HF 2219

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/15/2015 09:16am

A bill for an act
relating to appropriations; appropriating money for shade tree grant purposes.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants of up to $1,000,000
to cities, counties, towns, and park and recreation boards in cities of the first class for
the development of response plans, for the removal and replacement of publicly owned
shade trees damaged by or lost to forest pests or disease, or to establish a more diverse
community forest better able to withstand disease and forest pests. The commissioner
must give priority to grant requests to plan, remove, and replace trees within emerald ash
borer quarantined counties. For the purposes of this appropriation, "shade tree" means a
woody perennial grown primarily for aesthetic or environmental services with minimal to
residual timber value and no intent to harvest it for wood.
new text end