HF 581

as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to state budgeting; providing for increased 
  1.3             public participation in the state budget process; 
  1.4             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.5             chapter 16A. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [16A.104] [PROPOSED STATE TAXES; PUBLIC 
  1.8   NOTIFICATION AND PARTICIPATION.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [NOTIFICATION OF HEARING.] Within 14 days 
  1.10  of convening the legislative session in each odd-numbered year, 
  1.11  the chief clerk of the house of representatives and the 
  1.12  secretary of the senate shall notify the commissioner of 
  1.13  administration of the date, time, and location of the first 
  1.14  committee hearing in each legislative body at which the budget 
  1.15  resolution required under section 16A.102 is to be heard. 
  1.16     Subd. 2.  [NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAXES.] At least two weeks 
  1.17  prior to the scheduled date of the house of representatives or 
  1.18  senate hearing specified in subdivision 1, whichever is earlier, 
  1.19  the commissioner of administration shall prepare and deliver a 
  1.20  notice, to as many residents of the state as possible, 
  1.21  consisting of (i) the governor's recommended budget targets for 
  1.22  the next two bienniums required under section 16A.102, 
  1.23  subdivision 1, (ii) the dates, times, and locations of the 
  1.24  legislative hearings described in subdivision 1, and (iii) other 
  1.25  background information on the state budget the commissioner 
  2.1   determines is appropriate.  The commissioner shall compile a 
  2.2   mailing list for the notice from income tax records and other 
  2.3   data sources available within state agencies.  In the case of 
  2.4   multiple residents living at the same address, separate notices 
  2.5   to each resident are not required. 
  2.6      Subd. 3.  [PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT.] At least two business 
  2.7   days but not more than six business days before the earlier of 
  2.8   the two hearings specified in subdivision 1, the commissioner of 
  2.9   administration shall publish a notice of the legislature's 
  2.10  intent to adopt a budget resolution in all official newspapers 
  2.11  of general circulation that have a circulation of at least ten 
  2.12  percent of the population in any county in the state, and that 
  2.13  are published at least once per week.  The advertisement must be 
  2.14  at least one-eighth page in size of a standard-size or a 
  2.15  tabloid-size newspaper.  The advertisement must not be placed in 
  2.16  the part of the newspaper where legal notices and classified 
  2.17  advertisements appear.  The advertisement must contain the 
  2.18  governor's recommended revenue targets for the next two 
  2.19  bienniums required under section 16A.102, subdivision 1, the 
  2.20  dates, times, and locations of the legislative hearings 
  2.21  described in subdivision 1, and other information the 
  2.22  commissioner of administration deems appropriate to inform 
  2.23  citizens about the state budget. 
  2.24     Subd. 4.  [PUBLIC HEARING; RECOMMENDATION OF BUDGET 
  2.25  RESOLUTION.] At each of the legislative hearings specified in 
  2.26  subdivision 1, the legislative committee shall discuss and seek 
  2.27  public comment on the proposed budget resolution.  The 
  2.28  percentage change in revenues from each major revenue source and 
  2.29  the specific purposes for which revenues are being increased, if 
  2.30  they are being increased, must be discussed.  The public must be 
  2.31  allowed to speak and to ask questions.  If the legislative 
  2.32  committee recommends adoption of a budget resolution to its 
  2.33  governing body, it must occur either at the initial hearing 
  2.34  designated in subdivision 1, or at a subsequent hearing the 
  2.35  date, time, and location of which is announced at the initial 
  2.36  hearing.