SF 102

as introduced - 91st Legislature, 2020 1st Special Session (2019 - 2020) Posted on 06/16/2020 08:40am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; providing grants to deputy registrars and driver's license
agents for COVID-19-related expenses and treating the grants as a subtraction for
tax purposes; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin GRANTS FOR DEPUTY REGISTRARS AND DRIVER'S LICENSE
AGENTS FOR COVID-19-RELATED EXPENSES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin A deputy registrar office or driver's license office operated
by the state is not eligible to receive funds under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grant calculation. new text end

new text begin (a) The reimbursement grant to each deputy registrar and
driver's license agent, as identified by the driver and vehicle services-designated office
location number, is calculated as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) ten percent of available funds allocated equally among all deputy registrars;
new text end

new text begin (2) ten percent of available funds allocated equally among all driver's license agents;
and
new text end

new text begin (3) 80 percent of available funds allocated proportionally based on (i) the number of
transactions where a filing fee under Minnesota Statutes, section 168.33, subdivision 7, or
171.061, subdivision 4, is retained by each deputy registrar or driver's license agent from
March 24, 2017, through March 24, 2020, compared to (ii) the total number of transactions
where a filing fee is retained by all deputy registrars and driver's license agents during that
time period.
new text end

new text begin (b) For a deputy registrar or driver's license agent appointed after March 24, 2017, the
commissioner of public safety must identify whether a corresponding discontinued deputy
registrar or driver's license agent appointment exists. If a corresponding discontinued deputy
registrar or driver's license agent is identified, the commissioner must include the transactions
of the discontinued deputy registrar or driver's license agent in the calculations under
paragraph (a), clause (3), for the deputy registrar or driver's license agent appointed after
March 24, 2017.
new text end

new text begin (c) For a deputy registrar or driver's license agent appointed after March 24, 2017, to
which paragraph (b) does not apply, the commissioner of public safety must calculate the
deputy registrar's or driver's license agent's proportional share under paragraph (a), clause
(3), based on the average number of transactions where a filing fee is retained among the
deputy registrars or driver's license agents, as calculated excluding any deputy registrars or
driver's license agents for which this paragraph applies.
new text end

new text begin (d) In the calculations under paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), the commissioner of
public safety must exclude deputy registrar offices and driver's license offices operated by
the state. In the calculations under paragraph (a), clause (3), the commissioner of public
safety must exclude transactions for a deputy registrar office or a driver's license office
operated by the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grant distribution. new text end

new text begin (a) Within 30 days of the enactment of this act, the
commissioner of public safety must notify each deputy registrar or driver's license agent of
the amount of the reimbursement grant the deputy registrar or driver's license agent is eligible
to receive under this section. In order to receive the reimbursement grant, the deputy registrar
or driver's license agent must:
new text end

new text begin (1) request the disbursement of the reimbursement grant to the deputy registrar or driver's
license agent; and
new text end

new text begin (2) agree to use the proceeds of the grant as provided in subdivision 4.
new text end

new text begin (b) The request must be submitted on a form developed by the commissioner and must
be submitted on or before July 15, 2020. If an individual is appointed as both a deputy
registrar and a driver's license agent, the individual may submit a single request for both
appointments. The commissioner must disburse the reimbursement grant to the deputy
registrar or driver's license agent within 30 days of receiving the request.
new text end

new text begin (c) Any amount of the appropriation under section 3 not disbursed with the initial grants
must not be subsequently distributed.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Authorized uses. new text end

new text begin (a) A deputy registrar or driver's license agent must use the
grant proceeds received under this section for authorized expenses incurred or revenue lost
because of COVID-19. Authorized expenses include but are not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) cleaning and disinfecting supplies;
new text end

new text begin (2) personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves;
new text end

new text begin (3) purchase and installation of physical barriers to separate people;
new text end

new text begin (4) equipment or supplies necessary to conduct business by drop box, drive-through, or
curbside;
new text end

new text begin (5) costs for reconfiguring or remodeling to accommodate social distancing;
new text end

new text begin (6) supplies, equipment, or software to accommodate working remotely;
new text end

new text begin (7) salaries, wages, and benefits for staff, including regular, overtime, and sick pay;
new text end

new text begin (8) training for employees related to new procedures or processes related to COVID-19;
new text end

new text begin (9) reimbursement for loss of revenue attributable to COVID-19; and
new text end

new text begin (10) rent or mortgage payments.
new text end

new text begin (b) Upon request from the commissioner of public safety, a deputy registrar or driver's
license agent must be able to demonstrate that the grant proceeds were spent only for
authorized expenses.
new text end

new text begin (c) If a deputy registrar or driver's license agent is unable to spend the grant proceeds
on authorized uses by November 15, 2020, the deputy registrar or driver's license agent
must return the unspent proceeds to the commissioner of management and budget on or
before November 30, 2020. The commissioner must deposit the funds in the coronavirus
relief federal fund.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin GRANTS FOR DEPUTY REGISTRARS AND DRIVER'S LICENSE
AGENTS; SUBTRACTION.
new text end

new text begin The amount of any grant distributed to a deputy registrar or driver's license agent under
section 1, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), less any amount returned as unspent proceeds under
section 1, subdivision 4, paragraph (c), is a subtraction for the purposes of Minnesota
Statutes, section 290.0132, subdivision 1, or 290.0134, subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December
31, 2019, and before January 1, 2021.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the coronavirus relief federal fund
to the commissioner of public safety for grants to deputy registrars and driver's license
agents as provided in section 1. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until
November 15, 2020. Any amount remaining from this appropriation cancels back to the
coronavirus relief federal fund. The commissioner must use existing resources to administer
the reimbursements.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end