1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the University of Minnesota; establishing 
  1.3             a center for research on grapes and wine; 
  1.4             appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
  1.5             section 297C.08; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.6             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 137. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [137.44] [CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON GRAPES AND 
  1.9   WINE.] 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] The board of regents, 
  1.11  through the University of Minnesota's horticulture research 
  1.12  center, is requested to establish and administer a center for 
  1.13  research on grapes and wine. 
  1.14     Subd. 2.  [CENTER ACTIVITIES.] The center must: 
  1.15     (1) hire a state enologist to develop and make experimental 
  1.16  wines from University of Minnesota hybrids and other grapes and 
  1.17  fruits, and to provide technical assistance to Minnesota 
  1.18  winemakers; 
  1.19     (2) provide support for the existing grape breeding program 
  1.20  in order to breed, care for, and select hybrid grapes to help 
  1.21  establish and develop a grape and wine industry for Minnesota; 
  1.22     (3) hire additional personnel as needed to support grape 
  1.23  breeding efforts and assist the state enologist; 
  1.24     (4) provide a systematic evaluation of wines from 
  1.25  University of Minnesota hybrids and other grapes and fruits, and 
  1.26  organize and present tastings for the evaluation and promotion 
  2.1   of these wines; and 
  2.2      (5) purchase supplies and equipment as may be needed to 
  2.3   support the work of the center. 
  2.4      Subd. 3.  [BUDGET.] A budget for activities of the center 
  2.5   shall be presented annually to the Minnesota grape growers 
  2.6   association for review and comment. 
  2.7      Subd. 4.  [APPROPRIATION.] The money appropriated to the 
  2.8   University of Minnesota under section 297C.08 must be spent for 
  2.9   the purposes of this section. 
  2.10     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 297C.08, is 
  2.11  amended to read: 
  2.12     297C.08 [DEPOSIT OF RECEIPTS.] 
  2.13     All tax revenues and other receipts payable to the state 
  2.14  under this chapter must be paid into the state treasury and 
  2.15  credited to the general fund.  There is appropriated annually 
  2.16  from the general fund to the University of Minnesota, one cent 
  2.17  per liter of the tax imposed by section 297C.02, for the 
  2.18  purposes specified in section 137.44.