STATE OF MINNESOTA
Journal of the House
NINETY-THIRD
SESSION - 2023
_____________________
FORTY-SEVENTH
DAY
Saint Paul, Minnesota, Wednesday, April 12, 2023
The House of Representatives convened at
12:30 p.m. and was called to order by Dan Wolgamott, Speaker pro tempore.
Prayer was offered by the Reverend Pepe
Demarest, The Recovery Church, St. Paul, 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
Altendorf
Anderson, P. H.
Backer
Bahner
Bakeberg
Baker
Becker-Finn
Bennett
Berg
Bierman
Bliss
Brand
Burkel
Carroll
Cha
Clardy
Coulter
Curran
Daniels
Davids
Davis
Demuth
Dotseth
Edelson
Elkins
Engen
Feist
Finke
Fischer
Fogelman
Franson
Frazier
Frederick
Freiberg
Garofalo
Gillman
Gomez
Greenman
Grossell
Hansen, R.
Hanson, J.
Harder
Hassan
Heintzeman
Hemmingsen-Jaeger
Her
Hicks
Hill
Hollins
Hornstein
Howard
Hudella
Hudson
Huot
Hussein
Igo
Jacob
Johnson
Jordan
Joy
Keeler
Klevorn
Knudsen
Koegel
Kotyza-Witthuhn
Koznick
Kraft
Kresha
Lee, F.
Lee, K.
Liebling
Lillie
Lislegard
Long
McDonald
Mekeland
Moller
Mueller
Murphy
Myers
Nadeau
Nash
Nelson, M.
Nelson, N.
Neu Brindley
Newton
Niska
Noor
Norris
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson, L.
O'Neill
Pelowski
Pérez-Vega
Perryman
Petersburg
Pfarr
Pinto
Pryor
Pursell
Quam
Rehm
Reyer
Richardson
Robbins
Schomacker
Schultz
Scott
Sencer-Mura
Skraba
Smith
Stephenson
Swedzinski
Tabke
Torkelson
Urdahl
Vang
West
Wiener
Wiens
Witte
Wolgamott
Xiong
Youakim
Zeleznikar
Spk. Hortman
A quorum was present.
Anderson, P. E.; Daudt; Kiel; Kozlowski
and Olson, B., were excused.
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.
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
The following communications were
received:
STATE OF MINNESOTA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
SAINT PAUL 55155
March 30, 2023
The
Honorable Melissa Hortman
Speaker
of the House of Representatives
The State
of Minnesota
Dear Speaker Hortman:
Please be advised that I have received,
approved, signed, and deposited in the Office of the Secretary of State the
following House Files:
H. F. No. 1440, relating to housing; appropriating money for the family homeless prevention and assistance program; requiring a report.
H. F. No. 244, relating
to uniform laws; adopting the Uniform Electronic Wills Act; making technical,
clarifying, and conforming changes.
Sincerely,
Tim
Walz
Governor
STATE OF
MINNESOTA
OFFICE OF
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
ST. PAUL
55155
The Honorable Melissa Hortman
Speaker of the House of
Representatives
The Honorable Bobby Joe Champion
President of the Senate
I have the honor to inform you that the
following enrolled Acts of the 2023 Session of the State Legislature have been
received from the Office of the Governor and are deposited in the Office of the
Secretary of State for preservation, pursuant to the State Constitution,
Article IV, Section 23:
S. F. No. |
H. F. No. |
Session Laws Chapter No. |
Time and Date Approved 2023 |
Date Filed 2023 |
1440 20 7:39
p.m. March 30 March 30
244 21 7:40
p.m. March 30 March 30
2265 22 7:41 p.m. March 30 March
30
1816 23 2:37
p.m. April 5 April 5
Sincerely,
Steve
Simon
Secretary
of State
REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES AND DIVISIONS
Stephenson from the Committee on Commerce Finance and Policy to which was referred:
H. F. No. 2, A bill for an act relating to employment; providing for paid family, pregnancy, bonding, and applicant's serious medical condition benefits; regulating and requiring certain employment leaves; classifying certain data; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 13.719, by adding a subdivision; 177.27, subdivision 4; 181.032; 256J.561, by adding a subdivision; 256J.95, subdivisions 3, 11; 256P.01, subdivision 3; 268.19, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B.
Reported the same back with the following amendments:
Page 1, after line 24, insert:
"Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 62A.01, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Definition. The term "policy of accident and sickness insurance" as used herein includes any policy covering the kind of insurance described in section 60A.06, subdivision 1, clause (5)(a), or the paid family and medical leave benefits as described in section 268B.10."
Page 4, after line 20, insert:
"Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256B.0659, subdivision 18, is amended to read:
Subd. 18. Personal care assistance choice option; generally. (a) The commissioner may allow a recipient of personal care assistance services to use a fiscal intermediary to assist the recipient in paying and accounting for medically necessary covered personal care assistance services. Unless otherwise provided in this section, all other statutory and regulatory provisions relating to personal care assistance services apply to a recipient using the personal care assistance choice option.
(b) Personal care assistance choice is an option of the personal care assistance program that allows the recipient who receives personal care assistance services to be responsible for the hiring, training, scheduling, and firing of personal care assistants according to the terms of the written agreement with the personal care assistance choice agency required under subdivision 20, paragraph (a). This program offers greater control and choice for the recipient in who provides the personal care assistance service and when the service is scheduled. The recipient or the recipient's responsible party must choose a personal care assistance choice provider agency as a fiscal intermediary. This personal care assistance choice provider agency manages payroll, invoices the state, is responsible for all payroll-related taxes and insurance, including premiums for family and medical benefit insurance, and is responsible for providing the consumer training and support in managing the recipient's personal care assistance services.
Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256B.85, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
Subd. 13. Budget model. (a) Under the budget model participants exercise responsibility and control over the services and supports described and budgeted within the CFSS service delivery plan. Participants must use services specified in subdivision 13a provided by an FMS provider. Under this model, participants may use their approved service budget allocation to:
(1) directly employ support workers, and pay wages, federal and state payroll taxes, and premiums for workers' compensation, liability, family and medical benefit insurance, and health insurance coverage; and
(2) obtain supports and goods as defined in subdivision 7.
(b) Participants who are unable to fulfill any of the functions listed in paragraph (a) may authorize a legal representative or participant's representative to do so on their behalf.
(c) If two or more participants using the budget model live in the same household and have the same support worker, the participants must use the same FMS provider.
(d) If the FMS provider advises that there is a joint employer in the budget model, all participants associated with that joint employer must use the same FMS provider.
(e) The commissioner shall disenroll or exclude participants from the budget model and transfer them to the agency-provider model under, but not limited to, the following circumstances:
(1) when a participant has been restricted by the Minnesota restricted recipient program, in which case the participant may be excluded for a specified time period under Minnesota Rules, parts 9505.2160 to 9505.2245;
(2) when a participant exits the budget model during the participant's service plan year. Upon transfer, the participant shall not access the budget model for the remainder of that service plan year; or
(3) when the department determines that the participant or participant's representative or legal representative is unable to fulfill the responsibilities under the budget model, as specified in subdivision 14.
(f) A participant may appeal in writing to the department under section 256.045, subdivision 3, to contest the department's decision under paragraph (e), clause (3), to disenroll or exclude the participant from the budget model.
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256B.85, subdivision 13a, is amended to read:
Subd. 13a. Financial management services. (a) Services provided by an FMS provider include but are not limited to: filing and payment of federal and state payroll taxes and premiums on behalf of the participant; initiating and complying with background study requirements under chapter 245C and maintaining documentation of background study requests and results; billing for approved CFSS services with authorized funds; monitoring expenditures; accounting for and disbursing CFSS funds; providing assistance in obtaining and filing for liability, workers' compensation, family and medical benefit insurance, and unemployment coverage; and providing participant instruction and technical assistance to the participant in fulfilling employer-related requirements in accordance with section 3504 of the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations and interpretations, including Code of Federal Regulations, title 26, section 31.3504-1.
(b) Agency-provider services shall not be provided by the FMS provider.
(c) The FMS provider shall provide service functions as determined by the commissioner for budget model participants that include but are not limited to:
(1) assistance with the development of the detailed budget for expenditures portion of the CFSS service delivery plan as requested by the consultation services provider or participant;
(2) data recording and reporting of participant spending;
(3) other duties established by the department, including with respect to providing assistance to the participant, participant's representative, or legal representative in performing employer responsibilities regarding support workers. The support worker shall not be considered the employee of the FMS provider; and
(4) billing, payment, and accounting of approved expenditures for goods.
(d) The FMS provider shall obtain an assurance statement from the participant employer agreeing to follow state and federal regulations and CFSS policies regarding employment of support workers.
(e) The FMS provider shall:
(1) not limit or restrict the participant's choice of service or support providers or service delivery models consistent with any applicable state and federal requirements;
(2) provide the participant, consultation services provider, and case manager or care coordinator, if applicable, with a monthly written summary of the spending for services and supports that were billed against the spending budget;
(3) be knowledgeable of state and federal employment regulations, including those under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and comply with the requirements under chapter 268B and section 3504 of the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations and interpretations, including Code of Federal Regulations, title 26, section 31.3504-1, regarding agency employer tax liability for vendor fiscal/employer agent, and any requirements necessary to process employer and employee deductions, provide appropriate and timely submission of employer tax liabilities, and maintain documentation to support medical assistance claims;
(4) have current and adequate liability insurance and bonding and sufficient cash flow as determined by the commissioner and have on staff or under contract a certified public accountant or an individual with a baccalaureate degree in accounting;
(5) assume fiscal accountability for state funds designated for the program and be held liable for any overpayments or violations of applicable statutes or rules, including but not limited to the Minnesota False Claims Act, chapter 15C;
(6) maintain documentation of receipts, invoices, and bills to track all services and supports expenditures for any goods purchased and maintain time records of support workers. The documentation and time records must be maintained for a minimum of five years from the claim date and be available for audit or review upon request by the commissioner. Claims submitted by the FMS provider to the commissioner for payment must correspond with services, amounts, and time periods as authorized in the participant's service budget and service plan and must contain specific identifying information as determined by the commissioner; and
(7) provide written notice to the participant or the participant's representative at least 30 calendar days before a proposed service termination becomes effective.
(f) The commissioner shall:
(1) establish rates and payment methodology for the FMS provider;
(2) identify a process to ensure quality and performance standards for the FMS provider and ensure statewide access to FMS providers; and
(3) establish a uniform protocol for delivering and administering CFSS services to be used by eligible FMS providers."
Page 8, after line 16, insert:
"(e) For an applicant under a private plan as provided in section 268B.10, the base period is those most recent four quarters in which wage credits were earned with the current employer as provided by the current employer. If an employer does not have four quarters of wage detail information, the employer must accept an employee's certification of wage credits, based on the employee's records. If the employee does not provide certification of additional wage credits, the employer may use a base period that consists of all available quarters."
Page 8, line 22, delete ""Benefit year"" and insert "(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), "benefit year""
Page 8, after line 25, insert:
"(b) For a private plan under
section 268B.10, "benefit year" means:
(1) a calendar year;
(2) any fixed 12-month period, such as a
fiscal year or a 12-month period measured forward from an employee's first date
of employment;
(3) a 12-month period measured forward
from an employee's first day of leave taken; or
(4) a rolling 12-month period measured
backward from an employee's first day of leave taken.
Employers are required to notify employees of their benefit year within 30 days of the private plan approval and first day of employment."
Page 9, after line 4, insert:
"Subd. 13. Construction
industry"Construction industry" means any construction,
reconstruction, building erection, alteration, remodel, repair, renovation,
rehabilitation, excavation, or demolition of any building, structure, facility
utility, power plant, sewer, dam, highway, road, street, airport, bridge, or
other improvement.
Subd. 14. Covered active duty. "Covered active duty" has the meaning given in United States Code, title 29, section 2611(14)."
Renumber the subdivisions in sequence and correct the internal references
Page 11, line 7, delete "and"
Page 11, line 8, delete "affinity and" and after "whose" insert "close"
Page 11, line 13, delete the period and insert "; and"
Page 11, after line 13, insert:
"(7) up to one person designated by the applicant."
Page 11, line 26, after "surgeon," insert "podiatrist,"
Page 11, delete line 27 and insert "advanced practice registered nurse, alcohol and drug counselor, as defined in section 148F.01, subdivision 5, or mental health professional, as defined in section 245I.02, subdivision 27; or"
Page 12, line 24, delete "still birth" and insert "stillbirth"
Page 12, line 26, after "member's" insert "covered" and after "to" insert "covered"
Page 13, line 29, delete "at-home care or"
Page 14, line 5, after "times" insert ", within 30 days of the first day of incapacity, unless extenuating circumstances beyond the applicant's control prevent a follow-up visit from occurring as planned,"
Page 15, line 23, delete "hours" and delete "hours"
Page 19, line 31, after the period, insert "Appropriations and transfers to the account are credited to the account. Earnings, such as interest, dividends, and any other earnings arising from assets of the account, are credited to the account. Money remaining in the account at the end of a fiscal year are not canceled to the general fund but remain in the account until expended."
Page 21, line 3, after "filed" insert "up to 60 days before leave taken under section 268B.085"
Page 21, line 5, delete "at the time"
Page 21, line 6, delete "the application is filed"
Page 21, line 7, delete "does not meet eligibility at the time of the application or"
Page 22, line 27, delete "37" and insert "41"
Page 22, delete subdivision 5 and insert:
"Subd. 5. Maximum
length of benefits. (a) In a
single benefit year, an applicant may receive:
(1)
up to 12 weeks of benefits under this chapter related to the applicant's
serious health condition or pregnancy; and
(2) up to 12 weeks of benefits under
this chapter:
(i) for bonding, safety leave, or family
care; or
(ii) for leave related to one or more qualifying exigencies."
Page 24, line 13, delete "(a)"
Page 24, line 27, after "clause" insert "(3) or"
Page 24, line 31, delete "need not" and insert "must" and after "consecutive" insert ", unless the leave is intermittent"
Page 25, line 22, before the period, insert "or estimated due date"
Page 26, line 19, before the period, insert "from the employer from whom the applicant is taking leave under this chapter"
Page 26, delete subdivision 5 and insert:
"Subd. 5. Vacation,
sick leave, paid time off, and disability insurance payments. (a) An employee may use vacation pay,
sick pay, paid time off pay, or disability insurance payments, in lieu of
family or medical leave program benefits under this chapter, provided the
employee is concurrently eligible. Subject
to the limitations of section 268B.09, subdivision 1, an employee is entitled
to the employment protections under section 268B.09 for those workdays during which
this option is exercised. This
subdivision applies to private plans under section 268B.10.
(b) An employer may offer a supplemental benefit payment, as defined in section 268B.01, subdivision 41, to an employee on family or medical leave in addition to any paid family or medical leave benefits the employee is receiving. The choice to receive a supplemental benefit payment lies with the employee. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring an employee to receive, or an employer to provide, a supplemental benefit payment."
Page 27, line 3, delete "and disability insurance"
Page 27, line 7, after the semicolon, insert "or"
Page 27, line 8, delete "; or" and insert a period
Page 27, delete line 9
Page 28, line 14, after "(1)" insert "or (2)"
Page 29, line 4, after "weeks" insert ", unless the application is incomplete due to outstanding requests for information including clerical or other errors. Nothing prohibits the commissioner from requesting additional information or the applicant from supplementing their initial application before a determination of eligibility. The commissioner may extend the deadline for a determination under this subdivision due to extenuating circumstances"
Page 30, line 28, before "Ninety" insert "(a)"
Page 30, line 29, delete "which the employee" and insert "which: (1) the employee meets the eligibility criteria under section 268B.06, subdivision 1, clause (2); or"
Page 30 delete line 30
Page 31, delete lines 1 and 2 and insert:
"(2) the employee has applied for
benefits in good faith under this chapter.
For the purposes of this subdivision, good faith is defined as anything
that is not knowingly false or in reckless disregard of the truth.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), an employee no longer has a right to leave following a denial of benefits by a benefit judge. The employee's right to leave under this section is not to exceed the maximum length of benefits under section 268B.04, subdivision 5."
Page 31, after line 29, insert:
"(e) An employer may require that an employee taking leave under this chapter provide a copy of the certification under section 268B.06, subdivision 3. Upon a written request from the employer, the employee shall provide a copy of the certification as soon as practicable given all of the facts and circumstances in the individual situation. Providing certification at or around the time the employee provides a certification to the department is considered practicable. In addition to any prohibition imposed under section 268B.09, an employer must not discharge, discipline, penalize, interfere with, threaten, restrain, coerce, or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against an employee for providing this certification."
Page 31, line 30, delete "(e)" and insert "(f)"
Page 32, line 3, after the period, insert "Employees may also use bonding leave under this chapter before the actual placement or adoption of a child in situations that include but are not limited to an employee's requirement to: attend counseling sessions; appear in court; consult with any attorney or doctor representing the birth parent; submit to a physical examination; or travel to another country to complete an adoption."
Page 32, after line 13, insert:
"(c) For applicants who take leave on an intermittent or reduced leave schedule, the weekly benefit amount is prorated."
Page 33, line 1, before "Any" insert "(a)"
Page 33, line 2, before the period, insert ", except for a voluntary settlement agreement resolving disputed claims or a valid separation agreement releasing putative claims"
Page 33, after line 2, insert:
"(b) Any provision, whether oral
or written, of a lease, contract, or other agreement or instrument that
purports to be a waiver by an individual of any right or remedy provided in
this chapter is contrary to public policy and void if the waiver or release
purports to waive claims arising out of acts or practices that occur after the
execution of the waiver or release.
(c) A waiver or release of rights or
remedies secured by this chapter that purports to apply to claims arising out
of acts or practices prior to, or concurrent with, the execution of the waiver
or release may be rescinded within 15 calendar days of its execution, except
that a waiver or release given in settlement of a claim filed with the
department or with another administrative agency or judicial body is valid and
final upon execution. A waiving or
releasing party must be informed in writing of the right to rescind the waiver
or release. To be effective, the
rescission must be in writing and delivered to the waived or released party by
hand, electronically with the receiving party's consent, or by mail within the
15-day period. If delivered by mail, the
rescission must be:
(1) postmarked within the 15-day
period;
(2) properly addressed to the waived or
released party; and
(3) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested."
Page 33, line 4, before the period, insert ", except as provided under section 268B.10, subdivision 7"
Page 33, line 6, before "During" insert "(a)"
Page 33, line 7, after "benefits" insert "or leave"
Page 33, after line 10, insert:
"(b) This subdivision may be waived for employees who are working in the construction industry under a bona fide collective bargaining agreement that requires employer contributions to a multiemployer health plan pursuant to United States Code, title 29, section 186(c)(5), but only if the waiver is set forth in clear and unambiguous terms in the collective bargaining agreement and explicitly cites this subdivision."
Page 35, after line 16, insert:
"(g) Nothing in this section shall
be deemed to affect the Americans with Disabilities Act, United States Code,
title 42, chapter 126.
(h) This subdivision and subdivision 7 may be waived for employees who are working in the construction industry under a bona fide collective bargaining agreement with a construction trade union that maintains a referral‑to-work procedure for employees to obtain employment with multiple signatory employers, but only if the waiver is set forth in clear and unambiguous terms in the collective bargaining agreement and explicitly cites this subdivision and subdivision 7."
Page 36, delete lines 8 to 11 and insert:
"(i) any and all damages recoverable by law;"
Page 36, line 12, delete everything after "amount" and insert "of damages awarded; and"
Page 36, line 20, after "such" insert "injunctive and other" and delete "may be appropriate" and insert "determined by a court or jury"
Page 36, after line 26, insert:
"Rule 23 of the Rules of Civil Procedure applies to this section."
Page 37, line 10, after the period, insert "Employers may apply for approval of private plans that exceed the benefits provided to employees under this chapter."
Page 37, line 12, after "commissioner" insert ", in consultation with the commissioner of commerce,"
Page 38, line 9, after "commissioner" insert ", in consultation with the commissioner of commerce,"
Page 39, line 2, delete "medical" and insert "family" and delete "medical" and insert "family"
Page 39, after line 5, insert:
"Subd. 4. Surety
bond requirement. If the
private plan is in the form of self-insurance, the employer shall file with its
application for private provision of the medical benefit or family benefit
program a surety bond in an amount equal to the employer's annual premium that
it would otherwise be required to pay to the family and medical benefit
insurance account. The surety bond must
be in a form approved by the commissioner and issued by a surety company
authorized to transact business in Minnesota.
Subd. 5. Private
plan requirements; timing of payment; intermittent leave increments; and weekly
benefit determination. (a)
Private plan benefits under this section may be paid to align with the
employer's payroll cycle or according to the terms of the approved private
plan.
(b) Intermittent leave under a private
plan may be taken in the minimum increment the employer offers to employees for
other types of leave, not to exceed the eight-hour minimum increment under
section 268B.04, subdivision 6.
(c) For purposes of determining the family and medical benefit amount and duration under a private plan, the weekly benefit amount and duration must be based on the employee's typical workweek and wages earned with the employer at the time of an application for benefits or over the past 52-week calendar year, whichever calculation results in the highest benefit amount for the employee. If an employer does not have complete wage information for the full calendar year, the employer must accept an employee's certification of wage credits, based upon the employee's records."
Page 39, line 8, delete the third "product" and insert "product's policy form must be approved by the commissioner of commerce and issued by an insurance company authorized to transact insurance in this state."
Page 39, delete line 9
Page 39, line 25, delete "amended to conform" and insert "administered"
Page 39, after line 26, insert:
"Subd. 7. Employer reimbursement. If an employer meeting the requirements of a private plan through an insurance product under subdivision 6 has made advance payments of benefits due under this chapter or has made payments to an employee in like manner as wages during any period of family or medical leave for which the employee is entitled to the benefits provided by this chapter, the employer is entitled to be reimbursed by the carrier or third party administrator out of any benefits due or to become due for the family or medical leave, if the claim for reimbursement is filed with the carrier prior to payment of the benefits by the carrier."
Renumber the subdivisions in sequence and correct the internal references
Page 39, line 27, before "An" insert "(a)"
Page 39, line 28, delete everything before the comma and insert "application for private provision of the medical benefit or family benefit program" and after the period, insert "(b)"
Page 39, line 30, after the period, insert "An employee covered under a private plan has the right to request reconsideration of a decision under a private plan made by an insurer, private plan administrator, or employer prior to exercising appeal rights under section 268B.04."
Page 45, line 7, after "employer" insert ", except for an employer with an approved private plan under section 268B.10"
Page 45, line 15, after the first "employer" insert ", except for an employer with an approved private plan under section 268B.10,"
Page 46, line 2, delete everything after "employers" and insert "must pay a minimum of 50 percent"
Page 46, line 3, after "of" insert "the" and delete "from employee wages" and after the period, insert "Employees, through a deduction in their wages to the employer, must pay the remaining portion, if any, of the premium not paid by the employer."
