles of the relocated U.S. Highway 53 in Virginia, Eveleth, Gilbert, and Fayal Township.  This appropriation does not require a nonstate match; and


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(4) any amount of this appropriation that is unspent after substantial completion of the work described in clauses (1), (2), and (3), may be used for a grant to the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad for construction of a segment of the Mesabi Trail extending from the eastern end of the Mesabi Trail in Biwabik at the intersection of State Highway 135 and St. Louis County Road 20 to the intersection of County Road 20 and First Street South in the city of McKinley.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, the bond sale authorization and appropriation of bond sale proceeds for this project are available until December 31, 2022.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 8.  Laws 2014, chapter 294, article 1, section 22, subdivision 5, as amended by Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 2, section 27, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5.  City of Rice Lake - Water Main Replacement and Extension

 

 

 

1,168,000

 

For a grant to the city of Rice Lake to design and construct a replacement water main and related public infrastructure on East Calvary Road and Kolstad, Austin, Milwaukee, Mather, and Chicago Avenues in the city of Rice Lake.  This appropriation is not available until the commissioner of management and budget determines that at least an equal amount is committed to the project from nonstate sources.  Any amount remaining after completion of the project may be used to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip a municipal utility extension from Howard Gnesen Road to Martin Road in the city of Rice Lake.  This appropriation is available until December 31, 2020 2022.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment, except that the extension of time for availability of the appropriation is effective retroactively from December 30, 2020.

 

Sec. 9.  Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter 8, article 1, section 7, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  St. Louis River Cleanup

 

 

 

25,410,000

 

To design and implement contaminated sediment management actions identified in the St. Louis River remedial action plan to restore water quality in the St. Louis River Area of Concern.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, the bond authorization and appropriation of bond proceeds for this project are available until December 31, 2023.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.


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Sec. 10.  Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter 8, article 1, section 15, subdivision 3, as amended by Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 2, section 33, and Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 5, section 24, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 3.  Local Road Improvement Fund Grants

 

 

 

115,932,000

 

(a) From the bond proceeds account in the state transportation fund as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.50, for trunk highway corridor projects under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.52, subdivision 2, for construction and reconstruction of local roads with statewide or regional significance under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.52, subdivision 4, or for grants to counties to assist in paying the costs of rural road safety capital improvement projects on county state-aid highways under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.52, subdivision 4a.

 

(b) Of this amount, $9,000,000 is for a grant to Anoka County to design, acquire land for, engineer, and construct improvements to, including the realignment of County State-Aid Highway 23 (Lake Drive), County State-Aid Highway 54 (West Freeway Drive), West Freeway Drive, and to Hornsby Street in the city of Columbus to support the overall interchange project.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, the bond sale authorization and appropriation of bond proceeds for the project in this paragraph are available until December 31, 2024.

 

(c) Of this amount, $3,246,000 is for a grant to the city of Blaine to predesign, design, and reconstruct 105th Avenue in the vicinity of the National Sports Center in Blaine.  The reconstruction will include changing the street from five lanes to four lanes with median, turn lanes, sidewalk, trail, landscaping, lighting, and consolidation of access driveways.  This appropriation is not available until the commissioner of management and budget determines that at least $3,000,000 is committed to the project from sources available to the city, including municipal state aid and county turnback funds.

 

(d) Of this amount, $25,000,000 is for a grant to Hennepin County, the city of Minneapolis, or both, for design, right-of-way acquisition, engineering, and construction of public improvements related to the Interstate Highway 35W and Lake Street access project and related improvements within the Interstate Highway 35W corridor, notwithstanding any provision of Minnesota Statutes, section 174.52, or rule to the contrary.  This appropriation is not available until the commissioner of management and budget determines that an amount sufficient to complete this portion of the Interstate Highway 35W and Lake Street access project has been committed to this portion of the project.

 

(e) Of this amount, $10,500,000 is for a grant to Carver County for environmental analysis and to acquire right-of-way access, predesign, design, engineer, and construct an interchange at


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marked Trunk Highway 212 and Carver County Road 44 in the city of Chaska, including a new bridge and ramps, to support the development of approximately 400 acres of property in the city of Chaska's comprehensive plan.

 

(f) Of this amount, $700,000 is for a grant to Redwood County for improvements to Nobles Avenue, including paving, as the main access road to a new State Veterans Cemetery to be located in Paxton Township.

 

(g) Of this amount, $1,000,000 is for a grant to the town of Appleton in Swift County for upgrades to an existing township road to provide for a paved, ten-ton capacity township road extending between marked Trunk Highways 7 and 119 preliminary and final design, engineering, and reconstruction of a segment of County State-Aid Highway 6 between marked Trunk Highway 7 and County State-Aid Highway 17 to provide for a ten-ton paved roadway.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, the bond sale authorization and appropriation of bond proceeds for this project are available until December 31, 2025.

 

(h) Of this amount, $20,500,000 is for a grant to Ramsey County for preliminary and final design, right-of-way acquisition, engineering, contract administration, and construction of public improvements related to the construction of the interchange of marked Interstate Highway 694 and Rice Street, Ramsey County State-Aid Highway 49, in Ramsey County.

 

(i) Of this amount, $11,300,000 is for a grant to Hennepin County for preliminary and final design, engineering, environmental analysis, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and reconstruction of local roads related to the (1) realignment at the intersections of marked U.S. Highway 12 with Hennepin County State-Aid Highway 92; (2) realignment and safety improvements at the intersection of marked U.S. Highway 12 with Hennepin County State-Aid Highway 90; and (3) safety median improvements from the interchange with Wayzata Boulevard in Wayzata to approximately one-half mile east of the interchange of marked U.S. Highway 12 with Hennepin County State-Aid Highway 6.

 

(j) Of this amount, $1,000,000 is for a grant to the city of Inver Grove Heights for preliminary design, design, engineering, and reconstruction of Broderick Boulevard between 80th Street and Concord Boulevard abutting Trunk Highway 52 and Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights.  The project includes replacement or renovation of public infrastructure, including water lines, sanitary sewers, storm water sewers, and other public utilities.  This appropriation does not require a nonstate contribution.


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(k) Of this amount, $2,350,000 is for a grant to McLeod County to acquire land or interests in land and to design and construct a new urban street extension of County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 15, including railroad crossing, storm water, and drainage improvements.

 

(l) Of this amount, $6,000,000 is for a grant to the city of Baxter for 50 percent of total project cost for the acquisition of land or interests in land, environmental analysis and environmental cleanup, predesign, design, engineering, and construction of improvements to Cypress Drive, including expansion to a four-lane divided urban roadway, between Excelsior Road and College Road.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 11.  Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter 8, article 1, section 20, subdivision 14, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 14.  Minneapolis - Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery Restoration

 

 

 

1,029,000

 

For a grant to the city of Minneapolis to restore the historic steel and limestone pillar fence along Cedar Avenue and Lake Street, install a new steel fence and pillars along 21st Avenue South, and install a waterproofing system for preservation of the fence and pillars, at the Pioneer and Soldiers Cemetery.  This appropriation does not require a nonstate contribution.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 12.  Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 1, section 16, subdivision 2, as amended by Laws 2019, chapter 2, article 2, section 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Local Road Improvement Fund Grants

 

 

 

78,600,000

 

(a) From the bond proceeds account in the state transportation fund as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.50, for trunk highway corridor projects under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.52, subdivision 2, for construction and reconstruction of local roads with statewide or regional significance under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.52, subdivision 4, or for grants to counties to assist in paying the costs of rural road safety capital improvement projects on county state-aid highways under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.52, subdivision 4a.

 

(b) Of this amount, $13,500,000 is for a grant to the city of Dayton for design, engineering, environmental analysis, property and easement acquisition, construction, and reconstruction of local roads in conjunction with an interchange on marked Interstate Highway 94 near Hennepin County State-Aid Highway 101, known as Brockton Lane, in Dayton.


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(c) Of this amount, $6,100,000 is for a grant one or more grants to Dakota County, the city of Inver Grove Heights, or both to predesign, design, engineer, acquire right-of-way property and temporary and permanent easements, inspect, and construct or reconstruct:  (1) realignment of Dakota County State-Aid Highway 63, known as Argenta Trail, in Inver Grove Heights, from northerly of its intersection with Amana Trail to the anticipated future alignment of 65th Street, then west to the existing Argenta Trail alignment, and in anticipation of the development of an interchange of Argenta Trail and marked Interstate Highway 494; and (2) expansion from two lanes to four lanes of Dakota County State-Aid Highway 26, known as 70th Street West, in Inver Grove Heights, from the border with Eagan through the intersection with Argenta Trail as realigned, to the intersection of Highway 26 with Trunk Highway 3, known as Robert Street.

 

(d) Of this amount, $9,000,000 is for a grant to Carver County following a jurisdictional transfer to Carver County of the affected segment of marked Trunk Highway 101.  The appropriation may be used for design, right-of-way acquisition, engineering, and reconstruction of the segment transferred to the county that is between Pioneer Trail and Flying Cloud Drive, including grade separation of a multipurpose pedestrian and bicycle trail from the segment for the Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail and a regional trail along marked Trunk Highway 101.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 13.  Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 1, section 17, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 6.  St. Paul - Nature Sanctuary Visitor Center

 

 

 

3,000,000

 

For a grant to the city of St. Paul to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip a visitor and interpretive center in the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in St. Paul for programs that the city determines meet regional and city park purpose requirements.  The city may enter into a lease or management agreement under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.695, to operate the programs in the center.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, the bond sale authorization and appropriation of bond proceeds for the project in this subdivision are available until December 31, 2024.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 14.  Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 1, section 18, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 3.  St. Peter Regional Treatment Center Campus - Dietary Building HVAC and Electrical Replacement

 

 

 

2,200,000

 

To predesign, design, engineer, and renovate the mechanical and electrical systems in the Dietary Building on the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center campus, including:  the upgrade, replacement,


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and improvement of existing heating and ventilation equipment; installation of air-conditioning equipment; replacement of the building's outdated and undersized electrical system; design and abatement of asbestos and hazardous materials; and structural, site, and utility work necessary to support the project.

 

Upon substantial completion of this project, any unspent portion of this appropriation remaining, after written notice to the commissioner of management and budget, is available for asset preservation under Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 15.  Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 1, section 18, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 4.  Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center - Roof and HVAC Replacement

 

 

 

6,550,000

 

To predesign, design, engineer, construct, and equip improvements on the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center campus, including but not limited to design and abatement of asbestos and hazardous materials, replacement of roofs on residential units, installation of metal wall cladding on the mechanical penthouses, installation of new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, fire sprinkler systems, electrical lighting systems in the Miller Building, and installation of a new heating system in the warehouse building.

 

Upon substantial completion of this project, any unspent portion of this appropriation remaining, after written notice to the commissioner of management and budget, is available for asset preservation under Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16.642, the bond sale authorization and appropriation of bond proceeds in this subdivision are available until December 31, 2023.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 16.  Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 1, section 21, subdivision 16, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 16.  Minneapolis - Upper Harbor Terminal Redevelopment

 

 

 

15,000,000

 

For a grant to the city of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, or both, for predesign, design, and construction work for site preparation and for park and public infrastructure improvements to support an initial phase of redevelopment of the Upper Harbor Terminal on the Mississippi River; a site that was rendered inoperable for barging by the federal closure of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, the bond sale authorization and appropriation of bond proceeds in this subdivision are available until December 31, 2024.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.


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Sec. 17.  Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 1, section 22, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 6.  Aurora; Hoyt Lakes; Biwabik; and White Township - Drinking Water System

 

 

 

2,500,000

 

For a grant to the city of Aurora to acquire land, acquire a long‑term lease, or a permanent interest in land, design, engineer, construct, furnish, and equip a comprehensive municipally owned cooperative joint drinking water system in for the cities city of Aurora, Hoyt Lakes, and Biwabik, and White Township, including a water intake and treatment plant located in White Township and the Town of White and designed for the future use of other cities, including Biwabik and Hoyt Lakes.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, the bond sale authorization and appropriation of bond proceeds for this project are available until December 31, 2024.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 18.  Laws 2019, chapter 2, article 1, section 2, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5.  South St. Paul - Seidl's Lake

 

 

 

781,000

 

For a grant to the city of South St. Paul for capital improvements to improve the water quality of Seidl's Lake.  The capital improvements include design, engineering, construction, and equipping of a storm water lift station to discharge excess storm water into the city of South St. Paul's storm sewer system to minimize the fluctuating water levels of the lake.  This project may be implemented jointly by the cities of South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, and West St. Paul.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, the bond sale authorization and appropriation of bond proceeds for the project in this subdivision are available until December 31, 2024.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 19.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 7, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 3.  Flood Hazard Mitigation

 

 

 

17,000,000

 

(a) For the state share of flood hazard mitigation grants for publicly owned capital improvements to prevent or alleviate flood damage under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.161.

 

(b) To the extent practical, levee projects shall meet the state standard of three feet above the 100-year flood elevation.

 

(c) Project priorities shall be determined by the commissioner as appropriate, based on need and consideration of available leveraging of federal, state, and local funds.


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(d) This appropriation may be used for projects in the following municipalities:  Afton, Austin, Breckenridge, Browns Valley, Carver, Delano, Faribault, Golden Valley, Halstad, Hawley, Hendrum, Inver Grove Heights, Jordan, Montevideo, Moorhead, Newfolden, Nielsville, Owatonna, Round Lake Township in Jackson County, Sioux Valley Township in Jackson County, and Waseca.

 

(e) This appropriation also may be used for projects in the following watershed districts:  Bois de Sioux Watershed District, Buffalo-Red River Watershed District, Cedar River Watershed District;Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, Middle Snake Tamarac Rivers Watershed District, Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District, Red Lake Watershed District, Roseau River Watershed District, Shell Rock River Watershed District, Two Rivers Watershed District, Upper Minnesota River Watershed District, and Wild Rice River Watershed District.

 

(f) This appropriation may also be used for a project in the Southern Minnesota Rivers Basin Area II.

 

(g) For any project listed in this subdivision that the commissioner determines is not ready to proceed, does not have the nonstate match committed, or does not expend all the money granted to it, the commissioner may allocate that project's unexpended money to a priority project on the commissioner's list.

 

(h) Notwithstanding paragraph (c), $2,000,000 of this appropriation is for flood hazard mitigation for the Toelle Coulee in the city of Browns Valley Traverse County.

 

(i) To the extent practicable and consistent with the project, recipients of appropriations for flood control projects in this subdivision shall create wetlands that are eligible for wetland replacement credit to replace wetlands drained or filled as the result of repair, reconstruction, replacement, or rehabilitation of an existing public road under Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.222, subdivision 1, paragraphs (l) and (m).

 

(j) To the extent that the cost of a project exceeds two percent of the median household income in a municipality or township multiplied by the number of households in the municipality or township, this appropriation is also for the local share of the project.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.


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Sec. 20.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 7, subdivision 18, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 18.  Lake City; Ohuta Beach Breakwater

 

 

 

1,058,000

 

For a grant to the city of Lake City to design, engineer, and construct a breakwater at Ohuta Beach in Lake City at Ohuta Park. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 21.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 13, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5.  Construction and Renovation of Public Skate Parks

 

 

 

250,000

 

For grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 240A.20, subdivision 2, clause (2), for design of to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip skate parks from.  Design work must be by designers with expertise in the field of skate park design.  Construction must be of a skate park designed by designers with expertise in the field of skate park design.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective retroactively from October 21, 2020.

