1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to taxation; conforming certain income, franchise, and property tax 
1.3 	refund provisions for tax year 2012 to the provisions of the Federal Aviation 
1.4 	Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and the American 
1.5 	Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012; changing provisions relating to the Iron Range 
1.6 	Resources and Rehabilitation Board;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, 
1.7 	sections 116J.424; 270C.13, subdivision 1; 290.01, subdivisions 19, 31; 290A.03, 
1.8 	subdivision 15; 298.22, subdivisions 5a, 8, 10, 11, by adding a subdivision; 
1.9 	298.221; 298.2211, subdivision 3; 298.2213, subdivision 4; 298.2214, subdivision 
1.10 	6; 298.223, subdivisions 1, 2; 298.227; 298.28, subdivision 9d; 298.292, 
1.11 	subdivision 2; 298.294; 298.296, subdivisions 1, 2; 298.2961, subdivisions 2, 4, 
1.12 	5; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.22, subdivision 2.
1.13 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.14 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116J.424, is amended to read:
1.15 	116J.424 IRON RANGE RESOURCES AND REHABILITATION BOARD 
1.16 	CONTRIBUTION.
1.17 	The commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board with 
1.18 	approval by at least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members the 
1.19 	board, shall provide an equal match for any loan or equity investment made for a facility 
1.20 	located in the tax relief area defined in section 273.134, paragraph (b), by the Minnesota 
1.21 	minerals 21st century fund created by section 116J.423. The match may be in the form 
1.22 	of a loan or equity investment, notwithstanding whether the fund makes a loan or equity 
1.23 	investment. The state shall not acquire an equity interest because of an equity investment 
1.24 	or loan by the board and the board at its sole discretion shall decide what interest it acquires 
1.25 	in a project. The commissioner of employment and economic development may require a 
1.26 	commitment from the board to make the match prior to disbursing money from the fund.

2.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 270C.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.2 		Subdivision 1.Biennial report. The commissioner shall report to the legislature 
2.3 	by March 1 of each odd-numbered year on the overall incidence of the income tax, 
2.4 	sales and excise taxes, and property tax. The report shall present information on the 
2.5 	distribution of the tax burden as follows: (1) for the overall income distribution, using 
2.6 	a systemwide incidence measure such as the Suits index or other appropriate measures 
2.7 	of equality and inequality; (2) by income classes, including at a minimum deciles of the 
2.8 	income distribution; and (3) by other appropriate taxpayer characteristics. The report 
2.9 	must also include information on the distribution of the burden of federal taxes borne 
2.10 	by Minnesota residents.

2.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.12 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 290.01, subdivision 19, is amended to read:
2.13 		Subd. 19.Net income. The term "net income" means the federal taxable income, 
2.14 	as defined in section 63 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through the 
2.15 	date named in this subdivision, incorporating the federal effective dates of changes to the 
2.16 	Internal Revenue Code and any elections made by the taxpayer in accordance with the 
2.17 	Internal Revenue Code in determining federal taxable income for federal income tax 
2.18 	purposes, and with the modifications provided in subdivisions 19a to 19f.
2.19 	In the case of a regulated investment company or a fund thereof, as defined in section 
2.20 	851(a) or 851(g) of the Internal Revenue Code, federal taxable income means investment 
2.21 	company taxable income as defined in section 852(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, 
2.22 	except that:
2.23 	(1) the exclusion of net capital gain provided in section 852(b)(2)(A) of the Internal 
2.24 	Revenue Code does not apply;
2.25 	(2) the deduction for dividends paid under section 852(b)(2)(D) of the Internal 
2.26 	Revenue Code must be applied by allowing a deduction for capital gain dividends and 
2.27 	exempt-interest dividends as defined in sections 852(b)(3)(C) and 852(b)(5) of the Internal 
2.28 	Revenue Code; and
2.29 	(3) the deduction for dividends paid must also be applied in the amount of any 
2.30 	undistributed capital gains which the regulated investment company elects to have treated 
2.31 	as provided in section 852(b)(3)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code.
2.32 	The net income of a real estate investment trust as defined and limited by section 
2.33 	856(a), (b), and (c) of the Internal Revenue Code means the real estate investment trust 
2.34 	taxable income as defined in section 857(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
3.1 	The net income of a designated settlement fund as defined in section 468B(d) of 
3.2 	the Internal Revenue Code means the gross income as defined in section 468B(b) of the 
3.3 	Internal Revenue Code.
3.4 	The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through April 14, 2011, shall be 
3.5 	in effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996. The provisions of the 
3.6 	act of January 22, 2010, Public Law 111-126, to accelerate the benefits for charitable 
3.7 	cash contributions for the relief of victims of the Haitian earthquake, are effective at the 
3.8 	same time they became effective for federal purposes and apply to the subtraction under 
3.9 	subdivision 19b, clause (6). The provisions of title II, section 2112, of the act of September 
3.10 	27, 2010, Public Law 111-240, rollovers from elective deferral plans to designated Roth 
3.11 	accounts, are effective at the same time they became effective for federal purposes and 
3.12 	taxable rollovers are included in net income at the same time they are included in gross 
3.13 	income for federal purposes, and before January 1, 2012, and for taxable years beginning 
3.14 	after December 31, 2012. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through 
3.15 	January 3, 2013, is in effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011, and 
3.16 	before January 1, 2013.
3.17 	Except as otherwise provided, references to the Internal Revenue Code in 
3.18 	subdivisions 19 to 19f mean the code in effect for purposes of determining net income for 
3.19 	the applicable year.