Page 46, line 13, delete "employer"
Page 46, line 15, delete "employers participating in"
Page 46, line 16, delete "an employer participating in"
Page 46, line 18, delete "an employer participating in"
Page 46, line 20, after "and" insert "by July 31 of"
Page 52, line 13, delete "without" and insert "with"
Page 62, line 24, delete the second "and"
Page 62, after line 24, insert:
"(2) an explanation of the availability of family and medical leave benefits provided under this chapter for independent contractors; and"
Page 62, line 25, delete "(2)" and insert "(3)"
Page 63, line 15, delete everything before "prohibit" and insert "(2)"
Page 63, line 17, delete "under this chapter" and before the semicolon, insert "including through a supplemental benefit payment, as defined under section 268B.01, subdivision 41"
Page 63, line 18, delete "or"
Page 63, line 22, delete the period and insert "; or"
Page 63, after line 22, insert:
"(4) applied so as to create any power or duty in conflict with federal law."
Page 68, line 5, delete "January 1, 2024" and insert "July 1, 2025"
Page 68, after line 5, insert:
"ARTICLE 3
FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACTUARIAL STUDY
Section 1.
ACTUARIAL STUDY REQUIREMENT.
(a) The commissioner of employment and economic
development must contract with a qualified independent actuarial consultant to
conduct an actuarial study of the family and medical leave premium rate,
premium structure, weekly benefit formula, duration of benefit weeks, fund
reserve, and other components as necessary to determine the financial soundness
of the family and medical benefit insurance program created in this act. A qualified independent actuarial consultant
is one who is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Member of the American Academy
of Actuaries (FSA MAAA), and who has experience directly relevant to the
analysis required under this paragraph. The
commissioner must issue a request for proposal to satisfy the requirements of
this section no later than 30 days following enactment.
(b) A copy of the actuarial study must be provided to the majority and minority leaders in the senate and house of representatives no later than October 31, 2023."
Renumber the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the title as follows:
Page 1, line 2, delete everything after "to" and insert "employment; creating a family and medical benefit insurance program; requiring leave from employment under certain circumstances; allowing substitution of a private plan; prohibiting retaliation; classifying data; authorizing expedited rulemaking; appropriating money;"
Page 1, delete lines 3 to 4
Page 1, line 5, delete "money;"
Correct the title numbers accordingly
With the recommendation that when so amended the bill be re-referred to the Committee on Workforce Development Finance and Policy.
The
report was adopted.
Pursuant to Joint Rule 2.03 and in
accordance with Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 3, H. F. No. 2 was re‑referred
to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration.
Olson, L., from the Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred:
H. F. No. 2105, A bill for an act relating to state lands; modifying requirements for conveying easements; adding to state parks and state forest; authorizing sales of certain state lands; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 84.66, subdivision 7.
Reported the same back with the following amendments:
Page 13, after line 6, insert:
"Sec. 21. LAND
TRANSFER; CITY OF DULUTH.
Subdivision 1. Acquisition. (a) Notwithstanding the requirements
or limitations in Minnesota Statutes, section 161.20, or any other law to the
contrary, the commissioner of transportation may acquire, by deed or other
means, the land described in paragraph (c) from the city of Duluth for the fair
market value as determined by an appraisal of the property.
(b) The conveyance must be in a form
approved by the attorney general. The
attorney general may make changes to the land description to correct errors and
ensure accuracy.
(c) The land to be acquired is described
as:
(1) the North 52 feet of Lots 41, 43,
45, and 47 on Glass Street (formerly Fourth Street) in Fond du Lac (part of
parcel number 010-1620-00285); and
(2) those portions of Lots 49 and 51 on
said Glass Street lying North of a straight line extending from a point on the
west line of said Lot 49, distant 52 feet South measured along said west line
from the northwest corner thereof, to a point on the east line of said Lot 51,
distant 38.1 feet South measured along the east line of said Lot 51 from the
northeast corner thereof, all in Fond du Lac (part of parcel number
010-1620-00285).
(d) The interests of the state and the
city of Duluth would best be served if the land was purchased for fair market
value by the commissioner of transportation in satisfaction of a State of
Minnesota General Obligation Bond Financed Declaration under Minnesota
Statutes, section 16A.695, and returned to the Fond du Lac Band of the Lake
Superior Chippewa, also known as the Fond du Lac Band of the Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe, for the Mission Creek Cemetery.
Subd. 2. Reconveyance. (a) Upon acquiring the land described
in subdivision 1, the commissioner of transportation must convey the land
according to this subdivision. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 161.44, or any other law to the contrary, the
commissioner of transportation must convey the land described in subdivision 1
for no consideration to the Fond du Lac Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa,
also known as Fond du Lac Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, for the public
purpose of the Mission Creek Cemetery.
(b) The conveyance must be in accordance with the state standard conveyance form and may incorporate the use restrictions contained in Term 1, paragraphs (a) and (b), of the current vesting deed."
Page 13, line 8, delete "20" and insert "21"
Renumber the sections in sequence
Amend the title as follows:
Page 1, line 3, after "sales" insert ", purchases, and transfers"
With the recommendation that when so amended the bill be placed on the General Register.
The
report was adopted.
Xiong from the Committee on Workforce Development Finance and Policy to which was referred:
H. F. No. 2233, A bill for an act relating to economic development; Department of Employment and Economic Development policy provisions; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 116J.552, subdivisions 4, 6; 116L.04, subdivision 1a; 116L.17, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.
Reported the same back with the following amendments:
Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:
"ARTICLE 1
APPROPRIATIONS
Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS. |
(a) 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 "2024" and
"2025" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under
them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, or June 30, 2025,
respectively. "The first year"
is fiscal year 2024. "The second
year" is fiscal year 2025. "The
biennium" is fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
(b) If an appropriation in
this article is enacted more than once in the 2023 regular or special
legislative session, the appropriation must be given effect only once.
|
|
|
APPROPRIATIONS
|
|
|
|
|
Available
for the Year |
|
|
|
|
Ending
June 30 |
|
|
|
|
2024
|
2025
|
Sec. 2. DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
|
|
|
The amounts that may be
spent for each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.
Subd. 2. Business
and Community Development |
|
12,500,000 |
|
12,500,000 |
(a) (1) $5,000,000 each year
is for grants to local communities to increase the number of quality child care
providers to support economic development.
This is a onetime appropriation and is available through June 30, 2025. Fifty percent of grant money must go to
communities located outside the seven-county metropolitan area as defined in
Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2.
(2) Grant recipients must
obtain a 50 percent nonstate match to grant money in either cash or in-kind
contribution, unless the commissioner waives the requirement. Grant money available under this subdivision
must be used to implement projects to reduce the child care shortage in the
state, including but not limited to funding for child care business start-ups
or expansion, training, facility modifications, direct subsidies or incentives
to retain employees, or improvements required for licensing, and assistance
with licensing and other regulatory requirements. In awarding grants, the commissioner must
give priority to communities that have demonstrated a shortage of child care
providers.
(3) Within one year of
receiving grant money, grant recipients must report to the commissioner on the
outcomes of the grant program, including but not limited to the number of new
providers, the number of additional child care provider jobs created, the
number of additional child care slots, and the amount of cash and in-kind local
money invested. Within one month of all
grant recipients reporting on program outcomes, the commissioner must report
the grant recipients' outcomes to the chairs and ranking members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over early learning and child care and
economic development.
(b) $2,500,000 each year is
for a grant to the Minnesota Initiative Foundations. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2027. The
Minnesota Initiative Foundations must use grant money under this section to:
(1) facilitate planning
processes for rural communities resulting in a community solution action plan
that guides decision making to sustain and increase the supply of quality child
care in the region to support economic development;
(2) engage the private sector
to invest local resources to support the community solution action plan and
ensure quality child care is a vital component of additional regional economic
development planning processes;
(3) provide locally based
training and technical assistance to rural child care business owners
individually or through a learning cohort.
Access to financial and business development assistance must prepare
child care businesses for quality engagement and improvement by stabilizing
operations, leveraging funding from other sources, and fostering business
acumen that allows child care businesses to plan for and afford the cost of
providing quality child care; and
(4) recruit child care
programs to participate in quality rating and improvement measurement programs. The Minnesota Initiative Foundations must
work with local partners to provide low-cost training, professional development
opportunities, and continuing education curricula. The Minnesota Initiative Foundations must
fund, through local partners, an enhanced level of coaching to rural child care
providers to obtain a quality rating through measurement programs.
(c) $5,000,000 each year is
for the community energy transition grant program under Minnesota Statutes,
section 116J.55. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until expended.
Subd. 3. Employment
and Training Programs |
|
102,798,000 |
|
102,698,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
General |
88,096,000 |
88,696,000 |
Workforce Development |
14,702,000 |
14,002,000 |
(a) $500,000 each year from
the general fund and $500,000 each year from the workforce development fund are
for rural career counseling coordinators in the workforce service areas and for
the purposes specified under Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.667.
(b) $750,000 each year is
for the women and high-wage, high‑demand, nontraditional jobs grant
program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.99. Of this amount, up to five percent is for
administration and monitoring of the program.
(c) $2,546,000 each year
from the general fund and $4,604,000 each year from the workforce development
fund are for the pathways to prosperity competitive grant program. Of this amount, up to five percent is for
administration and monitoring of the program.
(d) $500,000 each year is from
the workforce development fund for current Minnesota affiliates of OIC of
America, Inc. This appropriation shall be divided equally among the eligible
centers.
(e) $1,000,000 each year is
for competitive grants to organizations providing services to relieve economic
disparities in the Southeast Asian community through workforce recruitment,
development, job creation, assistance of smaller organizations to increase
capacity, and outreach. Of this amount,
up to five percent is for administration and monitoring of the program.
(f) $1,000,000 each year is
for a competitive grant program to provide grants to organizations that provide
support services for individuals, such as job training, employment preparation,
internships, job assistance to parents, financial literacy, academic and
behavioral interventions for low-performing students, and youth intervention. Grants made under this section must focus on
low-income communities, young adults from families with a history of intergenerational
poverty, and communities of color. Of
this amount, up to five percent is for administration and monitoring of the
program.
(g) $1,750,000 each year is
for a grant to Propel Nonprofits to provide capacity-building grants and
related technical assistance to small, culturally specific organizations that
primarily serve historically underserved cultural communities. Propel Nonprofits may only award grants to
nonprofit organizations that have an annual organizational budget of less than
$1,000,000. These grants may be used
for:
(1) organizational
infrastructure improvements, including developing database management systems
and financial systems, or other administrative needs that increase the
organization's ability to access new funding sources;
(2) organizational
workforce development, including hiring culturally competent staff, training
and skills development, and other methods of increasing staff capacity; or
(3) creating or expanding
partnerships with existing organizations that have specialized expertise in
order to increase capacity of the grantee organization to improve services to
the community.
Of this amount, up to ten
percent may be used by Propel Nonprofits for administrative costs. This is a onetime appropriation.
(h) $5,230,000 each year
from the general fund and $3,348,000 each year from the workforce development
fund are for the youth‑at-work competitive grant program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 116L.562. Of this
amount, up to five percent is
for administration and monitoring of the youth workforce development competitive grant program. All grant awards shall be for two consecutive years. Grants shall be awarded in the first year. In fiscal year 2026 and beyond, the base amount from the general fund is $750,000.
(i) $1,093,000 each year from the general fund and $1,000,000 each year from the workforce development fund are for the youthbuild program under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116L.361 to 116L.366. In fiscal year 2026 and beyond, the base amount from the general fund is $0.
(j) $4,427,000 each year
from the general fund and $4,050,000 each year from the workforce development
fund are for the Minnesota youth program under Minnesota Statutes, sections
116L.56 and 116L.561. In fiscal year
2026 and beyond, the base amount from the general fund is $0.
(k) $1,000,000 each year is
for a grant to the Minnesota Technology Association to support the SciTech
Internship Program, a program that supports science, technology, engineering,
and math (STEM) internship opportunities for two‑ and four-year college
students and graduate students in their fields of study. The internship opportunities must match
students with paid internships within STEM disciplines at small, for-profit
companies located in Minnesota having fewer than 250 employees worldwide. At least 250 students must be matched each
year. No more than 15 percent of the
hires may be graduate students. Selected
hiring companies shall receive from the grant 50 percent of the wages paid to
the intern, capped at $3,000 per intern.
The program must work toward increasing the participation among women or
other underserved populations. This is a
onetime appropriation.
(l) $7,500,000 each year is
for the Drive for Five Initiative to conduct outreach and provide job skills
training, career counseling, case management, and supportive services for
careers in (1) technology, (2) labor, (3) the caring professions, (4)
manufacturing, and (5) educational and professional services. These are onetime appropriations.
(m) Of the amounts
appropriated in paragraph (l), the commissioner must make $5,000,000 each year
available through a competitive request for proposal process. The grant awards must be used to provide
education and training in the five industries identified in paragraph (l). Education and training may include:
(1) student tutoring and
testing support services;
(2) training and employment
placement in high wage and high growth employment;
(3) assistance in obtaining
industry-specific certifications;
(4) remedial training
leading to enrollment;
(5) real-time work
experience in information;
(6) career and educational
counseling;
(7) work experience and
internships; and
(8) supportive services.
(n) Of the amount
appropriated in paragraph (l), $1,625,000 each year must be awarded through
competitive grants made to trade associations or chambers of commerce for job
placement services. Grant awards must be
used to encourage workforce training efforts to ensure that efforts are aligned
with employer demands and that graduates are connected with employers that are
hiring. Trade associations or chambers
must partner with employers with current or anticipated employment
opportunities and nonprofit workforce training partners participating in this
program. The trade associations or
chambers must work closely with the industry sector training providers in the
five industries identified in paragraph (l).
Grant awards may be used for:
(1) employer engagement
strategies to align employment opportunities for individuals exiting workforce
development training programs. These
strategies may include business recruitment, job opening development, employee
recruitment, and job matching. Trade
associations must utilize the state's labor exchange system;
(2) diversity, inclusion,
and retention training for members to increase the business understanding of
welcoming and retaining a diverse workforce; and
(3) industry-specific
training.
(o) Of the amount
appropriated in paragraph (l), $875,000 each year is to hire, train, and deploy
business services representatives in local workforce development areas
throughout the state. Business services
representatives must work with an assigned local workforce development area to
address the hiring needs of Minnesota's businesses by connecting job seekers
and program participants in the CareerForce system. Business services representatives serve in
the classified service of the state and operate as part of the agency's
Employment and Training Office. The commissioner
shall develop and implement training materials and reporting and evaluation
procedures for the activities of the business services representatives. The business services representatives must:
(1) serve as the primary contact for businesses in that area;
(2) actively engage
employers by assisting with matching employers to job seekers by referring
candidates, convening job fairs, and assisting with job announcements; and
(3) work with the local area
board and the board's partners to identify candidates for openings in small and
midsize companies in the local area.
(p) $30,000,000 each year is
for the targeted population workforce grants under Minnesota Statutes, section
116L.43. The department may use up to
ten percent of this appropriation for administration, monitoring, and oversight
of the program. Of this amount:
(1) $22,000,000 each year is
for job and entrepreneurial skills training grants under Minnesota Statutes,
section 116L.43, subdivision 2;
(2) $2,000,000 each year is for diversity and inclusion training for small employers under Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.43, subdivision 3; and
(3) $6,000,000 each year is
for capacity building grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.43,
subdivision 4.
Beginning in fiscal year
2026, the base amount is $2,500,000.
(q) $1,500,000 each year is
to establish an Office of New Americans.
This is a onetime appropriation.
(r) $400,000 each year is
for a grant to the nonprofit 30,000 Feet to fund youth apprenticeship jobs, wraparound
services, after-school programming, and summer learning loss prevention
targeted at African American youth. This
is a onetime appropriation.
(s) $700,000 each year is
for a grant to Avivo to provide low‑income individuals with career
education and job skills training that is fully integrated with chemical and
mental health services. This is a
onetime appropriation.
(t)(1) $450,000 each year is
for a grant to Better Futures Minnesota to provide job skills training to
individuals who have been released from incarceration for a felony-level
offense and are no more than 12 months from the date of release. This is a onetime appropriation.
(2) Better Futures Minnesota
shall annually report to the commissioner on how the money was spent and what
results were achieved. The report must
include, at a minimum, information and data about the number of participants;
participant homelessness, employment, recidivism, and child support compliance;
and job skills training provided to program participants.
(u) $600,000 each year is for a
grant to East Side Neighborhood Services.
This is a onetime appropriation of which:
(1) $300,000 each year is
for the senior community service employment program, which provides work
readiness training to low-income adults ages 55 and older to provide ongoing
support and mentoring services to the program participants as well as the transition period from subsidized wages to
unsubsidized wages; and
(2) $300,000 each year is
for the nursing assistant plus program to serve the increased need for growth
of medical talent pipelines through expansion of the existing program and
development of in‑house training.
The amounts specified in
clauses (1) and (2) may also be used to enhance employment programming for
youth and young adults, ages 14 to 24, to introduce them to work culture,
develop essential work readiness skills, and make career plans through paid
internship experiences and work readiness training.
(v) $250,000 each year is
for Minnesota Family Resiliency Partnership programs under Minnesota Statutes,
section 116L.96. The commissioner,
through the adult career pathways program, shall distribute the money to
existing nonprofit and state displaced homemaker programs. This is a onetime appropriation.
(w) $550,000 each year is
for a grant to the International Institute of Minnesota for workforce training
for new Americans in industries in need of a trained workforce. This is a onetime appropriation.
(x) $1,500,000 each year is
for a grant to Summit Academy OIC to expand employment placement, GED
preparation and administration, and STEM programming in the Twin Cities, Saint
Cloud, and Bemidji. This is a onetime
appropriation.
(y) $500,000 each year is
for a grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities to provide
disadvantaged youth ages 12 to 21 with job-seeking skills, connections to job
training and education opportunities, and mentorship while exploring careers. The grant must serve youth in the Big
Brothers Big Sisters chapters in the Twin Cities, central Minnesota, and
southern Minnesota. This is a onetime
appropriation.
(z) $400,000 each year is
for a grant to the White Bear Center for the Arts for establishing a paid
internship program for high school students to learn professional development
skills through an arts perspective. This
is a onetime appropriation.
(aa) $750,000 each year is
for a grant to Bridges to Healthcare to provide career education, wraparound
support services, and job skills training in high-demand health care fields to
low-income parents, nonnative speakers of English, and other hard-to-train
individuals, and to help
families build secure pathways out of poverty and address worker shortages in
one of Minnesota's most innovative industries.
Money may be used for program expenses, including but not limited to
hiring instructors and navigators; space rental; and supportive services to
help participants attend classes, including assistance with course fees, child
care, transportation, and safe and stable housing. Up to five percent of grant money may be used
for Bridges to Healthcare's administrative costs. This is a onetime appropriation.
(bb) $400,000 each year is
for a grant to Hired to expand their career pathway job training and placement
program that connects lower-skilled job seekers to entry-level and gateway jobs
in high‑growth sectors. This is a
onetime appropriation.
(cc) $1,000,000 each year
is for a grant to the Minnesota Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs to administer
a statewide project of youth job skills and career development. This project, which may have career guidance
components including health and life skills, must be designed to encourage,
train, and assist youth in early access to education and job-seeking skills;
work-based learning experience, including career pathways in STEM learning,
career exploration, and matching; and first job placement through local community
partnerships and on-site job opportunities.
This grant requires a 25 percent match from nonstate sources. This is a onetime appropriation.
(dd) $300,000 each year is
for a grant to Southeast Minnesota Workforce Development Area 8 and Workforce
Development, Inc., to provide career planning, career pathway training and
education, wraparound support services, and job skills advancement in
high-demand careers to individuals with barriers to employment in Steele
County, and to help families build secure pathways out of poverty and address
worker shortages in the Owatonna and Steele County area, as well as supporting
Employer Outreach Services that provide solutions to workforce challenges and
direct connections to workforce programming.
Money may be used for program expenses, including but not limited to
hiring instructors and navigators; space rental; and supportive services to
help participants attend classes, including assistance with course fees, child
care, transportation, and safe and stable housing. Up to five percent of grant money may be used
for Workforce Development, Inc.'s administrative costs. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2025.
(ee) $1,250,000 each year
is for a grant to Ujamaa Place to assist primarily African American men with
job training, employment preparation, internships, education, vocational
housing, and organizational capacity building.
This is a onetime appropriation.
(ff) $500,000 each year is for
grants to Minnesota Diversified Industries, Inc., to provide inclusive
employment opportunities and services for people with disabilities. This is a onetime appropriation.
(gg) $1,000,000 each year is
for performance grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8747, to Twin
Cities R!SE to provide training to individuals facing barriers to employment. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2026.
(hh) $500,000 each year is
for the getting to work grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section
116J.545. Of this amount, up to five
percent is for administration and monitoring of the program. This is a onetime appropriation.
(ii) $400,000 the first year
is for a grant to the ProStart and Hospitality Tourism Management Program for a
well-established, proven, and successful education program that helps young
people advance careers in the hospitality industry and addresses critical
long-term workforce shortages in the tourism industry.
(jj) $1,500,000 each year is
for a grant to Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio-Latino Communities United
in Service (CLUES) to address employment, economic, and technology access
disparities for low-income, unemployed, or underemployed individuals. Money must be used to support short-term
certifications and transferable skills in high-demand fields, workforce
readiness, customized financial capability, and employment supports. At least 50 percent of this amount must be
used for programming targeted at greater Minnesota. This is a onetime appropriation.
(kk) $500,000 each year is for a grant to the American Indian Opportunities and Industrialization Center for workforce development programming, including reducing academic disparities for American Indian students and adults. This is a onetime appropriation.
(ll) $300,000 each year is
for a grant to YMCA of the North to provide career exploration, job training,
and workforce development services for underserved youth and young adults. This is a onetime appropriation.
(mm) $750,000 each year is
for grants to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's Teen Teamworks youth
employment and training programs. This
is a onetime appropriation and is available in either year of the biennium and
is available until spent.
(nn) $700,000 each year is
for grants to support competitive robotics teams that prepare youth for careers
in STEM fields, by creating internships for high school students to work at
private companies in STEM fields, including the payment of student stipends. This is a onetime appropriation.
(oo) $1,000,000 in the first
year and $2,000,000 in the second year are for a clean economy equitable
workforce grant program. Money must be
used for grants to support partnership development, planning, and
implementation of workforce readiness programs aimed at workers who are Black,
Indigenous, and People of Color. Programs
may include workforce training, career development, workers' rights training,
employment placement, and culturally appropriate job readiness and must prepare
workers for careers in the high-demand fields of construction, clean energy,
and energy efficiency. Grants must be
given to nonprofit organizations that serve historically disenfranchised
communities, including new Americans, with preference for organizations that
are new providers of workforce programming or which have partnership agreements
with registered apprenticeship programs.
This is a onetime appropriation.
(pp) $500,000 each year is
for a grant to Emerge Community Development to support and reinforce critical
workforce training at the Emerge Career and Technical Center, Cedar-Riverside
Opportunity Center, and Emerge Second Chance programs in Minneapolis. This is a onetime appropriation.
(qq) $500,000 each year is
for a grant to Project for Pride in Living to provide job training and workforce
development services for underserved communities. This is a onetime appropriation.
(rr) $500,000 each year is
for a grant to Pillsbury United Communities to provide job training and
workforce development services for underserved communities. This is a onetime appropriation.
(ss) $1,000,000 each year
is for a grant to the Redemption Project to provide employment services to
adults leaving incarceration, including recruiting, educating, training, and
retaining employment mentors and partners.
