Bill Text: MN HF2565 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Library accessibility and improvement grant program money appropriated, Books 4 Bricks program established, funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-03 - Introduction and first reading, referred to Education Finance [HF2565 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF2565-Introduced.html
1.2relating to education; capital investment; appropriating money for the library
1.3accessibility and improvement grants program; establishing the Books 4 Bricks
1.4program; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds;amending Minnesota
1.5Statutes 2012, section 134.45; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
1.6Statutes, chapter 134.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 134.45, is amended to read:
1.9134.45 LIBRARY ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.
1.10 Subdivision 1. Application; definition. Public library jurisdictions may apply to the
1.11commissioner of education for grants for improvements and accessibility to their library
1.12facilities. For the purposes of this section, "public library jurisdictions" means regional
1.13public library systems, regional library districts, cities, and counties operating libraries
1.14under chapter 134.
1.15 Subd. 2. Approval by commissioner. The commissioner of education, in
1.16consultation with the state Council on Disability, may approve or disapprove applications
1.17under this section. The grant money must be used to remove architectural barriers from a
1.18building or site, to renovate or expand an existing building for use as a library, or to
1.19construct a new library building.
1.20 Subd. 3. Application forms. The commissioner of education shall prepare
1.21application forms and establish application dates. The commissioner may coordinate the
1.22grant program with the Books 4 Bricks program under section 134.455.
1.23 Subd. 4. Match. A public library jurisdiction applying for a grant under this section
1.24must match the grant with local funds, except that a public library applying for a grant under
1.25the Books 4 Bricks program may use the money from that program for the local match.
2.1 Subd. 5. Qualification; accessibility grants. A public library jurisdiction may
2.2apply for a grant in an amount up to $200,000 or 50 percent of the approved costs of
2.3removing architectural barriers from a building or site, whichever is less. Grants may be
2.4made only for projects in existing buildings used as a library, or to prepare another existing
2.5building for use as a library. Renovation of an existing building may include an addition
2.6to the building if the additional space is necessary to provide accessibility or if relocating
2.7public spaces to the ground level provides improved overall accessibility. Grants must not
2.8be used to pay part of the cost of meeting accessibility requirements in a new building.
2.9 Subd. 5a. Prohibition on pornographic use of internet. A public library
2.10jurisdiction is not eligible for a grant under this section unless it has adopted a policy to
2.11prohibit library users from using the library's Internet access to view, print, or distribute
2.12material that is obscene within the meaning of section617.241 .
2.13 Subd. 5b. Qualification; improvement grants. A public library jurisdiction may
2.14apply for a grant in an amount up to $1,000,000 or 50 percent, whichever is less, of the
2.15approved costs of renovating or expanding an existing library building, or to construct a
2.16new library building.
2.17 Subd. 6. Award of grants. The commissioner, in consultation with the state
2.18Council on Disability, shall examine and consider all applications for grants. If a public
2.19library jurisdiction is found not qualified, the commissioner shall promptly notify it.
2.20The commissioner shall prioritize grants on the following bases: whether the library is
2.21participating in the Books 4 Bricks program, the degree of collaboration with other public
2.22or private agencies, the public library jurisdiction's tax burden, the long-term feasibility of
2.23the project, the suitability of the project, and the need for the project. If the total amount of
2.24the applications exceeds the amount that is or can be made available, the commissioner
2.25shall award grants according to the commissioner's judgment and discretion and based
2.26upon a ranking of the projects according to the factors listed in this subdivision. The
2.27commissioner shall promptly certify to each public library jurisdiction the amount, if
2.28any, of the grant awarded to it.
2.29 Subd. 7. Project budget. A public library jurisdiction that receives a grant
2.30must provide the commissioner with the project budget and any other information the
2.31commissioner requests.
2.32 Subd. 8. Sale of public library funded with state bond proceeds. If the
2.33commissioner of education and the local or regional governmental entity that owns
2.34a public library that has been improved with state bond proceeds under this section
2.35determines that the library is no longer usable or needed for the purposes for which the
2.36grant of state bond funds was made, the owner of the public library may sell the property
3.1in the manner authorized by law for the sale of other property owned by that jurisdiction
3.2for its fair market value. The sale must be approved by the commissioner of management
3.3and budget. Notwithstanding section16A.695, subdivision 3 , clause (2), the net proceeds
3.4must be applied as follows: first, to pay the state the amount of state bond proceeds used
3.5to acquire or better the property; and second, any remaining amount must be paid to the
3.6local or regional governmental owner of the property sold. When the sale is complete and
3.7the sale proceeds have been applied as provided in this subdivision, section16A.695 no
3.8longer applies to the property and the property is no longer state bond financed property.
3.9 Sec. 2. [134.455] BOOKS 4 BRICKS PROGRAM.
3.10 Subdivision 1. Program established. The commissioner of education shall develop
3.11and implement a Books 4 Bricks program to foster literacy among Minnesota's school
3.12children. The goal of the Books 4 Bricks program is to encourage partnerships to enhance
3.13literacy throughout Minnesota's schools and public libraries.
