1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to bridges; authorizing issuance of
1.3 	$70,000,000 in state transportation bonds for grants
1.4 	to political subdivisions for the replacement,
1.5 	rehabilitation, or repair of key bridges on the state
1.6 	transportation system; appropriating money.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; LOCAL BRIDGE GRANTS.
 1.9 	$70,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds account
1.10 	in the state transportation fund to the commissioner of
1.11 	transportation.  The commissioner shall spend this appropriation
1.12 	as grants to political subdivisions for the replacement,
1.13 	rehabilitation, and repair of key bridges on the state
1.14 	transportation system.  The commissioner shall make these grants
1.15 	in accordance with and for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes,
1.16 	section 174.50.  Political subdivisions may use grants under
1.17 	this section for the replacement, rehabilitation, or repair of
1.18 	bridges, including, but not limited to:
1.19 	(1) matching federal grants for bridge replacement,
1.20 	rehabilitation, or repair;
1.21 	(2) paying the costs of abandoning an existing bridge that
1.22 	is deficient and in need of replacement, but where no
1.23 	replacement will be made;
1.24 	(3) paying the costs of constructing a road or street that
1.25 	would facilitate the abandonment of an existing bridge
1.26 	determined by the commissioner of transportation to be
2.1 	deficient, if the commissioner determines that construction of
2.2 	the road or street is more cost-efficient than replacing the
2.3 	existing bridge; and 
2.4 	(4) paying costs authorized by Minnesota Statutes, section
2.5 	174.50, subdivision 6a.

2.6 	Sec. 2. ISSUANCE OF STATE TRANSPORTATION BONDS.
 2.7 	To provide the money appropriated from the state
2.8 	transportation fund under section 1, the commissioner of finance
2.9 	shall, on request of the commissioner of transportation, issue
2.10 	and sell Minnesota state transportation bonds for the purposes
2.11 	provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.51, subdivision 1,
2.12 	in the aggregate principal amount of $70,000,000, in the manner
2.13 	and on the conditions prescribed in Minnesota Statutes, section
2.14 	174.51, and in the Minnesota Constitution, article XI.  The
2.15 	proceeds of the bonds must be deposited in the bond proceeds
2.16 	account in the Minnesota state transportation fund for
2.17 	expenditure in accordance with section 1 and with Minnesota
2.18 	Statutes, section 174.50.

2.19 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.20 	Sections 1 and 2 are effective July 1, 2005.