1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the operation of state government; 
  1.3             appropriating money for economic development, housing, 
  1.4             family and early childhood, and related programs; 
  1.5             modifying community action program provisions; 
  1.6             modifying various programs and projects; providing for 
  1.7             a grant limit exception; amending Minnesota Statutes 
  1.8             1996, sections 16B.06, subdivision 2; 115C.09, by 
  1.9             adding a subdivision; 268.52, subdivisions 1 and 2; 
  1.10            268.54, subdivision 2; 383B.79, subdivision 1, and by 
  1.11            adding a subdivision; and 469.303; Minnesota Statutes 
  1.12            1997 Supplement, sections 115C.09, subdivision 3f; 
  1.13            116J.421, subdivision 1, and by adding a subdivision; 
  1.14            179A.03, subdivision 7; and 268.53, subdivision 5; 
  1.15            Laws 1997, chapter 162, article 4, section 63, 
  1.16            subdivision 2. 
  1.17  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.18                             ARTICLE 1 
  1.19                     COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS 
  1.20     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.52, 
  1.21  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.22     Subdivision 1.  [AUTHORIZATION.] The commissioner of 
  1.23  economic security children, families, and learning may provide 
  1.24  financial assistance for community action agencies, Indian 
  1.25  reservations and the statewide migrant seasonal farmworker 
  1.26  organization known as the Minnesota migrant council, and migrant 
  1.27  and seasonal farmworker organizations to carry out community 
  1.28  action programs as described in section 268.54 in accordance 
  1.29  with the omnibus reconciliation act of 1981, Public Law Number 
  1.30  97-35, as amended in 1984, Public Law Number 98-558, state law, 
  1.31  and federal law and regulation. 
  2.1      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.52, 
  2.2   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  2.3      Subd. 2.  [ALLOCATION OF MONEY.] (a) State money 
  2.4   appropriated and community service block grant money allotted to 
  2.5   the state and all money transferred to the community service 
  2.6   block grant from other block grants shall be allocated annually 
  2.7   to community action agencies and Indian reservation governments 
  2.8   under clauses (b) and (c), and to the Minnesota migrant council 
  2.9   migrant and seasonal farmworker organizations under clause (d). 
  2.10     (b) The available annual money will provide base funding to 
  2.11  all community action agencies and the Indian reservations.  Base 
  2.12  funding amounts per agency are as follows:  for agencies with 
  2.13  low income populations up to 3,999, $25,000; 4,000 to 23,999, 
  2.14  $50,000; and 24,000 or more, $100,000. 
  2.15     (c) All remaining money of the annual money available after 
  2.16  the base funding has been determined must be allocated to each 
  2.17  agency and reservation in proportion to the size of the poverty 
  2.18  level population in the agency's service area compared to the 
  2.19  size of the poverty level population in the state.  
  2.20     (d) Allocation of money to the Minnesota migrant council 
  2.21  migrant and seasonal farmworker organizations must not exceed 
  2.22  three percent of the total annual money available.  Base funding 
  2.23  allocations must be made for all community action agencies and 
  2.24  Indian reservations that received money under this subdivision, 
  2.25  in fiscal year 1984, and for community action agencies 
  2.26  designated under this section with a service area population of 
  2.27  35,000 or greater. 
