SF 3750

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/17/2022 10:49am

A bill for an act
relating to drought relief; providing financial assistance to livestock farmers and
specialty crop producers impacted by drought; providing drought relief loans to
farmers; providing financial assistance to municipalities, townships, and Tribal
governments for increasing water efficiency in public water supplies; providing
grants for planting shade trees and purchasing tree-watering equipment; providing
financial assistance to replace drought-killed seedlings; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin DROUGHT RELIEF; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Agriculture. new text end

new text begin (a) $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants and other forms of financial
assistance for livestock farmers and specialty crop producers impacted by drought in 2021.
The commissioner may issue payments of up to $10,000 on a first-come, first-served,
noncompetitive basis. Preference may be given to producers located in counties that included
areas designated as D4, exceptional drought, on any of the weekly maps published during
2021 by the National Drought Mitigation Center at University of Nebraska - Lincoln. This
is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28,
unencumbered balances under this paragraph do not cancel until June 30, 2026.
new text end

new text begin (b) $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 is transferred from the general fund to the Rural
Finance Authority Revolving Loan account established under Minnesota Statutes, section
41B.06, with priority given to drought relief loans under Minnesota Statutes, section 41B.047.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Natural resources. new text end

new text begin (a) $300,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of natural resources for costs associated with resolving
Department of Natural Resources-confirmed well interferences that occurred from May 1
to December 30, 2021. This is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes,
section 16A.28, unencumbered balances under this paragraph do not cancel until June 30,
2026.
new text end

new text begin (b) $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of natural resources for grants to municipal, township, and Tribal governments
that operate public water supplies to increase water efficiency. Sub-awards to residents are
an allowable use under this appropriation. This is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered balances under this paragraph do not
cancel until June 30, 2026.
new text end

new text begin (c) $4,500,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of natural resources for grants to local and Tribal governments to remove
and plant shade trees impacted by drought and provide communities with tree-watering
equipment under Minnesota Statutes, section 88.82. Money appropriated for grants under
this paragraph may be used to pay reasonable costs incurred by the commissioner of natural
resources to administer the grants. This is a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered balances under this paragraph do not
cancel until June 30, 2027.
new text end

new text begin (d) $5,500,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of natural resources to replace drought-killed seedlings on Department of
Natural Resources-managed lands and to administer grants to Tribal, county, and private
forestland owners to replace drought-killed seedlings on their land. Seedling replacement
includes site prep, replanting, and tending seedlings. This is a onetime appropriation.
Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, unencumbered balances under this
paragraph do not cancel until June 30, 2027.
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