3.14 Subd. 2. Participating schools. A school or public library interested in participating
3.15in the Books 4 Bricks program must submit an application to the Department of Education
3.16in the form and manner determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall notify
3.17each qualifying school or public library of its eligibility.
3.18 Subd. 3. Student participation. A student in grade 3 or younger enrolled in any
3.19eligible school or involved in a library-based reading program may participate in the
3.20Books 4 Bricks program.
3.21 Subd. 4. Volunteer. A tutor, parent, or community volunteer may participate in the
3.22Books 4 Bricks program with a qualifying student.
3.23 Subd. 5. Reading goals. The commissioner of education must set the reading goals
3.24for each grade level of students and the qualifying number of hours for volunteers. The
3.25commissioner may prioritize grants for students in early elementary grades. The goals
3.26may be measured by time spent reading, pages read, or other standards established by
3.27the commissioner.
3.28 Subd. 6. Bricks awarded. Each student and volunteer who achieve the reading goal
3.29set for that student and volunteer may request that the commissioner of education have that
3.30student and volunteer's name listed on the Books 4 Bricks display at the recipient library.
3.31The commissioner must notify each grant recipient of the student and volunteer's names.
3.32 Subd. 7. Reading wall. Each library receiving a grant under the Books 4 Bricks
3.33program shall establish a reading wall of bricks or other method to commemorate
3.34the participating students and volunteers who have met the reading goals set by the
3.35commissioner.
4.1 Subd. 8. Funds provided. The commissioner of education must annually pay to the
4.2fiscal host for a school or public library participating in the Books 4 Bricks program an
4.3amount equal to $1,000 times the number of students and volunteers who have met their
4.4reading goal established under this section for that year.
4.5EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
4.6 Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; BOOKS 4 BRICKS PROGRAM.
4.7$....... in fiscal year 2015 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
4.8of education for grants to the fiscal hosts for schools and public libraries participating
4.9in the Books 4 Bricks program.
4.10 Sec. 4. LIBRARY ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPROVEMENT GRANT
4.11PROGRAM; BOOKS 4 BRICKS.
4.12 Subdivision 1. Appropriation. $14,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds
4.13fund to the commissioner of education for grants under the library accessibility and
4.14improvement grant program.
4.15 Subd. 2. Bond sale. To provide the money appropriated in this section from the
4.16bond proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue
4.17bonds of the state in an amount up to $14,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with
4.18the effect prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the
4.19Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.
4.20EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
1.3accessibility and improvement grants program; establishing the Books 4 Bricks
1.4program; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds;amending Minnesota
1.5Statutes 2012, section 134.45; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
1.6Statutes, chapter 134.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 134.45, is amended to read:
1.9134.45 LIBRARY ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.
1.10 Subdivision 1. Application; definition. Public library jurisdictions may apply to the
1.11commissioner of education for grants for improvements and accessibility to their library
1.12facilities. For the purposes of this section, "public library jurisdictions" means regional
1.13public library systems, regional library districts, cities, and counties operating libraries
1.14under chapter 134.
1.15 Subd. 2. Approval by commissioner. The commissioner of education, in
1.16consultation with the state Council on Disability, may approve or disapprove applications
1.17under this section. The grant money must be used to remove architectural barriers from a
1.18building or site, to renovate or expand an existing building for use as a library, or to
1.19construct a new library building.
1.20 Subd. 3. Application forms. The commissioner of education shall prepare
1.21application forms and establish application dates. The commissioner may coordinate the
1.22grant program with the Books 4 Bricks program under section 134.455.
1.23 Subd. 4. Match. A public library jurisdiction applying for a grant under this section
1.24must match the grant with local funds, except that a public library applying for a grant under
1.25the Books 4 Bricks program may use the money from that program for the local match.
2.1 Subd. 5. Qualification; accessibility grants. A public library jurisdiction may
2.2apply for a grant in an amount up to $200,000 or 50 percent of the approved costs of
2.3removing architectural barriers from a building or site, whichever is less. Grants may be
2.4made only for projects in existing buildings used as a library, or to prepare another existing
2.5building for use as a library. Renovation of an existing building may include an addition
2.6to the building if the additional space is necessary to provide accessibility or if relocating
2.7public spaces to the ground level provides improved overall accessibility. Grants must not
2.8be used to pay part of the cost of meeting accessibility requirements in a new building.
2.9 Subd. 5a. Prohibition on pornographic use of internet. A public library
2.10jurisdiction is not eligible for a grant under this section unless it has adopted a policy to
2.11prohibit library users from using the library's Internet access to view, print, or distribute
2.12material that is obscene within the meaning of section
2.13 Subd. 5b. Qualification; improvement grants. A public library jurisdiction may
2.14apply for a grant in an amount up to $1,000,000 or 50 percent, whichever is less, of the
2.15approved costs of renovating or expanding an existing library building, or to construct a
2.16new library building.