  2.28     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
  2.29  268.53, subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  2.30     Subd. 5.  [FUNCTIONS; POWERS.] A community action agency 
  2.31  shall:  
  2.32     (a) Plan systematically for an effective community action 
  2.33  program; develop information as to the problems and causes of 
  2.34  poverty in the community; determine how much and how effectively 
  2.35  assistance is being provided to deal with those problems and 
  2.36  causes; and establish priorities among projects, activities and 
  3.1   areas as needed for the best and most efficient use of 
  3.2   resources; 
  3.3      (b) Encourage agencies engaged in activities related to the 
  3.4   community action program to plan for, secure, and administer 
  3.5   assistance available under section 268.52 or from other sources 
  3.6   on a common or cooperative basis; provide planning or technical 
  3.7   assistance to those agencies; and generally, in cooperation with 
  3.8   community agencies and officials, undertake actions to improve 
  3.9   existing efforts to reduce poverty, such as improving day-to-day 
  3.10  communications, closing service gaps, focusing resources on the 
  3.11  most needy, and providing additional opportunities to low-income 
  3.12  individuals for regular employment or participation in the 
  3.13  programs or activities for which those community agencies and 
  3.14  officials are responsible; 
  3.15     (c) Initiate and sponsor projects responsive to needs of 
  3.16  the poor which are not otherwise being met, with particular 
  3.17  emphasis on providing central or common services that can be 
  3.18  drawn upon by a variety of related programs, developing new 
  3.19  approaches or new types of services that can be incorporated 
  3.20  into other programs, and filling gaps pending the expansion or 
  3.21  modification of those programs; 
  3.22     (d) Establish effective procedures by which the poor and 
  3.23  area residents concerned will be enabled to influence the 
  3.24  character of programs affecting their interests, provide for 
  3.25  their regular participation in the implementation of those 
  3.26  programs, and provide technical and other support needed to 
  3.27  enable the poor and neighborhood groups to secure on their own 
  3.28  behalf available assistance from public and private sources; 
  3.29     (e) Join with and encourage business, labor and other 
  3.30  private groups and organizations to undertake, together with 
  3.31  public officials and agencies, activities in support of the 
  3.32  community action program which will result in the additional use 
  3.33  of private resources and capabilities, with a view to developing 
  3.34  new employment opportunities, stimulating investment that will 
  3.35  have a measurable impact on reducing poverty among residents of 
  3.36  areas of concentrated poverty, and providing methods by which 
  4.1   residents of those areas can work with private groups, firms, 
  4.2   and institutions in seeking solutions to problems of common 
  4.3   concern.  
  4.4      Community action agencies, the Minnesota migrant council 
  4.5   migrant and seasonal farmworker organizations, and the Indian 
  4.6   reservations, may enter into cooperative purchasing agreements 
  4.7   and self-insurance programs with local units of government.  
  4.8   Nothing in this section expands or limits the current private or 
  4.9   public nature of a local community action agency. 
  4.10     (f) Adopt policies that require the agencies to refer area 
  4.11  residents and community action program constituents to education 
  4.12  programs that increase literacy, improve parenting skills, and 
  4.13  address the needs of children from families in poverty.  These 
  4.14  programs include, but are not limited to, early childhood family 
  4.15  education programs, adult basic education programs, and other 
  4.16  life-long learning opportunities.  The agencies and agency 
  4.17  programs, including Head Start, shall collaborate with child 
  4.18  care and other early childhood education programs to ensure 
  4.19  smooth transitions to work for parents. 
  4.20     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268.54, 
  4.21  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  4.22     Subd. 2.  [COMPONENTS.] The components of a community 
  4.23  action program shall be designed to assist participants, 
  4.24  including homeless individuals and families, migrant and 
  4.25  seasonal farmworkers, and the elderly poor to achieve increased 
  4.26  self-sufficiency and greater participation in the affairs of the 
  4.27  community by providing services and programs not sufficiently 
  4.28  provided in the community by any governmental unit, any public 
  4.29  institution, or any other publicly funded agency or 
  4.30  corporation.  Community action agencies, governmental units, 
  4.31  public institutions or other publicly funded agencies or 
  4.32  corporations shall consult on whether or not a program or 
  4.33  service is sufficiently provided in the community. 
  4.34     Sec. 5.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  4.35     Sections 1 to 4 are effective October 1, 1998. 
  4.36                             ARTICLE 2 
  5.1              FAMILY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD APPROPRIATIONS 
  5.2      Section 1.  Laws 1997, chapter 162, article 4, section 63, 
  5.3   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  5.4      Subd. 2.  [BASIC SLIDING FEE CHILD CARE.] For child care 
  5.5   assistance according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03: 
  5.6        $41,751,000     .....     1998
  5.7        $50,751,000 $53,751,000     .....     1999
  5.8      Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is 
  5.9   available the second year. 
  5.10     Of this appropriation, the department shall allocate the 
  5.11  amount necessary to administer the at-home child care program 
  5.12  under section 22. 
  5.13     The increase in the fiscal year 1999 appropriation is for 
  5.14  child care assistance under Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03, 
  5.15  to provide uninterrupted assistance under article 1, section 38. 
  5.16     Funds appropriated but not expended in the biennium 
  5.17  beginning July 1, 1997, do not cancel and must be deposited in 
  5.18  the child care reserve account under Minnesota Statutes, section 
  5.19  119B.075.  $3,000,000 of the fiscal year 1999 appropriation is a 
  5.20  one-time appropriation. 
  5.21     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  5.22     Subdivision 1.  [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND 
  5.23  LEARNING.] The sums indicated in this section are appropriated 
  5.24  from the general fund to the commissioner of children, families, 
  5.25  and learning for the fiscal years and for the purposes indicated.
