HF 1914

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/11/2021 04:07pm

A bill for an act
relating to local government aid; providing grants to counties for relief to local
businesses; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin COUNTY RELIEF GRANTS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $50,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of revenue for payments to counties for relief grants to local businesses. This
is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (b) Each county shall be issued a payment in the amount of $100,000 or a per capita
amount determined by reference to the population of each county according to the most
recently available 2019 population estimate from the state demographer as of December 1,
2020, whichever is greater.
new text end

new text begin (c) Each county may use the greater of $6,250 or 2.5 percent of the amount received
under paragraph (b) for administrative costs incurred from making grants under this section.
A county may contract with a third party to administer the grant program on behalf of the
county.
new text end

new text begin (d) Counties shall use the funds to make grants to individual businesses, nonprofits, and
establishments operated by congressionally chartered veteran's organizations that, to the
extent it is feasible for the county to determine:
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new text begin (1) are located in the applicable county in the state of Minnesota or on adjacent tribal
land;
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new text begin (2) have no current tax liens on record with the secretary of state as of the time of
application for a grant under this section; and
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new text begin (3) are places of public accommodation required to close as a result of Executive Order
No. 20-99.
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new text begin (e) A county shall determine grant recipients and the grant amount awarded per grant.
A county may award a grant to a business that is owned by a tribal government and located
on tribal land if the business has voluntarily complied with Executive Order No. 20-99.
Nonprofits, including nonprofit arts organizations, museums, and fitness centers, that earn
revenue similar to businesses, including but not limited to ticket sales and membership fees,
are eligible for grants under this section.
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new text begin (f) Grant funds must be used by the eligible business or nonprofit for operations expenses
incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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new text begin (g) Grants under this section must be awarded by May 31, 2021.
new text end

new text begin (h) Grants and the process of making grants under this section are exempt from the
following statutes and related policies: Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.15, subdivision 3;
16B.97; and 16B.98, subdivisions 5, 7, and 8. A county opting to use a third party to
administer grants is exempt from Minnesota Statutes, section 471.345, in the selection of
the third-party administrator. The exemptions under this paragraph expire May 31, 2021.
new text end

new text begin (i) By June 30, 2021, the commissioner of employment and economic development shall
report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over economic development policy
and finance on the grants provided under this section.
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new text begin (j) Any unexpended amount from the appropriation in paragraph (a) after June 15, 2021,
is canceled.
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