HF 3364

1st Unofficial Engrossment - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to transportation; allocating proceeds from 
  1.3             sales tax on motor vehicles; increasing and indexing 
  1.4             the motor fuel tax; authorizing trunk highway bonds; 
  1.5             requiring a metropolitan area election concerning 
  1.6             imposition of one-half cent general sales tax; 
  1.7             dedicating sales tax revenues to highway improvements 
  1.8             and transit capital in the metropolitan area; 
  1.9             requiring the commissioner of transportation to 
  1.10            utilize agriculture-based de-icing solutions; 
  1.11            providing reimbursement to fire departments for 
  1.12            certain vehicle fires; modifying provisions governing 
  1.13            road inspections, first hauls, and weight allowances 
  1.14            for commercial motor vehicles and requiring a study; 
  1.15            creating technical advisory group to streamline 
  1.16            environmental review process; increasing limit for 
  1.17            funds that may be transferred from state airports fund 
  1.18            to hanger construction revolving account; authorizing 
  1.19            the commissioner of transportation to enter into or 
  1.20            renew certain contracts; authorizing expenditure of 
  1.21            revenues from the Rochester sales tax for 
  1.22            transportation purposes; appropriating money; amending 
  1.23            Minnesota Statutes 2000, sections 161.465; 162.07, 
  1.24            subdivision 1, by adding subdivisions; 168.011, 
  1.25            subdivision 17; 168.013, subdivision 3; 169.771, 
  1.26            subdivisions 2, 3; 169.85 subdivisions 1, 2; 169.851, 
  1.27            subdivision 3; 169.86, subdivision 5; 296A.07, 
  1.28            subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision; 296A.08, 
  1.29            subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; 360.305, 
  1.30            subdivision 4; 366.011; 366.012; 473.661, by adding a 
  1.31            subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2001 Supplement, 
  1.32            sections 174.242, by adding a subdivision; 297B.09, 
  1.33            subdivision 1; Laws 1998, chapter 389, article 8, 
  1.34            section 43, subdivisions 3, 4, 5; proposing coding for 
  1.35            new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 16A; 161; 162; 
  1.36            270; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota 
  1.37            Statutes, chapter 473J. 
  1.38  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.39                             ARTICLE 1
  1.40                       TRANSPORTATION FINANCE
  1.41     Section 1.  [16A.89] [MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION FUND.] 
  2.1      Subdivision 1.  [FUND ESTABLISHED.] A multimodal 
  2.2   transportation fund is established in the state treasury.  The 
  2.3   fund consists of money credited under section 297B.09, 
  2.4   subdivision 1, and other money credited to the fund by law.  
  2.5   Money in the fund must be credited 40 percent to the department 
  2.6   of transportation multimodal account in subdivision 2 and 60 
  2.7   percent to the transit account in subdivision 3. 
  2.8      Subd. 2.  [DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MULTIMODAL 
  2.9   ACCOUNT.] A department of transportation multimodal account is 
  2.10  created within the multimodal fund.  Money in the account is 
  2.11  annually appropriated to the commissioner of transportation and 
  2.12  may be expended for costs related to any transportation purpose 
  2.13  in the state.  At least 20 percent of the money must be used for 
  2.14  transit assistance in areas outside of the metropolitan area as 
  2.15  defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2.  The commissioner 
  2.16  shall pay the state's share of costs related to membership in 
  2.17  the Midwest Regional rail compact from the proceeds in the 
  2.18  account.  Twenty-five percent of the money available in the 
  2.19  account must be credited to a small cities municipal account and 
  2.20  distributed to cities with a population under 5,000 as specified 
  2.21  in section 162.62.  The commissioner shall include as part of 
  2.22  each biennial budget document submitted to the legislature: 
  2.23     (1) an estimate of the total amount of money available in 
  2.24  the account; 
  2.25     (2) an estimate of the amount of money distributed to 
  2.26  cities with a population less than 5,000; and 
  2.27     (3) a detailed plan for expenditure of the money in the 
  2.28  next biennium. 
  2.29     Subd. 3.  [TRANSIT ACCOUNT.] A transit account is created 
  2.30  within the multimodal fund.  Money in the account is annually 
  2.31  appropriated to the metropolitan council for expenditure on 
  2.32  costs related to transit operations and capital within the 
  2.33  metropolitan area. 
  2.34     The council and department of transportation shall include 
  2.35  as part of each biennial budget document submitted to the 
  2.36  legislature: 
  3.1      (1) an estimate of the total amount of money available in 
  3.2   the account; and 
  3.3      (2) a detailed plan for expenditure of the money in the 
  3.4   next biennium. 
  3.5      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 162.07, 
  3.6   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  3.7      Subdivision 1.  [FORMULA.] After deducting for 
  3.8   administrative costs and for the disaster account and research 
  3.9   account and state park roads as heretofore provided, the 
  3.10  remainder of the total sum provided for in section 162.06, 
  3.11  subdivision 1, shall be identified as the apportionment sum 
  3.12  and shall be apportioned by the commissioner to the several 
  3.13  counties on the basis of the needs of the counties as determined 
  3.14  in accordance with the following formula: 
  3.15     (1) An amount equal to ten percent of the apportionment sum 
  3.16  shall be apportioned equally among the 87 counties.  
  3.17     (2) An amount equal to ten percent of the apportionment sum 
  3.18  shall be apportioned among the several counties so that each 
  3.19  county shall receive of such amount the percentage that its 
  3.20  motor vehicle registration for the calendar year preceding the 
  3.21  one last past, determined by residence of registrants, bears to 
  3.22  the total statewide motor vehicle registration.  
  3.23     (3) An amount equal to 30 percent of the apportionment sum 
  3.24  shall be apportioned among the several counties so that each 
  3.25  county shall receive of such amount the percentage that its 
  3.26  total lane-miles of approved county state-aid highways bears to 
  3.27  the total lane-miles of approved statewide county state-aid 
  3.28  highways.  In 1997 and subsequent years no county may receive, 
  3.29  as a result of an apportionment under this clause based on 
  3.30  lane-miles rather than miles of approved county state-aid 
  3.31  highways, an apportionment that is less than its apportionment 
  3.32  in 1996. 
  3.33     (4) An amount equal to 50 percent of the apportionment sum 
  3.34  shall be apportioned among the several counties so that each 
  3.35  county shall receive of such amount the percentage that its 
  3.36  money needs bears to the sum of the money needs of all of the 
  4.1   individual counties; provided, that the percentage of such 
  4.2   amount that each county is to receive shall be adjusted so that 
  4.3   each county shall receive in 1958 a total apportionment at least 
  4.4   ten percent greater than its total 1956 apportionments from the 
  4.5   state road and bridge fund; and provided further that those 
  4.6   counties whose money needs are thus adjusted shall never receive 
  4.7   a percentage of the apportionment sum less than the percentage 
  4.8   that such county received in 1958 the excess sum. 
  4.9      (a) The excess sum shall be calculated by subtracting a 
  4.10  proportionate share of the deductions for administrative costs 
  4.11  and for the disaster account and research account from the 
  4.12  amount available due to an increase in the motor fuel tax rate 
  4.13  imposed on or after June 1, 2002, as follows: 
  4.14     (1) in the gasoline excise tax rate above a rate of 22.0 
  4.15  cents per gallon; or 
  4.16     (2) in the excise tax rate for E85, M85, and special fuels 
  4.17  above the energy equivalent of a gasoline tax rate of 22.0 cents 
  4.18  per gallon. 
  4.19     (b) The apportionment sum shall be calculated by 
  4.20  subtracting the excess sum from the remainder of the total sum. 
  4.21     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 162.07, is 
  4.22  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  4.23     Subd. 1a.  [APPORTIONMENT SUM.] The apportionment sum shall 
  4.24  be apportioned by the commissioner to the several counties on 
  4.25  the basis of the needs of the counties as determined in 
  4.26  accordance with the following formula: 
  4.27     (a) An amount equal to ten percent of the apportionment sum 
  4.28  shall be apportioned equally among the 87 counties.  
  4.29     (b) An amount equal to ten percent of the apportionment sum 
  4.30  shall be apportioned among the several counties so that each 
  4.31  county shall receive of such amount the percentage that its 
  4.32  motor vehicle registration for the calendar year preceding the 
  4.33  one last past, determined by residence of registrants, bears to 
  4.34  the total statewide motor vehicle registration.  
  4.35     (c) An amount equal to 30 percent of the apportionment sum 
  4.36  shall be apportioned among the several counties so that each 
  5.1   county shall receive of such amount the percentage that its 
  5.2   total lane-miles of approved county state-aid highways bears to 
  5.3   the total lane-miles of approved statewide county state-aid 
  5.4   highways.  In 1997 and subsequent years no county may receive, 
  5.5   as a result of an apportionment under this clause based on 
  5.6   lane-miles rather than miles of approved county state-aid 
  5.7   highways, an apportionment that is less than its apportionment 
  5.8   in 1996. 
