HF 3738

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/11/2024 04:42pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; providing for community tree-planting grants;
appropriating money; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 84.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [84.705] COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, "shade tree" means a woody
perennial grown primarily for aesthetic or environmental purposes with minimal to residual
timber value.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must establish a grant program to provide grants
to cities, counties, townships, Tribal governments, and park and recreation boards in cities
of the first class for the following purposes:
new text end

new text begin (1) removing and planting shade trees on public or Tribal land to provide environmental
benefits;
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new text begin (2) replacing trees lost to forest pests, disease, or storm; or
new text end

new text begin (3) establishing a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and
forest pests.
new text end

new text begin (b) Any tree planted with money granted under this section must be a climate-adapted
species to Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Priority. new text end

new text begin (a) Priority for grants awarded under this section must be given to:
new text end

new text begin (1) projects removing and replacing ash trees that pose significant public safety concerns;
and
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new text begin (2) projects located in whole or in part in a census tract where at least three of the
following apply, as determined using the most recently published data from the United
States Census Bureau or United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
new text end

new text begin (i) 20 percent or more of the residents have income below the federal poverty thresholds;
new text end

new text begin (ii) the tract has a United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social
vulnerability index greater than 0.80;
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new text begin (iii) the upper limit of the lowest quintile of household income is less than the state upper
limit of the lowest quintile;
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new text begin (iv) the housing vacancy rate is greater than the state average; or
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new text begin (v) the percent of the population receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) benefits is greater than the state average.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may not prioritize projects based on criteria other than the criteria
established under paragraph (a).
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. 2. new text begin COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING GRANTS; BONDS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $40,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds
fund to the commissioner of natural resources for community tree planting grants under
Minnesota Statutes, section 84.705.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Bond sale. new text end

new text begin To provide the money appropriated in this section from the bond
proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue bonds of
the state in an amount up to $40,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with the effect
prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota
Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.
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