HF 220

as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to agriculture; providing grants and property 
  1.3             tax incentives to motor fuel retailers who install E85 
  1.4             pumps and equipment; requiring the state to buy and 
  1.5             operate E85 vehicles when they are available; 
  1.6             appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, 
  1.7             section 273.11, by adding a subdivision; proposing 
  1.8             coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 16C 
  1.9             and 41A. 
  1.10  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.11     Section 1.  [16C.135] [E85 VEHICLES.] 
  1.12     In all its motor vehicle purchases, the state must buy 
  1.13  flexible-fuel vehicles that are capable of using E85, as that 
  1.14  term is defined in section 296A.01, subdivision 19, if the 
  1.15  desired or required model has a flexible-fuel engine available. 
  1.16     Sec. 2.  [41A.10] [E85 DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.] 
  1.17     The commissioner of agriculture shall establish a program 
  1.18  to encourage motor fuel retail outlets to install tanks, pumps, 
  1.19  and other necessary equipment to dispense E85, as that term is 
  1.20  defined in section 296A.01, subdivision 19.  The program must 
  1.21  provide for use of funds appropriated for the purpose as 
  1.22  matching grants of up to $20,000 per retailer for retailers who 
  1.23  install E85 equipment.  The state's share may be no more than 
  1.24  half the cost of installing the equipment and must be matched by 
  1.25  funds from private industry or other organizations or entities 
  1.26  interested in promoting E85. 
  1.27     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 273.11, is 
  2.1   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.2      Subd. 20.  [VALUATION OF E85 DISPENSING 
  2.3   EQUIPMENT.] Property installed at a motor fuel retail outlet to 
  2.4   dispense E85, as that term is defined in section 296A.01, 
  2.5   subdivision 19, including tanks, pumps, and other necessary 
  2.6   equipment, qualifies for a valuation exclusion for assessment 
  2.7   purposes under this subdivision. 
  2.8      The assessor shall estimate the market value of the 
  2.9   property in the assessment year immediately following the year 
  2.10  that the building permit was taken out or the taxpayer notified 
  2.11  the assessor that the improvement was to be made.  If the 
  2.12  estimated market value of the building has increased over the 
  2.13  prior year's assessment based on the E85 improvements, the 
  2.14  assessor shall note the amount of the increase on the property 
  2.15  record and subtract that amount from the value of the property 
  2.16  in each year for five years after the improvement has been 
  2.17  made.  After that time, an amount equal to 20 percent of the 
  2.18  excluded value must be added back in each of the five subsequent 
  2.19  years. 
  2.20     The property owner must submit an application to the 
  2.21  assessor for treatment under this subdivision prior to July 1 of 
  2.22  any year in order to qualify for the treatment effective for 
  2.23  taxes payable in the following year. 
  2.24     Sec. 4.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.25     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.26  commissioner of agriculture for purposes of section 2, to be 
  2.27  available until June 30, 2003. 
  2.28     Sec. 5.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.29     Section 3 is effective for taxes payable in 2002 and 
  2.30  thereafter.  Section 4 is effective July 1, 2001.