SF 1661

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 05/14/2025 09:18 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to capital investment; renaming the library construction grant program;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 134.45.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 134.45, is amended to read:

134.45 new text begin MARY C. MURPHY new text end LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION GRANTS new text begin PROGRAM new text end .

Subdivision 1.

Application; definition.

Public library jurisdictions may apply to the
commissioner of education for grants for improvements and accessibility to their library
facilities. For the purposes of this section, "public library jurisdictions" means regional
public library systems, regional library districts, cities, and counties operating libraries under
chapter 134.

Subd. 2.

Approval by commissioner.

The commissioner of education, in consultation
with the state Council on Disability, may approve or disapprove applications under this
section. The grant money must be used to remove architectural barriers from a building or
site, to renovate or expand an existing building for use as a library, or to construct a new
library building.

Subd. 3.

Application forms.

The commissioner of education shall prepare application
forms and establish application dates.

Subd. 4.

Match.

A public library jurisdiction applying for a grant under this section
must match the grant with local funds.

Subd. 5.

Qualification; accessibility grants.

A public library jurisdiction may apply
for a grant in an amount up to $450,000 or 50 percent of the approved costs of removing
architectural barriers from a building or site, whichever is less. Grants may be made only
for projects in existing buildings used as a library, or to prepare another existing building
for use as a library. Renovation of an existing building may include an addition to the
building if the additional space is necessary to provide accessibility or if relocating public
spaces to the ground level provides improved overall accessibility. Grants must not be used
to pay part of the cost of meeting accessibility requirements in a new building.

Subd. 5a.

Prohibition on pornographic use of internet.

A public library jurisdiction
is not eligible for a grant under this section unless it has adopted a policy to prohibit library
users from using the library's Internet access to view, print, or distribute material that is
obscene within the meaning of section 617.241.

Subd. 5b.

Qualification; improvement grants.

A public library jurisdiction may apply
for a grant in an amount up to $1,000,000 or 50 percent, whichever is less, of the approved
costs of renovating or expanding an existing library building, or to construct a new library
building. Renovation may include remediation of conditions hazardous to health or safety.

Subd. 6.

Award of grants.

The commissioner, in consultation with the state Council on
Disability, shall examine and consider all applications for grants. If a public library
jurisdiction is found not qualified, the commissioner shall promptly notify it. The
commissioner shall prioritize grants on the following bases: the degree of collaboration
with other public or private agencies, the public library jurisdiction's tax burden, the long-term
feasibility of the project, the suitability of the project, and the need for the project. If the
total amount of the applications exceeds the amount that is or can be made available, the
commissioner shall award grants according to the commissioner's judgment and discretion
and based upon a ranking of the projects according to the factors listed in this subdivision.
The commissioner shall promptly certify to each public library jurisdiction the amount, if
any, of the grant awarded to it.

Subd. 7.

Project budget.

A public library jurisdiction that receives a grant must provide
the commissioner with the project budget and any other information the commissioner
requests.

Subd. 8.

Sale of public library funded with state bond proceeds.

If the commissioner
of education and the local or regional governmental entity that owns a public library that
has been improved with state bond proceeds under this section determines that the library
is no longer usable or needed for the purposes for which the grant of state bond funds was
made, the owner of the public library may sell the property in the manner authorized by law
for the sale of other property owned by that jurisdiction for its fair market value. The sale
must be approved by the commissioner of management and budget. Notwithstanding section
16A.695, subdivision 3, clause (2), the net proceeds must be applied as follows: first, to
pay the state the amount of state bond proceeds used to acquire or better the property; and
second, any remaining amount must be paid to the local or regional governmental owner
of the property sold. When the sale is complete and the sale proceeds have been applied as
provided in this subdivision, section 16A.695 no longer applies to the property and the
property is no longer state bond financed property.

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Citation. new text end

new text begin This section shall be known as the "Mary C. Murphy Library
Construction Grants Program."
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end