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CHAPTER 2--S.F.No. 31

An act

relating to state government; providing economic relief for businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; authorizing business relief payments; providing waivers from regulatory fees; providing additional unemployment insurance benefits; providing grants for movie theaters and convention centers; providing county relief grants; extending the application deadline for free or reduced-price lunch for the fall 2020 count of eligible students; providing for federal funds replacement; transferring money; appropriating money; requiring reports.

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

ARTICLE 1

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; BUSINESS RELIEF PAYMENTS

Section 1.

new text begin BUSINESS RELIEF PAYMENTS; APPROPRIATION. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Payment authorized. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of revenue, to the extent feasible, shall make a business relief payment to each qualified business as calculated under subdivision 3. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given. new text end

new text begin (b) A "qualified business" means a business that operates from a physical location in Minnesota that: new text end

new text begin (1) on November 1, 2020, was registered to pay unemployment tax to the commissioner of employment and economic development under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268; new text end

new text begin (2) was closed to the general public as a result of, and to the extent described in, paragraph 7(c)(iii) of Executive Order 20-99; new text end

new text begin (3) on November 1, 2020, was included on the current list of businesses maintained by the commissioner of employment and economic development pursuant to an agreement between the commissioner of employment and economic development and the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics for use in the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages as a business with a primary North American Industry Classification System code of: new text end

new text begin (i) 31212 - Breweries; new text end

new text begin (ii) 31213 - Wineries; new text end

new text begin (iii) 31214 - Distilleries; new text end

new text begin (iv) 71394 - Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers; new text end

new text begin (v) 71395 - Bowling Centers; new text end

new text begin (vi) 7223 - Specialty Foods; new text end

new text begin (vii) 7224 - Drinking Places (alcoholic beverages); and new text end

new text begin (viii) 7225 - Restaurants; new text end

new text begin (4) was listed on the records of the Department of Revenue as having an active sales tax account on November 1, 2020, that indicates that the business is operating from a physical location in Minnesota; new text end

new text begin (5) by November 1, 2020: new text end

new text begin (i) had filed all sales tax returns required to be filed under Minnesota Statutes, section 289A.18, subdivision 4, that were due after January 1, 2018, but before November 1, 2020; or new text end

new text begin (ii) has an open audit or has received an order of assessment from the commissioner of revenue, issued pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 270C.33, and Minnesota Rules, part 8160.0630, for any sales tax that should have been reported on a sales tax return that the business did not file that was due after January 1, 2018, but before November 1, 2020; new text end

new text begin (6) has taxable gross receipts from retail sales, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.61, subdivision 4, as listed on the records of the Department of Revenue on November 1, 2020, for the period of April 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020, that were at least 30 percent less than the taxable gross receipts from retail sales as listed on the records of the Department of Revenue on November 1, 2020, for the period of April 1, 2019, through September 30, 2019; and new text end

new text begin (7) has taxable gross receipts from retail sales, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.61, subdivision 4, as listed on the records of the Department of Revenue on November 1, 2020, for calendar year 2019 that exceeded $10,000. new text end

new text begin (c) A business with no employees in covered employment is a qualified business if it: new text end

new text begin (1) meets the requirements of paragraph (b), clauses (2) and (4) to (7); and new text end

new text begin (2) filed for a sales tax permit under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.83, and stated upon registration for the permit that the business was primarily operating under an industry code listed in paragraph (b), clause (3). new text end

new text begin (d) "Covered employment" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 268.035, subdivision 12. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Calculation of payment. new text end

new text begin (a) Each qualified business shall receive a payment based on the average number of employees in covered employment reported to the commissioner of employment and economic development under Minnesota Statutes, section 268.044, subdivision 1, for the period of November 1, 2019, through January 31, 2020, as follows: new text end

new text begin (1) a qualified business that had zero employees shall receive a payment of $10,000; new text end

new text begin (2) a qualified business that had at least one employee but no more than 20 employees shall receive a payment of $15,000; new text end

new text begin (3) a qualified business that had more than 20 employees but no more than 100 employees shall receive a payment of $25,000; new text end

