Signed by Governor Tim Walz

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that extends unemployment benefits by 13 weeks and appropriates $216 million for business COVID-19 relief.

Highlights:

• Defines “qualified business” as a business that operates in the state and on November 1, 2020, was closed to the general public as a result of the governor's executive order 20-99 related to the COVID-19 pandemic and was registered to pay unemployment taxes to the commissioner of employment and economic development (Article 1, Sec. 1).

• Specifies that “qualified businesses” shall include the following list of businesses included on the November 1, 2020 current list of businesses maintained by the commissioner of employment and economic development (Article 1, Sec. 1):

• Breweries, wineries, and distilleries;

• Fitness and recreational sports centers;

• Bowling centers; and

• Specialty foods, drinking places, and restaurants.

• Specifies that each qualified business shall receive the following payment based on the average number of employees in covered employment reported to the commissioner of employment and economic development (Article 1, Sec. 1):

• $10,000 for qualified businesses with zero employees;

• $15,000 for qualified businesses with no more than 20 employees;

• $25,000 for qualified businesses with between 20 and 100 employees;

• $35,000 for qualified businesses with between 100 and 300 employees; and

• $45,000 for qualified businesses with over 300 employees.

• Extends special additional unemployment benefits from the Minnesota unemployment insurance trust fund for weeks between December 27, 2020 and April 10, 2021 to an applicant who (Article 3, Sec. 1):

• Is unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work due to lack of work and has established a benefit account;

• Exhausts the balance of their regular state unemployment benefits with a payment for a week ending between December 19, 2020 and April 3, 2021; 

• Exhausts the balance of their Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or extended benefits with a payment for a week ending between December 19, 2020 and April 3, 2021;

• Is not entitled to Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or other federal unemployment benefits program provided for under the CARES Act, or a federal unemployment benefits program newly enacted or extended in December 2020; or

• Is not entitled to regular, additional, or extended benefits under the law of any other state.

• Appropriates $25 million in the fiscal year 2021 from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for the purpose of covering special additional unemployment benefits (Article 3, Sec. 2).

• Appropriates $14 million in the fiscal year 2021 from the general fund to the commissioner of employment for economic development grants for eligible businesses such as movie theaters and multipurpose convention centers (Article 4, Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $114.8 million in the fiscal year 2021 from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget for payments to counties for relief grants to local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (Article 5, Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that extends unemployment benefits by 13 weeks and appropriates $216 million for business COVID-19 relief.

Highlights:

• Defines “qualified business” as a business that operates in the state and on November 1, 2020, was closed to the general public as a result of the governor's executive order 20-99 related to the COVID-19 pandemic and was registered to pay unemployment taxes to the commissioner of employment and economic development (Article 1, Sec. 1).

• Specifies that “qualified businesses” shall include the following list of businesses included on the November 1, 2020 current list of businesses maintained by the commissioner of employment and economic development (Article 1, Sec. 1):

• Breweries, wineries, and distilleries;

• Fitness and recreational sports centers;

• Bowling centers; and

• Specialty foods, drinking places, and restaurants.

• Specifies that each qualified business shall receive the following payment based on the average number of employees in covered employment reported to the commissioner of employment and economic development (Article 1, Sec. 1):

• $10,000 for qualified businesses with zero employees;

• $15,000 for qualified businesses with no more than 20 employees;

• $25,000 for qualified businesses with between 20 and 100 employees;

• $35,000 for qualified businesses with between 100 and 300 employees; and

• $45,000 for qualified businesses with over 300 employees.

• Extends special additional unemployment benefits from the Minnesota unemployment insurance trust fund for weeks between December 27, 2020 and April 10, 2021 to an applicant who (Article 3, Sec. 1):

• Is unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work due to lack of work and has established a benefit account;

• Exhausts the balance of their regular state unemployment benefits with a payment for a week ending between December 19, 2020 and April 3, 2021; 

• Exhausts the balance of their Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or extended benefits with a payment for a week ending between December 19, 2020 and April 3, 2021;

• Is not entitled to Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or other federal unemployment benefits program provided for under the CARES Act, or a federal unemployment benefits program newly enacted or extended in December 2020; or

• Is not entitled to regular, additional, or extended benefits under the law of any other state.

• Appropriates $25 million in the fiscal year 2021 from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for the purpose of covering special additional unemployment benefits (Article 3, Sec. 2).

• Appropriates $14 million in the fiscal year 2021 from the general fund to the commissioner of employment for economic development grants for eligible businesses such as movie theaters and multipurpose convention centers (Article 4, Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $114.8 million in the fiscal year 2021 from the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget for payments to counties for relief grants to local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (Article 5, Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text