 

Sec. 22.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 16, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5.  Anoka County; Marked Trunk Highway 65 Interchange

 

 

 

1,500,000

 

From the bond proceeds account in the state transportation fund as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.50, for a grant to Anoka County to complete environmental analysis of local road intersections and associated improvements along marked Trunk Highway 65 from north of 93rd Avenue to north of 117th Avenue, preliminary engineering, environmental analysis, and final design of a grade separation and associated improvements to Anoka County State-Aid Highway 12, known as 109th Avenue, at marked Trunk Highway 65 in the city of Blaine.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 23.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 16, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 7.  Golden Valley; Douglas Drive and Highway 55

 

 

6,500,000

 

From the bond proceeds account in the state transportation fund as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.50, for a grant to the city of Golden Valley to construct perform preliminary and final design engineering, environmental analysis, acquisition of permanent easements and right-of-way, reconstruction, and construction engineering of local roads related to construction of public safety improvements at, and within a 600 foot radius of, the


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intersection of Douglas Drive and Highway 55, including a box culvert underpass across Highway 55, a roundabout and extended frontage road south of Highway 55, retaining wall construction, underground utility relocation, sidewalk and trail connections to existing facilities, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant facilities, and landscaping.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 24.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 16, subdivision 15, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 15.  Scott County; Highway 13 Interchange at Marked Intersections of Dakota and Yosemite Interchange Avenues

 

 

 

 

$5,269,000

 

From the bond proceeds account in the state transportation fund as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.50, for a grant to Scott County for to design, provide construction engineering, and construction of construct local road improvements, including accommodations for bicycles and pedestrians and public utility relocations, to support a programmed interchange at the intersection of marked Trunk Highway 13 and at Dakota Avenue and Yosemite Avenues in Savage.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 25.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 16, subdivision 16, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 16.  Sherburne County; Zimmerman Interchange Project

 

 

 

2,000,000

 

From the bond proceeds account in the state transportation fund as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.50, for a grant to Sherburne County for environmental analysis, preliminary engineering, and final design of the local road portions of the proposed interchange project and local road portions at marked U.S. Highway 169 and Sherburne County State-Aid Highway 4 in Zimmerman.  Any money remaining upon completion of the design process may be used to acquire right-of-way needed for the local road portions of the interchange project.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 26.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 16, subdivision 36, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 36.  Olmsted County; Trunk Highway 14 and County Road 104 Interchange Construction

 

 

 

6,000,000

 

For a grant to Olmsted County for the county's share of general obligation bond eligible portions of a project to conduct environmental analysis, predesign, design, and engineer, construct, furnish, and equip an interchange at marked Trunk Highway 14


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and County Road 104, including a flyover at 7th Street NW, in Olmstead Olmsted County, and associated infrastructure and road work to accommodate the interchange.  Any amount remaining after substantial completion of environmental analysis, predesign, design, and engineering work may be applied to the county's share to acquire right-of-way for, and to construct, furnish, and equip, this interchange and associated infrastructure and road work to accommodate the interchange.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 27.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 20, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5.  Minnesota Correctional Facility - St. Cloud

 

 

 

800,000

 

To design, renovate, construct, equip, and install a new fire suppression system in Living Units A, B, and C D and E at the Minnesota Correctional Facility - St. Cloud.  This installation includes but is not limited to cells, common areas, and control areas and must comply with all applicable codes.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 28.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 21, subdivision 14, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 14.  Crookston; Colborn Property Development

 

 

 

895,000

 

For a grant to the city of Crookston for development of the southern end of the city limits commonly known as the Colborn Property.  This appropriation includes money for construction of roads and storm water infrastructure, for design and site preparation, and for other improvements of publicly owned infrastructure.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 29.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 21, subdivision 20, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 20.  Fergus Falls; Riverfront Corridor

 

 

 

1,750,000

 

For a grant to the city of Fergus Falls for construction of a downtown riverfront corridor improvement project including an amphitheater, a river market, public arts space, interactive water components, and related publicly owned infrastructure and amenities. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.


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Sec. 30.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 21, subdivision 23, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 23.  Hennepin County; Avivo

 

 

 

1,700,000

 

For a grant to Hennepin County for Phase 1 of the Avivo regional career and employment center project in Minneapolis, subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.695.  Phase 1 includes geotechnical and environmental investigation, demolition, and site work; predesign and design of the renovation and expansion of a building; and predesign and design for the replacement of or improvements to building systems on the Avivo campus, including HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and accessibility improvements.  Upon substantial completion of Phase I, any unspent portion of this appropriation remaining, after written notice to the commissioner of management and budget, is available for renovation or construction.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 31.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 21, subdivision 37, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 37.  St. Joseph; Jacob Wetterling Recreation Center

 

 

4,000,000

 

For a grant to the city of St. Joseph to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip a recreation center as an addition to the former school building purchased by the city to be repurposed as a adjacent to and connected to the city's new community center.  The city may enter into a lease or management agreement for operation of recreation programs, subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.695.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 32.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 21, subdivision 44, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 44.  Wadena; Access Road

 

 

 

1,300,000

 

For a grant one or more grants to the city of Wadena County, Otter Tail County, or both, to acquire a permanent easement for and to predesign, design, engineer, and construct an access road just northeast of 11th Street Northwest in Wadena, going from marked Trunk Highway 10 to the new hospital complex.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 33.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 21, subdivision 47, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 47.  Willernie; Public Infrastructure Maintenance Building

 

 

 

160,000

 

For a grant to the city of Willernie to replace the roof of the city hall, and, if any money is remaining, for capital improvements in conjunction with the Washington County road 12 project,


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including replacing and extending the sidewalk, replacement of a water main, and moving or removing a retaining wall demolish a maintenance building and to design, engineer, construct, and equip a new maintenance building.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 34.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 22, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 6.  Arden Hills; Water Main

 

 

 

500,000

 

For a grant to the city of Arden Hills to acquire permanent easements for and to engineer and install a water main extending along Lexington Avenue, from County Road E to marked Interstate Highway 694.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 35.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 22, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 8.  Austin; Wastewater Treatment Plant

 

 

 

7,450,000

 

For a grant to the city of Austin to for predesign, design, and engineer engineering improvements for upgrades to the city's wastewater treatment facility.  Any balance of funds may be utilized for the construction of the wastewater treatment facility in subsequent phases.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 36.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 22, subdivision 18, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 18.  Mahnomen; Water Infrastructure

 

 

 

650,000

 

For a grant under Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.07, to the city of Mahnomen for to construct improvements to the city's water wastewater infrastructure.  This grant is not subject to the project priority list set forth in Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.07, subdivision 4.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 37.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 22, subdivision 19, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 19.  Mahnomen; Drinking Water Infrastructure

 

 

 

1,250,000

 

For a grant under Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.081, to the city of Mahnomen for to construct improvements to the city's drinking water infrastructure.  This grant is not subject to the project priority list set forth in Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.081, subdivision 5.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.


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Sec. 38.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 22, subdivision 21, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 21.  Mendota; Water Infrastructure

 

 

 

650,000

 

For a grant to the city of Mendota to predesign, design, engineer, and construct the extension of improvements to the water main throughout the city of Mendota to allow residents to connect with the Saint Paul Regional Water Services distribution system.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 39.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 22, subdivision 23, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 23.  Oronoco; Regional Wastewater System Infrastructure Grant

 

 

 

24,027,000

 

(a) Of this amount, $1,350,000 is for a grant to the city of Oronoco to acquire land and easements, design, and engineer a wastewater collection, conveyance, and treatment system and associated water distribution improvements to serve the city of Oronoco and the region including the Oronoco Estates Manufactured Home Community.  Any amount remaining after completion of design, engineering, and acquisition may be applied to the purposes described in subdivision 2 paragraph (b).

 

(b) Of this amount, $22,677,000 is for a grant to the city of Oronoco to construct and provide construction-related engineering for a wastewater collection, conveyance, and treatment system and associated water distribution improvements to serve the city of Oronoco and the region including the Oronoco Estates Manufactured Home Community.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 40.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 22, subdivision 28, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 28.  South Haven; Wells

 

 

 

1,700,000

 

For a grant to the city of South Haven to acquire land, predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip two new wells, including a well house, water main, and other related drinking water improvements, in Wright County.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 41.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 22, subdivision 30, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 30.  Spring Park; City Utilities

 

 

 

1,500,000

 

For a grant to the city of Spring Park for improvements to the city's water and sewer system and the adjacent roadway West Arm Drive West in the northwest area of the city on West Arm Drive. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.


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Sec. 42.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 22, subdivision 33, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 33.  Vernon Center; Water Infrastructure Improvements

 

 

 

7,984,000

 

For a grant to the city of Vernon Center to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip water infrastructure improvements, including refurbishing a water tower, and replacement of wastewater collection treatment facilities, water distribution systems, storm sanitary sewer system improvements and storm water collection systems, and related local road improvements.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 43.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 2, section 2, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Railroad Grade Separations

 

 

 

110,000,000

 

From the bond proceeds account in the trunk highway fund to construct for environmental analysis, predesign, design and engineering, and construction of rail safety projects at trunk highway-railroad grade crossings in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 219.016 as identified in the Department of Transportation's crude by rail grade crossing study (Improvements to Highway Grade Crossings and Rail Safety, December 2014 and revised in 2019).

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 44.  Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 2, section 2, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 4.  Flood Mitigation

 

 

 

23,000,000

 

From the bond proceeds account in the trunk highway fund for environmental analysis, predesign, design, engineering, and reconstruction of trunk highways that experience frequent flooding in Sibley County and Le Sueur County, to modify the elevation of the roadways and reduce closures due to river flooding, for portions of the projects that are eligible for trunk highway bond proceeds.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 45.  REGIONAL AND COUNTY JAILS; STUDY AND REPORT.

 

Subdivision 1.  Study.  The commissioner of corrections must study and make recommendations on the consolidation or merger of county jails and alternatives to incarceration for persons experiencing mental health disorders.  The commissioner must engage and solicit feedback from citizens who live in communities served by facilities that may be impacted by the commissioner's recommendations for the consolidation or merger of jails.  The commissioner must consult with the following individuals on the study and recommendations:


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(1) county sheriffs;

 

(2) county and city attorneys that prosecute offenders;

 

(3) chief law enforcement officers;

 

(4) county boards, administrators of county jail facilities, and county human service directors in counties implementing co-response models for certain law enforcement or other first responders; and

 

(5) district court administrators.

 

Each party receiving a request for information from the commissioner under this section shall provide the requested information in a timely manner.  If a party fails to provide the requested information within 30 days of the date the information is due, the party must submit a written explanation to the commissioner as to why the information was not timely submitted and the date by which the information will be provided.

 

Subd. 2.  Report.  The commissioner of corrections must file a report with the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees and divisions with jurisdiction over public safety and capital investment on the study and recommendations under subdivision 1 on or before December 1, 2022.  This is a onetime report.  The report must, at a minimum, provide the following information:

 

(1) the daily average number of offenders incarcerated in each county jail facility:

 

(i) that are in pretrial detention;

 

(ii) that cannot afford to pay bail;

 

(iii) for failure to pay fines and fees;

 

(iv) for offenses that stem from controlled substance addiction or mental health disorders;

 

(v) for nonfelony offenses;

 

(vi) that are detained pursuant to contracts with other authorities; and

 

(vii) for supervised release and probation violations;

 

(2) the actual cost of building a new jail facility, purchasing another facility, or repairing a current facility;

 

(3) the age of current jail facilities;

 

(4) county population totals and trends;

 

(5) county crime rates and trends;

 

(6) the proximity of current jails to courthouses, probation services, social services, treatment providers, and work-release employment opportunities;

 

(7) specific recommendations for alternatives to jails for mental health disorders;

 

(8) specific recommendations on the consolidation or merger of county jail facilities and operations, including:


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(i) where consolidated facilities should be located;

 

(ii) which counties are best suited for consolidation;

 

(iii) the projected costs of construction, renovation, or purchase of the facility; and

 

(iv) the projected cost of operating the facility; and

 

(9) a list of the parties that did not timely submit information pursuant to the request for information in subdivision 1.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 46.  HOUSING POOL BONDING AUTHORITY APPLICATION DEPOSIT REFUND.

 

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, sections 474A.061, subdivisions 1a, paragraph (a), and 7; and 474A.21, due to the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, issuers that returned all of their allocation of bonding authority from the 2020 housing pool, shall receive a refund of the amount of the application deposit submitted with the issuer's 2020 housing pool application, less any amount previously refunded.  Any application deposit money that has not yet been transferred under Minnesota Statutes, section 474A.21, as of the date of final enactment that is connected to full returns of bonding authority from the 2020 housing pool is not required to be deposited in the fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.201; and the department may instead retain that money in the separate account in the general fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 474A.21.  The amount necessary to refund the application deposits under this section is appropriated to the department from the separate account in the general fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 474A.21.  For purposes of this section, "department" means the Department of Management and Budget.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 47.  STATE PARKING ACCOUNT.

 

Notwithstanding Laws 2013, chapter 136, section 3, subdivision 5, and Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.643, for fiscal year 2022, the state parking account is not required to make the transfer to the state bond fund mandated by Laws 2013, chapter 136, section 3, subdivision 5.  The application of this section shall not otherwise affect the schedule of amounts assessed under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.643, for the related capital project for the remaining life of the bonds.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 48.  REPEALER.

 

Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 16A.93; 16A.94; and 16A.96, are repealed."

 

Delete the title and insert:

 

"A bill for an act relating to capital investment; authorizing spending to acquire and better public land and buildings and other improvements of a capital nature with certain conditions; authorizing the issuance of state bonds; establishing and modifying state programs; modifying prior appropriations; requiring a study and report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 16A.86, subdivision 2; 16B.325, subdivision 2; 462A.37, subdivisions 1, 2, 5, by adding a subdivision; 469.53; Laws 2009, chapter 93, article 1, section 14, subdivision 3, as amended; Laws 2014, chapter 294, article 1, sections 21, subdivisions 21, 23, as amended; 22,


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subdivision 5, as amended; Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter 8, article 1, sections 7, subdivision 2; 15, subdivision 3, as amended; 20, subdivision 14; Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 1, sections 16, subdivision 2, as amended; 17, subdivision 6; 18, subdivisions 3, 4; 21, subdivision 16; 22, subdivision 6; Laws 2019, chapter 2, article 1, section 2, subdivision 5; Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, sections 7, subdivisions 3, 18; 13, subdivision 5; 16, subdivisions 5, 7, 15, 16, 36; 20, subdivision 5; 21, subdivisions 14, 20, 23, 37, 44, 47; 22, subdivisions 6, 8, 18, 19, 21, 23, 28, 30, 33; article 2, section 2, subdivisions 2, 4; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 16A; 16B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 16A.93; 16A.94; 16A.96."

 

 

With the recommendation that when so amended the bill be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

      The report was adopted.

 

 

Lee from the Committee on Capital Investment to which was referred:

 

H. F. No. 506, A bill for an act relating to capital investment; modifying prior appropriations for grants to municipalities; amending Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3, article 1, sections 20, subdivision 5; 22, subdivisions 18, 19, 23.

 

Reported the same back with the recommendation that the bill be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

      The report was adopted.

 

 

Moran from the Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred:

 

H. F. No. 707, A bill for an act relating to public safety; modifying and clarifying criminal sexual conduct provisions; creating a new crime of sexual extortion; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 609.2325; 609.341, subdivisions 3, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, by adding subdivisions; 609.342; 609.343; 609.344; 609.345; 609.3451; 609.3455; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 609; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 609.293, subdivisions 1, 5; 609.34; 609.36.

