as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to the environment; modifying the 1.3 requirements for a program for environmental learning 1.4 centers; amending Laws 1994, chapter 643, section 23, 1.5 subdivision 28, as amended; and Laws 1996, chapter 1.6 463, section 7, subdivision 26. 1.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.8 Section 1. Laws 1994, chapter 643, section 23, subdivision 1.9 28, as amended by Laws 1995, First Special Session chapter 2, 1.10 article 1, section 48, is amended to read: 1.11 Subd. 28. Environmental 1.12 Learning Centers 11,500,000 1.13 This appropriation is to the 1.14 commissioner of natural resources to 1.15 plan, design, and construct facilities 1.16 owned by political subdivisions at 1.17 residential environmental learning 1.18 centers as provided in this subdivision 1.19 and new Minnesota Statutes, section 1.20 84.0875. 1.21 The appropriations in items (a)through1.22(e)and (b) are available as follows: 1.23 (1) of the $7,500,000 total, $5,000,000 1.24 is available only when the commissioner 1.25 has determined thatmatchingmoney in 1.26 the sum of $12,500,000, up to 25 1.27 percent of which may consist of loans, 1.28 has been committed by nonstate 1.29 sources for planning, design, and 1.30 construction of the facilities named in 1.31 items (a) and (b), and the following 1.32 privately owned residential 1.33 environmental learning centers: Wolf 1.34 Ridge Environmental Learning Center, 1.35 Northwoods Audubon Center, and 1.36 Southeastern Minnesota Forest Resource 1.37 Center; and (2) the remaining 1.38 $2,500,000 is available to the extent 1.39 thatmatchingmoney, which may include 2.1 loans, in the amount of$2$1 for each 2.2 $1 of state money is committed by 2.3 nonstate sources, as determined by the 2.4 commissioner, provided that money may 2.5 not be spent under this sentence until 2.6 the amount available, including 2.7matchingany money from nonstate 2.8 sources that is allocated to a facility 2.9 in item (a) or (b), is sufficient to 2.10 complete a functional improvement at 2.11 the facility. Up to 25 percent of the 2.12 total amount of money committed by 2.13 nonstate sources under this subdivision 2.14 may consist of loans. 2.15 (a) Long Lake Conservation Center1,200,0003,370,000 2.16 This appropriation is for a grant to 2.17 Aitkin county. 2.18 (b) Deep Portage Conservation Reserve1,470,0004,130,000 2.19 This appropriation is for a grant to 2.20 Cass county. 2.21(c) Wolf Ridge Environmental2.22Learning Center2,100,0002.23This appropriation is for a grant to2.24independent school district No. 381,2.25Lake Superior.2.26(d) Northwoods Audubon Center1,080,0002.27This appropriation is for a grant to2.28independent school district No. 2580,2.29East Central.2.30(e)(c) Southeastern Minnesota 2.31 Forest Resource Center 1,650,000 2.32This appropriation is for a grant to2.33independent school district No. 229,2.34Lanesboro.2.35 If land and improvements in Fillmore 2.36 county that were conveyed by the state 2.37 toSouthernSoutheastern Minnesota 2.38 Forest Resource Center, Inc., under 2.39 Laws 1990, chapter 452, section 7, are 2.40 pledged as security for a loan 2.41 toassist with the completion of this2.42projectprovide financing for the 2.43 planning, design, or construction of 2.44 environmental education facilities at 2.45 Southeastern Minnesota Forest Resource 2.46 Center, the right of reverter retained 2.47 by the state is waived in favor of the 2.48 lender. 2.49 For the purposes of this subdivision, 2.50 "nonstate source" means a source of 2.51 money other than a direct state 2.52 appropriation for an environmental 2.53 learning center. 2.54(f)(d) Agassiz Environmental 2.55 Learning Center 300,000 2.56 This appropriation is for a grant to 2.57 the city of Fertile. 3.1(g)(e) Laurentian Environmental 3.2 Learning Center 450,000 3.3 This appropriation is for a grant to 3.4 independent school district No. 621, 3.5 Mounds View. 3.6(h)(f) Prairie Woods 3.7 Environmental Learning Center 250,000 3.8 This appropriation is for a grant to 3.9 Kandiyohi county. 3.10(i)(g) Prairie Wetlands 3.11 Environmental Learning Center 3,000,000 3.12 This appropriation is for a grant to 3.13 the city of Fergus Falls. 3.14 Appropriations in this subdivision must 3.15 be used for qualified capital 3.16 expenditures. 3.17 Sec. 2. Laws 1996, chapter 463, section 7, subdivision 26, 3.18 is amended to read: 3.19 Subd. 26. Residential Environmental 3.20 Learning Centers 3.21 After the first $12,500,000in nonstate3.22matching moneyhas been committed by 3.23 nonstate sources for the Long Lake 3.24 Conservation Center, the Deep Portage 3.25 Conservation Reserve, the Wolf Ridge 3.26 Environmental Learning Center, the 3.27 Northwoods Audubon Center, and the 3.28 Southeastern Minnesota Forest Resource 3.29 Center, as required inLaws 1995, First3.30Special Session chapter 2, article 1,3.31section 48section 1, the specific 3.32 appropriations for these facilities 3.33 inLaws 1994, chapter 643, section 23,3.34subdivision 28,that section must be 3.35 distributed and administered separately 3.36 for each facility. Money from nonstate 3.37 sources required for the balances of 3.38 these specific appropriations must 3.39 bematchedcommitted as required 3.40 inLaws 1995, First Special Session3.41chapter 2, article 1, section3.4248,section 1 for each facility 3.43 separately to allow functional 3.44 improvements, but work at the 3.45 facilities need not proceed 3.46 simultaneously.MatchingFunds raised 3.47 or borrowed after January 1, 1992, and 3.48 spent or committed to be spent to plan, 3.49 design, or construct these facilities 3.50 are eligible to count toward the 3.51 requiredmatchcommitment from nonstate 3.52 sources. The predesign and design 3.53 requirements of Minnesota Statutes, 3.54 section 16B.335, do not apply to the 3.55 specific appropriations for these 3.56 facilities inLaws 1994, chapter 643,3.57section 23, subdivision 28section 1.