3.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

3.21 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 290.01, subdivision 31, is amended to read:
3.22 		Subd. 31.Internal Revenue Code. Unless specifically defined otherwise, for 
3.23 	taxable years beginning before January 1, 2012, and after December 31, 2012, "Internal 
3.24 	Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through April 14, 
3.25 	2011; and for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011, and before January 1, 
3.26 	2013, "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended 
3.27 	through January 3, 2013. Internal Revenue Code also includes any uncodified provision in 
3.28 	federal law that relates to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that are incorporated 
3.29 	into Minnesota law. When used in this chapter, the reference to "subtitle A, chapter 1, 
3.30 	subchapter N, part 1, of the Internal Revenue Code" is to the Internal Revenue Code as 
3.31 	amended through March 18, 2010.

3.32 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment, 
3.33 	except the changes incorporated by federal changes are effective at the same time as the 
3.34 	changes were effective for federal purposes.

4.1 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 290A.03, subdivision 15, is amended to read:
4.2 		Subd. 15.Internal Revenue Code. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 
4.3 	2012, and after December 31, 2012, "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue 
4.4 	Code of 1986, as amended through April 14, 2011; and for taxable years beginning after 
4.5 	December 31, 2011, and before January 1, 2013, "Internal Revenue Code" means the 
4.6 	Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through January 3, 2013.

4.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for property tax refunds based on 
4.8 	property taxes payable after December 31, 2012, and rent paid after December 31, 2011.

4.9 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.22, is amended by adding a subdivision 
4.10 	to read:
4.11 		Subd. 1a.Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. The Iron Range 
4.12 	Resources and Rehabilitation Board consists of the state senators and representatives 
4.13 	elected from state senatorial or legislative districts in which one-third or more of the 
4.14 	residents reside in a taconite assistance area as defined in section 273.1341. One additional 
4.15 	state senator shall also be appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the 
4.16 	Committee on Rules and Administration. All expenditures and projects made by the 
4.17 	commissioner shall first be submitted to the board for approval. The expenses of the 
4.18 	board shall be paid by the state from the funds raised pursuant to this section. Members 
4.19 	of the board may be reimbursed for expenses in the manner provided in sections 3.099, 
4.20 	subdivision 1, and 3.101, and may receive per diem payments during the interims between 
4.21 	legislative sessions in the manner provided in section 3.099, subdivision 1.
4.22 	The members shall be appointed in January of every odd-numbered year, and shall 
4.23 	serve until January of the next odd-numbered year. Vacancies on the board shall be filled 
4.24 	in the same manner as original members were chosen.

4.25 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.22, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
4.26 		Subd. 5a.Forest trust. The commissioner, upon the affirmative vote of at least 
4.27 	seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members approval by the board, 
4.28 	may purchase forest lands in the taconite assistance area defined in under section 273.1341
4.29 	with funds specifically authorized for the purchase. The acquired forest lands must be 
4.30 	held in trust for the benefit of the citizens of the taconite assistance area as the Iron Range 
4.31 	Miners' Memorial Forest. The forest trust lands shall be managed and developed for 
4.32 	recreation and economic development purposes. The commissioner, upon the affirmative 
4.33 	vote of at least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members approval 
4.34 	by the board, may sell forest lands purchased under this subdivision if the board finds that 
5.1 	the sale advances the purposes of the trust. Proceeds derived from the management or sale 
5.2 	of the lands and from the sale of timber or removal of gravel or other minerals from these 
5.3 	forest lands shall be deposited into an Iron Range Miners' Memorial Forest account that is 
5.4 	established within the state financial accounts. Funds may be expended from the account 
5.5 	upon approval by at least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members
5.6 	 the board, to purchase, manage, administer, convey interests in, and improve the forest 
5.7 	lands. By an affirmative vote of at least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation 
5.8 	Board members With approval by the board, money in the Iron Range Miners' Memorial 
5.9 	Forest account may be transferred into the corpus of the Douglas J. Johnson economic 
5.10 	protection trust fund established under sections 298.291 to 298.294. The property acquired 
5.11 	under the authority granted by this subdivision and income derived from the property or 
5.12 	the operation or management of the property are exempt from taxation by the state or its 
5.13 	political subdivisions while held by the forest trust.

5.14 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.22, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
5.15 		Subd. 8.Spending priority. In making or approving any expenditures on programs 
5.16 	or projects, the commissioner and the board shall give the highest priority to programs 
5.17 	and projects that target relief to those areas of the taconite assistance area as defined in 
5.18 	section 273.1341, that have the largest percentages of job losses and population losses 
5.19 	directly attributable to the economic downturn in the taconite industry since the 1980s. 
5.20 	The commissioner and the board shall compare the 1980 population and employment 
5.21 	figures with the 2000 population and employment figures, and shall specifically consider 
5.22 	the job losses in 2000 and 2001 resulting from the closure of LTV Steel Mining Company, 
5.23 	in making or approving expenditures consistent with this subdivision, as well as the areas 
5.24 	of residence of persons who suffered job loss for which relief is to be targeted under this 
5.25 	subdivision. The commissioner may lease, for a term not exceeding 50 years and upon 
5.26 	the terms determined by the commissioner and approved by at least seven Iron Range 
5.27 	Resources and Rehabilitation Board members the board, surface and mineral interests 
5.28 	owned or acquired by the state of Minnesota acting by and through the office of the 
5.29 	commissioner of Iron Range resources and rehabilitation within those portions of the 
5.30 	taconite assistance area affected by the closure of the LTV Steel Mining Company facility 
5.31 	near Hoyt Lakes. The payments and royalties from these leases must be deposited into the 
5.32 	fund established in section 298.292. This subdivision supersedes any other conflicting 
5.33 	provisions of law and does not preclude the commissioner and the board from making 
5.34 	expenditures for programs and projects in other areas.