  5.26     Subd. 2.  [EMERGENCY SERVICES GRANTS.] For emergency 
  5.27  services grants under Laws 1997, chapter 162, article 3, section 
  5.28  7: 
  5.29       $  300,000     .....     1999 
  5.30     This is a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 1999. 
  5.31     Subd. 3.  [TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.] For transitional housing 
  5.32  programs according to Minnesota Statutes, section 268.38: 
  5.33       $  300,000    .....      1999
  5.34     This is a one-time appropriation. 
  5.35     Subd. 4.  [LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION.] For the lead abatement 
  5.36  program under Minnesota Statutes, section 268.92: 
  6.1        $  100,000     .....     1999 
  6.2      This appropriation must be used for the swab team service 
  6.3   program to provide lead cleanup and lead hazard reduction 
  6.4   services in geographic areas where the residents have a high 
  6.5   risk of elevated blood lead levels. 
  6.6      Of this amount, 25 percent is for a grant to the city of 
  6.7   St. Louis Park to conduct lead testing and cleanup in the 
  6.8   residential neighborhoods contaminated by an industrial lead 
  6.9   site.  The remaining amount is for a nonprofit organization that 
  6.10  is currently operating the CLEARCorps lead hazard reduction 
  6.11  project and is willing to expand its geographic service area.  
  6.12     This is a one-time appropriation. 
  6.13     Subd. 5.  [HEAD START AND ECFE.] For competitive grants for 
  6.14  programs for children ages 0 to 3:  
  6.15       $  500,000     .....     1999 
  6.16     A Head Start and an early childhood family education 
  6.17  program must jointly apply for grants from this appropriation.  
  6.18  Grant awards must be used to expand collaborative programming 
  6.19  involving both early childhood family education and Head Start 
  6.20  for children under the age of three. 
  6.21     This is a one-time appropriation. 
  6.22     Sec. 3.  [APPROPRIATION; ADMINISTRATION OF ABUSED CHILDREN 
  6.23  PROGRAMS.] 
  6.24     Of the amount appropriated under Laws 1997, chapter 162, 
  6.25  article 2, section 31, subdivision 8, up to $134,000 for fiscal 
  6.26  year 1998 and up to $134,000 for fiscal year 1999 may be used 
  6.27  for state costs to administer abused children programs under 
  6.28  Minnesota Statutes, sections 119A.20 to 119A.23. 
  6.29     Sec. 4.  [APPROPRIATION; ADMINISTRATION OF DRUG POLICY AND 
  6.30  VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.] 
  6.31     Of the amount appropriated under Laws 1997, chapter 162, 
  6.32  article 2, section 31, subdivision 9, up to $305,000 for fiscal 
  6.33  year 1998 and up to $305,000 for fiscal year 1999 may be used 
  6.34  for state costs to administer drug policy and violence 
  6.35  prevention programs under Minnesota Statutes, sections 119A.25 
  6.36  to 119A.29 and 119A.32 to 119A.34. 
  7.1      Sec. 5.  [APPROPRIATION; ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHILDREN'S 
  7.2   TRUST FUND.] 
  7.3      Of the amount appropriated under Laws 1997, chapter 162, 
  7.4   article 2, section 31, subdivision 10, up to $22,000 for fiscal 
  7.5   year 1998 and up to $22,000 for fiscal year 1999 may be used for 
  7.6   state costs to administer the children's trust fund under 
  7.7   Minnesota Statutes, sections 119A.10 to 119A.17.  
  7.8      Of the amount in the special revenue account from fees 
  7.9   under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.226, subdivision 3, up to 
  7.10  $120,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $120,000 for fiscal year 1999 
  7.11  may be used for operating costs of the children's trust fund. 
  7.12     Sec. 6.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  7.13     Sections 3 to 5 are effective the day following final 
  7.14  enactment. 
  7.15                             ARTICLE 3
  7.16                        ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
  7.17  Section 1.  [ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  7.18     The sums in the columns marked "APPROPRIATIONS" are 
  7.19  appropriated from the general fund, or another named fund, to 
  7.20  the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article, to 
  7.21  be available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose.  
  7.22  The figures "1998" and "1999," where used in this act, mean that 
  7.23  the appropriation or appropriations listed under them are 
  7.24  available for the year ending June 30, 1998, or June 30, 1999, 
  7.25  respectively.  The term "first year" means the fiscal year 
  7.26  ending June 30, 1998, and "second year" means the fiscal year 
  7.27  ending June 30, 1999. 