 

Reported the same back with the following amendments:

 

Page 1, after line 8, insert:

 

"Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 2.722, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

 

Subdivision 1.  Description.  Effective July 1, 1959, the state is divided into ten judicial districts composed of the following named counties, respectively, in each of which districts judges shall be chosen as hereinafter specified:

 

1.  Goodhue, Dakota, Carver, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott, and Sibley; 36 judges; and four permanent chambers shall be maintained in Red Wing, Hastings, Shakopee, and Glencoe and one other shall be maintained at the place designated by the chief judge of the district;

 

2.  Ramsey; 26 judges;

 

3.  Wabasha, Winona, Houston, Rice, Olmsted, Dodge, Steele, Waseca, Freeborn, Mower, and Fillmore; 23 judges; and permanent chambers shall be maintained in Faribault, Albert Lea, Austin, Rochester, and Winona;


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4.  Hennepin; 60 judges;

 

5.  Blue Earth, Watonwan, Lyon, Redwood, Brown, Nicollet, Lincoln, Cottonwood, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock, Faribault, Martin, and Jackson; 16 17 judges; and permanent chambers shall be maintained in Marshall, Windom, Fairmont, New Ulm, and Mankato;

 

6.  Carlton, St. Louis, Lake, and Cook; 15 judges;

 

7.  Benton, Douglas, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Clay, Becker, and Wadena; 30 judges; and permanent chambers shall be maintained in Moorhead, Fergus Falls, Little Falls, and St. Cloud;

 

8.  Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Meeker, Renville, Swift, Yellow Medicine, Big Stone, Grant, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin; 11 judges; and permanent chambers shall be maintained in Morris, Montevideo, and Willmar;

 

9.  Norman, Polk, Marshall, Kittson, Red Lake, Roseau, Mahnomen, Pennington, Aitkin, Itasca, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Beltrami, Lake of the Woods, Clearwater, Cass and Koochiching; 24 judges; and permanent chambers shall be maintained in Crookston, Thief River Falls, Bemidji, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, and International Falls; and

 

10.  Anoka, Isanti, Wright, Sherburne, Kanabec, Pine, Chisago, and Washington; 45 judges; and permanent chambers shall be maintained in Anoka, Stillwater, and other places designated by the chief judge of the district.

 

Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 243.166, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 1b.  Registration required.  (a) A person shall register under this section if:

 

(1) the person was charged with or petitioned for a felony violation of or attempt to violate, or aiding, abetting, or conspiracy to commit, any of the following, and convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for that offense or another offense arising out of the same set of circumstances:

 

(i) murder under section 609.185, paragraph (a), clause (2);

 

(ii) kidnapping under section 609.25;

 

(iii) criminal sexual conduct under section 609.342; 609.343; 609.344; 609.345; 609.3451, subdivision 3; or 609.3453;

 

(iv) indecent exposure under section 617.23, subdivision 3; or

 

(v) surreptitious intrusion under the circumstances described in section 609.746, subdivision 1, paragraph (f);

 

(2) the person was charged with or petitioned for a violation of, or attempt to violate, or aiding, abetting, or conspiring to commit any of the following and convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for that offense or another offense arising out of the same set of circumstances:

 

(i) criminal abuse in violation of section 609.2325, subdivision 1, paragraph (b);

 

(ii) false imprisonment in violation of section 609.255, subdivision 2;

 

(iii) solicitation, inducement, or promotion of the prostitution of a minor or engaging in the sex trafficking of a minor in violation of section 609.322;


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(iv) a prostitution offense in violation of section 609.324, subdivision 1, paragraph (a);

 

(v) soliciting a minor to engage in sexual conduct in violation of section 609.352, subdivision 2 or 2a, clause (1);

 

(vi) using a minor in a sexual performance in violation of section 617.246; or

 

(vii) possessing pornographic work involving a minor in violation of section 617.247;

 

(3) the person was sentenced as a patterned sex offender under section 609.3455, subdivision 3a; or

 

(4) the person was charged with or petitioned for, including pursuant to a court martial, violating a law of the United States, including the Uniform Code of Military Justice, similar to the offenses described in clause (1), (2), or (3), and convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for that offense or another offense arising out of the same set of circumstances.

 

Notwithstanding clause (1), item (iii), a person is not required to register based on conduct described in section 609.3451, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), unless the person has previously been convicted of violating section 609.342; 609.343; 609.344; 609.345; 609.3451; 609.3453; 617.23, subdivision 2, clause (2), or 3; or 617.247.

 

(b) A person also shall register under this section if:

 

(1) the person was charged with or petitioned for an offense in another state that would be a violation of a law described in paragraph (a) if committed in this state and convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for that offense or another offense arising out of the same set of circumstances;

 

(2) the person enters this state to reside, work, or attend school, or enters this state and remains for 14 days or longer or for an aggregate period of time exceeding 30 days during any calendar year; and

 

(3) ten years have not elapsed since the person was released from confinement or, if the person was not confined, since the person was convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for the offense that triggers registration, unless the person is subject to a longer registration period under the laws of another state in which the person has been convicted or adjudicated, or is subject to lifetime registration.

 

If a person described in this paragraph is subject to a longer registration period in another state or is subject to lifetime registration, the person shall register for that time period regardless of when the person was released from confinement, convicted, or adjudicated delinquent.

 

(c) A person also shall register under this section if the person was committed pursuant to a court commitment order under Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 253B.185, chapter 253D, Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 526.10, or a similar law of another state or the United States, regardless of whether the person was convicted of any offense.

 

(d) A person also shall register under this section if:

 

(1) the person was charged with or petitioned for a felony violation or attempt to violate any of the offenses listed in paragraph (a), clause (1), or a similar law of another state or the United States, or the person was charged with or petitioned for a violation of any of the offenses listed in paragraph (a), clause (2), or a similar law of another state or the United States;

 

(2) the person was found not guilty by reason of mental illness or mental deficiency after a trial for that offense, or found guilty but mentally ill after a trial for that offense, in states with a guilty but mentally ill verdict; and


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5484

(3) the person was committed pursuant to a court commitment order under section 253B.18 or a similar law of another state or the United States."

 

Page 3, line 15, delete "an intoxicating" and insert "any" and after "substance" insert "or substances"

 

Page 8, line 19, strike "either" and insert "any"

 

Page 9, line 22, delete "either" and insert "any"

 

Page 12, line 4, strike "either" and insert "any"

 

Page 12, line 30, delete "another person" and insert "anyone under 18 years of age"

 

Page 13, line 6, delete "either" and insert "any"

 

Page 13, lines 14 and 15, before "an" insert "the actor or"

 

Page 15, line 22, delete "another person" and insert "anyone under 18 years of age"

 

Page 16, line 13, reinstate "force or"

 

Page 19, line 13, delete "another person" and insert "anyone under 18 years of age"

 

Page 20, line 8, reinstate "force or"

 

Page 30, after line 14, insert:

 

"Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 609.347, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

 

Subd. 8.  Voluntary intoxication defense for certain mentally incapacitated cases; clarification of applicability.  (a) The "knows or has reason to know" mental state requirement for violations of sections 609.342 to 609.345 involving a complainant who is mentally incapacitated, as defined in section 609.341, subdivision 7, clause (2), is a specific intent crime for purposes of determining the applicability of the voluntary intoxication defense described in section 609.075.  This defense may be raised by a defendant if the defense is otherwise applicable under section 609.075 and related case law.

 

(b) Nothing in paragraph (a) may be interpreted to change the application of the defense to other crimes.

 

(c) Nothing in paragraph (a) is intended to change the scope or limitations of the defense or case law interpreting it beyond clarifying that the defense is available to a defendant described in paragraph (a).

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  The section is effective August 1, 2021, and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.

 

Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 624.712, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5.  Crime of violence.  "Crime of violence" means:  felony convictions of the following offenses:  sections 609.185 (murder in the first degree); 609.19 (murder in the second degree); 609.195 (murder in the third degree); 609.20 (manslaughter in the first degree); 609.205 (manslaughter in the second degree); 609.215 (aiding suicide and aiding attempted suicide); 609.221 (assault in the first degree); 609.222 (assault in the second degree); 609.223 (assault in the third degree); 609.2231 (assault in the fourth degree); 609.224 (assault in the fifth degree); 609.2242 (domestic assault); 609.2247 (domestic assault by strangulation); 609.229 (crimes committed for the


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5485

benefit of a gang); 609.235 (use of drugs to injure or facilitate crime); 609.24 (simple robbery); 609.245 (aggravated robbery); 609.25 (kidnapping); 609.255 (false imprisonment); 609.322 (solicitation, inducement, and promotion of prostitution; sex trafficking); 609.342 (criminal sexual conduct in the first degree); 609.343 (criminal sexual conduct in the second degree); 609.344 (criminal sexual conduct in the third degree); 609.345 (criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree); 609.3458 (sexual extortion); 609.377 (malicious punishment of a child); 609.378 (neglect or endangerment of a child); 609.486 (commission of crime while wearing or possessing a bullet-resistant vest); 609.52 (involving theft of a firearm and theft involving the theft of a controlled substance, an explosive, or an incendiary device); 609.561 (arson in the first degree); 609.562 (arson in the second degree); 609.582, subdivision 1 or 2 (burglary in the first and second degrees); 609.66, subdivision 1e (drive-by shooting); 609.67 (unlawfully owning, possessing, operating a machine gun or short-barreled shotgun); 609.71 (riot); 609.713 (terroristic threats); 609.749 (harassment); 609.855, subdivision 5 (shooting at a public transit vehicle or facility); and chapter 152 (drugs, controlled substances); and an attempt to commit any of these offenses."

 

Page 31, delete sections 20 and 21 and insert:

 

"Sec. 22.  REVISOR INSTRUCTION.

 

(a) The revisor of statutes shall make necessary cross-reference changes and remove statutory cross-references in Minnesota Statutes to conform with this act.  The revisor may make technical and other necessary changes to language and sentence structure to preserve the meaning of the text.

 

(b) In Minnesota Statutes, the revisor of statutes shall modify the headnote to Minnesota Statutes, section 609.347, to reflect the amendment to that section contained in this act."

 

Renumber the sections in sequence

 

Correct the title numbers accordingly

 

 

With the recommendation that when so amended the bill be placed on the General Register.

 

      The report was adopted.

 

 

SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLS

 

 

      H. F. No. 707 was read for the second time.

 

 

INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF HOUSE BILLS

 

 

      The following House Files were introduced:

 

 

Hassan; Xiong, J.; Gomez; Lee; Vang; Frazier; Her; Hollins and Becker-Finn introduced:

 

H. F. No. 2543, A bill for an act relating to public safety; prohibiting the use of certain traffic stop-related information as criteria for peace officer job performance; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 169.985; 299D.08.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy.


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Robbins, Haley, Koznick, Nash and Scott introduced:

 

H. F. No. 2544, A bill for an act relating to unemployment; replenishing the unemployment insurance trust fund; appropriating money.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy.

 

 

Lee; Xiong, J.; Gomez; Hassan; Richardson; Frazier; Becker-Finn and Vang introduced:

 

H. F. No. 2545, A bill for an act relating to state government; appropriating money to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for translation services.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on State Government Finance and Elections.

 

 

Xiong, J.; Gomez; Hassan; Lee; Noor; Frazier; Hollins; Agbaje; Koegel; Jordan; Davnie; Greenman; Boldon; Keeler; Berg; Reyer and Freiberg introduced:

 

H. F. No. 2546, A bill for an act relating to public safety; prohibiting law enforcement from using tear gas, chemical weapons, and kinetic energy munitions; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 624.731, subdivisions 4, 6; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 626.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy.

 

 

REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON RULES

AND LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATION

 

      Winkler from the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration, pursuant to rules 1.21 and 3.33, designated the following bills to be placed on the Calendar for the Day for Wednesday, April 21, 2021 and established a prefiling requirement for amendments offered to the following bills:

 

      S. F. Nos. 970 and 958.

 

 

CALENDAR FOR THE DAY

 

 

      S. F. No. 975 was reported to the House.

 

 

      Bernardy moved to amend S. F. No. 975, the third engrossment, as follows:

 

      Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert the following language of H. F. No. 993, the second engrossment:


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5487

"ARTICLE 1

APPROPRIATIONS

 

Section 1.  APPROPRIATIONS. 

 

The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article.  The appropriations are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose.  The figures "2022" and "2023" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023, respectively.  "The first year" is fiscal year 2022.  "The second year" is fiscal year 2023.  "The biennium" is fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

 

 

 

 

APPROPRIATIONS

 

 

 

Available for the Year

 

 

 

Ending June 30

 

 

 

2022

2023

 

Sec. 2.  MINNESOTA OFFICE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

$275,338,000

 

$275,198,000

 

The amounts that may be spent for each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.

 

Subd. 2.  State Grants

 

210,587,000

 

210,587,000

 

If the appropriation in this subdivision for either year is insufficient, the appropriation for the other year is available for it.

 

Subd. 3.  Child Care Grants

 

6,694,000

 

6,694,000

 

Subd. 4.  State Work-Study

 

14,502,000

 

14,502,000

 

Subd. 5.  Interstate Tuition Reciprocity

 

8,500,000

 

8,500,000

 

If the appropriation in this subdivision for either year is insufficient, the appropriation for the other year is available to meet reciprocity contract obligations.

 

Subd. 6.  Safety Officer's Survivors

 

100,000

 

100,000

 

This appropriation is to provide educational benefits under Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.45, to eligible dependent children and to the spouses of public safety officers killed in the line of duty.

 

If the appropriation in this subdivision for either year is insufficient, the appropriation for the other year is available for it.


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Subd. 7.  American Indian Scholarships

 

3,500,000

 

3,500,000

 

The commissioner must contract with or employ at least one person with demonstrated competence in American Indian culture and residing in or near the city of Bemidji to assist students with the scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.126, and with other information about financial aid for which the students may be eligible.  Bemidji State University must provide office space at no cost to the Office of Higher Education for purposes of administering the American Indian scholarship program under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.126.  This appropriation includes funding to administer the American Indian scholarship program.

 

Subd. 8.  Tribal College Grants

 

150,000

 

150,000

 

For tribal college assistance grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1796.

 

Subd. 9.  Intervention for College Attendance Program Grants

 

1,500,000

 

 

1,500,000

 

For the intervention for college attendance program under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.861.

 

The commissioner may use no more than three percent of this appropriation to administer the intervention for college attendance program grants.

 

Subd. 10.  Student-Parent Information

 

122,000

 

122,000

 

Subd. 11.  Get Ready! 

 

180,000

 

180,000

 

Subd. 12.  Minnesota Education Equity Partnership

 

45,000

 

45,000

 

Subd. 13.  Midwest Higher Education Compact

 

115,000

 

115,000

 

Subd. 14.  United Family Medicine Residency Program

 

501,000

 

501,000

 

For a grant to United Family Medicine residency program.  This appropriation shall be used to support up to 21 resident physicians each year in family practice at United Family Medicine residency programs and shall prepare doctors to practice family care medicine in underserved rural and urban areas of the state.  It is intended that this program will improve health care in underserved communities, provide affordable access to appropriate medical care, and manage the treatment of patients in a cost-effective manner.

 

Subd. 15.  MnLINK Gateway and Minitex

 

5,905,000

 

5,905,000

 

Subd. 16.  Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System

1,782,000

 

1,782,000


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5489

Subd. 17.  Hennepin Healthcare

 

645,000

 

645,000

 

For transfer to Hennepin Healthcare for graduate family medical education programs at Hennepin Healthcare.

 

Subd. 18.  College Possible

 

500,000

 

500,000

 

(a) This appropriation is for immediate transfer to College Possible to support programs of college admission and college graduation for low-income students through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support at both the high school and postsecondary level.

 

(b) This appropriation must, to the extent possible, be proportionately allocated between students from greater Minnesota and students in the seven-county metropolitan area.

 

(c) This appropriation must be used by College Possible only for programs supporting students who are residents of Minnesota and attending colleges or universities within Minnesota.

 

(d) By February 1 of each year, College Possible must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over higher education and E-12 education on activities funded by this appropriation.  The report must include, but is not limited to, information about the expansion of College Possible in Minnesota, the number of College Possible coaches hired, the expansion within existing partner high schools, the expansion of high school partnerships, the number of high school and college students served, the total hours of community service by high school and college students, and a list of communities and organizations benefiting from student service hours.

 

Subd. 19.  Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program

 

3,000,000

 

 

3,000,000

 

For transfer to the spinal cord and traumatic brain injury grant account in the special revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.901, subdivision 1.

 

The commissioner may use no more than three percent of the amount transferred under this subdivision to administer the grant program.

