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:
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(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
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(b) "Eligible building" means an existing residential building in which:
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(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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(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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(c) "Sprinkler system" means the same as the term "fire protection system" as defined
in Minnesota Statutes, section 299M.01.
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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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$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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This section expires June 30, 2026.
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(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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(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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(2) was not subject to a requirement to include a sprinkler system at the time the building
was constructed; and
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(3) has not been retrofitted with a sprinkler system.
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(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.
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