SF4966

1. Purpose

2. This bill changes how grants for the Lights On program can be used and how recipients must account for those funds. It aims to clarify who can use grant money for administrative costs and requires detailed record-keeping and reporting.

3. Main Provisions

4. Record-keeping requirement: Applicants must keep records of vouchers distributed and all expenses tied to the awarded grant money.

5. Prohibition for government entities: Counties, cities, towns, the State Patrol, and local law enforcement agencies (including law enforcement agencies of federally recognized Tribes) must not use awarded grant money for administrative costs.

6. Allowance for nonstate contractors: A nonstate organization that contracts with the commissioner to operate the Lights On program may use awarded grant money for administrative costs, but only if it submits a separate itemized list of administrative expenses and costs paid with grant money in the report required under subdivision 8.

7. Changes to existing law

8. Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 169.515 subdivision 5 to add explicit restrictions on administrative costs for government entities and to permit, under specific conditions, nonstate organizations acting as program operators to use grant money for administrative costs with itemized reporting.

Relevant terms (for quick reference) - Lights On program - grant award - administrative costs - vouchers - expenses - applicant - counties - cities - towns - State Patrol - local law enforcement agencies - federally recognized Tribe - nonstate organization - contract with the commissioner - report - subdivision 8 - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 169.515 subdivision 5