  7.28                          SUMMARY BY FUND 
  7.29                                           1998           1999 
  7.30  General                              $   359,000    $ 3,841,000
  7.31  TOTAL                                    359,000      3,841,000
  7.32                                            APPROPRIATIONS 
  7.33                                        Available for the Year 
  7.34                                            Ending June 30 
  7.35                                           1998         1999 
  7.36  Sec. 2.  DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND
  7.37  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT                 $     -0-      $   580,000
  7.38  The amounts that may be spent from this 
  8.1   appropriation for each purpose is 
  8.2   specified in the following paragraphs. 
  8.3   (a) Neighborhood Development Center, Inc.
  8.4   $80,000 in 1999 making a grant to the 
  8.5   Neighborhood Development Center, Inc.  
  8.6   The center shall use the grant for the 
  8.7   purpose of expanding and improving its 
  8.8   neighborhood and ethnic-based 
  8.9   entrepreneur training, lending, and 
  8.10  support programs in the poorest 
  8.11  communities of Minneapolis and St. 
  8.12  Paul.  This appropriation is a one-time 
  8.13  appropriation and is not added to the 
  8.14  department's budget base. 
  8.15  (b) Biomass Energy Project 
  8.16  $500,000 in 1999 is for a grant to the 
  8.17  Granite Falls economic development 
  8.18  authority for the development of a 
  8.19  farm-grown, closed loop biomass energy 
  8.20  project.  The grant may be used to 
  8.21  manage the development, seek financing 
  8.22  and equity participation, reimburse 
  8.23  costs of third-party due diligence 
  8.24  exercises, and perform environmental 
  8.25  review and permitting.  This is a 
  8.26  one-time appropriation and is not added 
  8.27  to the department's budget base. 
  8.28  (c) Minnesota Trade Office 
  8.29  The appropriation in Laws 1997, chapter 
  8.30  200, article 1, section 2, subdivision 
  8.31  3, to the department of trade and 
  8.32  economic development for the Minnesota 
  8.33  trade office for a multifaceted program 
  8.34  to develop trade with China is 
  8.35  available until June 30, 1999. 
  8.36  Sec. 3.  MINNESOTA WORLD TRADE CENTER
  8.37  CORPORATION                              155,000        -0-  
  8.38  $155,000 is appropriated in 1998 for 
  8.39  full and final payments of the 
  8.40  remaining 1988 debt of the Minnesota 
  8.41  World Trade Center Corporation which 
  8.42  was incurred for conference center 
  8.43  furniture, fixtures, and equipment.  
  8.44  This appropriation is available 
  8.45  immediately.  This is a one-time 
  8.46  appropriation and is not added to the 
  8.47  department's budget base. 
  8.48  Sec. 4.  DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC
  8.49  SECURITY                                  -0-         2,326,000 
  8.50  The amounts that may be spent from this 
  8.51  appropriation for each purpose are 
  8.52  specified in the following paragraphs. 
  8.53  (a) Vocational Rehabilitation
  8.54  $1,000,000 in 1999 to the vocational 
  8.55  rehabilitation program to be added to 
  8.56  the appropriation for rehabilitation 
  8.57  services provided in Laws 1997, chapter 
  8.58  200, article 1, section 5, subdivision 
  8.59  2, and is added to the department's 
  9.1   budget base.  
  9.2   (b) Summer Youth Employment
  9.3   $1,000,000 in 1999 is for summer youth 
  9.4   employment programs.  This is a 
  9.5   one-time appropriation and is available 
  9.6   immediately and is available until June 
  9.7   30, 1999. 
  9.8   (c) Advocating Change Together, Inc. 
  9.9   $126,000 in 1999 is for a grant to 
  9.10  Advocating Change Together, Inc. 
  9.11  (ACT).  The grant must be used for (1) 
  9.12  the training and empowerment of 
  9.13  individuals with developmental and 
  9.14  other mental health disabilities, 
  9.15  including mental illnesses that are 
  9.16  serious and persistent, that are 
  9.17  chronic, or that pose a risk of 
  9.18  hospitalization; (2) the maintenance of 
  9.19  related data; or (3) technical 
  9.20  assistance for work advancement or 
  9.21  additional workforce training.  This is 
  9.22  a one-time appropriation and is not 
  9.23  added to the department's budget base. 
