1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; requiring report on mitigating effects of transportation 
1.3 	construction projects on small businesses.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. REPORT ON MITIGATION OF TRANSPORTATION 
1.6 	CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS.
 1.7 	(a) The commissioner of transportation shall submit a report to the chairs and 
1.8 	ranking minority members of the senate and house committees with jurisdiction over 
1.9 	transportation policy and finance and over economic development policy and finance that 
1.10 	proposes a program to mitigate the impact of transportation construction projects on 
1.11 	small businesses as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 645.445, subdivision 2. The 
1.12 	report must include, but not be limited to:
1.13 	(1) a description of the components of an information packet, which must be 
1.14 	distributed to small business owners whose property will be affected by planned 
1.15 	transportation improvements and must include, without limitation, information on:
1.16 	(i) the nature, extent, and timing of planned construction;
1.17 	(ii) anticipated effects on business operation, including, but not limited to, traffic, 
1.18 	parking, and public access;
1.19 	(iii) identification of a contact person within each of the appropriate road and transit 
1.20 	authorities who is informed about the construction progress and timing; and
1.21 	(iv) available resources for short-term loans and grants, and other financial, 
1.22 	marketing, and technical counseling to prepare the business for temporary disruptions 
1.23 	related to construction projects;
2.1 	(2) recommendations, including possible draft legislation, developed by the 
2.2 	commissioner of transportation in consultation with the commissioner of employment 
2.3 	and economic development and with community organizations, including metropolitan 
2.4 	consortium of community developers and local chambers of commerce, for establishing, 
2.5 	funding, and implementing a grant or short-term loan program to be administered by the 
2.6 	commissioner of employment and economic development, which must include, without 
2.7 	limitation:
2.8 	(i) definition of transportation impact zones and identification of eligible grant 
2.9 	or loan recipients within these zones; and
2.10 	(ii) identification of eligible purposes for grants and loans, to include the creation of 
2.11 	informational advertising containing access and parking information, cash flow assistance 
2.12 	during construction, and technical assistance related to financial management, inventory 
2.13 	control, and marketing;
2.14 	(3) recommendations, including possible draft legislation, developed by the 
2.15 	commissioner of transportation in consultation with the Metropolitan Council and 
2.16 	representatives of counties and cities for actions to be taken in cooperation between 
2.17 	the commissioner of transportation and road authorities involved in the transportation 
2.18 	construction project, in order to facilitate the adoption of ordinances to provide for 
2.19 	customer parking during construction and access to the business premises; and
2.20 	(4) identification of potential funding sources, costs of implementing the mitigation 
2.21 	program, and any necessary legislative action.
2.22 	(b) The commissioner shall submit the report no later than January 15, 2009.