Minnesota Session Laws - 2016, Regular Session

CHAPTER 95--H.F.No. 1674

An act

relating to state government; modifying procedures for creation, annexation, detachment, and dissolution of sanitary districts; modifying filing and hearing requirements;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 442A.04, subdivisions 2, 3, 8, 9; 442A.05, subdivisions 2, 4, 9, 10; 442A.06, subdivisions 2, 4, 9, 10; 442A.07, subdivisions 2, 3, 8, 9; 442A.08; 442A.13, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.04, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Proceeding to create sanitary district.

(a) A proceeding for the creation of a district may be initiated by a petition to the chief administrative law judge containing the following:

(1) a request for creation of the proposed district;

(2) the name proposed for the district, to include the words "sanitary district";

(3) a legal description of the territory of the proposed district deleted text begin , including justification for inclusion or exclusion for all parcels deleted text end ;

(4) addresses of every property owner within the proposed district boundaries as provided by the county auditor, with certification from the county auditor; two sets of address labels for said owners; and a list of e-mail addresses for said owners, if available;

(5) a statement showing the existence in the territory of the conditions requisite for creation of a district as prescribed in subdivision 1;

(6) a statement of the territorial units represented by and the qualifications of the respective signers; and

(7) the post office address of each signer, given under the signer's signature.

A petition may consist of separate writings of like effect, each signed by one or more qualified persons, and all such writings, when filed, shall be considered together as a single petition.

(b) Petitioners must conduct and pay for a public meeting to inform citizens of the proposed creation of the district. At the meeting, information must be provided, including a description of the district's proposed structure, bylaws, territory, ordinances, budget, and charges and a description of the territory of the proposed district deleted text begin , including justification for inclusion or exclusion for all parcels deleted text end . Notice of the meeting must be published for two successive weeks in a qualified newspaper, as defined under chapter 331A, must be published within the territory of the proposed district or, if there is no qualified newspaper published within the territory, in a qualified newspaper of general circulation in the territory, and must be posted for two weeks in each territorial unit of the proposed district and on the Web site of the proposed district, if one exists. Notice of the meeting must be mailed or e-mailed at least three weeks prior to the meeting to all property tax billing addresses for all parcels included in the proposed district. The following must be submitted to the chief administrative law judge with the petition:

(1) a record of the meeting, including copies of all information provided at the meeting;

(2) a copy of the mailing list provided by the county auditor and used to notify property owners of the meeting;

(3) a copy of the e-mail list used to notify property owners of the meeting;

(4) the printer's affidavit of publication of public meeting notice;

(5) an affidavit of posting the public meeting notice with information on dates and locations of posting; and

(6) the minutes or other record of the public meeting documenting deleted text begin that deleted text end the deleted text begin following deleted text end topics new text begin that new text end were discussed deleted text begin : deleted text end new text begin ; new text end printer's affidavit of publication of each resolution, with a copy of the resolution from the newspaper attached; and the affidavit of resolution posting on the town or proposed district Web site.

(c) Every petition must be signed as follows:

(1) for each municipality wherein there is a territorial unit of the proposed district, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the municipal governing body;

(2) for each organized town wherein there is a territorial unit of the proposed district, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the town board; and

(3) for each county wherein there is a territorial unit of the proposed district consisting of an unorganized area, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the county board or by at least 20 percent of the voters residing and owning land within the unit.

(d) Each resolution must be published in the official newspaper of the governing body adopting it and becomes effective 40 days after publication, unless within said period there shall be filed with the governing body a petition signed by qualified electors of a territorial unit of the proposed district, equal in number to five percent of the number of electors voting at the last preceding election of the governing body, requesting a referendum on the resolution, in which case the resolution may not become effective until approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting at a regular election or special election that the governing body may call. The notice of an election and the ballot to be used must contain the text of the resolution followed by the question: "Shall the above resolution be approved?"

(e) If any signer is alleged to be a landowner in a territorial unit, a statement as to the signer's landowner status as shown by the county auditor's tax assessment records, certified by the auditor, shall be attached to or endorsed upon the petition.

(f) At any time before publication of the public notice required in subdivision 3, additional signatures may be added to the petition or amendments of the petition may be made to correct or remedy any error or defect in signature or otherwise except a material error or defect in the description of the territory of the proposed district. If the qualifications of any signer of a petition are challenged, the chief administrative law judge shall determine the challenge forthwith on the allegations of the petition, the county auditor's certificate of land ownership, and such other evidence as may be received.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.04, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Notice of intent to create sanitary district.

