1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture; establishing a program to provide grants to prevent the 
1.3 	spread of avian influenza; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. AVIAN INFLUENZA PREVENTION PROGRAM.
 1.6 	(a) The commissioner of agriculture may award grants to poultry producers to install 
1.7 	avian influenza prevention measures to prevent transmission of avian influenza from wild 
1.8 	birds to domestic poultry. The commissioner may establish a cap on the amount of grant 
1.9 	money that a recipient is eligible to receive annually.
1.10 	(b) To be eligible for a grant under this section, a poultry producer must raise poultry 
1.11 	within Minnesota. Poultry producers must use grant money to reimburse themselves for the 
1.12 	cost of preventing the spread of avian influenza during operations in Minnesota.
1.13 	(c) A grant applicant must document a cost-share of 20 percent for activities covered 
1.14 	by a grant under this program. A grant applicant's cost-share amount may be reduced up to 
1.15 	$2,000 to cover the time and labor costs of avian influenza prevention activities.
1.16 	(d) Eligible avian influenza prevention measures include but are not limited to:
1.17 	(1) lasers or lighting systems;
1.18 	(2) visual deterrents such as air socks, plastic predators, and animal decoys; and
1.19 	(3) sound systems or air cannons.
1.20 	(e) Eligible grant recipients must:
1.21 	(1) make a good faith effort to avoid the spread of avian influenza;
2.1 	(2) retain proper documentation of expenses;
2.2 	(3) report annually to the commissioner on the effectiveness of the methods employed; 
2.3 	and
2.4 	(4) allow follow-up evaluations and monitoring by the commissioner.

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

2.6 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.7 	$....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general 
2.8 	fund to the commissioner of agriculture for avian influenza prevention grants under section 
2.9 	1.

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