1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the organization and operation of state 
  1.3             government; appropriating money for the department of 
  1.4             transportation and other agencies with certain 
  1.5             conditions; regulating certain activities and 
  1.6             practices; providing for fees; establishing revolving 
  1.7             account; requiring studies; amending Minnesota 
  1.8             Statutes 1996, sections 16B.335, subdivision 1; 
  1.9             161.082, by adding a subdivision; 161.14, subdivision 
  1.10            29; 162.09, subdivision 4; 162.181, subdivisions 1 and 
  1.11            3; 168.011, subdivision 9; 168.018; 168.1291, 
  1.12            subdivision 1; 168.27, subdivision 5a; 168A.29, 
  1.13            subdivision 1; 169.01, subdivision 78; 169.045, 
  1.14            subdivision 1; 169.06, subdivision 4; 169.14, 
  1.15            subdivisions 3 and 5a; 169.17; 169.21, subdivision 2; 
  1.16            169.444, subdivisions 2, 5, 6, 7, and by adding a 
  1.17            subdivision; 169.81, subdivision 3c; 169.85; 169.974, 
  1.18            subdivision 2; 171.06, subdivision 2a; 171.13, 
  1.19            subdivision 5, and by adding a subdivision; 171.29, 
  1.20            subdivision 2; 173.13, subdivision 4; 174.03, by 
  1.21            adding a subdivision; 221.84, subdivision 1; 296.16, 
  1.22            subdivision 1; 299A.38, subdivision 2, and by adding a 
  1.23            subdivision; 299C.10, subdivision 4; 299C.46, 
  1.24            subdivision 3, and by adding a subdivision; 360.017, 
  1.25            subdivision 1; 457A.04, subdivision 2; 473.408, 
  1.26            subdivision 7; and 473.446, subdivision 1a; proposing 
  1.27            coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 
  1.28            168; 299A; and 360; repealing Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
  1.29            section 299D.10. 
  1.30  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.31                             ARTICLE 1 
  1.32                           APPROPRIATIONS 
  1.33  Section 1.  [TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  1.34     The sums shown in the columns marked "APPROPRIATIONS" are 
  1.35  appropriated from the general fund, or another named fund, to 
  1.36  the agencies and for the purposes specified in this act, to be 
  1.37  available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose.  The 
  2.1   figures "1997," "1998," and "1999," where used in this act, mean 
  2.2   that the appropriation or appropriations listed under them are 
  2.3   available for the year ending June 30, 1997, June 30, 1998, or 
  2.4   June 30, 1999, respectively.  If the figures are not used, the 
  2.5   appropriations are available for the year ending June 30, 1998, 
  2.6   or June 30, 1999, respectively.  The term "first year" means the 
  2.7   year ending June 30, 1998, and the term "second year" means the 
  2.8   year ending June 30, 1999.  Appropriations for the year ending 
  2.9   June 30, 1997, are in addition to appropriations made in 
  2.10  previous years. 
  2.11                          SUMMARY BY FUND
  2.12             1997         1998          1999           TOTAL
  2.13  General $  226,000   $ 76,868,000   $ 73,890,000   $150,984,000
  2.14  Airports               18,016,000     18,078,000     36,094,000 
  2.15  C.S.A.H.              318,289,000    327,512,000    645,801,000 
  2.16  Highway User           14,199,000     14,269,000     28,468,000 
  2.17  M.S.A.S.               96,580,000     99,264,000    195,844,000 
  2.18  Special Revenue           912,000        927,000      1,839,000 
  2.19  Trunk 
  2.20  Highway  9,000,000    936,783,000    936,772,000  1,882,555,000 
  2.21  TOTAL  $ 9,226,000 $1,461,647,000 $1,470,712,000 $2,941,585,000
  2.22                                             APPROPRIATIONS 
  2.23                                         Available for the Year 
  2.24                                             Ending June 30 
  2.25                             1997           1998         1999 
  2.26  Sec. 2.  TRANSPORTATION 
  2.27  Subdivision 1.  Total 
  2.28  Appropriation         $ 9,000,000 $1,311,399,000 $1,320,220,000
  2.29  The appropriations in this section are 
  2.30  from the trunk highway fund, except 
  2.31  when another fund is named. 
  2.32                          Summary by Fund
  2.33                    1997          1998           1999 
  2.34  General                       16,844,000     14,537,000
  2.35  Airports                      17,966,000     18,028,000
  2.36  C.S.A.H.                     318,289,000    327,512,000
  2.37  M.S.A.S.                      96,580,000     99,264,000
  2.38  Trunk Highway    9,000,000   861,720,000    860,879,000
  2.39  The amounts that may be spent from this 
  2.40  appropriation for each program are 
  3.1   specified in the following subdivisions.
  3.2   Subd. 2.  Aeronautics                 18,296,000     17,958,000
  3.3                 Summary by Fund
  3.4   Airports             17,896,000     17,958,000
  3.5   General                 400,000        -0-
  3.6   The amounts that may be spent from this 
  3.7   appropriation for each activity are as 
  3.8   follows:  
  3.9   (a) Airport Development and Assistance 
  3.10        1998           1999
  3.11      12,948,000     12,948,000
  3.12  $12,846,000 the first year and 
  3.13  $12,846,000 the second year are for 
  3.14  navigational aids, construction grants, 
  3.15  and maintenance grants.  If the 
  3.16  appropriation for either year is 
  3.17  insufficient, the appropriation for the 
  3.18  other year is available for it. 
  3.19  These appropriations must be spent in 
  3.20  accordance with Minnesota Statutes, 
  3.21  section 360.305, subdivision 4. 
  3.22  $12,000 the first year and $12,000 the 
  3.23  second year are for maintenance of the 
  3.24  Pine Creek Airport.  
  3.25  $90,000 the first year and $90,000 the 
  3.26  second year are for air service grants. 
  3.27  (b) Aviation Support 
  3.28       4,880,000      4,941,000
  3.29  $65,000 the first year and $65,000 the 
  3.30  second year are for the civil air 
  3.31  patrol. 
  3.32  $200,000 the first year and $200,000 
  3.33  the second year are for the air service 
  3.34  marketing program under Minnesota 
  3.35  Statutes, section 360.0151. 
  3.36  (c) Air Transportation Services 
  3.37         468,000         69,000 
  3.38                Summary by Fund
  3.39  Airports                 68,000         69,000
  3.40  General                 400,000           -0-
  3.41  $400,000 the first year is from the 
  3.42  general fund for refurbishing a federal 
  3.43  surplus jet airplane for state 
  3.44  ownership and use. 
  3.45  Subd. 3.  Transit                    15,248,000     14,337,000
  3.46                Summary by Fund
  4.1   General              14,937,000     14,021,000
  4.2   Trunk Highway           311,000        316,000
  4.3   The amounts that may be spent from this 
  4.4   appropriation for each activity are as 
  4.5   follows:  
  4.6   (a) Greater Minnesota Transit
  4.7   Assistance 
  4.8       13,556,000    13,556,000
  4.9   This appropriation is from the general 
  4.10  fund.  Any unencumbered balance the 
  4.11  first year does not cancel but is 
  4.12  available for the second year. 
  4.13  (b) Transit Administration   
  4.14         767,000       781,000
  4.15                Summary by Fund
  4.16  General                 456,000       465,000
  4.17  Trunk Highway           311,000       316,000 
  4.18  (c) Access to Jobs and Training
  4.19  in Greater Minnesota
  4.20         925,000          -0- 
  4.21  This appropriation is from the general 
  4.22  fund. 
  4.23  The commissioner shall make grants 
  4.24  under this subdivision to counties 
  4.25  located outside the metropolitan area 
  4.26  and to eligible recipients of the 
  4.27  public transit subsidy program under 
  4.28  Minnesota Statutes, section 174.24, 
  4.29  subdivision 2, to facilitate the 
  4.30  transition between public assistance 
  4.31  and employment.  Grant recipients under 
  4.32  this subdivision shall, to the greatest 
  4.33  extent possible, seek federal or 
  4.34  private sector funding to transport 
  4.35  economically disadvantaged persons to 
  4.36  jobs and employment-related activities, 
  4.37  including child care facilities. 
  4.38  Recipients of grants from this 
  4.39  appropriation may spend the grants on 
  4.40  the following activities: 
  4.41  (1) providing transportation service or 
  4.42  arranging for service by contract with 
  4.43  a transportation provider; 
  4.44  (2) enhancing existing public transit 
  4.45  service; 
  4.46  (3) providing full or partial bus fare 
  4.47  reimbursement; 
  4.48  (4) facilitating employer efforts to 
  4.49  provide or coordinate transportation 
  4.50  services; 
  4.51  (5) coordinating transportation service 
  5.1   already being provided; 
  5.2   (6) providing or contracting for 
  5.3   transportation links between public 
  5.4   transportation routes and major 
  5.5   employment locations; and 
  5.6   (7) providing, through other programs, 
  5.7   cost-effective transportation to the 
  5.8   target population. 
  5.9   This appropriation is available for 
  5.10  expenditure in either year of the 
  5.11  biennium. 