  5.9      (d) An amount equal to 50 percent of the apportionment sum 
  5.10  shall be apportioned among the several counties so that each 
  5.11  county shall receive of such amount the percentage that its 
  5.12  money needs bears to the sum of the money needs of all of the 
  5.13  individual counties; provided, that the percentage of such 
  5.14  amount that each county is to receive shall be adjusted so that 
  5.15  each county shall receive in 1958 a total apportionment at least 
  5.16  ten percent greater than its total 1956 apportionments from the 
  5.17  state road and bridge fund; and provided further that those 
  5.18  counties whose money needs are thus adjusted shall never receive 
  5.19  a percentage of the apportionment sum less than the percentage 
  5.20  that such county received in 1958.  
  5.21     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 162.07, is 
  5.22  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  5.23     Subd. 1b.  [EXCESS SUM.] The excess sum shall be 
  5.24  apportioned by the commissioner to the several counties on the 
  5.25  basis of the needs of the counties as determined in accordance 
  5.26  with the following formula: 
  5.27     (a) An amount equal to ten percent of the excess sum shall 
  5.28  be apportioned equally among the 87 counties. 
  5.29     (b) An amount equal to ten percent of the apportionment sum 
  5.30  shall be apportioned among the several counties so that each 
  5.31  county shall receive of such amount the percentage that its 
  5.32  total lane-miles of approved county state-aid highways bears to 
  5.33  the total lane-miles of approved statewide county state-aid 
  5.34  highways. 
  5.35     (c) An amount equal to 30 percent of the excess sum shall 
  5.36  be apportioned among the several counties so that each county 
  6.1   shall receive of such amount the percentage that its population 
  6.2   bears to the total population of the state. 
  6.3      (d) An amount equal to 50 percent of the excess sum shall 
  6.4   be apportioned among the several counties so that each county 
  6.5   shall receive of such amount the percentage that its money needs 
  6.6   bears to the sum of the money needs of all of the individual 
  6.7   counties. 
  6.8      Sec. 5.  [162.62] [SMALL CITIES MUNICIPAL ACCOUNT.] 
  6.9      Subdivision 1.  [ESTIMATE OF ACCRUALS.] By December 15 of 
  6.10  each year, the commissioner shall estimate the amount of money 
  6.11  that will be available to the small cities municipal account as 
  6.12  provided in section 16A.89, subdivision 2, during that fiscal 
  6.13  year.  The amount available is based on actual receipts from 
  6.14  July 1 through November 30, the unallocated account balance, and 
  6.15  the projected receipts for the remainder of the fiscal year.  
  6.16  The total available must be apportioned by the commissioner to 
  6.17  the cities having a population of less than 5,000 as provided in 
  6.18  subdivision 2. 
  6.19     Subd. 2.  [FACTORS IN FORMULA.] The total sum provided for 
  6.20  in subdivision 1 must be apportioned by the commissioner to the 
  6.21  cities having a population of less than 5,000 in accordance with 
  6.22  the following formula: 
  6.23     (a) An amount equal to 50 percent of the apportionment sum 
  6.24  must be apportioned among the cities having a population of less 
  6.25  than 5,000 so that each of the cities receives the percentage of 
  6.26  the amount apportioned that its population bears to the total 
  6.27  population of all of the cities. 
  6.28     (b) An amount equal to 50 percent of the apportionment sum 
  6.29  must be apportioned among the cities having a population of less 
  6.30  than 5,000 so that each of the cities receives the percentage of 
  6.31  the amount apportioned that its total lane-miles of municipal 
  6.32  streets bears to the total lane-miles of municipal streets of 
  6.33  all the cities. 
  6.34     Subd. 3.  [STATEMENT OF APPORTIONMENT TO EACH CITY.] Upon 
  6.35  determining the amount of money to be apportioned to each of the 
  6.36  cities having a population of less than 5,000, the commissioner 
  7.1   shall forthwith send a statement of the amount to the 
  7.2   commissioner of finance and to the clerk of the city.  The 
  7.3   amount so apportioned to each city must be paid by the state to 
  7.4   the fiscal officer of the city out of the small cities municipal 
  7.5   account. 
  7.6      Subd. 4.  [PURPOSES; OTHER USES; OTHER FUNDS.] Money 
  7.7   apportioned under subdivision 2 must be used for aid in the 
  7.8   establishment, location, construction, reconstruction, 
  7.9   improvement, and maintenance of municipal streets within the 
  7.10  city.  The governing body of the city may, subject to the 
  7.11  consent of the commissioner, use a portion of the money so 
  7.12  apportioned on any state trunk highway or county state-aid 
  7.13  highway within the city.  
  7.14     Sec. 6.  [270.081] [TAXES CREDITED TO DEBT SERVICE 
  7.15  ACCOUNT.] 
  7.16     The revenue credited to the trunk highway fund from a tax 
  7.17  rate adjustment imposed under sections 296A.07, subdivision 5, 
  7.18  and 296A.08, subdivision 7, must be credited to the trunk 
  7.19  highway debt service account in the trunk highway fund. 
  7.20     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 296A.07, 
  7.21  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  7.22     Subd. 3.  [RATE OF TAX.] The gasoline excise tax is imposed 
  7.23  at the following rates: 
  7.24     (1) E85 is taxed at the rate of 14.2 18.5 cents per gallon; 
  7.25     (2) M85 is taxed at the rate of 11.4 14.8 cents per gallon; 
  7.26  and 
  7.27     (3) all other gasoline is taxed at the rate of 20 26 cents 
  7.28  per gallon. 
  7.29     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 296A.07, is 
  7.30  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  7.31     Subd. 5.  [ANNUAL GASOLINE TAX RATE ADJUSTMENT.] (a) Before 
  7.32  June 1 of each year, the commissioner of revenue shall recompute 
  7.33  and publish the rate of the gasoline excise tax.  The new rate 
  7.34  per gallon must be calculated by multiplying the rate in effect 
  7.35  at the time of the calculation by an amount obtained under 
  7.36  paragraph (b).  The new rate must be rounded to the nearest 0.1 
  8.1   cent and is effective on June 1 of each year. 
  8.2      (b) Divide the annual average United States Consumer Price 
  8.3   Index for all urban consumers, United States city average, as 
  8.4   determined by the United States Department of Labor for the 
  8.5   previous year by that annual average for the year before the 
  8.6   previous year. 
  8.7      Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 296A.08, 
  8.8   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  8.9      Subd. 2.  [RATE OF TAX.] The special fuel excise tax is 
  8.10  imposed at the following rates: 
  8.11     (1) Liquefied petroleum gas or propane is taxed at the rate 
  8.12  of 15 19.5 cents per gallon. 
  8.13     (2) Liquefied natural gas is taxed at the rate of 12 15.6 
  8.14  cents per gallon. 
  8.15     (3) Compressed natural gas is taxed at the rate 
  8.16  of $1.739 $2.261 per thousand cubic feet; or 20 26 cents per 
  8.17  gasoline equivalent, as defined by the National Conference on 
  8.18  Weights and Measures, which is 5.66 pounds of natural gas. 
  8.19     (4) All other special fuel is taxed at the same rate as the 
  8.20  gasoline excise tax as specified in section 296A.07, subdivision 
  8.21  2.  The tax is payable in the form and manner prescribed by the 
  8.22  commissioner. 
  8.23     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 296A.08, is 
  8.24  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  8.25     Subd. 7.  [ANNUAL SPECIAL FUEL TAX RATE ADJUSTMENT.] (a) 
  8.26  Before June 1 of each year, the commissioner of revenue shall 
  8.27  recompute and publish the rate of the special fuel tax.  The new 
  8.28  rate must be calculated by multiplying the rate in effect at the 
  8.29  time of the calculation by an amount obtained under paragraph 
  8.30  (b).  The new rate must be rounded to the nearest 0.1 cent and 
  8.31  is effective on June 1 of each year. 
  8.32     (b) Divide the annual average United States Consumer Price 
  8.33  Index for all urban consumers, United States city average, as 
  8.34  determined by the United States Department of Labor for the 
  8.35  previous year by that annual average for the year before the 
  8.36  previous year. 
  9.1      Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 2001 Supplement, section 
  9.2   297B.09, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  9.3      Subdivision 1.  [DEPOSIT OF REVENUES.] (a) Money collected 
  9.4   and received under this chapter must be deposited as provided in 
  9.5   this subdivision.  
  9.6      (b) From July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002, 30.86 percent of 
  9.7   the money collected and received must be deposited in the 
  9.8   highway user tax distribution fund, and the remaining money must 
  9.9   be deposited in the general fund.  
  9.10     (c) On and after July 1, 2002, 32 percent of the money 
  9.11  collected and received must be deposited 21.2 percent in the 
  9.12  highway user tax distribution fund, and 10.8 percent in the 
  9.13  multimodal transportation fund. 
  9.14     (d) On and after July 1, 2002, 20.5 percent must be 
  9.15  deposited in the metropolitan area transit fund under section 
  9.16  16A.88, and 1.25 percent must be deposited in the greater 
  9.17  Minnesota transit fund under section 16A.88.  In fiscal year 
  9.18  2004 and thereafter, two percent of the money collected and 
  9.19  received must be deposited in the metropolitan area transit 
  9.20  appropriation account under section 16A.88. 
