1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; providing for community tree-planting grants; 
1.3 	appropriating money; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds;proposing 
1.4 	coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 84.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [84.705] COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING GRANTS.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definition. For the purposes of this section, "shade tree" means a woody 
1.8 	perennial grown primarily for aesthetic or environmental purposes with minimal to residual 
1.9 	timber value.
1.10 		Subd. 2.Grants. (a) The commissioner must establish a grant program to provide grants 
1.11 	to cities, counties, townships, Tribal governments, and park and recreation boards in cities 
1.12 	of the first class for the following purposes:
1.13 	(1) removing and planting shade trees on public or Tribal land to provide environmental 
1.14 	benefits;
1.15 	(2) replacing trees lost to forest pests, disease, or storm; or
1.16 	(3) establishing a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and 
1.17 	forest pests.
1.18 	(b) Any tree planted with money granted under this section must be a climate-adapted 
1.19 	species to Minnesota.
1.20 		Subd. 3.Priority. (a) Priority for grants awarded under this section must be given to:
2.1 	(1) projects removing and replacing ash trees that pose significant public safety concerns; 
2.2 	and
2.3 	(2) projects located in whole or in part in a census tract where at least three of the 
2.4 	following apply, as determined using the most recently published data from the United 
2.5 	States Census Bureau or United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
2.6 	(i) 20 percent or more of the residents have income below the federal poverty thresholds;
2.7 	(ii) the tract has a United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social 
2.8 	vulnerability index greater than 0.80;
2.9 	(iii) the upper limit of the lowest quintile of household income is less than the state upper 
2.10 	limit of the lowest quintile;
2.11 	(iv) the housing vacancy rate is greater than the state average; or
2.12 	(v) the percent of the population receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
2.13 	(SNAP) benefits is greater than the state average.
2.14 	(b) The commissioner may not prioritize projects based on criteria other than the criteria 
2.15 	established under paragraph (a).

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

2.17 	Sec. 2. COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING GRANTS; BONDS.
 2.18 		Subdivision 1.Appropriation. $40,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds 
2.19 	fund to the commissioner of natural resources for community tree planting grants under 
2.20 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.705.
2.21 		Subd. 2.Bond sale. To provide the money appropriated in this section from the bond 
2.22 	proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue bonds of 
2.23 	the state in an amount up to $40,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with the effect 
2.24 	prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota 
2.25 	Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.

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