(a) Upon receipt of a petition and the record of the public meeting required under subdivision 2, the chief administrative law judge shall publish a notice of intent to create the proposed sanitary district in deleted text begin the State Register deleted text end new text begin a newspaper of general circulation within the territory of the proposed district, new text end and mail or e-mail information of that publication to each property owner in the affected territory at the owner's address as given by the county auditor. deleted text begin The information must state the date that the notice will appear in the State Register and give the Web site location for the State Register. deleted text end The notice must:

(1) describe the petition for creation of the district;

(2) describe the territory affected by the petition;

(3) allow 30 days for submission of written comments on the petition;

(4) state that a person who objects to the petition may submit a written request for hearing to the chief administrative law judge within 30 days of the publication of the notice deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end ; and

(5) state that if a timely request for hearing is not received, the chief administrative law judge may make a decision on the petition.

(b) If 50 or more individual timely requests for hearing are received, the chief administrative law judge must hold a hearing on the petition according to the contested case provisions of chapter 14. The sanitary district proposers are responsible for paying all costs involved in publicizing and holding a hearing on the petition.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.04, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Notice of order creating sanitary district.

The chief administrative law judge shall publish a notice deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end of the final order creating a sanitary district deleted text begin , referring to the date of the order and describing the territory of the district, deleted text end new text begin in a newspaper of general circulation within the territory of the proposed district, new text end and shall mail or e-mail deleted text begin information of the publication deleted text end new text begin a notice of the final order creating a sanitary district new text end to each property owner in the affected territory at the owner's address as given by the county auditor. deleted text begin The information must state the date that the notice will appear in the State Register and give the Web site location for the State Register. deleted text end The notice must:

(1) describe the petition for creation of the district;

(2) describe the territory affected by the petition; and

(3) state that a certified copy of the order shall be delivered to the secretary of state for filing ten days after deleted text begin public notice deleted text end new text begin publication new text end of the order deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end .

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.04, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Filing.

Ten days after deleted text begin public notice deleted text end new text begin publication new text end of the order deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end , the chief administrative law judge shall deliver a certified copy of the order to the secretary of state for filing. Thereupon, the creation of the district is deemed complete, and it shall be conclusively presumed that all requirements of law relating thereto have been complied with. The chief administrative law judge shall also transmit a certified copy of the order for filing to the county auditor of each county and the clerk or recorder of each municipality and organized town wherein any part of the territory of the district is situated and to the secretary of the district board when elected.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.05, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Proceeding for annexation.

(a) A proceeding for sanitary district annexation may be initiated by a petition to the chief administrative law judge containing the following:

(1) a request for proposed annexation to a sanitary district;

(2) a legal description of the territory of the proposed annexation deleted text begin , including justification for inclusion or exclusion for all parcels deleted text end ;

(3) addresses of every property owner within the existing sanitary district and proposed annexation area boundaries as provided by the county auditor, with certification from the county auditor; two sets of address labels for said owners; and a list of e-mail addresses for said owners, if available;

(4) a statement showing the existence in such territory of the conditions requisite for annexation to a district as prescribed in subdivision 1;

(5) a statement of the territorial units represented by and qualifications of the respective signers; and

(6) the post office address of each signer, given under the signer's signature.

A petition may consist of separate writings of like effect, each signed by one or more qualified persons, and all such writings, when filed, shall be considered together as a single petition.

(b) Petitioners must conduct and pay for a public meeting to inform citizens of the proposed annexation to a sanitary district. At the meeting, information must be provided, including a description of the existing sanitary district's structure, bylaws, territory, ordinances, budget, and charges; a description of the existing sanitary district's territory; and a description of the territory of the proposed annexation area deleted text begin , including justification for inclusion or exclusion for all parcels for the annexation area deleted text end . Notice of the meeting must be published for two successive weeks in a qualified newspaper, as defined under chapter 331A, must be published within the territories of the existing sanitary district and proposed annexation area or, if there is no qualified newspaper published within those territories, in a qualified newspaper of general circulation in the territories, and must be posted for two weeks in each territorial unit of the existing sanitary district and proposed annexation area and on the Web site of the existing sanitary district, if one exists. Notice of the meeting must be mailed or e-mailed at least three weeks prior to the meeting to all property tax billing addresses for all parcels included in the existing sanitary district and proposed annexation area. The following must be submitted to the chief administrative law judge with the petition:

(1) a record of the meeting, including copies of all information provided at the meeting;

(2) a copy of the mailing list provided by the county auditor and used to notify property owners of the meeting;

(3) a copy of the e-mail list used to notify property owners of the meeting;

(4) the printer's affidavit of publication of the public meeting notice;

(5) an affidavit of posting the public meeting notice with information on dates and locations of posting; and

(6) the minutes or other record of the public meeting documenting deleted text begin that deleted text end the deleted text begin following deleted text end topics deleted text begin were deleted text end discussed deleted text begin : deleted text end new text begin ; new text end printer's affidavit of publication of each resolution, with a copy of the resolution from the newspaper attached; and the affidavit of resolution posting on the town or existing sanitary district Web site.

(c) Every petition must be signed as follows:

(1) by an authorized officer of the existing sanitary district pursuant to a resolution of the board;

(2) for each municipality wherein there is a territorial unit of the proposed annexation area, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the municipal governing body;

(3) for each organized town wherein there is a territorial unit of the proposed annexation area, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the town board; and

(4) for each county wherein there is a territorial unit of the proposed annexation area consisting of an unorganized area, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the county board or by at least 20 percent of the voters residing and owning land within the unit.

(d) Each resolution must be published in the official newspaper of the governing body adopting it and becomes effective 40 days after publication, unless within said period there shall be filed with the governing body a petition signed by qualified electors of a territorial unit of the proposed annexation area, equal in number to five percent of the number of electors voting at the last preceding election of the governing body, requesting a referendum on the resolution, in which case the resolution may not become effective until approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting at a regular election or special election that the governing body may call. The notice of an election and the ballot to be used must contain the text of the resolution followed by the question: "Shall the above resolution be approved?"

(e) If any signer is alleged to be a landowner in a territorial unit, a statement as to the signer's landowner status as shown by the county auditor's tax assessment records, certified by the auditor, shall be attached to or endorsed upon the petition.

(f) At any time before publication of the public notice required in subdivision 4, additional signatures may be added to the petition or amendments of the petition may be made to correct or remedy any error or defect in signature or otherwise except a material error or defect in the description of the territory of the proposed annexation area. If the qualifications of any signer of a petition are challenged, the chief administrative law judge shall determine the challenge forthwith on the allegations of the petition, the county auditor's certificate of land ownership, and such other evidence as may be received.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.05, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Notice of intent for sanitary district annexation.

(a) Upon receipt of a petition and the record of public meeting required under subdivision 2, the chief administrative law judge shall publish a notice of intent for sanitary district annexation in deleted text begin the State Register deleted text end new text begin a newspaper of general circulation within the territories of the existing sanitary district and proposed annexation area, new text end and mail or e-mail information of the publication to each property owner in the affected territory at the owner's address as given by the county auditor. deleted text begin The information must state the date that the notice will appear in the State Register and give the Web site location for the State Register. deleted text end The notice must:

(1) describe the petition for sanitary district annexation;

(2) describe the territory affected by the petition;

(3) allow 30 days for submission of written comments on the petition;

(4) state that a person who objects to the petition may submit a written request for hearing to the chief administrative law judge within 30 days of the publication of the notice deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end ; and

(5) state that if a timely request for hearing is not received, the chief administrative law judge may make a decision on the petition.

(b) If 50 or more individual timely requests for hearing are received, the chief administrative law judge must hold a hearing on the petition according to the contested case provisions of chapter 14. The sanitary district or annexation area proposers are responsible for paying all costs involved in publicizing and holding a hearing on the petition.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.05, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Notice of order for sanitary district annexation.

The chief administrative law judge shall publish in deleted text begin the State Register deleted text end new text begin a newspaper of general circulation within the territory of the proposed district, new text end a notice of the final order for sanitary district annexation, referring to the date of the order and describing the territory of the annexation area, and shall mail or e-mail deleted text begin information of the publication deleted text end new text begin a notice of final order for sanitary district annexation new text end to each property owner in the affected territory at the owner's address as given by the county auditor. deleted text begin The information must state the date that the notice will appear in the State Register and give the Web site location for the State Register. deleted text end The notice must:

(1) describe the petition for annexation to the district;

(2) describe the territory affected by the petition; and

(3) state that a certified copy of the order shall be delivered to the secretary of state for filing ten days after deleted text begin public deleted text end new text begin publication of the new text end notice of the order deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end .

