Subd. 1. Fees; application.

1. (a) The fees for review of food handler facility floor plans under the Minnesota Food Code are based upon the square footage of the structure being newly constructed, remodeled, or converted. The fees for the review shall be:

   	square footage		review fee
   	0 - 999 .	$	200.00
   	1,000 - 4,999 .	$	400.00
   	5,000 - 24,999 .	$	800.00
   	25,000 plus .	$	1,000.00

2. (b) The applicant must submit the required fee, review application, plans, equipment specifications, materials lists, and other required information on forms supplied by the department at least 30 days prior to commencement of construction, remodeling, or conversion. The commissioner may waive this fee after determining that the facility's principal mode of business is not the sale of food and that the facility sells only prepackaged foods.
3. (c) The fee for a remodel of a licensed food establishment by the license holder is based on the total square footage in paragraph (a) of the remodeled food preparation, service, display, and storage areas only. This paragraph does not apply to a retail food handler who is applying for a new license that includes the conversion of an existing building or structure that was previously licensed as a food establishment.

Subd. 2. Food handler plan review account; appropriation.

A food handler plan review account is created in the agricultural fund. Fees paid under subdivision 1 must be deposited in the food handler plan review account. Money in the account, including interest accrued, is appropriated to the commissioner for the costs of the food handler plan review program.

Subd. 3. Disaster areas.

If the governor declares a disaster in an area of the state, the commissioner of agriculture may waive the plan review fee and direct agency personnel to expedite the plan review process.