Purpose

This bill would provide funding to build and equip a new Minnesota Discovery Center facility in the city of Chisholm. It allocates money to acquire property, prepare the site, design, construct, renovate, furnish, and equip the facility, and to establish infrastructure for protecting historical artifacts and archival materials. It also allows for space to hold museum exhibitions and cultural events. Additionally, the bill permits the state to enter into a lease or management agreement to operate the programs housed in the facility.

Main Provisions

• Subdivision 1 (Appropriation): An amount of 3,200,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) to fund property acquisition, site prep, design, construction, renovation, furnishing, and equipping for a new Minnesota Discovery Center facility in Chisholm. The facility is intended to protect artifacts and archival materials and to provide space for exhibitions and cultural events.
• Subdivision 1 (Operational Provision): The state may enter into a lease or management agreement under a specified statute (16A.695) for operation of the programs housed within the facility.
• Subdivision 2 (Bond Sale): The money appropriated will be provided by bonds the state issues, up to 3,200,000, under the applicable statutes and constitutional provisions governing bond issuance.

Funding and Financing

• Source: Bond proceeds fund.
• Amount: Up to 3,200,000.
• Agency: Commissioner of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation to handle acquisition, development, and related costs.
• Bond Issuance: The Commissioner of Management and Budget is directed to sell and issue the bonds in the manner and terms set forth by state statutes (16A.631 to 16A.675) and the Minnesota Constitution (Article XI, sections 4–7).

Operational Arrangements

• Possible lease or management agreement for operating the facility’s programs, under Minnesota Statutes section 16A.695.
• This provides a mechanism for how the facility’s programs may be run, either by the state or a designated operator.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new capital investment appropriation and bond authorization specifically for the construction and development of a Minnesota Discovery Center facility in Chisholm.
• Creates a framework for financing this facility through state bonds and for an operational arrangement (lease/management) to run its programs.
• Involves IRRR (Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation) in property acquisition and development for a state-supported cultural and historical facility.
• Ties the facility’s operation to a potential lease or management agreement under existing statutory authority.

Relevant Terms - bond proceeds fund - appropriation - 3,200,000 (three million two hundred thousand) - acquisition of property - site preparation - design - construction - renovation - furnishing and equipping - new facility - Minnesota Discovery Center - Chisholm - infrastructure - protect and preserve historical artifacts - archival materials - museum exhibitions - cultural events - lease or management agreement - Minnesota Statutes section 16A.695 - operation of programs - bond sale / bonds of the state - Commissioner of Management and Budget - Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7 - Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR or IRRRB)