  9.24  (d) Displaced Homemakers Empowerment
  9.25  $200,000 in 1999 is for displaced 
  9.26  homemaker programs under Minnesota 
  9.27  Statutes, section 268.96, and is a 
  9.28  one-time appropriation and not added to 
  9.29  the department's budget base.  This 
  9.30  appropriation is for grants to operate 
  9.31  a community work empowerment support 
  9.32  group demonstration project and is in 
  9.33  addition to the appropriation for that 
  9.34  purpose contained in Laws 1997, chapter 
  9.35  200, article 1, section 4, subdivision 
  9.36  4.  
  9.37  Sec. 5.  PUBLIC UTILITIES
  9.38  COMMISSION                               204,000        189,000 
  9.39  This appropriation is for costs 
  9.40  associated with the regulation of 
  9.41  utilities and is added to the 
  9.42  commission's budget base.  
  9.43  Notwithstanding any other law, these 
  9.44  amounts may not be billed back to 
  9.45  utility companies. 
  9.46  Sec. 6.  MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY     -0-          646,000  
  9.47  The amounts that may be spent from this 
  9.48  appropriation for each purpose are 
  9.49  specified in the following paragraphs. 
  9.50  (a) Salary Adjustment 
  9.51  $571,000 in 1999 is for salary 
  9.52  adjustments.  This is a one-time 
  9.53  appropriation and is not added to the 
  9.54  society's budget base. 
  9.55  (b) Hmong Archives 
  9.56  $75,000 in 1999 is for start-up costs 
  9.57  for the Hmong history and culture 
 10.1   archival project.  The society may make 
 10.2   grants to nonprofit organizations for 
 10.3   planning, training, and purchase of 
 10.4   supplies and equipment.  This is a 
 10.5   one-time appropriation and is not added 
 10.6   to the society's budget base. 
 10.7   Sec. 7.  SUPREME COURT                    -0-          100,000 
 10.8   $100,000 in 1999 is for the community 
 10.9   justice system collaboration team in 
 10.10  the judicial branch.  This is a 
 10.11  one-time appropriation and is not added 
 10.12  to the budget base. 
 10.13     Sec. 8.  [JUDY GARLAND CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.] 
 10.14     The appropriation in Laws 1997, chapter 200, article 1, 
 10.15  section 2, subdivision 2, to the commissioner of trade and 
 10.16  economic development for the Judy Garland Children's Museum is 
 10.17  available until and may be matched until June 30, 1999. 
 10.18     Sec. 9.  [LEROY NIEMAN MUSEUM OF ART.] 
 10.19     The appropriation in Laws 1997, chapter 200, article 1, 
 10.20  section 2, subdivision 4, to the commissioner of trade and 
 10.21  economic development for a grant to the LeRoy Nieman Museum of 
 10.22  Art is available until and may be matched until June 30, 1999.  
 10.23     Sec. 10.  [NEWPORT.] 
 10.24     The city of Newport may include in-kind resources and money 
 10.25  raised or contributed during a period beginning January 1, 1993, 
 10.26  in determining its required match for the appropriation to the 
 10.27  city in Laws 1997, chapter 200, article 1, section 2, 
 10.28  subdivision 2.  
 10.29     Sec. 11.  [TRAINING FOR HMONG AND LAOTIAN WOMEN.] 
 10.30     $100,000 of the appropriation in fiscal year 1999 for the 
 10.31  Job Training Partnership Act program in Laws 1997, chapter 200, 
 10.32  article 1, section 5, subdivision 4, is available to the Women's 
 10.33  Association of Hmong and Lao to provide employment and training 
 10.34  to eligible Hmong and Laotian women. 
 10.35     Sec. 12.  [BOUNDARY EXTENSION.] 
 10.36     The boundaries of the North Mississippi Regional Park are 
 10.37  extended to include 49th Avenue North and adjacent property from 
 10.38  Humboldt Avenue east to the Mississippi river.  Funds 
 10.39  appropriated for the North Mississippi Regional Park may be 
 10.40  expended to create a trail or greenway as part of the Hennepin 
 11.1   county multijurisdictional program on 49th Avenue North and 
 11.2   adjacent property as an entrance to the North Mississippi 
 11.3   Regional Park.  
 11.4      Sec. 13.  [MINNESOTA INVESTMENT FUND; SOYBEAN OILSEED 
 11.5   PROCESSING FACILITY.] 
 11.6      Notwithstanding the grant limit in Minnesota Statutes, 
 11.7   section 116J.8731, subdivision 5, a grant of up to $1,000,000 
 11.8   may be made to a political subdivision that is chosen as a site 
 11.9   for a soybean oilseed processing facility, constructed by a 
 11.10  Minnesota-based cooperative.  The grant may be used for site 
 11.11  preparation, predevelopment, and other infrastructure 
 11.12  improvements, including public and private utility improvements, 
 11.13  that are necessary for development of the oilseed processing 
 11.14  facility.  The grant may be made any time until December 31, 
 11.15  2000. 
