1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to state finance; creating a permanent 
  1.3             disaster relief account; proposing coding for new law 
  1.4             in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16A. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [16A.1521] [DISASTER RELIEF ACCOUNT.] 
  1.7      (a) A permanent disaster relief account is created in the 
  1.8   general fund in the state treasury to enable the state to 
  1.9   respond quickly to disasters.  The account shall be used as an 
  1.10  ongoing means of responding to disasters including, but not 
  1.11  limited to, blizzards, floods, storms, and droughts.  Money in 
  1.12  the account shall be made available to local units of government 
  1.13  and used for disaster relief as jointly directed by the governor 
  1.14  and the legislative coordinating commission. 
  1.15     (b) The commissioner of finance shall restrict part or all 
  1.16  of the balance before reserves in the general fund as may be 
  1.17  necessary to fund the account. 
  1.18     (c) The commissioner of finance shall transfer the amount 
  1.19  necessary to bring the total amount of the permanent disaster 
  1.20  relief account to $50,000,000 on July 1, 1997.  The amounts 
  1.21  restricted shall remain in the account until drawn down and used 
  1.22  for disaster relief.