SF 2231

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/04/2014 09:30am

A bill for an act
relating to telecommunications; broadband; appropriating money from the general
fund to stimulate broadband infrastructure development; requiring a study.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $100,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of employment and economic development to award grants for the development of
broadband infrastructure and to supplement revenues raised by bonds sold by local units
of government for broadband infrastructure development. This appropriation does not
cancel to the general fund but remains available until expended.
new text end

new text begin (b) Beginning in fiscal year 2015, the base budget of the Office of Broadband
Development established in Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.39, shall be $500,000.
$500,000 each year is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
employment and economic development for the operation of the Office of Broadband
Development. This is an ongoing appropriation. The $500,000 appropriated in this
paragraph supersedes the $250,000 appropriated for the Office of Broadband Development
in Laws 2013, chapter 85, article 1, section 3, subdivision 2, paragraph (o), and that
appropriation is canceled.
new text end

new text begin (c) $150,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2014 from the general fund to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for a study of the feasibility of
creating a state fund designed to leverage private capital for the development of public
infrastructure projects, including broadband. This appropriation does not cancel, but
remains available until expended. The final report of the study must be submitted to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house committees with primary
jurisdiction over telecommunications by December 1, 2014.
new text end