 

Subd. 20.  Summer Academic Enrichment Program

 

750,000

 

750,000

 

For summer academic enrichment grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.091.

 

The commissioner may use no more than three percent of this appropriation to administer the grant program under this subdivision.


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Subd. 21.  Dual Training Competency Grants; Office of Higher Education

 

2,000,000

 

 

2,000,000

 

For transfer to the Dual Training Competency Grants account in the special revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.246, subdivision 10.

 

Subd. 22.  Campus Sexual Assault Reporting

 

25,000

 

25,000

 

For the sexual assault reporting required under Minnesota Statutes, section 135A.15.

 

Subd. 23.  Campus Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator

 

150,000

 

 

150,000

 

For the Office of Higher Education to staff a campus sexual violence prevention and response coordinator to serve as a statewide resource providing professional development and guidance on best practices for postsecondary institutions.  $50,000 each year is for administrative funding to conduct trainings and provide materials to postsecondary institutions.

 

Subd. 24.  Emergency Assistance for Postsecondary Students

825,000

 

825,000

 

(a) This appropriation is for the Office of Higher Education to allocate grant funds on a matching basis to eligible institutions as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.103, located in Minnesota with a demonstrable homeless student population.

 

(b) This appropriation shall be used to meet immediate student needs that could result in a student not completing the term or their program including, but not limited to, emergency housing, food, and transportation.  Institutions shall minimize any negative impact on student financial aid resulting from the receipt of emergency funds.

 

(c) The commissioner shall determine the application process and the grant amounts.  The Office of Higher Education shall partner with interested postsecondary institutions, other state agencies, and student groups to establish the programs.

 

Subd. 25.  Grants to Teacher Candidates in Shortage Areas

500,000

 

500,000

 

For grants to teacher candidates in shortage areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1275.

 

The commissioner may use no more than three percent of the appropriation for administration of the program.

 

Subd. 26.  Grants to Underrepresented Teacher Candidates

2,293,000

 

2,628,000

 

For grants to underrepresented teacher candidates under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1274.


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The commissioner may use no more than three percent of the appropriation for administration of the program.

 

Subd. 27.  Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness

 

200,000

 

200,000

 

For transfer to the teacher shortage loan forgiveness repayment account in the special revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1791, subdivision 8.

 

The commissioner may use no more than three percent of the amount transferred under this subdivision to administer the program.

 

Subd. 28.  Large Animal Veterinarian Loan Forgiveness Program

 

375,000

 

 

375,000

 

For transfer to the large animal veterinarian loan forgiveness program account in the special revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1795, subdivision 2.

 

Subd. 29.  Agricultural Educators Loan Forgiveness

 

50,000

 

50,000

 

For transfer to the agricultural education loan forgiveness account in the special revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1794, subdivision 2.

 

Subd. 30.  Aviation Degree Loan Forgiveness Program

25,000

 

25,000

 

For transfer to the aviation degree loan forgiveness program account in the special revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1789, subdivision 2.

 

Subd. 31.  Grants for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

 

200,000

 

 

200,000

 

For grants for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1215.

 

Subd. 32.  Loan Repayment Assistance Program

 

25,000

 

25,000

 

For a grant to the Loan Repayment Assistance Program of Minnesota to provide education debt relief to attorneys with full‑time employment providing legal advice or representation to low-income clients or support services for this work.

 

Subd. 33.  Minnesota Independence College and Community

 

1,000,000

 

 

1,000,000

 

For a grant to Minnesota Independence College and Community for need-based scholarships and tuition reduction.  Beginning with students first enrolled in the fall of 2019, eligibility is limited to resident students as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.101, subdivision 8.


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Subd. 34.  Student Loan Debt Counseling

 

200,000

 

200,000

 

For student loan debt counseling under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1788.

 

The Office of Higher Education may use no more than three percent of the appropriation to administer the student loan debt counseling program.

 

Subd. 35.  Hunger-Free Campus Grants

 

275,000

 

223,000

 

(a) For grants to Minnesota postsecondary institutions to meet and maintain the criteria in Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.245, to address food insecurity on campus.

 

(b) Awards must be based on head count for the most recently completed academic year.

 

(c) Institutions must provide matching funds to receive the hunger‑free campus grant.

 

(d) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education, in collaboration with the statewide student associations designated in Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.245, subdivision 2, shall create an application process and selection criteria for awarding the grants.

 

Subd. 36.  Concurrent Enrollment Grants

 

340,000

 

340,000

 

For concurrent enrollment grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.91.

 

Subd. 37.  Addiction Medicine Graduate Medical Education Fellowship

 

275,000

 

 

275,000

 

(a) This appropriation is for transfer to the Hennepin County Medical Center to support up to four physicians enrolled in an addiction medicine fellowship program.  This is a onetime appropriation.

 

(b) This appropriation shall be used:

 

(1) to train fellows in:  (i) diagnostic interviewing; (ii) motivational interviewing; (iii) addiction counseling; (iv) recognition and care of common acute withdrawal syndromes and complications; (v) pharmacotherapies of addictive disorders; (vi) epidemiology and pathophysiology of addiction; (vii) identification and treatment of addictive disorders in special populations; (viii) secondary interventions; (ix) the use of screening and diagnostic instruments; (x) inpatient care; and (xi) working within a multidisciplinary team; and


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5493

(2) to prepare fellows to practice addiction medicine in rural and underserved areas of the state.

 

Subd. 38.  Aspiring Teachers of Color Scholarships

 

2,000,000

 

2,500,000

 

(a) This appropriation is for the aspiring teachers of color scholarship program under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1273.

 

(b) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education may use no more than three percent of the appropriation to administer the aspiring teachers of color scholarship program.

 

(c) This is a onetime appropriation.  The base for this appropriation is $0 in fiscal year 2024 and later.

 

Subd. 39.  Direct Admissions

 

925,000

 

75,000

 

For the direct admissions pilot program in article 2, section 39.

 

Subd. 40.  Agency Administration

 

4,577,000

 

4,504,000

 

Subd. 41.  Balances Forward

 

 

 

 

 

A balance in the first year under this section does not cancel, but is available for the second year.

 

Subd. 42.  Transfers

 

 

 

 

 

The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education may transfer unencumbered balances from the appropriations in this section to the state grant appropriation, the interstate tuition reciprocity appropriation, the child care grant appropriation, the Indian scholarship appropriation, the state work-study appropriation, the get ready appropriation, the intervention for college attendance appropriation, the student-parent information appropriation, the summer academic enrichment program appropriation, and the public safety officers' survivors appropriation.  Transfers from the hunger-free campus appropriation may only be made to the emergency assistance for postsecondary students appropriation.  Transfers from the child care or state work-study appropriations may only be made to the extent there is a projected surplus in the appropriation.  A transfer may be made only with prior written notice to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance.

 

Sec. 3.  BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

$786,284,000

 

$807,384,000

 

The amounts that may be spent for each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.


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Subd. 2.  Central Office and Shared Services Unit

 

33,074,000

 

33,074,000

 

For the Office of the Chancellor and the Shared Services Division.

 

Subd. 3.  Operations and Maintenance

 

749,095,000

 

770,195,000

 

(a) For the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years, the tuition rates for undergraduates at colleges and universities must not exceed the 2020-2021 academic year rates.

 

(b) $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 are to provide supplemental aid for operations and maintenance to the president of each two-year institution in the system with at least one campus that is not located in a metropolitan county, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 4.  The board shall transfer $100,000 for each campus not located in a metropolitan county in each year to the president of each institution that includes such a campus, provided that no institution may receive more than $300,000 in total supplemental aid each year.

 

(c) The Board of Trustees is requested to help Minnesota close the attainment gap by funding activities which improve retention and completion for students of color.

 

(d) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 are for workforce development scholarships under Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.38.

 

(e) $300,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $300,000 in fiscal year 2023 are for transfer to the Cook County Higher Education Board to provide educational programming, workforce development, and academic support services to remote regions in northeastern Minnesota.  The Cook County Higher Education Board shall continue to provide information to the Board of Trustees on the number of students served, credit hours delivered, and services provided to students.

 

(f) This appropriation includes $40,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $40,000 in fiscal year 2023 to implement the sexual assault policies required under Minnesota Statutes, section 135A.15.

 

(g) This appropriation includes $8,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $8,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 for upgrading the Integrated Statewide Record System.

 

(h) This appropriation includes $1,250,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $1,250,000 in fiscal year 2023 to support students in meeting critical needs, including providing online mental health resources and an online information hub to connect students with state and local resources that address basic needs, including housing and food insecurity.


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(i) This appropriation includes $500,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2023 to implement the Z-Degree program under Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.305.  This is a onetime appropriation.

 

(j) This appropriation includes $400,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $0 in fiscal year 2023 for the career and technical educator pilot project under article 2, section 40.  Of this amount, $250,000 is for transfer to Winona State University and $150,000 is for transfer to Minnesota State College Southeast for the purposes listed in article 2, section 40.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered balances under this section do not cancel until July 1, 2025.

 

(k) $100,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $100,000 in fiscal year 2023 are for the mental health services for students required under Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.20, subdivision 3.

 

(l) The total operations and maintenance base for fiscal year 2024 and later is $769,695,000.

 

Subd. 4.  Learning Network of Minnesota

 

4,115,000

 

4,115,000

 

Sec. 4.  BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

$688,313,000

 

$700,563,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2022

 

2023

General

686,156,000

698,406,000

Health Care Access

2,157,000

2,157,000

 

The amounts that may be spent for each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.

 

Subd. 2.  Operations and Maintenance

 

616,718,000

 

628,968,000

 

(a) $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 are to:  (1) increase the medical school's research capacity; (2) improve the medical school's ranking in National Institutes of Health funding; (3) ensure the medical school's national prominence by attracting and retaining world-class faculty, staff, and students; (4) invest in physician training programs in rural and underserved communities; and (5) translate the medical school's research discoveries into new treatments and cures to improve the health of Minnesotans.


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(b) $7,800,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $7,800,000 in fiscal year 2023 are for health training restoration.  This appropriation must be used to support all of the following:  (1) faculty physicians who teach at eight residency program sites, including medical resident and student training programs in the Department of Family Medicine; (2) the Mobile Dental Clinic; and (3) expansion of geriatric education and family programs.

 

(c) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 are for the Minnesota Discovery, Research, and InnoVation Economy funding program for cancer care research.

 

(d) $500,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2023 are for the University of Minnesota, Morris branch, to cover the costs of tuition waivers under Minnesota Statutes, section 137.16.

 

(e) $150,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $150,000 in fiscal year 2023 are for the advisory council on rare diseases under Minnesota Statutes, section 137.68.  The base for this appropriation is $0 in fiscal year 2024 and later.

 

(f) The total operations and maintenance base for fiscal year 2024 and later is $628,818,000.

 

Subd. 3.  Primary Care Education Initiatives

 

2,157,000

 

2,157,000

 

This appropriation is from the health care access fund.

 

Subd. 4.  Special Appropriations

 

 

 

 

 

(a) Agriculture and Extension Service

 

42,922,000

 

42,922,000

 

For the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Minnesota Extension Service:

 

(1) the agricultural experiment stations and Minnesota Extension Service must convene agricultural advisory groups to focus research, education, and extension activities on producer needs and implement an outreach strategy that more effectively and rapidly transfers research results and best practices to producers throughout the state;

 

(2) this appropriation includes funding for research and outreach on the production of renewable energy from Minnesota biomass resources, including agronomic crops, plant and animal wastes, and native plants or trees.  The following areas should be prioritized and carried out in consultation with Minnesota producers, renewable energy, and bioenergy organizations:

 

(i) biofuel and other energy production from perennial crops, small grains, row crops, and forestry products in conjunction with the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI);


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(ii) alternative bioenergy crops and cropping systems; and

 

(iii) biofuel coproducts used for livestock feed;

 

(3) this appropriation includes funding for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resources Sciences to establish and provide leadership for organic agronomic, horticultural, livestock, and food systems research, education, and outreach and for the purchase of state-of-the-art laboratory, planting, tilling, harvesting, and processing equipment necessary for this project;

 

(4) this appropriation includes funding for research efforts that demonstrate a renewed emphasis on the needs of the state's agriculture community.  The following areas should be prioritized and carried out in consultation with Minnesota farm organizations:

 

(i) vegetable crop research with priority for extending the Minnesota vegetable growing season;

 

(ii) fertilizer and soil fertility research and development;

 

(iii) soil, groundwater, and surface water conservation practices and contaminant reduction research;

 

(iv) discovering and developing plant varieties that use nutrients more efficiently;

 

(v) breeding and development of turf seed and other biomass resources in all three Minnesota biomes;

 

(vi) development of new disease-resistant and pest-resistant varieties of turf and agronomic crops;

 

(vii) utilizing plant and livestock cells to treat and cure human diseases;

 

(viii) the development of dairy coproducts;

 

(ix) a rapid agricultural response fund for current or emerging animal, plant, and insect problems affecting production or food safety;

 

(x) crop pest and animal disease research;

 

(xi) developing animal agriculture that is capable of sustainably feeding the world;

 

(xii) consumer food safety education and outreach;

 

(xiii) programs to meet the research and outreach needs of organic livestock and crop farmers; and


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(xiv) alternative bioenergy crops and cropping systems; and growing, harvesting, and transporting biomass plant material; and

 

(5) by February 1, 2023, the Board of Regents must submit a report to the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over agriculture and higher education finance on the status and outcomes of research and initiatives funded in this paragraph.

 

(b) Health Sciences

 

9,204,000

 

9,204,000

 

$346,000 each year is to support up to 12 resident physicians in the St. Cloud Hospital family practice residency program.  The program must prepare doctors to practice primary care medicine in rural areas of the state.  The legislature intends this program to improve health care in rural communities, provide affordable access to appropriate medical care, and manage the treatment of patients in a more cost-effective manner.  The remainder of this appropriation is for the rural physicians associates program; the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory; health sciences research; dental care; the Biomedical Engineering Center; and the collaborative partnership between the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic for regenerative medicine, research, clinical translation, and commercialization.

 

(c) College of Science and Engineering

 

1,140,000

 

1,140,000

 

For the geological survey and the talented youth mathematics program.

 

(d) System Special

 

8,181,000

 

8,181,000

 

For general research, the Labor Education Service, Natural Resources Research Institute, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, Bell Museum of Natural History, and the Humphrey exhibit.

 

$3,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 are for the Natural Resources Research Institute to invest in applied research for economic development.

 

The base for this appropriation is $7,181,000 in fiscal year 2024 and later and, of this amount, $2,000,000 per fiscal year is for the Natural Resources Research Institute to invest in applied research for economic development.

 

(e) University of Minnesota and Mayo Foundation Partnership

7,991,000

 

7,991,000

 

This appropriation is for the following activities:


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(1) $7,491,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $7,491,000 in fiscal year 2023 are for the direct and indirect expenses of the collaborative research partnership between the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Foundation for research in biotechnology and medical genomics.  An annual report on the expenditure of these funds must be submitted to the governor and the chairs of the legislative committees responsible for higher education finance by June 30 of each fiscal year.

 

(2) $500,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2023 are to award competitive grants to conduct research into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

 

Subd. 5.  Academic Health Center

 

 

 

 

 

The appropriation for Academic Health Center funding under Minnesota Statutes, section 297F.10, is estimated to be $22,250,000 each year.

 

Sec. 5.  MAYO CLINIC

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

$1,351,000

 

$1,351,000

 

The amounts that may be spent are specified in the following subdivisions.

 

Subd. 2.  Medical School

 

665,000

 

665,000

 

The state must pay a capitation each year for each student who is a resident of Minnesota.  The appropriation may be transferred between each year of the biennium to accommodate enrollment fluctuations.  It is intended that during the biennium the Mayo Clinic use the capitation money to increase the number of doctors practicing in rural areas in need of doctors.