  9.21     (e) The remaining money must be deposited in the general 
  9.22  fund. 
  9.23     Sec. 12.  [TRUNK HIGHWAY BONDS; ISSUANCE.] 
  9.24     The commissioner of finance shall, on recommendation of the 
  9.25  commissioner of transportation, sell and issue Minnesota trunk 
  9.26  highway bonds under Minnesota Statutes, sections 167.50 to 
  9.27  167.52, and the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 
  9.28  to 7, and article XIV, section 11, at such times and in such 
  9.29  amounts as are determined by the commissioner of 
  9.30  transportation.  Bonds issued under this section are authorized 
  9.31  in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000,000 over a 
  9.32  ten-year period.  The proceeds of the bonds, except accrued 
  9.33  interest and any premium received on the sale of the bonds, must 
  9.34  be credited to the bond proceeds account in the trunk highway 
  9.35  fund.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, this 
  9.36  authorization must not be canceled before February 1, 2017. 
 10.1      Sec. 13.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
 10.2      Subdivision 1.  [BOND PROCEEDS ACCOUNT.] $1,000,000,000 is 
 10.3   appropriated to the commissioner of transportation from the 
 10.4   separate bond proceeds account in the trunk highway fund for the 
 10.5   construction, reconstruction, and improvement of trunk highways 
 10.6   including acquisition of real property.  No more than 
 10.7   $100,000,000 of this appropriation may be encumbered in each of 
 10.8   fiscal years 2003 through 2012.  Up to 15 percent of the 
 10.9   appropriation each year may be used by the department for 
 10.10  program delivery provided that all work related to program 
 10.11  delivery must be done by state employees.  Of this appropriation:
 10.12     (1) 50 percent must be expended on projects in areas 
 10.13  classified by the department of transportation as bottlenecks or 
 10.14  at-risk interregional corridors within the seven-county 
 10.15  metropolitan area, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 
 10.16  473.121, subdivision 2; and 
 10.17     (2) 50 percent must be expended for at-risk interregional 
 10.18  corridors located outside of the seven-county metropolitan area. 
 10.19     Subd. 2.  [TRUNK HIGHWAY FUND.] $50,000,000 is appropriated 
 10.20  for fiscal year 2003 from the trunk highway fund to the 
 10.21  commissioner of transportation for the construction, 
 10.22  reconstruction, and improvement of trunk highways, including the 
 10.23  acquisition of real property.  The commissioner may spend up to 
 10.24  15 percent of this appropriation for delivery of the projects 
 10.25  provided that all work related to program delivery must be done 
 10.26  by state employees. 
 10.27     Subd. 3.  [DEBT SERVICE.] $22,300,000 is appropriated for 
 10.28  fiscal year 2003 from the trunk highway fund to the commissioner 
 10.29  of transportation for debt service payments. 
 10.30     Sec. 14.  [TRANSIT PROJECTS.] 
 10.31     In fiscal year 2003 the commissioner of transportation 
 10.32  shall spend $10,000,000 from the department of transportation 
 10.33  multimodal account on the following projects in priority order: 
 10.34     (1) the east end of the St. Paul bus-way project; 
 10.35     (2) purchase of the Union Depot in St. Paul; and 
 10.36     (3) design and engineering for the Red Rock and Rush line 
 11.1   corridors. 
 11.2      Sec. 15.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 11.3      Sections 1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are effective July 
 11.4   1, 2002.  Sections 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9 are effective June 1, 2002. 
 11.5   Sections 7 and 9 apply to all gasoline, undyed diesel fuel, and 
 11.6   special fuel in distributor storage on June 1, 2002. 
 11.7                              ARTICLE 2
 11.8                     METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION
 11.9      Section 1.  [473J.01] [METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AREA.] 
 11.10     The metropolitan transportation area is the area within the 
 11.11  counties of Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, 
 11.12  Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright. 
 11.13     Sec. 2.  [473J.02] [HIGHWAY SPENDING IN METROPOLITAN 
 11.14  TRANSPORTATION AREA.] 
 11.15     In any year during the period of imposition of the taxes 
 11.16  authorized in sections 473J.03 and 473J.04, and exclusive of the 
 11.17  expenditure of these revenues, the percentage of total trunk 
 11.18  highway fund expenditures attributable to projects in the 
 11.19  metropolitan transportation area may not vary more than two 
 11.20  percentage points from the average of the previous five years of 
 11.21  trunk highway fund metropolitan transportation area expenditures.
 11.22     Sec. 3.  [473J.03] [SALES TAX.] 
 11.23     There is imposed a sales and use tax of one-half percent on 
 11.24  retail sales and uses taxable under chapter 297A that occur in 
 11.25  the metropolitan transportation area.  This tax is in addition 
 11.26  to the taxes imposed by sections 297A.62, subdivision 1, and 
 11.27  297A.63, subdivision 1. 
 11.28     Sec. 4.  [473J.04] [MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX.] 
 11.29     There is imposed an excise tax of $20 per motor vehicle 
 11.30  purchased by a retail consumer from any person engaged within 
 11.31  the metropolitan transportation area in the business of selling 
 11.32  motor vehicles at retail. 
 11.33     Sec. 5.  [473J.05] [TAX COLLECTION.] 
 11.34     The taxes imposed by sections 473J.03 and 473J.04 must be 
 11.35  reported and paid to the commissioner of revenue with the taxes 
 11.36  imposed by chapter 297A and in accordance with an agreement 
 12.1   between the counties in the metropolitan transportation area and 
 12.2   the commissioner of revenue.  The taxes are subject to the same 
 12.3   interest, penalty, and other provisions provided for sales and 
 12.4   use taxes under chapters 289A and 297A.  The commissioner has 
 12.5   the same powers to assess and collect the taxes as are given the 
 12.6   commissioner in chapters 270, 289A, and 297A to assess and 
 12.7   collect sales and use taxes.  The commissioner shall deposit the 
 12.8   revenues, including interest and penalties, derived from the 
 12.9   taxes in the state treasury and credit them to the general fund. 
 12.10     Sec. 6.  [473J.06] [METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION FUND.] 
 12.11     Subdivision 1.  [TRANSFER TO FUND.] The revenue collected 
 12.12  under section 473J.05, less the cost of collection, is 
 12.13  appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
 12.14  finance for transfer to a special account in the state treasury, 
 12.15  to be called the metropolitan transportation fund.  The cost of 
 12.16  collection equals the direct and indirect costs of the 
 12.17  department of revenue to administer, audit, and collect the 
 12.18  revenue, plus the metropolitan transportation area's 
 12.19  proportionate share of the indirect cost of administering all 
 12.20  local sales and use taxes under section 297A.99. 
 12.21     Subd. 2.  [USE OF FUND.] Money in the metropolitan 
 12.22  transportation fund is appropriated as follows: 
 12.23     (1) 25 percent to the metropolitan council for acquisition 
 12.24  of buses, highway shoulder improvements for buses, and other 
 12.25  capital expenses related to transit in the metropolitan 
 12.26  transportation area; and 
 12.27     (2) 75 percent to the commissioner of transportation for 
 12.28  highway system improvement, replacement, and bottleneck removal 
 12.29  projects and metropolitan system highway expansion projects in 
 12.30  the metropolitan transportation area.  This money must be used 
 12.31  to construct the projects identified in the metropolitan 
 12.32  council's 25-year plan and the department of transportation's 
 12.33  20-year district plans that cover the counties in the 
 12.34  metropolitan transportation area. 
 12.35     The metropolitan council may provide grants to the 
 12.36  commissioner of transportation for the implementation of transit 
 13.1   capital improvements in counties that are outside of the 
 13.2   metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, 
 13.3   but are within the metropolitan transportation area. 
 13.4      Sec. 7.  [APPLICATION.] 
 13.5      This act applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Chisago, 
 13.6   Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, 
 13.7   and Wright. 
 13.8      Sec. 8.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 13.9      This article is effective upon its approval by a majority 
 13.10  of the voters voting on the question in the metropolitan 
 13.11  transportation area at the general election in November 2002 and 
 13.12  sections 3 and 4 apply to sales made on and after July 1, 2003.  
 13.13  The question on the ballot must be: 
 13.14     "Shall an additional tax of up to one-half of one percent 
 13.15  be imposed for ten years on sales in the 11-county metropolitan 
 13.16  area to pay for transportation improvements to relieve traffic 
 13.17  congestion in the metropolitan area?" 
 13.18     This article expires June 30, 2013. 
 13.19                             ARTICLE 3 
 13.20                           STREAMLINING, 
 13.21         ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND TRANSPORTATION POLICY
 13.22     Section 1.  [161.168] [SNOW AND ICE CONTROL MATERIALS.] 
 13.23     Subdivision 1.  [FINDING.] The legislature finds that the 
 13.24  use on state highways of de-icing solutions derived from 
 13.25  agricultural products provides economic and environmental 
 13.26  benefits to the state while preserving public safety. 