This is a onetime appropriation.
(tt) $350,000 each year is
for a grant to the YWCA of Minneapolis to provide training to eligible
individuals, including job skills training, career counseling, and job
placement assistance necessary to secure a child development associate
credential and to have a career path in early childhood education. This is a onetime appropriation.
(uu) $500,000 each year is
for a grant to Greater Twin Cities United Way to make grants to partner
organizations to provide workforce training using the career pathways model
that helps students gain work experience, earn experience in high-demand
fields, and transition into family-sustaining careers. This is a onetime appropriation.
(vv) $1,500,000 each year is
for a grant to the nonprofit Sanneh Foundation to fund out-of-school summer
programs focused on mentoring and behavioral, social, and emotional learning
interventions and enrichment activities directed toward low‑income
students of color. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until spent.
(ww) $3,000,000 each year
is for a grant to Youthprise to provide economic development services designed
to enhance long-term economic self-sufficiency in communities with concentrated
African populations statewide. Of these
amounts, 50 percent is for subgrants to Ka Joog and 50 percent is for
competitive subgrants to community organizations. This is a onetime appropriation.
(xx) $1,000,000 each year
is for performance grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.8747, to
Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota and its partners. The grant shall be used to continue the
FATHER Project in Rochester, St. Cloud, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and
the surrounding areas to assist fathers in overcoming barriers that prevent
fathers from supporting their children economically and emotionally, including
with community re-entry following confinement.
This is a onetime appropriation.
(yy) $1,000,000 each year
is for a grant to the Hmong American Partnership to expand job training and
placement programs primarily serving the Southeast Asian community. This is a onetime appropriation.
(zz) $400,000 each year is
for a grant to Project Restore Minnesota for the Social Kitchen project, a
pathway program for careers in the culinary arts. This is a onetime appropriation.
(aaa) $1,000,000 each year
is for competitive grants to organizations providing services to relieve
economic disparities in the African immigrant community through workforce
recruitment, development, job creation, assistance of smaller organizations to
increase capacity, and outreach. Of this
amount, up to five percent is for administration and monitoring of the program. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the base
amount is $200,000.
(bbb) $500,000 each year is
for a grant to the Hmong Chamber of Commerce to train ethnically Southeast
Asian business owners and operators in better business practices. Of this amount, up to $5,000 may be used for
administrative costs. This is a onetime
appropriation.
(ccc) $250,000 each year is
for a grant to the Center for Economic Inclusion for a strategic intervention
program designed to target and connect program participants to meaningful,
sustainable living-wage employment. This
is a onetime appropriation.
(ddd) $100,000 each year is for
grants to the Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation for Carts to Careers, a
statewide initiative to promote careers, conduct outreach, provide job skills
training, and award scholarships for students pursuing careers in the food
industry. This is a onetime appropriation.
(eee) $500,000 each year is
for a grant to Minnesota Independence College and Community to provide
employment preparation, job placement, job retention, and service coordination
services to adults with autism and learning differences. This is a onetime appropriation.
(fff) $500,000 each year is
for a grant to Ramsey County to provide job training and workforce development
for underserved communities. Grant money
may be subgranted to Milestone Community Development for the Milestone Tech
program. This is a onetime
appropriation.
(ggg) $500,000 each year is
for a grant to Ramsey County for a technology training pathway program focused
on intergenerational community tech work for residents who are at least 18
years old and no more than 24 years old and who live in a census tract that has
a poverty rate of at least 20 percent as reported in the most recently
completed decennial census published by the United States Bureau of the Census. Grant money may be used for program
administration, training, training stipends, wages, and support services. This is a onetime appropriation.
(hhh) $700,000 in the first
year is from the workforce development fund for a grant to the Southwest
Initiative Foundation for the southwestern Minnesota workforce development
scholarship pilot program. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2028.
Subd. 4. General
Support Services |
|
17,505,000 |
|
7,505,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
General Fund |
17,450,000 |
7,450,000 |
Workforce Development |
55,000 |
55,000 |
(a) $1,269,000 each year is
for transfer to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for operating the Olmstead
Compliance Office.
(b) $10,000,000 in the first
year is for the workforce digital transformation projects. This appropriation is available until June 30,
2027.
Subd. 5. Vocational
Rehabilitation |
|
42,341,000 |
|
42,341,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
General |
34,511,000 |
34,511,000 |
Workforce Development |
7,830,000 |
7,830,000
|
(a) $14,300,000 each year is
for the state's vocational rehabilitation program under Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 268A.
(b) $11,495,000 each year
from the general fund and $6,830,000 each year from the workforce development
fund are for extended employment services for persons with severe disabilities
under Minnesota Statutes, section 268A.15.
Of the amounts appropriated from the general fund, $4,500,000 each year
is for new rate increases and maintaining prior rate increases to providers of
extended employment services.
(c) $4,805,000 each year is
for grants to programs that provide employment support services to persons with
mental illness under Minnesota Statutes, sections 268A.13 and 268A.14. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the base
amount is $2,555,000.
(d) $3,911,000 each year is
for grants to centers for independent living under Minnesota Statutes, section
268A.11. Beginning in fiscal year 2026,
the base amount is $3,011,000.
(e) $1,000,000 each year is
from the workforce development fund for grants under Minnesota Statutes,
section 268A.16, for employment services for persons, including transition-age
youth, who are deaf, deafblind, or hard-of-hearing. If the amount in the first year is
insufficient, the amount in the second year is available in the first year.
Subd. 6. Services
for the Blind |
|
11,425,000 |
|
11,425,000 |
(a) $500,000 each year is
for senior citizens who are becoming blind.
At least one-half of the money for this purpose must be used to provide
training services for seniors who are becoming blind. Training services must provide independent
living skills to seniors who are becoming blind to allow them to continue to
live independently in their homes.
(b) $2,500,000 each year is
for the employer reasonable accommodation fund.
This is a onetime appropriation.
Sec. 3. DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS |
|
$3,500,000 |
|
$3,500,000 |
(a) $2,250,000 each year is
for contracts with Minnesota's institutions of higher education to provide
instruction to incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities and to
support partnerships with public and private employers, trades programs, and
community colleges in providing employment opportunities for individuals after
incarceration. Funding must be used for
contracts with institutions of higher education and other training providers
and associated re-entry and operational support services provided by the agency. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the base
amount is $200,000.
(b) $1,250,000 each year is to expand
the use of the existing work release program at the Department of Corrections
to increase the availability of educational programming for incarcerated
individuals who are eligible and approved for work release. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the base
amount is $100,000.
ARTICLE 2
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Section 1. [116J.545]
GETTING TO WORK GRANT PROGRAM.
Subdivision 1. Creation. The commissioner of employment and
economic development shall make grants to nonprofit organizations to establish
and operate programs under this section that provide, repair, or maintain motor
vehicles to assist eligible individuals to obtain or maintain employment. All grants shall be for two years.
Subd. 2. Qualified
grantee. A grantee must:
(1) qualify under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
(2) at the time of
application, offer or have the demonstrated capacity to offer a motor vehicle
program that provides the services required under subdivision 3.
Subd. 3. Program
requirements. (a) A program
must offer one or more of the following services:
(1) provision of new or
used motor vehicles by gift, sale, or lease;
(2) motor vehicle repair
and maintenance services; or
(3) motor vehicle loans.
(b) In addition to the
requirements of paragraph (a), a program must offer one or more of the
following services:
(1) financial literacy
education;
(2) education on
budgeting for vehicle ownership;
(3) car maintenance and
repair instruction;
(4) credit counseling; or
(5) job training related
to motor vehicle maintenance and repair.
Subd. 4. Application. Applications for a grant must be on a
form provided by the commissioner and on a schedule set by the commissioner. Applications must, in addition to any other
information required by the commissioner, include the following:
(1) a detailed
description of all services to be offered;
(2) the area to be
served;
(3) the estimated number
of program participants to be served by the grant; and
(4) a plan for leveraging
resources from partners that may include but are not limited to:
(i) automobile dealers;
(ii) automobile parts
dealers;
(iii) independent local
mechanics and automobile repair facilities;
(iv) banks and credit
unions;
(v) employers;
(vi) employment and training
agencies;
(vii) insurance companies
and agents;
(viii) local workforce
centers; and
(ix) educational
institutions, including vocational institutions and jobs or skills training
programs.
Subd. 5. Participant
eligibility. (a) To be eligible
to receive program services, a person must:
(1) have a household
income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level;
(2) be at least 18 years
of age;
(3) have a valid driver's
license;
(4) provide the grantee
with proof of motor vehicle insurance; and
(5) demonstrate to the
grantee that a motor vehicle is required by the person to obtain or maintain
employment.
(b) This subdivision does
not preclude a grantee from imposing additional requirements, not inconsistent
with paragraph (a), for the receipt of program services.
Subd. 6. Report
to legislature. By January
15, 2026, and each January 15 in an even-numbered year thereafter, the
commissioner shall submit a report to the chairs of the house of
representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over workforce and
economic development on program outcomes.
At a minimum, the report must include:
(1) the total number of
program participants;
(2) the number of program
participants who received each of the following:
(i) provision of a motor
vehicle;
(ii) motor vehicle repair
services; and
(iii) motor vehicle
loans;
(3) the number of program
participants who report that they or their children were able to increase their
participation in community activities such as after school programs, other
youth programs, church or civic groups, or library services as a result of
participation in the program; and
(4) an analysis of the impact
of the getting to work grant program on the employment rate and wages of
program participants.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116J.5492, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd. 8. Meetings. The advisory committee must meet monthly
until the energy transition plan is submitted quarterly and submit an
updated energy transition plan annually to the governor and the legislature. Once submitted, the committee shall
develop a regular meeting schedule as needed. The chair may call additional meetings as
necessary.
Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116J.5492, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
Subd. 10. Expiration. This section expires the day after the
Minnesota energy transition plan required under section 116J.5493 is submitted
to the legislature and the governor on June 30, 2027.
Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116J.55, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, "eligible community" means a county, municipality, or tribal government located in Minnesota in which an electric generating plant owned by a public utility, as defined in section 216B.02, that is powered by coal, nuclear energy, or natural gas:
(1) is currently operating
and (i) is scheduled to cease operations or, (ii) whose
cessation of operations has been proposed in an integrated resource plan filed
with the commission under section 216B.2422, or (iii) whose current
operating license expires within 15 years of the effective date of this section;
or
(2) ceased operations or was removed from the local property tax base no earlier than five years before the date an application is made for a grant under this section.
Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116J.55, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Grant
awards; limitations. (a) The
commissioner must award grants under this section to eligible communities
through a competitive grant process.
(b) (a) A
grant awarded to an eligible community under this section must not exceed $500,000
$1,000,000 in any calendar year. The
commissioner may accept grant applications on an ongoing or rolling basis.
(c) (b) Grants
funded with revenues from the renewable development account established in
section 116C.779 must be awarded to an eligible community located within the
retail electric service territory of the public utility that is subject to
section 116C.779 or to an eligible community in which an electric generating
plant owned by that public utility is located.
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116J.55, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Eligible expenditures. (a) Money in the account established in subdivision 3 must be used only to:
(1) award grants to eligible communities under this section; and
(2) reimburse the
department's reasonable costs to administer this section, up to a maximum of
five percent of the appropriation made to the commissioner under this section. The commissioner may transfer part of the
allowable administrative portion of this appropriation to the Environmental
Quality Board to assist communities with regulatory coordination and dedicated
technical assistance on conversion for these communities.
(b) An eligible community awarded a grant under this section may use the grant to plan for or address the economic and social impacts on the eligible community of the electric generating plant's cessation of operations, including but not limited to land use studies, economic planning, researching, planning, and implementing activities, capital costs of public infrastructure necessary for economic development, and impact studies and other planning activities enabling communities to become shovel-ready and support the transition from power plants to other economic activities to minimize the negative impacts of power plant closures on tax revenues and jobs designed to:
(1) assist workers at the plant find new employment, including worker retraining and developing small business start-up skills;
(2) increase the eligible community's property tax base; and
(3) develop alternative economic development strategies to attract new employers to the eligible community.
Sec. 7. [116J.659]
OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS.
Subdivision 1. Office
established; purpose. (a) The
Office of New Americans is established within the Department of Employment and
Economic Development. The governor must
appoint an assistant commissioner who serves in the unclassified service. The assistant commissioner must hire a
program manager and an office assistant, as well as any staff necessary to
carry out the office's duties under subdivision 2.
(b) The purpose of the
office is to serve immigrants and refugees in Minnesota by:
(1) addressing challenges
that face immigrants and refugees in Minnesota, and creating access in economic
development and workforce programs and services; and
(2) providing interstate
agency coordination, policy reviews, and guidance that assist in creating
access to immigrants and refugees.
Subd. 2. Duties. (a) The office has the duty to:
(1) create and implement
a statewide strategy to support immigrant and refugee integration into
Minnesota communities;
(2) address the state's
workforce needs by connecting employers and job seekers within the immigrant
and refugee community;
(3) identify strategies
to reduce employment barriers, including the creation of alternative pathways
for immigrants and refugees;
(4) support programs and
activities designed to ensure equitable access to the workforce for immigrants
and refugees, including those who are disabled;
(5) support equitable
opportunities for immigrants and refugees to access state government services
and grants;
(6) work with state
agencies and community and foundation partners to undertake studies and
research and analyze economic and demographic trends to better understand and
serve the state's immigrant and refugee communities;
(7) coordinate and
establish best practices for language access initiatives to all state agencies;
(8) convene stakeholders
and provide assistance and recommendations to the governor on issues impacting
immigrants and refugees;
(9) make policy recommendations
to the governor on issues impacting immigrants and refugees;
(10) develop systems of
communication and collaboration with local offices and service providers to
ensure that immigrants and refugees can access support available to them to
address multisectoral barriers to success, including in the areas of
employment, housing, legal services, health care, and education;
(11) collaborate with
existing immigrant and refugee inclusion positions and offices at the city and
county level statewide;
(12) encourage and
support the creation of new immigrant and refugee inclusion positions and
offices at the city and county level statewide;
(13) serve as the point
of contact for immigrants and refugees accessing resources both within the
department and with boards charged with oversight of a profession;
(14) promulgate rules
necessary to implement and effectuate this section;
(15) provide an annual
report, as required by subdivision 3; and
(16) perform any other
activities consistent with the office's purpose.
Subd. 3. Reporting. (a) Beginning January 15, 2024, and
each year thereafter, the Office of New Americans shall report to the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over the office's activities during
the previous year.
(b) The report shall
contain, at a minimum:
(1) a summary of the
office's activities;
(2) suggested policies,
incentives, and legislation designed to accelerate the achievement of the
duties under subdivision 2;
(3) any proposed
legislative and policy initiatives;
(4) the amount and types
of grants awarded under subdivision 6; and
(5) any other
information deemed necessary and requested by the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over the office.
(c) The report may be
submitted electronically and is subject to section 3.195, subdivision 1.
Subd. 4. Interdepartmental
Coordinating Council on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. (a) An interdepartmental Coordinating
Council on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs is established to advise the Office of
New Americans.
(b) The purpose of the
council is to identify and establish ways in which state departments and
agencies can work together to deliver state programs and services effectively
and efficiently to Minnesota's immigrant and refugee populations. The council shall implement policies,
procedures, and programs requested by the governor through the state
departments and offices.
(c) The council shall be
chaired by the assistant commissioner of the Office of New Americans and shall
be comprised of the commissioners, department directors, or senior leadership
designees, from the following state departments and offices:
(1) the governor's
office;
(2) the Department of
Administration;
(3) the Department of
Employment and Economic Development;
(4) the Department of
Human Services;
(5) the Department of
Human Services Resettlement Program Office;
(6) the Department of
Labor and Industry;
(7) the Department of
Health;
(8) the Department of
Education;
(9) the Office of Higher
Education;
(10) the Department of Public Safety;
(11) the Department of
Corrections;
(12) the Council for
Minnesotans of African Heritage;
(13) the Minnesota
Council on Latino Affairs; and
(14) the Council on Asian
Pacific Minnesotans.
(d) Each department or
office serving as a member of the council shall designate one staff member as
an immigrant and refugee services liaison.
The liaisons' responsibilities shall include:
(1) preparation and
dissemination of information and services available to immigrants and refugees;
and
(2) interfacing with the
Office of New Americans on issues that impact immigrants and refugees and their
communities.
Subd. 5. No
right of action. Nothing in
this section shall be construed to create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the state; its
departments, agencies, or entities; its officers, employees, or agents; or any
other person.
Subd. 6. Grants. The office may apply for grants for
interested state agencies, community partners, and stakeholders under this
section to carry out the duties under subdivision 2. In awarding grants, the commissioner must
allocate grants as evenly as practicable among interested parties.
Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116L.361, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7. Very
Low income. " Very Low
income" means incomes that are at or less than 50 80 percent
of the area median income, adjusted for family size, as estimated by the
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116L.362, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Generally. (a) The commissioner shall make grants to eligible organizations for programs to provide education and training services to targeted youth. The purpose of these programs is to provide specialized training and work experience for targeted youth who have not been served effectively by the current educational system. The programs are to include a work experience component with work projects that result in the rehabilitation, improvement, or construction of (1) residential units for the homeless; (2) improvements to the energy efficiency and environmental health of residential units and other green jobs purposes; (3) facilities to support community garden projects; or (4) education, social service, or health facilities which are owned by a public agency or a private nonprofit organization.
(b) Eligible facilities must
principally provide services to homeless or very low income individuals
and families, and include the following:
(1) Head Start or day care centers, including playhouses or similar incidental structures;
(2) homeless, battered women, or other shelters;
(3) transitional housing and tiny houses;
(4) youth or senior citizen centers;
(5) community health centers; and
(6) community garden facilities.
Two or more eligible organizations may jointly apply for a grant. The commissioner shall administer the grant program.
Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116L.364, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Work
experience component. A work
experience component must be included in each program. The work experience component must provide
vocational skills training in an industry where there is a viable expectation
of job opportunities. A training
subsidy, living allowance, or stipend, not to exceed an amount equal to 100
percent of the poverty line for a family of two as defined in United States
Code, title 42, section 673, paragraph (2) the final rules and regulations
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, may be provided to program
participants. The wage or stipend must
be provided to participants who are recipients of public assistance in a manner
or amount which will not reduce public assistance benefits. The work experience component must be
designed so that work projects result in (1) the expansion or improvement of
residential units for homeless persons and very low income families; (2)
improvements to the energy efficiency and environmental health of residential
units; (3) facilities to support community garden projects; or (4)
rehabilitation, improvement, or construction of eligible education, social
service, or health facilities that principally serve homeless or very
low income individuals and families. Any
work project must include direct supervision by individuals skilled in each
specific vocation. Program participants
may earn credits toward the completion of their secondary education from their
participation in the work experience component.
Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116L.365, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Priority for housing. Any residential or transitional housing units that become available through a work project that is part of the program described in section 116L.364 must be allocated in the following order:
(1) homeless targeted youth who have participated in constructing, rehabilitating, or improving the unit;
(2) homeless families with at least one dependent;
(3) other homeless individuals;
(4) other very low
income families and individuals; and
(5) families or individuals that receive public assistance and that do not qualify in any other priority group.
Sec. 12. [116L.43]
TARGETED POPULATIONS WORKFORCE GRANTS.
Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.
(b) "Community-based
organization" means a nonprofit organization that:
(1) provides workforce
development programming or services;
(2) has an annual
organizational budget of no more than $1,000,000;
(3) has its primary office located in a historically underserved
community of color or low-income community; and
(4) serves a population
that generally reflects the demographics of that local community.
(c) "Entry level
jobs" means part-time or full-time jobs that an individual can perform
without any prior education or experience.
(d) "High wage" means the income needed for a family to cover minimum necessary expenses in a given geographic area, including food, child care, health care, housing, and transportation.
(e) "Industry
specific certification" means a credential an individual can earn to show proficiency
in a particular area or skill.
(f) "Remedial
training" means additional training provided to staff following the
identification of a need and intended to increase proficiency in performing job
tasks.
(g) "Small
business" has the same meaning as section 645.445.
Subd. 2. Job
and entrepreneurial skills training grants.
(a) The commissioner shall establish a job and entrepreneurial
skills training grant program that must provide competitive funding to
community-based organizations to provide skills training that leads to
employment or business development in high-growth industries.
(b) Eligible forms of
skills training include:
(1) student tutoring and
testing support services;
(2) training and
employment placement in high-wage and high-growth employment;
(3) assistance in
obtaining industry specific certifications;
(4) remedial training
leading to enrollment in further training or education;
(5) real-time work
experience or on-the-job training;
(6) career and
educational counseling;
(7) work experience and
internships;
(8)
supportive services;
(9) tuition
reimbursement for new entrants into public sector careers;
(10) career mentorship;
(11) postprogram case
management services;
(12) job placement
services; and
(13) the cost of
corporate board of director training for people of color.
(c) Grant awards must
not exceed $750,000 per year per organization and all funding awards must be
made for the duration of a biennium. An
organization may partner with another organization to utilize grant awards,
provided that the organizations must not be funded to deliver the same services. Grants awarded under this subdivision are not
subject to section 116L.98.
Subd. 3. Diversity
and inclusion training for small employers.
(a) The commissioner shall establish a diversity and inclusion
training grant program which shall provide competitive grants to small
businesses for diversity and inclusion training, including the creation and
implementation of a plan to actively engage, hire, and retain people of color
for both entry level and high-wage opportunities, including management and
board of director positions.
(b) Grant awards must
not exceed $300,000 per year per business.
A business may only receive one grant for diversity and inclusion
training per biennium.
(c) Applicants are
required to submit a plan for use of the funds.
Grant recipients are required to submit a diversity and inclusion
implementation plan after training is completed.
(d) Grants awarded under
this subdivision are not subject to section 116L.98.
(e) Sections 116J.993 to
116J.995 do not apply to assistance under this subdivision.
Subd. 4. Capacity
building. (a) The
commissioner shall establish a capacity building grant program to provide
training services and funding for capacity building to community-based
organizations.
(b) Eligible uses of
grant awards include covering the cost of workforce program delivery staff,
program infrastructure costs, and workforce training related service model
development.
(c) Grant awards must
not exceed $50,000 per organization and are limited to one grant per
community-based organization.
(d) Grants awarded under this subdivision are not subject to section 116L.98.
(e) Grant recipients
must submit a report to the commissioner outlining the use of grant funds and
the impact of that funding on the community-based organization's future ability
to provide workforce development services.
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116L.56, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Eligible
applicant. "Eligible
applicant" means an individual who is between the ages of 14 and 21
24 and economically disadvantaged.
An at-risk youth who is classified as a family of one is deemed economically disadvantaged. For purposes of eligibility determination the following individuals are considered at risk:
(1) a pregnant or parenting youth;
(2) a youth with limited English proficiency;
(3) a potential or actual school dropout;
(4) a youth in an offender or diversion program;
(5) a public assistance recipient or a recipient of group home services;
(6) a youth with disabilities including learning disabilities;
(7) a child of drug or alcohol abusers or a youth with substance use disorder;
(8) a homeless or runaway youth;
(9) a youth with basic skills deficiency;
(10) a youth with an educational attainment of one or more levels below grade level appropriate to age; or
(11) a foster child.
Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116L.561, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Allocation
formula. Seventy percent of
Minnesota youth program funds must be allocated based on the county's share of
economically disadvantaged youth. The
remaining 30 percent must be allocated based on the county's share of
population ages 14 to 21 24.
Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 116L.562, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this section:
(1) "eligible organization" or "eligible applicant" means a local government unit, nonprofit organization, community action agency, or a public school district;
(2) "at-risk youth" means youth classified as at-risk under section 116L.56, subdivision 2; and
(3) "economically
disadvantaged" means youth who are economically disadvantaged as defined
in United States Code, title 29, section 1503 the rules and
regulations of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 268.035, subdivision 20, is amended to read:
Subd. 20. Noncovered employment. "Noncovered employment" means:
(1) employment for the United States government or an instrumentality thereof, including military service;
(2) employment for a state, other than Minnesota, or a political subdivision or instrumentality thereof;
(3) employment for a foreign government;
(4) employment covered under the federal Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act;
(5) employment for a church or convention or association of churches, or a nonprofit organization operated primarily for religious purposes that is operated, supervised, controlled, or principally supported by a church or convention or association of churches;
(6) employment for an elementary or secondary school with a curriculum that includes religious education that is operated by a church, a convention or association of churches, or a nonprofit organization that is operated, supervised, controlled, or principally supported by a church or convention or association of churches;
(7) employment for Minnesota or a political subdivision, or a nonprofit organization, of a duly ordained or licensed minister of a church in the exercise of a ministry or by a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties required by the order;
(8) employment for Minnesota or a political subdivision, or a nonprofit organization, of an individual receiving rehabilitation of "sheltered" work in a facility conducted for the purpose of carrying out a program of rehabilitation for individuals whose earning capacity is impaired by age or physical or mental deficiency or injury or a program providing "sheltered" work for individuals who because of an impaired physical or mental capacity cannot be readily absorbed in the competitive labor market. This clause applies only to services performed in a facility certified by the Rehabilitation Services Branch of the department or in a day training or habilitation program licensed by the Department of Human Services;
(9) employment for Minnesota or a political subdivision, or a nonprofit organization, of an individual receiving work relief or work training as part of an unemployment work relief or work training program financed in whole or in part by any federal agency or an agency of a state or political subdivision thereof. This clause does not apply to programs that require unemployment benefit coverage for the participants;
(10) employment for Minnesota or a political subdivision, as an elected official, a member of a legislative body, or a member of the judiciary;
(11) employment as a member of the Minnesota National Guard or Air National Guard;
(12) employment for Minnesota or a political subdivision, or instrumentality thereof, of an individual serving on a temporary basis in case of fire, flood, tornado, or similar emergency;
(13) employment as an election official or election worker for Minnesota or a political subdivision, if the compensation for that employment was less than $1,000 in a calendar year;
(14) employment for Minnesota that is a major policy-making or advisory position in the unclassified service;
(15) employment for Minnesota in an unclassified position established under section 43A.08, subdivision 1a;
(16) employment for a political subdivision of Minnesota that is a nontenured major policy making or advisory position;
(17) domestic employment in a private household, local college club, or local chapter of a college fraternity or sorority, if the wages paid in any calendar quarter in either the current or prior calendar year to all individuals in domestic employment totaled less than $1,000.
"Domestic employment" includes all service in the operation and maintenance of a private household, for a local college club, or local chapter of a college fraternity or sorority as distinguished from service as an employee in the pursuit of an employer's trade or business;
(18) employment of an individual by a son, daughter, or spouse, and employment of a child under the age of 18 by the child's father or mother;
(19) employment of an inmate of a custodial or penal institution;
(20) employment for a school, college, or university, by a student who is enrolled and whose primary relation to the school, college, or university is as a student. This does not include an individual whose primary relation to the school, college, or university is as an employee who also takes courses;
(21) employment of an individual who is enrolled as a student in a full-time program at a nonprofit or public educational institution that maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and has a regularly organized body of students in attendance at the place where its educational activities are carried on, taken for credit at the institution, that combines academic instruction with work experience, if the employment is an integral part of the program, and the institution has so certified to the employer, except that this clause does not apply to employment in a program established for or on behalf of an employer or group of employers;
(22) employment of a foreign college or university student who works on a seasonal or temporary basis under the J-1 visa summer work travel program described in Code of Federal Regulations, title 22, section 62.32;
(23) employment of university, college, or professional school students in an internship or other training program with the city of St. Paul or the city of Minneapolis under Laws 1990, chapter 570, article 6, section 3;
(24) employment for a hospital by a patient of the hospital. "Hospital" means an institution that has been licensed by the Department of Health as a hospital;
(25) employment as a student nurse for a hospital or a nurses' training school by an individual who is enrolled and is regularly attending classes in an accredited nurses' training school;
(26) employment as an intern for a hospital by an individual who has completed a four-year course in an accredited medical school;
(27) employment as an insurance salesperson, by other than a corporate officer, if all the wages from the employment is solely by way of commission. The word "insurance" includes an annuity and an optional annuity;
(28) employment as an officer of a township mutual insurance company or farmer's mutual insurance company under chapter 67A;
(29) employment of a corporate officer, if the officer directly or indirectly, including through a subsidiary or holding company, owns 25 percent or more of the employer corporation, and employment of a member of a limited liability company, if the member directly or indirectly, including through a subsidiary or holding company, owns 25 percent or more of the employer limited liability company;
(30) employment as a real estate salesperson, other than a corporate officer, if all the wages from the employment is solely by way of commission;
(31) employment as a direct seller as defined in United States Code, title 26, section 3508;
(32) employment of an individual under the age of 18 in the delivery or distribution of newspapers or shopping news, not including delivery or distribution to any point for subsequent delivery or distribution;
(33) casual employment performed for an individual, other than domestic employment under clause (17), that does not promote or advance that employer's trade or business;
(34) employment in
"agricultural employment" unless it is "covered agricultural
employment" under subdivision 11; or
(35)
if employment during one-half or more of any pay period was covered employment,
all the employment for the pay period is covered employment; but if during more
than one-half of any pay period the employment was noncovered employment, then
all of the employment for the pay period is noncovered employment. "Pay period" means a period of not
more than a calendar month for which a payment or compensation is ordinarily
made to the employee by the employer.; or
(36) employment of a
foreign agricultural worker who works on a seasonal or temporary basis under
the H-2A visa temporary agricultural employment program described in Code of
Federal Regulations, title 20, section 655.
Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 268A.15, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 8a. Provider
rate increases. (a) Effective
July 1, 2023, subject to the availability of additional funding, an annual
growth factor adjustment of no less than a three percent increase for providers
of extended employment services for persons with severe disabilities shall be
authorized. If there is sufficient
funding appropriated, the commissioner shall increase reimbursement rates by
the percentage of this adjustment.
(b) The commissioner of
management and budget must include an annual inflationary adjustment in
reimbursement rates for providers of extended employment services for persons
with severe disabilities as a budget change request in each biennial detailed
expenditure budget submitted to the legislature under section 16A.11.
Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 469.40, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
Subd. 11. Public infrastructure project. (a) "Public infrastructure project" means a project financed in part or in whole with public money in order to support the medical business entity's development plans, as identified in the DMCC development plan. A public infrastructure project may:
(1) acquire real property and other assets associated with the real property;
(2) demolish, repair, or rehabilitate buildings;
(3) remediate land and buildings as required to prepare the property for acquisition or development;
(4) install, construct, or
reconstruct elements of public infrastructure required to support the overall
development of the destination medical center development district including,
but not limited to,: streets,
roadways, utilities systems and related facilities,; utility
relocations and replacements,; network and communication systems,;
streetscape improvements,; drainage systems,; sewer
and water systems,; subgrade structures and associated
improvements,; landscaping,; facade construction
and restoration,; design and predesign, including architectural,
engineering, and similar services; legal, regulatory, and other compliance
services; construction costs, including all materials and supplies; wayfinding
and signage,; community engagement; transit costs incurred on or after
March 16, 2020; and other components of community infrastructure;
(5) acquire, construct or reconstruct, and equip parking facilities and other facilities to encourage intermodal transportation and public transit;
(6) install, construct or reconstruct, furnish, and equip parks, cultural, and recreational facilities, facilities to promote tourism and hospitality, conferencing and conventions, and broadcast and related multimedia infrastructure;
(7) make related site improvements including, without limitation, excavation, earth retention, soil stabilization and correction, and site improvements to support the destination medical center development district;
(8) prepare land for private development and to sell or lease land;
(9) provide costs of relocation benefits to occupants of acquired properties; and
(10) construct and equip all or a portion of one or more suitable structures on land owned by the city for sale or lease to private development; provided, however, that the portion of any structure directly financed by the city as a public infrastructure project must not be sold or leased to a medical business entity.
(b) A public infrastructure project is not a business subsidy under section 116J.993.
(c) Public infrastructure project includes the planning, preparation, and modification of the development plan under section 469.43. The cost of that planning, preparation, and any modification is a capital cost of the public infrastructure project.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This
section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 469.47, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them.
(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.
(c) "Construction projects" means:
(1) for expenditures by a medical business entity, construction of buildings in the city for which the building permit was issued after June 30, 2013; and
(2) for any other expenditures, construction of privately owned buildings and other improvements that are undertaken pursuant to or as part of the development plan and are located within a medical center development district.
(d) "Expenditures"
means expenditures made by a medical business entity or by an individual or
private entity on construction projects for the capital cost of the project
including, but not limited to:
(1) design and predesign, including architectural, engineering, and similar services;
(2) legal, regulatory, and other compliance costs of the project;
(3) land acquisition, demolition of existing improvements, and other site preparation costs;
(4) construction costs, including all materials and supplies of the project; and
(5) equipment and furnishings that are attached to or become part of the real property.
Expenditures excludes supplies and other items with a useful life of less than a year that are not used or consumed in constructing improvements to real property or are otherwise chargeable to capital costs.
(e) "Qualified expenditures for the year" means the total certified expenditures since June 30, 2013, through the end of the preceding year, minus $200,000,000.
(f) "Transit
costs" means the portions of a public infrastructure project that are for
public transit intended primarily to serve the district, such as including
but not limited to buses and other means of transit, transit stations,
equipment, bus charging stations or bus charging equipment,
rights-of-way, and similar costs permitted under section 469.40,
subdivision 11. This provision includes
transit costs incurred on or after March 16, 2020.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This
section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 469.47, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. State transit aid. (a) The city qualifies for state transit aid under this section if the county contributes the required local matching contribution under subdivision 6 or the city or county has agreed to make an equivalent contribution out of other funds for the year.
(b) If the city qualifies
for aid under paragraph (a), the commissioner must pay the city the state
transit aid in the amount calculated under this paragraph. The amount of the state transit aid for a
year equals the qualified expenditures for the year, as certified by the
commissioner, multiplied by 0.75 percent, reduced by subject to
the amount of the required local contribution under subdivision 6. City or county contributions that are in
excess of this ratio carry forward and are credited toward subsequent years. The maximum amount of state transit aid
payable in any year is limited to no more than $7,500,000. If the commissioner determines that the city
or county has not made the full required matching local contribution for the
year, the commissioner must pay state transit aid only in proportion
to the amount of for the matching contribution made for the year
and any unpaid amount is a carryover aid.
The carryover aid must be paid in the first year after the required
matching contribution for that prior year is made and in which the aid
entitlement for the current year is less than the maximum annual limit, but
only to the extent the carryover, when added to the current year aid, is less
than the maximum annual limit.
(c) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of management and budget, and representatives of the city and the corporation, must establish a total limit on the amount of state aid payable under this subdivision that will be adequate to finance, in combination with the local contribution, $116,000,000 of transit costs.
(d) The city must use state transit aid it receives under this subdivision for transit costs. The city must maintain appropriate records to document the use of the funds under this requirement.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This
section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 21. MINNESOTA
EMPLOYER REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FUND.
Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section,
the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given.
(b) "Applicant"
means any person, whether employed or unemployed, seeking or entering into any
arrangement for employment or change of employment with an eligible employer.
(c)
"Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic
development.
(d) "Eligible
employer" means an employer domiciled within the legal boundaries of
Minnesota and having its principal place of business as identified in its
certificate of incorporation in the state of Minnesota who:
(1) employs not more than
500 employees on any business day during the preceding calendar year; and
(2) generates $5,000,000
or less in gross annual revenue.
(e) "Employee"
has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 363A.03, subdivision 15.
(f) "Individual with
a disability" has the meaning given to "qualified disabled
person" in Minnesota Statutes, section 363A.03, subdivision 36.
(g) "Reasonable
accommodation" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section
363A.08, subdivision 6.
Subd. 2. Reimbursement
grant program established. The
commissioner shall establish a reasonable accommodation reimbursement grant
program that reimburses eligible employers for the cost of expenses incurred in
providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with a disability who are either
applicants or employees of the eligible employer.
Subd. 3. Application. (a) The commissioner must develop forms and procedures for soliciting and reviewing applications for reimbursement under this section.
(b) The program shall
award reimbursements to eligible employers to the extent that funds are
available in the account established under subdivision 5 for this purpose.
(c) Applications shall be
processed on a first-received, first-processed basis within each fiscal year
until funding is exhausted. Applications
received after funding has been exhausted in a fiscal year are not eligible for
reimbursement.
(d) Documentation for
reimbursement shall be provided by eligible employers in a form approved by the
commissioner.
Subd. 4. Reimbursement
awards. The maximum total
reimbursement per eligible employer in a fiscal year is $30,000 and:
(1) submissions for
onetime reasonable accommodation expenses must be no less than $250 and no more
than $15,000 per individual with a disability; and
(2) submissions for
ongoing reasonable accommodation expenses have no minimum or maximum
requirements.
Subd. 5. Employer
reasonable accommodation fund account established. The employer reasonable accommodation
fund account is created as an account in the special revenue fund. Money in the account is appropriated to the
commissioner for the purposes of reimbursing eligible employers under this
section.
Subd. 6. Technical
assistance and consultation. The
commissioner may provide technical assistance regarding requests for reasonable
accommodations.
Subd. 7. Administration
and marketing costs. The
commissioner may use up to 20 percent of the biennial appropriation for
administration and marketing of this section.
Subd. 8. Notification. By September 1, 2023, or within 60 days following final enactment, whichever is later, and each year thereafter by June 30, the commissioner shall make publicly available information regarding the availability of funds for reasonable accommodation reimbursement and the procedure for requesting reimbursement under this section.
Subd. 9. Reports
to the legislature. By
January 15, 2024, and each January 15 thereafter until expiration, the
commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the house of representatives and the senate committees with jurisdiction over
workforce development that details the use of grant funds. This report must include data on the number
of employer reimbursements the program made in the preceding calendar year. The report must include:
(1) the number and type
of accommodations requested;
(2) the cost of
accommodations requested;
(3) the employers from
which the requests were made;
(4) the number and type
of accommodations that were denied and why;
(5) any remaining balance
left in the account; and
(6) if the account was
depleted, the date on which funds were exhausted and the number, type, and cost
of accommodations that were not reimbursed to employers.
Subd. 10. Expiration. This section expires June 30, 2025, or
when money appropriated for its purpose expires, whichever is later.
Sec. 22. ENGAGEMENT
TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.
The commissioner of
employment and economic development shall engage stakeholders to identify barriers
that adults with mental illness face in obtaining and retaining employment and
recommend strategies to address those barriers.
The commissioner shall solicit feedback from advocacy organizations for
people with mental illness, mental health providers, people with mental
illness, organizations that support people with mental illness in obtaining
employment, and employers. The
commissioner shall submit a plan to the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over employment and human services before February 1, 2024,
identifying the barriers to employment and making recommendations on how to
best improve the employment rate among people with mental illness.
Sec. 23. SOUTHWESTERN
MINNESOTA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP PILOT PROGRAM.
Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the
following terms have the meanings given.
(b)
"Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic
development.
(c) "Southwest
Initiative Foundation" or "foundation" means a nonprofit organization
that provides services to the following counties in southwest Minnesota: Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson,
Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles,
Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Swift, and Yellow Medicine, and the Lower
Sioux Indian Community and Upper Sioux Community.
(d)
"Employer-sponsored applicant" means a student applicant with a local
employer scholarship equal to or greater than 25 percent of the workforce
development scholarship.
(e) "Eligible
student" means a student applicant who:
(1) is eligible for
resident or nonresident tuition;
(2) is enrolling in an eligible program as determined by the regional workforce development board; and
(3) is enrolling at
least half-time at a Minnesota West college listed in subdivision 4.
(f) "Local
employer" means an employer with a physical location in a county within
the service area of the foundation listed in paragraph (c).
Subd. 2. Program
established. The commissioner
shall establish a southwestern Minnesota workforce development scholarship
pilot program administered by the foundation to assist in meeting the workforce
challenges in southwest Minnesota and enhance long-term economic
self-sufficiency by connecting students, higher education facilities,
employers, and communities.
Subd. 3. Grant
to the Southwest Initiative Foundation.
The commissioner shall award all grant funds to the foundation,
which shall administer the southwestern Minnesota workforce development
scholarship pilot program. The
foundation may use up to seven percent of grant funds for administrative costs.
Subd. 4. Scholarship
awards. (a) The foundation
shall coordinate available funds and award scholarships to the following
Minnesota West colleges:
(1) Canby;
(2) Granite Falls;
(3) Pipestone;
(4) Worthington;
(5) Jackson;
(6) Luverne; and
(7) Marshall.
(b) Scholarships shall be
coordinated by the individual colleges listed in paragraph (a) and applied only
after all other available grant funding through a last-dollar-in model.
(c) In awarding grants,
priority shall first be given to applicants that are program-continuing
applicants. Priority shall then be given
to employer-sponsored applicants.
(d) Scholarships are
intended to supplement all other grant opportunities and to cover the full cost
of attendance to the eligible students.
Subd. 5. Program
eligibility. Scholarships
shall be awarded to eligible students who are enrolled in or enrolling in a
high-demand occupation associate degree, diploma, or certificate or
industry-recognized credential program as defined annually by the applicable
regional workforce development board. Students
must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid if applicable to the
program to which they are applying.
Subd. 6. Renewal;
cap. A student who has been
awarded a scholarship may apply in subsequent academic years, but total
lifetime awards are not to exceed two full scholarships per student. Students may only be awarded a second
scholarship upon successful completion of the program and subsequent work
period requirement.
Subd. 7. Administration. (a) The foundation and Minnesota West
colleges shall establish an application process and other guidelines for
implementing the pilot program.
(b) Each college shall
receive from their respective workforce development board by December 1 of each
year, commencing in 2023, a list of eligible programs administered by the
college that are eligible for subsequent year scholarships. The applicable workforce development board
must consider data based on a workforce shortage for full-time employment
requiring postsecondary education that is unique to the 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
college 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.
Subd. 8. Scholarship
recipient requirements. (a) A
recipient of a scholarship awarded under the program established in this
section shall:
(1) be enrolled in a
high-demand occupation associate degree, diploma, or certificate or
industry-recognized credential program as defined by the regional workforce
development board and offered by a Minnesota West college;
(2) adhere to any
applicable participating local employer program requirements;
(3) commit to three years of
full-time employment with:
(i) a sponsoring local
employer; or
(ii) any qualified local
employer within the high-demand occupations as defined by the regional
workforce development board; and
(4) fulfill the
three-year full-time employment commitment in a county within the service area
of the foundation as listed in subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
(b) If a recipient of a
scholarship fails to fulfill the requirements of paragraph (a), the foundation
may convert the scholarship to a loan. Amounts
repaid from a loan shall be used to fund scholarship awards under this section.
Subd. 9. Employer
partnerships. The foundation
and Minnesota West colleges shall establish partnerships with qualified local
employers and work to ensure that a percentage of the state funds appropriated
to each college for the southwestern Minnesota workforce development
scholarship program are equally matched with employer funds.
Subd. 10. Report
required. The foundation must
submit an annual report by December 31 of each year regarding the scholarship
program to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over employment and economic development policy. The first report is due no later than
December 31, 2023. The annual report
shall include:
(1) the number of students receiving a scholarship at each participating
college during the previous calendar year;
(2) the number of
scholarships awarded for each program and type of program during the previous
calendar year;
(3) the number of
scholarship recipients who completed a program of study or certification;
(4) the number of
scholarship recipients who secured employment by their graduation date and
those who secured employment within three months of their graduation date;
(5) a list of the
colleges that received funding, the amount of funding each institution
received, and whether all withheld funds were distributed;
(6) a list of
occupations scholarship recipients are entering;
(7) the number of
students who were denied a scholarship;
(8) a list of
participating local employers and amounts of any applicable employer
contributions; and
(9) a list of
recommendations to the legislature regarding potential program improvements.
Sec. 24. UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE FINE REDUCTION AND INTEREST ELIMINATION.
By January 1, 2024, the commissioner of employment and economic development must make recommendations to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over workforce development for how the unemployment insurance system will reduce the fines and interest applied to misrepresentation overpayments. The commissioner must provide a timeline for implementing a reduction of the 40 percent fine to 15 percent and an elimination of the 12 percent interest rate."
Renumber the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Delete the title and insert:
"A bill for an act relating to economic development; establishing a budget for workforce development efforts for the Department of Employment and Economic Development; appropriating money to the Department of Corrections for workforce training; modifying various workforce provisions; requiring reports; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 116J.5492, subdivisions 8, 10; 116J.55, subdivisions 1, 5, 6; 116L.361, subdivision 7; 116L.362, subdivision 1; 116L.364, subdivision 3; 116L.365, subdivision 1; 116L.56, subdivision 2; 116L.561, subdivision 5; 116L.562, subdivision 2; 268.035, subdivision 20; 268A.15, by adding a subdivision; 469.40, subdivision 11; 469.47, subdivisions 1, 5; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 116J; 116L."
With the recommendation that when so amended the bill be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The
report was adopted.