6.1 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.22, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
6.2 		Subd. 10.Sale or privatization of functions. The commissioner of Iron Range 
6.3 	resources and rehabilitation may not sell or privatize the Ironworld Discovery Center or 
6.4 	Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort without prior approval by at least seven Iron Range 
6.5 	Resources and Rehabilitation Board members the board.

6.6 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.22, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
6.7 		Subd. 11.Budgeting. The commissioner of Iron Range resources and rehabilitation 
6.8 	shall annually prepare a budget for operational expenditures, programs, and projects, and 
6.9 	submit it to the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board and the governor. After 
6.10 	the budget is approved by at least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board 
6.11 	members the board and the governor, the commissioner may spend money in accordance 
6.12 	with the approved budget.

6.13 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.221, is amended to read:
6.14 	298.221 RECEIPTS FROM CONTRACTS; APPROPRIATION.
6.15 	(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c), all money paid to the state of Minnesota 
6.16 	pursuant to the terms of any contract entered into by the state under authority of section 
6.17 	298.22 and any fees which may, in the discretion of the commissioner of Iron Range 
6.18 	resources and rehabilitation, be charged in connection with any project pursuant to that 
6.19 	section as amended, shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the Iron Range 
6.20 	Resources and Rehabilitation Board account in the special revenue fund and are hereby 
6.21 	appropriated for the purposes of section 298.22.
6.22 	(b) Notwithstanding section 16A.013, merchandise may be accepted by the 
6.23 	commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board for payment of 
6.24 	advertising contracts if the commissioner determines that the merchandise can be used 
6.25 	for special event prizes or mementos at facilities operated by the board. Nothing in this 
6.26 	paragraph authorizes the commissioner or a member of the board to receive merchandise 
6.27 	for personal use.
6.28 	(c) All fees charged by the commissioner in connection with public use of the 
6.29 	state-owned ski and golf facilities at the Giants Ridge Recreation Area and all other 
6.30 	revenues derived by the commissioner from the operation or lease of those facilities 
6.31 	and from the lease, sale, or other disposition of undeveloped lands at the Giants Ridge 
6.32 	Recreation Area must be deposited into an Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board 
6.33 	account that is created within the state enterprise fund. All funds deposited in the enterprise 
7.1 	fund account are appropriated to the commissioner to be expended, subject to approval by at 
7.2 	least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members the board, as follows:
7.3 	(1) to pay costs associated with the construction, equipping, operation, repair, or 
7.4 	improvement of the Giants Ridge Recreation Area facilities or lands;
7.5 	(2) to pay principal, interest and associated bond issuance, reserve, and servicing 
7.6 	costs associated with the financing of the facilities; and
7.7 	(3) to pay the costs of any other project authorized under section 298.22.

7.8 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.2211, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
7.9 		Subd. 3.Project approval. All projects authorized by this section shall be 
7.10 	submitted by the commissioner to the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board for 
7.11 	approval by at least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members the 
7.12 	board. Prior to the commencement of a project involving the exercise by the commissioner 
7.13 	of any authority of sections 469.174 to 469.179, the governing body of each municipality 
7.14 	in which any part of the project is located and the county board of any county containing 
7.15 	portions of the project not located in an incorporated area shall by majority vote approve 
7.16 	or disapprove the project. Any project approved by at least seven Iron Range Resources 
7.17 	and Rehabilitation Board members the board and the applicable governing bodies, if 
7.18 	any, together with detailed information concerning the project, its costs, the sources of 
7.19 	its funding, and the amount of any bonded indebtedness to be incurred in connection 
7.20 	with the project, shall be transmitted to the governor, who shall approve, disapprove, or 
7.21 	return the proposal for additional consideration within 30 days of receipt. No project 
7.22 	authorized under this section shall be undertaken, and no obligations shall be issued and 
7.23 	no tax increments shall be expended for a project authorized under this section until the 
7.24 	project has been approved by the governor.

7.25 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.2213, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
7.26 		Subd. 4.Project approval. The board and commissioner shall by August 1 each 
7.27 	year prepare a list of projects to be funded from the money appropriated in this section 
7.28 	with necessary supporting information including descriptions of the projects, plans, and 
7.29 	cost estimates. A project must not be approved by the board unless it finds that:
7.30 	(1) the project will materially assist, directly or indirectly, the creation of additional 
7.31 	long-term employment opportunities;
7.32 	(2) the prospective benefits of the expenditure exceed the anticipated costs; and
7.33 	(3) in the case of assistance to private enterprise, the project will serve a sound 
7.34 	business purpose.
8.1 	Each project must be approved by at least seven Iron Range Resources and 
8.2 	Rehabilitation Board members the board and the commissioner of Iron Range resources 
8.3 	and rehabilitation. The list of projects must be submitted to the governor, who shall, by 
8.4 	November 15 of each year, approve, disapprove, or return for further consideration, each 
8.5 	project. The money for a project may be spent only upon approval of the project by the 
8.6 	governor. The board may submit supplemental projects for approval at any time.

8.7 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.2214, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
8.8 		Subd. 6.Per diem. Members of the committee may be reimbursed for expenses 
8.9 	in the manner provided in section 298.22, subdivision 2 by the state from funds raised 
8.10 	pursuant to section 298.22.