 13.27     Subd. 2.  [USE OF AGRICULTURE-BASED DE-ICING SOLUTION.] The 
 13.28  commissioner of transportation shall use a de-icing solution 
 13.29  derived from agricultural products for snow and ice control on 
 13.30  trunk highways to the extent that the commissioner determines is 
 13.31  economically feasible, environmentally beneficial, and 
 13.32  consistent with public safety. 
 13.33     Subd. 3.  [EFFECT ON ENVIRONMENT.] The commissioner, in 
 13.34  determining which snow and ice control materials to use on trunk 
 13.35  highways, shall consider the effect of each type of material on 
 13.36  the environment and on the deterioration of bridges and other 
 14.1   structures. 
 14.2      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 161.465, is 
 14.3   amended to read: 
 14.4      161.465 [REIMBURSEMENT FOR FIRE SERVICES.] 
 14.5      (a) Subdivision 1.  [GRASS FIRES.] Ordinary expenses 
 14.6   incurred by a municipal or volunteer fire department in 
 14.7   extinguishing a grass fire within the right-of-way of a trunk 
 14.8   highway must be reimbursed upon certification to the 
 14.9   commissioner of transportation from the trunk highway fund.  In 
 14.10  addition, ordinary expenses incurred by a municipal or volunteer 
 14.11  fire department in extinguishing a fire outside the right-of-way 
 14.12  of any trunk highway if the fire originated within the 
 14.13  right-of-way, upon approval of a police officer or an officer or 
 14.14  employee of the department of public safety must, upon 
 14.15  certification to the commissioner of transportation by the 
 14.16  proper official of the municipality or fire department within 60 
 14.17  days after the completion of the service, be reimbursed to the 
 14.18  municipality or fire department from funds in the trunk highway 
 14.19  fund.  
 14.20     Subd. 2.  [MOTOR VEHICLE FIRES.] Ordinary expenses incurred 
 14.21  by a municipal or volunteer fire department in extinguishing a 
 14.22  motor vehicle fire within the right-of-way of a trunk highway or 
 14.23  interstate, to the extent these expenses are not reimbursed by 
 14.24  insurance, some other reasonable method of reimbursement, or 
 14.25  collected in accordance with section 366.012, may be reimbursed 
 14.26  by the commissioner from the motor vehicle fire revolving 
 14.27  account in the special revenue fund up to $300 per fire call 
 14.28  upon certification to the commissioner. 
 14.29     Subd. 3.  [FUND REIMBURSEMENT.] The commissioner of 
 14.30  transportation shall take action practicable to secure 
 14.31  reimbursement to the trunk highway fund or to the special 
 14.32  revenue fund of money expended under this section from the 
 14.33  person, firm, or corporation responsible for the fire or danger 
 14.34  of fire.  A motor vehicle fire revolving account is created in 
 14.35  the special revenue fund.  The commissioner shall deposit into 
 14.36  the account all money received by the commissioner in 
 15.1   reimbursements from persons, firms, or corporations for costs of 
 15.2   extinguishing motor vehicle fires within trunk highway 
 15.3   right-of-way.  Money in the account is appropriated to the 
 15.4   commissioner for the purpose of making reimbursements to 
 15.5   municipal or volunteer fire departments under subdivision 2. 
 15.6      (b) Subd. 4.  [NO ADMISSION OF LIABILITY.] The provisions 
 15.7   of this section shall not be construed to admit state liability 
 15.8   for damage or destruction to private property or for injury to 
 15.9   persons resulting from a fire originating within a trunk highway 
 15.10  or interstate right-of-way. 
 15.11     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 168.011, 
 15.12  subdivision 17, is amended to read: 
 15.13     Subd. 17.  [FARM TRUCK.] (a) "Farm truck" means all single 
 15.14  unit trucks, truck-tractors, tractors, semitrailers, and 
 15.15  trailers used by the owner thereof to transport agricultural, 
 15.16  horticultural, dairy, and other farm products, including 
 15.17  livestock, produced or finished by the owner of the truck, and 
 15.18  any other personal property owned by the farmer to whom the 
 15.19  license for the truck is issued, from the farm to market, and to 
 15.20  transport property and supplies to the farm of the owner.  
 15.21  Trucks, truck-tractors, tractors, semitrailers, and trailers 
 15.22  registered as "farm trucks" may be used by the owner thereof to 
 15.23  occasionally transport unprocessed and raw farm products, not 
 15.24  produced by the owner of the truck, from the place of production 
 15.25  to market when the transportation constitutes the first haul of 
 15.26  the products, and may be used by the owner thereof, either 
 15.27  farmer or logger who harvests and hauls forest products only, to 
 15.28  transport logs, pulpwood, lumber, chips, railroad ties and other 
 15.29  raw and unfinished forest products from the place of production 
 15.30  to an intermediate or final assembly point or transfer yard or 
 15.31  railhead when the transportation constitutes, which 
 15.32  transportation may be continued by another farm truck to a place 
 15.33  for final processing or manufacture located within 200 miles of 
 15.34  the place of production and all of which is deemed to constitute 
 15.35  the first haul thereof, of unfinished wood products; provided 
 15.36  that the owner and operator of the vehicle transporting planed 
 16.1   lumber shall have in immediate possession a statement signed by 
 16.2   the producer of the lumber designating the governmental 
 16.3   subdivision, section, and township where the lumber was produced 
 16.4   and that this haul, indicating the date, is the first haul 
 16.5   thereof.  The licensed vehicles may also be used by the owner 
 16.6   thereof to transport, to and from timber-harvesting areas, 
 16.7   equipment and appurtenances incidental to timber harvesting, and 
 16.8   gravel and other road-building materials for timber haul roads. 
 16.9      (b) "Farm trucks" shall also include only single unit 
 16.10  trucks, which that, because of their construction, cannot be 
 16.11  used for any other purpose and are used exclusively to transport 
 16.12  milk and cream en route from a farm to an assembly point or 
 16.13  place for final manufacture, and for transporting milk and cream 
 16.14  from an assembly point to a place for final processing or 
 16.15  manufacture.  This section shall not be construed to mean that 
 16.16  the owner or operator of the truck cannot carry on usual 
 16.17  accommodation services for patrons on regular return trips, such 
 16.18  as butter, cream, cheese, and other dairy supplies. 
 16.19     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 168.013, 
 16.20  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 16.21     Subd. 3.  [APPLICATION; CANCELLATION; EXCESSIVE GROSS 
 16.22  WEIGHT FORBIDDEN.] (a) The applicant for all licenses based on 
 16.23  gross weight shall state the unloaded weight of the motor 
 16.24  vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer and the maximum load the 
 16.25  applicant proposes to carry thereon, the sum of which shall 
 16.26  constitute the gross weight upon which the license tax shall be 
 16.27  paid, but in no case shall the declared gross weight upon which 
 16.28  the tax is paid be less than 1-1/4 times the declared unloaded 
 16.29  weight of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer to be 
 16.30  registered, except recreational vehicles taxed under subdivision 
 16.31  1g, school buses taxed under subdivision 18, and tow trucks or 
 16.32  towing vehicles defined in section 169.01, subdivision 52.  The 
 16.33  gross weight of a tow truck or towing vehicle is the actual 
 16.34  weight of the tow truck or towing vehicle fully equipped, but 
 16.35  does not include the weight of a wrecked or disabled vehicle 
 16.36  towed or drawn by the tow truck or towing vehicle. 
 17.1      (b) The gross weight of no a motor vehicle, trailer, or 
 17.2   semitrailer shall not exceed the gross weight upon which the 
 17.3   license tax has been paid by more than four percent or 1,000 
 17.4   pounds, whichever is greater; provided that, a vehicle 
 17.5   transporting unfinished forest products in accordance with 
 17.6   paragraph (d)(3) shall not exceed its gross vehicle weight upon 
 17.7   which the license tax has been paid, or gross axle weight on any 
 17.8   axle, by more than five percent and, notwithstanding other law 
 17.9   to the contrary, is not subject to any fee, fine, or other 
 17.10  assessment or penalty for exceeding a gross vehicle or axle 
 17.11  weight by up to five percent. 
 17.12     (c) The gross weight of the motor vehicle, trailer, or 
 17.13  semitrailer for which the license tax is paid shall be indicated 
 17.14  by a distinctive character on the license plate or plates except 
 17.15  as provided in subdivision 12 and the plate or plates shall be 
 17.16  kept clean and clearly visible at all times. 
