1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to education; modifying the eligibility for 
  1.3             the alternative facilities program; appropriating 
  1.4             money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 
  1.5             124.239, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes 1997 
  1.6             Supplement, section 124.239, subdivisions 5, 5a, and 
  1.7             5b. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.239, 
  1.10  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.11     Subdivision 1.  [TO QUALIFY.] An independent or special 
  1.12  school district qualifies to participate in the alternative 
  1.13  facilities bonding and levy program if the district has: 
  1.14     (1) more than 66 students per grade; 
  1.15     (2) over ~~1,850,000~~ 1,000,000 square feet of space; 
  1.16     (3) average age of building space is 20 years or older; 
  1.17     (4) insufficient funds from projected health and safety 
  1.18  revenue and capital facilities revenue to meet the requirements 
  1.19  for deferred maintenance, to make accessibility improvements, or 
  1.20  to make fire, safety, or health repairs; and 
  1.21     (5) a ten-year facility plan approved by the commissioner 
  1.22  according to subdivision 2. 
  1.23     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
  1.24  124.239, subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  1.25     Subd. 5.  [~~LEVY~~ REVENUE AUTHORIZED.] A district, after 
  1.26  local board approval, may levy for costs related to an approved 
  2.1   facility plan as follows:  
  2.2      (a) if the district has indicated to the commissioner that 
  2.3   bonds will be issued, the district may levy for the principal 
  2.4   and interest payments on outstanding bonds issued according to 
  2.5   subdivision 3 after reduction for any alternative facilities aid 
  2.6   receivable under subdivision 5a; or 
  2.7      (b) if the district has indicated to the commissioner that 
  2.8   the plan will be funded through an annual levy, the district may 
  2.9   levy after reduction for any alternative facilities aid 
  2.10  receivable under subdivision 5a, according to the schedule 
  2.11  approved in the plan. 
  2.12     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
  2.13  124.239, subdivision 5a, is amended to read: 
  2.14     Subd. 5a.  [ALTERNATIVE FACILITIES AID.] ~~A~~ (a) For a 
  2.15  district that has issued bonds under subdivision 3, the 
  2.16  district's alternative facilities aid is the amount equal to the 
  2.17  district's annual debt service costs, provided that the amount 
  2.18  does not exceed the amount certified to be levied for those 
  2.19  purposes for taxes payable in 1997. 
  2.20     (b) For a district that is levying under subdivision 5, 
  2.21  paragraph (b), the district's alternative facilities aid equals 
  2.22  one half of the approved project costs. 
  2.23     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1997 Supplement, section 
  2.24  124.239, subdivision 5b, is amended to read: 
  2.25     Subd. 5b.  [ALTERNATIVE FACILITIES APPROPRIATION.] (a) An 
  2.26  amount not to exceed ~~$17,000,000~~ $....... is appropriated from 
  2.27  the general fund to the commissioner of children, families, and 
  2.28  learning for fiscal year 2000 and each year thereafter for 
  2.29  payment of alternative facilities aid under subdivision 5a.  The 
  2.30  2000 appropriation includes $1,700,000 for 1999 and ~~$15,300,000~~ 
  2.31  $....... for 2000. 
  2.32     (b) The appropriation in paragraph (a) must be reduced by 
  2.33  the amount of any money specifically appropriated for the same 
  2.34  purpose in any year from any state fund. 
  2.35     Sec. 5.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.36     Sections 1 to 4 are effective for revenue for fiscal years 
  3.1   2000 and later.