new text begin (4) a qualified business that had more than 100 employees but no more than 300 employees shall receive a payment of $35,000; and new text end

new text begin (5) a qualified business that had more than 300 employees shall receive a payment of $45,000. new text end

new text begin (b) A business that uses a single federal employer identification number to report unemployment compensation data to the commissioner of employment and economic development that includes employment information from more than one physical location shall receive only one payment under this section, even if the business reports sales tax information from those physical locations to the commissioner of revenue using more than one sales tax permit. new text end

new text begin (c) If a qualified business has more than one physical location in Minnesota, the payment shall be calculated using employment information and the aggregate amount of taxable gross receipts from retail sales from all physical locations of the qualified business operating in industries listed in subdivision 2, paragraph (b), clause (3). new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Use of information. new text end

new text begin (a) The business relief payment is a "Minnesota tax law" for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 270B.01, subdivision 8. new text end

new text begin (b) Return information as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 270B.01, of a qualified business may be disclosed by the commissioner of revenue to the commissioner of employment and economic development to the extent necessary to administer the business relief payment. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Prohibition against setoff. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of revenue must not apply, and must not certify to another state agency to apply, a payment under this section to any unpaid tax or nontax debt owed by a qualified business. new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Report to legislature. new text end

new text begin By June 30, 2021, the commissioner of revenue shall report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over economic development policy and finance on the payments issued under this section. new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin (a) $88,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of revenue to make payments required under this section. This is a onetime appropriation. Of this amount, $250,000 is appropriated to the commissioner of revenue to administer this section. new text end

new text begin (b) The appropriation under this subdivision expires on March 15, 2021. Any unexpended amount from the appropriation in paragraph (a) after March 15, 2021, is canceled. 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

ARTICLE 2

REGULATORY RELIEF

Section 1.

new text begin CERTAIN FOOD-RELATED LATE FEES WAIVED; 2021. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, in calendar year 2021, the commissioner of agriculture must waive late license renewal penalties under Minnesota Statutes, section 28A.08, for food retailers, food manufacturers, food wholesalers, and food brokers. 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. 2.

new text begin 2020 BREWER FEES REFUNDED; CREDIT. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the Metropolitan Council must fully refund to any brewer that produces fewer than 20,000 barrels per year the wastewater permit fee allowed under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.517, paid for the year 2020. The council must also apply a credit not to exceed $2,000 per brewer for strength charges incurred in 2020 to any brewer that falls within the Metropolitan Council environmental services microbrewery program. 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 CERTAIN LIQUOR PERMIT FEES WAIVED; 2021. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, in calendar year 2021, the commissioner of public safety must waive the fees for the following permits: new text end

new text begin (1) the caterer's permit issued under Minnesota Statutes, section 340A.404, subdivision 12; and new text end

new text begin (2) the permit for sales after 1:00 a.m., issued under Minnesota Statutes, section 340A.504, subdivision 7. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICABILITY. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment and applies to permits applied for in calendar year 2021. new text end

Sec. 4.

new text begin TRANSFER; ALCOHOL ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNT. new text end

new text begin (a) By July 15, 2021, the commissioner of public safety must certify to the commissioner of management and budget the amount of permit fees waived under section 3, clause (2), during the period from January 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021, and the commissioner of management and budget must transfer the certified amount from the general fund to the alcohol enforcement account in the special revenue fund established under Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.706. new text end

new text begin (b) By January 15, 2022, the commissioner of public safety must certify to the commissioner of management and budget the amount of permit fees waived under section 3, clause (2), during the period from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, and the commissioner of management and budget must transfer the certified amount from the general fund to the alcohol enforcement account in the special revenue fund established under Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.706. 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. 5.

new text begin APPROPRIATION; RATE STABILIZATION. new text end

new text begin $142,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan Council for wastewater rate stabilization. The Metropolitan Council must deposit the money in the council's environmental services enterprise account to offset wastewater revenue lost under section 2. 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

ARTICLE 3

ADDITIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS

Section 1.