 17.17     (d) The owner, driver, or user of a motor vehicle, trailer, 
 17.18  or semitrailer, upon conviction for transporting a gross weight 
 17.19  in excess of the gross weight for which it was registered or for 
 17.20  operating a vehicle with an axle weight exceeding the maximum 
 17.21  lawful axle load weight, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be 
 17.22  subject to increased registration or reregistration according to 
 17.23  the following schedule: 
 17.24     (1) The owner, driver, or user of a motor vehicle, trailer, 
 17.25  or semitrailer, upon conviction for transporting a gross weight 
 17.26  in excess of the gross weight for which it is registered by more 
 17.27  than four percent or 1,000 pounds, whichever is greater, the 
 17.28  allowance set forth in paragraph (b) but less than 25 percent or 
 17.29  for operating or using a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer 
 17.30  with an axle weight exceeding the maximum lawful axle load as 
 17.31  provided in section 169.825 by more than four percent or 1,000 
 17.32  pounds, whichever is greater, the allowance set forth in 
 17.33  paragraph (b) but less than 25 percent, in addition to any 
 17.34  penalty imposed for the misdemeanor shall apply to the registrar 
 17.35  to increase the authorized gross weight to be carried on the 
 17.36  vehicle to a weight equal to or greater than the gross weight 
 18.1   the owner, driver, or user was convicted of carrying, the 
 18.2   increase computed for the balance of the calendar year on the 
 18.3   basis of 1/12 of the annual tax for each month remaining in the 
 18.4   calendar year beginning with the first day of the month in which 
 18.5   the violation occurred.  If the additional registration tax 
 18.6   computed upon that weight, plus the tax already paid, amounts to 
 18.7   more than the regular tax for the maximum gross weight permitted 
 18.8   for the vehicle under section 169.825, that additional amount 
 18.9   shall nevertheless be paid into the highway fund, but the 
 18.10  additional tax thus paid shall not permit the vehicle to be 
 18.11  operated with a gross weight in excess of the maximum legal 
 18.12  weight as provided by section 169.825.  Unless the owner within 
 18.13  30 days after a conviction shall apply to increase the 
 18.14  authorized weight and pay the additional tax as provided in this 
 18.15  section, the registrar shall revoke the registration on the 
 18.16  vehicle and demand the return of the registration card and 
 18.17  plates issued on that registration. 
 18.18     (2) The owner or driver or user of a motor vehicle, 
 18.19  trailer, or semitrailer upon conviction for transporting a gross 
 18.20  weight in excess of the gross weight for which the motor 
 18.21  vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer was registered by 25 percent or 
 18.22  more, or for operating or using a vehicle or trailer with an 
 18.23  axle weight exceeding the maximum lawful axle load as provided 
 18.24  in section 169.825 by 25 percent or more, in addition to any 
 18.25  penalty imposed for the misdemeanor, shall have the reciprocity 
 18.26  privileges on the vehicle involved if the vehicle is being 
 18.27  operated under reciprocity canceled by the registrar, or if the 
 18.28  vehicle is not being operated under reciprocity, the certificate 
 18.29  of registration on the vehicle operated shall be canceled by the 
 18.30  registrar and the registrar shall demand the return of the 
 18.31  registration certificate and registration plates.  The registrar 
 18.32  may not cancel the registration or reciprocity privileges for 
 18.33  any vehicle found in violation of seasonal load restrictions 
 18.34  imposed under section 169.87 unless the axle weight exceeds the 
 18.35  year-round weight limit for the highway on which the violation 
 18.36  occurred.  The registrar may investigate any allegation of gross 
 19.1   weight violations and demand that the operator show cause why 
 19.2   all future operating privileges in the state should not be 
 19.3   revoked unless the additional tax assessed is paid. 
 19.4      (3) Clause (1) does not apply to the first haul of 
 19.5   unprocessed or raw farm products or unfinished forest products, 
 19.6   when the registered gross weight is not exceeded by more than 
 19.7   ten percent.  For purposes of this clause, "first haul" means 
 19.8   (i) the first, continuous transportation of unprocessed or raw 
 19.9   farm products from the place of production or on-farm storage 
 19.10  site to any other location within 50 miles of the place of 
 19.11  production or on-farm storage site, or (ii) the first, 
 19.12  continuous or noncontinuous transportation of unfinished forest 
 19.13  products from the place of production to the place of first 
 19.14  unloading final processing or manufacture located within 200 
 19.15  miles of the place of production. 
 19.16     (4) When the registration on a motor vehicle, trailer, or 
 19.17  semitrailer is revoked by the registrar according to provisions 
 19.18  of this section, the vehicle shall not be operated on the 
 19.19  highways of the state until it is registered or reregistered, as 
 19.20  the case may be, and new plates issued, and the registration fee 
 19.21  shall be the annual tax for the total gross weight of the 
 19.22  vehicle at the time of violation.  The reregistration pursuant 
 19.23  to this subdivision of any vehicle operating under reciprocity 
 19.24  agreements pursuant to section 168.181 or 168.187 shall be at 
 19.25  the full annual registration fee without regard to the 
 19.26  percentage of vehicle miles traveled in this state.  
 19.27     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.771, 
 19.28  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 19.29     Subd. 2.  [INSPECTION BY STATE TROOPER.] (a) The 
 19.30  commissioner of public safety is directed to accelerate spot 
 19.31  check inspections for unsafe motor vehicles and motor vehicle 
 19.32  equipment.  Such inspections shall be conducted by the personnel 
 19.33  of the state patrol who shall give the operator of a commercial 
 19.34  motor vehicle a signed and dated document as evidence of the 
 19.35  inspection.  
 19.36     (b) However, personnel of the state patrol may not conduct 
 20.1   another spot inspection of a commercial motor vehicle if (1) the 
 20.2   operator of the vehicle can show evidence of an inspection, 
 20.3   which is free of critical defects, conducted in Minnesota 
 20.4   according to this section within the previous 90 days and (2) a 
 20.5   state trooper does not have probable cause to believe the 
 20.6   vehicle or its equipment is unsafe or that the operator has 
 20.7   engaged in illegal activity.  In addition, if the operator shows 
 20.8   the state trooper evidence that the commercial motor vehicle has 
 20.9   been inspected within the previous 90 days, but the officer has 
 20.10  probable cause to believe the vehicle or its equipment is unsafe 
 20.11  or to suspect illegal activity, then the vehicle may be 
 20.12  inspected to confirm the existence or absence of an unsafe 
 20.13  condition or of the suspected illegal activity.  
 20.14     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.771, 
 20.15  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 20.16     Subd. 3.  [RULES.] The commissioner of public safety may 
 20.17  establish such reasonable rules as are necessary to carry out 
 20.18  the provisions of this section, but all spot check inspections 
 20.19  shall be held in compliance with subdivision 2 and in such a 
 20.20  manner that the motor vehicle operators, either private or 
 20.21  commercial, shall not be unnecessarily inconvenienced either by 
 20.22  extended detours, unnecessary delays, or any other unreasonable 
 20.23  cause.  
 20.24     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.85, 
 20.25  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 20.26     Subdivision 1.  [DRIVER TO STOP FOR WEIGHING.] (a) The 
 20.27  driver of a vehicle which that has been lawfully stopped may be 
 20.28  required by an officer to submit the vehicle and load to a 
 20.29  weighing by means of portable or stationary scales, and.  
 20.30     (b) In addition, the officer may require that the vehicle 
 20.31  be driven to the nearest available scales, but only if: 
 20.32     (1) the distance to the scales is no further than five 
 20.33  miles, or if the distance from the point where the vehicle is 
 20.34  stopped to the vehicle's destination is not increased by more 
 20.35  than ten miles as a result of proceeding to the nearest 
 20.36  available scales; and 
 21.1      (2) if the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle, no more 
 21.2   than two other commercial motor vehicles are waiting to be 
 21.3   inspected at the scale.  
 21.4      (c) Official traffic control devices as authorized by 
 21.5   section 169.06 may be used to direct the driver to the nearest 
 21.6   scale.  
 21.7      (d) When a truck weight enforcement operation is conducted 
 21.8   by means of portable or stationary scales and signs giving 
 21.9   notice of the operation are posted within the highway 
 21.10  right-of-way and adjacent to the roadway within two miles of the 
 21.11  operation, the driver of a truck or combination of vehicles 
 21.12  registered for or weighing in excess of 12,000 pounds shall 
 21.13  proceed to the scale site and submit the vehicle to weighing and 
 21.14  inspection. 
 21.15     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.85, 
 21.16  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 21.17     Subd. 2.  [UNLOADING.] (a) Upon weighing a vehicle and 
 21.18  load, as provided in this section, an officer may require the 
 21.19  driver to stop the vehicle in a suitable place and remain 
 21.20  standing until a portion of the load is removed that is 
 21.21  sufficient to reduce the gross weight of the vehicle to the 
 21.22  limit permitted under either section 168.013, subdivision 3, 
 21.23  paragraph (b), or 169.825, whichever is the lesser violation, if 
 21.24  any.  A suitable place is a location where loading or tampering 
 21.25  with the load is not prohibited by federal, state, or local law, 
 21.26  rule, or ordinance.  
 21.27     (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), a driver may be 
 21.28  required to unload a vehicle only if the weighing officer 
 21.29  determines that (a) (1) on routes subject to the provisions of 
 21.30  section 169.825, the weight on an axle exceeds the lawful gross 
 21.31  weight prescribed by section 169.825, by 2,000 pounds or more, 
 21.32  or the weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles in 
 21.33  cases where the distance between the centers of the first and 
 21.34  last axles of the group under consideration is ten feet or less 
 21.35  exceeds the lawful gross weight prescribed by section 169.825, 
 21.36  by 4,000 pounds or more; or (b) (2) on routes designated by the 
 22.1   commissioner in section 169.832, subdivision 11, the overall 
 22.2   weight of the vehicle or the weight on an axle or group of 
 22.3   consecutive axles exceeds the maximum lawful gross weights 
 22.4   prescribed by section 169.825; or (c) (3) the weight is unlawful 
 22.5   on an axle or group of consecutive axles on a road restricted in 
 22.6   accordance with section 169.87.  Material unloaded must be cared 
 22.7   for by the owner or driver of the vehicle at the risk of the 
 22.8   owner or driver. 