8.11 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.223, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
8.12 		Subdivision 1.Creation; purposes. A fund called the taconite environmental 
8.13 	protection fund is created for the purpose of reclaiming, restoring and enhancing those 
8.14 	areas of northeast Minnesota located within the taconite assistance area defined in section 
8.15 	273.1341, that are adversely affected by the environmentally damaging operations 
8.16 	involved in mining taconite and iron ore and producing iron ore concentrate and for the 
8.17 	purpose of promoting the economic development of northeast Minnesota. The taconite 
8.18 	environmental protection fund shall be used for the following purposes:
8.19 	(1) to initiate investigations into matters the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation 
8.20 	Board determines are in need of study and which will determine the environmental 
8.21 	problems requiring remedial action;
8.22 	(2) reclamation, restoration, or reforestation of mine lands not otherwise provided 
8.23 	for by state law;
8.24 	(3) local economic development projects but only if those projects are approved 
8.25 	by at least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members the board, 
8.26 	and public works, including construction of sewer and water systems located within the 
8.27 	taconite assistance area defined in section 273.1341;
8.28 	(4) monitoring of mineral industry related health problems among mining employees;
8.29 	(5) local public works projects under section 298.227, paragraph (c); and
8.30 	(6) local public works projects as provided under this clause. The following amounts 
8.31 	shall be distributed in 2009 based upon the taxable tonnage of production in 2008:
8.32 	(i) .4651 cent per ton to the city of Aurora for street repair and renovation;
8.33 	(ii) .4264 cent per ton to the city of Biwabik for street and utility infrastructure 
8.34 	improvements to the south side industrial site;
9.1 	(iii) .6460 cent per ton to the city of Buhl for street repair;
9.2 	(iv) 1.0336 cents per ton to the city of Hoyt Lakes for public utility improvements;
9.3 	(v) 1.1628 cents per ton to the city of Eveleth for water and sewer infrastructure 
9.4 	upgrades;
9.5 	(vi) 1.0336 cents per ton to the city of Gilbert for water and sewer infrastructure 
9.6 	upgrades;
9.7 	(vii) .7752 cent per ton to the city of Mountain Iron for water and sewer infrastructure;
9.8 	(viii) 1.2920 cents per ton to the city of Virginia for utility upgrades and accessibility 
9.9 	modifications for the miners' memorial;
9.10 	(ix) .6460 cent per ton to the town of White for Highway 135 road upgrades;
9.11 	(x) 1.9380 cents per ton to the city of Hibbing for public infrastructure projects;
9.12 	(xi) 1.1628 cents per ton to the city of Chisholm for water and sewer repair;
9.13 	(xii) .6460 cent per ton to the town of Balkan for community center repairs;
9.14 	(xiii) .9044 cent per ton to the city of Babbitt for city garage construction;
9.15 	(xiv) .5168 cent per ton to the city of Cook for public infrastructure projects;
9.16 	(xv) .5168 cent per ton to the city of Ely for reconstruction of 2nd Avenue West;
9.17 	(xvi) .6460 cent per ton to the city of Tower for water infrastructure upgrades;
9.18 	(xvii) .1292 cent per ton to the city of Orr for water infrastructure upgrades;
9.19 	(xviii) .1292 cent per ton to the city of Silver Bay for emergency cleanup;
9.20 	(xvix) .3230 cent per ton to Lake County for trail construction;
9.21 	(xx) .1292 cent per ton to Cook County for construction of tennis courts in Grand 
9.22 	Marais;
9.23 	(xxi) .3101 cent per ton to the city of Two Harbors for water infrastructure 
9.24 	improvements;
9.25 	(xxii) .1938 cent per ton for land acquisition for phase one of Cook Airport project;
9.26 	(xxiii) 1.0336 cents per ton to the city of Coleraine for water and sewer 
9.27 	improvements along Gayley Avenue;
9.28 	(xxiv) .3876 cent per ton to the city of Marble for construction of a city 
9.29 	administration facility;
9.30 	(xxv) .1292 cent per ton to the city of Calumet for repairs at city hall and the 
9.31 	community center;
9.32 	(xxvi) .6460 cent per ton to the city of Nashwauk for electrical infrastructure 
9.33 	upgrades;
9.34 	(xxvii) 1.0336 cents per ton to the city of Keewatin for water and sewer upgrades 
9.35 	along Depot Street;
10.1 	(xxviii) .2584 cent per ton to the city of Aitkin for water, sewer, street, and gutter 
10.2 	improvements;
10.3 	(xxix) 1.1628 cents per ton to the city of Grand Rapids for water and sewer 
10.4 	infrastructure upgrades at Pokegema Golf Course and Park Place;
10.5 	(xxx) .1809 cent per ton to the city of Grand Rapids for water and sewer upgrades 
10.6 	for 1st Avenue from River Road to 3rd Street SE; and
10.7 	(xxxi) .9044 cent per ton to the city of Cohasset for upgrades to the railroad crossing 
10.8 	at Highway 2 and County Road 62.