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.05, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Filing.

Ten days after deleted text begin public deleted text end new text begin mailing new text end notice of the order deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end , the chief administrative law judge shall deliver a certified copy of the order to the secretary of state for filing. Thereupon, the sanitary district annexation is deemed complete, and it shall be conclusively presumed that all requirements of law relating thereto have been complied with. The chief administrative law judge shall also transmit a certified copy of the order for filing to the county auditor of each county and the clerk or recorder of each municipality and organized town wherein any part of the territory of the district, including the newly annexed area, is situated and to the secretary of the district board.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.06, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Proceeding for detachment.

(a) A proceeding for sanitary district detachment may be initiated by a petition to the chief administrative law judge containing the following:

(1) a request for proposed detachment from a sanitary district;

(2) a statement that the requisite conditions for inclusion in a district no longer exist in the proposed detachment area;

(3) a legal description of the territory of the proposed detachment deleted text begin , including justification for inclusion or exclusion for all parcels deleted text end ;

(4) addresses of every property owner within the sanitary district and proposed detachment area boundaries as provided by the county auditor, with certification from the county auditor; two sets of address labels for said owners; and a list of e-mail addresses for said owners, if available;

(5) a statement of the territorial units represented by and qualifications of the respective signers; and

(6) the post office address of each signer, given under the signer's signature.

A petition may consist of separate writings of like effect, each signed by one or more qualified persons, and all such writings, when filed, shall be considered together as a single petition.

(b) Petitioners must conduct and pay for a public meeting to inform citizens of the proposed detachment from a sanitary district. At the meeting, information must be provided, including a description of the existing district's territory and a description of the territory of the proposed detachment area deleted text begin , including justification for inclusion or exclusion for all parcels for the detachment area deleted text end . Notice of the meeting must be published for two successive weeks in a qualified newspaper, as defined under chapter 331A, must be published within the territories of the existing sanitary district and proposed detachment area or, if there is no qualified newspaper published within those territories, in a qualified newspaper of general circulation in the territories, and must be posted for two weeks in each territorial unit of the existing sanitary district and proposed detachment area and on the Web site of the existing sanitary district, if one exists. Notice of the meeting must be mailed or e-mailed at least three weeks prior to the meeting to all property tax billing addresses for all parcels included in the sanitary district. The following must be submitted to the chief administrative law judge with the petition:

(1) a record of the meeting, including copies of all information provided at the meeting;

(2) a copy of the mailing list provided by the county auditor and used to notify property owners of the meeting;

(3) a copy of the e-mail list used to notify property owners of the meeting;

(4) the printer's affidavit of publication of public meeting notice;

(5) an affidavit of posting the public meeting notice with information on dates and locations of posting; and

(6) the minutes or other record of the public meeting documenting deleted text begin that deleted text end the deleted text begin following deleted text end topics deleted text begin were deleted text end discussed deleted text begin : deleted text end new text begin ; new text end printer's affidavit of publication of each resolution, with a copy of the resolution from the newspaper attached; and the affidavit of resolution posting on the town or existing sanitary district Web site.

(c) Every petition must be signed as follows:

(1) by an authorized officer of the existing sanitary district pursuant to a resolution of the board;

(2) for each municipality wherein there is a territorial unit of the proposed detachment area, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the municipal governing body;

(3) for each organized town wherein there is a territorial unit of the proposed detachment area, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the town board; and

(4) for each county wherein there is a territorial unit of the proposed detachment area consisting of an unorganized area, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the county board or by at least 20 percent of the voters residing and owning land within the unit.

(d) Each resolution must be published in the official newspaper of the governing body adopting it and becomes effective 40 days after publication, unless within said period there shall be filed with the governing body a petition signed by qualified electors of a territorial unit of the proposed detachment area, equal in number to five percent of the number of electors voting at the last preceding election of the governing body, requesting a referendum on the resolution, in which case the resolution may not become effective until approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting at a regular election or special election that the governing body may call. The notice of an election and the ballot to be used must contain the text of the resolution followed by the question: "Shall the above resolution be approved?"

(e) If any signer is alleged to be a landowner in a territorial unit, a statement as to the signer's landowner status as shown by the county auditor's tax assessment records, certified by the auditor, shall be attached to or endorsed upon the petition.