Olson, L., from the Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred:
H. F. No. 2310, A bill for an act relating to state government; appropriating money for environment and natural resources; modifying prior appropriations; providing for and modifying disposition of certain receipts; modifying and establishing duties, authorities, and prohibitions regarding environment and natural resources; modifying and creating environment and natural resources programs; modifying and creating grant programs; reestablishing citizen board of Pollution Control Agency; reestablishing Legislative Water Commission; modifying Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources; modifying permit and environmental review requirements; modifying requirements for recreational vehicles; modifying state trail and state park provisions; establishing Lowland Conifer Carbon Reserve; modifying forestry provisions; modifying game and fish provisions; modifying regulation of farmed Cervidae; regulating certain seeds and pesticides; modifying Water Law; providing appointments; modifying and providing for fees; requiring reports; requiring rulemaking; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 13.643, subdivision 6; 16A.151, subdivision 2; 16A.152, subdivision 2; 17.118, subdivision 2; 18B.01, subdivision 31; 18B.09, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; 21.82, subdivision 3; 21.86, subdivision 2; 35.155, subdivisions 1, 4, 10, 11, 12, by adding subdivisions; 35.156, subdivision 2, by adding subdivisions; 84.02, by adding a subdivision; 84.0274, subdivision 6; 84.0276; 84.415, subdivisions 3, 6, 7, by adding a subdivision; 84.788, subdivision 5; 84.82, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; 84.821, subdivision 2; 84.84; 84.86, subdivision 1; 84.87, subdivision 1; 84.90, subdivision 7; 84.992, subdivisions 2, 5; 84D.02, subdivision 3; 84D.10, subdivision 3; 84D.15, subdivision 2; 85.015, subdivision 10; 85.052, subdivision 6; 85.055, subdivision 1; 85.536, subdivision 2; 85A.01, subdivision 1; 86B.005, by adding a subdivision; 86B.313, subdivision 4; 86B.415, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7; 89A.03, subdivision 5; 90.181, subdivision 2; 97A.015, by adding a subdivision; 97A.031; 97A.126; 97A.137, subdivision 3; 97A.315, subdivision 1; 97A.401, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 97A.405, subdivision 5; 97A.421, subdivision 3; 97A.473, subdivisions 2, 2a, 2b, 5, 5a; 97A.474, subdivision 2; 97A.475, subdivisions 6, 7, 8, 10, 10a, 11, 12, 13, 41; 97B.071; 97B.301, subdivision 6; 97B.516; 97B.668; 97C.087, subdivision 2; 97C.315, subdivision 1; 97C.345, subdivision 1; 97C.355, by adding a subdivision; 97C.371, subdivisions 1, 2, 4; 97C.395, subdivision 1; 97C.601, subdivision 1; 97C.605, subdivisions 1, 2c, 3; 97C.611; 97C.836; 103B.101, subdivisions 2, 9, 16, by adding a subdivision; 103B.103; 103C.501, subdivisions 1, 4, 5, 6, by adding a subdivision; 103D.605, subdivision 5; 103F.505; 103F.511, by adding subdivisions; 103G.005, by adding subdivisions; 103G.2242, subdivision 1; 103G.271, subdivision 6; 103G.287, subdivisions 2, 3; 103G.299, subdivisions 1, 2, 5, 10; 103G.301, subdivisions 2, 6, 7; 115.01, by adding subdivisions; 115.03, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 115.061; 115A.03, by adding a subdivision; 115A.1415; 115A.565, subdivisions 1, 3; 115B.17, subdivision 14; 115B.171, subdivision 3; 115B.52, subdivision 4; 116.02; 116.03, subdivisions 1, 2a; 116.06, subdivision 1, by adding
subdivisions; 116.07, subdivision 6, by adding subdivisions; 116C.03, subdivision 2a; 116P.05, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2; 116P.09, subdivision 6; 116P.11; 116P.15; 116P.16; 116P.18; 168.1295, subdivision 1; 171.07, by adding a subdivision; 297A.94; 325E.046; 325F.072, subdivisions 1, 3, by adding a subdivision; 373.475; Laws 2022, chapter 94, section 2, subdivisions 5, 8, 9; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 3; 18B; 21; 84; 86B; 88; 97A; 97B; 97C; 103B; 103E; 103F; 103G; 115A; 116; 116P; 325E; 473; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 84.033, subdivision 3; 84.944, subdivision 3; 86B.101; 86B.305; 86B.313, subdivisions 2, 3; 97A.145, subdivision 2; 97C.605, subdivisions 2, 2a, 2b, 5; 103C.501, subdivisions 2, 3; 115.44, subdivision 9; 116.011; 325E.389; 325E.3891; Minnesota Rules, parts 6100.5000, subparts 3, 4, 5; 6100.5700, subpart 4; 6115.1220, subpart 8; 6256.0500, subparts 2, 2a, 2b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; 8400.0500; 8400.0550; 8400.0600, subparts 4, 5; 8400.0900, subparts 1, 2, 4, 5; 8400.1650; 8400.1700; 8400.1750; 8400.1800; 8400.1900.
Reported the same back with the following amendments:
Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:
"ARTICLE 1
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES APPROPRIATIONS
Section 1. ENVIRONMENT
AND NATURAL RESOURCES 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 "2024" and
"2025" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under
them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, or June 30, 2025,
respectively. "The first year"
is fiscal year 2024. "The second
year" is fiscal year 2025. "The
biennium" is fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
|
|
|
APPROPRIATIONS |
|
|
|
|
Available for the
Year |
|
|
|
|
Ending June 30 |
|
|
|
|
2024 |
2025 |
Sec. 2. POLLUTION
CONTROL AGENCY |
|
|
|
|
Subdivision 1. Total
Appropriation |
|
$276,096,000 |
|
$214,828,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
151,113,000 |
81,891,000 |
State Government
Special Revenue |
85,000 |
90,000 |
Environmental |
105,227,000 |
112,600,000 |
Remediation |
19,671,000 |
20,247,000 |
The amounts that may be
spent for each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.
The commissioner must
present the agency's biennial budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the
legislature in a transparent way by agency division, including the proposed
budget bill and presentations of the budget to committees and divisions with
jurisdiction over the agency's budget.
Subd. 2.
Environmental Analysis and
Outcomes |
|
46,983,000 |
|
41,231,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
28,970,000 |
20,714,000 |
Environmental |
17,764,000 |
20,312,000 |
Remediation |
249,000 |
205,000 |
(a) $122,000 the first year
and $125,000 the second year are from the general fund for:
(1) a municipal liaison to
assist municipalities in implementing and participating in the rulemaking
process for water quality standards and navigating the NPDES/SDS permitting
process;
(2) enhanced economic
analysis in the rulemaking process for water quality standards, including
more-specific analysis and identification of cost-effective permitting;
(3) developing statewide
economic analyses and templates to reduce the amount of information and time
required for municipalities to apply for
variances from water quality standards; and
(4) coordinating with the
Public Facilities Authority to identify and advocate for the resources needed
for urban, suburban, and Greater Minnesota municipalities to achieve permit
requirements.
(b) $216,000 the first year
and $219,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for a monitoring
program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116.454.
(c) $132,000 the first year
and $137,000 the second year are for monitoring water quality and operating
assistance programs.
(d) $390,000 the first year
and $399,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for monitoring
ambient air for hazardous pollutants.
(e) $106,000 the first year
and $109,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for duties related
to harmful chemicals in children's products under Minnesota Statutes, sections
116.9401 to 116.9407. Of this amount,
$68,000 the first year and $70,000 the second year are transferred to the
commissioner of health.
(f) $128,000 the first year
and $132,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for registering
wastewater laboratories.
(g) $1,492,000 the first
year and $1,519,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to continue
perfluorochemical biomonitoring in eastern metropolitan communities, as
recommended by the Environmental Health Tracking and
Biomonitoring Advisory Panel,
and to address other environmental health risks, including air quality. The communities must include Hmong and other
immigrant farming communities. Of this
amount, up to $1,226,000 the first year and $1,248,000 the second year are for
transfer to the commissioner of health.
(h) $61,000 the first year
and $62,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for the listing
procedures for impaired waters required under this act.
(i) $72,000 the first year
and $74,000 the second year are from the remediation fund for the leaking
underground storage tank program to investigate, clean up, and prevent future
releases from underground petroleum storage tanks and for the petroleum
remediation program for vapor assessment and remediation. These same annual amounts are transferred
from the petroleum tank fund to the remediation fund.
(j) $500,000 the first year
is to facilitate the collaboration and modeling of greenhouse gas impacts,
costs, and benefits of strategies to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions. This is a onetime appropriation.
(k) $20,266,000 the first
year and $20,270,000 the second year are to establish and implement a local
government water infrastructure grant program for local governmental units and
Tribal governments. Of this amount, $19,720,000
each year is for grants to support communities in planning and implementing
projects that will allow for adaptation for a changing climate. At least 50 percent of the money granted
under this paragraph must be for projects in the seven-county metropolitan area. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2027. The base for this
appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is $270,000.
(l) $2,070,000 the first
year and $2,070,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to develop
and implement a drinking water protection and PFAS response program related to
emerging issues, including Minnesota's
PFAS Blueprint.
(m) $1,820,000 the second
year is from the environmental fund to support improved management of data
collected by the agency and its partners and regulated parties to facilitate
decision-making and public access.
(n) $500,000 the first year
is for developing and implementing firefighter biomonitoring protocols required
under this act. Of this amount, up to
$250,000 may be transferred to the commissioner of health for biomonitoring of
firefighters. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2025.
(o) $2,000,000 the first year
is to develop protocols to be used by agencies and departments for sampling and
testing groundwater, surface water, public drinking water, and private wells
for microplastics and nanoplastics and to begin implementation. The commissioner of the Pollution Control
Agency may transfer money appropriated under this paragraph to the
commissioners of agriculture, natural resources, and health to implement the
protocols developed. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30, 2025.
(p) $50,000 the first year
is from the remediation fund for the work group
on PFAS manufacturer fees and report required under this act.
(q) $387,000 the first year
and $90,000 the second year are to develop and implement the requirements for
fish kills under Minnesota Statutes, sections 103G.216 and 103G.2165. Of this amount, up to $331,000 the first year
and $90,000 the second year may be transferred to the commissioners of health,
natural resources, agriculture, and public safety and to the Board of Regents
of the University of Minnesota as necessary to implement those sections. The base for this appropriation for fiscal
year 2026 and beyond is $7,000.
(r) $63,000 the first year
and $92,000 the second year are for transfer to the commissioner of health for
amending the health risk limit for PFOS.
This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026.
(s) $5,000,000 the first
year is for community air-monitoring grants as provided in this act. This is a onetime appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2025.
(t) $625,000 the first year
and $779,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to adopt rules and
implement air toxics emissions requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section
116.062. The base for this appropriation
is $669,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,400,000 in fiscal year 2027 and beyond.
Subd. 3. Industrial
|
|
54,056,000 |
|
34,308,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
34,980,000 |
14,577,000 |
Environmental |
17,355,000 |
17,958,000 |
Remediation |
1,721,000 |
1,773,000 |
(a) $1,621,000 the first
year and $1,670,000 the second year are from the remediation fund for the
leaking underground storage tank program to investigate, clean up, and prevent
future releases
from underground petroleum
storage tanks and for the petroleum remediation program for vapor assessment
and remediation. These same annual
amounts are transferred from the petroleum tank fund to the remediation fund.
(b) $448,000 the first year
and $457,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to further
evaluate the use and reduction of trichloroethylene around Minnesota and
identify its potential health effects on communities. Of this amount, $145,000 the first year and
$149,000 the second year are transferred to the commissioner of health.
(c) $4,000 the first year
and $4,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to purchase air
emissions monitoring equipment to support compliance and enforcement
activities.
(d) $3,200,000 the first
year and $3,200,000 the second year are to provide air emission reduction
grants. Of this amount, $2,800,000 each
year is for grants to reduce air pollution at regulated facilities within
environmental justice areas of concern. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2027, and is a onetime appropriation.
(e) $40,000 the first year
and $40,000 the second year are for air compliance equipment maintenance. This is a onetime appropriation.
(f) $20,000,000 the first
year and $300,000 the second year are to support research on innovative
technologies to treat difficult‑to‑manage
pollutants and for implementation grants based on this research at
taconite facilities. Of this amount,
$2,100,000 is for the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for
academic and applied research through the MnDRIVE program at the Natural
Resources Research Institute for research to foster economic development of the
state's natural resources in an environmentally sound manner and $17,600,000 is
for grants. Of the $2,100,000, at least
$900,000 is to develop and demonstrate technologies that enhance the long-term
health and management of Minnesota's water and mineral resources. This appropriation is for continued
characterization of Minnesota's iron resources and development of
next-generation process technologies for iron products and reduced effluent. This research must be conducted in
consultation with the Mineral Coordinating Committee established under
Minnesota Statutes, section 93.0015. This
is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027.
(g) $500,000 the first year
and $500,000 the second year are for the purposes of biofuel wastewater
monitoring requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 115.03, subdivision
12.
(h) $250,000 the first year
is for a life cycle assessment of the presence of neonicotinoid pesticide in
the production of ethanol, biodiesel, and advanced biofuel, including
feedstocks, coproducts, air emissions, and the fuel itself. This is a onetime appropriation
and is available until June 30,
2025. No later than December 15, 2024,
the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency must submit the assessment,
including recommendations, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture and environment.
(i) $670,000 the first year
and $522,000 the second year are from the general fund and $277,000 the first
year and $277,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for the
purposes of the nonexpiring state individual air quality permit requirements
under Minnesota Statutes, section 116.07, subdivision 4m. The base for this appropriation in fiscal
year 2026 and beyond is $277,000 from the environmental fund.
(j) $250,000 the first year
and $250,000 the second year are for rulemaking and implementation of the odor
management requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 116.063. The base for this appropriation is $250,000
in fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2027 and beyond.
(k) $9,526,000 the first
year and $9,221,000 the second year are from the general fund for
implementation of the environmental justice, cumulative impact analysis, and
demographic analysis requirements under this act. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2028. The base
for this appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is $9,021,000 from the
environmental fund.
Subd. 4. Municipal
|
|
10,725,000 |
|
11,373,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
761,000 |
767,000 |
State Government
Special Revenue |
85,000 |
90,000 |
Environmental |
9,879,000 |
10,516,000 |
(a) $217,000 the first year
and $223,000 the second year are for:
(1) a municipal liaison to
assist municipalities in implementing and participating in the rulemaking
process for water quality standards and navigating the NPDES/SDS permitting
process;
(2) enhanced economic
analysis in the rulemaking process for water quality standards, including
more-specific analysis and identification of cost-effective permitting;
(3) developing statewide
economic analyses and templates to reduce the amount of information and time
required for municipalities to apply for
variances from water quality standards; and
(4) coordinating with the
Public Facilities Authority to identify and advocate for the resources needed
for municipalities to achieve permit requirements.
(b) $50,000 the first year
and $50,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for transfer to the
Office of Administrative Hearings to establish sanitary districts.
(c) $1,240,000 the first
year and $1,338,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for
subsurface sewage treatment system (SSTS) program administration and community
technical assistance and education, including grants and technical assistance
to communities for water-quality protection.
Of this amount, $350,000 each year is for assistance to counties through
grants for SSTS program administration. A
county receiving a grant from this appropriation must submit the results
achieved with the grant to the commissioner as part of its annual SSTS report. Any unexpended balance in the first year does
not cancel but is available in the second year.
(d) $994,000 the first year
and $1,094,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to address the
need for continued increased activity in new technology review, technical
assistance for local governments, and enforcement under Minnesota Statutes,
sections 115.55 to 115.58, and to complete the requirements of Laws 2003,
chapter 128, article 1, section 165.
(e) Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations encumbered on or before
June 30, 2025, as grants or contracts for subsurface sewage treatment systems,
surface water and groundwater assessments, storm water, and water-quality
protection in this subdivision are available until June 30, 2028.
Subd. 5. Operations
|
|
34,236,000 |
|
32,836,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
23,250,000 |
21,859,000 |
Environmental |
8,369,000 |
8,486,000 |
Remediation |
2,617,000 |
2,491,000 |
(a) $1,154,000 the first
year and $1,124,000 the second year are from the remediation fund for the
leaking underground storage tank program to investigate, clean up, and prevent
future releases from underground petroleum storage tanks and for the petroleum
remediation program for vapor assessment and remediation. These same annual amounts are transferred
from the petroleum tank fund to the remediation fund.
(b) $3,000,000 the first year
and $3,109,000 the second year are to support agency information technology
services provided at the enterprise and agency level to improve operations.
(c) $906,000 the first year
and $919,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to develop and
maintain systems to support agency permitting and regulatory business processes
and data.
(d) $2,000,000 the first
year and $2,000,000 the second year are to provide technical assistance to
Tribal governments. This is a onetime
appropriation.
(e) $18,250,000 the first
year and $16,750,000 the second year are to support modernizing and automating
agency environmental programs and data systems and how the agency provides
services to regulated parties, partners, and the public. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2027. This is a onetime
appropriation.
(f) $270,000 the first year
and $270,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to support current
and future career pathways for underrepresented students.
(g) $700,000 the first year
and $700,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to improve the
coordination, effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of the
environmental review and permitting process.
(h) $438,000 the first year
and $333,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency citizen members.
Subd. 6. Remediation
|
|
40,318,000 |
|
16,022,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
25,000,000 |
-0- |
Environmental |
607,000 |
628,000 |
Remediation |
14,711,000 |
15,394,000 |
(a) All money for
environmental response, compensation, and compliance in the remediation fund
not otherwise appropriated is appropriated to the commissioners of the
Pollution Control Agency and agriculture for purposes of Minnesota Statutes,
section 115B.20, subdivision 2, clauses (1), (2), (3), (6), and (7). At the beginning of each fiscal year, the two
commissioners must jointly submit to the commissioner of management and budget
an annual spending plan that maximizes resource use and appropriately allocates
the money between the two departments. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2025.
(b) $415,000 the first year and
$426,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to manage contaminated
sediment projects at multiple sites identified in the St. Louis River
remedial action plan to restore water quality in the St. Louis River Area
of Concern.
(c) $4,476,000 the first
year and $4,622,000 the second year are from the remediation fund for the leaking
underground storage tank program to investigate, clean up, and prevent future
releases from underground petroleum storage tanks and for the petroleum
remediation program for vapor assessment and remediation. These same annual amounts are transferred
from the petroleum tank fund to the remediation fund.
(d) $308,000 the first year
and $316,000 the second year are from the remediation fund for transfer to the
commissioner of health for private water-supply monitoring and health
assessment costs in areas contaminated by unpermitted mixed municipal solid
waste disposal facilities and drinking water advisories and public information
activities for areas contaminated by hazardous releases.
(e) $25,000,000 the first
year is for grants to support planning, designing, and preparing for solutions
for public water treatment systems contaminated with PFAS. The grants are to reimburse local public
water supply operators for source investigations, sampling and treating private
drinking water wells, and evaluating solutions for treating private drinking
water wells. At least 50 percent of the
money appropriated under this paragraph must be for grants in the seven-county
metropolitan area. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2027, and is a onetime appropriation.
(f) $76,000 the first year
is from the remediation fund for the petroleum tank release cleanup program
duties and report required under this act.
This is a onetime appropriation.
Subd. 7. Resource
Management and Assistance |
|
75,025,000 |
|
63,467,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
31,477,000 |
18,655,000 |
Environmental |
43,548,000 |
44,812,000 |
(a) Up to $150,000 the
first year and $150,000 the second year may be transferred from the environmental
fund to the small business environmental improvement loan account under
Minnesota Statutes, section 116.993.
(b) $1,000,000 the first year
and $1,000,000 the second year are for competitive recycling grants under
Minnesota Statutes, section 115A.565. Of
this amount, $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year are from the
general fund, and $700,000 the first year and $700,000 the second year are from
the environmental fund. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2027.
(c) $694,000 the first year
and $694,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for
emission-reduction activities and grants to small businesses and other
nonpoint-emission-reduction efforts. Of
this amount, $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year are to
continue work with Clean Air Minnesota, and the commissioner may enter into an
agreement with Environmental Initiative to support this effort.
(d) $22,450,000 the first
year and $22,450,000 the second year are for SCORE block grants to counties. Of this amount, $4,000,000 the first year and
$4,000,000 the second year are from the general fund, and $18,450,000 the first
year and $18,450,000 the second year are from the environmental fund. The base in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is
$18,450,000 from the environmental fund.
For fiscal years 2024 and 2025, each county's allocation is based on
Minnesota Statutes, section 115A.557, and $2,000,000 must be used only for
waste prevention and reuse activities.
(e) $119,000 the first year
and $119,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for environmental
assistance grants or loans under Minnesota Statutes, section 115A.0716.
(f) $400,000 the first year
and $400,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for grants to
develop and expand recycling markets for Minnesota businesses.
(g) $767,000 the first year
and $770,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for reducing and
diverting food waste, redirecting edible food for consumption, and removing
barriers to collecting and recovering organic waste. Of this amount, $500,000 each year is for
grants to increase food rescue and waste prevention. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2027.
(h) $2,797,000 the first
year and $2,811,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for the
purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 473.844.
(i) $318,000 the first year
and $474,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to address
chemicals in products, including to implement and enforce flame retardant provisions
under Minnesota Statutes, section 325F.071, and perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances in food packaging provisions under Minnesota
Statutes, section 325F.075. Of this
amount, $78,000 the first year and $80,000 the second year are transferred to
the commissioner of health.
(j) $180,000 the first year and
$140,000 the second year are for quantifying climate-related impacts from
projects for environmental review. This
is a onetime appropriation.
(k) $1,790,000 the first
year and $70,000 the second year are for accelerating pollution prevention at
small businesses. Of this amount,
$1,720,000 the first year is for zero-interest loans to phase out
high-polluting equipment, products, and processes and replace with new options. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2027. This is a onetime
appropriation.
(l) $190,000 the first year
and $190,000 the second year are to support the Greenstep Cities program. This is a onetime appropriation.
(m) $420,000 the first year
is to complete a study on the viability of recycling solar energy equipment. This is a onetime appropriation.
(n) $650,000 the first year
and $650,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for Minnesota
GreenCorps investment.
(o) $4,210,000 the first
year and $210,000 the second year are for PFAS reduction grants. Of this amount, $4,000,000 the first year is
for grants to industry and public entities to identify sources of PFAS entering
facilities and to develop pollution prevention and reduction initiatives to
reduce PFAS entering facilities, prevent releases, and monitor the
effectiveness of these projects. Priority
must be given to projects in underserved communities. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2027.
(p) $12,940,000 the first
year and $12,940,000 the second year are for a waste prevention and reduction
grants and loan program. This is a onetime appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2027.
(q) $825,000 the first year
and $1,453,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for rulemaking
and implementation of the new PFAS requirements under Minnesota Statutes,
section 116.943. Of this amount,
$312,000 the first year and $468,000 the second year are for transfer to the
commissioner of health. The base for
this appropriation is $1,115,000 in fiscal year 2026 and beyond. The base for the transfer to the commissioner
of health in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is $468,000.
(r) $680,000 the first year
is for the zero-waste report required in this act. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2026.
(s) $1,592,000 the first
year and $805,000 the second year are for zero-waste grants under Minnesota
Statutes, section 115A.566.
(t) $35,000 the second year
is from the environmental fund for the compostable labeling requirements under
Minnesota Statutes, section 325E.046. The
base for this appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is $68,000.
(u) $175,000 the first year is
for the rulemaking required under this act providing for the safe and lawful
disposal of waste treated seed. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2025.
(v) $1,000,000 the first
year is for a lead tackle reduction program that provides outreach, education,
and opportunities to safely dispose of and exchange lead tackle throughout the
state. This is a onetime appropriation
and is available until June 30, 2025.
(w) $4,000,000 is for a
grant to the owner of a biomass energy generation plant in Shakopee that uses
waste heat from the generation of electricity in the malting process to
purchase a wood dehydrator to facilitate disposal of wood that is infested by
the emerald ash borer. By October 1,
2024, the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency must report to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions
with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources on the use of money
appropriated under this paragraph.
(x) Any unencumbered grant
and loan balances in the first year do not cancel but are available for grants
and loans in the second year. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations encumbered on or before
June 30, 2025, as contracts or grants for environmental assistance awarded
under Minnesota Statutes, section 115A.0716; technical and research assistance
under Minnesota Statutes, section 115A.152; technical assistance under
Minnesota Statutes, section 115A.52; and pollution prevention assistance under
Minnesota Statutes, section 115D.04, are available until June 30, 2027.