 

Subd. 3.  Family Practice and Graduate Residency Program

686,000

 

686,000

 

The state must pay stipend support for up to 27 residents each year.

 

Sec. 6.  CANCELLATIONS; FISCAL YEAR 2021.

 

(a) $340,000 of the fiscal year 2021 general fund appropriation under Laws 2019, chapter 64, article 1, section 2, subdivisions 11, 25, and 26, is canceled.

 

(b) $5,000,000 of the fiscal year 2021 general fund appropriation under Laws 2019, chapter 64, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, is canceled.

 

(c) This section is effective the day following final enactment.


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ARTICLE 2

HIGHER EDUCATION PROVISIONS

 

Section 1.  [135A.144] TRANSCRIPT ACCESS.

 

Subdivision 1.  Definitions.  (a) The terms defined in this subdivision apply to this section.

 

(b) "Debt" means any money, obligation, claim, or sum, due or owed, or alleged to be due or owed, from a student that appears on the student account.  Debt does not include the fee, if any, charged to all students for the actual costs of providing the transcripts.

 

(c) "School" means any public institution governed by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, private postsecondary educational institution as defined under section 136A.62 or 136A.821, or public or private entity responsible for providing transcripts to current or former students of an educational institution.  Institutions governed by the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota are requested to comply with this section.

 

(d) "Transcript" means the statement of an individual's academic record, including official transcripts or the certified statement of an individual's academic record provided by a school, and unofficial transcripts or the uncertified statement of an individual's academic record provided by a school.

 

Subd. 2.  Prohibited practices.  A school must not:

 

(1) refuse to provide a transcript for a current or former student because the student owes a debt to the school if:

 

(i) the debt owed is less than $500;

 

(ii) the student has entered into and, as determined by the institution, is in compliance with a payment plan with the school;

 

(iii) the transcript request is made by a prospective employer for the student; or

 

(iv) the school has sent the debt for repayment to the Department of Revenue or to a collection agency, as defined in section 332.31, subdivision 3, external to the institution; or

 

(2) charge an additional or a higher fee for obtaining a transcript or provide less favorable treatment of a transcript request because a student owes a debt to the originating school.

 

Subd. 3.  Institutional policy.  (a) Institutions that use transcript issuance as a tool for debt collection must have a policy accessible to students that outlines how the institution collects on debts owed to the institution.

 

(b) Institutions shall seek to use transcript issuance as a tool for debt collection for the fewest number of cases possible.

 

Sec. 2.  [136A.057] STUDENT TRANSFER REPORTING.

 

(a) The commissioner must report on the office's website summary data on students who, within the most recent academic year, withdrew from enrollment without completing a degree or credential program at a public postsecondary institution in Minnesota.  The summary data must include whether the students who withdrew transferred to another institution and the institutions transferred to and from.


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(b) Summary data must be aggregated by postsecondary institution and degree or credential program.  Summary data must be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, Pell eligibility, and age.

 

(c) The commissioner must post the initial data on the office's website on or before February 15, 2022, and must update the data at least annually thereafter.

 

Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.101, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5a.  Assigned family responsibility.  "Assigned family responsibility" means the amount of a family's contribution to a student's cost of attendance, as determined by a federal need analysis.  For dependent students, the assigned family responsibility is 82 percent of the parental contribution.  For independent students with dependents other than a spouse, the assigned family responsibility is 74 73 percent of the student contribution.  For independent students without dependents other than a spouse, the assigned family responsibility is 38 37 percent of the student contribution.

 

Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.121, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Eligibility for grants.  (a) An applicant is eligible to be considered for a grant, regardless of the applicant's sex, creed, race, color, national origin, or ancestry, under sections 136A.095 to 136A.131 if the office finds that the applicant:

 

(1) is a resident of the state of Minnesota;

 

(2) is a graduate of a secondary school or its equivalent, or is 17 years of age or over, and has met all requirements for admission as a student to an eligible college or technical college of choice as defined in sections 136A.095 to 136A.131;

 

(3) has met the financial need criteria established in Minnesota Rules;

 

(4) is not in default, as defined by the office, of any federal or state student educational loan; and

 

(5) is not more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or enforced by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement or, if the applicant is more than 30 days in arrears in court‑ordered child support that is collected or enforced by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement, but is complying with a written payment agreement under section 518A.69 or order for arrearages.

 

(b) A student who is entitled to an additional semester or the equivalent of grant eligibility if the student withdraws from enrollment:

 

(1) for active military service after December 31, 2002, because the student was ordered to active military service as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5b or 5c, or who withdraws from enrollment;

 

(2) for a major illness serious health condition, while under the care of a medical professional, that substantially limits the student's ability to complete the term is entitled to an additional semester or the equivalent of grant eligibility.; or

 

(3) while providing care that substantially limits the student's ability to complete the term to the student's spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.


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Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.121, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 6.  Cost of attendance.  (a) The recognized cost of attendance consists of:  (1) an allowance specified in law for living and miscellaneous expenses, and (2) an allowance for tuition and fees equal to the lesser of the average tuition and fees charged by the institution, or a tuition and fee maximum if one is established in law.  If no living and miscellaneous expense allowance is established in law, the allowance is equal to 106 113 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for a one person household in Minnesota for nine months.  If no tuition and fee maximum is established in law, the allowance for tuition and fees is equal to the lesser of:  (1) the average tuition and fees charged by the institution, and (2) for two-year programs, an amount equal to the highest tuition and fees charged at a public two-year institution, or for four-year programs, an amount equal to the highest tuition and fees charged at a public university.

 

(b) For a student registering for less than full time, the office shall prorate the cost of attendance to the actual number of credits for which the student is enrolled.

 

(c) The recognized cost of attendance for a student who is confined to a Minnesota correctional institution shall consist of the tuition and fee component in paragraph (a), with no allowance for living and miscellaneous expenses.

 

(d) For the purpose of this subdivision, "fees" include only those fees that are mandatory and charged to full‑time resident students attending the institution.  Fees do not include charges for tools, equipment, computers, or other similar materials where the student retains ownership.  Fees include charges for these materials if the institution retains ownership.  Fees do not include optional or punitive fees.

 

Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.121, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 9.  Awards.  An undergraduate student who meets the office's requirements is eligible to apply for and receive a grant in any year of undergraduate study unless the student has obtained a baccalaureate degree or previously has been enrolled full time or the equivalent for eight semesters or the equivalent, excluding (1) courses taken from a Minnesota school or postsecondary institution which is not participating in the state grant program and from which a student transferred no credit, and (2) courses taken that qualify as developmental education or below college-level.  A student enrolled in a two-year program at a four-year institution is only eligible for the tuition and fee maximums established by law for two-year institutions.

 

Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.125, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Eligible students.  (a) An applicant is eligible for a child care grant if the applicant:

 

(1) is a resident of the state of Minnesota or the applicant's spouse is a resident of the state of Minnesota;

 

(2) has a child 12 years of age or younger, or 14 years of age or younger who is disabled as defined in section 125A.02, and who is receiving or will receive care on a regular basis from a licensed or legal, nonlicensed caregiver;

 

(3) is income eligible as determined by the office's policies and rules, but is not a recipient of assistance from the Minnesota family investment program;

 

(4) either has not earned a baccalaureate degree and has been enrolled full time less than received child care grant funds for a period of ten semesters or the equivalent, or has earned a baccalaureate degree and has been enrolled full time less than ten semesters or the equivalent in a graduate or professional degree program;

 

(5) is pursuing a nonsectarian program or course of study that applies to an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree, diploma, or certificate;


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(6) is enrolled in at least six credits one credit in an undergraduate program or one credit in a graduate or professional program in an eligible institution; and

 

(7) is in good academic standing and making satisfactory academic progress.

 

(b) A student who is entitled to an additional semester or equivalent of grant eligibility and will be considered to be in continuing enrollment status upon return if the student withdraws from enrollment:

 

(1) for active military service after December 31, 2002, because the student was ordered to active military service as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5b or 5c, or;

 

(2) for a major illness serious health condition, while under the care of a medical professional, that substantially limits the student's ability to complete the term is entitled to an additional semester or the equivalent of grant eligibility and will be considered to be in continuing enrollment status upon return.; or

 

(3) while providing care that substantially limits the student's ability to complete the term to the student's spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.

 

Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.125, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 4.  Amount and length of grants.  (a) The amount of a child care grant must be based on:

 

(1) the income of the applicant and the applicant's spouse;

 

(2) the number in the applicant's family, as defined by the office; and

 

(3) the number of eligible children in the applicant's family.

 

(b) (a) The maximum award to the applicant shall be $3,000 equals the maximum federal Pell Grant for each eligible child per academic year, except that the campus financial aid officer may apply to the office for approval to increase grants by up to ten percent to compensate for higher market charges for infant care in a community.  The office shall develop policies to determine community market costs and review institutional requests for compensatory grant increases to ensure need and equal treatment.  The office shall prepare a chart to show the amount of a grant that will be awarded per child based on the factors in this subdivision.  The chart shall include a range of income and family size.

 

(c) (b) Applicants with family incomes expected family contributions at or below a percentage of the federal poverty level the qualifying expected family contribution for the federal Pell Grant, as determined by the commissioner, will qualify for the maximum award.  The commissioner shall attempt to set the percentage at a level estimated to fully expend the available appropriation for child care grants.  Applicants with family incomes expected family contributions exceeding that threshold will but less than 200 percent of the qualifying expected family contribution receive the maximum award minus ten percent of their income exceeding that threshold an amount proportional to their expected family contribution as determined by the commissioner.  If the result is less than zero, the grant is zero.

 

(d) (c) The academic year award amount must be disbursed by academic term using the following formula:

 

(1) the academic year amount described in paragraph (b) (a);

 

(2) divided by the number of terms in the academic year; and


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(3) divided by 15 for undergraduate students and six for graduate and professional students; and

 

(4) (3) multiplied by the number of credits for which the student is enrolled that academic term, up to 15 credits for undergraduate students and six for graduate and professional students. applicable enrollment factor:

 

(i) 1.00 for undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more semester credits or the equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in six or more semester credits or the equivalent;

 

(ii) 0.75 for undergraduate students enrolled in nine, ten, or 11 semester credits or the equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in five semester credits or the equivalent;

 

(iii) 0.50 for undergraduate students enrolled in six, seven, or eight semester credits or the equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in three or four semester credits or the equivalent; and

 

(iv) 0.25 for undergraduate students enrolled in at least one but less than six semester credits or the equivalent or for graduate students enrolled in one or two semester credits or the equivalent.

 

(e) (d) Payments shall be made each academic term to the student or to the child care provider, as determined by the institution.  Institutions may make payments more than once within the academic term.

 

Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.126, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

 

Subdivision 1.  Student eligibility.  The commissioner shall establish procedures for the distribution of scholarships to a Minnesota resident student as defined under section 136A.101, subdivision 8, who:

 

(1) is of one-fourth or more Indian ancestry or is an enrolled member or citizen of a federally recognized American Indian or Canadian First Nations tribe;

 

(2) has applied for other existing state and federal scholarship and grant programs;

 

(3) is meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined under section 136A.101, subdivision 10;

 

(4) is not in default, as defined by the office, of a federal or state student educational loan;

 

(5) if enrolled in an undergraduate program, is eligible or would be eligible to receive a federal Pell Grant or a state grant based on the federal needs analysis and is enrolled for nine semester credits per term or more, or the equivalent; and

 

(6) if enrolled in a graduate program, demonstrates a remaining financial need in the award amount calculation and is enrolled, per term, on a half-time basis or more as defined by the postsecondary institution.

 

Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.126, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 4.  Award amount.  (a) Each student shall be awarded a scholarship based on the federal need analysis.  Applicants are encouraged to apply for all other sources of financial aid.  The amount of the award must not exceed the applicant's cost of attendance, as defined in subdivision 3, after deducting:

 

(1) the expected family contribution as calculated by the federal need analysis;

 

(2) the amount of a federal Pell Grant award for which the applicant is eligible;

 

(3) the amount of the state grant;


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(4) the federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant;

 

(5) the sum of all institutional grants, scholarships, tuition waivers, and tuition remission amounts;

 

(6) the sum of all tribal scholarships;

 

(7) the amount of any other state and federal gift aid; and

 

(8) the amount of any private grants or scholarships.

 

(b) The award shall be paid directly to the postsecondary institution where the student receives federal financial aid.

 

(c) Awards are limited as follows:

 

(1) the maximum award for an undergraduate is $4,000 per award academic year;

 

(2) the maximum award for a graduate student is $6,000 per award academic year; and

 

(3) the minimum award for all students is $100 per award academic year.

 

(d) Scholarships may not be given to any Indian student for more than three years of study for a two-year degree, certificate, or diploma program or five years of study for a four-year degree program at the undergraduate level and for more than five years at the graduate level.  Students may acquire only one degree per level and one terminal graduate degree.  Scholarships may not be given to any student for more than ten years including five years of undergraduate study and five years of graduate study.

 

(e) Scholarships may be given to an eligible student for four quarters, three semesters, or the equivalent during the course of a single fiscal year.  In calculating the award amount, the office must use the same calculation it would for any other term.

 

Sec. 11.  [136A.1273] ASPIRING MINNESOTA TEACHERS OF COLOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

 

Subdivision 1.  Scholarship program established.  The commissioner must establish a scholarship program to support undergraduate and graduate students who are preparing to become teachers, have demonstrated financial need, and belong to racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in the state's teacher workforce.

 

Subd. 2.  Eligibility.  (a) To be eligible for a scholarship under this section, an applicant must:

 

(1) be admitted and enrolled in a teacher preparation program approved by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and be seeking initial licensure, or be enrolled in an eligible institution under section 136A.103 and be completing a two-year program specifically designed to prepare early childhood educators;

 

(2) affirm to the teacher preparation program or the Office of Higher Education that the applicant is a person of color or American Indian;

 

(3) be meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined under section 136A.101, subdivision 10; and

 

(4) demonstrate financial need based on criteria developed by the commissioner.

 

(b) An eligible applicant may receive a scholarship award more than once, but may receive a total of no more than $25,000 in scholarship awards from the program.


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Subd. 3.  Scholarship award amount.  (a) The commissioner shall establish the scholarship award amount based upon the anticipated number of eligible applicants and the funds available for the program.  The established award amount is subject to the requirements of paragraphs (b) through (e) of this subdivision.  If the funds available for the program are insufficient to make full awards to all eligible applicants, the commissioner must reduce the established scholarship award amount.

 

(b) The maximum award amount is $10,000 per year for full-time study prior to student teaching.  For undergraduate students, full-time study means enrollment in a minimum of 12 or more credits per term.  For graduate students, full-time study means enrollment that the institution deems sufficient to confer full-time graduate student status.

 

(c) If an eligible applicant is enrolled in a program for one term during the academic year, the maximum award amount is $5,000.  If an eligible applicant is enrolled part time, the award amount must be prorated on a per-credit basis.

 

(d) Subject to the funds available for the program, and subject to the limitation in paragraph (e), the minimum award amount established under this section for full-time study must be no less than $1,000 per year.

 

(e) An eligible applicant's individual award amount must not exceed the applicant's cost of attendance after deducting:  (1) the sum of all state or federal grants and gift aid received, including a Pell Grant and state grant; (2) the sum of all institutional grants, scholarships, tuition waivers, and tuition remission amounts; and (3) the amount of any private grants or scholarships.

 

(f) Established award amounts are not rulemaking for purposes of chapter 14 or section 14.386.

 

Subd. 4.  Administration.  (a) The commissioner must establish an application process for individual students and institutions on behalf of all eligible students at the institution and other guidelines for implementing the scholarship program.

 

(b) The commissioner must give equal consideration to all eligible applicants regardless of the order the application was received before the application deadline.

 

(c) A scholarship award must be paid to the eligible applicant's teacher preparation institution on behalf of the eligible applicant.  Awards may be paid only when the institution has confirmed to the commissioner the applicant's name, racial or ethnic identity, gender, licensure area sought, and enrollment status.