 22.9      (c) If the gross weight of the vehicle does not exceed the 
 22.10  vehicle's registered gross weight plus the weight allowance set 
 22.11  forth in section 168.013, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), then the 
 22.12  vehicle is deemed to be not in violation under paragraph (b).  
 22.13     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.851, 
 22.14  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 22.15     Subd. 3.  [FIRST HAUL.] "First haul" means the first, 
 22.16  continuous transportation from the place of production or on 
 22.17  farm storage site to any other location within 50 miles of the 
 22.18  place of production or on farm storage site has the meaning 
 22.19  given it in section 168.013, subdivision 3, paragraph (d)(3).  
 22.20     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.86, 
 22.21  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 22.22     Subd. 5.  [FEE; PROCEEDS TO TRUNK HIGHWAY FUND.] The 
 22.23  commissioner, with respect to highways under the commissioner's 
 22.24  jurisdiction, may charge a fee for each permit issued.  All such 
 22.25  fees for permits issued by the commissioner of transportation 
 22.26  shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the 
 22.27  trunk highway fund.  Except for those annual permits for which 
 22.28  the permit fees are specified elsewhere in this chapter, the 
 22.29  fees shall be: 
 22.30     (a) $15 for each single trip permit. 
 22.31     (b) $36 for each job permit.  A job permit may be issued 
 22.32  for like loads carried on a specific route for a period not to 
 22.33  exceed two months.  "Like loads" means loads of the same 
 22.34  product, weight, and dimension. 
 22.35     (c) $60 for an annual permit to be issued for a period not 
 22.36  to exceed 12 consecutive months.  Annual permits may be issued 
 23.1   for: 
 23.2      (1) motor vehicles used to alleviate a temporary crisis 
 23.3   adversely affecting the safety or well-being of the public; 
 23.4      (2) motor vehicles which travel on interstate highways and 
 23.5   carry loads authorized under subdivision 1a; 
 23.6      (3) motor vehicles operating with gross weights authorized 
 23.7   under section 169.825, subdivision 11, paragraph (a), clause 
 23.8   (3); 
 23.9      (4) special pulpwood vehicles described in section 169.863; 
 23.10  and 
 23.11     (5) motor vehicles bearing snowplow blades not exceeding 
 23.12  ten feet in width. 
 23.13     (d) $120 for an oversize annual permit to be issued for a 
 23.14  period not to exceed 12 consecutive months.  Annual permits may 
 23.15  be issued for:  
 23.16     (1) mobile cranes; 
 23.17     (2) construction equipment, machinery, and supplies; 
 23.18     (3) manufactured homes; 
 23.19     (4) implements of husbandry when the movement is not made 
 23.20  according to the provisions of paragraph (i); 
 23.21     (5) double-deck buses; 
 23.22     (6) commercial boat hauling.  
 23.23     (e) For vehicles which have axle weights exceeding the 
 23.24  weight limitations of section 169.825, an additional cost added 
 23.25  to the fees listed above.  However, this paragraph applies to 
 23.26  any vehicle described in section 168.013, subdivision 3, 
 23.27  paragraph (b), but only when the vehicle exceeds its gross 
 23.28  weight allowance set forth in that paragraph, and then the 
 23.29  additional cost is for all weight, including the allowance 
 23.30  weight, in excess of the permitted maximum axle weight.  The 
 23.31  additional cost is equal to the product of the distance traveled 
 23.32  times the sum of the overweight axle group cost factors shown in 
 23.33  the following chart:  
 23.34                 Overweight Axle Group Cost Factors 
 23.35  Weight (pounds)         Cost Per Mile For Each Group Of:
 23.36  exceeding       Two consec-     Three consec-   Four consec-
 24.1   weight          utive axles     utive axles     utive axles
 24.2   limitations     spaced within   spaced within   spaced within
 24.3   on axles        8 feet or less  9 feet or less  14 feet or less 
 24.4        0-2,000    .12             .05             .04
 24.5    2,001-4,000    .14             .06             .05
 24.6    4,001-6,000    .18             .07             .06
 24.7    6,001-8,000    .21             .09             .07
 24.8    8,001-10,000   .26             .10             .08
 24.9   10,001-12,000   .30             .12             .09
 24.10  12,001-14,000   Not permitted   .14             .11
 24.11  14,001-16,000   Not permitted   .17             .12
 24.12  16,001-18,000   Not permitted   .19             .15
 24.13  18,001-20,000   Not permitted   Not permitted   .16
 24.14  20,001-22,000   Not permitted   Not permitted   .20
 24.15  The amounts added are rounded to the nearest cent for each axle 
 24.16  or axle group.  The additional cost does not apply to paragraph 
 24.17  (c), clauses (1) and (3).  
 24.18  For a vehicle found to exceed the appropriate maximum permitted 
 24.19  weight, a cost-per-mile fee of 22 cents per ton, or fraction of 
 24.20  a ton, over the permitted maximum weight is imposed in addition 
 24.21  to the normal permit fee.  Miles must be calculated based on the 
 24.22  distance already traveled in the state plus the distance from 
 24.23  the point of detection to a transportation loading site or 
 24.24  unloading site within the state or to the point of exit from the 
 24.25  state. 
 24.26     (f) As an alternative to paragraph (e), an annual permit 
 24.27  may be issued for overweight, or oversize and overweight, 
 24.28  construction equipment, machinery, and supplies.  The fees for 
 24.29  the permit are as follows:  
 24.30  Gross Weight (pounds) of Vehicle          Annual Permit Fee
 24.31       90,000 or less                             $200
 24.32       90,001 - 100,000                           $300
 24.33      100,001 - 110,000                           $400
 24.34      110,001 - 120,000                           $500
 24.35      120,001 - 130,000                           $600
 24.36      130,001 - 140,000                           $700
 25.1       140,001 - 145,000                           $800
 25.2   If the gross weight of the vehicle is more than 145,000 pounds 
 25.3   the permit fee is determined under paragraph (e). 
 25.4      (g) For vehicles which exceed the width limitations set 
 25.5   forth in section 169.80 by more than 72 inches, an additional 
 25.6   cost equal to $120 added to the amount in paragraph (a) when the 
 25.7   permit is issued while seasonal load restrictions pursuant to 
 25.8   section 169.87 are in effect. 
 25.9      (h) $85 for an annual permit to be issued for a period not 
 25.10  to exceed 12 months, for refuse compactor vehicles that carry a 
 25.11  gross weight of not more than:  22,000 pounds on a single rear 
 25.12  axle; 38,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle; or, subject to 
 25.13  section 169.825, subdivision 14, 46,000 pounds on a tridem rear 
 25.14  axle.  A permit issued for up to 46,000 pounds on a tridem rear 
 25.15  axle must limit the gross vehicle weight to not more than 62,000 
 25.16  pounds. 
 25.17     (i) For vehicles exclusively transporting implements of 
 25.18  husbandry, an annual permit fee of $24.  A vehicle operated 
 25.19  under a permit authorized by this paragraph may be moved at the 
 25.20  discretion of the permit holder without prior route approval by 
 25.21  the commissioner if: 
 25.22     (1) the total width of the transporting vehicle, including 
 25.23  load, does not exceed 14 feet; 
 25.24     (2) the vehicle is operated only between sunrise and 30 
 25.25  minutes after sunset, and is not operated at any time after 
 25.26  12:00 noon on Sundays or holidays; 
 25.27     (3) the vehicle is not operated when visibility is impaired 
 25.28  by weather, fog, or other conditions that render persons and 
 25.29  other vehicles not clearly visible at 500 feet; 
 25.30     (4) the vehicle displays at the front and rear of the load 
 25.31  or vehicle a pair of flashing amber lights, as provided in 
 25.32  section 169.59, subdivision 4, whenever the overall width of the 
 25.33  vehicle exceeds 126 inches; and 
 25.34     (5) the vehicle is not operated on a trunk highway with a 
 25.35  surfaced roadway width of less than 24 feet unless such 
 25.36  operation is authorized by the permit. 
 26.1   A permit under this paragraph authorizes movements of the 
 26.2   permitted vehicle on an interstate highway, and movements of 75 
 26.3   miles or more on other highways. 
 26.4      Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 2001 Supplement, section 
 26.5   174.242, is amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 26.6      Subd. 3a.  [REPLACEMENT AID FOR NEW TRANSIT SYSTEMS.] (a) 
 26.7   Notwithstanding subdivision 3 if, after making the replacement 
 26.8   aid payments required under subdivision 3 in each of calendar 
 26.9   years 2002 and 2003, there is a remaining balance in the greater 
 26.10  Minnesota transit fund, the commissioner shall utilize the 
 26.11  remaining balance to make grants to new transit systems 
 26.12  beginning service in calendar year 2002 or 2003.  
