The bill makes a number of changes to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 12A (Natural Disaster; State Assistance).

Section 1, subdivision 1, clarifies the use of disaster funds appropriated to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) program.

Subdivision 2 authorizes the Board to establish a disaster recovery program to fund erosion and sediment control, water quality and watershed protection projects.

Subdivision 3 provides that disaster grants made by the Board may be extended for up to two years.

Section 2 clarifies how disaster enrollment impact aid is to be calculated by the Department of Education.

Section 3 restricts disaster grants from the Minnesota Investment Fund for businesses impacted by a disaster to physical losses only.

Section 4 requires an organization receiving a forgivable loan from the Minnesota Investment Fund to remain in the local community a minimum of five years from the date of the loan, after which the amount of the loan forgiveness must follow a schedule provided by the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development for an additional five years.

Section 5 is a technical amendment properly conforming the statute to Minnesota Housing Finance Agency rules.

Section 6 authorizes the Commissioner of Health to waive the 60-day notice required under Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.071, regarding the layaway of nursing home beds when a partial or complete evacuation occurs in response to a natural disaster.

Section 7 deletes the term “substantially damaged” regarding Department of Natural Resources buy outs of flood damaged structures.  Federal statute defining “substantially damaged structures” restricts the use of funds for buy outs.

Section 8 authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to use disaster appropriations to install and repair flood warning gauges.

Section 9 authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to use disaster funds to provide cost share for renovating or removing publicly owned dams in the disaster area.

Section 10 authorizes the Commissioner of Public Safety to use disaster appropriations to provide assistance in coordinating long-term recovery activities related to the disaster.

Section 11, subdivisions 1 and 3, are technical amendments clarifying the subdivision titles.

Subdivision 2 authorizes the use of funds in the Emergency Relief Account in the Trunk Highway Fund for infrastructure repair, maintenance, and operation related to a disaster. 

Subdivision 3 authorizes the use of disaster funds for demolition and design costs of roads or bridges damaged by the disaster.

Subdivision 4 requires the Commissioner of Transportation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Safety, to clarify agency roles and responsibilities for damage estimates used for developing emergency state appropriations.

CT:rer