1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; establishing response program to support control of 
1.3 	emerald ash borer; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 88.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [88.83] EMERALD ASH BORER RESPONSE; MATCHING GRANT 
1.7 	PROGRAM.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioner must establish a program to provide 
1.9 	state matching grants of up to 75 percent of costs associated with community responses to 
1.10 	emerald ash borer infestations in ash trees.
1.11 		Subd. 2.Eligible applicants. Matching grants provided under this section are available 
1.12 	to:
1.13 	(1) cities, counties, regional authorities, joint powers boards, towns, and parks and 
1.14 	recreation boards in cities of the first class that are responding or actively preparing to 
1.15 	respond to an emerald ash borer infestation; or
1.16 	(2) a Minnesota nonprofit corporation that operates a biomass-fueled district heating 
1.17 	system.
1.18 		Subd. 3.Eligible expenditures. (a) Costs associated with the following activities are 
1.19 	eligible for a state matching grant:
1.20 	(1) inventorying and planning work to identify infested ash trees and develop prescriptions 
1.21 	to address an emerald ash borer infestation;
2.1 	(2) treating infested trees, when appropriate, using the least environmentally harmful 
2.2 	chemicals available;
2.3 	(3) removing and replacing trees that are infested or at risk of being infested with emerald 
2.4 	ash borer; and
2.5 	(4) disposing of or using ash material, including processing wood waste into usable 
2.6 	biomass fuel.
2.7 	(b) Money appropriated for grants under this section may be used to pay reasonable 
2.8 	costs incurred by the commissioner of natural resources to administer this section.

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

2.10 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.11 	$13,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $13,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated 
2.12 	from the general fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the emerald ash borer 
2.13 	response program under Minnesota Statutes, section 88.83.