1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; clarifying approved costs for a 
  1.3             magnet school facility; amending Minnesota Statutes 
  1.4             1994, section 124C.498, subdivision 3; Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes 1995 Supplement, section 124C.498, 
  1.6             subdivision 2. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1995 Supplement, section 
  1.9   124C.498, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 2.  [APPROVAL AUTHORITY; APPLICATION FORMS.] To the 
  1.11  extent money is available, the commissioner of children, 
  1.12  families, and learning may approve projects from applications 
  1.13  submitted under this section.  The grant money must be used only 
  1.14  to design, acquire, construct, remodel, ~~or~~ improve, furnish, or 
  1.15  equip the building or site of a magnet school facility according 
  1.16  to contracts entered into within 15 months after the date on 
  1.17  which a grant is awarded. 
  1.18     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 124C.498, 
  1.19  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  1.20     Subd. 3.  [GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS.] (a) Any group of 
  1.21  school districts that meets the criteria required under 
  1.22  paragraph (b)(i) may apply for a magnet school grant in an 
  1.23  amount not to exceed $10,000,000 for the approved ~~construction~~ 
  1.24  costs of a magnet school facility. 
  1.25     (b)(i) Any group of districts that submits an application 
  1.26  for a grant shall submit a proposal to the commissioner for 
  2.1   review and comment under section 121.15, and the commissioner 
  2.2   shall prepare a review and comment on the proposed magnet school 
  2.3   facility, regardless of the amount of the capital expenditure 
  2.4   required to design, acquire, construct, remodel, ~~or~~ improve, 
  2.5   furnish, or equip the facility.  The commissioner must not 
  2.6   approve an application for a magnet school grant for any 
  2.7   facility unless the facility receives a favorable review and 
  2.8   comment under section 121.15 and the participating districts: 
  2.9      (1) establish a joint powers board under section 471.59 to 
  2.10  represent all participating districts and govern the magnet 
  2.11  school facility; 
  2.12     (2) design the planned magnet school facility to meet the 
  2.13  applicable requirements contained in Minnesota Rules, chapter 
  2.14  3535; 
  2.15     (3) submit a statement of need, including reasons why the 
  2.16  magnet school will facilitate integration and improve learning; 
  2.17     (4) prepare an educational plan that includes input from 
  2.18  both community and professional staff; and 
  2.19     (5) develop an education program that will improve learning 
  2.20  opportunities for students attending the magnet school. 
  2.21     (ii) The districts may develop a plan that permits social 
  2.22  service, health, and other programs serving students and 
  2.23  community residents to be located within the magnet school 
  2.24  facility.  The commissioner shall consider this plan when 
  2.25  preparing a review and comment on the proposed facility.  
  2.26     (c) When two or more districts enter into an agreement 
  2.27  establishing a joint powers board to govern the magnet school 
  2.28  facility, all member districts shall have the same powers.  
  2.29     (d) A joint powers board of participating school districts 
  2.30  established under paragraphs (b) and (c) that intends to apply 
  2.31  for a grant shall adopt a resolution stating the costs of the 
  2.32  proposed project, the purpose for which the debt is to be 
  2.33  incurred, and an estimate of the dates when the contracts for 
  2.34  the proposed project will be completed.  A copy of the 
  2.35  resolution must accompany any application for a state grant 
  2.36  under this section. 
  3.1      (e)(i) The commissioner shall examine and consider all 
  3.2   grant applications.  If the commissioner finds that any joint 
  3.3   powers district is not a qualified grant applicant, the 
  3.4   commissioner shall promptly notify that joint powers board.  The 
  3.5   commissioner shall make awards to no more than two qualified 
  3.6   applicants whose applications have been on file with the 
  3.7   commissioner more than 30 days.  
  3.8      (ii) A grant award is subject to verification by the joint 
  3.9   powers board under paragraph (f).  A grant award must not be 
  3.10  made until the participating districts determine the site of the 
  3.11  magnet school facility.  If the total amount of the approved 
  3.12  applications exceeds the amount of grant funding that is or can 
  3.13  be made available, the commissioner shall allot the available 
  3.14  amount equally between the approved applicant districts.  The 
  3.15  commissioner shall promptly certify to each qualified joint 
  3.16  powers board the amount, if any, of the grant awarded to it. 
  3.17     (f) Each grant must be evidenced by a contract between the 
  3.18  joint powers board and the state acting through the 
  3.19  commissioner.  The contract obligates the state to pay to the 
  3.20  joint powers board an amount computed according to paragraph 
  3.21  (e)(ii) and a schedule, and terms and conditions acceptable to 
  3.22  the commissioner of finance. 
  3.23     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  3.24     This act is effective the day following final enactment.