  5.12  Subd. 4.  Railroads and Waterways    2,452,000      1,484,000
  5.13                Summary by Fund
  5.14  General               1,247,000       253,000
  5.15  Trunk Highway         1,205,000     1,231,000 
  5.16  $1,000,000 the first year is from the 
  5.17  general fund for the study of commuter 
  5.18  rail service under article 2, section 
  5.19  51.  This appropriation is available 
  5.20  until June 30, 1999. Of this amount the 
  5.21  commissioner may spend up to $100,000 
  5.22  for the costs of managing the study. 
  5.23  Subd. 5.  Motor Carrier Regulation   2,437,000      2,487,000
  5.24                Summary by Fund
  5.25  General                 110,000       113,000
  5.26  Trunk Highway         2,327,000     2,374,000
  5.27  Subd. 6.  Local Roads              414,869,000    426,776,000
  5.28                Summary by Fund
  5.29  C.S.A.H.            318,289,000   327,512,000
  5.30  M.S.A.S.             96,580,000    99,264,000
  5.31  The amounts that may be spent from this 
  5.32  appropriation for each activity are as 
  5.33  follows:  
  5.34  (a) County State Aids 
  5.35     318,289,000    327,512,000
  5.36  This appropriation is from the county 
  5.37  state-aid highway fund and is available 
  5.38  until spent.  
  5.39  (b) Municipal State Aids 
  5.40      96,580,000     99,264,000
  5.41  This appropriation is from the 
  5.42  municipal state-aid street fund and is 
  5.43  available until spent.  
  5.44  If an appropriation for either county 
  5.45  state aids or municipal state aids does 
  5.46  not exhaust the balance in the fund 
  5.47  from which it is made in the year for 
  6.1   which it is made, the commissioner of 
  6.2   finance, upon request of the 
  6.3   commissioner of transportation, shall 
  6.4   notify the chair of the transportation 
  6.5   budget division of the senate and the 
  6.6   chair of the transportation budget 
  6.7   division of the house of 
  6.8   representatives of the amount of the 
  6.9   remainder and shall then add that 
  6.10  amount to the appropriation.  The 
  6.11  amount added is appropriated for the 
  6.12  purposes of county state aids or 
  6.13  municipal state aids, as appropriate.  
  6.14  Subd. 7.  State Roads    9,000,000   807,314,000    817,712,000
  6.15                          Summary by Fund
  6.16                    1997          1998           1999 
  6.17  General                          109,000        109,000
  6.18  Trunk Highway    9,000,000   807,205,000    817,603,000
  6.19  The amounts that may be spent from this 
  6.20  appropriation for each activity are as 
  6.21  follows:  
  6.22  (a) State Road Construction 
  6.23                   9,000,000   445,822,000    445,838,000
  6.24  It is estimated that these 
  6.25  appropriations will be funded as 
  6.26  follows:  
  6.27  Federal Highway Aid 
  6.28     225,000,000    225,000,000
  6.29  Highway User Taxes 
  6.30     220,822,000    220,838,000
  6.31  The commissioner of transportation 
  6.32  shall notify the chair of the 
  6.33  transportation budget division of the 
  6.34  senate and chair of the transportation 
  6.35  budget division of the house of 
  6.36  representatives quarterly of any events 
  6.37  that should cause these estimates to 
  6.38  change. 
  6.39  This appropriation is for the actual 
  6.40  construction, reconstruction, and 
  6.41  improvement of trunk highways.  This 
  6.42  includes the cost of actual payment to 
  6.43  landowners for lands acquired for 
  6.44  highway rights-of-way, payment to 
  6.45  lessees, interest subsidies, and 
  6.46  relocation expenses.  
  6.47  The appropriation for fiscal year 1997 
  6.48  is for state road construction and is 
  6.49  added to the appropriations in Laws 
  6.50  1995, chapter 265, article 2, section 
  6.51  2, subdivision 7, clause (a).  The 
  6.52  commissioner, with the approval of the 
  6.53  commissioner of finance, may spend up 
  6.54  to $7,100,000 of this appropriation for 
  6.55  state road operations for flood relief 
  7.1   efforts. 
  7.2   Of this appropriation, up to 
  7.3   $15,000,000 the first year and up to 
  7.4   $15,000,000 the second year may be 
  7.5   transferred by the commissioner to the 
  7.6   trunk highway revolving loan account if 
  7.7   this account is created in the trunk 
  7.8   highway fund. 
  7.9   The commissioner of transportation may 
  7.10  receive money covering other shares of 
  7.11  the cost of partnership projects.  
  7.12  These receipts are appropriated to the 
  7.13  commissioner for these projects. 
  7.14  Before proceeding with a project, or a 
  7.15  series of projects on a single highway, 
  7.16  with a cost exceeding $10,000,000, the 
  7.17  commissioner shall consider the 
  7.18  feasibility of alternative means of 
  7.19  financing the project or series of 
  7.20  projects, including but not limited to 
  7.21  congestion pricing, tolls, mileage 
  7.22  pricing, and public-private partnership.
  7.23  (b) Highway Debt Service 
  7.24      15,161,000     13,539,000
  7.25  $5,951,000 the first year and 
  7.26  $5,403,000 the second year are for 
  7.27  transfer to the state bond fund. 
  7.28  If this appropriation is insufficient 
  7.29  to make all transfers required in the 
  7.30  year for which it is made, the 
  7.31  commissioner of finance shall notify 
  7.32  the committee on state government 
  7.33  finance of the senate and the committee 
  7.34  on ways and means of the house of 
  7.35  representatives of the amount of the 
  7.36  deficiency and shall then transfer that 
  7.37  amount under the statutory open 
  7.38  appropriation.  
  7.39  Any excess appropriation must be 
  7.40  canceled to the trunk highway fund. 
  7.41  (c) Research and Investment Management 
  7.42      11,606,000     11,791,000
  7.43  $600,000 the first year and $600,000 
  7.44  the second year are available for 
  7.45  grants for transportation studies 
  7.46  outside the metropolitan area for 
  7.47  transportation studies to identify 
  7.48  critical concerns, problems, and 
  7.49  issues.  These grants are available to 
  7.50  (1) regional development commissions, 
  7.51  and (2) in regions where no regional 
  7.52  development commission is functioning, 
  7.53  joint-powers boards established under 
  7.54  agreement of two or more political 
  7.55  subdivisions in the region to exercise 
  7.56  the planning functions of a regional 
  7.57  development commission, and (3) in 
  7.58  regions where no regional development 
  7.59  commission or joint powers board is 
  7.60  functioning, the department's district 
  8.1   office for that region. 
  8.2   $216,000 the first year and $216,000 
  8.3   the second year are available for 
  8.4   grants to metropolitan planning 
  8.5   organizations outside the seven-county 
  8.6   metropolitan area. 
  8.7   $154,000 the first year and $181,000 
  8.8   the second year are for development of 
  8.9   an upgraded transportation information 
  8.10  system for making investment decisions. 
  8.11  $75,000 the first year and $75,000 the 
  8.12  second year are for a transportation 
  8.13  research contingent account to finance 
  8.14  research projects that are reimbursable 
  8.15  from the federal government or from 
  8.16  other sources.  If the appropriation 
  8.17  for either year is insufficient, the 
  8.18  appropriation for the other year is 
  8.19  available for it. 
  8.20  (d) Central Engineering Services
  8.21      56,593,000     57,384,000
  8.22  Of these appropriations, $2,190,000 the 
  8.23  first year and $2,190,000 the second 
  8.24  year are for scientific equipment.  If 
  8.25  the appropriation for either year is 
  8.26  insufficient, the appropriation for the 
  8.27  other year is available for it. 
  8.28  (e) Design and Construction Engineering
  8.29      69,445,000     70,879,000
  8.30  (f) State Road Operations
  8.31     202,431,000    205,503,000
  8.32                Summary by Fund
  8.33  General                 100,000       100,000
  8.34  Trunk Highway       202,331,000   205,403,000
  8.35  $11,689,000 the first year and 
  8.36  $11,689,000 the second year are for 
  8.37  road equipment.  If the appropriation 
  8.38  for either year is insufficient, the 
  8.39  appropriation for the other year is 
  8.40  available for it. 
  8.41  $805,000 each year is for the Orion 
  8.42  intelligent transportation system 
  8.43  research project. 
  8.44  $100,000 the first year and $100,000 
  8.45  the second year are from the general 
  8.46  fund for grants to the Minnesota 
  8.47  highway safety center at St. Cloud 
  8.48  State University for driver education. 
  8.49  (g) Electronic Communications
  8.50       6,256,000     12,778,000
  8.51                Summary by Fund
  9.1   General                   9,000         9,000
  9.2   Trunk Highway         6,247,000    12,769,000
  9.3   $9,000 the first year and $9,000 the 
  9.4   second year are from the general fund 
  9.5   for equipment and operation of the 
  9.6   Roosevelt signal tower for Lake of the 
  9.7   Woods weather broadcasting. 
  9.8   $1,730,000 the first year and 
  9.9   $8,170,000 the second year are for the 
  9.10  purchase of ancillary equipment for the 
  9.11  800 MHZ system and for personnel 
  9.12  necessary to develop, install, and 
  9.13  operate the system. 
