1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to capital investment; renaming the library construction grant program;
1.3 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 134.45.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 134.45, is amended to read:
1.6 134.45 MARY C. MURPHY LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION GRANTS PROGRAM.
1.7 Subdivision 1.Application; definition.Public library jurisdictions may apply to the
1.8commissioner of education for grants for improvements and accessibility to their library
1.9facilities. For the purposes of this section, "public library jurisdictions" means regional
1.10public library systems, regional library districts, cities, and counties operating libraries under
1.11chapter 134.
1.12 Subd. 2.Approval by commissioner.The commissioner of education, in consultation
1.13with the state Council on Disability, may approve or disapprove applications under this
1.14section. The grant money must be used to remove architectural barriers from a building or
1.15site, to renovate or expand an existing building for use as a library, or to construct a new
1.16library building.
1.17 Subd. 3.Application forms.The commissioner of education shall prepare application
1.18forms and establish application dates.
1.19 Subd. 4.Match.A public library jurisdiction applying for a grant under this section
1.20must match the grant with local funds.
1.21 Subd. 5.Qualification; accessibility grants.A public library jurisdiction may apply
1.22for a grant in an amount up to $450,000 or 50 percent of the approved costs of removing
1Section 1.
25-01973 as introduced01/08/25 REVISOR JSK/BM
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1661NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: PAPPAS and Kunesh)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/20/2025
Referred to Capital Investment 2.1architectural barriers from a building or site, whichever is less. Grants may be made only
2.2for projects in existing buildings used as a library, or to prepare another existing building
2.3for use as a library. Renovation of an existing building may include an addition to the
2.4building if the additional space is necessary to provide accessibility or if relocating public
2.5spaces to the ground level provides improved overall accessibility. Grants must not be used
2.6to pay part of the cost of meeting accessibility requirements in a new building.
2.7 Subd. 5a.Prohibition on pornographic use of internet.A public library jurisdiction
2.8is not eligible for a grant under this section unless it has adopted a policy to prohibit library
2.9users from using the library's Internet access to view, print, or distribute material that is
2.10obscene within the meaning of section 617.241.
2.11 Subd. 5b.Qualification; improvement grants.A public library jurisdiction may apply
2.12for a grant in an amount up to $1,000,000 or 50 percent, whichever is less, of the approved
2.13costs of renovating or expanding an existing library building, or to construct a new library
2.14building. Renovation may include remediation of conditions hazardous to health or safety.
2.15 Subd. 6.Award of grants.The commissioner, in consultation with the state Council on
2.16Disability, shall examine and consider all applications for grants. If a public library
2.17jurisdiction is found not qualified, the commissioner shall promptly notify it. The
2.18commissioner shall prioritize grants on the following bases: the degree of collaboration
2.19with other public or private agencies, the public library jurisdiction's tax burden, the long-term
2.20feasibility of the project, the suitability of the project, and the need for the project. If the
2.21total amount of the applications exceeds the amount that is or can be made available, the
2.22commissioner shall award grants according to the commissioner's judgment and discretion
2.23and based upon a ranking of the projects according to the factors listed in this subdivision.
2.24The commissioner shall promptly certify to each public library jurisdiction the amount, if
2.25any, of the grant awarded to it.
2.26 Subd. 7.Project budget.A public library jurisdiction that receives a grant must provide
2.27the commissioner with the project budget and any other information the commissioner
2.28requests.
2.29 Subd. 8.Sale of public library funded with state bond proceeds.If the commissioner
2.30of education and the local or regional governmental entity that owns a public library that
2.31has been improved with state bond proceeds under this section determines that the library
2.32is no longer usable or needed for the purposes for which the grant of state bond funds was
2.33made, the owner of the public library may sell the property in the manner authorized by law
2.34for the sale of other property owned by that jurisdiction for its fair market value. The sale
2Section 1.
25-01973 as introduced01/08/25 REVISOR JSK/BM 3.1must be approved by the commissioner of management and budget. Notwithstanding section
3.216A.695, subdivision 3, clause (2), the net proceeds must be applied as follows: first, to
3.3pay the state the amount of state bond proceeds used to acquire or better the property; and
3.4second, any remaining amount must be paid to the local or regional governmental owner
3.5of the property sold. When the sale is complete and the sale proceeds have been applied as
3.6provided in this subdivision, section 16A.695 no longer applies to the property and the
3.7property is no longer state bond financed property.
3.8 Subd. 9.Citation.This section shall be known as the "Mary C. Murphy Library
3.9Construction Grants Program."
3.10 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
3Section 1.
25-01973 as introduced01/08/25 REVISOR JSK/BM