1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to capital improvements; providing for veterans memorial project grant 
1.3 	program; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapter 196.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [196.055] VETERANS MEMORIAL GRANT PROGRAM.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. A veterans memorial account is created in the bond 
1.8 	proceeds fund. Money in the account may only be used for capital costs of eligible 
1.9 	veterans memorial projects.
1.10 		Subd. 2.Definitions. For purposes of this section:
1.11 	(1) "local government unit" means a county, city, town, special district, or other 
1.12 	political subdivision or public corporation;
1.13 	(2) "governing body" means the council, board of commissioners, board of trustees, 
1.14 	or other body charged with the governance of the local government unit; and
1.15 	(3) "eligible project" means a new or existing public memorial, monument, space, 
1.16 	park, or other project that is intended to honor or remember veterans.
1.17 		Subd. 3.Grant program established. The commissioner shall make grants, up 
1.18 	to the amount of $50,000, to local government units to acquire land on which eligible 
1.19 	projects will be located, including demolition of structures and remediation of conditions 
1.20 	on the land, or to predesign, design, construct, renovate, furnish, and equip an eligible 
1.21 	project. The local government unit receiving a grant must provide for the remainder of 
1.22 	the eligible project costs.
1.23 		Subd. 4.Application. The commissioner must develop forms, criteria, and 
1.24 	procedures for soliciting and reviewing applications for grants under this section. At 
2.1 	a minimum, a local government unit must include the following information in its 
2.2 	application:
2.3 	(1) a resolution of its governing body certifying that the money required to be 
2.4 	supplied by the local government unit to complete the project is available and committed;
2.5 	(2) a detailed estimate of the total development costs and timeline for the project;
2.6 	(3) an assessment of the potential or likely use and public benefit of the project; and
2.7 	(4) any additional information or material the commissioner prescribes.
2.8 	The determination of whether to make a grant under this section is within the discretion of 
2.9 	the commissioner. The commissioner's decision is not subject to judicial review, except 
2.10 	for abuse of discretion.
2.11 		Subd. 5.Cancellation of grant. If a grant is awarded to a local government unit 
2.12 	and funds are not encumbered for the grant within four years after the award date, the 
2.13 	grant must be canceled.
2.14 		Subd. 6.Appropriation. $2,000,000 is annually appropriated from the bond 
2.15 	proceeds fund to the commissioner for the purposes of this section.