(f) At any time before publication of the public notice required in subdivision 4, additional signatures may be added to the petition or amendments of the petition may be made to correct or remedy any error or defect in signature or otherwise except a material error or defect in the description of the territory of the proposed detachment area. If the qualifications of any signer of a petition are challenged, the chief administrative law judge shall determine the challenge forthwith on the allegations of the petition, the county auditor's certificate of land ownership, and such other evidence as may be received.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.06, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Notice of intent for sanitary district detachment.

(a) Upon receipt of a petition and record of public meeting required under subdivision 2, the chief administrative law judge shall publish a notice of intent for sanitary district detachment in deleted text begin the State Register deleted text end new text begin a newspaper of general circulation within the territories of the existing sanitary district and proposed detachment area, new text end and mail or e-mail information of the publication to each property owner in the affected territory at the owner's address as given by the county auditor. deleted text begin The information must state the date that the notice will appear in the State Register and give the Web site location for the State Register. deleted text end The notice must:

(1) describe the petition for sanitary district detachment;

(2) describe the territory affected by the petition;

(3) allow 30 days for submission of written comments on the petition;

(4) state that a person who objects to the petition may submit a written request for hearing to the chief administrative law judge within 30 days of the publication of the notice deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end ; and

(5) state that if a timely request for hearing is not received, the chief administrative law judge may make a decision on the petition.

(b) If 50 or more individual timely requests for hearing are received, the chief administrative law judge must hold a hearing on the petition according to the contested case provisions of chapter 14. The sanitary district or detachment area proposers are responsible for paying all costs involved in publicizing and holding a hearing on the petition.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.06, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Notice of order for sanitary district detachment.

The chief administrative law judge shall publish in deleted text begin the State Register deleted text end new text begin a newspaper of general circulation within the territory of the proposed district new text end a notice of the final order for sanitary district detachment, referring to the date of the order and describing the territory of the detached area and shall mail or e-mail deleted text begin information of the publication deleted text end new text begin a notice of the final order for sanitary district detachment new text end to each property owner in the affected territory at the owner's address as given by the county auditor. deleted text begin The information must state the date that the notice will appear in the State Register and give the Web site location for the State Register. deleted text end The notice must:

(1) describe the petition for detachment from the district;

(2) describe the territory affected by the petition; and

(3) state that a certified copy of the order shall be delivered to the secretary of state for filing ten days after deleted text begin public deleted text end new text begin publication of new text end notice of the order deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end .

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.06, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Filing.

Ten days after deleted text begin public deleted text end new text begin publication of new text end notice of the order deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end , the chief administrative law judge shall deliver a certified copy of the order to the secretary of state for filing. Thereupon, the sanitary district detachment is deemed complete, and it shall be conclusively presumed that all requirements of law relating thereto have been complied with. The chief administrative law judge shall also transmit a certified copy of the order for filing to the county auditor of each county and the clerk or recorder of each municipality and organized town wherein any part of the territory of the district, including the newly detached area, is situated and to the secretary of the district board.

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.07, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Proceeding for dissolution.

(a) A proceeding for sanitary district dissolution may be initiated by a petition to the chief administrative law judge containing the following:

(1) a request for proposed sanitary district dissolution;

(2) a statement that the requisite conditions for a sanitary district no longer exist in the district area;

(3) a proposal for distribution of the remaining funds of the district, if any, among the related governmental subdivisions;

(4) a legal description of the territory of the proposed dissolution;

(5) addresses of every property owner within the sanitary district boundaries as provided by the county auditor, with certification from the county auditor; two sets of address labels for said owners; and a list of e-mail addresses for said owners, if available;

(6) a statement of the territorial units represented by and the qualifications of the respective signers; and

(7) the post office address of each signer, given under the signer's signature.

A petition may consist of separate writings of like effect, each signed by one or more qualified persons, and all such writings, when filed, shall be considered together as a single petition.