 26.13     (b) The commissioner shall estimate the total property tax 
 26.14  payments that would be required for each new transit system in 
 26.15  calendar years 2002 and 2003.  The new system is eligible to 
 26.16  receive replacement aid payments in 2002 and 2003 equal to (1) 
 26.17  the proportion that the new system's estimated tax amount is of 
 26.18  the total tax amount estimated by the commissioner for all new 
 26.19  transit systems, times (2) the projected total revenue remaining 
 26.20  in the greater Minnesota transit fund after the payments 
 26.21  required under subdivision 3 have been made. 
 26.22     (c) However, despite paragraph (b), the replacement aid 
 26.23  received by each new transit system may not exceed the tax 
 26.24  amount estimated by the commissioner for that system. 
 26.25     Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 360.305, 
 26.26  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 26.27     Subd. 4.  [COSTS ALLOCATED; LOCAL CONTRIBUTION; HANGAR 
 26.28  CONSTRUCTION REVOLVING ACCOUNT.] (a) Except as otherwise 
 26.29  provided in this subdivision, the commissioner of transportation 
 26.30  shall require as a condition of assistance by the state that the 
 26.31  political subdivision, municipality, or public corporation make 
 26.32  a substantial contribution to the cost of the construction, 
 26.33  improvement, maintenance, or operation of the airport, in 
 26.34  connection with which the assistance of the state is sought.  
 26.35  These costs are referred to as project costs.  
 26.36     (b) For any airport, whether key, intermediate or landing 
 27.1   strip, where only state and local funds are to be used, the 
 27.2   contribution shall be not less than one-fifth of the sum of: 
 27.3      (1) the project costs; 
 27.4      (2) acquisition costs of the land and clear zones, which 
 27.5   are referred to as acquisition costs. 
 27.6      (c) For any airport where federal, state and local funds 
 27.7   are to be used, the contribution shall not be less than 
 27.8   one-tenth of the sum of the project costs and acquisition costs. 
 27.9      (d) The commissioner may pay the total cost of radio and 
 27.10  navigational aids. 
 27.11     (e) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) or (c), the commissioner 
 27.12  may pay all of the project costs of a new landing strip, but not 
 27.13  an intermediate airport or key airport, or may pay an amount 
 27.14  equal to the federal funds granted and used for a new landing 
 27.15  strip plus all of the remaining project costs; but the total 
 27.16  amount paid by the commissioner for the project costs of a new 
 27.17  landing strip, unless specifically authorized by an act 
 27.18  appropriating funds for the new landing strip, shall not exceed 
 27.19  $200,000. 
 27.20     (f) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) or (c), the commissioner 
 27.21  may pay all the project costs for research and development 
 27.22  projects, including, but not limited to noise abatement; 
 27.23  provided that in no event shall the sums expended under this 
 27.24  paragraph exceed five percent of the amount appropriated for 
 27.25  construction grants.  
 27.26     (g) To receive aid under this section for project costs or 
 27.27  for acquisition costs, the municipality must enter into an 
 27.28  agreement with the commissioner giving assurance that the 
 27.29  airport will be operated and maintained in a safe, serviceable 
 27.30  manner for aeronautical purposes only for the use and benefit of 
 27.31  the public: 
 27.32     (1) for 20 years after the date that any state funds for 
 27.33  project costs are received by the municipality; and 
 27.34     (2) for 99 years after the date that any state funds for 
 27.35  acquisition costs are received by the municipality.  
 27.36  The agreement may contain other conditions as the commissioner 
 28.1   deems reasonable. 
 28.2      (h) The commissioner shall establish a hangar construction 
 28.3   revolving account which shall be used for the purpose of 
 28.4   financing the construction of hangar buildings to be constructed 
 28.5   by municipalities owning airports.  All municipalities owning 
 28.6   airports are authorized to enter into contracts for the 
 28.7   construction of hangars, and contracts with the commissioner for 
 28.8   the financing of hangar construction for an amount and period of 
 28.9   time as may be determined by the commissioner and municipality.  
 28.10  All receipts from the financing contracts shall be deposited in 
 28.11  the hangar construction revolving account and are reappropriated 
 28.12  for the purpose of financing construction of hangar buildings.  
 28.13  The commissioner may pay from the hangar construction revolving 
 28.14  account 80 percent of the cost of financing construction of 
 28.15  hangar buildings.  For purposes of this clause, the construction 
 28.16  of hangars shall include their design.  The commissioner shall 
 28.17  transfer up to $4,100,000 $4,400,000 from the state airports 
 28.18  fund to the hangar construction revolving account. 
 28.19     (i) The commissioner may pay a portion of the purchase 
 28.20  price of any airport maintenance and safety equipment and of the 
 28.21  actual airport snow removal costs incurred by any municipality.  
 28.22  The portion to be paid by the state shall not exceed two-thirds 
 28.23  of the cost of the purchase price or snow removal.  To receive 
 28.24  aid a municipality must enter into an agreement of the type 
 28.25  referred to in paragraph (g). 
 28.26     (j) This subdivision shall apply only to project costs or 
 28.27  acquisition costs of municipally owned airports which are 
 28.28  incurred after June 1, 1971. 
 28.29     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 366.011, is 
 28.30  amended to read: 
 28.31     366.011 [CHARGES FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES; COLLECTION.] 
 28.32     A town may impose a reasonable service charge for emergency 
 28.33  services, including fire, rescue, medical, and related services 
 28.34  provided by the town or contracted for by the town.  If the 
 28.35  service charge remains unpaid 30 days after a notice of 
 28.36  delinquency is sent to the recipient of the service or the 
 29.1   recipient's representative or estate, the town or its contractor 
 29.2   on behalf of the town may use any lawful means allowed to a 
 29.3   private party for the collection of an unsecured delinquent 
 29.4   debt.  The town may also use the authority of section 366.012 to 
 29.5   collect unpaid service charges of this kind from delinquent 
 29.6   recipients of services who are owners of taxable real property 
 29.7   in the town. 
 29.8      The powers conferred by this section are in addition and 
 29.9   supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law for a town 
 29.10  to impose a service charge or assessment for a service provided 
 29.11  by the town or contracted for by the town. 
 29.12     Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 366.012, is 
 29.13  amended to read: 
 29.14     366.012 [COLLECTION OF UNPAID SERVICE CHARGES.] 
 29.15     If a town is authorized to impose a service charge on the 
 29.16  owner, lessee, or occupant of property, or any of them, for a 
 29.17  governmental service provided by the town, the town board may 
 29.18  certify to the county auditor of the county in which the 
 29.19  recipient of the services owns real property, on or before 
 29.20  October 15 for each year, any unpaid service charges which shall 
 29.21  then be collected together with property taxes levied against 
 29.22  the property.  The county auditor shall remit to the town all 
 29.23  service charges collected by the auditor on behalf of the town.  
 29.24  Charges collected under this section for motor vehicle fires 
 29.25  provided by section 161.465, subdivision 2, shall not exceed the 
 29.26  amount authorized in that subdivision, but a town may recover 
 29.27  expenses incurred for extinguishing a motor vehicle fire in 
 29.28  excess of that amount by any other authorized method.  A charge 
 29.29  may be certified to the auditor only if, on or before September 
 29.30  15, the town has given written notice to the property owner of 
 29.31  its intention to certify the charge to the auditor.  The service 
 29.32  charges shall be subject to the same penalties, interest, and 
 29.33  other conditions provided for the collection of property taxes.  
 29.34  This section is in addition to other law authorizing the 
 29.35  collection of unpaid costs and service charges. 
 29.36     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 473.661, is 
 30.1   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 30.2      Subd. 5.  [BUDGET REVIEW.] At least 90 days before the 
 30.3   metropolitan airports commission adopts a proposed annual 
 30.4   operating budget or capital budget, the commission must submit 
 30.5   the proposed budget, along with a detailed statement of planned 
 30.6   actions to abate airport-related noise which conforms to 
 30.7   subdivision 4 and related data, to the chairs of the senate 
 30.8   finance committee, the house of representatives ways and means 
 30.9   committee, and the committees with jurisdiction over 
 30.10  transportation policy and finance and environment and natural 
 30.11  resources finance in the senate and house of representatives.  
 30.12  As part of any review of these budgets, the legislature must not 
 30.13  reduce the expenditure of any amount in conformance with 
 30.14  subdivision 4. 
 30.15     Sec. 16.  Laws 1998, chapter 389, article 8, section 43, 
 30.16  subdivision 3, is amended to read:  
 30.17     Subd. 3.  [USE OF REVENUES.] Revenues received from the 
 30.18  taxes authorized by subdivisions 1 and 2 must be used by the 
 30.19  city to pay for the cost of collecting and administering the 
 30.20  taxes and to pay for the following projects: 
 30.21     (1) transportation infrastructure improvements including 
 30.22  both highway and airport improvements; 
 30.23     (2) improvements to the civic center complex; 
 30.24     (3) a municipal water, sewer, and storm sewer project 
 30.25  necessary to improve regional ground water quality; and 
 30.26     (4) construction of a regional recreation and sports center 
 30.27  and associated facilities available for both community and 
 30.28  student use, located at or adjacent to the Rochester center. 