  9.14  Subd. 8.  General Support             38,512,000     39,466,000
  9.15                Summary by Fund
  9.16  General                  41,000        41,000
  9.17  Airports                 70,000        70,000 
  9.18  Trunk Highway        38,401,000    39,355,000
  9.19  The amounts that may be spent from this 
  9.20  appropriation for each activity are as 
  9.21  follows:  
  9.22  (a) General Management       
  9.23      25,599,000     25,924,000
  9.24  The commissioner of transportation is 
  9.25  authorized to implement a demonstration 
  9.26  congestion-pricing project involving 
  9.27  I-394 trunk highway facilities to 
  9.28  determine the feasibility of charging 
  9.29  user fees as allowed by section 1012(b) 
  9.30  of the Intermodal Surface 
  9.31  Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, 
  9.32  Public Law Number 102-240 (ISTEA).  A 
  9.33  demonstration congestion-pricing 
  9.34  project implemented under this 
  9.35  paragraph may not be continued longer 
  9.36  than two years after the date of its 
  9.37  implementation.  For the purposes of 
  9.38  this demonstration project, the 
  9.39  commissioner is exempt from any 
  9.40  rulemaking requirements.  The 
  9.41  commissioner of transportation must 
  9.42  obtain prior approval for the project 
  9.43  from the metropolitan council.  The 
  9.44  metropolitan council must hold a public 
  9.45  hearing on the project as proposed by 
  9.46  the commissioner of transportation 
  9.47  before granting its approval.  All fees 
  9.48  collected by the commissioner must be 
  9.49  deposited in the trunk highway fund and 
  9.50  are appropriated to implement and 
  9.51  administer this demonstration project.  
  9.52  The demonstration project is exempt 
  9.53  from Minnesota Statutes, sections 
  9.54  160.84 to 160.92. 
  9.55  (b) General Services 
  9.56      12,913,000     13,542,000
 10.1                 Summary by Fund
 10.2   General                  41,000        41,000
 10.3   Airports                 70,000        70,000 
 10.4   Trunk Highway        12,802,000    13,431,000 
 10.5   $1,500,000 the first year and 
 10.6   $1,500,000 the second year are for data 
 10.7   processing development.  If the 
 10.8   appropriation for either year is 
 10.9   insufficient, the appropriation for the 
 10.10  other year is available for it. 
 10.11  The commissioner of transportation 
 10.12  shall manage the department of 
 10.13  transportation in such a manner as to 
 10.14  provide seasonal employees of the 
 10.15  department with the maximum feasible 
 10.16  amount of employment security 
 10.17  consistent with the efficient delivery 
 10.18  of department programs. 
 10.19  Subd. 9.  Buildings                   12,271,000        -0- 
 10.20  $6,771,000 is for ongoing operational 
 10.21  building needs. $5,500,000 is for the 
 10.22  Cedar Avenue truck station in Richfield.
 10.23  The appropriation of $644,000 in Laws 
 10.24  1996, chapter 455, article 2, section 
 10.25  2, clause (5), for the Deer Lake 
 10.26  equipment storage building, is canceled 
 10.27  and is reappropriated for a Virginia 
 10.28  headquarters building addition for the 
 10.29  state patrol.  
 10.30  Subd. 10.  Transfers
 10.31  The commissioner of transportation with 
 10.32  the approval of the commissioner of 
 10.33  finance may transfer unencumbered 
 10.34  balances among the appropriations from 
 10.35  the trunk highway fund and the state 
 10.36  airports fund made in this section.  No 
 10.37  transfer may be made from the 
 10.38  appropriation for state road 
 10.39  construction.  No transfer may be made 
 10.40  from the appropriations for debt 
 10.41  service to any other appropriation.  
 10.42  Transfers may not be made between funds.
 10.43  Transfers must be reported immediately 
 10.44  to the chair of the transportation 
 10.45  budget division of the senate and the 
 10.46  chair of the transportation budget 
 10.47  division of the house of 
 10.48  representatives.  
 10.49   <UF1>Subd. 11.  Use of State Road 
 10.50  Construction Appropriations 
 10.51  Any money appropriated to the 
 10.52  commissioner of transportation for 
 10.53  state road construction for any fiscal 
 10.54  year before fiscal year 1999 is 
 10.55  available to the commissioner during 
 10.56  fiscal years 1998 and 1999 to the 
 10.57  extent that the commissioner spends the 
 10.58  money on the state road construction 
 10.59  project for which the money was 
 11.1   originally encumbered during the fiscal 
 11.2   year for which it was appropriated. 
 11.3   The commissioner of transportation 
 11.4   shall report to the commissioner of 
 11.5   finance by August 1, 1998, and August 
 11.6   1, 1999, on a form the commissioner of 
 11.7   finance provides, on expenditures made 
 11.8   during the previous fiscal year that 
 11.9   are authorized by this section. 
 11.10  Subd. 12.  Contingent Appropriation 
 11.11  Until June 30, 1999, the commissioner 
 11.12  of transportation, with the approval of 
 11.13  the governor after consultation with 
 11.14  the legislative advisory commission 
 11.15  under Minnesota Statutes, section 3.30, 
 11.16  may transfer all or part of the 
 11.17  unappropriated balance in the trunk 
 11.18  highway fund to an appropriation (1) 
 11.19  for trunk highway design, construction, 
 11.20  or inspection in order to take 
 11.21  advantage of an unanticipated receipt 
 11.22  of income to the trunk highway fund, 
 11.23  (2) for trunk highway maintenance in 
 11.24  order to meet an emergency, or (3) to 
 11.25  pay tort or environmental claims.  The 
 11.26  amount transferred is appropriated for 
 11.27  the purpose of the account to which it 
 11.28  is transferred. 
 11.29  Sec. 3.  METROPOLITAN COUNCIL  
 11.30  TRANSIT                               51,351,000     49,351,000
 11.31  Subdivision 1.  Access to Jobs 
 11.32  and Training                           2,000,000          -0-  
 11.33  The metropolitan council shall spend 
 11.34  all of this appropriation as grants 
 11.35  under this subdivision to counties 
 11.36  located in the metropolitan area to 
 11.37  facilitate the transition between 
 11.38  public assistance and employment.  
 11.39  Counties receiving grants under this 
 11.40  subdivision shall, to the greatest 
 11.41  extent possible, seek federal or 
 11.42  private sector funding to transport 
 11.43  economically disadvantaged persons to 
 11.44  jobs and employment-related activities, 
 11.45  including child care facilities. 
 11.46  Counties receiving grants from this 
 11.47  appropriation may spend the grants on 
 11.48  the following activities: 
 11.49  (1) providing transportation service or 
 11.50  arranging for service by contract with 
 11.51  a transportation provider; 
 11.52  (2) providing full or partial bus fare 
 11.53  reimbursement; 
 11.54  (3) facilitating employer efforts to 
 11.55  provide or coordinate transportation 
 11.56  services; 
 11.57  (4) coordinating transportation service 
 11.58  already being provided; 
 11.59  (5) providing or contracting for 
 12.1   transportation links between public 
 12.2   transportation routes and major 
 12.3   employment locations; and 
 12.4   (6) providing, through other programs, 
 12.5   cost-effective transportation to the 
 12.6   target population.  
 12.7   The council shall report by January 15, 
 12.8   1999, to the chairs of the senate and 
 12.9   house of representatives transportation 
 12.10  policy committees on activities under 
 12.11  this subdivision. 
 12.12  This appropriation is available for 
 12.13  expenditure in either year of the 
 12.14  biennium. 
 12.15  Subd. 2.  School 
 12.16  Transportation 
 12.17  (a) The metropolitan council, the 
 12.18  school board of special school district 
 12.19  No. 1, Minneapolis, and the school 
 12.20  board of independent school district 
 12.21  No. 625, St. Paul, in consultation with 
 12.22  an advisory board, shall develop a 
 12.23  school transportation plan, the goal of 
 12.24  which is to make available school 
 12.25  transportation through the metropolitan 
 12.26  council's public transit system, at no 
 12.27  cost to students, to no fewer than 75 
 12.28  percent of the students transported by 
 12.29  Minneapolis public schools and no fewer 
 12.30  than 75 percent of the students 
 12.31  transported by St. Paul public schools, 
 12.32  in grades 9 to 12, during the 1998-1999 
 12.33  school year.  The plan shall consider 
 12.34  the feasibility of extending the plan, 
 12.35  for 1998-1999 implementation or in 
 12.36  subsequent years, to students in grades 
 12.37  7 and 8. 
 12.38  (b) The metropolitan council and the 
 12.39  school boards shall appoint, convene, 
 12.40  and consult with an advisory board 
 12.41  concerning the development of the 
 12.42  school transportation plan.  The 
 12.43  advisory board shall include, without 
 12.44  limitation, the school transportation 
 12.45  directors from the Minneapolis and St. 
 12.46  Paul school districts; a member of the 
 12.47  Amalgamated Transit Union; secondary 
 12.48  students and parents of secondary 
 12.49  students who use school transportation 
 12.50  in those school districts; a 
 12.51  representative of the department of 
 12.52  public safety; representatives of 
 12.53  nonpublic schools located within the 
 12.54  districts; a representative of the 
 12.55  department of children, families, and 
 12.56  learning; and administrators of 
 12.57  secondary schools within the 
 12.58  districts.  The advisory board expires 
 12.59  upon submission of the report required 
 12.60  by paragraph (d). 
