HF 3113

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/17/2016 05:12pm

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; establishing a Mille Lacs Lake area economic
relief grant program; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin MILLE LACS LAKE AREA ECONOMIC RELIEF GRANT
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Program established; eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of
employment and economic development shall establish a Mille Lacs Lake area economic
relief grant program to assist businesses adversely affected by the early closing of the 2015
walleye fishing season on Mille Lacs Lake on August 3, 2015.
new text end

new text begin (b) The grant program established under paragraph (a) must provide for
reimbursement to eligible businesses for qualifying real property taxes, including the
state general tax under Minnesota Statutes, section 275.025, paid in calendar years 2015,
2016, and 2017.
new text end

new text begin (c) To be eligible for assistance under this section, a business must:
new text end

new text begin (1) be located within Aitkin, Crow Wing, or Mille Lacs County;
new text end

new text begin (2) document to the commissioner a reduction in gross receipts of at least five
percent during calendar year 2015, 2016, or 2017 compared to 2014; and
new text end

new text begin (3) operate in one of the following industries, as defined under the North American
Industry Classification System: lodging, restaurants, bars, amusement and recreation,
food and beverage retail, sporting goods, miscellaneous retail, general retail, museums,
historical sites, health and personal care, gas station, general merchandise, business and
professional membership, movies, or nonstore retailer, as determined by the commissioner
of employment and economic development.
new text end

new text begin (d) Taxes qualifying for reimbursement are subject to the requirements under
subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Property tax qualifying for reimbursement. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of
employment and economic development shall reimburse an amount of net real property
taxes, including the state general tax under Minnesota Statutes, section 275.025, payable
in calendar years 2015, 2016, and 2017 by an eligible business, only if:
new text end

new text begin (1) the property is classified as 1c, 3a, 4c(1), 4c(10), or 4c(11);
new text end

new text begin (2) the applicant submits a written application to the commissioner of employment
and economic development, not later than July 1, for reimbursement of the taxes paid in
the prior year; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the applicant is an eligible business under subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
new text end

new text begin (b) A reimbursement grant to an eligible business may not exceed the amount of net
real property tax paid by an eligible business in any year equal to the percentage reduction
in gross receipts in the current year compared to 2014.
new text end

new text begin (c) Applications for relief under this section must be submitted on a form and in
a manner prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner must develop a form and
a manner for applying for grants under this section no more than 30 days following
enactment of this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2017, $2,000,000 in fiscal year
2018, and $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for reimbursement grants to
eligible businesses under this section. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end