Subd. 8. Watershed
|
|
12,678,000 |
|
13,952,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
4,821,000 |
3,906,000 |
Environmental |
7,484,000 |
9,662,000 |
Remediation |
373,000 |
384,000 |
(a) $3,000,000 the first
year and $3,000,000 the second year are for grants to delegated counties to
administer the county feedlot program under Minnesota Statutes, section
116.0711, subdivisions 2 and 3. Money
remaining after the first year is available for the second year. The base for this appropriation in fiscal
year 2026 and beyond is $1,959,000.
(b) $236,000 the first year
and $241,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for the costs of
implementing general operating permits for feedlots over 1,000 animal units.
(c) $125,000 the first year and
$129,000 the second year are from the remediation fund for the leaking
underground storage tank program to investigate, clean up, and prevent future
releases from underground petroleum storage tanks and for the petroleum remediation
program for vapor assessment and remediation.
These same annual amounts are transferred from the petroleum tank fund
to the remediation fund.
(d) $459,000 the first year
and $494,000 the second year are from the general fund and $1,680,000 the second
year is from the environmental fund to implement feedlot financial assurance
requirements and compile the annual feedlot and manure storage area lists
required under Minnesota Statutes, section 116.07, subdivisions 7f and 7g. The general fund base for this appropriation
in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is $315,000.
The environmental fund base in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is
$1,680,000.
(e) $700,000 the first year
is for distribution to delegated counties based on registered feedlots and
manure storage areas for inspections of manure storage areas and the abandoned
manure storage area reports required under this act. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2025.
(f) $250,000 the first year
is for a grant to the Minnesota Association of County Feedlot Officers to
provide training on state feedlot requirements, working efficiently and
effectively with producers, and reducing the incidence of manure or nutrients
entering surface water or groundwater.
(g) $140,000 the first year
and $140,000 the second year are for the Pig's Eye Landfill Task Force.
Subd. 9. Environmental
Quality Board |
|
2,075,000 |
|
1,639,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
1,854,000 |
1,413,000 |
Environmental |
221,000 |
226,000 |
$620,000 the first year and
$140,000 the second year are to develop a Minnesota-based greenhouse gas sector
and source‑specific guidance, including climate information, a greenhouse
gas calculator, and technical assistance for users. This is a onetime appropriation.
Subd. 10. Transfers
|
|
|
|
|
(a) The commissioner must
transfer up to $23,000,000 the first year and $24,000,000 the second year from
the environmental fund to the remediation fund for purposes of the remediation
fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 116.155, subdivision 2. The base for this transfer is $24,000,000 in
fiscal year 2026 and beyond.
(b) By June 30, 2024, the
commissioner of management and budget must transfer $29,055,000 from the
general fund to the metropolitan landfill contingency action trust account in
the remediation fund to restore the money transferred from the account as
intended under Laws 2003, chapter 128, article 1, section 10, paragraph (e),
and Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 1, article 3, section 17, and to
compensate the account for the estimated lost investment income.
Sec. 3. NATURAL
RESOURCES |
|
|
|
|
Subdivision 1. Total
Appropriation |
|
$569,950,000 |
|
$424,403,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
307,778,000 |
165,064,000 |
Natural
Resources |
125,611,000 |
124,456,000 |
Game and Fish |
129,903,000 |
131,814,000 |
Remediation |
117,000 |
117,000 |
Permanent
School |
791,000 |
702,000 |
Reinvest in
Minnesota Resources |
5,750,000 |
2,250,000 |
The amounts that may be spent
for each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.
Subd. 2. Land
and Mineral Resources Management |
|
9,095,000 |
|
8,828,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
4,095,000 |
3,828,000 |
Natural
Resources |
4,438,000 |
4,438,000 |
Game and Fish |
344,000 |
344,000 |
Permanent
School |
218,000 |
218,000 |
(a) $319,000 the first year
and $319,000 the second year are for environmental research relating to mine
permitting, of which $200,000 each year is from the minerals management account
in the natural resources fund and $119,000 each year is from the general fund.
(b) $3,383,000 the first
year and $3,383,000 the second year are from the minerals management account in
the natural resources fund for use as provided under Minnesota Statutes,
section 93.2236, paragraph (c), for mineral resource management, projects to
enhance future mineral income, and projects to promote new mineral-resource
opportunities.
(c) $218,000 the first year and
$218,000 the second year are transferred from the forest suspense account to
the permanent school fund and are appropriated from the permanent school fund
to secure maximum long-term economic return from the school trust lands
consistent with fiduciary responsibilities and sound natural resources
conservation and management principles.
(d) $338,000 the first year
and $338,000 the second year are from the water management account in the
natural resources fund for mining hydrology.
(e) $1,052,000 the first
year and $242,000 the second year are for modernizing utility licensing for
state lands and public waters. The first
year appropriation is available through fiscal year 2026.
(f) $125,000 the first year
and $125,000 the second year are for conservation stewardship.
Subd. 3. Ecological
and Water Resources |
|
58,394,000 |
|
46,763,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
37,664,000 |
26,008,000 |
Natural
Resources |
15,006,000 |
15,031,000 |
Game and Fish |
5,724,000 |
5,724,000 |
(a) $5,397,000 the first
year and $5,422,000 the second year are from the invasive species account in
the natural resources fund and $2,831,000 the first year and $2,831,000 the
second year are from the general fund for management, public awareness,
assessment and monitoring research, and water access inspection to prevent the
spread of invasive species; management of invasive plants in public waters; and
management of terrestrial invasive species on state-administered lands.
(b) $6,056,000 the first
year and $6,056,000 the second year are from the water management account in
the natural resources fund for only the purposes specified in Minnesota
Statutes, section 103G.27, subdivision 2.
(c) $124,000 the first year
and $124,000 the second year are for a grant to the Mississippi Headwaters Board
for up to 50 percent of the cost of implementing the comprehensive plan for the
upper Mississippi within areas under the board's jurisdiction. By December 15, 2025, the board must submit a
report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources on the
activities funded under this paragraph and the progress made in implementing
the comprehensive plan.
(d) $10,000 the first year and
$10,000 the second year are for payment to the Leech Lake Band of Chippewa
Indians to implement the band's portion of the comprehensive plan for the upper
Mississippi River.
(e) $300,000 the first year
and $300,000 the second year are for grants for up to 50 percent of the cost of
implementing the Red River mediation agreement.
The base for this appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is
$264,000.
(f) $2,498,000 the first
year and $2,498,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account
in the game and fish fund for only the purposes specified in Minnesota
Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (h), clause (1).
(g) $1,150,000 the first
year and $1,150,000 the second year are from the nongame wildlife management
account in the natural resources fund for nongame wildlife management. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
290.431, $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year may be used for
nongame wildlife information, education, and promotion.
(h) Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 84.943, $48,000 the first year and $48,000 the
second year from the critical habitat private sector matching account may be
used to publicize the critical habitat license plate match program.
(i) $5,700,000 the first
year and $6,000,000 the second year are for the following activities:
(1) financial reimbursement
and technical support to soil and water conservation districts or other local
units of government for groundwater-level monitoring;
(2) surface water
monitoring and analysis, including installing monitoring gauges;
(3) groundwater analysis to
assist with water-appropriation permitting decisions;
(4) permit application
review incorporating surface water and groundwater technical analysis;
(5) precipitation data and
analysis to improve irrigation use;
(6) information technology,
including electronic permitting and integrated data systems; and
(7) compliance and
monitoring.
(j) $410,000 the first year and
$410,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account in the game
and fish fund and $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year are from
the general fund for grants to the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research
Center at the University of Minnesota to prioritize, support, and develop
research-based solutions that can reduce the effects of aquatic invasive
species in Minnesota by preventing spread, controlling populations, and
managing ecosystems and to advance knowledge to inspire action by others.
(k) $134,000 the first year
and $134,000 the second year are for increased capacity for broadband utility
licensing for state lands and public waters.
(l) $998,000 the first year
and $568,000 the second year are for protecting and restoring carbon storage in
state-administered peatlands by reviewing and updating the state's peatland
inventory, piloting a restoration project, and piloting trust fund buyouts. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2028.
(m) $900,000 the first year
is for a grant to the Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates to work with civic
leaders to purchase, install, and operate waterless cleaning stations for
watercraft; conduct aquatic invasive species education; and implement education
upgrades at public accesses to prevent invasive starry stonewort spread beyond
the lakes already infested. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2025.
(n) $300,000 the first year
is to prepare an analysis of alternative sources of water to resolve the
water-use conflict in the Little Rock Creek area and to protect the stream from
negative impacts due to groundwater use.
The analysis must be submitted to the legislative committees and
divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources by June 30,
2027, and include:
(1) a conceptual engineering
plan;
(2) an estimate of
implementation costs and funding needs;
(3) governance and
operational considerations;
(4) a development schedule;
and
(5) an economic evaluation
of lost revenue if no action is taken.
(o) $6,000,000 the first
year is for land acquisition and maintenance and restoration at Grey Cloud
Dunes Scientific and Natural Area. This
is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027.
(p) $6,000,000 the first year
is for improved maintenance at scientific and natural areas under Minnesota
Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5, including additional natural resource
specialists and technicians, coordinators, seasonal crews, equipment, supplies,
and administrative support. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027.
(q) The general fund base
for the Ecological and Water Resources Division in fiscal year 2026 and beyond
is $25,004,000.
Subd. 4. Forest
Management |
|
116,725,000 |
|
76,067,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
99,072,000 |
58,389,000 |
Natural
Resources |
16,161,000 |
16,161,000 |
Game and Fish |
1,492,000 |
1,517,000 |
(a) $7,521,000 the first
year and $7,521,000 the second year are for prevention, presuppression, and
suppression costs of emergency firefighting and other costs incurred under
Minnesota Statutes, section 88.12. The
amount necessary to pay for presuppression and suppression costs during the
biennium is appropriated from the general fund.
By January 15 each year, the commissioner of natural resources must
submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house and
senate committees and divisions having jurisdiction over environment and
natural resources finance that identifies all firefighting costs incurred and
reimbursements received in the prior fiscal year. These appropriations may not be transferred. Any reimbursement of firefighting
expenditures made to the commissioner from any source other than federal
mobilizations must be deposited into the general fund.
(b) $15,386,000 the first
year and $15,386,000 the second year are from the forest management investment
account in the natural resources fund for only the purposes specified in
Minnesota Statutes, section 89.039, subdivision 2.
(c) $1,492,000 the first
year and $1,517,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account
in the game and fish fund to advance ecological classification systems (ECS),
forest habitat, and invasive species management.
(d) $906,000 the first year
and $926,000 the second year are for the Forest Resources Council to implement
the Sustainable Forest Resources Act.
(e) $1,143,000 the first year
and $1,143,000 the second year are for the Next Generation Core Forestry data
system. Of this appropriation, $868,000
each year is from the general fund and $275,000 each year is from the forest
management investment account in the natural resources fund.
(f) $500,000 the first year
and $500,000 the second year are from the forest management investment account
in the natural resources fund for forest road maintenance on state forest
roads.
(g) $500,000 the first year
and $500,000 the second year are for forest road maintenance on county forest
roads.
(h) $2,086,000 the first
year and $2,086,000 the second year are to support forest management,
cost-share assistance, and inventory on private woodlands. This is a onetime appropriation.
(i) $800,000 the first year
and $800,000 the second year are to accelerate tree seed collection to support
a growing demand for tree planting on public and private lands. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2027.
(j) $10,400,000 the first
year and $10,400,000 the second year are for grants to local and Tribal
governments and nonprofit organizations to enhance community forest ecosystem
health and sustainability under Minnesota Statutes, section 88.82, the
Minnesota ReLeaf program. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2027.
Money appropriated for grants under this paragraph may be used to pay
reasonable costs incurred by the commissioner of natural resources to
administer the grants. The base is
$400,000 beginning in fiscal year 2026.
(k) $3,000,000 the first
year and $3,000,000 the second year are for forest stand improvement and to
meet the reforestation requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 89.002,
subdivision 2. This is a onetime
appropriation.
(l) $5,000,000 is for
purposes of the Lowland Conifer Carbon Reserve under Minnesota Statutes,
section 88.85. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026.
(m) $37,000,000 the first
year is for emerald ash borer response grants under Minnesota Statutes, section
88.83. This is a onetime appropriation
and is available until June 30, 2030. The
commissioner may use up to two percent of this appropriation to administer the
grants. Of this amount:
(1) $9,000,000 is for grants
to local units of government responding or actively preparing to respond to an
emerald ash borer infestation; and
(2) $28,000,000 is for
grants to a Minnesota nonprofit corporation that owns a cogeneration facility
that serves a St. Paul district heating and cooling system.
(n) $1,000,000 the first year
is for grants to schools, including public and private schools, to plant trees
on school grounds while providing hands-on learning opportunities for students. A grant application under this section must
be prepared jointly with the parent-teacher organization or similar parent
organization for the school. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026.
Subd. 5. Parks
and Trails Management |
|
125,897,000 |
|
113,230,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
50,094,000 |
38,707,000 |
Natural
Resources |
73,503,000 |
72,223,000 |
Game and Fish |
2,300,000 |
2,300,000 |
(a) $7,985,000 the first
year and $7,985,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for
state trail, park, and recreation area operations. This appropriation is from revenue deposited
in the natural resources fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94,
paragraph (h), clause (2).
(b) $23,828,000 the first
year and $23,828,000 the second year are from the state parks account in the
natural resources fund to operate and maintain state parks and state recreation
areas.
(c) $1,300,000 the first
year and $1,300,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for
park and trail grants to local units of government on land to be maintained for
at least 20 years for parks or trails. Priority
must be given for projects that are in underserved communities or that increase
access to persons with disabilities. This
appropriation is from revenue deposited in the natural resources fund under
Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (h), clause (4). Any unencumbered balance does not cancel at the end of the first year and is
available for the second year.
(d) $9,624,000 the first
year and $9,624,000 the second year are from the snowmobile trails and
enforcement account in the natural resources fund for the snowmobile
grants-in-aid program. Any unencumbered
balance does not cancel at the end of the first year and is available for the
second year.
(e) $2,435,000 the first
year and $2,435,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for the
off-highway vehicle grants‑in-aid program. Of this amount, $1,960,000 each year is from
the all-terrain vehicle account; $150,000 each year is from the off-highway
motorcycle account; and $325,000 each year is from the off-road vehicle account. Any unencumbered balance does not cancel at the end of the first year and is
available for the second year.
(f) $2,250,000 the first year
and $2,250,000 the second year are from the state land and water conservation
account in the natural resources fund for priorities established by the
commissioner for eligible state projects and administrative and planning
activities consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 84.0264, and the federal
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act. Any
unencumbered balance does not cancel at the end of the first year and is
available for the second year.
(g) $250,000 the first year
and $250,000 the second year are for matching grants for local parks and
outdoor recreation areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 85.019, subdivision
2.
(h) $250,000 the first year
and $250,000 the second year are for matching grants for local trail
connections under Minnesota Statutes, section 85.019, subdivision 4c.
(i) $750,000 the first year
is from the all-terrain vehicle account in the natural resources fund for a
grant to St. Louis County to match other funding sources for design,
right-of-way acquisition, permitting, and construction of trails within the
Voyageur Country ATV trail system. This
is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026. This appropriation may be used as a local
match to a 2023 state bonding award.
(j) $700,000 the first year
is from the all-terrain vehicle account in the natural resources fund for a
grant to St. Louis County to match other funding sources for design,
right-of-way acquisition, permitting, and construction of a new trail within
the Prospector trail system. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026. This appropriation may be used as a local
match to a 2023 state bonding award.
(k) $5,000,000 the first
year is to facilitate the transfer of land within Upper Sioux Agency State Park
required under this act, including but not limited to the acquisition of any
land necessary to facilitate the transfer.
This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2033.
(l) $10,000,000 the first
year is to remove hazardous trees and replace ash trees with more diverse,
climate-adapted species within the state park system. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2027.
(m) $100,000 the first year
is for the report on state trails required under this act.
(n) $1,075,000 the first
year and $1,075,000 the second year are from the water recreation account in
the natural resources fund for maintaining and enhancing public water-access
facilities.
Subd. 6.
Fish and Wildlife Management
|
|
116,489,000 |
|
99,230,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
20,936,000 |
3,616,000 |
Natural
Resources |
2,082,000 |
2,082,000 |
Game and Fish |
87,721,000 |
91,282,000 |
Reinvest in
Minnesota Resources |
5,750,000 |
2,250,000 |
(a) $10,458,000 the first
year and $10,658,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account
in the game and fish fund only for activities specified under Minnesota
Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (h), clause (1). Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
297A.94, five percent of this appropriation may be used for expanding hunter
and angler recruitment and retention.
(b) $982,000 the first year
and $982,000 the second year are from the general fund and $1,675,000 the first
year and $1,675,000 the second year are from the game and fish fund for
statewide response and management of chronic wasting disease. The commissioner and the Board of Animal
Health must each submit annual reports on chronic wasting disease activities
funded in this biennium to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural
resources and agriculture. The general
fund base for this appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is $282,000.
(c) $484,000 of the general
fund appropriation for fiscal year 2023 in Laws 2021, First Special Session
chapter 6, article 1, section 3, subdivision 6, paragraph (b), for planning for
and emergency response to disease outbreaks in wildlife is canceled no later
than June 29, 2023.
(d) $8,546,000 the first
year and $8,546,000 the second year are from the deer management account for
the purposes identified in Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.075, subdivision 1.
(e) $134,000 the first year
and $134,000 the second year are for increased capacity for broadband utility
licensing for state lands and public waters.
(f) $15,000,000 the first
year is for enhancing prairies and grasslands and restoring wetlands on
state-owned wildlife management areas to sequester more carbon and enhance
climate resiliency. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027.
(g) $500,000 the first year and
$500,000 the second year are from the general fund and $500,000 the first year
and $500,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account in the
game and fish fund for grants for natural-resource-based education and
recreation programs serving youth under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.976, and
for grant administration. Priority must
be given to projects benefiting underserved communities. The base for this appropriation in fiscal
year 2026 and beyond is $500,000 from the heritage enhancement account in the
game and fish fund. The general fund
appropriation is onetime.
(h) $400,000 the first year
and $400,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account in the
game and fish fund for the walk-in access program under Minnesota Statutes,
section 97A.126.
(i) $1,000,000 the first
year and $1,000,000 the second year are from the game and fish fund for
investments in fish management activities.
(j) $2,000,000 the first
year and $2,000,000 the second year are for grants to the Fond du Lac Band of
Lake Superior Chippewa to expand Minnesota's wild elk population and range. Consideration must be given to moving elk
from existing herds in northwest Minnesota to the area of the Fond du Lac State
Forest and the Fond du Lac Reservation in Carlton and southern St. Louis
Counties. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa's elk reintroduction efforts must undergo thorough planning
with the Department of Natural Resources to develop necessary capture and
handling protocols, including protocols related to cervid disease management,
and to produce postrelease state and Tribal elk comanagement plans. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2026.
(k) $773,000 the first year
is to examine the impacts of neonicotinoid exposure on the reproduction and
survival of Minnesota's game species, including deer and prairie chicken. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027.
(l) $134,000 the first year
and $134,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account in the
game and fish fund for native fish conservation and classification.
(m) $1,400,000 the first
year is for designating swan protection areas under Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.096, and to provide increased education and outreach promoting the
protection of swans in the state, including education regarding the
restrictions on taking swans. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026.
(n) $65,000 the first year is
for preparing the report on feral pigs and mink required under this act and
holding at least one public meeting on the topic.
(o) Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 84.943, subdivision 3, $5,750,000 the first year
and $2,250,000 the second year are transferred from the Minnesota critical
habitat private sector matching account to the reinvest in Minnesota resources
fund and are appropriated from the reinvest in Minnesota resources fund for
wildlife management area acquisition. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2027.
(p) $82,000 the first year
is for the native fish reports required under this act. This is a onetime appropriation.
(q) Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the
second year are from the heritage enhancement account in the game and fish fund
for shooting sports facility grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 87A.10,
including grants for archery facilities.
Grants must be matched with a nonstate match, which may include in-kind
contributions. Priority must be given to
facilities that prohibit the use of lead ammunition. Recipients of money appropriated under this
paragraph must provide information on the toxic effects of lead. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2026. This
appropriation must be allocated as follows:
(1) $200,000 each fiscal
year is for grants of $25,000 or less; and
(2) $100,000 each fiscal
year is for grants in excess of $25,000.
Subd. 7. Enforcement
|
|
64,672,000 |
|
67,712,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
18,322,000 |
22,937,000 |
Natural
Resources |
13,911,000 |
14,011,000 |
Game and Fish |
32,322,000 |
30,647,000 |
Remediation |
117,000 |
117,000 |
(a) $1,718,000 the first
year and $1,718,000 the second year are from the general fund for enforcement
efforts to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
(b) $2,080,000 the first
year and $1,892,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account
in the game and fish fund for only the purposes specified under Minnesota
Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (h), clause (1).
(c) $1,442,000 the first year
and $1,442,000 the second year are from the water recreation account in the
natural resources fund for grants to counties for boat and water safety. Any unencumbered balance does not cancel at
the end of the first year and is available for the second year.
(d) $315,000 the first year
and $315,000 the second year are from the snowmobile trails and enforcement
account in the natural resources fund for grants to local law enforcement
agencies for snowmobile enforcement activities.
Any unencumbered balance does not cancel at the end of the first year
and is available for the second year.
(e) $250,000 the first year
and $250,000 the second year are from the all-terrain vehicle account in the
natural resources fund for grants to qualifying organizations to assist in
safety and environmental education and monitoring trails on public lands under
Minnesota Statutes, section 84.9011. Grants
issued under this paragraph must be issued through a formal agreement with the
organization. By December 15 each year,
an organization receiving a grant under this paragraph must report to the
commissioner with details on expenditures and outcomes from the grant. Of this appropriation, $25,000 each year is
for administering these grants. Any
unencumbered balance does not cancel at the
end of the first year and is available for the second year.
(f) $510,000 the first year
and $510,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for grants to
county law enforcement agencies for off-highway vehicle enforcement and public
education activities based on off-highway vehicle use in the county. Of this amount, $498,000 each year is from the
all-terrain vehicle account, $11,000 each year is from the off-highway
motorcycle account, and $1,000 each year is from the off-road vehicle account. The county enforcement agencies may use money
received under this appropriation to make grants to other local enforcement
agencies within the county that have a high concentration of off-highway
vehicle use. Of this appropriation,
$25,000 each year is for administering the grants. Any unencumbered balance does not cancel at
the end of the first year and is available for the second year.
(g) $2,250,000 the first
year and $5,734,000 the second year are appropriated for inspections,
investigations, and enforcement activities taken in conjunction with the Board
of Animal Health for the white-tailed deer farm program and for statewide
response and management of chronic wasting disease. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2027. The base for fiscal year 2026
and beyond is $3,250,000.
(h) $3,000,000 of the
general fund appropriation for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 in Laws 2021, First
Special Session chapter 6, article 1, section 3, subdivision 7, paragraph (i),
for inspections, investigations, and enforcement activities taken in
conjunction with the Board of Animal Health for the white-tailed deer farm
program is canceled no later than June 29, 2023.
