HF 2415

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/04/2023 10:25am

A bill for an act
relating to housing; establishing a high-rise sprinkler system grant program;
requiring certain cities to report buildings that do not have a sprinkler system;
requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin HIGH-RISE SPRINKLER SYSTEM GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
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new text begin (b) "Eligible building" means an existing residential building in which:
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new text begin (1) at least one story used for human occupancy is 75 feet or more above the lowest
level of fire department vehicle access; and
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new text begin (2) at least two-thirds of its units are rented to an individual or family with an annual
income of up to 50 percent of the area median income as determined by the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development, adjusted for family size, that is paying
no more than 30 percent of annual income on rent.
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new text begin (c) "Sprinkler system" means the same as the term "fire protection system" as defined
in Minnesota Statutes, section 299M.01.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grant program. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency must make
grants to owners of eligible buildings for installation of sprinkler systems. Priority shall be
given to nonprofit applicants. The maximum grant per eligible building shall be $2,000,000.
Each grant to a nonprofit organization shall require a 25 percent match. Each grant to a
for-profit organization shall require a 50 percent match.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency for the grant program in
subdivision 2. The appropriation is available until expended. Of this amount, up to $4,000,000
must be for a grant to CommonBond Communities for installation of sprinkler systems at
two buildings known as Seward Tower West located at 2515 South 9th Street in Minneapolis
and Seward Tower East located at 2910 East Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires June 30, 2026.
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Sec. 2. new text begin REQUIRING CITIES TO REPORT BUILDINGS THAT DO NOT HAVE
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.
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new text begin (a) A city of the first or second class shall provide to the state fire marshal a list by June
20, 2024, and an updated list by June 30, 2027, and June 30, 2032, of each residential
building in the city that:
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new text begin (1) has at least one story used for human occupancy that is 75 feet or more above the
lowest level of fire department vehicle access;
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new text begin (2) was not subject to a requirement to include a sprinkler system at the time the building
was constructed; and
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new text begin (3) has not been retrofitted with a sprinkler system.
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new text begin (b) The state fire marshal shall submit the lists within 60 days of the due dates under
paragraph (a) to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over the State Building Code and the State Fire Code.
new text end