 30.29  The total amount of capital expenditures or bonds for these 
 30.30  projects that may be paid from the revenues raised from the 
 30.31  taxes authorized in this section may not exceed 
 30.32  $71,500,000 $86,500,000.  The total amount of capital 
 30.33  expenditures or bonds for the project in clause (4) that may be 
 30.34  paid from the revenues raised from the taxes authorized in this 
 30.35  section may not exceed $20,000,000. 
 30.36     [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day after 
 31.1   compliance by the governing body of the city of Rochester with 
 31.2   Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivision 3. 
 31.3      Sec. 17.  Laws 1998, chapter 389, article 8, section 43, 
 31.4   subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 31.5      Subd. 4.  [BONDING AUTHORITY.] (a) The city may issue bonds 
 31.6   under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 475, to finance the capital 
 31.7   expenditure and improvement projects.  An election to approve 
 31.8   the bonds under Minnesota Statutes, section 475.58, may be held 
 31.9   in combination with the election to authorize imposition of the 
 31.10  tax under subdivision 1.  Whether to permit imposition of the 
 31.11  tax and issuance of bonds may be posed to the voters as a single 
 31.12  question.  The question must state that the sales tax revenues 
 31.13  are pledged to pay the bonds, but that the bonds are general 
 31.14  obligations and will be guaranteed by the city's property taxes. 
 31.15     (b) The issuance of bonds under this subdivision is not 
 31.16  subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 275.60. 
 31.17     (c) The bonds are not included in computing any debt 
 31.18  limitation applicable to the city, and the levy of taxes under 
 31.19  Minnesota Statutes, section 475.61, to pay principal of and 
 31.20  interest on the bonds is not subject to any levy limitation. 
 31.21  The aggregate principal amount of bonds, plus the aggregate of 
 31.22  the taxes used directly to pay eligible capital expenditures and 
 31.23  improvements may not exceed $71,500,000 $86,500,000, plus an 
 31.24  amount equal to the costs related to issuance of the bonds. 
 31.25     (d) The taxes may be pledged to and used for the payment of 
 31.26  the bonds and any bonds issued to refund them, only if the bonds 
 31.27  and any refunding bonds are general obligations of the city. 
 31.28     [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day after 
 31.29  compliance by the governing body of the city of Rochester with 
 31.30  Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivision 3. 
 31.31     Sec. 18.  Laws 1998, chapter 389, article 8, section 43, 
 31.32  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 31.33     Subd. 5.  [TERMINATION OF TAXES.] The taxes imposed under 
 31.34  subdivisions 1 and 2 expire when the city council determines 
 31.35  that sufficient funds have been received from the taxes to 
 31.36  finance the projects and to prepay or retire at maturity the 
 32.1   principal, interest, and premium due on any bonds issued for the 
 32.2   projects under subdivision 4, but no later than June 30, 2013.  
 32.3   Any funds remaining after completion of the project and 
 32.4   retirement or redemption of the bonds may be placed in the 
 32.5   general fund of the city.  The taxes imposed under subdivisions 
 32.6   1 and 2 may expire at an earlier time if the city so determines 
 32.7   by ordinance. 
 32.8      [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day after 
 32.9   compliance by the governing body of the city of Rochester with 
 32.10  Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivision 3. 
 32.11     Sec. 19.  [TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP.] 
 32.12     Subdivision 1.  [CREATION.] The commissioner of 
 32.13  transportation shall create a technical advisory group 
 32.14  consisting of one senior manager and two administration staff 
 32.15  from each of the following state agencies: 
 32.16     (1) department of transportation; 
 32.17     (2) department of natural resources; 
 32.18     (3) pollution control agency; and 
 32.19     (4) the board of soil and water resources. 
 32.20     The group shall conduct research, evaluate alternatives, 
 32.21  and make findings and recommendations on streamlining the 
 32.22  process of environmental review for transportation-related 
 32.23  projects.  The commissioner of each agency shall appoint the 
 32.24  respective members from that agency by July 1, 2002.  The 
 32.25  commissioner of transportation or a senior manager appointed by 
 32.26  the commissioner of transportation shall chair the group. 
 32.27     Subd. 2.  [REPORT.] The technical advisory group shall 
 32.28  submit a comprehensive report to the senate and house of 
 32.29  representatives committees having jurisdiction over 
 32.30  environmental policy and transportation policy and finance by 
 32.31  January 15, 2003.  The report must make findings and 
 32.32  recommendations, including actions that should be taken, 
 32.33  recommendations on reporting mitigating costs for the previous 
 32.34  five years and for the future, and the statutory changes 
 32.35  necessary to effect a more streamlined process for environmental 
 32.36  review, assessment, and approval without weakening the substance 
 33.1   of existing environmental protections. 
 33.2      Sec. 20.  [BRAINERD LAKES REST AREA.] 
 33.3      (a) Notwithstanding other law: 
 33.4      (1) the commissioner of transportation may enter into a 
 33.5   joint venture with Crow Wing county, the commissioner of natural 
 33.6   resources, and the Brainerd Lakes area chamber of commerce or 
 33.7   similar nonprofit entity that provides regional travel 
 33.8   information and services in connection with the operation of 
 33.9   facilities at the class I rest area to be constructed between 
 33.10  Brainerd and Little Falls on state highway No. 371 in the 
 33.11  vicinity of the Crow Wing state park; 
 33.12     (2) the chamber or similar entity may be a tenant in the 
 33.13  facility and may operate, advertise membership, run a 
 33.14  concession, including a gift shop in the facility, and take 
 33.15  revenue from the concession to support its nonprofit activities 
 33.16  within the rest area building; 
 33.17     (3) the commissioner may enter into a lease with the 
 33.18  chamber or similar entity.  The lease may be for a term of up to 
 33.19  20 years and may be renewed for additional terms of up to 20 
 33.20  years.  Some or all of the consideration from the chamber or 
 33.21  similar entity for the lease may be in the form of in-kind 
 33.22  contribution to improvements to the rest area facility; and 
 33.23     (4) the chamber or similar entity may advertise its 
 33.24  presence and services in the rest area along state highways, 
 33.25  including on rest area grounds and along state highway No. 371 
 33.26  within one-half mile of the rest area exit. 
 33.27     (b) The conditions, exemptions, and terms set out in this 
 33.28  act are intended to apply only to the rest area to be built on 
 33.29  state highway No. 371 between Little Falls and Brainerd. 
 33.30     (c) It is understood that because of lack of available 
 33.31  funding and other higher priorities, the unique circumstances, 
 33.32  including exceptional volume, site requirements and limitations, 
 33.33  and other unique circumstances, the rest area could not be built 
 33.34  and operated in the most desirable way without the contributions 
 33.35  of all the parties. 
 33.36     (d) The commissioner of transportation and the partners in 
 34.1   this rest area shall mutually develop and execute an agreement 
 34.2   to identify and accept responsibility for their respective 
 34.3   portion of construction, maintenance, and operating costs of the 
 34.4   facility based on their spatial requirements.  The 
 34.5   responsibilities could be through direct funding or in-kind 
 34.6   contributions as mutually agreed. 
 34.7      Sec. 21.  [CONTRACTS.] 
 34.8      Notwithstanding Laws 2002, chapter 220, article 10, section 
 34.9   37, the commissioner of transportation may enter into contracts 
 34.10  or renew existing contracts for professional or technical 
 34.11  services when general funds are not used to pay for the 
 34.12  contracted services. 
 34.13     Sec. 22.  [I-35W CONSTRUCTION FUNDING.] 
 34.14     By January 1, 2004, the commissioner of transportation 
 34.15  shall reserve construction funds necessary to ensure the 
 34.16  completion of a southbound exit and northbound entrance ramp 
 34.17  connecting I-35W with county state-aid highway No. 3 and a 
 34.18  northbound exit ramp connection to east 28th Street in the city 
 34.19  of Minneapolis, Hennepin county.  Construction shall begin by 
 34.20  July 1, 2004, and be completed by December 31, 2009.  The funds 
 34.21  reserved shall be available until fully expended. 
 34.22     Sec. 23.  [NORTHERN ZONE LOAD RESTRICTION STUDY.] 
 34.23     The commissioner of transportation shall conduct a study of 
 34.24  load restrictions and seasonal load increases in the northern 
 34.25  zone of Minnesota and make recommendations regarding the 
 34.26  establishment of one or more new zones given the varying climate 
 34.27  in the northern area of the state.  The commissioner shall 
 34.28  report findings back to the committees of the senate and house 
 34.29  of representatives with jurisdiction over transportation policy 
 34.30  by December 15, 2002. 
 34.31     Sec. 24.  [EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICATION.] 
 34.32     Section 15 is effective the day following final enactment 
 34.33  and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, 
 34.34  Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.  Section 19 is effective the day 
 34.35  following final enactment and expires January 2, 2003.  Sections 
 34.36  3 to 10 and 23 are effective the day following final enactment.