SF 2955

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/19/2016 08:58am

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; establishing a Mille Lacs Lake area economic
relief grant program; providing for capital improvements; authorizing the sale of
bonds; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin MILLE LACS LAKE AREA ECONOMIC RELIEF GRANT
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Program established; eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of
employment and economic development shall establish a Mille Lacs Lake area economic
relief grant program to assist businesses adversely affected by the early closing of the 2015
walleye fishing season on Mille Lacs Lake on August 3, 2015.
new text end

new text begin (b) The grant program established under paragraph (a) must provide for
reimbursement to eligible businesses for qualifying real property taxes, including the
state general tax under Minnesota Statutes, section 275.025, paid in calendar years 2015,
2016, and 2017.
new text end

new text begin (c) To be eligible for assistance under this section, a business must:
new text end

new text begin (1) be located within Aitkin, Crow Wing, or Mille Lacs County;
new text end

new text begin (2) document to the commissioner, a reduction in gross receipts of at least five
percent during calendar year 2015, 2016, or 2017 compared to 2014; and
new text end

new text begin (3) operate in one of the following industries, as defined under the North American
Industry Classification System: lodging, restaurants, bars, amusement and recreation,
food and beverage retail, sporting goods, miscellaneous retail, general retail, museums,
historical sites, health and personal care, gas station, general merchandise, business and
professional membership, movies, or nonstore retailer, as determined by the commissioner
of employment and economic development.
new text end

new text begin (d) Taxes qualifying for reimbursement are subject to the requirements under
subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Property tax qualifying for reimbursement. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of
employment and economic development shall reimburse an amount of net real property
taxes, including the state general tax under Minnesota Statutes, section 275.025, payable
in calendar years 2015, 2016, and 2017 by an eligible business, only if:
new text end

new text begin (1) the property is classified as 1c, 3a, 4c(1), 4c(10), or 4c(11);
new text end

new text begin (2) the applicant submits a written application to the commissioner of employment
and economic development, not later than July 1, for reimbursement of the taxes paid in
the prior year; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the applicant is an eligible business under subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
new text end

new text begin (b) A reimbursement grant to an eligible business may not exceed the amount of net
real property tax paid by an eligible business in any year equal to the percentage reduction
in gross receipts in the current year compared to 2014.
new text end

new text begin (c) Applications for relief under this section must be submitted on a form and in
a manner prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner must develop a form and
a manner for applying for grants under this section no more than 30 days following
enactment of this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2017, $2,000,000 in fiscal year
2018, and $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for reimbursement grants to
eligible businesses under this section. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin MILLE LACS LAKE AREA TOURISM; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $50,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $50,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated from
the general fund to Explore Minnesota Tourism for a grant to the Mille Lacs Area Tourism
Council for tourism promotion activities. This is a onetime appropriation.
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. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin (a) $1,500,000 is appropriated from the bond
proceeds fund to the commissioner of natural resources for predesign, design, acquisition,
and development of a trail to connect the Northwoods ATV trail system with the Mille
Lacs-Malmo East Loop trail system.
new text end

new text begin (b) The appropriation is not available until the commissioner determines that
$150,000 has been committed to the project from nonstate sources.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Bond sale. new text end

new text begin To provide the money appropriated in this section from the
bond proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue
bonds of the state in an amount up to $1,500,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with
the effect prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the
Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.
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