1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to public utilities; providing for an 
  1.3             analysis of certain utility personal property taxes. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [UTILITY TAXATION; LEGISLATIVE ELECTRIC ENERGY 
  1.6   TASK FORCE.] 
  1.7      The legislative electric energy task force shall, by 
  1.8   January 15, 1998, conduct an analysis of issues relating to the 
  1.9   personal property tax on electric and gas utilities in the state 
  1.10  and shall issue its findings and recommendations to the 
  1.11  legislature by that date regarding: 
  1.12     (1) the effects the personal property tax has on the 
  1.13  ability of Minnesota electric and gas utilities to compete in a 
  1.14  less regulated energy industry; 
  1.15     (2) the impacts that eliminating the personal property tax 
  1.16  on utilities would have on local government units, including 
  1.17  school districts, that depend on the revenues from that tax; 
  1.18     (3) the impact eliminating the personal property tax would 
  1.19  have on state revenues, local government aids, and school 
  1.20  district funding formulas; and 
  1.21     (4) alternatives the legislature can consider to address 
  1.22  the issues that arise under clause (1) while minimizing the 
  1.23  impacts described in clause (2). 
  1.24     The task force shall establish an interim subcommittee on 
  2.1   utility taxation to address these issues, and the subcommittee 
  2.2   shall work closely with officials from affected local government 
  2.3   units in formulating recommendations to present to the full task 
  2.4   force. 
  2.5      Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.6      Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.