Springbrook Nature Center Bills Introduced at MN House, Senate

Improvements at the City of Fridley's Springbrook Nature Center may not be at the top of the state agenda, but they're close.

The companion bills in the Minnesota House and Senate were among the first 100 to be introduced in the new session of the state Legislature, which began Jan. 8, 2013.

The Springbrook bill in Senate File 24, introduced Friday, and House File 65, introduced Monday.

Fridley's state senator, Barb Goodwin, and state representative, Connie Bernardy, are among the co-authors. The senate bill's next step is the Finance Committee, where Goodwin has a seat.

Here is the text of the two bills (identical at this point):

A bill for an act relating to capital investment; appropriating money for the Springbrook Nature Center; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. SPRINGBROOK NATURE CENTER.

Subdivision 1. Appropriation. $5,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the Metropolitan Council for a grant to the city of Fridley to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip the redevelopment and expansion of the Springbrook Nature Center. No nonstate match is required for this project.

Subd. 2. Bond sale. To provide the money appropriated in this section from the bond proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue bonds of the state in an amount up to $5,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with the effect prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.

EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.