HF 2565

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/03/2014 02:41pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; capital investment; appropriating money for the library
accessibility and improvement grants program; establishing the Books 4 Bricks
program; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2012, section 134.45; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 134.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 134.45, is amended to read:

134.45 LIBRARY ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.

Subdivision 1.

Application; definition.

Public library jurisdictions may apply to the
commissioner of education for grants for improvements and accessibility to their library
facilities. For the purposes of this section, "public library jurisdictions" means regional
public library systems, regional library districts, cities, and counties operating libraries
under chapter 134.

Subd. 2.

Approval by commissioner.

The commissioner of education, in
consultation with the state Council on Disability, may approve or disapprove applications
under this section. The grant money must be used to remove architectural barriers from a
building or site, to renovate or expand an existing building for use as a library, or to
construct a new library building.

Subd. 3.

Application forms.

The commissioner of education shall prepare
application forms and establish application dates. new text begin The commissioner may coordinate the
grant program with the Books 4 Bricks program under section 134.455.
new text end

Subd. 4.

Match.

A public library jurisdiction applying for a grant under this section
must match the grant with local funds new text begin , except that a public library applying for a grant under
the Books 4 Bricks program may use the money from that program for the local match new text end .

Subd. 5.

Qualification; accessibility grants.

A public library jurisdiction may
apply for a grant in an amount up to $200,000 or 50 percent of the approved costs of
removing architectural barriers from a building or site, whichever is less. Grants may be
made only for projects in existing buildings used as a library, or to prepare another existing
building for use as a library. Renovation of an existing building may include an addition
to the building if the additional space is necessary to provide accessibility or if relocating
public spaces to the ground level provides improved overall accessibility. Grants must not
be used to pay part of the cost of meeting accessibility requirements in a new building.

Subd. 5a.

Prohibition on pornographic use of internet.

A public library
jurisdiction is not eligible for a grant under this section unless it has adopted a policy to
prohibit library users from using the library's Internet access to view, print, or distribute
material that is obscene within the meaning of section 617.241.

Subd. 5b.

Qualification; improvement grants.

A public library jurisdiction may
apply for a grant in an amount up to $1,000,000 or 50 percent, whichever is less, of the
approved costs of renovating or expanding an existing library building, or to construct a
new library building.

Subd. 6.

Award of grants.

The commissioner, in consultation with the state
Council on Disability, shall examine and consider all applications for grants. If a public
library jurisdiction is found not qualified, the commissioner shall promptly notify it.
The commissioner shall prioritize grants on the following bases: new text begin whether the library is
participating in the Books 4 Bricks program, new text end the degree of collaboration with other public
or private agencies, the public library jurisdiction's tax burden, the long-term feasibility of
the project, the suitability of the project, and the need for the project. If the total amount of
the applications exceeds the amount that is or can be made available, the commissioner
shall award grants according to the commissioner's judgment and discretion and based
upon a ranking of the projects according to the factors listed in this subdivision. The
commissioner shall promptly certify to each public library jurisdiction the amount, if
any, of the grant awarded to it.

Subd. 7.

Project budget.

A public library jurisdiction that receives a grant
must provide the commissioner with the project budget and any other information the
commissioner requests.

Subd. 8.

Sale of public library funded with state bond proceeds.

If the
commissioner of education and the local or regional governmental entity that owns
a public library that has been improved with state bond proceeds under this section
determines that the library is no longer usable or needed for the purposes for which the
grant of state bond funds was made, the owner of the public library may sell the property
in the manner authorized by law for the sale of other property owned by that jurisdiction
for its fair market value. The sale must be approved by the commissioner of management
and budget. Notwithstanding section 16A.695, subdivision 3, clause (2), the net proceeds
must be applied as follows: first, to pay the state the amount of state bond proceeds used
to acquire or better the property; and second, any remaining amount must be paid to the
local or regional governmental owner of the property sold. When the sale is complete and
the sale proceeds have been applied as provided in this subdivision, section 16A.695 no
longer applies to the property and the property is no longer state bond financed property.

Sec. 2.

new text begin [134.455] BOOKS 4 BRICKS PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Program established. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education shall develop
and implement a Books 4 Bricks program to foster literacy among Minnesota's school
children. The goal of the Books 4 Bricks program is to encourage partnerships to enhance
literacy throughout Minnesota's schools and public libraries.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Participating schools. new text end

new text begin A school or public library interested in participating
in the Books 4 Bricks program must submit an application to the Department of Education
in the form and manner determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall notify
each qualifying school or public library of its eligibility.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Student participation. new text end

new text begin A student in grade 3 or younger enrolled in any
eligible school or involved in a library-based reading program may participate in the
Books 4 Bricks program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Volunteer. new text end

new text begin A tutor, parent, or community volunteer may participate in the
Books 4 Bricks program with a qualifying student.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reading goals. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education must set the reading goals
for each grade level of students and the qualifying number of hours for volunteers. The
commissioner may prioritize grants for students in early elementary grades. The goals
may be measured by time spent reading, pages read, or other standards established by
the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Bricks awarded. new text end

new text begin Each student and volunteer who achieve the reading goal
set for that student and volunteer may request that the commissioner of education have that
student and volunteer's name listed on the Books 4 Bricks display at the recipient library.
The commissioner must notify each grant recipient of the student and volunteer's names.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Reading wall. new text end

new text begin Each library receiving a grant under the Books 4 Bricks
program shall establish a reading wall of bricks or other method to commemorate
the participating students and volunteers who have met the reading goals set by the
commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Funds provided. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of education must annually pay to the
fiscal host for a school or public library participating in the Books 4 Bricks program an
amount equal to $1,000 times the number of students and volunteers who have met their
reading goal established under this section for that year.
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. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; BOOKS 4 BRICKS PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2015 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of education for grants to the fiscal hosts for schools and public libraries participating
in the Books 4 Bricks program.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin LIBRARY ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPROVEMENT GRANT
PROGRAM; BOOKS 4 BRICKS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $14,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds
fund to the commissioner of education for grants under the library accessibility and
improvement grant program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Bond sale. new text end

new text begin To provide the money appropriated in this section from the
bond proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue
bonds of the state in an amount up to $14,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with
the effect prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the
Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.
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