SF5254

Purpose

This bill authorizes funding to modernize a public health laboratory in St. Paul for mosquito and tick disease surveillance. It provides a grant to the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District through the Metropolitan Council, to design, construct, furnish, and equip a renovation and expansion of the laboratory. The goal is to improve the state's ability to monitor and respond to mosquito- and tick-borne diseases.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation: $2,300,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the Metropolitan Council for a grant to the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District. The funds are specifically for the renovation and expansion of the public health laboratory in St. Paul to support mosquito and tick disease surveillance.
• Bonding: The money will come from bond proceeds, and the state will issue bonds of up to $2,300,000 to fund this appropriation. Bond issuance must follow the applicable Minnesota statutes and the state constitution.

Funding and Bonding Details

• Source of funds: Bond proceeds fund
• Amount: Up to $2,300,000
• Bond issuance: The Commissioner of Management and Budget shall sell and issue the bonds under the prescribed statutes (Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675) and the Minnesota Constitution (Article XI, sections 4 to 7).

Recipient and Use of Funds

• Recipient: Metropolitan Council (acting as the grant recipient for the project)
• Use: To provide a grant to the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District to design, construct, furnish, and equip a renovation and expansion of the public health laboratory in St. Paul, for mosquito and tick disease surveillance.

Oversight and Compliance

• Bonding and appropriation are to follow established state statutes and constitutional requirements for issuing bonds and managing bond proceeds.
• The bill aligns with capital investment processes already in state law.

Context and Impact

• This is a public health infrastructure investment aimed at improving capabilities to monitor and prevent mosquito- and tick-borne diseases.
• By upgrading the public health laboratory, the state aims to enhance disease surveillance, data collection, and potentially earlier detection of outbreaks.

Notable Terms from the Bill

• Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
• Metropolitan Council
• Public health laboratory
• Mosquito and tick disease surveillance
• Renovation and expansion
• Design, construct, furnish, and equip
• St. Paul
• Bond proceeds fund
• Bonds / bond sale
• Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675
• Minnesota Constitution Article XI (sections 4 to 7)

Relevant Terms - Metropolitan Mosquito Control District - Metropolitan Council - Public health laboratory - St. Paul - Mosquito surveillance - Tick disease surveillance - Renovation and expansion - Bond proceeds fund - Bonds - Appropriation - Capital investment