1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to economic development; establishing a restaurant relocation assistance 
1.3 	program; requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. RESTAURANT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; 
1.6 	APPROPRIATION.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Appropriation. (a) $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from 
1.8 	the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for grants 
1.9 	under this section. Of this amount, no more than $....... may be used for the administrative 
1.10 	costs incurred in making these payments.
1.11 	(b) Of the amount appropriated in paragraph (a), $5,000,000 is for grants to minority 
1.12 	business enterprises, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 116M.14, subdivision 5, and 
1.13 	businesses that are majority owned and operated by women.
1.14 	(c) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until expended.
1.15 		Subd. 2.Grants. (a) To be eligible for a grant under this subdivision, a business must, 
1.16 	to the extent it is feasible for the commissioner of employment and economic development 
1.17 	to determine:
1.18 	(1) be a restaurant, bar, brewery, or other entertainment venue serving food or beverages 
1.19 	located within the city limits of the city of Minneapolis or the city of St. Paul;
1.20 	(2) have experienced a decline in overall sales between 2019 and 2020 of 30 percent or 
1.21 	more;
2.1 	(3) have been directly impacted by an emergency executive order or emergency regulation 
2.2 	imposing COVID-19 vaccine and testing requirements; and
2.3 	(4) be owned by a resident of Minnesota.
2.4 	(b) The commissioner of employment and economic development shall make grants on 
2.5 	a first-come, first-served basis, to eligible businesses, with no eligible business receiving a 
2.6 	grant of more than $........ Grant money must be used for expenses related to the relocation 
2.7 	of the business outside the city limits of the city of Minneapolis or the city of St. Paul. 
2.8 	Relocation expenses include but are not limited to costs related to breaking of a lease, 
2.9 	moving expenses, legal fees, permitting fees, and other costs associated with relocation of 
2.10 	the business.
2.11 	(c) Priority in awarding grants shall be given to businesses that are located in high-crime 
2.12 	areas within the city limits of the city of Minneapolis or the city of St. Paul.
2.13 	(d) Grants and the process of making grants under this section are exempt from the 
2.14 	following statutes and related policies: Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.15, subdivision 3; 
2.15 	16B.97; and 16B.98, subdivisions 5, 7, and 8. The commissioner of employment and 
2.16 	economic development shall monitor the use of grant money under this section. The 
2.17 	exemptions under this paragraph expire when the appropriation under paragraph (a) has 
2.18 	been expended.
2.19 		Subd. 3.Report to legislature. By December 31, 2022, the commissioner of employment 
2.20 	and economic development shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members 
2.21 	of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over business development detailing the use 
2.22 	of money under this section.

2.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.