(b) Petitioners must conduct and pay for a public meeting to inform citizens of the proposed dissolution of a sanitary district. At the meeting, information must be provided, including a description of the existing district's territory. Notice of the meeting must be published for two successive weeks in a qualified newspaper, as defined under chapter 331A, must be published within the territory of the sanitary district or, if there is no qualified newspaper published within that territory, in a qualified newspaper of general circulation in the territory, and must be posted for two weeks in each territorial unit of the sanitary district and on the Web site of the existing sanitary district, if one exists. Notice of the meeting must be mailed or e-mailed at least three weeks prior to the meeting to all property tax billing addresses for all parcels included in the sanitary district. The following must be submitted to the chief administrative law judge with the petition:

(1) a record of the meeting, including copies of all information provided at the meeting;

(2) a copy of the mailing list provided by the county auditor and used to notify property owners of the meeting;

(3) a copy of the e-mail list used to notify property owners of the meeting;

(4) the printer's affidavit of publication of public meeting notice;

(5) an affidavit of posting the public meeting notice with information on dates and locations of posting; and

(6) the minutes or other record of the public meeting documenting deleted text begin that deleted text end the deleted text begin following deleted text end topics deleted text begin were deleted text end discussed deleted text begin : deleted text end new text begin ; new text end printer's affidavit of publication of each resolution, with a copy of the resolution from the newspaper attached; and the affidavit of resolution posting on the town or existing sanitary district Web site.

(c) Every petition must be signed as follows:

(1) by an authorized officer of the existing sanitary district pursuant to a resolution of the board;

(2) for each municipality wherein there is a territorial unit of the existing sanitary district, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the municipal governing body;

(3) for each organized town wherein there is a territorial unit of the existing sanitary district, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the town board; and

(4) for each county wherein there is a territorial unit of the existing sanitary district consisting of an unorganized area, by an authorized officer pursuant to a resolution of the county board or by at least 20 percent of the voters residing and owning land within the unit.

(d) Each resolution must be published in the official newspaper of the governing body adopting it and becomes effective 40 days after publication, unless within said period there shall be filed with the governing body a petition signed by qualified electors of a territorial unit of the district, equal in number to five percent of the number of electors voting at the last preceding election of the governing body, requesting a referendum on the resolution, in which case the resolution may not become effective until approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting at a regular election or special election that the governing body may call. The notice of an election and the ballot to be used must contain the text of the resolution followed by the question: "Shall the above resolution be approved?"

(e) If any signer is alleged to be a landowner in a territorial unit, a statement as to the signer's landowner status as shown by the county auditor's tax assessment records, certified by the auditor, shall be attached to or endorsed upon the petition.

(f) At any time before publication of the public notice required in subdivision 3, additional signatures may be added to the petition or amendments of the petition may be made to correct or remedy any error or defect in signature or otherwise except a material error or defect in the description of the territory of the proposed dissolution area. If the qualifications of any signer of a petition are challenged, the chief administrative law judge shall determine the challenge forthwith on the allegations of the petition, the county auditor's certificate of land ownership, and such other evidence as may be received.

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.07, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Notice of intent for sanitary district dissolution.

(a) Upon receipt of a petition and record of the public meeting required under subdivision 2, the chief administrative law judge shall publish a notice of intent of sanitary district dissolution deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end new text begin in a newspaper of general circulation within the territory of the proposed dissolution area, new text end and mail or e-mail information of the publication to each property owner in the affected territory at the owner's address as given by the county auditor. deleted text begin The information must state the date that the notice will appear in the State Register and give the Web site location for the State Register. deleted text end The notice must:

(1) describe the petition for sanitary district dissolution;

(2) describe the territory affected by the petition;

(3) allow 30 days for submission of written comments on the petition;

(4) state that a person who objects to the petition may submit a written request for hearing to the chief administrative law judge within 30 days of the publication of the notice deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end ; and

(5) state that if a timely request for hearing is not received, the chief administrative law judge may make a decision on the petition.

(b) If 50 or more individual timely requests for hearing are received, the chief administrative law judge must hold a hearing on the petition according to the contested case provisions of chapter 14. The sanitary district dissolution proposers are responsible for paying all costs involved in publicizing and holding a hearing on the petition.

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.07, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Notice of order for sanitary district dissolution.

The chief administrative law judge shall publish in deleted text begin the State Register deleted text end new text begin a newspaper of general circulation within the territory of the proposed district new text end a notice of the final order for sanitary district dissolution, referring to the date of the order and describing the territory of the dissolved district and shall mail or e-mail deleted text begin information of the publication deleted text end new text begin a notice of the final order for sanitary district dissolution new text end to each property owner in the affected territory at the owner's address as given by the county auditor. deleted text begin The information must state the date that the notice will appear in the State Register and give the Web site location of the State Register. deleted text end The notice must:

(1) describe the petition for dissolution of the district;

(2) describe the territory affected by the petition; and

(3) state that a certified copy of the order shall be delivered to the secretary of state for filing ten days after deleted text begin public deleted text end new text begin publication of new text end notice of the order deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end .