10.9 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.223, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
10.10 		Subd. 2.Administration. (a) The taconite area environmental protection fund shall 
10.11 	be administered by the commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation 
10.12 	Board. The commissioner shall by September 1 of each year submit to the board a list 
10.13 	of projects to be funded from the taconite area environmental protection fund, with such 
10.14 	supporting information including description of the projects, plans, and cost estimates as 
10.15 	may be necessary.
10.16 	(b) Each year no less than one-half of the amounts deposited into the taconite 
10.17 	environmental protection fund must be used for public works projects, including 
10.18 	construction of sewer and water systems, as specified under subdivision 1, clause (3). The 
10.19 	Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board with approval by at least seven Iron 
10.20 	Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members, may waive the requirements of 
10.21 	this paragraph.
10.22 	(c) Upon approval by at least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board 
10.23 	members the board, the list of projects approved under this subdivision shall be submitted to 
10.24 	the governor by November 1 of each year. By December 1 of each year, the governor shall 
10.25 	approve or disapprove, or return for further consideration, each project. Funds for a project 
10.26 	may be expended only upon approval of the project by at least seven Iron Range Resources 
10.27 	and Rehabilitation Board members, the board and the governor. The commissioner may 
10.28 	submit supplemental projects to the board and governor for approval at any time.

10.29 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.227, is amended to read:
10.30 	298.227 TACONITE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND.
10.31 	(a) An amount equal to that distributed pursuant to each taconite producer's taxable 
10.32 	production and qualifying sales under section 298.28, subdivision 9a, shall be held by 
10.33 	the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board in a separate taconite economic 
10.34 	development fund for each taconite and direct reduced ore producer. Money from the 
11.1 	fund for each producer shall be released by the commissioner after review by a joint 
11.2 	committee consisting of an equal number of representatives of the salaried employees and 
11.3 	the nonsalaried production and maintenance employees of that producer. The District 11 
11.4 	director of the United States Steelworkers of America, on advice of each local employee 
11.5 	president, shall select the employee members. In nonorganized operations, the employee 
11.6 	committee shall be elected by the nonsalaried production and maintenance employees. 
11.7 	The review must be completed no later than six months after the producer presents a 
11.8 	proposal for expenditure of the funds to the committee. The funds held pursuant to this 
11.9 	section may be released only for workforce development and associated public facility 
11.10 	improvement, or for acquisition of plant and stationary mining equipment and facilities 
11.11 	for the producer or for research and development in Minnesota on new mining, or 
11.12 	taconite, iron, or steel production technology, but only if the producer provides a matching 
11.13 	expenditure to be used for the same purpose of at least 50 percent of the distribution 
11.14 	based on 14.7 cents per ton beginning with distributions in 2002. Effective for proposals 
11.15 	for expenditures of money from the fund beginning May 26, 2007, the commissioner 
11.16 	may not release the funds before the next scheduled meeting of the board. If a proposed 
11.17 	expenditure is not approved by at least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation 
11.18 	Board members the board, the funds must be deposited in the Taconite Environmental 
11.19 	Protection Fund under sections 298.222 to 298.225. If a producer uses money which has 
11.20 	been released from the fund prior to May 26, 2007 to procure haulage trucks, mobile 
11.21 	equipment, or mining shovels, and the producer removes the piece of equipment from the 
11.22 	taconite tax relief area defined in section 273.134 within ten years from the date of receipt 
11.23 	of the money from the fund, a portion of the money granted from the fund must be repaid 
11.24 	to the taconite economic development fund. The portion of the money to be repaid is 100 
11.25 	percent of the grant if the equipment is removed from the taconite tax relief area within 12 
11.26 	months after receipt of the money from the fund, declining by ten percent for each of the 
11.27 	subsequent nine years during which the equipment remains within the taconite tax relief 
11.28 	area. If a taconite production facility is sold after operations at the facility had ceased, any 
11.29 	money remaining in the fund for the former producer may be released to the purchaser of 
11.30 	the facility on the terms otherwise applicable to the former producer under this section. If 
11.31 	a producer fails to provide matching funds for a proposed expenditure within six months 
11.32 	after the commissioner approves release of the funds, the funds are available for release to 
11.33 	another producer in proportion to the distribution provided and under the conditions of 
11.34 	this section. Any portion of the fund which is not released by the commissioner within 
11.35 	one year of its deposit in the fund shall be divided between the taconite environmental 
11.36 	protection fund created in section 298.223 and the Douglas J. Johnson economic protection 
12.1 	trust fund created in section 298.292 for placement in their respective special accounts. 
12.2 	Two-thirds of the unreleased funds shall be distributed to the taconite environmental 
12.3 	protection fund and one-third to the Douglas J. Johnson economic protection trust fund.
12.4 	(b)(i) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (a), setting the amount of 
12.5 	distributions and the review process, an amount equal to ten cents per taxable ton of 
12.6 	production in 2007, for distribution in 2008 only, that would otherwise be distributed 
12.7 	under paragraph (a), may be used for a loan or grant for the cost of providing for a 
12.8 	value-added wood product facility located in the taconite tax relief area and in a county 
12.9 	that contains a city of the first class. This amount must be deducted from the distribution 
12.10 	under paragraph (a) for which a matching expenditure by the producer is not required. The 
12.11 	granting of the loan or grant is subject to approval by at least seven Iron Range Resources 
12.12 	and Rehabilitation Board members the board. If the money is provided as a loan, interest 
12.13 	must be payable on the loan at the rate prescribed in section 298.2213, subdivision 3. (ii) 
12.14 	Repayments of the loan and interest, if any, must be deposited in the taconite environment 
12.15 	protection fund under sections 298.222 to 298.225. If a loan or grant is not made under 
12.16 	this paragraph by July 1, 2012, the amount that had been made available for the loan under 
12.17 	this paragraph must be transferred to the taconite environment protection fund under 
12.18 	sections 298.222 to 298.225. (iii) Money distributed in 2008 to the fund established 
12.19 	under this section that exceeds ten cents per ton is available to qualifying producers under 
12.20 	paragraph (a) on a pro rata basis.
12.21 	(c) Repayment or transfer of money to the taconite environmental protection fund 
12.22 	under paragraph (b), item (ii), must be allocated by the Iron Range Resources and 
12.23 	Rehabilitation Board for public works projects in house legislative districts in the same 
12.24 	proportion as taxable tonnage of production in 2007 in each house legislative district, for 
12.25 	distribution in 2008, bears to total taxable tonnage of production in 2007, for distribution 
12.26 	in 2008. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, expenditures under this paragraph 
12.27 	do not require approval by the governor. For purposes of this paragraph, "house legislative 
12.28 	districts" means the legislative districts in existence on May 15, 2009.

