00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 333                                                                          
01 "An Act establishing a museum construction grant program in the Department of                                           
02 Education and Early Development."                                                                                       
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1. AS 14.57 is amended by adding new sections to read:                                                   
05                      Article 4. Museum Construction.                                                                  
06            Sec. 14.57.300. Museum construction, expansion, and major renovation                                       
07       matching grant program. (a) A matching grant program is established in the                                      
08       department for museum construction, expansion, and major renovation projects                                      
09       approved under this section.                                                                                      
10            (b)  A person in charge of construction, expansion, or major renovation of an                                
11       eligible museum may apply to the department for a matching grant under regulations                                
12       adopted by the department.                                                                                        
13            (c)  Subject to appropriation, the department shall award not more than 50                                   
14       percent of the total proposed grant project costs to an eligible applicant.                                       

01            (d)  In this section, "major renovation" means a significant physical upgrade                                
02       that allows a museum to better preserve and present artifacts to the public or to                                 
03       improve space to allow a museum to provide improved educational services to the                                   
04       public.                                                                                                           
05            Sec. 14.57.305. Eligibility. A museum may be eligible to receive a grant award                           
06       under AS 14.57.300 if the museum applies for a grant on a form approved by the                                    
07       department and                                                                                                    
08                 (1)  is located in the state;                                                                           
09                 (2)  is eligible to receive state grant funds; and                                                      
10                 (3)  provides matching funds from other sources in an amount equal to                                   
11       at least 50 percent of the total proposed grant project costs.                                                    
12            Sec. 14.57.350. Definition. In AS 14.57.300 - 14.57.350, "museum" means                                    
13                 (1)  a museum as defined in AS 14.57.290; and                                                           
14                 (2)  a cultural center that exhibits, cares for, or stores collections and is                           
15       open to the public.