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.07, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Filing.

(a) Ten days after deleted text begin public deleted text end new text begin publication of new text end notice of the order deleted text begin in the State Register deleted text end , the chief administrative law judge shall deliver a certified copy of the order to the secretary of state for filing. Thereupon, the sanitary district dissolution is deemed complete, and it shall be conclusively presumed that all requirements of law relating thereto have been complied with. The chief administrative law judge shall also transmit a certified copy of the order for filing to the county auditor of each county and the clerk or recorder of each municipality and organized town wherein any part of the territory of the dissolved district is situated and to the secretary of the district board.

(b) The chief administrative law judge shall also transmit a certified copy of the order to the treasurer of the district, who must thereupon distribute the remaining funds of the district as directed by the order and who is responsible for the funds until so distributed.

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.08, is amended to read:

442A.08 JOINT PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING.

new text begin In all cases that proceed to a contested case hearing, new text end there must be a joint public informational meeting of the local governments of any proposed sanitary district creation, annexation, detachment, or dissolution. The joint public informational meeting must be held after the final mediation meeting or the final meeting held according to section 442A.02, subdivision 8, if any, and before the hearing on the matter is held. If no mediation meetings are held, the joint public informational meeting must be held after the initiating documents have been filed and before the hearing on the matter. The time, date, and place of the public informational meeting must be determined jointly by the local governments in the proposed creation, annexation, detachment, or dissolution areas and by the sanitary district, if one exists. The chair of the sanitary district, if one exists, and the responsible official for one of the local governments represented at the meeting must serve as the co-chairs for the informational meeting. Notice of the time, date, place, and purpose of the informational meeting must be posted by the sanitary district, if one exists, and local governments in designated places for posting notices. The sanitary district, if one exists, and represented local governments must also publish, at their own expense, notice in their respective official newspapers. If the same official newspaper is used by multiple local government representatives or the sanitary district, a joint notice may be published and the costs evenly divided. All notice required by this section must be provided at least ten days before the date for the public informational meeting. At the public informational meeting, all persons appearing must have an opportunity to be heard, but the co-chairs may, by mutual agreement, establish the amount of time allowed for each speaker. The sanitary district board, the local government representatives, and any resident or affected property owner may be represented by counsel and may place into the record of the informational meeting documents, expert opinions, or other materials supporting their positions on issues raised by the proposed proceeding. The secretary of the sanitary district, if one exists, or a person appointed by the chair must record minutes of the proceedings of the informational meeting and must make an audio recording of the informational meeting. The sanitary district, if one exists, or a person appointed by the chair must provide the chief administrative law judge and the represented local governments with a copy of the printed minutes and must provide the chief administrative law judge and the represented local governments with a copy of the audio recording. The record of the informational meeting for a proceeding under section 442A.04, 442A.05, 442A.06, or 442A.07 is admissible in any proceeding under this chapter and shall be taken into consideration by the chief administrative law judge or the chief administrative law judge's designee.

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 442A.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Hearings.

(a) Proceedings initiated by the submission of an initiating document or by the chief administrative law judge shall deleted text begin come on deleted text end new text begin be scheduled new text end for hearing within 30 to 60 days from receipt of the document by the chief administrative law judge or from the date of the chief administrative law judge's action, and the person conducting the hearing must submit an order no later than one year from the date of the first hearing.

(b) The place of the hearing shall be in the county where a majority of the affected territory is situated, and shall be established for the convenience of the parties.

(c) The chief administrative law judge shall mail notice of the hearing to the following parties: the sanitary district; any township or municipality presently governing the affected territory; any township or municipality abutting the affected territory; the county where the affected territory is situated; and each planning agency that has jurisdiction over the affected area.

(d) The chief administrative law judge shall see that notice of the hearing is published for two successive weeks in a legal newspaper of general circulation in the affected area.

(e) When the chief administrative law judge exercises authority to change the boundaries of the affected area so as to increase the quantity of land, the hearing shall be recessed and reconvened upon two weeks' published notice in a legal newspaper of general circulation in the affected area.

Presented to the governor May 4, 2016

Signed by the governor May 6, 2016, 3:21 p.m.