HF 92

as introduced - 84th Legislature, 2005 1st Special Session (2005 - 2005) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to a University of Minnesota football
stadium; providing a process for state support of a
football stadium at the University of Minnesota;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004,
sections 297A.71, by adding a subdivision; 340A.404,
subdivision 4a; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 473.

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

Section 1. PURPOSE; FINDINGS.

The legislature finds that construction of a new football
stadium by the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota
on the University's east bank campus in the city of Minneapolis
serves statewide public purposes. The legislature finds that
the public purposes served include, but are not limited to,
providing an on-campus outdoor intercollegiate football stadium
as a part of the public amenities for Minnesota's citizens,
enhancing the enjoyment of its citizens, and enhancing the
University experience for students, alumni, faculty, staff, and
other supporters of the University. The legislature finds that
the University intends to join together with its students,
alumni, faculty, staff, and other supporters to raise funds to
build a stadium to return college football to the University
campus. Further, the legislature finds that construction of a
University of Minnesota football stadium should be supported by
the state and that the support should not detract from or be a
substitute for other operating and capital support by the state
for the University; however, state financial support for the
stadium should be conditioned upon the University providing for
payment of a significant portion of the stadium's cost from
nonstate general revenue fund sources. The purpose of this act
is to provide a firm 40 percent level of funding for a new
University football stadium to be constructed and owned by the
Regents of the University of Minnesota.

Sec. 2. DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.

Applicability.

The definitions in this
section apply to sections 2 to 7.

Subd. 2.

Commissioner.

"Commissioner" means the
commissioner of finance.

Subd. 3.

Stadium.

"Stadium" means an athletic stadium
suitable for intercollegiate National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) Division I football games and related
infrastructure improvements constructed on the University of
Minnesota's east bank campus in the city of Minneapolis.

Subd. 4.

Board.

"Board" means the regents of the
University of Minnesota.

Subd. 5.

Commission.

"Commission" means the Metropolitan
Sports Facilities Commission.

Sec. 3. ACTIVITIES; CONTRACTS.

The legislature recognizes that the board has all powers
necessary or convenient for designing, constructing, equipping,
improving, controlling, operating, and maintaining the stadium
and may enter into contracts that are in its judgment in the
best interests of the public for those purposes.
Notwithstanding contrary law, the board may adopt the fair and
competitive design and construction procurement procedures in
connection with the stadium that it considers to be in the
public interest. The board must ensure to the greatest extent
practicable, that materials derived from American made steel are
used in the construction of the stadium. Minnesota Statutes,
sections 16B.33 and 16B.335, do not apply to the stadium.

Sec. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

The legislature requests that the board complete an
environmental review of the stadium project and perform the
duties of the responsible governmental unit as prescribed in the
Minnesota Environmental Policy Act, Minnesota Statutes, chapter
116D, and the rules adopted under that chapter. The legislature
ratifies the Environmental Quality Board's designation of the
board as responsible governmental unit.

Sec. 5. CONDITIONS FOR PAYMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY.

Before the commissioner may make the first payment to the
board authorized in this section the commissioner must certify
that the board has received at least $141,000,000 in pledges,
gifts, sponsorships and other nonstate general fund revenue
support for the construction of the stadium. On July 1 of each
year after certification by the commissioner, but no earlier
than July 1, 2007, and for so long thereafter as any bonds
issued by the board for the construction of the stadium are
outstanding, the state must transfer to the board $7,000,000 to
reimburse the board for its stadium costs, provided that bonds
issued to pay the state's share of such costs shall not exceed
$94,000,000. $7,000,000 is appropriated annually from the
general fund for the purpose of this section. Except to the
extent of the annual appropriation described in this section,
the state is not required to pay any part of the cost of
designing or constructing the stadium. The board must also
certify to the commissioner that a provision for affordable
access for University students to the University sporting events
held at the football stadium has been made.

Sec. 6. NO FULL FAITH AND CREDIT.

Any bonds or other obligations issued by the board under
this act are not public debt of the state, and the full faith
and credit and taxing powers of the state are not pledged for
their payment, or of any payments that the state agrees to make
under this act.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 297A.71, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 33.

Construction materials; university of minnesota
football stadium.

Materials, supplies, or equipment used or
consumed in connection with the construction, equipping, or
improvement of a football stadium constructed for use by the
University of Minnesota are exempt. This subdivision expires
one year after substantial completion of the football stadium.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 340A.404,
subdivision 4a, is amended to read:

Subd. 4a.

State-owned recreation; entertainment
facilities.

Notwithstanding any other law, local ordinance, or
charter provision, the commissioner may issue on-sale
intoxicating liquor licenses:

(1) to the state agency administratively responsible for,
or to an entity holding a concession or facility management
contract with such agency for beverage sales at, the premises of
any Giants Ridge Recreation Area building or recreational
improvement area owned by the state in the town of White, St.
Louis County;

(2) to the state agency administratively responsible for,
or to an entity holding a concession or facility management
contract with such agency for beverage sales at, the premises of
any Ironworld Discovery Center building or facility owned by the
state at Chisholm; and

(3) to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota
for events at Northrop Auditorium and spectator suites and clubs
in any intercollegiate football stadium constructed by the
University on its Minneapolis campus.

The commissioner shall charge a fee for licenses issued
under this subdivision in an amount comparable to the fee for
comparable licenses issued in surrounding cities.

Sec. 9.

[473.5955] TERMINATION OF LEASE.

The lease between the Regents of the University of
Minnesota and the commission dated May 19, 1982, that requires
the University of Minnesota football team to play its home
football games at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome until July 1,
2012, may be terminated by the board effective on or after the
date designated by the board as the date of completion of the
stadium on the University of Minnesota's east bank campus in the
city of Minneapolis.

Sec. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.

Sections 1 to 9 are effective the day following final
enactment.