HF 353

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/11/2020 02:55pm

A bill for an act
relating to capital investment; appropriating money for equipment grants to public
television stations.

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

Section 1. new text begin PUBLIC TV EQUIPMENT GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of administration for equipment grants to public stations, as defined in
Minnesota Statutes, section 129D.12, subdivision 2. Prior to this grant distribution, the
commissioner may use up to 1.5 percent of this appropriation for administrative costs.
new text end

new text begin (b) To qualify for an equipment grant the station must meet the eligibility criteria defined
in Minnesota Statutes, section 129D.12. Before receiving an equipment grant, a station must
submit to the commissioner a list of the equipment the station plans to purchase with the
equipment grant. The commissioner may not require the station to purchase equipment
before receiving the grant money. A station must report to the commissioner a list of the
equipment purchased with the grant.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Equipment" means the physical infrastructure, hardware, and software used for the
production, dissemination, interconnection, and transmission of digital media content, the
useful life of which may range from seven to 40 years.
new text end

new text begin (d) These grants shall be allocated as follows: two-sevenths of these funds shall be
awarded to Twin Cities PBS; one-seventh to KSMQ public television in Austin; one-seventh
to Pioneer Public Television in Granite Falls; one-seventh to Lakeland PBS in Bemidji;
one-seventh to Prairie Public in Fargo/Moorhead; and one-seventh to WDSE public television
in Duluth.
new text end