new text begin SPECIAL ADDITIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS PROGRAM. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Availability of special additional benefits. new text end

new text begin Special additional unemployment benefits are available from the Minnesota unemployment insurance trust fund to an applicant who: new text end

new text begin (1)(i) exhausts the balance of their regular Minnesota unemployment benefits with a payment for a week ending between December 19, 2020, and April 3, 2021, or reaches the benefit year end date of their regular Minnesota unemployment benefit account between December 19, 2020, and April 3, 2021; or new text end

new text begin (ii) exhausts the balance of their Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or extended benefits with a payment for a week ending between December 19, 2020, and April 3, 2021; new text end

new text begin (2) is not entitled to Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or any other federal unemployment benefits program provided for under the CARES Act, Public Law 116-136, or a federal unemployment benefits program newly enacted or extended in December 2020 or later; and new text end

new text begin (3) is not entitled to regular, additional, or extended benefits under the law of any other state. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility requirements. new text end

new text begin For any week between December 27, 2020, and April 10, 2021, an applicant is eligible to receive special additional unemployment benefits under this section if the applicant: new text end

new text begin (1) is unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work due to lack of work; new text end

new text begin (2) established a benefit account under Minnesota Statutes, section 268.07; new text end

new text begin (3) meets the requirements for regular unemployment benefits established in Minnesota Statutes, section 268.069, subdivision 1; and new text end

new text begin (4) is not eligible for any unemployment benefits under any state or federal law or the laws of Canada. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Weekly and maximum amount of special additional unemployment benefits. new text end

new text begin (a) The weekly benefit amount of special additional unemployment benefits is the same as the weekly benefit amount of regular unemployment benefits on the benefit account established in subdivision 2, clause (2). new text end

new text begin (b) The maximum amount of special additional unemployment benefits available to an applicant under this section is equal to 13 weeks of payment at the applicant's weekly special additional unemployment benefit amount. new text end

new text begin (c) Special additional unemployment benefits must not be paid for any week prior to December 27, 2020, or any week ending after April 10, 2021. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Qualifying for a new regular benefit account. new text end

new text begin If after exhausting the maximum amount of regular unemployment benefits available under Minnesota Statutes, section 268.07, an applicant qualifies for a new regular benefit account under Minnesota Statutes, section 268.07, or any federal or state law, the applicant must apply for and establish that new regular benefit account. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Charging of benefits. new text end

new text begin (a) Special additional unemployment benefits paid under this section must not be used to compute the future unemployment tax rate of a taxpaying employer. new text end

new text begin (b) Special additional unemployment benefits paid under this section must not be charged to the accounts of reimbursing employers. 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. 2.

new text begin APPROPRIATION. new text end

new text begin $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for deposit in the Minnesota unemployment insurance trust fund. This appropriation is available only if federal funds are not received by June 30, 2021, by Minnesota for the purpose of covering any special additional unemployment benefits paid on behalf of reimbursing employers under section 1. This is a onetime appropriation. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective June 30, 2021. new text end

ARTICLE 4

MOVIE THEATER AND CONVENTION CENTER GRANTS

Section 1.

new text begin GRANTS TO MOVIE THEATERS AND CONVENTION CENTERS; APPROPRIATION. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Appropriations. new text end

new text begin $14,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for grants under this section. Of this amount, no more than $100,000 may be used for the administrative costs incurred in making these payments. This is a onetime appropriation. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin (a) To be eligible for a grant under this subdivision, a business must, to the extent it is feasible for the commissioner of employment and economic development to determine: new text end

new text begin (1) be either: new text end

new text begin (i) a movie theater that has at least one permanent indoor auditorium for viewing films for entertainment by the general public who attend by the purchase of an individual ticket to view a specific non-adult-oriented film and that also had at least $15,000 in ticket sales in 2019; or new text end

new text begin (ii) a multipurpose convention center with a capacity for 1,500 people or more, that is not part of a hotel, university, or retail mall, and is not primarily a music venue or theater; new text end

new text begin (2) have experienced a decline in overall sales between 2019 and 2020 of 30 percent or more measured by sales in the second and third quarters of each year; new text end

