1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to transportation; authorizing the issuance 
  1.3             of state transportation bonds; appropriating the 
  1.4             proceeds for grants to political subdivisions for 
  1.5             bridge construction and reconstruction. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [ISSUANCE OF STATE TRANSPORTATION BONDS.] 
  1.8      On the request of the commissioner of transportation, the 
  1.9   commissioner of finance shall issue and sell Minnesota state 
  1.10  transportation bonds for the purposes provided in Minnesota 
  1.11  Statutes, section 174.51, subdivision 1, in the aggregate 
  1.12  principal amount of $....... in the manner and on the conditions 
  1.13  prescribed in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.51 and in the 
  1.14  Minnesota Constitution, article XI.  The proceeds of the bonds, 
  1.15  except as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 174.51, 
  1.16  subdivision 5, must be deposited in the Minnesota state 
  1.17  transportation fund for expenditure in accordance with section 2 
  1.18  and with Minnesota Statutes, section 174.50. 
  1.19     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEEDS.] 
  1.20     Subdivision 1.  [APPROPRIATION.] $......., or as much of 
  1.21  that sum as the commissioner of transportation determines is 
  1.22  needed, is appropriated from the Minnesota state transportation 
  1.23  fund to the commissioner of transportation.  The commissioner 
  1.24  shall spend this sum as grants to political subdivisions for the 
  1.25  construction and reconstruction of key bridges on the state 
  2.1   transportation system.  This appropriation is available until 
  2.2   spent. 
  2.3      Subd. 2.  [ALLOCATION.] The commissioner shall not spend 
  2.4   more than $....... of this appropriation in any fiscal year.  
  2.5   Total grants in any fiscal year may not exceed the following 
  2.6   limits: 
  2.7      (1) to counties, $.......; 
  2.8      (2) to cities, $.......; and 
  2.9      (3) to towns, $....... 
  2.10     Subd. 3.  [USES.] Political subdivisions may use grants 
  2.11  made under this section for purposes of construction and 
  2.12  reconstruction of bridges, including: 
  2.13     (1) matching federal-aid grants for the construction or 
  2.14  reconstruction of key bridges; 
  2.15     (2) paying the costs of abandoning an existing bridge that 
  2.16  is deficient and in need of replacement, but where no 
  2.17  replacement will be made; 
  2.18     (3) paying the costs of constructing a road or street that 
  2.19  would facilitate the abandonment of an existing bridge 
  2.20  determined by the commissioner to be deficient, if the 
  2.21  commissioner determines that construction of the road or street 
  2.22  is more cost efficient than the replacement of the existing 
  2.23  bridge; and 
  2.24     (4) paying the costs of preliminary engineering and 
  2.25  environmental studies authorized under Minnesota Statutes, 
  2.26  section 174.50, subdivision 6a. 
  2.27     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.28     Sections 1 and 2 are effective July 1, 1995.