as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/11/2021 02:45pm
A bill for an act
relating to economic development; appropriating money for relief grants to event
centers; allowing for event center safe operation during the COVID-19 pandemic;
requiring a report.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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Notwithstanding Executive Order 21-01, as amended by Executive Order 21-07, or any
other related executive orders issued pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 12.21 or 12.31,
an event venue that hosts celebrations, receptions, private parties, or other social gatherings,
including but not limited to those connected to weddings, funerals, life milestones, family
reunions, planned religious services, and other similar occasions may operate at 50 percent
capacity, if the business develops and implements a COVID-19 safety plan.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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$....... in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for grants under this
section. Of this amount, no more than $....... may be used for the administrative costs incurred
in making these payments. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until expended.
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(a) To be eligible for a grant under this subdivision, a business must,
to the extent it is feasible for the commissioner of employment and economic development
to determine:
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(1) be an event center with a capacity of less than 1,500 but more than 200, that is not
part of a hotel, restaurant, bar, university, or retail mall, or a publicly owned facility and is
primarily used as a music venue, a wedding venue, or for private parties and receptions;
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(2) have experienced a decline in overall sales between 2019 and 2020 of 30 percent or
more;
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(3) have been directly impacted by an executive order related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
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(4) have a physical location in the state of Minnesota and be owned by a resident of
Minnesota; and
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(5) have no current tax liens on record with the secretary of state as of the time of
application for a grant under this section.
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(b) The commissioner of employment and economic development shall make grants to
eligible event centers proportional to the size of the venue, taking into account the number
of months the event center has been closed due to the pandemic, with no event center
receiving a grant of more than $....... Grant funds must be used for operation expenses
incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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(c) Priority in awarding grants shall be given to event centers that did not receive a grant
under Laws 2020, Seventh Special Session chapter 2.
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(d) 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. The commissioner of employment and
economic development shall monitor the use of grant funds under this section. The
exemptions under this paragraph expire when the appropriation under paragraph (a) has
been expended.
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By August 1, 2021, the commissioner of employment
and economic development shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members
of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over business development detailing the use
of funds under this section.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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