1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; establishing a grant program for county pilot projects 
1.3 	that improve access to dynamic transportation options; requiring reports; 
1.4 	appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. PILOT PROJECTS FOR COUNTIES TO IMPROVE DYNAMIC 
1.7 	TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS; GRANTS.
 1.8 	(a) The commissioner of transportation must establish a program to award grants to five 
1.9 	to ten counties to fund pilot projects that improve dynamic transportation options for 
1.10 	residents. The commissioner must establish a process for counties to apply for a grant under 
1.11 	this section and a process for selecting the projects. The projects must be selected and the 
1.12 	grants awarded by December 1, 2020.
1.13 	(b) The commissioner must select pilot projects that improve access to nonfixed route 
1.14 	transportation options; allow for flexibility in scheduling rides; and leverage existing 
1.15 	programs, resources, or private sector businesses in the county. Pilot projects that are eligible 
1.16 	for the grants include but are not limited to: integrating existing transportation and ridesharing 
1.17 	systems in the county; establishing or contracting for ridesharing networks; incentivizing 
1.18 	or subsidizing the use of private companies, such as transportation network companies or 
1.19 	taxis, to provide transportation; establishing or expanding programs that use volunteer 
1.20 	drivers; and expanding current dial-a-ride options to include additional service.
1.21 	(c) Metropolitan counties, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 
1.22 	4, are not eligible for grants made under this section.
2.1 	(d) By February 1, 2021, the commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking 
2.2 	minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation. The 
2.3 	report must include a description of the process used to select the projects, a description of 
2.4 	all projects submitted, a list of the projects selected, and the amount awarded to each project 
2.5 	selected.
2.6 	(e) Counties that receive a grant for a pilot project under this section must submit a report 
2.7 	to the commissioner of transportation by December 31, 2021. The report must include a 
2.8 	description of the pilot project, how the funds were used, and a description of how the pilot 
2.9 	project met the goals described in paragraph (b). By February 1, 2022, the commissioner 
2.10 	must compile the county reports into a single report and submit the report to the chairs and 
2.11 	ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation.

2.12 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.13 	$5,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
2.14 	of transportation for grants under section 1. This is a onetime appropriation.