HF 3278

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/21/2023 08:27am

A bill for an act
relating to state government; establishing a State Boundary Adjustment Planning
Commission; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin TITLE.
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new text begin This act may be referred to as the "Reorganization of Counties Knowledge Study and
County Organization Working Sessions Act."
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Sec. 2. new text begin STATE BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT PLANNING COMMISSION.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Commission established. new text end

new text begin A State Boundary Adjustment Planning
Commission is established. The purpose of the commission is to study and recommend to
the legislature a pathway for counties that border the states of North Dakota or South Dakota
to be separated from the legal boundaries of Minnesota and annexed into the boundaries of
one of those states.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership; officers. new text end

new text begin (a) The commission consists of the following members:
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new text begin (1) the members of the house of representatives and the senate whose legislative districts
include counties with a boundary on the border of either North Dakota or South Dakota;
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new text begin (2) one member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house;
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new text begin (3) one member of the house of representatives, appointed by the minority leader of the
house;
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new text begin (4) one member of the senate, appointed by the majority leader of the senate;
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new text begin (5) one member of the senate, appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
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new text begin (6) one member of the county board of each county with a boundary on the border of
North Dakota or South Dakota, appointed by the applicable county board; and
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new text begin (7) two members of the public, appointed by the governor.
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new text begin (b) Additional members, including representatives of interested counties that do not
share a border with North Dakota or South Dakota, may be appointed to the commission
by majority vote of the members identified in paragraph (a).
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new text begin (c) The commission must elect a chair, vice chair, and other officers from among its
membership. The chair and vice chair positions must be filled by a member of the legislature
whose legislative district includes a county with a boundary on the border of either North
Dakota or South Dakota.
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new text begin (d) Appointments to the commission must be made no later than July 15, 2023. The
most senior member of the legislature from among the delegation of members of the
legislature with a district boundary that includes the border of North Dakota or South Dakota
must convene the first meeting of the commission no later than August 1, 2023. To the
extent practicable, all meetings of the commission must be conducted in counties that border
North Dakota or South Dakota. Meetings of the commission are subject to Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 13D.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The commission must:
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new text begin (1) solicit input from members of the public regarding the commission's purpose as
described in subdivision 1, prioritizing input from members of the public residing in counties
with a boundary on the North Dakota or South Dakota border;
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new text begin (2) solicit input from experts in other states that have experience with similar boundary
adjustment proposals;
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new text begin (3) review applicable laws and other precedents in federal and state law that govern state
boundary adjustments;
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new text begin (4) study potential impacts of a boundary adjustment on the state's budget and other
operations of government; and
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new text begin (5) propose a pathway to authorize interested counties to seek a boundary adjustment
and annexation by the state of North Dakota or South Dakota, including any draft legislation
necessary to facilitate that process.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Administrative support. new text end

new text begin The Legislative Coordinating Commission must
provide administrative support to facilitate the commission's work.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The commission must submit a report to all members of the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over rules and state and local government finance and policy
no later than February 1, 2024, describing its work.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The commission expires upon submission of the report required
by subdivision 5.
new text end