 12.61  (c) The transportation plan must 
 12.62  include, without being limited to: 
 12.63  (1) a plan for service of the maximum 
 13.1   possible number of students, with a 
 13.2   goal of transporting no less than 75 
 13.3   percent of the students in grades 9 to 
 13.4   12 who are transported in each 
 13.5   district, with a minimum number of new 
 13.6   transit routes; 
 13.7   (2) a recommendation for school day 
 13.8   start and end times to optimize use of 
 13.9   public transit for school 
 13.10  transportation; 
 13.11  (3) an analysis of availability of 
 13.12  public transit for special education 
 13.13  students; open enrollment students; 
 13.14  students enrolled in nonpublic schools, 
 13.15  charter schools, post-secondary 
 13.16  enrollment options programs, area 
 13.17  learning centers, and other 
 13.18  nontraditional programs; and students 
 13.19  participating in school activities 
 13.20  before or after the school day; 
 13.21  (4) a description of the quality of 
 13.22  service to be available to students, 
 13.23  including maximum length of ride, 
 13.24  number of transfers required, and 
 13.25  maximum distance between home or school 
 13.26  and bus stop; 
 13.27  (5) a recommendation concerning 
 13.28  policies applicable to fares for 
 13.29  student ridership throughout the school 
 13.30  day and identification by public 
 13.31  transit drivers of students entitled to 
 13.32  free school transportation; 
 13.33  (6) a plan to extend the goals and 
 13.34  requirements of the state's school 
 13.35  transportation safety program to the 
 13.36  transportation of students on public 
 13.37  transit, to the maximum feasible 
 13.38  extent; 
 13.39  (7) a method for communicating 
 13.40  information to students whose school 
 13.41  transportation will be provided by 
 13.42  public transit, and their parents and 
 13.43  guardians, of the school transportation 
 13.44  plan prior to any implementation and 
 13.45  identification of a contact person to 
 13.46  answer resulting questions; 
 13.47  (8) recommendations concerning any 
 13.48  legislation required to implement the 
 13.49  school transportation plan; 
 13.50  (9) an analysis of the cost to the 
 13.51  metropolitan council of providing the 
 13.52  service outlined in the school 
 13.53  transportation plan; 
 13.54  (10) an analysis of the cost to the 
 13.55  Minneapolis and St. Paul school 
 13.56  districts for providing transportation 
 13.57  and transportation-related services to 
 13.58  students in grades 9 to 12 under the 
 13.59  school transportation plan developed as 
 13.60  provided in paragraph (a), which must 
 13.61  not exceed the projected cost, as 
 13.62  determined by the districts, of 
 14.1   providing equivalent transportation and 
 14.2   transportation-related services using 
 14.3   district-provided transportation; 
 14.4   (11) a description of the services that 
 14.5   the districts will be able to 
 14.6   discontinue by virtue of the 
 14.7   implementation of the school 
 14.8   transportation plan, and the financial 
 14.9   impact to the school districts of 
 14.10  discontinuing these services; and 
 14.11  (12) an analysis of the safety 
 14.12  implications of the plan. 
 14.13  (d) The metropolitan council and school 
 14.14  boards for the Minneapolis and St. Paul 
 14.15  school districts shall report the 
 14.16  school transportation plan to the 
 14.17  senate children, families and learning 
 14.18  K-12 committee and transportation 
 14.19  committee, and to the house of 
 14.20  representatives education committee and 
 14.21  transportation and transit committee 
 14.22  before January 30, 1998. 
 14.23  Subd. 3.  Transit 
 14.24  Operations 
 14.25  (a) The council may not spend more than 
 14.26  $34,600,000 for metro mobility in the 
 14.27  1998-1999 biennium except for proceeds 
 14.28  from bond sales when use of those 
 14.29  proceeds for metro mobility capital 
 14.30  expenditures is authorized by law.  
 14.31  (b) The council may not raise fares for 
 14.32  regular route service it provides 
 14.33  during the 1998-1999 biennium. 
 14.34  (c) The council shall use this 
 14.35  appropriation to provide at least 
 14.36  131,000,000 riders per biennium. 
 14.37  Sec. 4.  PUBLIC SAFETY
 14.38  Subdivision 1.  Total       
 14.39  Appropriation             226,000     97,830,000    100,099,000 
 14.40                          Summary by Fund
 14.41                    1997          1998           1999 
 14.42  General           226,000      8,673,000     10,002,000
 14.43  Trunk
 14.44  Highway           -0-         74,196,000     75,026,000
 14.45  Highway User      -0-         14,049,000     14,144,000
 14.46  Special 
 14.47  Revenue           -0-            912,000        927,000
 14.48  Subd. 2.  Administration 
 14.49  and Related Services                  10,685,000     11,914,000
 14.50                Summary by Fund
 14.51  General               2,830,000      3,953,000
 14.52  Trunk Highway         6,490,000      6,616,000
 15.1   Highway User          1,365,000      1,345,000
 15.2   $326,000 the first year and $326,000 
 15.3   the second year are for payment of 
 15.4   public safety officer survivor benefits 
 15.5   under Minnesota Statutes, section 
 15.6   299A.44.  If the appropriation for 
 15.7   either year is insufficient, the 
 15.8   appropriation for the other year is 
 15.9   available for it. 
 15.10  $1,128,000 the second year from the 
 15.11  general fund and $575,000 the first 
 15.12  year and $575,000 the second year from 
 15.13  the trunk highway fund are to enhance 
 15.14  the criminal justice computer systems. 
 15.15  $299,000 the first year and $308,000 
 15.16  the second year are for soft body armor 
 15.17  reimbursements under Minnesota 
 15.18  Statutes, section 299A.38.  
 15.19  $50,000 the first year from the highway 
 15.20  user tax distribution fund is for the 
 15.21  public awareness campaign on vehicle 
 15.22  forfeiture and administrative plate 
 15.23  impoundment.  This appropriation 
 15.24  cancels unless a law is enacted in 1997 
 15.25  which requires the department of public 
 15.26  safety to implement this campaign. 
 15.27  $1,851,000 the first year and 
 15.28  $1,830,000 the second year are 
 15.29  appropriated from the general fund for 
 15.30  transfer by the commissioner of finance 
 15.31  to the trunk highway fund on January 1, 
 15.32  1998, and January 1, 1999, 
 15.33  respectively, in order to reimburse the 
 15.34  trunk highway fund for expenses not 
 15.35  related to the fund.  These represent 
 15.36  amounts appropriated out of the trunk 
 15.37  highway fund for general fund purposes 
 15.38  in the administration and related 
 15.39  services program.  
 15.40  $580,000 the first year and $610,000 
 15.41  the second year are appropriated from 
 15.42  the highway user tax distribution fund 
 15.43  for transfer by the commissioner of 
 15.44  finance to the trunk highway fund on 
 15.45  January 1, 1998, and January 1, 1999, 
 15.46  respectively, in order to reimburse the 
 15.47  trunk highway fund for expenses not 
 15.48  related to the fund.  These represent 
 15.49  amounts appropriated out of the trunk 
 15.50  highway fund for highway user tax 
 15.51  distribution fund purposes in the 
 15.52  administration and related services 
 15.53  program.  
 15.54  $716,000 the first year and $716,000 
 15.55  the second year are appropriated from 
 15.56  the highway user tax distribution fund 
 15.57  for transfer by the commissioner of 
 15.58  finance to the general fund on January 
 15.59  1, 1998, and January 1, 1999, 
 15.60  respectively, in order to reimburse the 
 15.61  general fund for expenses not related 
 15.62  to the fund.  These represent amounts 
 15.63  appropriated out of the general fund 
 15.64  for operation of the criminal justice 
 16.1   data network related to driver and 
 16.2   motor vehicle licensing. 
 16.3   Subd. 3.  State Patrol    226,000     51,215,000     51,717,000
 16.4                           Summary by Fund
 16.5                     1997          1998           1999 
 16.6   General           226,000      2,058,000      2,181,000
 16.7   Trunk Highway                 49,067,000     49,446,000
 16.8   Highway User                      90,000         90,000 
 16.9   The commissioner of finance shall 
 16.10  reduce the appropriations for the 
 16.11  division of state patrol from the trunk 
 16.12  highway fund and general fund as 
 16.13  necessary to reflect legislation 
 16.14  enacted in 1997 that (1) reduces state 
 16.15  contributions for pensions for 
 16.16  employees under the division of state 
 16.17  patrol from the trunk highway fund or 
 16.18  general fund, or (2) provides money for 
 16.19  those pensions from police state aid. 
 16.20  Of the appropriation for fiscal year 
 16.21  1997, $76,000 is for transfer to the 
 16.22  trunk highway fund and $150,000 is to 
 16.23  reimburse the state patrol for general 
 16.24  fund expenditures to cover the costs of 
 16.25  deploying state patrol troopers to the 
 16.26  city of Minneapolis to assist the city 
 16.27  in combating violent crime. 
 16.28  $600,000 the first year and $1,200,000 
 16.29  the second year from the trunk highway 
 16.30  fund are to implement wage increases 
 16.31  for state patrol troopers, trooper 1s, 
 16.32  and corporals.  The wage adjustments 
 16.33  are based on an internal Hay study 
 16.34  conducted by the department of employee 
 16.35  relations. 
