HF 1934

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:56am

A bill for an act
relating to state government; establishing principles for allocation and
expenditure of federal stimulus funds; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin STATE MANAGEMENT OF THE FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDING;
GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Purpose of federal stimulus. new text end

new text begin Under the federal American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act, the state is expected to receive approximately $9,000,000,000 to,
among other purposes, create and preserve jobs, invest in infrastructure, advance energy
efficiency and weatherize thousands of homes, invest in science, provide training, and
assist the unemployed.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Guiding principles. new text end

new text begin (a) Federal stimulus funding shall be allocated and
distributed as follows:
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new text begin (1) the proportion of economically disadvantaged persons hired must represent 25
percent of the total number of persons hired; and
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new text begin (2) contracts awarded to businesses that are majority owned and operated by
economically disadvantaged persons must represent 15 percent of the total number of
contracts and subcontracts awarded.
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new text begin (b) The state agency or agencies responsible for the allocation and distribution of
stimulus funding must make affirmative efforts to publicize job and contract opportunities
to low-income persons, including women and persons of color, and persons between the
ages of 17 and 24 who have experienced homelessness in the past year or have been in
foster care after age 15. Efforts must include, but are not limited to:
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new text begin (1) the creation of a statewide list of government, nongovernmental, and nonprofit
organizations representing the interests of low-income persons, including women and
persons of color;
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new text begin (2) the dissemination via e-mail and other means to the statewide list; and
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new text begin (3) the cost-effective dissemination via the mass media, including public service
announcements and radio advertisements.
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Sec. 2. new text begin ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WEATHERIZATION FUNDING;
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Recruitment goals. new text end

new text begin The state agency or agencies responsible for the
allocation and distribution of stimulus funding must establish robust numerical goals for
the recruitment of low-income persons, including women and persons of color, for training
opportunities. Training opportunities must be publicized in communities experiencing
disproportionately high rates of unemployment including, but not limited to, low-income,
rural, and tribal communities. Scholarship opportunities must be made available for
persons who otherwise would be unable to afford the training.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Use of funds. new text end

new text begin In awarding funds to training programs, the state agency or
agencies responsible for the allocation and distribution of stimulus funding must:
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new text begin (1) utilize the full capacity of current training providers including, but not limited
to, opportunities industrialization centers, skilled trades labor unions, tribal colleges or
nonprofits working in tribal communities, community action partnerships, and nonprofit
organizations with historic expertise in energy efficiency; and
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new text begin (2) consider new strategic partnerships.
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Sec. 3. new text begin ACTION PLANS; TRACKING.
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new text begin Any state agency responsible for allocating and distributing stimulus funding must
include a system to track:
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new text begin (1) all funds allocated and distributed;
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new text begin (2) energy savings caused;
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new text begin (3) the number of jobs created;
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new text begin (4) the number of proportion of workers hired who are:
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new text begin (i) women;
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new text begin (ii) persons from low-income communities; and
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new text begin (iii) persons of color;
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new text begin (5) the wage level of the jobs; and
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new text begin (6) the training and recruitment strategies undertaken and the outcomes of those
strategies.
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Sec. 4. new text begin REPORTING.
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new text begin The state agency or agencies responsible for the allocation and distribution of
stimulus funding must report findings and analysis of the data quarterly, beginning three
months following the initial distribution of the stimulus funding, to the chairs of the
committees with jurisdiction over the allocation and distribution of the federal stimulus
funding, and make the reports accessible to the public.
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Sec. 5. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
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new text begin Sections 1 to 4 are effective the day following final enactment.
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