 

Subd. 5.  Report.  By July 15 of each year, the commissioner must submit an interim report on the scholarship program based on available data to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy.  By December 15 of each year, the commissioner must submit a full report on the details of the scholarship program for the previous fiscal year to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy.  The reports must also be made available on the Office of Higher Education's website.  The reports must include the following information:

 

(1) the number of applicants and the number of award recipients, each broken down by postsecondary institution with ten or more recipients;

 

(2) the total number of awards, the total dollar amount of all awards, and the average award amount; and

 

(3) summary data on the racial or ethnic identity, gender, licensure area sought, and enrollment status of all applicants and award recipients.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2021, and initial scholarships must be awarded by November 1, 2021.


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Sec. 12.  [136A.1274] UNDERREPRESENTED TEACHER CANDIDATE GRANTS.

 

Subdivision 1.  Establishment.  The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education must establish a grant program for student teaching stipends for low-income students who belong to an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.

 

Subd. 2.  Eligibility.  To be eligible for a grant under this section, a teacher candidate must:

 

(1) be enrolled in a Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board-approved teacher preparation program at a higher education institution that requires at least 12 weeks of student teaching in order to be recommended for any Tier 3 teaching license;

 

(2) demonstrate financial need based on criteria established by the commissioner under subdivision 3;

 

(3) be meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined under section 136A.101, subdivision 10; and

 

(4) belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce.

 

Subd. 3.  Administration.  (a) The commissioner must establish an application process and other guidelines for implementing this program.  The commissioner must notify grant recipients of their award amounts by the following dates:

 

(1) for fall student teaching placements, recipients must be notified by August 1;

 

(2) for spring student teaching placements, recipients must be notified by December 1; and

 

(3) for summer student teaching placements, recipients must be notified by May 1.

 

These notification deadlines do not apply in cases where grants are awarded to teacher candidates who applied after application deadlines and funds remained after the initial round of grants were awarded.

 

(b) The commissioner must determine each academic year the stipend amount up to $7,500 based on the amount of available funding, the number of eligible applicants, and the financial need of the applicants.

 

(c) The commissioner must give equal consideration to all applicants regardless of the order the application was received before the application deadline.

 

Subd. 4.  Reporting.  (a) By July 15 of each year, the commissioner must submit a report on the details of the program under this section for the previous fiscal year to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy.  The report must include the following information:

 

(1) the extent of racial or ethnic underrepresentation in the teacher workforce statewide and broken down by economic development region;

 

(2) the number of eligible applicants and the number of teacher candidates receiving an award, each broken down by postsecondary institution; and

 

(3) the total number of awards, the total dollar amount of all awards, and the average award amount.


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(b) Within 60 days after each round of award notifications required under subdivision 3, paragraph (a), the commissioner must publish on the Office of Higher Education's website an interim report with data on the most recent round of grant awards.  The report must include the same information required to be included in the report under paragraph (a).

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2021, except that the commissioner may delay notification to student teachers receiving grants for the fall 2021 term until August 15, 2021.

 

Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.1275, is amended to read:

 

136A.1275 TEACHER CANDIDATE GRANTS IN SHORTAGE AREAS.

 

Subdivision 1.  Establishment.  (a) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education must establish a grant program for student teaching stipends for low-income students enrolled in a Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board-approved teacher preparation program who intend to teach in a shortage area after graduating and receiving their teaching license or belong to an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.

 

(b) "Shortage area" means a license field or economic development region within Minnesota defined as a shortage area by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board in coordination with the commissioner using data collected for the teacher supply and demand report under section 122A.091, subdivision 5.

 

Subd. 2.  Eligibility.  To be eligible for a grant under this section, a teacher candidate must:

 

(1) be enrolled in a Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board-approved teacher preparation program at a higher education institution that requires at least 12 weeks of student teaching in order to be recommended for any Tier 3 teaching license;

 

(2) demonstrate financial need based on criteria established by the commissioner under subdivision 3;

 

(3) be meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined under section 136A.101, subdivision 10; and

 

(4) intend to teach in a shortage area or belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce.  Intent can be documented based on the teacher license field the student is pursuing or a statement of intent to teach in an economic development region defined as a shortage area in the year the student receives a grant.

 

Subd. 3.  Administration; repayment.  (a) The commissioner must establish an application process and other guidelines for implementing this program.  The commissioner must notify grant recipients of their award amounts by the following dates:

 

(1) for fall student teaching placements, recipients must be notified by August 1;

 

(2) for spring student teaching placements, recipients must be notified by December 1; and

 

(3) for summer student teaching placements, recipients must be notified by May 1.

 

These notification deadlines do not apply in cases where grants are awarded to teacher candidates who applied after application deadlines and funds remained after the initial round of grants were awarded.

 

(b) The commissioner must determine each academic year the stipend amount up to $7,500 based on the amount of available funding, the number of eligible applicants, and the financial need of the applicants.


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(c) The percentage of the total award funds available at the beginning of the fiscal year reserved for teacher candidates who identify as belonging to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce must be equal to or greater than the total percentage of students of racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce as measured under section 120B.35, subdivision 3.  If this percentage cannot be met because of a lack of qualifying candidates, the remaining amount may be awarded to teacher candidates who intend to teach in a shortage area.

 

(c) The commissioner must give equal consideration to all applicants regardless of the order the application was received before the application deadline.

 

Subd. 4.  Reporting.  (a) By July 15 of each year, the commissioner must submit a report on the details of the program under this section for the previous fiscal year to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy.  The report must include the following information:

 

(1) the licensure shortage areas giving rise to award eligibility, organized by economic development region;

 

(2) the number of eligible applicants and the number of student teachers receiving an award, each broken down by postsecondary institution; and

 

(3) the total number of awards, the total dollar amount of all awards, and the average award amount.

 

(b) Within 60 days after each round of award notifications required under subdivision 3, paragraph (a), the commissioner must publish on the Office of Higher Education's website an interim report with data on the most recent round of grant awards.  The report must include the same information required to be included in the report under paragraph (a).

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2021, except that the commissioner may delay notification to student teachers receiving grants for the fall 2021 term until August 15, 2021.

 

Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.1704, is amended to read:

 

136A.1704 STUDENT LOAN REFINANCING.

 

The office may refinance student and parent loans as provided by this section and on other terms and conditions the office prescribes.  The office may establish credit requirements for borrowers and determine what types of student and parent loans will be eligible for refinancing.  The refinanced loan need not have been made through a loan program administered by the office.  Loans shall be made with available funds in the loan capital fund under section 136A.1785.  The A maximum amount of outstanding loans refinanced under this section may not exceed $100,000,000 be determined by the office.  The maximum loan under this section may not exceed $70,000 $250,000.  In determining the maximum amount of outstanding loans refinanced, the office shall take into consideration funding capacity for the SELF Refi program, delinquency and default loss management, levels of student debt, current financial market conditions, and other considerations to protect the financial stability of the program.

 

Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.246, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

 

Subdivision 1.  Program created.  The commissioner shall make grants for the training of employees to achieve the competency standard for an occupation identified by the commissioner of labor and industry under section 175.45 and Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 3, section 21.  "Competency standard" has the meaning given in section 175.45, subdivision 2.  An individual must, no later than the commencement of the training, be an employee of the employer seeking a grant to train that individual.


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Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.246, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

 

Subd. 1a.  Definitions.  (a) The terms defined in this subdivision apply to this section.

 

(b) "Competency standard" has the meaning given in section 175.45, subdivision 2.

 

(c) "Eligible training" means training provided by an eligible training provider that:

 

(1) includes training to meet one or more identified competency standards;

 

(2) is instructor-led for a majority of the training; and

 

(3) results in the employee receiving an industry-recognized degree, certificate, or credential.

 

(d) "Eligible training provider" means an institution:

 

(1) operated by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities or the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota;

 

(2) licensed or registered as a postsecondary institution by the office; or

 

(3) exempt from the provisions of section 136A.822 to 136A.834 or 136A.61 to 136A.71 as approved by the office.

 

(e) "Industry-recognized degrees, certificates, or credentials" means:

 

(1) certificates, diplomas, or degrees issued by a postsecondary institution;

 

(2) registered apprenticeship certifications or certificates;

 

(3) occupational licenses or registrations;

 

(4) certifications issued by, or recognized by, industry or professional associations; and

 

(5) other certifications as approved by the commissioner.

 

Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.246, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Eligible grantees.  An employer or an organization representing the employer is eligible to apply for a grant to train employees if the employer has an employee who is in or is to be trained to be in an occupation for which a competency standard has been identified and the employee has not attained the competency standard prior to the commencement of the planned training.  Training need not address all aspects of a competency standard but may address only the competencies of a standard that an employee is lacking.  An employee must receive an industry-recognized degree, certificate, or credential upon successful completion of the training.  A grantee must have an agreement with an eligible training provider to provide eligible training prior to payment of grant.

 

Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.246, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 3.  Eligible training institution or program provider.  The employer must have an agreement with a training institution or program to provide the employee competency standard training prior to the grant award.  The training may be provided by any institution or program having trainers qualified to instruct on the competency standard.


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The Office of Higher Education and the Department of Labor and Industry must cooperate in maintaining an inventory of degree, certificate, and credential programs that provide training to meet competency standards.  The inventory must be posted on each agency's website with contact information for each program by September 1, 2016.  The postings must be updated periodically.

 

Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.246, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 4.  Application.  Applications must be made to the commissioner on a form provided by the commissioner.  The commissioner must, to the extent possible, make the application form as short and simple to complete as is reasonably possible.  The commissioner shall establish a schedule for applications and grants.  The application must include, without limitation:

 

(1) the projected number of employee trainees;

 

(2) the number of projected employee trainees who graduated from high school or passed the commissioner of education-selected high school equivalency test in the current or immediately preceding calendar year;

 

(3) (2) the competency standard for which training will be provided;

 

(4) (3) the credential the employee will receive upon completion of training;

 

(5) (4) the name and address of the eligible training provider institution or program and a signed statement by the institution or program that it is able and agrees to provide the training;

 

(6) (5) the period of the training; and

 

(7) (6) the cost of the training charged by the eligible training provider institution or program and certified by the institution or program.  The cost of training includes tuition, fees, and required books and materials.

 

An application may be made for training of employees of multiple employers either by the employers or by an organization on their behalf.

 

Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.246, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5.  Grant criteria.  (a) Except as provided in this subdivision, the commissioner shall award grants to employers solely for training employees who graduated from high school or passed commissioner of education‑selected high school equivalency tests in the current or immediately preceding calendar year.

 

(b) If there are not sufficient eligible applications satisfying paragraph (a), the commissioner may award grants to applicants to train employees who do not meet the requirements of paragraph (a).

 

(c) (a) The commissioner shall, to the extent possible after complying with paragraph (a), make at least an approximately equal dollar amount of grants for training for employees whose work site is projected to be outside the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, as for employees whose work site is projected to be within the metropolitan area.

 

(d) (b) In determining the award of grants, the commissioner must consider, among other factors:

 

(1) the aggregate state and regional need for employees with the competency to be trained;

 

(2) the competency standards developed by the commissioner of labor and industry as part of the Minnesota PIPELINE Project;


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(3) the per employee cost of training;

 

(4) the additional employment opportunities for employees because of the training;

 

(5) the on-the-job training the employee receives;

 

(6) the employer's demonstrated ability to recruit, train, and retain employees who are recent high school graduates or who recently passed high school equivalency tests;

 

(7) the employer's demonstrated commitment to recruit, train, and retain employees of color, American Indian employees, and employees with disabilities;

 

(6) (8) projected increases in compensation for employees receiving the training; and

 

(7) (9) the amount of employer training cost match, if required, on both a per employee and aggregate basis.

 

Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.246, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 6.  Employer match.  A large employer must pay for at least 25 percent of the eligible training institution's or program's provider's charge for the eligible training to the training institution or program provider.  For the purpose of this subdivision, a "large employer" means a business with more than $25,000,000 in annual gross revenue in the previous calendar year.

 

Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.246, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 7.  Payment of grant.  (a) The commissioner shall pay the grant to the employer after the employer presents satisfactory evidence to the commissioner that the employer has paid the eligible training institution or program provider.

 

(b) If an employer demonstrates that it is not able to pay for the training in advance, the commissioner shall make grant payments directly to the eligible training institution or program provider.

 

Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.246, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 8.  Grant amounts.  (a) The maximum grant for an application is $150,000.  A grant may not exceed $6,000 per year for a maximum of four years per employee.

 

(b) An employee who is attending an eligible training provider that is an institution under section 136A.103 must apply for Pell and state grants as a condition of payment for training that employee under this section.

 

Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.63, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Sale of an institution.  Within 30 days of a change of its ownership a school must submit a registration renewal application, all usual and ordinary information and materials for an initial registration, and applicable registration fees for a new institution.  For purposes of this subdivision, "change of ownership" means a merger or consolidation with a corporation; a sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a school; the transfer of a controlling interest of at least 51 percent of the school's stock; the school enters receivership; or a change in the nonprofit or for-profit status of a school.


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Sec. 25.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.645, is amended to read:

 

136A.645 SCHOOL CLOSURE.

 

(a) When a school intends to cease postsecondary education operations, announces its closure, or is informed by the office that the office anticipates the school's closure due to its registration status or ability to meet criteria for approval under section 136A.65, the school must provide the office:

 

(1) a notice of closure, including the name of the school, the name of the school owner, an active mailing address and telephone number that the school owner may be reached at after the school physically closes, the name of the school director, and the planned date for termination of postsecondary operations;

 

(2) a report of all students currently enrolled and all students enrolled within the prior 120 days, including the following information for each student:  name, address, school e­mail address, alternate e­mail address, program of study, number of credits completed, number of credits remaining, and enrollment status at closure;

 

(3) a report of refunds due to any student and the amount due;

 

(4) a written statement from the school's owner or designee affirming that all recruitment efforts, school marketing, advertisement, solicitation, and enrollment of new students has ceased;

 

(5) a copy of any communication between the school's accreditors about the school closure;

 

(6) confirmation that the requirements for student records under section 136A.68 have been satisfied, including:

 

(i) the planned date for the transfer of the student records;

 

(ii) confirmation of the name and address of the organization to receive and hold the student records; and

 

(iii) the official at the organization receiving the student records who is designated to provide official copies of records or transcripts upon request;

 

(7) academic information, including the school's most recent catalog, all course syllabi, and faculty credential information; and

 

(8) copies of any teach-out, transfer, or train-out agreement between the school and a new school for students to be able to complete their studies.  A teach-out fulfills the original contract or agreement between the closing school and the student.  If a teach-out is arranged for another approved school to do the remaining occupational training, that other school must (i) provide comparable education and training and (ii) agree that students transferring from the closing school pay only what the cost of tuition and fees remain unpaid according to the terms and conditions in the enrollment agreement entered into between the student and the closing school.

 

(b) Without limitation as to other circumstance, a school shall be deemed to have ceased operations when the school:

 

(1) has an unscheduled nonemergency closure or cancellation of classes for more than 24 hours without prior notice to the office;

 

(2) announces it is closed or closing; or

 

(3) files for bankruptcy.; or


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(4) fails to complete a renewal application when required under section 136A.63, subdivision 2.

 

(c) When a school is deemed to have ceased operations, the office shall provide the school a reasonable time to correct student records and grant credentials.  After that time, the office must revoke the school's registration.  This revocation is not appealable under section 136A.65, subdivision 8.

 

Sec. 26.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.653, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5.  Regionally Higher Learning Commission accredited institutions in Minnesota.  (a) A regionally accredited postsecondary institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission or its successor with its primary physical location in Minnesota is exempt from the provisions of sections 136A.61 to 136A.71, including related fees, when it creates new or modifies existing:

 

(1) majors, minors, concentrations, specializations, and areas of emphasis within approved degrees;

 

(2) nondegree programs within approved degrees;

 

(3) underlying curriculum or courses;

 

(4) modes of delivery; and

 

(5) locations.