12.29 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.28, subdivision 9d, is amended to read:
12.30 		Subd. 9d.Iron Range higher education account. Five cents per taxable ton must 
12.31 	be allocated to the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board to be deposited in 
12.32 	an Iron Range higher education account that is hereby created, to be used for higher 
12.33 	education programs conducted at educational institutions in the taconite assistance area 
12.34 	defined in section 273.1341. The Iron Range Higher Education committee under section 
12.35 	298.2214, and the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board by an affirmative vote 
13.1 	of at least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members, must approve 
13.2 	all expenditures from the account.

13.3 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.292, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
13.4 		Subd. 2.Use of money. Money in the Douglas J. Johnson economic protection trust 
13.5 	fund may be used for the following purposes:
13.6 	(1) to provide loans, loan guarantees, interest buy-downs and other forms of 
13.7 	participation with private sources of financing, but a loan to a private enterprise shall be 
13.8 	for a principal amount not to exceed one-half of the cost of the project for which financing 
13.9 	is sought, and the rate of interest on a loan to a private enterprise shall be no less than the 
13.10 	lesser of eight percent or an interest rate three percentage points less than a full faith 
13.11 	and credit obligation of the United States government of comparable maturity, at the 
13.12 	time that the loan is approved;
13.13 	(2) to fund reserve accounts established to secure the payment when due of the 
13.14 	principal of and interest on bonds issued pursuant to section 298.2211;
13.15 	(3) to pay in periodic payments or in a lump-sum payment any or all of the interest 
13.16 	on bonds issued pursuant to chapter 474 for the purpose of constructing, converting, 
13.17 	or retrofitting heating facilities in connection with district heating systems or systems 
13.18 	utilizing alternative energy sources;
13.19 	(4) to invest in a venture capital fund or enterprise that will provide capital to other 
13.20 	entities that are engaging in, or that will engage in, projects or programs that have the 
13.21 	purposes set forth in subdivision 1. No investments may be made in a venture capital fund 
13.22 	or enterprise unless at least two other unrelated investors make investments of at least 
13.23 	$500,000 in the venture capital fund or enterprise, and the investment by the Douglas 
13.24 	J. Johnson economic protection trust fund may not exceed the amount of the largest 
13.25 	investment by an unrelated investor in the venture capital fund or enterprise. For purposes 
13.26 	of this subdivision, an "unrelated investor" is a person or entity that is not related to 
13.27 	the entity in which the investment is made or to any individual who owns more than 40 
13.28 	percent of the value of the entity, in any of the following relationships: spouse, parent, 
13.29 	child, sibling, employee, or owner of an interest in the entity that exceeds ten percent of 
13.30 	the value of all interests in it. For purposes of determining the limitations under this 
13.31 	clause, the amount of investments made by an investor other than the Douglas J. Johnson 
13.32 	economic protection trust fund is the sum of all investments made in the venture capital 
13.33 	fund or enterprise during the period beginning one year before the date of the investment 
13.34 	by the Douglas J. Johnson economic protection trust fund; and
14.1 	(5) to purchase forest land in the taconite assistance area defined in section 273.1341 
14.2 	to be held and managed as a public trust for the benefit of the area for the purposes 
14.3 	authorized in section 298.22, subdivision 5a. Property purchased under this section may 
14.4 	be sold by the commissioner upon approval by at least seven Iron Range Resources and 
14.5 	Rehabilitation Board members the board. The net proceeds must be deposited in the trust 
14.6 	fund for the purposes and uses of this section.
14.7 	Money from the trust fund shall be expended only in or for the benefit of the taconite 
14.8 	assistance area defined in section 273.1341.

14.9 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.294, is amended to read:
14.10 	298.294 INVESTMENT OF FUND.
14.11 	(a) The trust fund established by section 298.292 shall be invested pursuant to law 
14.12 	by the State Board of Investment and the net interest, dividends, and other earnings arising 
14.13 	from the investments shall be transferred, except as provided in paragraph (b), on the first 
14.14 	day of each month to the trust and shall be included and become part of the trust fund. 
14.15 	The amounts transferred, including the interest, dividends, and other earnings earned 
14.16 	prior to July 13, 1982, together with the additional amount of $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
14.17 	1983, which is appropriated April 21, 1983, are appropriated from the trust fund to the 
14.18 	commissioner of Iron Range resources and rehabilitation for deposit in a separate account 
14.19 	for expenditure for the purposes set forth in section 298.292. Amounts appropriated 
14.20 	pursuant to this section shall not cancel but shall remain available unless expended.
14.21 	(b) For fiscal years 2010 and 2011 only, $1,500,000 of the net interest, dividends, 
14.22 	and other earnings under paragraph (a) shall be transferred to a special account. Funds 
14.23 	in the special account are available for loans or grants to businesses, with priority given 
14.24 	to businesses with 25 or fewer employees. Funds may be used for wage subsidies for 
14.25 	up to 52 weeks of up to $5 per hour or other activities, including, but not limited to, 
14.26 	short-term operating expenses and purchase of equipment and materials by businesses 
14.27 	under financial duress, that will create additional jobs in the taconite assistance area under 
14.28 	section 273.1341. Expenditures from the special account must be approved by at least 
14.29 	seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members the board.
14.30 	(c) To qualify for a grant or loan, a business must be currently operating and have 
14.31 	been operating for one year immediately prior to its application for a loan or grant, and its 
14.32 	corporate headquarters must be located in the taconite assistance area.