2.17 Subd. 6. Award of grants. The commissioner, in consultation with the state
2.18Council on Disability, shall examine and consider all applications for grants. If a public
2.19library jurisdiction is found not qualified, the commissioner shall promptly notify it.
2.20The commissioner shall prioritize grants on the following bases: whether the library is
2.21participating in the Books 4 Bricks program, the degree of collaboration with other public
2.22or private agencies, the public library jurisdiction's tax burden, the long-term feasibility of
2.23the project, the suitability of the project, and the need for the project. If the total amount of
2.24the applications exceeds the amount that is or can be made available, the commissioner
2.25shall award grants according to the commissioner's judgment and discretion and based
2.26upon a ranking of the projects according to the factors listed in this subdivision. The
2.27commissioner shall promptly certify to each public library jurisdiction the amount, if
2.28any, of the grant awarded to it.
2.29 Subd. 7. Project budget. A public library jurisdiction that receives a grant
2.30must provide the commissioner with the project budget and any other information the
2.31commissioner requests.
2.32 Subd. 8. Sale of public library funded with state bond proceeds. If the
2.33commissioner of education and the local or regional governmental entity that owns
2.34a public library that has been improved with state bond proceeds under this section
2.35determines that the library is no longer usable or needed for the purposes for which the
2.36grant of state bond funds was made, the owner of the public library may sell the property
3.1in the manner authorized by law for the sale of other property owned by that jurisdiction
3.2for its fair market value. The sale must be approved by the commissioner of management
3.3and budget. Notwithstanding section
3.4must be applied as follows: first, to pay the state the amount of state bond proceeds used
3.5to acquire or better the property; and second, any remaining amount must be paid to the
3.6local or regional governmental owner of the property sold. When the sale is complete and
3.7the sale proceeds have been applied as provided in this subdivision, section
3.8longer applies to the property and the property is no longer state bond financed property.
3.9 Sec. 2. [134.455] BOOKS 4 BRICKS PROGRAM.
3.10 Subdivision 1. Program established. The commissioner of education shall develop
3.11and implement a Books 4 Bricks program to foster literacy among Minnesota's school
3.12children. The goal of the Books 4 Bricks program is to encourage partnerships to enhance
3.13literacy throughout Minnesota's schools and public libraries.
3.14 Subd. 2. Participating schools. A school or public library interested in participating
3.15in the Books 4 Bricks program must submit an application to the Department of Education
3.16in the form and manner determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall notify
3.17each qualifying school or public library of its eligibility.
3.18 Subd. 3. Student participation. A student in grade 3 or younger enrolled in any
3.19eligible school or involved in a library-based reading program may participate in the
3.20Books 4 Bricks program.
3.21 Subd. 4. Volunteer. A tutor, parent, or community volunteer may participate in the
3.22Books 4 Bricks program with a qualifying student.
3.23 Subd. 5. Reading goals. The commissioner of education must set the reading goals
3.24for each grade level of students and the qualifying number of hours for volunteers. The
3.25commissioner may prioritize grants for students in early elementary grades. The goals
3.26may be measured by time spent reading, pages read, or other standards established by
3.27the commissioner.
3.28 Subd. 6. Bricks awarded. Each student and volunteer who achieve the reading goal
3.29set for that student and volunteer may request that the commissioner of education have that
3.30student and volunteer's name listed on the Books 4 Bricks display at the recipient library.
3.31The commissioner must notify each grant recipient of the student and volunteer's names.
3.32 Subd. 7. Reading wall. Each library receiving a grant under the Books 4 Bricks
3.33program shall establish a reading wall of bricks or other method to commemorate
3.34the participating students and volunteers who have met the reading goals set by the
3.35commissioner.
4.1 Subd. 8. Funds provided. The commissioner of education must annually pay to the
4.2fiscal host for a school or public library participating in the Books 4 Bricks program an
4.3amount equal to $1,000 times the number of students and volunteers who have met their
4.4reading goal established under this section for that year.
4.5EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
4.6 Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; BOOKS 4 BRICKS PROGRAM.
4.7$....... in fiscal year 2015 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
4.8of education for grants to the fiscal hosts for schools and public libraries participating
4.9in the Books 4 Bricks program.
4.10 Sec. 4. LIBRARY ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPROVEMENT GRANT
4.11PROGRAM; BOOKS 4 BRICKS.
4.12 Subdivision 1. Appropriation. $14,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds
4.13fund to the commissioner of education for grants under the library accessibility and
4.14improvement grant program.
4.15 Subd. 2. Bond sale. To provide the money appropriated in this section from the
4.16bond proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue
4.17bonds of the state in an amount up to $14,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with
4.18the effect prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the
4.19Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.
4.20EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
