SF 1896

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 06/29/2023 09:39am

A bill for an act
relating to the Metropolitan Council; creating a new inflow and infiltration grant
program for metropolitan cities; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 473.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [473.5491] METROPOLITAN CITIES INFLOW AND INFILTRATION
GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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new text begin (b) "Affordability criteria" means an inflow and infiltration project service area that is
located, in whole or in part, in a census tract where at least three of the following apply as
determined using the most recently published data from the United States Census Bureau
or United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
new text end

new text begin (1) 20 percent or more of the residents have income below the federal poverty thresholds;
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new text begin (2) the tract has a United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social
Vulnerability Index greater than 0.80;
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new text begin (3) the upper limit of the lowest quintile of household income is less than the state upper
limit of the lowest quintile;
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new text begin (4) the housing vacancy rate is greater than the state average; or
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new text begin (5) the percent of the population receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) benefits is greater than the state average.
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new text begin (c) "City" means a statutory or home rule charter city located within the metropolitan
area.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin (a) The council shall make grants to cities for capital improvements
in municipal wastewater collection systems to reduce the amount of inflow and infiltration
to the council's metropolitan sanitary sewer disposal system.
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new text begin (b) A grant under this section may be made in an amount up to 50 percent of the cost to
mitigate inflow and infiltration in the publicly owned municipal wastewater collection
system. The council may award a grant up to 100 percent of the cost to mitigate inflow and
infiltration in the publicly owned municipal wastewater collection system if the project
meets affordability criteria.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin To be eligible for a grant under this section, a city must be identified
by the council as a contributor of excessive inflow and infiltration in the metropolitan
disposal system or have a measured flow rate within 20 percent of its allowable
council-determined inflow and infiltration limits.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin The council must award grants based on applications from cities
that identify eligible capital costs and include a timeline for inflow and infiltration mitigation
construction, pursuant to guidelines established by the council. The council must prioritize
applications that meet affordability criteria.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Cancellation. new text end

new text begin If a grant is awarded to a city and funds are not encumbered for
the grant within four years after the award date, the grant must be canceled.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2023.
new text end