MN SF4505

Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development shall develop a variance process for state-issued business licenses during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency declaration.

Applicants for initial or renewed business licenses may request a 120-day variance if they can cure the defect within 120 days, have suffered COVID-19-related economic hardship, need the variance to continue operations, and pose no undue health and safety hazard.

Applicants granted a variance are exempt from late fees and penalties on business license requirement defects during the 120-day variance period.

Commissioner shall establish an application process and a review process to determine if license defects have been cured by the end of 120 days, with business licenses granted or renewed as of the cure date.

Commissioner may grant an additional 120-day extension if an applicant demonstrates extenuating circumstances prevented curing the defect and the subdivision 3 requirements continue to be met.