 

(b) The institution must annually notify the commissioner of the exempt actions listed in paragraph (a) and, upon the commissioner's request, must provide additional information about the action.

 

(c) The institution must notify the commissioner within 60 days of a program closing.

 

(d) Nothing in this subdivision exempts an institution from the annual registration and degree approval requirements of sections 136A.61 to 136A.71.

 

Sec. 27.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.675, is amended to read:

 

136A.675 RISK ANALYSIS.

 

Subdivision 1.  Standard development and usage.  (a) To screen and detect whether an institution may not be financially or administratively responsible, the office shall develop a set of financial and programmatic evaluation metrics to aid in the detection of the failure or potential failure of a school to meet the standards established under sections 136A.61 to 136A.71 nonfinancial indicators.  These metrics shall include indicators of financial stability, changes in the senior management or the financial aid and senior administrative staff of an institution, changes in enrollment, changes in program offerings, and changes in faculty staffing patterns.  The development of financial standards and nonfinancial indicators shall use industry standards as benchmarks guidance.  The development of the nonfinancial standards shall include a measure of trends and dramatic changes in trends or practice. 

 

(b) Annually, the agency office must specify the metrics and standards for each area and provide a copy of the financial and nonfinancial indicators to each registered institution and post them a list of reviewed indicators on the agency office website.

 

(c) The agency office shall use regularly reported data submitted to the federal government or other regulatory or accreditation agencies wherever possible.  The agency may require more frequent data reporting by an institution to ascertain whether the standards are being met.


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(d) The office must use the indicators in this subdivision to identify institutions at potential risk of being unable to meet the standards established under sections 136A.646; 136A.64, subdivision 3; 136A.65, subdivisions 1a and 4, paragraph (a), clauses (1), (2), (3), and (7); and 136A.685 and thus unlikely to meet its financial obligations or complete its academic terms for the next 18 months.

 

Subd. 2.  Additional reporting.  (a) In addition to the information required for the indicators in subdivision 1, an institution must notify the office within ten business days if any of the events in paragraphs (b) to (e) occur.

 

(b) Related to revenue, debt, and cash flow, notice is required if:

 

(1) the institution defaulted on a debt payment or covenant and has not received a waiver of the violation from the financial institution within 60 days;

 

(2) for institutions with a federal composite score of less than 1.5, the institution's owner withdraws equity that directly results in a composite score of less than 1.0, unless the withdrawal is a transfer between affiliated entities included in a common composite score;

 

(3) the United States Department of Education requires a 25 percent or greater Letter of Credit, except when the Letter of Credit is imposed due to a change of ownership;

 

(4) the United States Department of Education requires Heightened Cash Monitoring 2;

 

(5) the institution receives written notification that it violated the United States Department of Education's revenue requirement under United States Code, title 20, section 1094(a)(24), as amended; or

 

(6) the institution receives written notification by the United States Department of Education that it has fallen below minimum financial standards and that its continued participation in Title IV is conditioned upon satisfying either the Zone Alternative, Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 668.175, paragraph (f), or a Letter of Credit Alternative, Code of Federal Regulations, title 34, section 668.175, paragraph (c).

 

(c) Related to accreditation and licensing, notice is required if:

 

(1) the institution receives written notification of probation, warning, show-cause, or loss of institutional accreditation;

 

(2) the institution receives written notification that its institutional accreditor lost federal recognition; or

 

(3) the institution receives written notification that it has materially violated state authorization or institution licensing requirements in a different state that may lead to or has led to the termination of the institution's ability to continue to provide educational programs or otherwise continue to operate in that state.

 

(d) Related to securities, notice is required if:

 

(1) the Securities and Exchange Commission (i) issues an order suspending or revoking the registration of the institution's securities, or (ii) suspends trading of the institution's securities on any national securities exchange;

 

(2) the national securities exchange on which the institution's securities are traded notifies the institution that it is not in compliance with the exchange's listing requirements and the institution's securities are delisted; or

 

(3) the Securities and Exchange Commission is not in timely receipt of a required report and did not issue an extension to file the report.


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(e) Related to criminal and civil investigations, notice is required if:

 

(1) the institution receives written notification of a felony criminal indictment or charges of the institution's owner;

 

(2) the institution receives written notification of criminal indictment or charges of the institution's officers related to operations of the institution; or

 

(3) there has been a criminal, civil, or administrative adjudication of fraud or misrepresentation in Minnesota or in another state or jurisdiction against the institution or its owner, officers, agents, or sponsoring organization.

 

Subd. 3.  Determination procedures.  (a) The office shall conduct a systematic evaluation under this paragraph and make a preliminary determination as to whether action under paragraph (e) is necessary, if the office:  (1) identifies a potential risk under subdivision 1, paragraph (d); (2) receives notification from an institution under subdivision 2; or (3) identifies other exigent circumstances impacting the institution that may deny students a reasonable opportunity to complete their education program at the institution or through an alternate institution with minimal disruption.  The systematic evaluation must, to the extent practicable, be a collaboration between the office and the institution.  The office must request additional context and information from the institution that demonstrates the administrative and financial responsibility of the institution.  If the institution is not financially or administratively responsible, a contingency plan must be implemented either collaboratively or as part of a final determination under paragraph (e), clause (4).

 

(b) The office shall provide notice in writing to the institution of the preliminary determination.  The notice shall provide the analysis used by the office to make the determination, a request for the institution to provide additional context and information that demonstrates the administrative and financial responsibility of the institution not provided under paragraph (a), any potential action the office may take under paragraph (e), and a deadline for responding to the notice.  The institution shall have no fewer than ten business days to respond to the preliminary determination.

 

(c) The response from the institution to provide additional context and information must be written and may include a collaborative consultation with the office.  In its response, the institution shall provide additional context, financial data, and other information, including but not limited to evidence of sound business practices, institutional financial health, compliance with the requirements of sections 136A.61 to 136A.71, or sufficient and timely plans to cure any noncompliance or to manage financial health and risk.

 

(d) If the institution does not respond to the office's notice and request for additional context and information within the time required, the office's preliminary determination shall become final and the office may take any of the actions specified in the notice required by paragraph (e).  If the institution responds to the office's notice, the office must reevaluate the preliminary determination.  The office shall use the additional context and information provided by the institution to make a final determination and determine which actions under paragraph (e), if any, are necessary to mitigate risk to students and state financial aid under this chapter.

 

(e) The office may use a final determination to:

 

(1) revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew registration, approval of an institution's degree, or use of a regulated term in its name under section 136A.65, subdivision 8;

 

(2) require periodic monitoring and submission of reports on the institution's administrative and financial responsibility to ascertain whether compliance and financial risk improves;

 

(3) require periodic collaborative consultations with the institution on noncompliance with sections 136A.61 to 136A.71, or how the institution is managing financial health and risk;


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(4) require the institution to submit contingency plans such as teach-out plans or transfer pathways for students;

 

(5) prohibit the institution from accepting tuition and fee payments made through cash, alternative loans, or the equivalent, prior to the add/drop period of the current period of instruction;

 

(6) prohibit the institution from enrolling new students;

 

(7) initiate alternative processes and communications with students enrolled at the institution;

 

(8) require a surety bond under section 136A.646; or

 

(9) submit institution closure information under section 136A.645.

 

(f) The office shall provide to the institution written notice of the final determination and the actions taken under paragraph (e).

 

Subd. 4.  Data classification.  Data under this section shall be classified as financial records under section 136A.64, subdivision 2.

 

Sec. 28.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.68, is amended to read:

 

136A.68 RECORDS.

 

(a) A registered school shall maintain a permanent record for each student for 50 years from the last date of the student's attendance.  A registered school offering distance instruction to a student located in Minnesota shall maintain a permanent record for each Minnesota student for 50 years from the last date of the student's attendance.  Records include a student's academic transcript, documents, and files containing student data about academic credits earned, courses completed, grades awarded, degrees awarded, and periods of attendance.

 

(b) A registered school shall maintain records required for professional licensure in Minnesota that are not included in paragraph (a) for ten years from the last date of the student's attendance or the number of years required by an institutional or programmatic accreditor, whichever is greater.

 

(c) To preserve permanent records, a school shall submit a plan that meets the following requirements:

 

(1) at least one copy of the records must be held in a secure, fireproof depository or duplicate records must be maintained off site in a secure location and in a manner approved by the office;

 

(2) an appropriate official must be designated to provide a student with copies of records or a transcript upon request;

 

(3) an alternative method approved by the office of complying with clauses (1) and (2) must be established if the school ceases to exist; and

 

(4) if the school has no binding agreement approved by the office for preserving student records, a continuous surety bond or an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a financial institution must be filed with the office in an amount not to exceed $20,000.  The bond or irrevocable letter of credit shall run to the state of Minnesota.  In the event of a school closure, the surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit must be used by the office to retrieve, recover, maintain, digitize, and destroy academic records.


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Sec. 29.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.822, subdivision 12, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 12.  Permanent student records.  (a) A private career school licensed under sections 136A.82 to 136A.834 and located in Minnesota shall maintain a permanent student record for each student for 50 years from the last date of the student's attendance.  A private career school licensed under this chapter and offering distance instruction to a student located in Minnesota shall maintain a permanent record for each Minnesota student for 50 years from the last date of the student's attendance.  Records include school transcripts, documents, and files containing student data about academic credits earned, courses completed, grades awarded, degrees awarded, and periods of attendance. 

 

(b) A private career school licensed under sections 136A.82 to 136A.834 and located in Minnesota shall maintain a permanent student record required for professional licensure in Minnesota for each student for ten years from the last date of the student's attendance or the number of years required by an institutional or programmatic accreditor, whichever is greater.  A private career school licensed under this chapter and offering distance instruction to a student located in Minnesota shall maintain records required for professional licensure in Minnesota that are not included in paragraph (a) for each Minnesota student for ten years from the last date of the student's attendance or the number of years required by an institutional or programmatic accreditor, whichever is greater.

 

To preserve permanent student records, a private career school shall submit a plan that meets the following requirements:

 

(1) at least one copy of the records must be held in a secure, fireproof depository;

 

(2) an appropriate official must be designated to provide a student with copies of records or a transcript upon request;

 

(3) an alternative method, approved by the office, of complying with clauses (1) and (2) must be established if the private career school ceases to exist; and

 

(4) a continuous surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit issued by a financial institution must be filed with the office in an amount not to exceed $20,000 if the private career school has no binding agreement approved by the office, for preserving student records.  The bond or irrevocable letter of credit shall run to the state of Minnesota.  In the event of a school closure, the surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit must be used by the office to retrieve, recover, maintain, digitize, and destroy academic records.

 

Sec. 30.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.8225, is amended to read:

 

136A.8225 SCHOOL CLOSURE.

 

(a) When a school intends to cease postsecondary education operations, announces its closure, or is informed by the office that the office anticipates the school's closure due to its licensure status or ability to meet criteria for approval under section 136A.822, subdivision 8, the school must provide the office:

 

(1) a notice of closure, including the name of the school, the name of the school owner, an active mailing address and telephone number that the school owner may be reached at after the school physically closes, the name of the school director, and the planned date for termination of postsecondary operations;

 

(2) a report of all students currently enrolled and all students enrolled within the prior 120 days, including the following information for each student:  name, address, school e­mail address, alternate e­mail address, program of study, number of credits completed, number of credits remaining, and enrollment status at closure;

 

(3) a report of refunds due to any student and the amount due;


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(4) a written statement from the school's owner or designee affirming that all recruitment efforts, school marketing, advertisement, solicitation, and enrollment of new students has ceased;

 

(5) a copy of any communication between the school's accreditors about the school closure;

 

(6) confirmation that the requirements for student records under section 136A.822, subdivision 12, have been satisfied, including:

 

(i) the planned date for the transfer of the student records;

 

(ii) confirmation of the name and address of the organization to receive and hold the student records; and

 

(iii) the official at the organization receiving the student records who is designated to provide official copies of records or transcripts upon request;

 

(7) academic information, including the school's most recent catalog, all course syllabi, and faculty credential information; and

 

(8) copies of any teach-out, transfer, or train-out agreement between the school and a new school for students to be able to complete their studies.  A teach-out fulfills the original contract or agreement between the closing school and the student.  If a teach-out is arranged for another approved school to do the remaining occupational training, that other school must (i) provide comparable education and training and (ii) agree that students transferring from the closing school pay only what the cost of tuition and fees remain unpaid according to the terms and conditions in the enrollment agreement entered into between the student and the closing school.

 

(b) Without limitation as to other circumstance, a school shall be deemed to have ceased operations when the school:

 

(1) has an unscheduled nonemergency closure or cancellation of classes for more than 24 hours without prior notice to the office;

 

(2) announces it is closed or closing; or

 

(3) files for bankruptcy.; or

 

(4) fails to complete a renewal application when required under section 136A.823, subdivision 3.

 

(c) When a school is deemed to have ceased operations, the office shall provide the school a reasonable time to correct student records and grant credentials.  After that time, the office must revoke the school's license.  This revocation is not appealable under section 136A.829, subdivision 2.

 

Sec. 31.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.823, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

 

Subd. 3.  Change of ownership.  Within 30 days of a change of ownership, a school must submit a registration renewal application, the information and materials for an initial registration under section 136A.822, subdivision 4, and the applicable registration fees for a new institution under section 136A.824, subdivision 1.  For purposes of this subdivision, "change of ownership" means:  a merger or consolidation with a corporation; a sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a school; the transfer of a controlling interest of at least 51 percent of the school's stock; entering into receivership; or a change in the nonprofit or for-profit status of a school.


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Sec. 32.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.827, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 4.  Proration.  (a) When a student has been accepted by a private career school and gives notice of cancellation after the program of instruction has begun, but before completion of 75 percent of the program, the amount charged for tuition, fees and all other charges shall be prorated based on the number of days in the term as a portion of the total charges for tuition, fees and all other charges.  An additional 25 percent of the total cost of the program may be added but shall not exceed $100.  After completion of 75 percent of the program, no refunds are required.  the student is entitled to a refund if, at the last documented date of attendance, the student has not completed at least 75 percent of the entire program of instruction.  For purposes of this subdivision, program of instruction is calculated under paragraph (c) or (d).  Program of instruction does not mean one term, a payment period, a module, or any other portion of the entire instructional program.

 

(b) A notice of cancellation from a student under this subdivision must be confirmed in writing by the private career school and mailed to the student's last known address.  The confirmation from the school must state that the school has withdrawn the student from enrollment, and if this action was not the student's intent, the student must contact the school.

 

(c) The length of a program of instruction for a program that has a defined calendar start and end date that does not change after the program has begun equals the number of days from the first scheduled date of the program through the last scheduled date of the program.  To calculate the completion percentage, divide the number of calendar days from the first date of the program through the student's last documented date of attendance by the length of the program of instruction, and truncate the result after the second digit following the decimal point.  If the completion percentage is less than 75 percent, the private career school may retain:

 

(1) tuition, fees, and charges equal to the total of tuition, fees, and charges multiplied by the completion percentage; plus

 

(2) the initial program application fees, not to exceed $50; plus

 

(3) the lesser of (i) 25 percent of the total tuition, or (ii) $100.

 

(d) The length of a program of instruction for a program that is measured in clock hours equals the number of clock hours the student was scheduled to attend.  To calculate the completion percentage, divide the number of clock hours that the student actually attended by the length of the program of instruction, and truncate the result after the second digit following the decimal point.  If the completion percentage is less than 75 percent, the private career school may retain:

 

(1) tuition, fees, and charges equal to the total of tuition, fees, and charges multiplied by the completion percentage; plus

 

(2) the initial program application fees, not to exceed $50; plus

 

(3) the lesser of (i) 25 percent of the total tuition, or (ii) $100.

