HF 297

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/19/2015 05:13pm

A bill for an act
relating to counties; providing a process for making the office of county
auditor-treasurer appointive in Mille Lacs County.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin MILLE LACS COUNTY AUDITOR-TREASURER OFFICE MAY
BE APPOINTED.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Authority to make office appointive. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding Minnesota
Statutes, section 382.01, upon adoption of a resolution by the Mille Lacs County Board of
Commissioners, the office of county auditor-treasurer is not elective but must be filled by
appointment by the county board as provided in the resolution.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Board controls; may change as long as duties done. new text end

new text begin Upon adoption of a
resolution by the Mille Lacs County Board of Commissioners and subject to subdivisions
3 and 4, the duties of an elected official required by statute whose office is made appointive
as authorized by this section must be discharged by the Mille Lacs County Board of
Commissioners acting through a department head appointed by the board for that purpose.
Reorganization, reallocation, delegation, or other administrative change or transfer does
not diminish, prohibit, or avoid the discharge of duties required by statute.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Incumbents to complete term. new text end

new text begin The person elected at the last general
election to an office made appointive under this section must serve in that capacity and
perform the duties, functions, and responsibilities required by statute until the completion
of the term of office to which the person was elected or until a vacancy occurs in the
office, whichever occurs earlier.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Publishing resolution; petition; referendum. new text end

new text begin (a) Before the adoption of
the resolution to provide for the appointment of the county auditor-treasurer, the county
board must publish a proposed resolution notifying the public of its intent to consider the
issue once each week for two consecutive weeks in the official publication of the county.
Following publication and prior to formally adopting the resolution, the county board
shall provide an opportunity at its next regular meeting for public comment relating to
the issue. After the public comment opportunity, at the same meeting or a subsequent
meeting, the Mille Lacs County Board of Commissioners may adopt a resolution that
provides for the appointment of the county auditor-treasurer as permitted in this section.
The resolution must be approved by at least 80 percent of the members of the county
board. The resolution may take effect 60 days after it is adopted, or at a later date stated in
the resolution, unless a petition is filed as provided in paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin (b) Within 60 days after the county board adopts the resolution, a petition requesting
a referendum may be filed with the county auditor-treasurer. The petition must be signed
by at least ten percent of the registered voters of the county. The petition must meet
the requirements of the secretary of state, as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section
204B.071, and any rules adopted to implement that section. If the petition is sufficient,
the question of appointing the county auditor-treasurer must be placed on the ballot at a
regular or special election. If a majority of the voters of the county voting on the question
vote in favor of appointment, the resolution may be implemented.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day after the Mille Lacs County
Board of Commissioners and its chief clerical officer timely complete their compliance
with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3.
new text end