(i) $3,050,000 the first year
is for modernizing the enforcement aviation fleet. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2027.
(j) $360,000 the first year
and $360,000 the second year are for training department enforcement officers
and for maintaining and storing equipment for conservation officer public
safety responses. The training may not
include training for duties unrelated to enforcement of game and fish laws. This is a onetime appropriation.
Subd. 8. Operations
Support |
|
2,434,000 |
|
1,408,000 |
(a) $1,684,000 the first
year and $1,408,000 second year are for information technology security and
modernization. This is a onetime
appropriation.
(b) $750,000 the first year
is for legal costs. The unencumbered
amount of the general fund appropriation in Laws 2019, First Special Session
chapter 4, article 1, section 3, subdivision 8, for legal costs, estimated to
be $750,000, is canceled no later than June 29, 2023.
Subd. 9. Pass
Through Funds |
|
11,244,000 |
|
11,165,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
10,161,000 |
10,171,000 |
Natural
Resources |
510,000 |
510,000 |
Permanent School
|
573,000 |
484,000 |
(a) $510,000 the first year
and $510,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for grants to
be divided equally between the city of St. Paul for the Como Park Zoo and
Conservatory and the city of Duluth for the Lake Superior Zoo. This appropriation is from revenue deposited
to the natural resources fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94,
paragraph (h), clause (5).
(b) $211,000 the first year
and $221,000 the second year are for the Office of School Trust Lands.
(c) $250,000 the first year
and $150,000 the second year are transferred from the forest suspense account
to the permanent school fund and are appropriated from the permanent school
fund for transaction and project management costs for divesting of school trust
lands within Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
(d) $323,000 the first year
and $334,000 the second year are transferred from the forest suspense account
to the permanent school fund and are appropriated from the permanent school
fund for the Office of School Trust Lands.
(e) $9,950,000 the first year
and $9,950,000 the second year are to be added as a supplement to the 1854
Treaty Area agreement payment under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.165. This is a onetime appropriation.
Subd. 10. Get Out MORE (Modernizing Outdoor Recreation Experiences) |
65,000,000 |
|
-0- |
(a) $65,000,000 the first
year is for modernizing Minnesota's state‑managed outdoor recreation
experiences. Of this amount:
(1) $25,000,000 is for
enhancing access and welcoming new users to public lands and outdoor recreation
facilities, including improvements to improve climate resiliency;
(2) $4,000,000 is for
modernizing camping and related infrastructure, including improvements to
improve climate resiliency;
(3) $25,000,000 is for modernizing
fish hatcheries and fishing infrastructure; and
(4) $11,000,000 is for
restoring streams and modernizing water‑related infrastructure with
priority given to fish habitat improvements, dam removal, and improvements to
improve climate resiliency.
(b) The commissioner may
reallocate money appropriated in paragraph (a) across those purposes based on
project readiness and priority. The
appropriations in paragraph (a) are available until June 30, 2029.
Subd. 11. Fiscal
Year 2023 Appropriation |
|
|
|
|
$1,000,000 in fiscal year
2023 is from the general fund to address safety concerns at the drill core
library. This is a onetime appropriation
and is available until June 30, 2026.
EFFECTIVE DATE. Subdivisions 6, 7, 8, and 11 are
effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 4. BOARD
OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES |
$52,086,000 |
|
$46,574,000 |
(a) $3,116,000 the first
year and $3,116,000 the second year are for grants and payments to soil and
water conservation districts for accomplishing the purposes of Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 103C, and for other general purposes, nonpoint engineering,
and implementation and stewardship of the reinvest in Minnesota reserve program. Expenditures may be made from this
appropriation for supplies and services benefiting soil and water conservation
districts. Any district receiving a
payment under this paragraph must maintain a website that publishes, at a
minimum, the district's annual report, annual audit, annual budget, and meeting
notices.
(b) $761,000 the first year and
$761,000 the second year are to implement, enforce, and provide oversight for
the Wetland Conservation Act, including administering the wetland banking
program and in-lieu fee mechanism.
(c) $1,560,000 the first
year and $1,560,000 the second year are for the following:
(1) $1,460,000 each year is
for cost-sharing programs of soil and water conservation districts for
accomplishing projects and practices consistent with Minnesota Statutes,
section 103C.501, including perennially vegetated riparian buffers, erosion
control, water retention and treatment, water quality cost-sharing for feedlots
under 500 animal units and nutrient and manure management projects in
watersheds where there are impaired waters, and other high-priority
conservation practices; and
(2) $100,000 each year is
for county cooperative weed management programs and to restore native plants at
selected invasive species management sites.
(d) $166,000 the first year
and $166,000 the second year are to provide technical assistance to local
drainage management officials and for the costs of the Drainage Work Group. The board must coordinate the activities of
the Drainage Work Group according to Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.101,
subdivision 13. The Drainage Work Group
must review a drainage authority's power under Minnesota Statutes, chapter
103E, to consider the abandonment or dismantling of drainage systems; to
re-meander, restore, or reconstruct a natural waterway that has been modified
by drainage; or to deconstruct dikes, dams, or other water-control structures.
(e) $100,000 the first year
and $100,000 the second year are for a grant to the Red River Basin Commission
for water quality and floodplain management, including program administration. This appropriation must be matched by
nonstate funds.
(f) $140,000 the first year
and $140,000 the second year are for grants to Area II Minnesota River Basin
Projects for floodplain management.
(g) $125,000 the first year
and $125,000 the second year are for conservation easement stewardship.
(h) $240,000 the first year
and $240,000 the second year are for a grant to the Lower Minnesota River
Watershed District to defray the annual cost of operating and maintaining sites
for dredge spoil to sustain the state, national, and international commercial
and recreational navigation on the lower Minnesota River.
(i) $2,000,000 the first year
and $2,000,000 the second year are for the lawns to legumes program under
Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.104. The
board may enter into agreements with local governments, Metro Blooms, and other
organizations to support this effort. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2029.
The base for fiscal year 2026 and each year thereafter is $250,000.
(j) $2,000,000 the first
year and $2,000,000 the second year are for the habitat enhancement landscape
program under Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.106. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2029.
(k) $203,000 the first year
and $203,000 the second year are for soil health practice adoption purposes
consistent with the cost‑sharing provisions of Minnesota Statutes,
section 103C.501, and for soil health program responsibilities in consultation
with the University of Minnesota Office for Soil Health.
(l) $8,500,000 the first
year and $8,500,000 the second year are for conservation easements and to
restore and enhance grasslands and adjacent lands consistent with Minnesota
Statutes, sections 103F.501 to 103F.531, for the purposes of climate resiliency,
adaptation, carbon sequestration, and related benefits. Of this amount, up to $423,000 is for deposit
in the water and soil conservation easement stewardship account established
under Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.103.
This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2029. The board must give priority to leveraging
nonstate funding, including practices, programs, and projects funded by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture via the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the
Conservation Reserve Program, the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, the Federal
Farm Bill, or the Climate-Smart Commodities Program.
(m) $2,500,000 the first
year and $5,000,000 the second year are to acquire conservation easements and
to restore and enhance peatlands and adjacent lands consistent with Minnesota
Statutes, sections 103F.501 to 103F.531, for the purposes of climate
resiliency, adaptation, carbon sequestration, and related benefits. Of this amount, up to $299,000 is for deposit
in the water and soil conservation easement stewardship account established
under Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.103.
This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2029. The board must give priority to leveraging
nonstate funding, including practices, programs, and projects funded by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture via the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the
Conservation Reserve Program, the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, the Federal
Farm Bill, or the Climate-Smart Commodities Program.
(n) $3,550,000 the first year
and $3,550,000 the second year are to enhance existing easements established
under Minnesota Statutes, sections 103F.501 to 103F.531. Enhancements are for the purposes of climate
resiliency, adaptation, and carbon sequestration and include but are not
limited to increasing biodiversity and mitigating the effects of rainfall and
runoff events. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30, 2029. The board must give priority to leveraging
nonstate funding, including practices, programs, and projects funded by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture via the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the
Conservation Reserve Program, the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, the Federal
Farm Bill, or the Climate-Smart Commodities Program.
(o) $8,500,000 the first
year and $8,500,000 the second year are for water quality and storage practices
and projects to protect infrastructure, improve water quality and related
public benefits, and mitigate climate change impacts consistent with Minnesota
Statutes, sections 103F.05 and 103F.06. This
is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2029. The board must give priority to leveraging
nonstate funding, including practices, programs, and projects funded by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture via the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the
Conservation Reserve Program, the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, the Federal
Farm Bill, or the Climate-Smart Commodities Program.
(p) $4,673,000 the first
year and $4,673,000 the second year are for natural resources block grants to
local governments to implement the Wetland Conservation Act and shoreland
management program under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103F, and local water
management responsibilities under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103B. The board may reduce the amount of the
natural resources block grant to a county by an amount equal to any reduction
in the county's general services allocation to a soil and water conservation
district from the county's previous year allocation when the board determines
that the reduction was disproportionate.
The base for this appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is
$3,423,000.
(q) $129,000 the first year
and $136,000 the second year are to accomplish the objectives of Minnesota
Statutes, section 10.65, and related Tribal government coordination. The base for fiscal year 2026 and each year
thereafter is $144,000.
(r) $5,000,000 the first
year is to provide onetime state incentive payments to enrollees in the federal
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) during the continuous enrollment period and
to enroll complementary areas in conservation easements consistent with
Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515. The
board may establish payment rates based on land valuation and on environmental
benefit criteria, including but
not limited to surface water or groundwater pollution reduction, drinking water
protection, soil health, pollinator and wildlife habitat, and other
conservation enhancements. The board may
use state funds to implement the program and to provide technical assistance to
landowners or their agents to fulfill enrollment and contract provisions. The board must consult with the commissioners
of agriculture, health, natural resources, and the Pollution Control Agency and
the United States Department of Agriculture in establishing program criteria. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2027.
(s) $3,000,000 the first
year is 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. Minnesota Statutes,
section 103F.515, applies to this program.
The board must 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.
(t) $200,000 the first year
is to establish the drainage registry information portal under Minnesota
Statutes, section 103E.122.
(u) $5,623,000 the first
year and $5,804,000 the second year are for agency administration and operation
of the Board of Water and Soil Resources.
(v) The board may shift
money in this section and may adjust the technical and administrative
assistance portion of the funds to leverage federal or other nonstate funds or
to address accountability, oversight, local government performance, or high‑priority
needs.
(w) Returned grants and
payments are available for two years after they are returned or regranted,
whichever is later. Funds must be regranted
consistent with the purposes of this section.
If an appropriation for grants in either year is insufficient, the
appropriation in the other year is available for it.
(x) Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.97, grants awarded from appropriations in this
section are exempt from the Department of Administration, Office of Grants
Management Policy 08-08 Grant Payments and 08-10 Grant Monitoring.
Sec. 5. METROPOLITAN COUNCIL |
|
$47,490,000 |
|
$16,490,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
38,540,000 |
7,540,000 |
Natural
Resources |
8,950,000 |
8,950,000 |
(a) $7,540,000 the first
year and $7,540,000 the second year are for metropolitan-area regional parks
operation and maintenance according to Minnesota Statutes, section 473.351. The base for this appropriation in fiscal
year 2026 and beyond is $2,540,000.
(b) $8,950,000 the first
year and $8,950,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for
metropolitan-area regional parks and trails maintenance and operations. This appropriation is from revenue deposited
in the natural resources fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94,
paragraph (h), clause (3).
(c) $5,000,000 the first
year is for developing a decision-making support tool set to help local
partners quantify the risks of a changing climate and prioritize strategies
that mitigate those risks. This is a onetime appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2027.
(d) $9,000,000 the first
year is to modernize regional parks and trails.
This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30,
2027.
(e) $5,000,000 the first
year is for reducing the amount of inflow and infiltration to the Metropolitan
Council's metropolitan sanitary sewer disposal system. Of this amount, $4,000,000 is for grants to
cities for capital improvements in municipal wastewater collection systems
under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.5491, and $1,000,000 is for grants and
loans to inspect, repair, and replace privately owned sewer service lines. Priority for grants and loans for privately
owned lines must be given to applicants with a household income at or below 80
percent of area median income. This is a onetime appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2026.
(f) $9,000,000 the first
year is for grants to implementing agencies to remove hazardous trees and
replace ash trees with more diverse, climate-adapted species within the
metropolitan regional park system. This
is a onetime appropriation.
(g) $3,000,000 the first
year is to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure communities in the White Bear
Lake area have access to sufficient safe drinking water to allow for municipal
growth while simultaneously ensuring the sustainability of surface water and
groundwater resources to supply the needs of future generations. The Metropolitan Council must establish a
work group consisting
of the commissioners of natural
resources, health, and the Pollution Control Agency or their designees and
representatives from the Metropolitan Area Water Supply Advisory Committee; the
St. Paul Regional Water Services; the cities of Stillwater, Mahtomedi,
Hugo, Lake Elmo, Lino Lakes, North St. Paul, Oakdale, Vadnais Heights,
Shoreview, Woodbury, New Brighton, and White Bear Lake; and the town of White
Bear to advise the council in developing the comprehensive plan. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2027. The
comprehensive plan must:
(1) evaluate methods for
conserving and recharging groundwater in the area, including:
(i) converting water
supplies that are groundwater dependent to total or partial supplies from
surface water sources;
(ii) reusing water,
including water discharged from contaminated wells;
(iii) projects designed to
increase groundwater recharge; and
(iv) other methods for
reducing groundwater use;
(2) based on the evaluation
conducted under clause (1), determine which existing groundwater supply wells,
if converted to surface water sources, would be most effective and efficient in
ensuring future water sustainability in the area;
(3) identify a long-term
plan for converting groundwater supply wells identified in clause (2) to
surface water sources, including recommendations on water supply governance and
concept-level engineering that addresses preliminary design considerations,
including supply source, treatment, distribution, operation, and financing
needed to complete any changes to water supply infrastructure;
(4) include any policy and
funding recommendations for converting groundwater supply wells to surface
water sources, recommendations for treating and reusing wastewater, and any
other recommendations for additional measures that reduce groundwater use,
promote water reuse, and increase groundwater recharge;
(5) include any policy and
funding recommendations for local wastewater treatment and recharge; and
(6) be submitted to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate
committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural
resources finance and policy by June 30, 2027.
Sec. 6. CONSERVATION CORPS MINNESOTA |
|
$1,195,000 |
|
$1,195,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
705,000 |
705,000 |
Natural
Resources |
490,000 |
490,000 |
Conservation Corps Minnesota
may receive money appropriated from the natural resources fund under this
section only as provided in an agreement with the commissioner of natural
resources.
Sec. 7. ZOOLOGICAL
BOARD |
|
$14,494,000 |
|
$13,812,000 |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
General |
14,239,000 |
13,557,000 |
Natural
Resources |
255,000 |
255,000 |
(a) $255,000 the first year
and $255,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund from revenue
deposited under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (h), clause (5).
(b) $850,000 the first year
is to improve safety and security at the Minnesota Zoo. This is a onetime appropriation.
(c) $250,000 the first year
is for removing hazardous trees and replacing ash trees with more diverse,
climate-adapted species. This is a
onetime appropriation.
Sec. 8. SCIENCE
MUSEUM |
|
$10,200,000 |
|
$1,710,000 |
$9,000,000 the first year
and $450,000 the second year are for debt reduction, rehiring and retaining
employees, and reducing entrance fees for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
Sec. 9. LEGISLATIVE
COORDINATING COMMISSION |
$52,000 |
|
$52,000 |
$52,000 the first year and
$52,000 the second year are for the Legislative Water Commission established in
this act.
Sec. 10. UNIVERSITY
OF MINNESOTA |
|
$8,433,000 |
|
$1,856,000 |
(a) $1,633,000 the first
year and $1,856,000 the second year are for chronic wasting disease contingency
plans developed by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. The center must develop, refine, and share
with relevant experts and stakeholders contingency plans regarding the
potential transmission of chronic wasting disease from Cervidae to humans,
livestock, and other
species. The contingency plans must provide a
blueprint for preparedness and response planning documents, including
authoritative risk communication, education, and outreach materials. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2026.
(b) $200,000 the first year
is for the University of Minnesota Water Council to develop a scope of work,
timeline, and budget for the 50-year clean water plan as required under this
act.
(c) $6,600,000 the first
year is for the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center to enhance
and implement the center's aquatic invasive species research-based solutions
through:
(1) implementation of a
watershed-scale carp management plan and additional research focused on
site-specific method refinement and evaluation;
(2) creation of a long-term
monitoring program with state and local partners that evaluates the feasibility
of whole-lake zebra mussel control projects and the development of criteria for
selecting and managing lakes;
(3) refinement and
implementation of large-scale surveillance and early detection methods for
high-priority aquatic invasive species, including but not limited to zebra
mussels, spiny water flea, and starry stonewort; and
(4) development and sharing,
with relevant experts and stakeholders, contingency plans regarding the
potential risks of aquatic invasive species.
The contingency plans must provide a blueprint for preparedness and
response planning documents, including authoritative risk communication,
education, and outreach materials. The
communication, education, and outreach materials must be prepared in multiple
languages, including but not limited to Tribal languages.
(d) The board must ensure
that the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center coordinates
research activities funded under paragraph (c) with Tribal governments.
(e) The appropriation under paragraph (c) is onetime and available until June 30, 2027.
Sec. 11. PUBLIC
SAFETY |
|
$-0- |
|
$229,000 |
$229,000 the second year is
from the fire safety account in the special revenue fund for purposes of the
class B firefighting foam requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section
325F.072.
Sec. 12. APPROPRIATIONS
GIVEN EFFECT ONCE.
If an appropriation or
transfer in this article is enacted more than once during the 2023 regular
session, the appropriation or transfer must be given effect once.
ARTICLE 2
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND
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 environment and natural resources trust
fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated
for each purpose. The figures
"2024" and "2025" used in this article mean that the
appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June
30, 2024, or June 30, 2025, respectively.
"The first year" is fiscal year 2024. "The second year" is fiscal year
2025. "The biennium" is fiscal
years 2024 and 2025. Any unencumbered
balance remaining in the first year does not cancel and is available for the
second year or until the end of the appropriation. These are onetime appropriations.
|
|
|
APPROPRIATIONS |
|
|
|
|
Available for the
Year |
|
|
|
|
Ending June 30 |
|
|
|
|
2024 |
2025 |
Sec. 2. MINNESOTA
RESOURCES |
|
|
|
|
Subdivision 1. Total
Appropriation |
|
$79,833,000 |
|
$-0- |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
|
2024 |
2025 |
Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund |
79,644,000 |
-0- |
Great Lakes
Protection Account |
189,000 |
-0- |
The amounts that may be
spent for each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.
Subd. 2. Definitions
|
|
|
|
|
(a) "Trust fund"
means the Minnesota environment and natural resources trust fund established
under the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 14.
(b) "Great Lakes
protection account" means the account referred to in Minnesota Statutes,
section 116Q.02.
Subd. 3. Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information |
8,219,000 |
|
-0- |
(a) Assessing Restorations for Rusty-Patched and Other Bumblebee Habitat |
|
|
|
$75,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the Friends of the Mississippi River to assess how prairie restoration and
different
restoration seeding methods
affect bumblebee abundance, diversity, and habitat and make recommendations to
improve restoration outcomes.
(b) Removing Barriers to Carbon Market
Entry |
|
|
|
|
$482,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to
develop ground-tested carbon stock models of forest resources throughout
Minnesota to enable better resource management of public and private forests as
well as generate reliable tools for landowners seeking to enter carbon markets.
(c) Mapping Migratory Bird Pit Stops in
Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
$340,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the National Audubon Society, Minnesota office, to identify avian
migratory stopover sites, develop a shared decision-support tool, and publish
guidance for conserving migratory birds in Minnesota. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2027, by which time the project must be completed and final products
delivered.
(d) Enhancing Knowledge of Minnesota River Fish Ecology |
|
|
|
$199,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to collect
baseline information about the diets, distribution, status, and movement
patterns of fish in the Minnesota River to inform management and conservation
decisions.
(e) Changing Distribution of Flying Squirrel Species in Minnesota |
|
|
|
$186,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for
the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth to determine current
distribution and habitat associations of northern and southern flying squirrels
to fill key knowledge gaps in flying squirrel status in Minnesota.
(f) Statewide Forest Carbon Inventory and Change Mapping |
|
|
|
$987,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to work with
Minnesota Forest Resources Council, Minnesota Forestry Association, the Board
of Water and Soil Resources, and the University of Minnesota to develop a
programmatic approach and begin collecting plot-based inventories on private
forestland for use with remote sensing data to better assess changing forest
conditions and climate mitigation opportunities across all ownerships in the
state.
(g) Predicting the Future of Aquatic Species by Understanding the Past |
|
|
|
$170,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to
use past and present information to model future ranges of native aquatic
species in Minnesota to generate publicly available tools for species and
habitat management.
(h) Assessing Status of Common Tern Populations in Minnesota |
|
|
|
$199,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for
the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth to assess the population
status of Common Tern breeding colonies in Minnesota, implement management
activities, and develop a standardized monitoring protocol and online database
for accessing current and historic monitoring data to help prioritize
conservation and restoration actions for this state-threatened species.
(i) Salvaged Wildlife to Inform Environmental Health, Ecology, and Education |
|
|
|
$486,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota,
Bell Museum of Natural History, to establish a statewide network to collect,
analyze, and archive salvaged dead wildlife and build a foundation of
biodiversity resources to track ecosystem-wide changes, monitor environmental
health, and educate Minnesotans about the value of scientific specimens.
(j) Developing Conservation Priorities for Rare and Specialist Bees |
|
|
|
$619,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to
collect data on rare and specialist bees and their habitat preferences,
determine their conservation status, and develop strategies to improve their
chances of survival.
(k) Efficacy of Urban Archery Hunting to
Manage Deer |
|
|
|
|
$393,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities for Bemidji State University to conduct an analysis of deer
survival, habitat use, and hunter data in the city of Bemidji to improve
special archery hunt management practices in urban areas of the state.
(l) Mapping the Ecology of Urban and Rural
Canids |
|
|
|
|
$601,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to
determine how disease prevalence, diet, habitat use, and interspecies
interactions of
coyotes and foxes change from
urban to rural areas along the Mississippi River corridor.
(m) Maximizing
Lowland Conifer Ecosystem Services - Phase II |
|
|
|
$482,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to
continue monitoring forested peatland hydrology and wildlife, conduct new
wildlife and habitat surveys, and quantify carbon storage to provide support
for management decisions.
(n) Modernizing Minnesota's Wildlife (and Plant) Action Plan |
|
|
|
$889,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to modernize the
Minnesota Wildlife Action Plan by filling critical data gaps, including adding
rare plants to the plan, and standardizing conservation status assessment
methods to ensure Minnesota's natural heritage is protected into the future.
(o) Linking Breeding and Migratory Bird Populations in Minnesota |
|
|
|
$199,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory to map year-round habitat use of understudied
bird species of special conservation concern and evaluate areas with the
greatest risk of contaminant exposure.