new text begin (3) have been directly impacted by Governor's Executive Order No. 20-99 and not be exempt from that order; new text end

new text begin (4) have a physical location in the state of Minnesota; and new text end

new text begin (5) have no current tax liens on record with the secretary of state as of the time of application for a grant under this section. new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of employment and economic development shall make grants to eligible businesses according to the following: new text end

new text begin (1) eligible businesses that are movie theaters shall receive a grant of $15,000 per screen for each of the first two screens in the theater and a grant of $10,000 per screen for each additional screen in the theater, with no theater receiving a total grant of more than $150,000. Grant funds must be used for the operating expenses of the location that qualified for the grant; and new text end

new text begin (2) eligible businesses that are convention centers shall receive a grant proportional to the size of the venue and its workforce, with no convention center receiving a grant of more than $500,000. Grant funds must be used for the direct operations and upkeep of convention center facilities and must not be added to the general fund of any local unit of government. new text end

new text begin (c) Grants and the process of making grants under this section are exempt from the following statutes and related policies: Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.15, subdivision 3; 16B.97; and 16B.98, subdivisions 5, 7, and 8. The commissioner of employment and economic development shall monitor the use of grant funds under this section. The exemptions under this paragraph expire on March 15, 2021. new text end

new text begin (d) Any unexpended amount from the appropriation in subdivision 1 after April 1, 2021, is canceled. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Report to the legislature. new text end

new text begin By June 30, 2021, the commissioner of employment and economic development shall submit a report to the chairs of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over business development detailing the use of funds under this section. 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

ARTICLE 5

COUNTY RELIEF GRANTS

Section 1.

new text begin COUNTY RELIEF GRANTS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES; APPROPRIATION. new text end

new text begin (a) $114,800,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget for payments to counties for relief grants to local businesses. This is a onetime appropriation. new text end

new text begin (b) Each county shall be issued a payment in the amount of $256,250 or a per capita amount determined by reference to the population of each county according to the most recently available 2019 population estimate from the state demographer as of December 1, 2020, whichever is greater. new text end

new text begin (c) Each county may use the greater of $6,250 or 2.5 percent of the amount received under paragraph (b) for administrative costs incurred from making grants under this section. A county may contract with a third party to administer the grant program on behalf of the county. new text end

new text begin (d) Counties shall use the funds to make grants to individual businesses and nonprofits that, to the extent it is feasible for the county to determine: new text end

new text begin (1) are located in the applicable county in the state of Minnesota or on adjacent tribal land; new text end

new text begin (2) have no current tax liens on record with the secretary of state as of the time of application for a grant under this section; and new text end

new text begin (3) were impacted by an executive order related to the COVID-19 pandemic. new text end

new text begin (e) A county shall determine grant recipients and the grant amount awarded per grant. A business that receives a business relief payment under article 1 is not excluded from applying for a county relief grant under this section. A county may award a grant to a business that is owned by a tribal government and located on tribal land if the business has voluntarily complied with Executive Order No. 20-99. Nonprofits, nonprofit arts organizations, nonprofit museums, and nonprofit fitness centers that earn revenue similar to businesses, including but not limited to ticket sales and membership fees, are eligible for grants under this section. new text end

new text begin (f) Grant funds must be used by the eligible business or nonprofit for operations expenses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. new text end

new text begin (g) Grants under this section must be awarded by March 15, 2021. new text end

new text begin (h) Grants and the process of making grants under this section are exempt from the following statutes and related policies: Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.15, subdivision 3; 16B.97; and 16B.98, subdivisions 5, 7, and 8. A county opting to use a third party to administer grants is exempt from Minnesota Statutes, section 471.345, in the selection of the third-party administrator. The exemptions under this paragraph expire on March 15, 2021. new text end

new text begin (i) By June 30, 2021, the commissioner of employment and economic development shall report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over economic development policy and finance on the grants provided under this section. new text end

new text begin (j) Any unexpended amount from the appropriation in paragraph (a) after April 1, 2021, is canceled. 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

ARTICLE 6

FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH DEADLINE EXTENSION

Section 1.

