2004 Minnesota Statutes

     134.45 Library accessibility grants. 

    Subdivision 1.    Application; definition.  Public 
 library jurisdictions may apply to the commissioner of education 
 for grants to improve accessibility to their library facilities.
 For the purposes of this section, "public library jurisdictions" 
 means regional public library systems, regional library 
 districts, cities, and counties operating libraries under 
 chapter 134. 

    Subd. 2.    Approval by commissioner.  The commissioner 
 of education, in consultation with the state Council on 
 Disability, may approve or disapprove applications under this 
 section.  The grant money must be used only to remove 
 architectural barriers from a building or site. 

    Subd. 3.    Application forms.  The commissioner of 
 education shall prepare application forms and establish 
 application dates.  

    Subd. 4.    Match.  A public library jurisdiction 
 applying for a grant under this section must match the grant 
 with local funds. 

    Subd. 5.    Qualification.  A public library 
 jurisdiction may apply for a grant in an amount up to $150,000 
 or 50 percent of the approved costs of removing architectural 
 barriers from a building or site, whichever is less.  Grants may 
 be made only for projects in existing buildings used as a 
 library, or to prepare another existing building for use as a 
 library.  Renovation of an existing building may include an 
 addition to the building if the additional space is necessary to 
 provide accessibility or if relocating public spaces to the 
 ground level provides improved overall accessibility.  Grants 
 must not be used to pay part of the cost of meeting 
 accessibility requirements in a new building. 

    Subd. 5a.    Prohibition on pornographic use of Internet. 
  A public library jurisdiction is not eligible for a grant 
 under this section unless it has adopted a policy to prohibit 
 library users from using the library's Internet access to view, 
 print, or distribute material that is obscene within the meaning 
 of section 617.241. 

    Subd. 6.    Award of grants.  The commissioner, in 
 consultation with the state Council on Disability, shall examine 
 and consider all applications for grants.  If a public library 
 jurisdiction is found not qualified, the commissioner shall 
 promptly notify it.  The commissioner shall prioritize grants on 
 the following bases:  the degree of collaboration with other 
 public or private agencies, the public library jurisdiction's 
 tax burden, the long-term feasibility of the project, the 
 suitability of the project, and the need for the project.  If 
 the total amount of the applications exceeds the amount that is 
 or can be made available, the commissioner shall award grants 
 according to the commissioner's judgment and discretion and 
 based upon a ranking of the projects according to the factors 
 listed in this subdivision.  The commissioner shall promptly 
 certify to each public library jurisdiction the amount, if any, 
 of the grant awarded to it. 

    Subd. 7.    Project budget.  A public library 
 jurisdiction that receives a grant must provide the commissioner 
 with the project budget and any other information the 
 commissioner requests. 

    HIST: 1994 c 643 s 63; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1996 c 463 s 
 39,40; 2000 c 492 art 1 s 49; 2002 c 393 s 52; 2003 c 130 s 12