HF 1500

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:51am

A bill for an act
relating to towns; requiring special town meetings upon petition of electors;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 365.52, subdivision 1; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 365.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [365.103] REFERENDUM PERMITTED.
new text end

new text begin The town board may, or upon a petition of at least 20 percent of the electors must,
hold a referendum to obtain the approval of the electors on expenditures for a purchase or
capital improvement that will cost a total of $....... or more in a year.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 365.52, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

How called; statement; petition.

A special town meeting may be
held to conduct any lawful business. To call a special meeting, the supervisors and town
clerk, or any two of them together with at least 12 other town landowners, shall file a
statement in the town clerk's office. The statement must tell why the meeting is called, the
particular business to be transacted, and that the interests of the town require the meeting.
deleted text begin A special town meeting may also be called on petition of 20 percent of the electors of the
town. deleted text end new text begin If at least 20 percent of the electors of the town submit a petition to the town clerk
requesting that a special town meeting be called, the special town meeting must be held
within 30 days of the day the petition is submitted unless the petition requests a later date.
The petition must state at the top of each page of signatures the reason for the special town
meeting, the date on which the meeting is requested to be held, any alternative dates that
would be acceptable, and provide space for the printed name and address and signature of
each elector signing the petition. Failure to schedule a special town meeting for which a
petition is properly filed with the town clerk and that is for a lawful town purpose is
a failure to perform a duty under section 609.43, clause (1). new text end The percentage is of the
number of voters at the last general election.