new text begin FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH APPLICATION DEADLINE; FALL 2020 COUNT. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, for purposes of determining the count of the number of pupils eligible for free or reduced-price lunch on October 1, 2020, under Minnesota Statutes, section 126C.05, subdivision 16, pupils must be determined eligible by January 4, 2021. new text end

new text begin (b) A school district or charter school must report the number of pupils who were enrolled on October 1, 2020, and who were certified as eligible for free or reduced-price lunch between December 16, 2020, and the end of the day on January 4, 2021, to the Department of Education in the form and manner determined by the commissioner of education. By July 1, 2021, the commissioner must certify the amount of compensatory revenue for the 2021-2022 school year attributable to the pupils determined eligible for free or reduced-price lunch by school site under this section. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively from October 1, 2020. new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin FEDERAL FUNDS REPLACEMENT; APPROPRIATION. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Suspension of statutory appropriation. new text end

new text begin The appropriation in Minnesota Statutes, section 4.07, subdivision 3, does not apply to the portion of any federal funds for COVID-19 received by the state of Minnesota between the effective date of this act and June 30, 2023, for which a general fund aid entitlement in this act is an eligible expenditure. Federal funding for which this section applies shall not be used for any other purpose. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin General education reduction. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, sections 126C.13 and 126C.20, if the state of Minnesota receives federal funds for COVID-19 between the effective date of this act and June 30, 2023, for which section 1 qualifies as an eligible expenditure, the commissioner must reduce the state total general education aid entitlement for fiscal year 2022 according to this subdivision. The state total general education aid must be reduced by an amount up to, but not greater than, the amount of compensatory revenue certified under section 1. The aid reduction must be allocated among school districts and charter schools in proportion to the amounts certified by the commissioner under section 1 for the school district or charter school. If federal funds available for appropriation under this section are not sufficient to replace the entire amount certified under section 1, the commissioner must reduce the state total general education aid entitlement for fiscal year 2022 only by the amount of the federal funds available for appropriation. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must offset the general education reduction for each school district and charter school under subdivision 2 with an equal amount of federal aid. An amount equal to each reduction under subdivision 2 is appropriated from the federal fund for the original purposes of providing compensatory revenue to school districts and charter schools. Any appropriation of federal funds under this subdivision is a onetime appropriation. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section does not apply to federal funds after the general fund appropriations in this act have been reduced and federal funds have been appropriated for the same purpose. 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

ARTICLE 7

FEDERAL FUNDS REPLACEMENT

Section 1.

new text begin FEDERAL FUNDS REPLACEMENT; APPROPRIATION. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Suspension of statutory appropriation. new text end

new text begin The appropriation in Minnesota Statutes, section 4.07, subdivision 3, does not apply to any federal funds for COVID-19 received by the state of Minnesota between the effective date of this act and June 30, 2021, for which a general fund appropriation in articles 1, 4, and 5 is an eligible expenditure. Federal funding for which this section applies shall not be used for any other purpose, unless the amount of the federal funding exceeds the amount of the eligible general fund appropriation. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Cancellation. new text end

new text begin If the state of Minnesota receives federal funds for COVID-19 between the effective date of this act and June 30, 2021, for which any general fund appropriation enacted in articles 1, 4, and 5 is an eligible expenditure, the commissioner must cancel the general fund appropriation in articles 1, 4, and 5 in an amount up to, but not greater than, the amount appropriated in articles 1, 4, and 5. The commissioner may designate a portion of an appropriation for cancellation if the federal funds are not sufficient to replace the entire general fund appropriation. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin Each amount canceled under subdivision 2 is appropriated from the federal fund for the original purposes of the general fund appropriation in articles 1, 4, and 5. This appropriation may be used for expenses retroactive to the effective date of this act. Any appropriation under this subdivision is a onetime appropriation. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section does not apply to federal funds after the eligible general fund appropriations in articles 1, 4, and 5 have been canceled and federal funds have been appropriated for the same purpose. 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

Presented to the governor December 15, 2020

Signed by the governor December 16, 2020, 2:21 p.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes