1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to capital improvements; authorizing the issuance of state bonds; 
1.3 	appropriating money for the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center arena.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION CENTER.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Appropriation. $40,283,154 is appropriated from the bond proceeds 
1.7 	fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to the 
1.8 	Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center Authority to design, construct, furnish, and 
1.9 	equip renovations to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. The renovations must 
1.10 	include an approximately 217,446 square foot arena with an ice sheet of at least 200 feet 
1.11 	by 85 feet; trade show and concert space; seating capacity of at least 6,630 with suites, 
1.12 	club seats, and concessions; state-of-the-art locker and training facilities; and accessible 
1.13 	and expanded media space.
1.14 		Subd. 2.Bond sale. To provide the money appropriated in this act from the bond 
1.15 	proceeds fund, the commissioner of finance shall sell and issue bonds of the state in an 
1.16 	amount up to $40, 283,154 in the manner, upon the terms, and with the effect prescribed 
1.17 	by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota Constitution, 
1.18 	article XI, sections 4 to 7.
1.19 		Subd. 3.Activities; contracts. The legislature recognizes that the authority has 
1.20 	all powers necessary or convenient to design, construct, furnish, equip, and improve the 
1.21 	Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, including a new arena, and may enter into 
1.22 	contracts that are, in its judgment, in the best interests of the public for those purposes. 
1.23 	Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the authority may adopt a fair and competitive 
2.1 	design and construction procurement process as determined by the authority to be in 
2.2 	the public interest in connection with the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center 
2.3 	improvements and which contract may provide for a construction manager at risk.

2.4 	Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.5 	This act is effective the day following final enactment.