 16.36  $1,675,000 the first year and $424,000 
 16.37  the second year from the trunk highway 
 16.38  fund and $93,000 the first year and 
 16.39  $22,000 the second year from the 
 16.40  general fund are for the development 
 16.41  and operational costs of computer-aided 
 16.42  dispatching, records management, and 
 16.43  station office automation systems. 
 16.44  $78,000 the first year and $78,000 the 
 16.45  second year from the general fund are 
 16.46  for additional capitol complex security 
 16.47  positions. 
 16.48  The commissioner of public safety shall 
 16.49  identify and implement measures to 
 16.50  increase the representation of females 
 16.51  and minorities in the state patrol so 
 16.52  that the trooper population more 
 16.53  accurately reflects the population 
 16.54  served by the state patrol.  These 
 16.55  measures must include: 
 16.56  (1) evaluation of hiring and training 
 16.57  programs to identify and eliminate any 
 16.58  biases against underutilized, protected 
 17.1   groups; 
 17.2   (2) expansion of outreach programs to 
 17.3   high schools to include informational 
 17.4   presentations on law enforcement 
 17.5   careers and law enforcement degree 
 17.6   programs; 
 17.7   (3) intensification of recruitment 
 17.8   efforts toward qualified members of 
 17.9   protected groups; 
 17.10  (4) provision of guidance and support 
 17.11  to students in law enforcement degree 
 17.12  programs; 
 17.13  (5) publication of employment 
 17.14  opportunities in newspapers with 
 17.15  substantial readership among protected 
 17.16  groups; and 
 17.17  (6) development of other innovative 
 17.18  ways to promote awareness, acceptance, 
 17.19  and appreciation for diversity and 
 17.20  affirmative action in the state patrol. 
 17.21  The commissioner shall report to the 
 17.22  senate transportation committee and the 
 17.23  house of representatives transportation 
 17.24  and transit committee by January 30, 
 17.25  1998, on the measures implemented, 
 17.26  results achieved, progress made in 
 17.27  reaching affirmative action goals, and 
 17.28  recommendations for future action. 
 17.29  When an otherwise qualified candidate 
 17.30  does not have the educational credits 
 17.31  to meet the current peace officer 
 17.32  standards and training board licensing 
 17.33  standards, the commissioner may provide 
 17.34  the financial resources to obtain the 
 17.35  education necessary to meet the 
 17.36  licensing requirements.  Of this 
 17.37  appropriation, $150,000 the second year 
 17.38  from the general fund is for assistance 
 17.39  to these otherwise qualified 
 17.40  individuals to prepare them for the 
 17.41  trooper candidate school beginning in 
 17.42  January 1999. 
 17.43  Subd. 4.  Driver and
 17.44  Vehicle Services                      34,666,000     35,185,000
 17.45                Summary by Fund
 17.46  General               3,724,000      3,807,000
 17.47  Trunk Highway        18,348,000     18,669,000
 17.48  Highway User         12,594,000     12,709,000
 17.49  $867,000 the first year and $777,000 
 17.50  the second year from the highway user 
 17.51  tax distribution fund are for 
 17.52  purchasing manufactured license plates 
 17.53  from the department of corrections. 
 17.54  $24,000 the first year and $19,000 the 
 17.55  second year from the trunk highway fund 
 17.56  are for the costs related to adding 
 17.57  blood alcohol concentration to drivers' 
 18.1   records.  This appropriation cancels 
 18.2   unless a law is enacted in 1997 which 
 18.3   requires the department of public 
 18.4   safety to record blood alcohol 
 18.5   concentration on a driver's record. 
 18.6   $89,000 the first year and $135,000 the 
 18.7   second year from the highway user tax 
 18.8   distribution fund are for implementing 
 18.9   the plate impoundments.  This 
 18.10  appropriation cancels unless a law is 
 18.11  enacted in 1997 which requires the 
 18.12  commissioner of public safety to 
 18.13  impound a vehicle's license plates upon 
 18.14  a second DWI conviction within five 
 18.15  years on the part of the vehicle's 
 18.16  owner. 
 18.17  Subd. 5.  Traffic
 18.18  Safety                                   352,000        356,000
 18.19                Summary by Fund
 18.20  General                  61,000        61,000
 18.21  Trunk Highway           291,000       295,000
 18.22  Subd. 6.  Pipeline Safety                912,000        927,000
 18.23  This appropriation is from the pipeline 
 18.24  safety account in the special revenue 
 18.25  fund. 
 18.26  Sec. 5.  ADMINISTRATION                   25,000       -0- 
 18.27  This appropriation is from the highway 
 18.28  user tax distribution fund.  The 
 18.29  commissioner shall spend this 
 18.30  appropriation for a study by a 
 18.31  qualified consultant to determine the 
 18.32  actual percent of all gasoline received 
 18.33  in and produced or brought into the 
 18.34  state, except gasoline used for 
 18.35  aviation purposes, that is being used 
 18.36  as fuel for snowmobiles in the state.  
 18.37  The study must include a determination 
 18.38  of the amount of gasoline consumed by 
 18.39  vehicles in the course of transporting 
 18.40  snowmobiles on the highways of this 
 18.41  state.  The commissioner shall consult 
 18.42  with the commissioners of revenue, 
 18.43  transportation, and natural resources 
 18.44  in preparing the request for proposals 
 18.45  for the study and in selecting the 
 18.46  consultant to perform the study.  The 
 18.47  commissioner shall report to the 
 18.48  legislature on the results of the study 
 18.49  by February 1, 1998. 
 18.50  Sec. 6.  MINNESOTA SAFETY COUNCIL         67,000        67,000
 18.51  This appropriation is from the trunk 
 18.52  highway fund. 
 18.53  Sec. 7.  GENERAL CONTINGENT 
 18.54  ACCOUNTS                                 375,000       375,000
 18.55  The appropriations in this section may 
 18.56  only be spent with the approval of the 
 18.57  governor after consultation with the 
 18.58  legislative advisory commission 
 19.1   pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 
 19.2   3.30. 
 19.3   If an appropriation in this section for 
 19.4   either year is insufficient, the 
 19.5   appropriation for the other year is 
 19.6   available for it.  
 19.7                 Summary by Fund
 19.8   Trunk Highway           200,000       200,000
 19.9   Highway User            125,000       125,000
 19.10  Airports                 50,000        50,000
 19.11  Sec. 8.  TORT CLAIMS                     600,000       600,000
 19.12  To be spent by the commissioner of 
 19.13  finance.  
 19.14  This appropriation is from the trunk 
 19.15  highway fund. 
 19.16  If the appropriation for either year is 
 19.17  insufficient, the appropriation for the 
 19.18  other year is available for it. 
 19.19                             ARTICLE 2 
 19.20                     TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT 
 19.21     Section 1.  [REPORT.] 
 19.22     The commissioner of transportation shall report to the 
 19.23  chairs of the senate and house of representatives transportation 
 19.24  committees by January 15, 1998, and January 15, 1999, on the use 
 19.25  of grants to the Minnesota highway safety center at St. Cloud 
 19.26  State University under:  (1) Minnesota Statutes, section 171.29, 
 19.27  subdivision 2, paragraph (b), clause (4), item (ii); and (2) 
 19.28  article 1, section 2, subdivision 7, paragraph (f), of this act. 
 19.29     Sec. 2.  [SCREENING AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES.] 
 19.30     Notwithstanding any other law, the following advisory 
 19.31  committees do not expire on June 30, 1997: 
 19.32     (1) the county state-aid rules advisory committee 
 19.33  established under Minnesota Statutes, section 162.02, 
 19.34  subdivision 2; 
 19.35     (2) the county state-aid screening board established under 
 19.36  Minnesota Statutes, section 162.07, subdivision 5; 
 19.37     (3) the municipal state-aid rules advisory committee 
 19.38  established under Minnesota Statutes, section 162.09, 
 19.39  subdivision 2; and 
 19.40     (4) the municipal state-aid screening committee established 
 20.1   under Minnesota Statutes, section 162.13, subdivision 3. 
 20.2      Sec. 3.  [DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; LAND TRANSFER.] 
 20.3      Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
 20.4   commissioner of transportation shall at the earliest feasible 
 20.5   date transfer to the city of Duluth at no cost a tract of land 
 20.6   consisting of 0.59 acres of parcel No. 211 in the city of Duluth.
 20.7      Sec. 4.  [DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.] 
 20.8      Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 473.384, 
 20.9   subdivision 6, regarding percentages of total operating costs to 
 20.10  be subsidized by the metropolitan council, until June 30, 2001, 
 20.11  the metropolitan council may establish the appropriate 
 20.12  percentage operating subsidy to be granted to individual 
 20.13  recipients under the subdivision.  The metropolitan council must 
 20.14  establish the percentage annually, based on available transit 
 20.15  funds and the council's determination of a reasonable subsidy 
 20.16  per passenger trip in comparison to similar transit or 
 20.17  paratransit service in the metropolitan area.  The council may 
 20.18  provide a subsidy up to 100 percent of a recipient's operating 
 20.19  costs for all or any portion of the transit or paratransit 
 20.20  service and may require recipients to pay up to 100 percent of 
 20.21  their own operating costs for all or any portion of the service. 
