SF 870

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 09/29/2015 12:26pm

A bill for an act
relating to housing; establishing a grant program for modifications or
improvements to homes of people with disabilities; appropriating money;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 462A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [462A.50] GRANTS FOR ACCESSIBILITY HOME
MODIFICATIONS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms
have the meanings given, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
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new text begin (b) "Federal poverty guidelines" means the federal poverty guidelines published by
the United States Department of Health and Human Services most recently before the day
on which each grant is awarded under this section.
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new text begin (c) "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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new text begin (d) "Medical provider" means a physician, licensed under Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 147, or a primary care provider as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 148.171,
subdivision 17a.
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new text begin (e) "Qualified modifications or improvements" means modifications or improvements
to accommodate a qualified person that are made to a homeowner's principal residence, as
defined in section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code. The residence must be located in
Minnesota. A qualified modification or improvement must:
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new text begin (1) consist of one or more of the following:
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new text begin (i) no-step exterior entrances;
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new text begin (ii) exterior or interior ramps;
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new text begin (iii) stairway lifts;
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new text begin (iv) elevators;
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new text begin (v) lifts;
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new text begin (vi) handrails;
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new text begin (vii) grab bars or reinforcement of grab bars;
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new text begin (viii) door hardware;
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new text begin (ix) widening exterior doors to more than 36 inches;
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new text begin (x) widening interior doors to more than 32 inches;
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new text begin (xi) widening hallways to more than 36 inches;
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new text begin (xii) fire or smoke alarms;
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new text begin (xiii) alerting devices;
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new text begin (xiv) moving electrical service including, but not limited to, outlets and switches;
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new text begin (xv) environmental controls including, but not limited to, heating and cooling
equipment;
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new text begin (xvi) bathroom modifications including, but not limited to, accessible toilets,
bathtubs, showers, plumbing, and fixtures;
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new text begin (xvii) kitchen modifications including, but not limited to, accessible countertops,
cabinets, appliances, plumbing, and fixtures; and
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new text begin (xviii) bedroom modifications including, but not limited to, relocation to an
accessible space in the home;
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new text begin (2) be certified by a medical provider as necessary to accommodate the qualified
person's use of the residence;
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new text begin (3) consist of improvements to real property following their installation; and
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new text begin (4) not be the construction of a new residence or an addition to a residence that
expands its living area beyond the items in clause (1).
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new text begin (f) "Qualified person" means a homeowner, the homeowner's spouse, or the
homeowner's dependent, as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code, who has
attained the age of 65 before the close of the taxable year or who has a disability, as
defined under section 363A.03, subdivision 12.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants; eligibility. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance
Agency shall provide grants to homeowners for qualified modifications and improvements
to accommodate qualified persons. The grants shall be available to homeowners
whose annual income is less than 450 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The
homeowner must provide documentation from a medical provider that modifications and
improvements are necessary to accommodate the qualified person.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for
grants to homeowners to accommodate qualified persons who need qualified modifications
or improvements to their homes due to age or disability.
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