HF 3248

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/20/2014 02:10pm

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; creating a green jobs deconstruction pilot
program; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. GREEN JOBS DECONSTRUCTION PILOT PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms
have the meanings given.

(b) "Deconstruction" means the planned disassembly of buildings with the purpose
of harvesting materials for reuse.

(c) "Green jobs" means employment in a field that promotes the development of a
"green economy" as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.437.

Subd. 2.

Purpose.

The purpose of the green jobs deconstruction pilot program is
to create new, green jobs in building deconstruction, reduce the amount of construction
and demolition waste being sent to landfills, and establish markets for selling reclaimed
materials.

Subd. 3.

Partnerships.

(a) The nonprofit identified in section 2 shall partner with
the opportunities industrialization center based in northern Minnesota in order to extend
benefits of the program statewide.

(b) The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency shall advise the nonprofit on
administration of the pilot program, including assistance with development of building
deconstruction into a viable, sustainable practice statewide.

Subd. 4.

Goals.

The goals of the pilot project are to:

(1) test and fully develop safe, cost-effective techniques for deconstructing buildings;

(2) develop and implement a deconstruction training regimen that leads to
certification;

(3) develop and build sustainable markets for reusable materials collected during the
deconstruction process;

(4) create jobs for chronically unemployed adults, with a focus on adults who are
homeless and at risk of returning to jail or prison;

(5) prepare model policies for state and local units of government to consider and
adopt in an effort to establish building deconstruction as a sustainable, cost-effective
practice; and

(6) document the environmental, social, and economic impact of deconstruction
compared to the standing policy of demolition, including the amount of carbon emissions
reduced by deconstruction and the reuse of natural resources.

Subd. 5.

Outcomes.

(a) The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency
shall monitor the activities and outcomes of the pilot program, including collection of
information to calculate the amount of carbon emissions reduced by the deconstruction
projects completed through the program.

(b) The commissioner of employment and economic development shall monitor the
activities and outcomes of the pilot program, including collection of the number of jobs
created and the average salary of participants.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) $2,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2015 to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to Better Futures
Minnesota for the pilot program in section 1. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until expended.

(b) $250,000 is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2015 to the
commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to develop incentives and community
outreach that creates a market for deconstruction in lieu of demolition.