(p) Old Growth Forest Monitoring |
|
|
|
|
$441,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to establish
baseline conditions and develop a cost-effective method to monitor
approximately 93,000 acres of old growth forest in Minnesota to ensure that
these rare and important forest resources are properly protected.
(q) Integrating Remotely Sensed Data with Traditional Forest Inventory |
|
|
|
$191,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for
the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth to calibrate and optimize
the use of LiDAR for forest inventory purposes and estimate stand-level forest
resource metrics in northeastern Minnesota so ecosystem services can be better
considered in management decisions.
(r) Community Response Monitoring for Adaptive Management in Southeast Minnesota |
|
|
|
$483,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with The Nature Conservancy to assess community-level plant and animal
responses to past restoration
efforts in select southeast Minnesota conservation focus areas to determine if
management outcomes are being achieved.
(s) Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas - Phase
III |
|
|
|
|
$797,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota,
Bell Museum of Natural History, to expand the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas to
include more than 2,000,000 records and images of Minnesota wildlife, plants,
and fungi by adding insect specimens, collections from new partners, historical
data, and repatriating records of Minnesota's biodiversity that exist in
various federal institutions.
Subd. 4. Water
Resources |
|
8,328,000 |
|
-0- |
Appropriations by Fund |
||
Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund |
8,139,000 |
-0- |
Great Lakes
Protection Account |
189,000 |
-0- |
(a) Ditching Delinquent Ditches: Optimizing Wetland Restoration |
|
|
|
$199,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to
use new techniques to identify and rank areas statewide where targeted removal
of poorly functioning drainage ditches and restoration to wetlands can provide
maximum human and ecological benefits, including aquifer recharge and flood
prevention.
(b) Assessment of Red River Basin Project
Outcomes |
|
|
|
|
$920,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Red River Watershed Management Board acting as fiscal agent for the Red
River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Work Group to plan and implement
multiresource monitoring at flood damage reduction and natural resource
enhancement projects across the Red River Basin to evaluate outcomes and
improve design of future projects at a regional scale. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products
delivered.
(c) Wind Wave and Boating Impacts on
Inland Lakes |
|
|
|
|
$415,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for
the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory to conduct a field study to measure the
impacts of boat
propeller wash and boat wakes
on lake bottoms, shorelines, and water quality compared to the impacts of
wind-generated waves.
(d) Finding, Capturing, and Destroying PFAS in Minnesota Waters |
|
|
|
$478,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to
develop novel methods for the detection, sequestration, and degradation of
poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Minnesota's lakes and rivers.
(e) Sinking and Suspended Microplastic Particles in Lake Superior |
|
|
|
$412,000 the first year is
to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Large Lakes
Observatory in Duluth to investigate the abundance, characteristics, and fate
of microplastic particles in Lake Superior to inform remediation strategies and
analyses of environmental impacts. Of
this amount, $189,000 is from the Great Lakes protection account and $223,000
is from the trust fund. These
appropriations may also be used to educate the public about the research
conducted with this appropriation.
(f) Ecotoxicological Impacts of Quinone Outside Inhibitor (QoI) Fungicides |
|
|
|
$279,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the University of St. Thomas to assess the ecological hazards
associated with QoI fungicides and their major environmental transformation
products.
(g) Brightsdale Dam Channel Restoration |
|
|
|
|
$1,004,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Fillmore County Soil and Water Conservation District to reduce
sedimentation and improve aquatic habitat by restoring a channel of the north
branch of the Root River at the site of a failed hydroelectric power dam that
was removed in 2003.
(h) Mapping Aquifer Recharge Potential |
|
|
|
|
$391,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for
the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory to partner with the Freshwater Society to
develop a practical tool for mapping aquifer recharge potential, demonstrate
the tool with laboratory and field tests, use the tool to evaluate recharge
potential of several aquifers in Minnesota, and analyze aquifer recharge
policy.
(i) ALASD's Chloride Source Reduction
Pilot Program |
|
|
|
|
$764,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Alexandria Lake Area Sanitary District (ALASD) to coordinate with Douglas
County and the Pollution Control Agency to pilot an incentive program for
residences and businesses to install
high-efficiency water softeners, salt-free systems, or softener discharge
disposal systems to reduce the annual salt load to Lake Winona and downstream
waters. The pilot program includes
rebates, inspections, community education, and water quality monitoring to
measure chloride reduction success. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2027, by which time the project must
be completed and final products delivered.
(j) Removing CECs from Stormwater with Biofiltration |
|
|
|
|
$641,000 the first year is from the trust
fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the St. Anthony
Falls Laboratory to develop a treatment practice design using biofiltration
media to remove contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) from stormwater runoff
and to provide statewide stormwater management guidance.
(k) Didymo II The North Shore Threat Continues |
|
|
|
|
$394,000 the first year is from the trust
fund to the Science Museum of Minnesota for the St. Croix Watershed
Research Station to identify North Shore streams with didymo, determine the
risk of invasion to other streams, document didymo impacts to stream functioning,
and develop strategies to prevent further spread of didymo.
(l) Leveraging Data Analytics Innovations for Watershed District
Planning |
|
|
|
|
$738,000 the first year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Minnehaha
Creek Watershed District to integrate local and statewide data sets into a
high-resolution planning tool that forecasts the impacts of changing
precipitation patterns and quantitatively compares cost effectiveness and
outcomes for water quality, ecological integrity, and flood prevention projects
in the district. Minnehaha Creek
Watershed District may license third parties to use products developed with
this appropriation without further approval from the legislature or the Legislative-Citizen
Commission on Minnesota Resources, provided the licensing does not generate
income. This appropriation is subject to
Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.
(m) Protecting Water in the Central Sands Region of the Mississippi River Headwaters |
|
|
|
$1,693,000 the first year is from the trust
fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the White
Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa Indians to conduct a policy analysis and
assess aggregate irrigation impacts on water quality and quantity in the
Pineland Sands region of the state.
Subd. 5.
Environmental Education |
|
3,905,000 |
|
-0- |
(a) Fostering Conservation by Connecting Students to the BWCA |
|
|
|
$1,080,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness to connect Minnesota youth
to the Boundary Waters through environmental education, experiential learning,
and wilderness canoe trips.
(b) Statewide Environmental Education via PBS Outdoor Series |
|
|
|
$391,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Pioneer Public Broadcasting Service to produce new episodes of a statewide
public television series and an educational web page designed to inspire
Minnesotans to connect with the outdoors and to restore and protect the state's
natural resources.
(c) Increasing Diversity in Environmental
Careers |
|
|
|
|
$763,000 the first year is from
the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources in cooperation with
Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa to ensure a stable and prepared natural
resources work force in Minnesota by encouraging a diversity of students to
pursue careers in environment and natural resources through internships,
mentorships, and fellowships with the Department of Natural Resources, the
Board of Water and Soil Resources, and the Pollution Control Agency. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and final products
delivered.
(d) Reducing Biophobia & Fostering Environmental Stewardship in Underserved Schools |
|
|
|
$180,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for
the Raptor Center to foster long-lasting environmental stewardship and literacy
in Minnesota youth in underserved schools by providing engaging, multiunit,
standards-based environmental programming featuring positive interactions with
raptors and evaluating program effectiveness and areas for improvement.
(e) Sharing Minnesota's Biggest Environmental Investment |
|
|
|
$628,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Science Museum of Minnesota, in coordination with
the Legislative‑Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), to
increase public access to the results of LCCMR‑recommended research,
including through a free online interactive map, in-depth videos, and public
events.
(f) North Shore Private Forestry Outreach and Implementation |
|
|
|
$375,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Sugarloaf: The North Shore
Stewardship Association to conduct outreach to private forest landowners, develop
site restoration plans, and connect landowners with restoration assistance to
encourage private forest restoration and improve the ecological health of
Minnesota's North Shore forest landscape.
(g) Teaching Students about Watersheds through Outdoor Science |
|
|
|
$290,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Minnesota Trout Unlimited to engage students in classroom and outdoor
hands-on learning focused on water quality, groundwater, aquatic life, and
watershed stewardship and provide youth and their families with fishing
experiences to further foster a conservation ethic.
(h) Bioblitz Urban Parks: Engaging Communities in Scientific Efforts |
|
|
|
$198,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to work with volunteers to
collect baseline biodiversity data for neighborhood and regional parks to
inspire stewardship and inform habitat restoration work.
Subd. 6. Aquatic
and Terrestrial Invasive Species |
|
5,104,000 |
|
-0- |
(a) Northward Expansion of Ecologically Damaging Amphibians and Reptiles |
|
|
|
$163,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to
assess the distribution and potential for expansion of key detrimental and
nonnative amphibians and reptiles in Minnesota.
(b) Developing Research-Based Solutions to Minnesota's AIS Problems |
|
|
|
$4,941,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for
the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center to conduct high-priority
projects aimed at solving Minnesota's aquatic invasive species problems using
rigorous science and a collaborative process.
Additionally, funds may be spent to deliver research findings to end
users through strategic communication and outreach. This appropriation is subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 116P.10. This appropriation
is available until June 30, 2027, by which time the project must be completed
and final products delivered.
Subd. 7. Air Quality, Climate Change, and Renewable Energy |
3,913,000 |
|
-0- |
(a) Community Forestry AmeriCorps |
|
|
|
|
$1,500,000 the first year
is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with ServeMinnesota to preserve and increase tree canopy throughout
the state by training, supporting, and deploying AmeriCorps members to local
agencies and nonprofit organizations to plant and inventory trees, develop and
implement pest management plans, create and maintain nursery beds for
replacement trees, and organize opportunities for community engagement in tree
stewardship activities.
(b) Biochar Implementation in Habitat Restoration: A Pilot |
|
|
|
$185,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Great River Greening to pilot the use of portable biochar kilns as an
alternative to open-pile burning of trees and shrubs to reduce smoke and carbon
emissions and produce beneficial by-products from invasive species removal and
land restoration efforts.
(c) Completing Installment of the Minnesota Ecological Monitoring Network |
|
|
|
$1,094,000 the first year
is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to improve
conservation and management of Minnesota's native forests, wetlands, and
grasslands by completing the Ecological Monitoring Network to measure
ecosystems' change through time.
(d) Lichens as Low-Cost Air Quality Monitors in Minnesota |
|
|
|
$341,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to
develop community science protocols for using lichens as indicators of air
quality and conduct an analysis of air pollution changes across Minnesota in
the present and in the past century.
(e) Environment-Friendly Decarbonizing of Steel Production with Hydrogen Plasma |
|
|
|
$739,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to
investigate the use of microwave hydrogen plasma to reduce fossil fuel use,
carbon dioxide emissions, and waste and enable the use of alternative iron
resources, including lower quality iron ores, tailings, and iron ore waste
piles, in the iron-making industry. This
appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.
(f) Economic Analysis Guide for Minnesota Climate Investments |
|
|
|
$54,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency to create a guide that will incorporate nation-wide best practices for
considering costs, benefits, economics, and equity in Minnesota climate policy
decisions.
Subd. 8. Methods to Protect or Restore Land, Water, and Habitat |
15,997,000 |
|
-0- |
(a) Minnesota Bee and Beneficial Species Habitat Enhancement II |
|
|
|
$876,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Pheasants Forever Inc. to enhance grassland habitats to benefit
pollinators and other wildlife species on permanently protected lands and to
collaborate with the University of Minnesota to determine best practices for
seeding timing and techniques.
(b) Karner Blue Butterfly Insurance Population Establishment in Minnesota |
|
|
|
$405,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the Three Rivers Park District to establish a breeding population of the
federally endangered Karner blue butterfly on protected lands within the
butterfly's northern expanding range, increase the habitat area, and evaluate
the butterfly establishment effort to assist with adaptive management. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2027, by which time the project must be completed and final products
delivered.
(c) Root River Habitat Restoration at
Eagle Bluff |
|
|
|
|
$866,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center to restore habitat in and
alongside the Root River north of Lanesboro, Minnesota, and to conduct
monitoring to ensure water quality and fish population improvements are
achieved. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2028, by which time the project must be completed and
final products delivered.
(d) Restoring Mussels in Streams and Lakes - Continuation |
|
|
|
$825,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to propagate,
rear, and restore native freshwater mussel assemblages and the ecosystem
services they
provide in the Mississippi,
Cedar, and Cannon Rivers; to evaluate reintroduction success; and to inform the
public on mussels and mussel conservation.
(e) Minnesota Million: Seedlings for Reforestation and CO 2 Sequestration |
|
|
|
$906,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota,
Duluth, to collaborate with The Nature Conservancy and Minnesota Extension to
expand networks of seed collectors and tree growers and to research tree
planting strategies to accelerate reforestation for carbon sequestration,
wildlife habitat, and watershed resilience.
(f) Panoway on Wayzata Bay Shoreline Restoration Project |
|
|
|
$200,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the city of Wayzata to restore native lake bottom and shoreline vegetation
to improve shoreline stability, wildlife habitat, and the natural beauty of
Lake Minnetonka's Wayzata Bay. The
recipient must report to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources on the effectiveness of any new methods tested while conducting the
project and may use a portion of the appropriation to prepare that report.
(g) Pollinator Central III: Habitat Improvement with Community Monitoring |
|
|
|
$190,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Great River Greening to restore and enhance pollinator habitat in parks,
schools, and other public spaces to benefit pollinators and people and to build
knowledge about impacts of the pollinator plantings through community-based
monitoring.
(h) Restoring
Forests and Savannas Using Silvopasture ‑Phase II |
|
|
|
$674,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Great River Greening to continue to partner with the University of
Minnesota and the Sustainable Farming Association to demonstrate, evaluate, and
increase adoption of the combined use of intensive tree, forage, and grazing as
a method to restore and manage forest and savanna habitats.
(i) Minnesota Community Schoolyards |
|
|
|
|
$1,433,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with The Trust for Public Land to engage students and communities to create
nature-focused habitat improvements at schoolyards across the state to increase
environmental outcomes and encourage outdoor learning.
(j) Pollinator Enhancement and Mississippi River Shoreline Restoration |
|
|
|
$187,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the adjutant general of the Department of Military
Affairs to restore native prairie, support pollinator plantings, and stabilize
a large section of stream bank along the Mississippi River within Camp Ripley.
(k) Conservation Cooperative for Working
Lands |
|
|
|
|
$2,611,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Pheasants Forever Inc. to collaborate with Natural Resources Conservation
Service, Board of Water and Soil Resources, and Minnesota Association of Soil
and Water Conservation Districts to accelerate adoption of voluntary
conservation practices on working lands in Minnesota by increasing technical
assistance to farmers and landowners while also attracting federal matching
funds.
(l) Quantifying Environmental Benefits of Peatland Restoration in Minnesota |
|
|
|
$754,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to
quantify the capacity of restored peatlands to store and accumulate atmospheric
carbon and prevent release of accumulated mercury into the surrounding
environment. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2027, by which time the project must be completed and
final products delivered.
(m) Renewing Access to an Iconic North
Shore Vista |
|
|
|
|
$197,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the Superior Hiking Trail Association to use national trail design best
practices to renew trails and a campground along the Bean and Bear Lakes
section of the Superior Hiking Trail that provides access to one of Minnesota's
most iconic vistas.
(n) Addressing Erosion Along High Use
River Loops |
|
|
|
|
$368,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the Superior Hiking Trail Association to rehabilitate and renew popular
river loops of the Superior Hiking Trail to withstand high visitor use and
serve Minnesotans for years to come.
(o) Pollinator Habitat Creation at Minnesota Closed Landfills |
|
|
|
$1,508,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency to conduct a pilot project to create pollinator habitat at closed
landfill sites in the
closed landfill program. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2027, by which time the project must be completed and final products
delivered.
(p) Enhancing Habitat Connectivity within the Urban Mississippi Flyway |
|
|
|
$190,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to enhance and restore habitat
in and between urban neighborhood parks and the Mississippi River to benefit
animals, plants, and neighborhoods traditionally disconnected from nature and
to raise awareness of the Mississippi River Flyway.
(q) Statewide Diversion of Furniture and Mattress Waste Pilots |
|
|
|
$2,833,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with EMERGE Community Development to work collaboratively with the University
of Minnesota, Second Chance Recycling, and local governments to test and
implement methods to expand mattress and furniture recycling statewide,
including by researching value-add commodity markets for recycled materials,
piloting mattress collection in greater Minnesota counties, piloting curbside
furniture collection in the metropolitan area, and increasing facility capacity
to recycle collected mattresses. Any
revenue generated from selling products or assets developed or acquired with
this appropriation must be repaid to the trust fund unless a plan is approved
for reinvestment of income in the project.
This appropriation is subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.10.
(r) Phelps Mill Wetland and Prairie
Restoration |
|
|
|
|
$974,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Otter Tail County to plan, engineer, and restore wetlands and prairie
within the newly expanded Phelps Mill County Park to improve habitat
connectivity for wildlife and enhance recreational experiences for users. Up to $322,000 of this appropriation may be
used to plan, engineer, and construct a boardwalk, viewing platforms, and soft
trails within the park. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2027, by which time the project must
be completed and final products delivered.
Subd. 9. Land
Acquisition, Habitat, and Recreation |
|
31,241,000 |
|
-0- |
(a) SNA Stewardship, Outreach, and Biodiversity Protection |
|
|
|
$1,919,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and
enhance exceptional habitat on scientific and natural areas (SNAs), increase
public involvement
and outreach, and strategically
acquire lands that meet criteria for SNAs under Minnesota Statutes, section
86A.05, from willing sellers. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2027, by which time the project must
be completed and final products delivered.
(b) Wannigan Regional Park Land
Acquisition |
|
|
|
|
$727,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the city of Frazee to acquire land for protecting and enhancing natural
resources and for future development as Wannigan Regional Park, where the Heartland
State, North Country National, and Otter Tail River Water Trails will meet. Initial site development or restoration work
may be conducted with this appropriation.
(c) Local Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas Grant Programs |
|
|
|
$3,802,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to solicit and
rank applications and fund competitive matching grants for local parks, trail
connections, and natural and scenic areas under Minnesota Statutes, section
85.019. This appropriation is for local
nature-based recreation, connections to regional and state natural areas, and
recreation facilities and may not be used for athletic facilities such as sport
fields, courts, and playgrounds.
(d) Outreach and Stewardship Through the Native Prairie Bank Program |
|
|
|
$620,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and
monitor lands enrolled in the native prairie bank and to provide outreach and
technical assistance to landowners, practitioners, and the public to increase
awareness and stewardship of the state's remaining native prairie. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2027, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.
(e) Minnesota State Trails Development |
|
|
|
|
$4,952,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to expand
recreational opportunities on Minnesota state trails by rehabilitating and
enhancing existing state trails and replacing or repairing existing state trail
bridges.
(f) Construction of East Park |
|
|
|
|
$700,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the city of St. Joseph to increase recreational opportunities and
access at East Park along the Sauk River in St. Joseph through
enhancements such as a canoe and kayak access, a floating dock, paved and mowed
trails, and parking entrance improvements.
(g) Scandia Gateway Trail to William O'Brien State Park |
|
|
|
|
$2,689,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the city of Scandia to engineer and construct a segment of the Gateway
State Trail between the city of Scandia and William O'Brien State Park that
will be maintained by the Department of Natural Resources. The segment to be constructed includes a
pedestrian tunnel and trailhead parking area.
This project must be designed and constructed in accordance with
Department of Natural Resources state trail standards. Engineering and construction plans must be
approved by the commissioner of natural resources before construction may
commence. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2027, by which time the project must be completed and
final products delivered.
(h) Grand
Marais Mountain Bike Trail Rehabilitation - Phase II |
|
|
|
$200,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Superior Cycling Association to rehabilitate and modify existing mountain
bike trails at Pincushion Mountain to increase the trail's environmental
sustainability and provide better access to beginner and adaptive cyclers.
(i) Acquisition of State Parks and Trails
Inholdings |
|
|
|
|
$5,425,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire
high-priority inholdings from willing sellers within the legislatively
authorized boundaries of state parks, recreation areas, and trails to protect
Minnesota's natural heritage, enhance outdoor recreation, and improve the
efficiency of public land management. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2027, by which time the project must
be completed and final products delivered.
(j) St. Louis River Re-Connect -
Phase II |
|
|
|
|
$1,375,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the city of Duluth to increase recreational opportunities and access to
the Waabizheshikana hiking and water trails in West Duluth with trail and
trailhead enhancements such as accessible canoe and kayak launches, picnic
areas, and restrooms; restored habitat; stormwater improvements; directional
signage, and trailside interpretation. This
appropriation may also be used to partner with the St. Louis River
Alliance to create an ambassadors program to engage the surrounding community
and facilitate use of the trails.
(k) City of Biwabik Recreation |
|
|
|
|
$1,306,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the city of Biwabik to reconstruct and renovate Biwabik Recreation Area's
access road, parking area, and bathroom facilities.
(l)
Silver Bay Multimodal Trailhead
Project |
|
|
|
|
$1,970,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the city of Silver Bay to develop a multimodal trailhead center to provide
safe access to the Superior Hiking, Gitchi-Gami Bike, and C.J. Ramstad/North
Shore trails; Black Beach Park; and other recreational destinations. Before any construction costs are incurred,
the city must demonstrate that all funding to complete the project are secured.
(m) Above the Falls Regional Park Restoration Planning and Acquisition |
|
|
|
$1,376,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to acquire land along the
Mississippi River from willing sellers for habitat restoration, trail
development, and low-intensity recreational facilities in Above the Falls
Regional Park. This appropriation may
also be used to prepare restoration plans for lands acquired. This appropriation may not be used to
purchase habitable residential structures.
Before the acquisition, a phase 1 environmental assessment must be
completed and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board must not accept any
liability for previous contamination of lands acquired with this appropriation.
(n) Redhead Mountain Bike Park |
|
|
|
|
$1,666,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with the city of Chisholm as the fiscal agent for the Minnesota Discovery
Center to enhance outdoor recreational opportunities by adding trails and
amenities to the Redhead Mountain Bike Park in Chisholm. Amenities may include such things as pump
tracks, skills courses, changing stations, shade shakes, and signage.
(o) Maplewood State Park Trail Segment of the Perham to Pelican Rapids Regional Trail |
|
|
|
$2,514,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement
with Otter Tail County to partner with the Department of Natural Resources to
construct the Maplewood State Park segment of the Perham to Pelican Rapids
Regional Trail. This project must be
designed and constructed in accordance with Department of Natural Resources
state trail standards. Engineering and
construction plans must be approved by the commissioner of natural resources
before construction may commence.
Subd. 10. Administration, Emerging Issues, and Contract Agreement Reimbursement |
3,126,000 |
|
-0- |
(a) LCCMR Administrative Budget |
|
|
|
|
$2,133,000 the first year is
from the trust fund to the Legislative‑Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources for
administration in fiscal years
2024 and 2025 as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.09, subdivision 5. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2025. Notwithstanding Minnesota
Statutes, section 116P.11, paragraph (b), Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.281,
applies to this appropriation.
(b) Emerging Issues |
|
|
|
|
$767,000 the first year is from the trust
fund to the Legislative‑Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources to an
emerging issues account authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.08,
subdivision 4, paragraph (d).
(c) Contract Agreement Reimbursement |
|
|