MN HF2100

Department of Commerce shall establish and administer an air ventilation program to award grants to school boards for HVAC assessments, testing/balancing work, and ventilation equipment upgrades or replacements.

Grant eligibility requires school boards to complete a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning assessment report verified by a licensed professional engineer, with all subsequent work performed by skilled and trained workforce (at least 80 percent apprenticeship program graduates or registered apprentices).

Grants prioritize schools in communities with high rates of poverty as determined by federal Title I funding receipt and reimburse schools for 50 percent of eligible costs, with maximum grant award amount to be determined.

Schools must conduct an HVAC verification report documenting MERV 13 filter installation (or maximum MERV-rated filter the system can handle), ventilation rates meeting ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2019, carbon dioxide monitor installation, and all work performed by qualified personnel; reports must be made available to students, parents, and the public upon request.

Department of Commerce must adopt program guidelines by October 1, 2023, and may use no more than 5 percent (not to exceed $5,000,000 per year) of program funds for administration; specific appropriation amounts and program launch dates to be determined.