14.33 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.296, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
15.1 		Subdivision 1.Project approval. The board and commissioner shall by August 1 of 
15.2 	each year prepare a list of projects to be funded from the Douglas J. Johnson economic 
15.3 	protection trust with necessary supporting information including description of the 
15.4 	projects, plans, and cost estimates. These projects shall be consistent with the priorities 
15.5 	established in section 298.292 and shall not be approved by the board unless it finds that:
15.6 	(a) the project will materially assist, directly or indirectly, the creation of additional 
15.7 	long-term employment opportunities;
15.8 	(b) the prospective benefits of the expenditure exceed the anticipated costs; and
15.9 	(c) in the case of assistance to private enterprise, the project will serve a sound 
15.10 	business purpose.
15.11 	 Each project must be approved by at least eight Iron Range Resources and 
15.12 	Rehabilitation Board over one-half of all of the members of the board and the 
15.13 	commissioner of Iron Range resources and rehabilitation. The list of projects shall 
15.14 	be submitted to the governor, who shall, by November 15 of each year, approve or 
15.15 	disapprove, or return for further consideration, each project. The money for a project may 
15.16 	be expended only upon approval of the project by the governor. The board may submit 
15.17 	supplemental projects for approval at any time.

15.18 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.296, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
15.19 		Subd. 2.Expenditure of funds. (a) Before January 1, 2028, funds may be expended 
15.20 	on projects and for administration of the trust fund only from the net interest, earnings, 
15.21 	and dividends arising from the investment of the trust at any time, including net interest, 
15.22 	earnings, and dividends that have arisen prior to July 13, 1982, plus $10,000,000 made 
15.23 	available for use in fiscal year 1983, except that any amount required to be paid out of the 
15.24 	trust fund to provide the property tax relief specified in Laws 1977, chapter 423, article 
15.25 	X, section 4, and to make school bond payments and payments to recipients of taconite 
15.26 	production tax proceeds pursuant to section 298.225, may be taken from the corpus of 
15.27 	the trust.
15.28 	(b) Additionally, upon recommendation by the board, up to $13,000,000 from the 
15.29 	corpus of the trust may be made available for use as provided in subdivision 4, and up to 
15.30 	$10,000,000 from the corpus of the trust may be made available for use as provided in 
15.31 	section 298.2961.
15.32 	(c) Additionally, an amount equal to 20 percent of the value of the corpus of the trust 
15.33 	on May 18, 2002, not including the funds authorized in paragraph (b), plus the amounts 
15.34 	made available under section 298.28, subdivision 4, and Laws 2002, chapter 377, article 
16.1 	8, section 17, may be expended on projects. Funds may be expended for projects under 
16.2 	this paragraph only if the project:
16.3 	(1) is for the purposes established under section 298.292, subdivision 1, clause 
16.4 	(1) or (2); and
16.5 	(2) is approved by two-thirds of all of the members of the board upon an affirmative 
16.6 	vote of at least ten of its members.
16.7 	No money made available under this paragraph or paragraph (d) can be used for 
16.8 	administrative or operating expenses of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board 
16.9 	or expenses relating to any facilities owned or operated by the board on May 18, 2002.
16.10 	(d) Upon recommendation by a unanimous vote of all members of the board, 
16.11 	amounts in addition to those authorized under paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) may be 
16.12 	expended on projects described in section 298.292, subdivision 1.
16.13 	(e) Annual administrative costs, not including detailed engineering expenses for the 
16.14 	projects, shall not exceed five percent of the net interest, dividends, and earnings arising 
16.15 	from the trust in the preceding fiscal year.
16.16 	(f) Principal and interest received in repayment of loans made pursuant to this 
16.17 	section, and earnings on other investments made under section 298.292, subdivision 2, 
16.18 	clause (4), shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the trust. These receipts 
16.19 	are appropriated to the board for the purposes of sections 298.291 to 298.298.
16.20 	(g) Additionally, notwithstanding section 298.293, upon the affirmative vote of at 
16.21 	least seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members approval of the 
16.22 	board, money from the corpus of the trust may be expanded to purchase forest lands 
16.23 	within the taconite assistance area as provided in sections 298.22, subdivision 5a, and 
16.24 	298.292, subdivision 2, clause (5).

16.25 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.2961, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
16.26 		Subd. 2.Projects; approval. (a) Projects funded must be for:
16.27 	(1) environmentally unique reclamation projects; or
16.28 	(2) pit or plant repairs, expansions, or modernizations other than for a value added 
16.29 	iron products plant.
16.30 	(b) To be proposed by the board, a project must be approved by at least eight Iron 
16.31 	Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members the board. The money for a project 
16.32 	may be spent only upon approval of the project by the governor. The board may submit 
16.33 	supplemental projects for approval at any time.
16.34 	(c) The board may require that it receive an equity percentage in any project to 
16.35 	which it contributes under this section.