 20.22     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 16B.335, 
 20.23  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 20.24     Subdivision 1.  [CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR REMODELING.] (a) 
 20.25  The commissioner, or any other recipient to whom an 
 20.26  appropriation is made to acquire or better public lands or 
 20.27  buildings or other public improvements of a capital nature, must 
 20.28  not prepare final plans and specifications for any construction, 
 20.29  major remodeling, or land acquisition in anticipation of which 
 20.30  the appropriation was made until the agency that will use the 
 20.31  project has presented the program plan and cost estimates for 
 20.32  all elements necessary to complete the project to the chair of 
 20.33  the senate finance committee and the chair of the house ways and 
 20.34  means committee and the chairs have made their recommendations, 
 20.35  and the chair of the house capital investment committee is 
 20.36  notified.  "Construction or major remodeling" means construction 
 21.1   of a new building or substantial alteration of the exterior 
 21.2   dimensions or interior configuration of an existing building.  
 21.3   The presentation must note any significant changes in the work 
 21.4   that will be done, or in its cost, since the appropriation for 
 21.5   the project was enacted or from the predesign submittal.  The 
 21.6   program plans and estimates must be presented for review at 
 21.7   least two weeks before a recommendation is needed.  The 
 21.8   recommendations are advisory only.  Failure or refusal to make a 
 21.9   recommendation is considered a negative recommendation.  The 
 21.10  chairs of the senate finance committee, the house capital 
 21.11  investment committee, and the house ways and means committee 
 21.12  must also be notified whenever there is a substantial change in 
 21.13  a construction or major remodeling project, or in its cost. 
 21.14     (b) Capital projects exempt from the requirements of this 
 21.15  section include construction, renovation, or improvements to 
 21.16  dams, highway rest areas, truck stations, storage facilities not 
 21.17  consisting primarily of offices or heated work areas, trails, 
 21.18  bike paths, sewer separation projects, water and wastewater 
 21.19  facilities, campgrounds, roads, bridges, port development 
 21.20  projects for which the commissioner of transportation has 
 21.21  entered into an assistance agreement under section 457A.04, or 
 21.22  any other capital project with a construction cost of less than 
 21.23  $200,000. 
 21.24     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.082, is 
 21.25  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 21.26     Subd. 3.  [TRANSFERS TO TURNBACK ACCOUNT.] (a) Whenever a 
 21.27  county submits plans for a project to be funded from the county 
 21.28  turnback account and the commissioner determines that the 
 21.29  project would be approved for funding except for insufficient 
 21.30  money in the county turnback account, the commissioner may 
 21.31  transfer from the unencumbered balance of the construction 
 21.32  account in the county state-aid highway fund an amount 
 21.33  sufficient to pay the costs of the project. 
 21.34     (b) The commissioner may make a transfer under paragraph (a)
 21.35  only if the commissioner determines that the transfer would not 
 21.36  reduce the unencumbered balance of the construction account in 
 22.1   the county state-aid highway fund to less than $50,000,000. 
 22.2      (c) Not later than ten years after any transfer under 
 22.3   paragraph (a), the commissioner shall transfer from the county 
 22.4   turnback account to the construction account in the county 
 22.5   state-aid highway fund an amount sufficient to repay the amount 
 22.6   transferred under paragraph (a). 
 22.7      Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 161.14, 
 22.8   subdivision 29, is amended to read: 
 22.9      Subd. 29.  [LAURA INGALLS WILDER HISTORIC HIGHWAY.] Marked 
 22.10  trunk highway No. 14, from its intersection with marked trunk 
 22.11  highway No. 169 in or near the city of Mankato to its terminus 
 22.12  at the Minnesota-South Dakota border, easterly to its 
 22.13  intersection with marked U.S. highway No. 63 in or near 
 22.14  Rochester and then northerly and southerly along marked U.S. 
 22.15  highway No. 63, as follows: 
 22.16     (1) northerly along marked U.S. highway No. 63 to its 
 22.17  intersection with marked U.S. highway No. 61 in or near Lake 
 22.18  City and then southeasterly along U.S. highway No. 61 to its 
 22.19  intersection with marked trunk highway No. 60 in or near the 
 22.20  city of Wabasha and then northeasterly along marked trunk 
 22.21  highway No. 60 to its intersection with the Minnesota-Wisconsin 
 22.22  border; and 
 22.23     (2) southerly along marked U.S. highway No. 63 to its 
 22.24  intersection with marked trunk highway No. 16 and then easterly 
 22.25  along marked trunk highway No. 16 to its intersection with 
 22.26  marked U.S. highway No. 52 in or near the city of Preston and 
 22.27  then southerly and easterly along marked U.S. highway No. 52 to 
 22.28  the Minnesota-Iowa border, 
 22.29  is designated the "Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway." 
 22.30     Pursuant to section 161.139, the commissioner of 
 22.31  transportation shall adopt a suitable marking design to mark 
 22.32  this highway and shall erect appropriate signs.  The people of 
 22.33  the communities, having resolved to support and financially back 
 22.34  the marking of these routes, shall reimburse the department for 
 22.35  costs incurred in marking and memorializing this highway. 
 22.36     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 162.09, 
 23.1   subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 23.2      Subd. 4.  [FEDERAL CENSUS TO BE CONCLUSIVE.] (a) In 
 23.3   determining whether any city has a population of 5,000 or more, 
 23.4   the last federal census shall be conclusive, except as otherwise 
 23.5   provided in this subdivision.  
 23.6      (b) A city that has previously been classified as having a 
 23.7   population of 5,000 or more for the purposes of chapter 162 and 
 23.8   whose population decreases by less than 15 percent from the 
 23.9   census figure that last qualified the city for inclusion shall 
 23.10  receive the following percentages of its 1981 apportionment for 
 23.11  the years indicated:  1982, 66 percent and 1983, 33 percent.  
 23.12  Thereafter the city shall not receive any apportionment from the 
 23.13  municipal state-aid street fund unless its population is 
 23.14  determined to be 5,000 or over by a federal census.  The 
 23.15  governing body of the city may contract with the United States 
 23.16  Bureau of the Census to take one special census before January 
 23.17  1, 1986.  A certified copy of the results of the census shall be 
 23.18  filed with the appropriate state authorities by the city.  The 
 23.19  result of the census shall be the population of the city for the 
 23.20  purposes of any law providing that population is a required 
 23.21  qualification for distribution of highway aids under chapter 
 23.22  162.  The special census shall remain in effect until the 1990 
 23.23  federal census is completed and filed.  The expense of taking 
 23.24  the special census shall be paid by the city.  
 23.25     (c) If an entire area not heretofore incorporated as a city 
 23.26  is incorporated as such during the interval between federal 
 23.27  censuses, its population shall be determined by its 
 23.28  incorporation census.  The incorporation census shall be 
 23.29  determinative of the population of the city only until the next 
 23.30  federal census. 
 23.31     (d) The population of a city created by the consolidation 
 23.32  of two or more previously incorporated cities shall be 
 23.33  determined by the most recent population estimate of the 
 23.34  metropolitan council or state demographer, until the first 
 23.35  federal decennial census or special census taken after the 
 23.36  consolidation. 
 24.1      (e) The population of a city that is not receiving a 
 24.2   municipal state-aid street fund apportionment shall be 
 24.3   determined, upon request of the city, by the most recent 
 24.4   population estimate of the metropolitan council or state 
 24.5   demographer.  A municipal state-aid street fund apportionment 
 24.6   received by the city must be based on this population estimate 
 24.7   until the next federal decennial census or special census. 
 24.8      Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 162.181, 
 24.9   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 24.10     Subdivision 1.  [LIMITATION ON AMOUNT.] Except as otherwise 
 24.11  provided herein, any county may, in accordance with chapter 475, 
 24.12  issue and sell its obligations, the total amount thereof not to 
 24.13  exceed the total of the preceding two years state-aid 
 24.14  allotments, for the purpose of establishing, locating, 
 24.15  relocating, constructing, reconstructing, and improving county 
 24.16  state-aid highways therein and constructing buildings and other 
 24.17  facilities for maintaining county state-aid highways.  In the 
 24.18  resolution providing for the issuance of the obligations, the 
 24.19  county board of the county shall irrevocably pledge and 
 24.20  appropriate to the sinking fund from which the obligations are 
 24.21  payable, an amount of the moneys money allotted or to be 
 24.22  allotted to the county from its account in the county state-aid 
 24.23  highway fund sufficient to pay the principal of and the interest 
 24.24  on the obligations as they respectively come due.  The 
 24.25  obligations shall be issued in the amounts and on terms such 
 24.26  that the amount of principal and interest due in any calendar 
 24.27  year on the obligations, including any similar obligations of 
 24.28  the county which are outstanding, shall not exceed 50 percent of 
 24.29  the amount of the last annual allotment preceding the bond issue 
 24.30  received by the county from the construction account in the 
 24.31  county state-aid highway fund.  All interest on the obligations 
 24.32  shall be paid out of the county's normal maintenance account in 
 24.33  the county state-aid highway fund.  The obligations may be made 
 24.34  general obligations, but if moneys money of the county other 
 24.35  than moneys money received from the county state-aid highway 
 24.36  fund, are is used for payment of the obligations, the moneys 
 25.1   money so used shall be restored to the appropriate fund from the 
 25.2   moneys money next received by the county from the construction 
 25.3   or maintenance account in the county state-aid highway fund 
 25.4   which are is not required to be paid into a sinking fund for 
 25.5   obligations. 
