<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>construction impacts on small businesses; creating construction mitigation grant <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>program; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section <br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>160.16, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota <br/>
<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>Statutes, chapters 116J; 161.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>    Section 1. <b>[116J.432] CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>Purpose.</b> The purpose of the construction mitigation grant program <br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>is to mitigate the impacts of transportation construction on local small businesses, to <br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>promote the retention of jobs in transportation construction areas, and to provide outreach <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>to the public and small businesses to minimize interruption to local commerce. The <br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>Department of Transportation, Department of Employment and Economic Development, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>and local government units shall work together to ensure that the recommendations <br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>of the Department of Transportation's 2009 report to the legislature on transportation <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>construction impacts and any statutory changes resulting from the report recommendations <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>are applied when implementing the grant program.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>    Subd. 2. <b>Establishment.</b> The commissioner of employment and economic <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>development shall develop and implement a construction mitigation grant program to <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>make grants available to local government units to mitigate the impacts of transportation <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>construction on local small businesses.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>    Subd. 3. <b>Definitions.</b> For purposes of this section: <br/>
<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>(1) "applicant" means a local government unit; <br/>
<a id="pl.1.24"></a><var>1.24</var>(2) "commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Employment and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.25"></a><var>1.25</var>Economic Development;<br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>(3) "eligible transportation project" means a project entirely or partially funded <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>by state or federal funds that will affect one or more small businesses as a result of <br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>transportation work because the work is anticipated to impair road access for a minimum <br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>period of one month;<br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>(4) "local government unit" means a county, statutory or home rule charter city, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>town, special district, or other political subdivision;<br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>(5) "project" has the meaning given it in section 161.2415; and<br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>(6) "small business" means a business that employs ten or fewer employees and is <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>located in an area that is adjacent to an eligible project.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>    Subd. 4. <b>Applications.</b> A grant applicant shall prepare and submit to the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>commissioner a written proposal detailing a construction mitigation plan and strategies <br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>on how the applicant will implement the plan to meet the purpose of the grant program <br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>as provided in subdivision 1. An applicant shall identify any nonstate funding sources <br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>available to match state funds distributed under subdivision 5.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>    Subd. 5. <b>Fund distribution.</b> In distributing funds, the commissioner shall consider <br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>the types of businesses affected by the eligible transportation project and shall balance <br/>
<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>funding between eligible transportation projects within the seven-county metropolitan area <br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>and eligible transportation projects outside of the seven-county metropolitan area.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 160.16, is amended by adding a subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>    Subd. 4. <b>Business signs.</b> A road authority, before entering into a contract for <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>construction, reconstruction, or improvement of a street or highway, shall identify any <br/>
<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>business that will experience access, parking, or visibility impacts during construction. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>The road authority shall consult with affected businesses before and during construction to <br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>plan signage that will mitigate adverse effects on businesses during project construction.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.3.0"></a><a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>    Sec. 3. <b>[161.2415] MITIGATION OF TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION </b><br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var><b>IMPACTS ON BUSINESS.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>Definition.</b> For the purposes of this section, "project" means road <br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>work to maintain, construct, reconstruct, or improve a street or highway, or for a transit <br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>improvement, if the work is anticipated by the road authority to impair road access to one <br/>
<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>or more business establishments for a minimum period of one month.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>    Subd. 2. <b>Business liaison.</b> (a) Before the beginning of project construction work, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.34"></a><var>2.34</var>the road authority shall identify businesses that are adjacent to the construction area or <br/>
<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>whose access to the business premises or parking will be impaired by the project and <br/>
<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>designate an individual to serve as business liaison between the road authority and the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>affected businesses.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>(b) The business liaison shall provide information to the identified businesses, <br/>
<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>before and during construction, concerning project duration and timetables, lane and <br/>
<a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>road closures, detours, access impacts, customer parking impacts, visibility, noise, dust, <br/>
<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>vibration, and public participation opportunities.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.4.0"></a><a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>    Sec. 4. <b>FUNDING; APPROPRIATION.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>Funding.</b> To the extent that the commissioner receives funds from <br/>
<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var>the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5, for the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.432, funding for the construction mitigation <br/>
<a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var>grant program must be done through federal dollars. The commissioner of employment <br/>
<a id="pl.3.13"></a><var>3.13</var>and economic development is directed to determine whether federal dollars are available <br/>
<a id="pl.3.14"></a><var>3.14</var>for this purpose.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.15"></a><var>3.15</var>    Subd. 2. <b>Appropriation.</b> $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.16"></a><var>3.16</var>commissioner of employment and economic development to implement a construction <br/>
<a id="pl.3.17"></a><var>3.17</var>mitigation grant program. This appropriation is only available if federal stimulus money is <br/>
<a id="pl.3.18"></a><var>3.18</var>not available. This appropriation is available until expended. <br/>
<a id="pl.3.19"></a><var>3.19</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment.<br/>