as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/25/2024 02:51pm
A bill for an act
relating to capital investment; establishing a metropolitan shade tree grant program;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 473.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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(b) "Local government" means a statutory or home rule charter city, county, town, or
park and recreation board in a city of the first class. A local government must be located in
the metropolitan area.
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(c) "Shade tree" means a woody perennial grown primarily for aesthetic or environmental
purposes with minimal to residual timber value.
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(a) The council shall make grants to local governments for the removal
and the planting of shade trees on public land for one or more of the following purposes:
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(1) to provide environmental benefits;
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(2) to replace trees lost to forest pests, disease, or storm; or
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(3) to establish a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and
forest pests.
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(b) A grant under this section may be made in an amount up to 50 percent of the cost
for the removal and the planting of shade trees.
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The council must give priority to grant requests
to remove and replace trees with active infestations of emerald ash borer.
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Any tree planted with money granted through the program
in this section must be a climate-adapted species to Minnesota.
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If a grant is awarded to a local government and funds are not
encumbered for the grant within four years after the award date, the grant must be canceled.
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This section is effective July 1, 2024.
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