1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to dog parks; creating a dog park grant program; appropriating money;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 85.019, by adding a subdivision; 
1.4 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 85.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 85.019, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 4d.Dog parks. The commissioner shall administer a program to 
1.9 	provide matching grants to units of government eligible under section 85.0457 for the 
1.10 	establishment, expansion, or maintenance of dog parks.

1.11 	Sec. 2. [85.0457] DOG PARK MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM.
1.12 	(a) The commissioner must provide grant funding to units of government for the 
1.13 	establishment, expansion, or maintenance of dog parks. For the purposes of this section, 
1.14 	"unit of government" means a city of the first or second class, as defined in section 410.01, 
1.15 	that is not located in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, 
1.16 	or Washington.
1.17 	(b) The commissioner must solicit dog park grant proposals and award competitive 
1.18 	grants to units of government at least annually, subject to funding availability. The 
1.19 	commissioner may not penalize a unit of government for dog park establishment, 
1.20 	expansion, or maintenance activities undertaken by the unit of government prior to 
1.21 	enactment of this section. The commissioner must give priority to the establishment of 
1.22 	new dog parks over the expansion or maintenance of existing dog parks.
1.23 	(c) An eligible unit of government must agree in writing to:
2.1 	(1) post at a minimum the dog park rules in paragraph (d);
2.2 	(2) provide matching contributions at a rate of at least one to two that may include 
2.3 	in-kind contributions of land, access roadways and access roadway improvements, and 
2.4 	necessary landscaping and parking;
2.5 	(3) post a conspicuous sign at major points of entry stating that the dog park was 
2.6 	funded wholly or partially by the people of Minnesota through a constitutional amendment 
2.7 	adopted in November 2008. If a standard sign is required by state law for all parks and 
2.8 	trails funded wholly or partially by funds raised due to the constitutional amendment, the 
2.9 	applicant must agree to acquire and post the standard sign; and
2.10 	(4) convene and consult a local advisory committee consisting of the unit of 
2.11 	government's parks and recreation commission or equivalent public body. If no such 
2.12 	body exists, the mayor of the unit of government must appoint an advisory committee 
2.13 	consisting of no fewer than five members.
2.14 	(d) Required dog park rules are:
2.15 	(1) all dogs must enter and exit the park on a leash;
2.16 	(2) all dogs must be licensed by the appropriate local authority; and
2.17 	(3) dogs under the age of four months are not allowed in the park.
2.18 	A unit of government may use a portion of any funding received under this section 
2.19 	to enforce the posted rules at a dog park funded in whole or in part by the dog park 
2.20 	matching grant program.
2.21 	(e) At its discretion, a unit of government may limit dog park use and charge a 
2.22 	fee for dog park access.
2.23 	(f) No later than January 15, 2011, the commissioner must provide a program report 
2.24 	along with any program recommendations to the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
2.25 	over environmental finance and, if such committees exist, the legislative committees with 
2.26 	jurisdiction over the allocation of constitutionally dedicated parks and trails funding.

2.27 	Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; DOG PARK GRANTS.
 2.28 	$500,000 in fiscal year 2010 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2011 are appropriated 
2.29 	from the parks and trails fund established in Minnesota Statutes, section 85.53, to the 
2.30 	commissioner of natural resources for grants under section 85.0457.