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HF 780

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/23/2015 03:53pm

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

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 02/12/2015
1st Engrossment Posted on 03/23/2015

Current Version - 1st Engrossment

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A bill for an act
relating to housing; providing grants for home modifications for accessibility;
appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; GRANTS FOR ACCESSIBILITY HOME
MODIFICATIONS.
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, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Accommodate" means to make a residence accessible for a qualified person in a
manner that is necessary because the qualified person has a disability or that is necessary
because the qualified person is 65 or older and has a disability or another physical limit.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Federal poverty guidelines" means the federal poverty guidelines published by
the United States Department of Health and Human Services most recently before the first
day of the calendar year in which the taxable year began.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Medical provider" means a physician, licensed under Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 147, or a primary care provider as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 148.171,
subdivision 17a.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Qualified modifications or improvements" means modifications or improvements
to the taxpayer's principal residence, as used in section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code
and located in this state, to accommodate a qualified person and must:
new text end

new text begin (1) consist of one or more of the following:
new text end

new text begin (i) no-step exterior entrances;
new text end

new text begin (ii) exterior or interior ramps;
new text end

new text begin (iii) stairway lifts;
new text end

new text begin (iv) elevators;
new text end

new text begin (v) lifts;
new text end

new text begin (vi) handrails;
new text end

new text begin (vii) grab bars or reinforcement of grab bars;
new text end

new text begin (viii) door hardware;
new text end

new text begin (ix) widening exterior doors to more than 36 inches;
new text end

new text begin (x) widening interior doors to more than 32 inches;
new text end

new text begin (xi) widening hallways to more than 36 inches;
new text end

new text begin (xii) fire or smoke alarms;
new text end

new text begin (xiii) alerting devices;
new text end

new text begin (xiv) moving electrical service including, but not limited to, outlets and switches;
new text end

new text begin (xv) environmental controls including, but not limited to, heating and cooling
equipment;
new text end

new text begin (xvi) bathroom modifications including, but not limited to, accessible toilets,
bathtubs, showers, plumbing, and fixtures;
new text end

new text begin (xvii) kitchen modifications including, but not limited to, accessible countertops,
cabinets, appliances, plumbing, and fixtures; and
new text end

new text begin (xviii) bedroom modifications including, but not limited to, relocation to an
accessible space in the home;
new text end

new text begin (2) be certified by a medical provider as necessary to accommodate the qualified
person's use of the residence;
new text end

new text begin (3) consist of improvements to real property following their installation; and
new text end

new text begin (4) not be the construction of a new residence or an addition to a residence that
expands its living area beyond the items in clause (1).
new text end

new text begin (f) "Qualified person" means a taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or the taxpayer's
dependent, as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code, who has attained
the age of 65 before the close of the taxable year or who has a disability, as defined in
Minnesota Statutes, section 363A.03, subdivision 12.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants; eligibility. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of housing finance shall provide
grants to qualified persons for qualified modifications and improvements to accommodate
their home. The grants shall be available to homeowners whose annual income is less
than 450 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The homeowner must provide
documentation from a medical provider that modifications and improvements are
necessary to accommodate the qualified person.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $2,000,000 in fiscal
year 2017 are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of the Housing
Finance Agency for grants pursuant to this section to homeowners to accommodate
qualified persons who need qualified modifications or improvements to their homes due
to age or disability. A percentage of this amount may be used by the Housing Finance
Agency for the administration of the grants program.
new text end