1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for the Northern Lights 
1.3 	Express Passenger Rail; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. 
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION.
 1.6 	$13,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of 
1.7 	transportation for a grant to the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority 
1.8 	to plan and conduct studies in accordance with the Federal Railroad Administration 
1.9 	Railroad Corridor Transportation Planning Manual; and to administer, design, engineer, 
1.10 	and construct the Northern Lights Express intercity and passenger rail service between the 
1.11 	cities of Duluth and Minneapolis. The commissioner of transportation may release funds 
1.12 	under this appropriation to complete all or portions of the eligible expenditures listed in 
1.13 	this section after consultation with Northern Lights Express Passenger Rail Alliance 
1.14 	officials and in compliance with Federal Railroad Administration guidelines.

1.15 	Sec. 2. BOND AUTHORIZATION.
 1.16 	To provide the money appropriated in section 1 from the bond proceeds fund, the 
1.17 	commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue bonds of the state in an 
1.18 	amount up to $13,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with the effect prescribed by 
1.19 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota Constitution, 
1.20 	article XI, sections 4 to 7.

1.21 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 1.22 	Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final enactment.