 11.16     Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 16B.06, 
 11.17  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 11.18     Subd. 2.  [VALIDITY OF STATE CONTRACTS.] (a) A state 
 11.19  contract or lease is not valid and the state is not bound by it 
 11.20  until: 
 11.21     (1) it has first been executed by the head of the agency or 
 11.22  a delegate which is a party to the contract; 
 11.23     (2) it has been approved by the commissioner or a delegate, 
 11.24  under this section; 
 11.25     (3) it has been approved by the attorney general or a 
 11.26  delegate as to form and execution; and 
 11.27     (4) the account system shows an allotment or encumbrance 
 11.28  balance for the full amount of the contract liability.  
 11.29     (b) Paragraph (a), clause (2), does not apply to contracts 
 11.30  between state agencies, contracts awarding grants, or contracts 
 11.31  making loans, or bond purchase agreements by the department of 
 11.32  trade and economic development or the Minnesota public 
 11.33  facilities authority. 
 11.34     (c) The head of the agency may delegate the execution of 
 11.35  specific contracts or specific types of contracts to a 
 11.36  designated subordinate within the agency if the delegation has 
 12.1   been approved by the commissioner of administration and filed 
 12.2   with the secretary of state.  The fully executed copy of every 
 12.3   contract or lease must be kept on file at the contracting agency.
 12.4      Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 12.5   115C.09, subdivision 3f, is amended to read: 
 12.6      Subd. 3f.  [REIMBURSEMENTS; SMALL GASOLINE RETAILERS.] (a) 
 12.7   As used in this subdivision, "small gasoline retailer" means 
 12.8   a responsible person tank owner or operator who owns no more 
 12.9   than only one location in this state, and no locations in any 
 12.10  other state, where motor fuel was dispensed to the public into 
 12.11  motor vehicles, watercraft, or aircraft in the previous year, 
 12.12  and who dispensed motor fuel at that location. 
 12.13     (b) Notwithstanding subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause 
 12.14  (1), for eligible applicants who are small gasoline retailers 
 12.15  that have dispensed less than 500,000 gallons of motor fuel 
 12.16  during the most recent calendar year that petroleum products 
 12.17  were dispensed at the location owned by the retailer, the board 
 12.18  shall reimburse the applicant for 90 percent of the applicant's 
 12.19  total reimbursable cost for tank removal projects started after 
 12.20  January 1, 1997 1996, including, but not limited to, tank 
 12.21  removal, closure in place, backfill, resurfacing, and utility 
 12.22  service restoration costs, regardless of whether a release has 
 12.23  occurred at the site, provided that the tank involved is a 
 12.24  regulated underground storage tank. 
 12.25     (c) Notwithstanding subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause 
 12.26  (1), for eligible applicants who are small gasoline retailers 
 12.27  that have dispensed less than 250,000 gallons of motor fuel 
 12.28  during the most recent calendar year that petroleum products 
 12.29  were dispensed at the location owned by the retailer, provided 
 12.30  that the tank involved is a regulated underground storage tank, 
 12.31  the board shall reimburse the applicant for 95 percent of the 
 12.32  following costs: 
 12.33     (1) tank removal costs described in paragraph (b); and 
 12.34     (2) petroleum contamination cleanup as provided under 
 12.35  subdivision 1 incurred during or after the tank removal project. 
 12.36     (d) An applicant who owns only one location in this or any 
 13.1   other state where motor fuel was dispensed to the public into 
 13.2   motor vehicles, watercraft, or aircraft but who did not dispense 
 13.3   motor fuel at that location may qualify as a small gasoline 
 13.4   retailer if:  
 13.5      (1) the previous tank owner or operator at the location was 
 13.6   a small gasoline retailer that dispensed less than 500,000 
 13.7   gallons of motor fuel during the most recent calendar year that 
 13.8   petroleum products were dispensed at the location; and 
 13.9      (2) the applicant acquired legal or equitable title to the 
 13.10  property after January 1, 1996.  
