SF 1276

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 07/02/2019 02:06pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; appropriating money for lawns to legumes grant
program.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; LAWNS TO LEGUMES GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) $500,000 in fiscal year 2019, $750,000 in fiscal year 2020, and $750,000 in fiscal
year 2021 are appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources
to provide cost-share grants to landowners to plant residential lawns with native vegetation
and pollinator-friendly forbs and legumes. The board must establish criteria for grants
awarded under this section. Criteria established under this section are not subject to the
rulemaking provisions of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14, and Minnesota Statutes, section
14.386, does not apply. Grants awarded under this section may be made for up to 75 percent
of the costs of the project, except that in areas identified by the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service as areas where there is a high potential for rusty patched bumble bees to
be present, grants may be awarded for up to 90 percent of the costs of the project.
new text end

new text begin (b) $750,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $750,000 in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from
the general fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to provide cost-share grants to
cities, counties, and public schools to plant lawns at city, county, and public school properties
with native vegetation and pollinator-friendly forbs and legumes. The board must establish
criteria for grants awarded under this section. Criteria established under this section are not
subject to the rulemaking provisions of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14, and Minnesota
Statutes, section 14.386, does not apply. Grants awarded under this section may be made
for up to 75 percent of the costs of the project, except that in areas identified by the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service as areas where there is a high potential for rusty patched
bumble bees to be present, grants may be awarded for up to 90 percent of the costs of the
project.
new text end

new text begin (c) The appropriations in this section are onetime and available until June 30, 2021.
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