1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to economic development; broadband; modifying the border-to-border 
1.3 	broadband grant program; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.4 	2016, sections 116J.395, subdivision 7; 116J.398.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 116J.395, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 7.Limitation. (a) No grant awarded under this section may fund more than 50 
1.8 	percent of the total cost of a project in an underserved area.
1.9 	(b) Grants awarded for projects in unserved areas require a 25 percent match.
1.10 	(c) Grants awarded to a single project under this section must not exceed ~~$5,000,000~~
1.11 	$3,000,000.

1.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 116J.398, is amended to read:
1.13 	116J.398 BROADBAND PREVAILING WAGE EXEMPTION.
1.14 	Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, section 116J.871 does not apply to:
1.15 	(1) a project receiving a grant under section 116J.395 for the construction, installation, 
1.16 	remodeling, and repair of last-mile infrastructure, as defined under section 116J.394, 
1.17 	paragraph (e); or
1.18 	(2) to any project or portion of a project in unserved areas.

2.1 	Sec. 3. BORDER-TO-BORDER BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT GRANT 
2.2 	PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
 2.3 	$35,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
2.4 	of employment and economic development for deposit in the border-to-border broadband 
2.5 	fund account under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.396, to award grants under that section. 
2.6 	Of this appropriation, no more than $5,000,000 may be used for grants to underserved areas. 
2.7 	This is a onetime appropriation.