HF 1614

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:53am

A bill for an act
relating to state government; designating community solutions grants for high
priority community issues; transferring money; establishing the Commission on
Innovation; requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Community solutions grant fund. new text end

new text begin A community solutions
grant fund is established within the Department of Administration, Office of Grants
Management to receive funds as provided for in subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Fund transfer. new text end

new text begin (a) Beginning in fiscal year 2010 and continuing through
fiscal year 2012, one percent of each state general fund grant made for the following
purposes: health, education, human services, environment, and public safety, shall be
transferred each year to the community solutions grant fund to be used for the purposes
in subdivision 3. The total amount of grant funds transferred each year shall not exceed
$25,000,000.
new text end

new text begin (b) For fiscal year 2013 through fiscal year 2019, $40,000,000 is appropriated from
the general fund to the community solutions grant fund.
new text end

new text begin (c) For the purposes of this subdivision, state grants do not include payments to local
governments under Minnesota Statutes, sections 477A.011 to 477A.014; education aids
under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 126C; or the Minnesota family investment program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin Each year beginning in fiscal year 2010, the Office of Grants
Management shall make grants from the community solutions grant fund to eligible
not-for-profit organizations to expand successful initiatives that have demonstrated
measurable, positive results in addressing high priority community issues. In determining
grant recipients, the Office of Grants Management shall consider whether there is potential
for the initiatives to be duplicated by others and for the programmatic approach to be
brought to regional or statewide scale. The Office of Grants Management shall designate
an evaluation team to accept grant applications, review and evaluate grant proposals, and
select grant proposals to receive funding each year. Grant recipients may only use the
funds to expand the programs that demonstrate measurable, positive results in addressing
high priority issues as identified in subdivision 4 and to replicate the programs using
other providers to serve other geographic areas or other populations. The Office of
Grants Management may supplement state resources for community solutions grants with
funding from other sources including the federal government, businesses, donations,
and other gifts.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Eligibility; high priority issues. new text end

new text begin To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an organization must be a not-for-profit entity under section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and be able to demonstrate past results in
improving measurable outcomes relating to one or more of the following high priority
issue areas:
new text end

new text begin (1) education for economically disadvantaged students in public schools;
new text end

new text begin (2) child and youth development;
new text end

new text begin (3) reductions in poverty or increases in economic opportunity for economically
disadvantaged individuals;
new text end

new text begin (4) reductions in homelessness;
new text end

new text begin (5) health, including access to health care and health education;
new text end

new text begin (6) resource conservation and environmental quality;
new text end

new text begin (7) individual or community energy efficiency; or
new text end

new text begin (8) reductions in crime.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Match required. new text end

new text begin Each dollar of state funds awarded under this section
must be matched by a grant recipient with nonstate funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Terms of grants. new text end

new text begin Grants may be made for a period of up to five years.
Grant recipients must use no less than ten percent of the grant to duplicate the program
using other providers and to bring the programmatic approach to regional or statewide
scale. In awarding the grant, the Office of Grants Management must identify the specific
measures of accountability on which the grant recipient must report under subdivision 7.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin Grant recipients must report annually by February 1 each year
to the Office of Grants Management on how the grant funds have been spent and the
measurable results achieved to date including success in duplicating the programs using
other providers and bringing the programmatic approach to regional or statewide scale.
The Office of Grants Management must report to the legislature by March 15 of each year
on the number, type, and amount of grants awarded and the activities and outcomes of
the grant recipients.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Federal resources. new text end

new text begin Information regarding federal grant resources that may
be used for the purposes of this section must be made available by the Office of Grants
Management.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2009, and sunsets on July
1, 2019.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin INNOVATION COMMISSION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Innovation commission. new text end

new text begin By October 1, 2009, the Office of Grants
Management shall establish the Commission on Innovation. The commission shall be
comprised of seven members appointed by the governor.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties; report. new text end

new text begin The Commission on Innovation shall study and make
recommendations on improving collaborative activities between the state, nonprofit
entities, and the private sector. The commission shall report its recommendation to the
legislature by January 15, 2011.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $200,000 is transferred in fiscal year 2010 only from the
community solutions fund to the commission for the study and report required by this
section. The appropriation is available until expended or until the commission expires.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The commission sunsets 30 days after the required report in
subdivision 2 is delivered to the legislature.
new text end