HF 3108

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to health; providing grants to nursing facilities for renewable and
conservation energy projects; appropriating money; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [144A.085] RENEWABLE AND CONSERVATION ENERGY GRANTS
FOR NURSING FACILITIES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin In this section:
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new text begin (a) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Renewable energy project" means the production of electricity or energy for
heating or cooling air or water from the following sources: wind, solar, geothermal,
or biomass, as defined in section 216B.2411, subdivision 2, paragraph (c), clauses (1),
(3), (4), and (5).
new text end

new text begin (c) "Energy project study" means a study of one or more conservation or renewable
energy projects analyzed in sufficient detail to support a grant application. At a minimum,
it must include one year of energy consumption and cost data, a description of existing
and proposed energy facilities and conditions, a detailed description of the costs of the
project, and calculations sufficient to document the proposed energy and cost savings.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Conservation energy project" means all capital expenditures associated with
conservation measures identified in an energy project study.
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new text begin (e) "Nursing facility" means a facility as defined in section 144A.01, subdivision 5.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin Subject to the availability of funds, the commissioner shall
approve grants to nursing facilities for up to 50 percent of the total installed costs of
capital investments associated with renewable and conservation energy projects. A grant
may be made to a nursing facility that has demonstrated that it has complied with all the
provisions of this section and has made adequate provisions to assure proper and efficient
operation of the nursing facility after improvements and modifications are completed.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin Application for a grant under this section shall be made by a
nursing facility to the commissioner on a form the commissioner prescribes by rule. The
commissioner shall review each application to determine:
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new text begin (1) whether the application is complete;
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new text begin (2) whether the calculations and estimates contained in the energy project study
are appropriate, accurate, and reasonable;
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new text begin (3) whether the project is eligible for a grant;
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new text begin (4) the amount of the grant for which the project is eligible; and
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new text begin (5) other funding sources the nursing home proposes to use to finance the project in
addition to a grant authorized by this section.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Additional information. new text end

new text begin During application review, the commissioner
may request additional information about a proposed conservation or renewable energy
project, including information on project cost. Failure to provide information requested
disqualifies a grant application.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Public accessibility of grant application data. new text end

new text begin Data contained in an
application submitted to the commissioner for a grant under this section, including
supporting technical documentation, is classified as "public data not on individuals" under
section 13.02, subdivision 14.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Conditions for grant approval. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall approve a
grant to a nursing facility only if the nursing facility demonstrates that the renewable or
conservation energy project has a payback period of 20 years or less, and that it has made
adequate provisions to assure proper and efficient operation of the nursing facility once
the project is completed.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Rules. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this
section. The rules shall include:
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new text begin (1) standards for project eligibility;
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new text begin (2) criteria for reviewing grant applications; and
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new text begin (3) procedures and guidelines for program monitoring and evaluation.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of commerce for
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, for the purpose of providing grants to conservation
and renewable energy projects under this section.
new text end