 25.6      Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 162.181, 
 25.7   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 25.8      Subd. 3.  [PROCEEDS TO BE USED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.] 
 25.9   Moneys Money received from the sale of the obligations and spent 
 25.10  for the establishment, location, relocation, construction, 
 25.11  reconstruction, and improvement of county state-aid highways 
 25.12  within the county shall be spent only in accordance with other 
 25.13  provisions of law and the rules of the transportation 
 25.14  commissioner relating to the establishment, location, 
 25.15  relocation, construction, reconstruction, and improvement of 
 25.16  county state-aid highways within the county issuing the 
 25.17  obligations those purposes. 
 25.18     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 168.011, 
 25.19  subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
 25.20     Subd. 9.  [BUS; INTERCITY BUS.] (a) "Bus" means (1) every 
 25.21  motor vehicle designed for carrying more than 15 passengers 
 25.22  including the driver and used for transporting persons, and (2) 
 25.23  every motor vehicle that is (i) designed for carrying more than 
 25.24  ten passengers including the driver, (ii) used for transporting 
 25.25  persons, and (iii) owned by a nonprofit organization and not 
 25.26  operated for hire or for commercial purposes, or (3) every motor 
 25.27  vehicle certified by the department of transportation as a 
 25.28  special transportation service provider vehicle and receiving 
 25.29  reimbursement as provided in section 256B.0625, subdivision 17.  
 25.30     (b) "Intercity bus" means any bus operating as a common 
 25.31  passenger carrier over regular routes and between fixed termini, 
 25.32  but excluding all buses operating wholly within the limits of 
 25.33  one city, or wholly within two or more contiguous cities, or 
 25.34  between contiguous cities and a terminus outside the corporate 
 25.35  limits of such cities, and not more than 20 miles distant 
 25.36  measured along the fixed route from such corporate limits. 
 26.1      Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 168.018, is 
 26.2   amended to read: 
 26.3      168.018 [QUARTERLY REGISTRATION OF FARM TRUCKS.] 
 26.4      The owner of (1) any farm truck as defined in section 
 26.5   168.011, subdivision 17, or (2) a truck owned by a retailer who 
 26.6   is engaged in the intrastate transportation of fertilizer or 
 26.7   agricultural chemicals directly to a farm for on-farm use within 
 26.8   a radius of 50 miles of the retailer's business location, may 
 26.9   elect to register and license the farm truck only for one or 
 26.10  more quarters of a registration year, at a tax of one-fourth of 
 26.11  the annual tax on the vehicle plus $5 for each quarterly 
 26.12  registration.  The owner may not apply for quarterly 
 26.13  registration or renewal until seven days before the selected 
 26.14  quarter or concurrent quarters.  The expiration date of a 
 26.15  registration shall be displayed on the license plate in such a 
 26.16  manner as the registrar shall direct.  No farm truck registered 
 26.17  on a quarterly basis shall be operated on the public streets and 
 26.18  highways more than ten days beyond the end of the quarter for 
 26.19  which it is registered unless the registration has been renewed 
 26.20  for another quarter or for the remainder of the registration 
 26.21  year.  
 26.22     For purposes of this section registration quarters shall 
 26.23  begin on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. 
 26.24     Sec. 13.  [168.1235] [VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS; 
 26.25  SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE STICKERS.] 
 26.26     Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL REQUIREMENTS; FEES.] (a) On 
 26.27  payment of a fee of $10 for each set of two license plates, or 
 26.28  for a single plate in the case of a motorcycle plate, payment of 
 26.29  the registration tax required by law, and compliance with other 
 26.30  laws relating to the registration and licensing of a passenger 
 26.31  automobile, pickup truck, van, self-propelled recreational 
 26.32  equipment, or motorcycle, as applicable, the registrar shall 
 26.33  issue a special license plate sticker for each plate to an 
 26.34  applicant who is a member of a congressionally chartered 
 26.35  veterans service organization and is an owner or joint owner of 
 26.36  a passenger automobile, pickup truck, van, self-propelled 
 27.1   recreational equipment, or motorcycle. 
 27.2      (b) The additional fee of $10 is payable at the time of 
 27.3   initial application for the special license plate stickers and 
 27.4   when the license plates must be replaced or renewed.  An 
 27.5   applicant must not be issued more than two sets of special 
 27.6   license plate stickers for vehicles listed in paragraph (a) and 
 27.7   owned or jointly owned by the applicant. 
 27.8      (c) The commissioner of veterans affairs shall determine 
 27.9   what documentation is required by each applicant to show that 
 27.10  the applicant is a member of a congressionally chartered 
 27.11  veterans service organization and is entitled to the special 
 27.12  license plate stickers. 
 27.13     Subd. 2.  [DESIGN.] (a) The commissioner of veterans 
 27.14  affairs, after consultation with each of the congressionally 
 27.15  chartered veterans service organizations, shall design the 
 27.16  special license plate stickers, subject to the approval of the 
 27.17  registrar.  The emblem, symbol, or other pictorial 
 27.18  representation on the sticker must be at least as large as the 
 27.19  letters and numerals on the plate and the registrar shall allow 
 27.20  for plates with spaces for the stickers in place of a numeral or 
 27.21  letter. 
 27.22     (b) Each congressionally chartered veterans service 
 27.23  organization must arrange for any applicable rules of the 
 27.24  national organization to be changed or copyrights to be released 
 27.25  before the commissioner may issue special license plate stickers 
 27.26  to members of any particular service organization under this 
 27.27  section. 
 27.28     Subd. 3.  [NUMBER ESTIMATED.] The commissioner of veterans 
 27.29  affairs shall estimate the number of special plate stickers that 
 27.30  will be required and submit the estimate to the registrar.  
 27.31     Subd. 4.  [PLATE TRANSFERS.] Notwithstanding section 168.12 
 27.32  or other law to the contrary, on payment of a fee of $5, the 
 27.33  special plate stickers issued under subdivision 1, may be 
 27.34  transferred to other license plates on a passenger automobile, 
 27.35  pickup truck, van, motorcycle, or self-propelled recreational 
 27.36  equipment owned or jointly owned by the person to whom the 
 28.1   stickers were issued.  
 28.2      Subd. 5.  [FEES CREDITED.] Fees collected under this 
 28.3   section must be paid into the state treasury and credited to the 
 28.4   highway user tax distribution fund. 
 28.5      Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 168.1291, 
 28.6   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 28.7      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITION.] For purposes of this section 
 28.8   "special license plates" means license plates issued under 
 28.9   sections 168.12, subdivisions 2b to 2e; 168.123; 168.1235; 
 28.10  168.129; 168.1292; and 168.1296. 
 28.11     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 168.27, 
 28.12  subdivision 5a, is amended to read: 
 28.13     Subd. 5a.  [CONSIGNMENT SALES.] No person may solicit, 
 28.14  accept, offer for sale, or sell motor vehicles for consignment 
 28.15  sale unless licensed as a new or used motor vehicle dealer, a 
 28.16  motor vehicle wholesaler, or a motor vehicle auctioneer.  This 
 28.17  requirement does not apply to a licensed auctioneer selling 
 28.18  motor vehicles at an auction if, in the ordinary course of the 
 28.19  auctioneer's business, the sale of motor vehicles is incidental 
 28.20  to the sale of other real or personal property.  Incidental 
 28.21  means up to a total of ten but no more than ten percent of the 
 28.22  items in the posted auction bill are motor vehicles.  
 28.23     Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 168A.29, 
 28.24  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 28.25     Subdivision 1.  [AMOUNTS.] (a) The department shall be paid 
 28.26  the following fees: 
 28.27     (1) for filing an application for and the issuance of an 
 28.28  original certificate of title, the sum of $2; 
 28.29     (2) for each security interest when first noted upon a 
 28.30  certificate of title, including the concurrent notation of any 
 28.31  assignment thereof and its subsequent release or satisfaction, 
 28.32  the sum of $2, except that no fee is due for a security interest 
 28.33  filed by a public authority under section 168A.05, subdivision 
 28.34  8; 
 28.35     (3) for the transfer of the interest of an owner and the 
 28.36  issuance of a new certificate of title, the sum of $2; 
 29.1      (4) for each assignment of a security interest when first 
 29.2   noted on a certificate of title, unless noted concurrently with 
 29.3   the security interest, the sum of $1; 
 29.4      (5) for issuing a duplicate certificate of title, the sum 
 29.5   of $4.  
 29.6      (b) After June 30, 1994, in addition to each of the fees 
 29.7   required under paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (3), the 
 29.8   department shall be paid: 
 29.9      (1) from July 1, 1994, to June 30, 1997, $3.50; but then 
 29.10     (2) after June 30, 1997, $1.  
 29.11     The additional fee collected under this paragraph must be 
 29.12  deposited in the transportation services special revenue fund 
 29.13  and credited to the state patrol public safety motor vehicle 
 29.14  account established in section 299D.10 299A.70. 