 

Sec. 33.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136A.827, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 8.  Cancellation occurrence.  Written notice of cancellation shall take place on the date the letter of cancellation is postmarked or, in the cases where the notice is hand carried, it shall occur on the date the notice is delivered to the private career school.  Notice of cancellation shall be the date a student notifies a private career school of the student's intention to withdraw or otherwise leave the program of study.  The student is not required to provide a written notice.  The private career school may require a student to provide the student's notification only to


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5521

specific offices or personnel at the school as long as this requirement is documented as part of the "Student's Right to Cancel" in all places that the information appears, including on the private career school's website.  The date of the notice of cancellation may or may not be the same date as the student's last documented date of attendance.  If a student has not attended class for a period of 21 14 consecutive days without contacting the private career school to indicate an intent to continue in the private career school provide notice of cancellation or otherwise making make arrangements concerning the absence, the student is considered to have withdrawn from the private career school for all purposes as of the student's last documented date of attendance.

 

Sec. 34.  [136A.91] CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT GRANTS.

 

Subdivision 1.  Grants.  (a) The Office of Higher Education must establish a competitive grant program for postsecondary institutions to expand concurrent enrollment opportunities.  To the extent that there are qualified applicants, the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education shall distribute grant funds to ensure:

 

(1) eligible students throughout the state have access to concurrent enrollment programs; and

 

(2) preference for grants that expand programs is given to programs already at capacity.

 

(b) The commissioner may award grants under this section to postsecondary institutions for any of the following purposes:

 

(1) to develop new concurrent enrollment courses under section 124D.09, subdivision 10, that satisfy the elective standard for career and technical education;

 

(2) to expand the existing concurrent enrollment programs already offered by the postsecondary institution by:

 

(i) creating new sections within the same high school;

 

(ii) offering the existing course in new high schools; or

 

(iii) supporting the preparation, recruitment, and success of students who are underrepresented in concurrent enrollment classrooms;

 

(3) to create online graduate tracks specifically for high school teachers to receive the necessary credentials to teach concurrent enrollment courses in various content areas, as dictated by the Higher Learning Commission; or

 

(4) to supplement high school teacher tuition support for graduate courses not eligible for funding under the concurrent enrollment training program.

 

Subd. 2.  Application.  (a) The commissioner shall develop a grant application process.  A grant applicant must:

 

(1) specify the purpose under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), for which the institution is applying;

 

(2) specify both program and student outcome goals;

 

(3) include student feedback in the development of new programs or the expansion of existing programs; and

 

(4) demonstrate a commitment to equitable access to concurrent enrollment coursework for all eligible high school students.

 

(b) A postsecondary institution applying for a grant under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause (3), must provide a 50 percent match for the grant funds.


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Subd. 3.  Report.  By December 1 of each year, the office shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education regarding:

 

(1) the amount of funds granted under each clause of subdivision 1, paragraph (b);

 

(2) the courses developed by grant recipients and the number of students who enrolled in the courses under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause (1);

 

(3) the programs expanded and the number of students who enrolled in programs under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause (2);

 

(4) the graduate programs developed by postsecondary institutions and the number of high school teachers enrolled in these graduate courses under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause (3); and

 

(5) the number of teachers provided tuition support under subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause (4).

 

Sec. 35.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136F.245, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

 

Subdivision 1.  Establishment.  A Hunger-Free Campus designation for Minnesota State community and technical colleges is established for public postsecondary institutions and for nonprofit degree-granting institutions physically located in Minnesota and registered with the Office of Higher Education under section 136A.63.  In order to be awarded the designation, a campus an institution must meet the following minimum criteria:

 

(1) have an established on-campus food pantry or partnership with a local food bank to provide regular, on‑campus food distributions;

 

(2) provide information to students on SNAP, MFIP, and other programs that reduce food insecurity;

 

(3) hold or participate in one hunger awareness event per academic year;

 

(4) have an established emergency assistance grant that is available to students; and

 

(5) establish a hunger task force that meets a minimum of three times per academic year.  The task force must include at least two students currently enrolled at the college institution.

 

Sec. 36.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136F.245, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Designation approval.  (a) The statewide student association associations representing the state community and technical colleges and the state universities shall create an application process and a nonmonetary an award, and provide final approval for the designation at each state college and university, respectively.

 

(b) The University of Minnesota statewide student association shall create an application process and an award, and provide final approval for the designation at each University of Minnesota campus.

 

(c) The Minnesota Association of Private College Students shall create an application process and an award, and provide final approval for the designation at each nonprofit degree-granting institution.


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5523

Sec. 37.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136F.305, is amended to read:

 

136F.305 Z-DEGREES.

 

Subdivision 1.  Definitions.  (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.

 

(b) "Custom textbook" means course materials that are compiled by a publisher at the direction of a faculty member or, if applicable, the other adopting entity in charge of selecting course materials for courses taught at a state college or university.  Custom textbooks may include items such as selections from original instructor materials, previously copyrighted publisher materials, copyrighted third-party works, or elements unique to a specific state college or university.

 

(b) "Course" means a single unit of teaching in one subject area led by one or more instructors with a definite start and end date and a fixed roster of students.

 

(c) "Course materials" means a hard-copy or digital book, printed pages of instructional material, including consumable workbooks, lab manuals, subscriptions, online homework and quizzing platforms, and other required physical and digital content.

 

(d) "Course section" means an instance of a course.

 

(c) (e) "Incentive" means anything provided to faculty to identify, review, adapt, author, or adopt open textbooks educational resources.

 

(d) (f) "Open educational resources" means high-quality teaching, learning, and research resources materials that reside are in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license that permits their free use and repurposing by others, and may include other resources that are legally available and free of cost to students.  Open educational resources include course materials, modules, custom and open textbooks, articles, faculty-created content, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to support access to knowledge textbooks and curricula, syllabi, lecture notes, assignments, tests, projects, audio, video, and animation.

 

(e) (g) "Open textbook" means a textbook that is distributed using an open copyright a type of open educational resource released under an intellectual property license that at a minimum allows a student to obtain, retain, reuse, and redistribute the material at no cost.

 

(h) "Library-curated materials" means diverse resources purchases by the library at no additional cost to the student for the supplementation or replacement of course materials.

 

(f) (i) "System office" means the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system office.

 

(g) (j) "Z-Degree" means a zero-textbook-cost complete associate's or bachelor's degree program that exclusively uses course materials that are no cost to students such as open educational resources, open textbooks, and library‑curated materials.  Students may still incur costs for printing digital materials or for the following:  art supplies, calculators, equipment, fees in statute or policy mandated to be charged by all colleges and universities, campus discretionary fees established by the board and adopted by the college, personal property, and service charges or course activities having value outside of the classroom.

 

Subd. 2.  Requirement.  (a) Three additional colleges must offer the opportunity to earn a Z-Degree by academic year 2020-2021.  A college's Two additional colleges or universities must offer the opportunity to earn a Z-Degree by academic year 2023-2024.  Course offerings for its in a Z-Degree program must include at least two distinct courses in each transfer curriculum goal area and at least enough credits in each transfer curriculum goal area to complete the transfer curriculum package.


Journal of the House - 42nd Day - Monday, April 19, 2021 - Top of Page 5524

(b) The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities shall support a continuous process for colleges and universities to implement Z-Degrees, expand Z-Degree courses and sections, and sustain existing Z-Degrees.

 

Subd. 3.  Open educational resource development.  (a) The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must develop a program to offer a Z-degree at three additional colleges by expanding the use of open educational resources, including custom and open textbooks.  The system office must provide opportunities for faculty to identify, review, adapt, author, create, share, and adopt open educational resources.  The system office must develop incentives to academic departments to identify, review, adapt, author, or adopt open educational resources within their academic programs.

 

(b) The programs and incentives developed under this subdivision must be implemented pursuant to faculty collective bargaining agreements.

 

Subd. 4.  Report.  Annually by January 15, the board must submit reports by January 13, 2021, and January 12, 2022, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education.  Each report must include (1) the number of courses and course sections transitioned to using an open textbook resulting from the programs in this section into a new Z-Degree, and (2) the total amount of student textbook savings resulting from the transitions.

 

Sec. 38.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136F.38, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 3.  Program eligibility.  (a) Scholarships shall be awarded only to a student eligible for resident tuition, as defined in section 135A.043, who is enrolled in any of the following programs of study or certification:  (1) advanced manufacturing; (2) agriculture; (3) health care services; (4) information technology; (5) early childhood; or (6) transportation; or (7) a program of study under paragraph (b).

 

(b) Each institution may add one additional area of study or certification, based on a workforce shortage for full‑time employment requiring postsecondary education that is unique to the institution's specific region, as reported in the most recent Department of Employment and Economic Development job vacancy survey data for the economic development region in which the institution is located.  A workforce shortage area is one in which the job vacancy rate for full-time employment in a specific occupation in a region is higher than the state average vacancy rate for that same occupation.  The institution may change the area of study or certification based on new data once every two years.

 

(c) The student must be enrolled for at least nine credits in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

 

Sec. 39.  Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136G.05, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 10.  Data.  (a) Account owner data, account data, and data on beneficiaries of accounts are private data on individuals or nonpublic data as defined in section 13.02, except that the names and addresses of the beneficiaries of accounts that receive matching grants are public unless the data qualifies for the exception in paragraph (b).

 

(b) The commissioner may share an account owner's name and Social Security number with the Department of Revenue in order to compile studies under section 270B.04.  Data sharing authorized by this paragraph is only for purposes of evaluative research and analysis of the plan in order to make ongoing informed decisions regarding plan administration.


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Sec. 40.  DIRECT ADMISSIONS PILOT PROGRAM.

 

Subdivision 1.  Authorization.  The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education shall develop a pilot program in consultation with stakeholders including Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals, and the Minnesota School Board Association, to automatically offer conditional admission to Minnesota public high school seniors based on a student's high school grade point average, high school and college transcript information, standardized tests, statewide assessments, and other measures as determined by stakeholders.

 

Subd. 2.  Pilot design and goals.  The pilot program shall establish and, to the extent feasible, implement a process for leveraging existing kindergarten through grade 12 and higher education student information systems to automate the admissions process for students.  The pilot program will specifically evaluate the impact this process has on outcomes for students with lower levels of college knowledge, low-income students, and students from populations underserved in higher education.  Initial pilot program participants must include high schools with a significant number of students of color, low-income students, or both.

 

Subd. 3.  Evaluation and report.  By February 1, 2022, the Office of Higher Education shall report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education finance and policy and higher education on activities occurring under this section.  The report must include but is not limited to information about the pilot program design, implementation challenges and recommendations, and the feasibility of scaling the program to all public high schools.

 

Sec. 41.  CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATOR PILOT PROJECT.

 

By the 2024-2025 academic year, Winona State University must develop a teacher preparation program that leads to initial licensure in at least one license area under Minnesota Rules, parts 8710.8000 to 8710.8080.  Winona State University must partner with Minnesota State College Southeast to provide the subject matter training necessary for license areas chosen.  If practical, the partnership must result in a candidate earning an associate's degree from Minnesota State College Southeast and a bachelor's degree from Winona State University.  Money appropriated for this project under article 1, section 3, subdivision 5, may be used for any of the following purposes:

 

(1) analyzing existing course offerings at both institutions to determine compliance with the requirements of Minnesota Rules, chapter 8705, and parts 8710.8000 to 8710.8080;

 

(2) determining any courses that need to be adjusted or created by each institution;

 

(3) designing and implementing any needed course; and

 

(4) providing administrative support for gaining approval of the program from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board.

 

Sec. 42.  STUDY AND REPORT ON THE WORK-STUDY PROGRAM.

 

(a) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education must conduct a study of the work-study program under Minnesota Statutes, sections 136A.231 to 136A.233.  The study must analyze how the program could be expanded to meet the needs of college students and enable more students to work on campus.  The study should include an assessment of:

 

(1) the interplay between state, federal, and institutional work-study programs and funds;

 

(2) the impact of minimum wage laws and ordinances on the program;


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(3) the ability of the program to require a wage for student workers that is higher than the prevailing minimum wage set by law;

 

(4) the number of hours students should be working on campus; and

 

(5) options for legislative and administrative actions to expand the work-study program along with the anticipated costs of those actions.

 

(b) By January 15, 2023, the commissioner shall report to the legislature as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195, and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education on the results of the study.

 

Sec. 43.  REVISOR INSTRUCTION.

 

In Minnesota Statutes, the revisor of statutes shall renumber section 136F.245, as amended by this act, as 135A.137.

 

Sec. 44.  REPEALER.

 

(a) Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 136A.1703; 136A.823, subdivision 2; and 136F.245, subdivision 3, are repealed.

 

(b) Minnesota Rules, parts 4830.9050; 4830.9060; 4830.9070; 4830.9080; and 4830.9090, are repealed."

 

      Delete the title and insert:

 

"A bill for an act relating to higher education; providing funding and policy changes for the Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic; freezing certain tuition rates; creating and modifying certain student aid programs; restricting limitations on student access to transcripts; modifying certain school accountability provisions; expanding the hunger-free campus designation; modifying data provision of the college savings plan; establishing pilot projects; requiring reports; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 136A.101, subdivision 5a; 136A.121, subdivisions 2, 6, 9; 136A.125, subdivisions 2, 4; 136A.126, subdivisions 1, 4; 136A.1275; 136A.1704; 136A.246, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, by adding a subdivision; 136A.63, subdivision 2; 136A.645; 136A.653, subdivision 5; 136A.675; 136A.68; 136A.822, subdivision 12; 136A.8225; 136A.823, by adding a subdivision; 136A.827, subdivisions 4, 8; 136F.245, subdivisions 1, 2; 136F.305; 136F.38, subdivision 3; 136G.05, subdivision 10; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 135A; 136A; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 136A.1703; 136A.823, subdivision 2; 136F.245, subdivision 3; Minnesota Rules, parts 4830.9050; 4830.9060; 4830.9070; 4830.9080; 4830.9090."

 

 

      The motion prevailed and the amendment was adopted.

 

 

Erickson moved to amend S. F. No. 975, the third engrossment, as amended, as follows:

 

Page 10, after line 34, insert:

 

"Subd. 40.  Black Men Teach

 

427,000

 

0

 

(a) This appropriation is for a grant to Black Men Teach Twin Cities to establish partnerships with five school district elementary schools or elementary charter schools with a goal of increasing the number of black male teachers to 20 percent of the employees at each school site.


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(b) Any balance does not cancel but is available until June 30, 2024.

 

(c) The grant recipient must provide a detailed report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over higher education and kindergarten through grade 12 education by January 15 of each year until 2027 describing how the grant funds were used.  The report must describe the progress made toward the goal of increasing the number of black male teachers at each school site and strategies used."

 

Renumber the subdivisions in sequence and correct the internal references

 

Page 11, line 1, delete "4,577,000" and insert "4,327,000" and delete "4,504,000" and insert "4,327,000"

 

Adjust amounts accordingly

 

 

      A roll call was requested and properly seconded.

 

 

      The question was taken on the Erickson amendment and the roll was called.  There were 57 yeas and 75 nays as follows:

 

      Those who voted in the affirmative were:

 


Akland

Albright

Anderson

Backer

Bennett

Bliss

Boe

Burkel

Daniels

Daudt

Davids

Demuth

Dettmer

Erickson

Franke

Franson

Garofalo

Green

Grossell

Gruenhagen

Haley

Hamilton

Heinrich

Heintzeman

Hertaus

Igo

Johnson

Jurgens

Kiel

Koznick

Kresha

Lueck

McDonald

Miller

Mueller

Nash

Nelson, N.

Neu Brindley

Novotny

O'Driscoll

Olson, B.

O'Neill

Petersburg

Pfarr

Pierson

Poston

Quam

Raleigh

Rasmusson

Robbins

Schomacker

Scott

Swedzinski

Theis

Torkelson

Urdahl

West


 

      Those who voted in the negative were:

 


Acomb

Agbaje

Bahner

Bahr

Becker-Finn

Berg

Bernardy

Bierman