17.1 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.2961, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
17.2 		Subd. 4.Grant and loan fund. (a) A fund is established to receive distributions 
17.3 	under section 298.28, subdivision 9b, and to make grants or loans as provided in this 
17.4 	subdivision. Any grant or loan made under this subdivision must be approved by at least 
17.5 	seven Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board members the board, established 
17.6 	under section 298.22.
17.7 	(b) Distributions received in calendar year 2005 are allocated to the city of Virginia 
17.8 	for improvements and repairs to the city's steam heating system.
17.9 	(c) Distributions received in calendar year 2006 are allocated to a project of the 
17.10 	public utilities commissions of the cities of Hibbing and Virginia to convert their electrical 
17.11 	generating plants to the use of biomass products, such as wood.
17.12 	(d) Distributions received in calendar year 2007 must be paid to the city of Tower to 
17.13 	be used for the East Two Rivers project in or near the city of Tower.
17.14 	(e) For distributions received in 2008, the first $2,000,000 of the 2008 distribution 
17.15 	must be paid to St. Louis County for deposit in its county road and bridge fund to be 
17.16 	used for relocation of St. Louis County Road 715, commonly referred to as Pike River 
17.17 	Road. The remainder of the 2008 distribution must be paid to St. Louis County for a 
17.18 	grant to the city of Virginia for connecting sewer and water lines to the St. Louis County 
17.19 	maintenance garage on Highway 135, further extending the lines to interconnect with the 
17.20 	city of Gilbert's sewer and water lines. All distributions received in 2009 and subsequent 
17.21 	years are allocated for projects under section 298.223, subdivision 1.

17.22 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.2961, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
17.23 		Subd. 5.Public works and local economic development fund. For distributions in 
17.24 	2007 only, a special fund is established to receive 38.4 cents per ton that otherwise would 
17.25 	be allocated under section 298.28, subdivision 6. The following amounts are allocated to 
17.26 	St. Louis County acting as the fiscal agent for the recipients for the specific purposes:
17.27 	(1) 13.4 cents per ton for the Central Iron Range Sanitary Sewer District for 
17.28 	construction of a combined wastewater facility and notwithstanding section 298.28, 
17.29 	subdivision 11, paragraph (a), or any other law, interest accrued on this money while held 
17.30 	by St. Louis County shall also be distributed to the recipient;
17.31 	(2) six cents per ton to the city of Eveleth to redesign and design and construct 
17.32 	improvements to renovate its water treatment facility;
17.33 	(3) one cent per ton for the East Range Joint Powers Board to acquire land for and to 
17.34 	design a central wastewater collection and treatment system;
17.35 	(4) 0.5 cents per ton to the city of Hoyt Lakes to repair Leeds Road;
18.1 	(5) 0.7 cents per ton to the city of Virginia to extend Eighth Street South;
18.2 	(6) 0.7 cents per ton to the city of Mountain Iron to repair Hoover Road;
18.3 	(7) 0.9 cents per ton to the city of Gilbert for alley repairs between Michigan and 
18.4 	Indiana Avenues and for repayment of a loan to the Minnesota Department of Employment 
18.5 	and Economic Development;
18.6 	(8) 0.4 cents per ton to the city of Keewatin for a new city well;
18.7 	(9) 0.3 cents per ton to the city of Grand Rapids for planning for a fire and hazardous 
18.8 	materials center;
18.9 	(10) 0.9 cents per ton to Aitkin County Growth for an economic development 
18.10 	project for peat harvesting;
18.11 	(11) 0.4 cents per ton to the city of Nashwauk to develop a comprehensive city plan;
18.12 	(12) 0.4 cents per ton to the city of Taconite for development of a city comprehensive 
18.13 	plan;
18.14 	(13) 0.3 cents per ton to the city of Marble for water and sewer infrastructure;
18.15 	(14) 0.8 cents per ton to Aitkin County for improvements to the Long Lake 
18.16 	Environmental Learning Center;
18.17 	(15) 0.3 cents per ton to the city of Coleraine for the Coleraine Technology Center;
18.18 	(16) 0.5 cents per ton to the Economic Development Authority of the city of Grand 
18.19 	Rapids for planning for the North Central Research and Technology Laboratory;
18.20 	(17) 0.6 cents per ton to the city of Bovey for sewer and water extension;
18.21 	(18) 0.3 cents per ton to the city of Calumet for infrastructure improvements; and
18.22 	(19) ten cents per ton to the commissioner of Iron Range Resources and 
18.23 	Rehabilitation for deposit in a Highway 1 Corridor Account established by the 
18.24 	commissioner, to be distributed by the commissioner to any of the cities of Babbitt, Cook, 
18.25 	Ely, or Tower, for economic development projects approved by at least seven Iron Range 
18.26 	Resources and Rehabilitation Board members the board; notwithstanding section 298.28, 
18.27 	subdivision 11, paragraph (a), or any other law, interest accrued on this money while held 
18.28 	by St. Louis County or the commissioner shall also be distributed to the recipient.

18.29 	Sec. 26. AMENDED RETURNS; CERTAIN IRA ROLLOVERS.
 18.30 	An individual who excludes an amount from net income in a prior taxable year 
18.31 	through rollover of an airline payment amount to a traditional IRA, as authorized under 
18.32 	Public Law 112-95, section 1106, may file an amended individual income tax return and 
18.33 	claim for refund of state taxes as provided under Minnesota Statutes, section 289A.40, 
18.34 	subdivision 1, or, if later, by June 1, 2013.

18.35 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

19.1 	Sec. 27.  REPEALER.
 19.2 	Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 298.22, subdivision 2, is repealed.

19.3 	Sec. 28. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 19.4 	This act is effective the day following final enactment.