HF956 Summary

• Appropriates $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 to the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission for ice facility grants focused on indoor air quality improvements and R-22 refrigerant elimination projects.

• Increases maximum grant amounts for R-22 elimination projects from $50,000 to $250,000 for indirect cooling systems and from $400,000 to $500,000 for direct cooling systems.

• Prioritizes grant applications for indoor air quality improvements (HVAC renovation/replacement and zero-emission ice resurfacing equipment) and projects that eliminate ozone-depleting R-22 refrigerants in existing public ice facilities.

• Establishes criteria including priority for multi-government proposals, requirement for up to 50 percent of prime ice time to female groups, and allocation of 50 percent of grants to greater Minnesota communities when possible.

• Allows grant funds for upgrading existing facilities to meet bleacher safety requirements and conducting amateur women's hockey tournaments.