SF 2002

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/27/2015 09:15am

A bill for an act
relating to state departments; appropriating money to the Minnesota Amateur
Sports Commission for Mighty Ducks grants; amending Minnesota Statutes
2014, section 240A.09.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 240A.09, is amended to read:

240A.09 PLAN DEVELOPMENT; CRITERIA.

The Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission shall develop a plan to promote the
development of proposals for new statewide public ice facilities including proposals for
ice centers and matching grants based on the criteria in this section.

(a) For ice center proposals, the commission will give priority to proposals that
come from more than one local government unit. Institutions of higher education are not
eligible to receive a grant.

(b) The commission must give priority to grant applications for indoor air quality
improvements and projects that eliminate R-22. For purposes of this section:

(1) "indoor air quality improvements" means: (i) renovation or replacement of
heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems in existing indoor ice arenas whose
ice resurfacing and ice edging equipment are not powered by electricity in order to
reduce concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide; and (ii) acquisition of
zero-emission ice resurfacing and ice edging equipment. The new or renovated systems
may include continuous electronic air monitoring devices to automatically activate the
ventilation systems when the concentration of carbon monoxide or nitrogen dioxide
reaches a predetermined level; and

(2) "projects that eliminate R-22," means replacement of ice-making systems in
existing public facilities that use R-22 as a refrigerant, with systems that use alternative
non-ozone-depleting refrigerants.

(c) In the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, the
commission is encouraged to give priority to the following proposals:

(1) proposals for construction of two or more ice sheets in a single new facility;

(2) proposals for construction of an additional sheet of ice at an existing ice center;

(3) proposals for construction of a new, single sheet of ice as part of a sports complex
with multiple sports facilities; and

(4) proposals for construction of a new, single sheet of ice that will be expanded to a
two-sheet facility in the future.

(d) The commission shall administer a site selection process for the ice centers. The
commission shall invite proposals from cities or counties or consortia of cities. A proposal
for an ice center must include matching contributions including in-kind contributions of
land, access roadways and access roadway improvements, and necessary utility services,
landscaping, and parking.

(e) Proposals for ice centers and matching grants must provide for meeting the
demand for ice time for female groups by offering up to 50 percent of prime ice time, as
needed, to female groups. For purposes of this section, prime ice time means the hours
of 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays
and Sundays.

(f) The location for all proposed facilities must be in areas of maximum demonstrated
interest and must maximize accessibility to an arterial highway.

(g) To the extent possible, all proposed facilities must be dispersed equitably, must
be located to maximize potential for full utilization and profitable operation, and must
accommodate noncompetitive family and community skating for all ages.

(h) The commission may also use the money to upgrade current facilities, purchase
girls' ice time, or conduct amateur women's hockey and other ice sport tournaments.

(i) To the extent possible, 50 percent of all grants must be awarded to communities
in greater Minnesota.

(j) To the extent possible, technical assistance shall be provided to Minnesota
communities by the commission on ice arena planning, design, and operation, including
the marketing of ice time and on projects described in paragraph (b).

(k) A grant for new facilities may not exceed $250,000.

(l) The commission may make grants for rehabilitation and renovation. A
rehabilitation or renovation grant new text begin for air quality new text end may not exceed $200,000 new text begin and a
rehabilitation or renovation grant for R-22 elimination may not exceed $50,000 for
indirect cooling systems and may not exceed $400,000 for direct cooling systems new text end . Priority
must be given to grant applications for indoor air quality improvements, including zero
emission ice resurfacing equipment, and for projects that eliminate R-22.

(m) Grant money may be used for ice centers designed for sports other than hockey.

(n) Grant money may be used to upgrade existing facilities to comply with the
bleacher safety requirements of section 326B.112.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin MIGHTY DUCKS; GENERAL FUND.
new text end

new text begin $5,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Minnesota Amateur Sports
Commission for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 240A.09, paragraph (b). This
appropriation is available until a project is completed or abandoned, subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 16A.642.
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