 13.11     (e) This subdivision expires January 1, 2000. 
 13.12     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 115C.09, is 
 13.13  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 13.14     Subd. 3g.  [REIMBURSEMENTS; SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.] (a) As 
 13.15  used in this subdivision, "small business owner" means a person: 
 13.16     (1) who has no more than $250,000 per year in sales; 
 13.17     (2) who owns no more than one location where motor fuel was 
 13.18  previously dispensed to the public into motor vehicles; 
 13.19     (3) who did not dispense motor fuel at that location; and 
 13.20     (4) whose tanks were never registered with the state. 
 13.21     (b) Notwithstanding subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause 
 13.22  (1), the board shall reimburse an eligible applicant who is a 
 13.23  small business owner for 90 percent of the applicant's total 
 13.24  reimbursable cost for tank removal projects started after 
 13.25  January 1, 1998, including, but not limited to, tank removal, 
 13.26  closure in place, backfill, resurfacing, and utility service 
 13.27  restoration costs, regardless of whether a release has occurred 
 13.28  at the site, and provided that the person does not intend to 
 13.29  replace the tanks. 
 13.30     Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 13.31  116J.421, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 13.32     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHED.] The rural policy and 
 13.33  development center is established at Mankato State University. 
 13.34     The center may be established by the board as a nonprofit 
 13.35  corporation under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code 
 13.36  or the board may organize and operate the center in a manner and 
 14.1   form that the board determines best allows the center to carry 
 14.2   out its duties. 
 14.3      Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 14.4   116J.421, is amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 14.5      Subd. 5.  [POWERS.] The board has the power to do all 
 14.6   things reasonable and necessary to carry out the duties of the 
 14.7   center including, without limitation, the power to: 
 14.8      (1) enter into contracts for goods or services with 
 14.9   individuals and private and public entities; 
 14.10     (2) sue and be sued; 
 14.11     (3) acquire, hold, lease, and transfer any interest in real 
 14.12  and personal property; 
 14.13     (4) accept appropriations, gifts, grants, and bequests; 
 14.14     (5) hire employees; and 
 14.15     (6) delegate any of its powers. 
 14.16     Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
 14.17  179A.03, subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 14.18     Subd. 7.  [ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE.] "Essential employee" means 
 14.19  firefighters, peace officers subject to licensure under sections 
 14.20  626.84 to 626.863, guards at correctional facilities, 
 14.21  confidential employees, supervisory employees, assistant county 
 14.22  attorneys, assistant city attorneys, principals, and assistant 
 14.23  principals.  However, for state employees, "essential employee" 
 14.24  means all employees in law enforcement, health care 
 14.25  professionals, correctional guards, professional engineering, 
 14.26  and supervisory collective bargaining units, irrespective of 
 14.27  severance, and no other employees.  For University of Minnesota 
 14.28  employees, "essential employee" means all employees in law 
 14.29  enforcement, nursing professional and supervisory units, 
 14.30  irrespective of severance, and no other employees.  
 14.31  "Firefighters" means salaried employees of a fire department 
 14.32  whose duties include, directly or indirectly, controlling, 
 14.33  extinguishing, preventing, detecting, or investigating fires. 
 14.34     Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 383B.79, 
 14.35  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 14.36     Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAM CREATED.] A multijurisdictional 
 15.1   reinvestment program involving Hennepin county, the cities of 
 15.2   Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, and other interested statutory or 
 15.3   home rule charter cities in Hennepin county, the Minneapolis 
 15.4   park board, and the suburban Hennepin county park district is 
 15.5   created.  The multijurisdictional program must include plans for 
 15.6   housing rehabilitation and removals, industrial polluted land 
 15.7   cleanup, water ponding, environmental cleanup, community 
 15.8   corridor connections, corridor planning, creation of green 
 15.9   space, acquisition of property, development and redevelopment of 
 15.10  parks and open space, water quality and lakeshore improvement, 
 15.11  development and redevelopment of housing and existing commercial 
 15.12  projects, and job creation.  
 15.13     Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 383B.79, is 
 15.14  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 15.15     Subd. 6.  [ADMINISTRATION.] The board of county 
 15.16  commissioners shall administer the program and funds and bond 
 15.17  for projects in this section either as a county board or a 
 15.18  housing and redevelopment authority.  The board of county 
 15.19  commissioners may acquire property in connection with the 
 15.20  project known as the Humboldt Avenue Greenway from any funds 
 15.21  under its control. 
