Winona Model Legislature

1.1          A bill for an act
1.2          relating to natural resources;  appropriating money for grants for accessible school 
1.3          playgrounds; requiring a report.
1.4          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5          Section 1. ACCESSIBLE SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS; APPROPRIATION.
 1.6        (a) $315,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the natural resources fund to the 
1.7          commissioner of natural resources for grants to school districts for accessible and inclusive 
1.8          school playgrounds. This is a onetime appropriation and is from revenue deposited in the 
1.9          natural resources fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (j). Of this 
1.10       amount, at least $100,000 is for:
1.11       (1) Independent School District No. 196, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, for a 
1.12       playground at Deerwood Elementary School;
1.13       (2) Independent School District No. 197, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan, for a 
1.14       playground at Somerset Elementary School; and
1.15       (3) Independent School District No. 199, Inver Grove Heights, for a playground at Hilltop 
1.16       Elementary School.
1.17       (b) A school district receiving a grant under this section must use the funds to:
1.18       (1) replace, repair, expand, or install playground equipment;
1.19       (2) create accessible routes to the playground equipment; or
1.20       (3) install unitary surface material to expand accessibility.
2.1          (c) A grant recipient must have its playground plans previewed before construction or 
2.2          reviewed after the installation is complete by a certified playground safety inspector or a 
2.3          Minnesota certified accessibility specialist. The preview or review, limited to no more than 
2.4          two percent of the grant amount, must include:
2.5          (1) the elements of the play area; and
2.6          (2) the commonly traveled sidewalks or trails leading to the playground for use by 
2.7          community members outside of the school day.
2.8          (d) By January 1, 2026, the grant recipients must submit a report in accordance with 
2.9          Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195, to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
2.10       education and environment and natural resources documenting the spending at each 
2.11       playground, identifying the actions that best furthered accessibility and inclusion, and 
2.12       recommending ways that other school districts may increase the accessibility and inclusion 
2.13       of their school playgrounds.
2.14       (e) Up to five percent of this appropriation is for administration.