HF 10

as introduced - 91st Legislature, 2020 1st Special Session (2019 - 2020) Posted on 06/20/2020 06:34pm

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; establishing a program for emergency
community relief grants; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin COVID-19 EMERGENCY COMMUNITY RELIEF GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The COVID-19 emergency community relief grants
program is established to award grants to community action agencies to make grants to
individuals experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Statewide grants. new text end

new text begin To the extent practicable, grants shall be made so that an
approximately equal dollar amount of grants are made to individuals in the metropolitan
area and the nonmetropolitan area. Priority shall also be given to community action agencies
serving culturally specific populations either directly or through grants to other organizations
who will make the grants to individuals.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligibility for individuals. new text end

new text begin In order to qualify for a grant, an individual must
be able to demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Financial
hardship includes but is not limited to showing that an individual:
new text end

new text begin (1) is not eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Such individuals may include but
are not limited to individuals in the country on an H1B or other work visa or who are
self-employed;
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new text begin (2) will not receive unemployment benefits at a rate that is commensurate with their
earnings. Such individuals may include but are not limited to tipped employees whose
earnings do not accurately reflect income;
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new text begin (3) will have significant difficulty getting COVID-19-related federal or state assistance.
Such individuals may include but are not limited to individuals who are adult dependents
or other minor or college-aged dependents; or
new text end

new text begin (4) will not be able to receive any COVID-19-related federal or state assistance. Such
individuals may include but are not limited to individuals who were not required to file
taxes for the past two years and adults who are elderly or disabled but are not receiving
Social Security benefits.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Maximum grant award. new text end

new text begin The amount of assistance shall depend on the
individual needs of the household, taking into consideration other resources that an individual
or household is eligible to receive. The maximum amount of assistance may not exceed
$1,500 per individual.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Use of grant funds. new text end

new text begin Grant funds received by an individual under this section
may be used for food, emergency household items, rent support, utility bills, and other
similar expenses. Assistance for rent support and utility bills must be made directly to the
rental property owner or utility company.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Reporting on use of funds. new text end

new text begin Community action agencies receiving grants under
this section must submit quarterly reports to the commissioner of human services on a form
developed by the commissioner with information about the purposes for which the funds
were awarded to individuals in accordance with this section. The first quarterly report must
be submitted no later than July 15, 2020, and the last quarterly report must be submitted no
later than August 1, 2021.
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

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $100,000,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2020 from the general fund to the
commissioner of human services for the COVID-19 emergency community relief grants
under section 1. Of this amount, up to ten percent may be used for the administrative costs
of the agency and the community grantees. This is a onetime appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2021.
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