 15.22     Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 469.303, is 
 15.23  amended to read: 
 15.24     469.303 [ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.] 
 15.25     An area within the city is eligible for designation as an 
 15.26  enterprise zone if the area (1) includes census tracts eligible 
 15.27  for a federal empowerment zone or enterprise community as 
 15.28  defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban 
 15.29  Development under Public Law Number 103-66, notwithstanding the 
 15.30  maximum zone population standard under the federal empowerment 
 15.31  zone program for cities with a population under 500,000 or, (2) 
 15.32  is an area within a city of the second class that is designated 
 15.33  as an economically depressed area by the United States 
 15.34  Department of Commerce, or (3) includes property located in St. 
 15.35  Paul in a transit zone as defined in section 473.3915, 
 15.36  subdivision 3. 
 16.1      Sec. 23.  [LOCAL APPROVAL; EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 16.2      Sections 20 and 21 are effective the day after the Hennepin 
 16.3   county board complies with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, 
 16.4   subdivision 3. 
 16.5      Sec. 24.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 16.6      All provisions making appropriations for fiscal year 1998, 
 16.7   or that are to be available immediately, are effective the day 
 16.8   following final enactment. 
 16.9                              ARTICLE 4 
 16.10                              HOUSING 
 16.11   Section 1.  [HOUSING APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 16.12     The sums in the columns marked "APPROPRIATIONS" are 
 16.13  appropriated from the general fund, or another named fund, to 
 16.14  the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article, to 
 16.15  be available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose.  
 16.16  The figures "1998" and "1999," where used in this act, mean that 
 16.17  the appropriation or appropriations listed under them are 
 16.18  available for the year ending June 30, 1998, or June 30, 1999, 
 16.19  respectively.  The term "first year" means the fiscal year 
 16.20  ending June 30, 1998, and "second year" means the fiscal year 
 16.21  ending June 30, 1999. 
 16.22                          SUMMARY BY FUND 
 16.23                                           1998           1999 
 16.24  General                              $     -0-      $ 3,600,000 
 16.25  TOTAL                                      -0-        3,600,000 
 16.26                                             APPROPRIATIONS 
 16.27                                         Available for the Year 
 16.28                                             Ending June 30 
 16.29                                            1998         1999 
 16.30  Sec. 2.  MINNESOTA HOUSING 
 16.31  FINANCE AGENCY                       $     -0-      $ 3,600,000
 16.32  The amounts that may be spent from this 
 16.33  appropriation for certain programs are 
 16.34  specified below. 
 16.35  This appropriation is for transfer to 
 16.36  the housing development fund for the 
 16.37  programs specified and is a one-time 
 16.38  appropriation and is not added to the 
 16.39  agency's budget base. 
 16.40  (a) Affordable Rental Investment Fund
 16.41  and Community Rehabilitation Fund 
 17.1   $3,300,000 in 1999 is for the 
 17.2   affordable rental investment fund 
 17.3   program under Minnesota Statutes, 
 17.4   section 462A.21, subdivision 8b, to be 
 17.5   allocated according to the geographic 
 17.6   distribution requirements in the 
 17.7   appropriation for the affordable rental 
 17.8   investment program in Laws 1997, 
 17.9   chapter 200, article 1, section 6, and 
 17.10  for the community rehabilitation 
 17.11  program under Minnesota Statutes, 
 17.12  section 462A.206.  Notwithstanding 
 17.13  section 462A.206, this appropriation 
 17.14  shall be used to provide housing for 
 17.15  families and persons with incomes less 
 17.16  than or equal to 80 percent of the Twin 
 17.17  Cities metropolitan area median income 
 17.18  applied statewide.  The agency must 
 17.19  give preference to economically viable 
 17.20  projects in which there is a 
 17.21  contribution from nonstate sources.  Of 
 17.22  this amount, the agency may use up to 
 17.23  $500,000 to fund projects in cities of 
 17.24  the first class if the projects use 
 17.25  innovative urban design elements, 
 17.26  comprehensive community planning, or 
 17.27  help leverage federal funds from the 
 17.28  federal home ownership zone program.  
 17.29  (b) Family Homeless Prevention
 17.30  and Assistance Program
 17.31  $300,000 in 1999 is for the family 
 17.32  homeless prevention and assistance 
 17.33  program under Minnesota Statutes, 
 17.34  section 462A.204 and is added to the 
 17.35  appropriation for this program in Laws 
 17.36  1997, chapter 200, article 1, section 6.