1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to taxation; authorizing a study of the state 
  1.3             and local fiscal system; appropriating money. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ON STATE AND 
  1.6   LOCAL FISCAL SYSTEM.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [HUMPHREY INSTITUTE AND MINNESOTA EXTENSION 
  1.8   SERVICE.] The Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and the 
  1.9   Minnesota extension service at the University of Minnesota will 
  1.10  conduct public education and research on the state and local 
  1.11  fiscal system in Minnesota. 
  1.12     Subd. 2.  [PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVES.] The 
  1.13  objectives of the public education and research program include: 
  1.14     (1) to use advanced telecommunications to conduct fiscal 
  1.15  policy discussions with local elected officials and citizens 
  1.16  statewide; 
  1.17     (2) to conduct research and develop fiscal policy options 
  1.18  related to issues raised in those discussions; 
  1.19     (3) to identify, evaluate, and increase understanding of 
  1.20  major state and local fiscal policy options; 
  1.21     (4) to explore the advantages and disadvantages of 
  1.22  alternative fiscal policy proposals; and 
  1.23     (5) to provide feedback and recommendations on these issues 
  1.24  to the legislature and governor. 
  2.1      The Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and the Minnesota 
  2.2   extension service will cooperate with other local and regional 
  2.3   entities and the board of government innovation and cooperation 
  2.4   in implementing this project. 
  2.5      Subd. 3.  [CONFERENCE FOR LEGISLATORS; REPORT.] The 
  2.6   Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and the Minnesota extension 
  2.7   service will present a conference for legislators by January 15, 
  2.8   1997.  The conference will present findings from the project, 
  2.9   including the information gathered at local and regional forums, 
  2.10  and seek legislators' assessment of the issues and proposals. 
  2.11     The initial report under this section will be presented to 
  2.12  the legislature by February 15, 1997. 
  2.13     Subd. 4.  [APPROPRIATION.] $60,000 is appropriated from the 
  2.14  general fund to the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the 
  2.15  University of Minnesota to pay for the project described in this 
  2.16  section for the biennium ending June 30, 1997.