SF390

Purpose

• Provide funding for the Safe Routes to School grant program by appropriating money now and financing it with state bonds. The goal is to support safety-related improvements and programs that help students travel to and from school safely.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation: $10,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the Commissioner of Transportation for grants under Minnesota Statutes section 174.40 (Safe Routes to School program).
• Bond financing: The state will issue and sell bonds up to $10,000,000 to provide the money for this appropriation. Bond sales will follow the terms and effects described in Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and in the Minnesota Constitution (article XI, sections 4 to 7).

How It Works

• The money for Safe Routes to School grants comes from the bond proceeds fund.
• The Commissioner of Management and Budget is responsible for selling and issuing the state bonds up to the $10 million limit.
• The grants themselves are administered under the existing Safe Routes to School law (Minnesota Statutes section 174.40).
• This uses the standard state bonding process and constitutional/statutory requirements.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates or specifies a dedicated $10 million bond-financed appropriation for Safe Routes to School grants.
• Establishes the mechanism (bond sale) to provide those funds, aligning with existing bonding statutes and constitutional provisions.

Impact Overview

• Provides capital funding to support school-safety infrastructure and related programs for students traveling to school, via a state bonding method rather than an annual operating appropriation.

Rationale (implied)

• Helps advance safety improvements near schools and increases access for students to walk or bike to school through grants funded by bonds.

Potential Implementation Considerations (implicit)

• Timing of bond issuance and grant availability will depend on the bonding process and the administration of the Safe Routes to School program under existing statutes.

Relevant Terms

• Safe Routes to School grant program
• appropriation
• bond proceeds fund
• bonds / state bonds
• bond sale
• Minnesota Statutes section 174.40
• Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675
• Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7
• Commissioner of Transportation
• Commissioner of Management and Budget
• grants
• capital investment
• bonding authority
• general obligation bonds