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HF 1550

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/06/2023 06:58pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 02/09/2023

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to transportation; appropriating money related to federal grants technical
assistance and match requirements.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION GRANTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "commissioner" means the
commissioner of transportation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Technical assistance grants. new text end

new text begin (a) Subject to an appropriation, the commissioner
must establish a process to provide grants for technical assistance to a requesting local unit
of government or Tribal government that seeks to submit an application for a federal
discretionary grant for a transportation-related purpose.
new text end

new text begin (b) A transportation-related purpose includes but is not limited to a project, a program,
planning, program delivery, administrative costs, ongoing operations, and other related
expenditures. Technical assistance includes but is not limited to hiring consultants for
identification of available grants, grant writing, analysis, data collection, technical review,
legal interpretations necessary to complete an application, planning, pre-engineering,
application finalization, and similar activities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Prioritization. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must establish a process for solicitation,
submission of requests for technical assistance, screening requests, and award of technical
assistance grants.
new text end

new text begin (b) The process must include prioritization of assistance for projects or purposes that:
new text end

new text begin (1) address or mitigate the impacts of climate change, including through:
new text end

new text begin (i) reduction in transportation-related pollution or emissions; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) improvements to the resiliency of infrastructure that is subject to long-term risks
from natural disasters, weather events, or changing climate conditions;
new text end

new text begin (2) are located in areas of persistent poverty or historically disadvantaged communities;
new text end

new text begin (3) are located in townships or cities that are eligible for small cities assistance aid under
Minnesota Statutes, section 162.145;
new text end

new text begin (4) support grants to Tribal governments; and
new text end

new text begin (5) provide for geographic balance of grants throughout the state.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner must establish criteria for areas of persistent poverty and
historically disadvantaged communities based on measures and definitions in federal law,
guidance, and notices of funding opportunity.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Limitations. new text end

new text begin (a) A technical assistance grant may not exceed $30,000.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may not award more than one grant to each unit of government
in a calendar year. The commissioner may award multiple grants to a Tribal government in
a calendar year.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA)
DISCRETIONARY MATCH.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Federal discretionary grant" means federal funds under a discretionary grant program
enacted or authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Public Law
117-58, and federal funds under any subsequent federal appropriations acts directly associated
with a spending authorization or appropriation under the IIJA.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Federal grant recipient" means an entity that receives a federal discretionary grant
under the applicable federal program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin General requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) Subject to an appropriation, the commissioner must
establish a process to allocate the funds made available for purposes of this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must allocate available funds in the order of (1) requests submitted
by federal grant recipients, followed by (2) announcement or notification of the federal
grant award. The commissioner may allocate funds for a federal discretionary grant awarded
prior to the effective date of this section.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner must only allocate available funds:
new text end

new text begin (1) to a federal grant recipient for match requirements under federal discretionary grants;
new text end

new text begin (2) for a transportation-related purpose, including but not limited to a project, a program,
planning, program delivery, administrative costs, ongoing operations, and other related
expenditures; and
new text end

new text begin (3) in an amount that does not exceed:
new text end

new text begin (i) the gap amount remaining from undetermined sources, based on the total cost estimated
at the time of the federal grant application submission;
new text end

new text begin (ii) the amount necessary for the federal match requirements; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) ....... percent of the total cost estimated at the time of the federal grant application
submission, up to a maximum of $........
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Uses of funds. new text end

new text begin (a) From available funds under this section, the commissioner
may:
new text end

new text begin (1) expend funds for the trunk highway system;
new text end

new text begin (2) allocate funds among any transportation modes and programs, including but not
limited to local roads and bridges, transit, active transportation, aeronautics, alternative fuel
corridors, electric vehicle infrastructure, and climate-related programs; and
new text end

new text begin (3) make grants to a federal grant recipient, which as appropriate includes but is not
limited to federally recognized Tribal governments, local units of government, and
metropolitan planning organizations.
new text end

new text begin (b) Funds under this section are available regardless of the eligible uses of federal funds
under the federal discretionary grant award.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Public information. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must maintain information on a public
website that details funds allocated under this section. The information must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a summary of federal grant recipients, projects including a general status, and the
amounts of match funding requested and provided;
new text end

new text begin (2) identification of any unfunded requests; and
new text end

new text begin (3) a fiscal review that provides breakouts by type of project or purpose, transportation
mode, federal program, and region of the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires June 30, 2029.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; FEDERAL GRANTS MAXIMIZATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of transportation for federal transportation grants
technical assistance under section 1. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (b) $214,400,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of transportation for federal discretionary grant matches under section 2. This
is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027. Any unspent portion cancels
to the highway user tax distribution fund.
new text end

new text begin (c) $42,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of transportation for federal discretionary grant matches for trunk highway
projects. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027. Any unspent
portion cancels to the trunk highway fund.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end