SF3136

Purpose of the Bill

The bill is designed to shift the administration of a specific grant program from one Minnesota state department to another. It focuses on supporting environmental initiatives in manufacturing sectors.

Main Provisions

• Transfer of Administration: The bill proposes that the administration of the Environmental Standards Procurement Task Force grant program be transferred from the Department of Administration to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
• Grant Program Focus: The grants are intended to assist manufacturers in Minnesota to obtain environmental product declarations. This involves collecting data that can help them improve plant efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the production of asphalt, readymix concrete, and aggregates.
• Development of Procedures: The Department of Transportation is tasked with developing procedures to assess grant applications. This includes processing, evaluating, and ultimately awarding the grants.
• Fiscal Responsibilities: The Department of Transportation, under the role of the commissioner, will also act as the fiscal agent. This role includes receiving and reviewing grant applications and distributing the grant funds.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Transfer of Responsibilities: The most significant change is transferring the responsibilities of the grant program from the Department of Administration to the Department of Transportation. This change indicates a shift in the focus towards integrating transportation-related environmental strategies within the grant’s framework.

Relevant Terms

• Environmental Standards Procurement Task Force
• Grant Program
• Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Environmental Product Declarations
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Asphalt, Readymix, Aggregate Manufacturers