 29.15     Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.01, 
 29.16  subdivision 78, is amended to read: 
 29.17     Subd. 78.  [RECREATIONAL VEHICLE COMBINATION.] 
 29.18  "Recreational vehicle combination" means a combination of 
 29.19  vehicles consisting of a pickup truck as defined in section 
 29.20  168.011, subdivision 29, attached by means of a fifth-wheel 
 29.21  coupling to a camper-semitrailer which has hitched to it a 
 29.22  trailer carrying a watercraft as defined in section 86B.005, 
 29.23  subdivision 18; off-highway motorcycle as defined in section 
 29.24  84.787, subdivision 7; motorcycle; motorized bicycle; snowmobile 
 29.25  as defined in section 84.81, subdivision 3; or all-terrain 
 29.26  vehicle as defined in section 84.92, subdivision 8.  For 
 29.27  purposes of this subdivision: 
 29.28     (a) A "fifth-wheel coupling" is a coupling between a 
 29.29  camper-semitrailer and a towing pickup truck in which a portion 
 29.30  of the weight of the camper-semitrailer is carried over or 
 29.31  forward of the rear axle of the towing pickup. 
 29.32     (b) A "camper-semitrailer" is a trailer, other than a 
 29.33  manufactured home as defined in section 327B.01, subdivision 13, 
 29.34  designed for human habitation and used for vacation or 
 29.35  recreational purposes for limited periods. 
 29.36     Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.045, 
 30.1   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 30.2      Subdivision 1.  [DESIGNATION OF ROADWAYS, PERMIT.] The 
 30.3   governing body of any county, home rule charter or statutory 
 30.4   city, or town may by ordinance authorize the operation of 
 30.5   motorized golf carts, or four-wheel all-terrain vehicles, on 
 30.6   designated roadways or portions thereof under its jurisdiction.  
 30.7   Authorization to operate a motorized golf cart or four-wheel 
 30.8   all-terrain vehicle is by permit only.  For purposes of this 
 30.9   section, a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle is a motorized 
 30.10  flotation-tired vehicle with four low-pressure tires that is 
 30.11  limited in engine displacement of less than 800 cubic 
 30.12  centimeters and total dry weight less than 600 pounds. 
 30.13     Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.06, 
 30.14  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 30.15     Subd. 4.  [OBEDIENCE TO AND REQUIRED TRAFFIC-CONTROL 
 30.16  DEVICES.] (a) The driver of any vehicle shall obey the 
 30.17  instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable 
 30.18  thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this 
 30.19  chapter, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police 
 30.20  officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an 
 30.21  authorized emergency vehicle in this chapter.  
 30.22     (b) No provision of this chapter for which official 
 30.23  traffic-control devices are required shall be enforced against 
 30.24  an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged 
 30.25  violation an official device is not in proper position and 
 30.26  sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant 
 30.27  person.  Whenever a particular section does not state that 
 30.28  official traffic-control devices are required, such section 
 30.29  shall be effective even though no devices are erected or in 
 30.30  place.  
 30.31     (c) Whenever official traffic-control devices are placed in 
 30.32  position approximately conforming to the requirements of this 
 30.33  chapter, such devices shall be presumed to have been so placed 
 30.34  by the official act or direction of lawful authority, unless the 
 30.35  contrary shall be established by competent evidence.  
 30.36     (d) Any official traffic-control device placed pursuant to 
 31.1   the provisions of this chapter and purporting to conform to the 
 31.2   lawful requirements pertaining to such devices shall be presumed 
 31.3   to comply with the requirements of this chapter, unless the 
 31.4   contrary shall be established by competent evidence.  
 31.5      (e) A flagger in a designated work zone may stop vehicles 
 31.6   and hold vehicles in place until it is safe for the vehicles to 
 31.7   proceed.  A person operating a motor vehicle that has been 
 31.8   stopped by a flagger in a designated work zone may proceed after 
 31.9   stopping only on instruction by the flagger. 
 31.10     Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.14, 
 31.11  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 31.12     Subd. 3.  [REDUCED SPEED REQUIRED.] (a) The driver of any 
 31.13  vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements, drive at an 
 31.14  appropriate reduced speed when approaching or passing an 
 31.15  authorized emergency vehicle stopped with emergency lights 
 31.16  flashing on any street or highway, when approaching and crossing 
 31.17  an intersection or railway grade crossing, when approaching and 
 31.18  going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when 
 31.19  traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, and when special 
 31.20  hazards exist with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by 
 31.21  reason of weather or highway conditions.  
 31.22     (b) A person who fails to reduce speed appropriately when 
 31.23  approaching or passing an authorized emergency vehicle stopped 
 31.24  with emergency lights flashing on a street or highway shall be 
 31.25  assessed an additional surcharge equal to the amount of the fine 
 31.26  imposed for the speed violation, but not less than $25. 
 31.27     Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.14, 
 31.28  subdivision 5a, is amended to read: 
 31.29     Subd. 5a.  [SPEED ZONING IN SCHOOL ZONES.] Local 
 31.30  authorities may establish a school speed limit within a school 
 31.31  zone of a public or nonpublic school upon the basis of an 
 31.32  engineering and traffic investigation as prescribed by the 
 31.33  commissioner of transportation.  The establishment of a school 
 31.34  speed limit on any trunk highway shall be with the consent of 
 31.35  the commissioner of transportation.  Such school speed limits 
 31.36  shall be in effect when children are present, going to or 
 32.1   leaving school during opening or closing hours or during school 
 32.2   recess periods.  The school speed limit shall not be lower than 
 32.3   15 miles per hour and shall not be more than 20 miles per hour 
 32.4   below the established speed limit on an affected street or 
 32.5   highway if the established speed limit is 40 miles per hour or 
 32.6   greater. 
 32.7      The school speed limit shall be effective upon the erection 
 32.8   of appropriate signs designating the speed and indicating the 
 32.9   beginning and end of the reduced speed zone.  Any speed in 
 32.10  excess of such posted school speed limit is unlawful.  All such 
 32.11  signs shall be erected by the local authorities on those streets 
 32.12  and highways under their respective jurisdictions and by the 
 32.13  commissioner of transportation on trunk highways. 
 32.14     For the purpose of this subdivision, "school zone" means 
 32.15  that section of a street or highway which abuts the grounds of a 
 32.16  school where children have access to the street or highway from 
 32.17  the school property or where an established school crossing is 
 32.18  located provided the school advance sign prescribed by the 
 32.19  manual on uniform traffic control devices adopted by the 
 32.20  commissioner of transportation pursuant to section 169.06 is in 
 32.21  place.  All signs erected by local authorities to designate 
 32.22  speed limits in school zones shall conform to the manual on 
 32.23  uniform control devices. 
 32.24     Notwithstanding section 609.0331 or 609.101 or other law to 
 32.25  the contrary, a person who violates a speed limit established 
 32.26  under this subdivision is assessed an additional surcharge equal 
 32.27  to the amount of the fine imposed for the violation, but not 
 32.28  less than $25. 
 32.29     Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.17, is 
 32.30  amended to read: 
 32.31     169.17 [EMERGENCY VEHICLES.] 
 32.32     The speed limitations set forth in sections 169.14 to 
 32.33  169.17 do not apply to an authorized emergency vehicles when 
 32.34  vehicle responding to an emergency calls, but the drivers 
 32.35  thereof.  Drivers of all emergency vehicles shall sound an 
 32.36  audible signal by siren and display at least one lighted red 
 33.1   light to the front, except that law enforcement vehicles or 
 33.2   medical emergency vehicles shall sound an audible signal by 
 33.3   siren or display at least one lighted red light to the front.  
 33.4   This provision does not relieve the driver of an authorized 
 33.5   emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the 
 33.6   safety of persons using the street, nor does it protect the 
 33.7   driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the consequence 
 33.8   of a reckless disregard of the safety of others.  
 33.9      Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.21, 
 33.10  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 33.11     Subd. 2.  [RIGHTS IN ABSENCE OF SIGNALS.] (a) Where 
 33.12  traffic-control signals are not in place or in operation, the 
 33.13  driver of a vehicle shall stop to yield the right-of-way to a 
 33.14  pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or 
 33.15  within any crosswalk at an intersection but no pedestrian shall 
 33.16  suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run 
 33.17  into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is 
 33.18  impossible for the driver to yield.  This provision shall not 
 33.19  apply under the conditions as otherwise provided in this 
 33.20  subdivision. 
 33.21     (b) When any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at 
 33.22  any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian 
 33.23  to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle 
 33.24  approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the 
 33.25  stopped vehicle. 
 33.26     (c) It is unlawful for any person to drive a motor vehicle 
 33.27  through a column of school children crossing a street or highway 
 33.28  or past a member of a school safety patrol or adult crossing 
 33.29  guard, while the member of the school safety patrol or adult 
 33.30  crossing guard is directing the movement of children across a 
 33.31  street or highway and while the school safety patrol member or 
 33.32  adult crossing guard is holding an official signal in the stop 
 33.33  position.  A peace officer may arrest the driver of a motor 
 33.34  vehicle if the peace officer has probable cause to believe that 
 33.35  the driver has operated the vehicle in violation of this 
 33.36  paragraph within the past four hours.  
 34.1      (d) A person who violates this subdivision is guilty of a 
 34.2   misdemeanor and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more 
 34.3   than 90 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $700, or 
 34.4   both.  A person who violates this subdivision a second or 
 34.5   subsequent time within one year of a previous conviction under 
 34.6   this subdivision is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and may be 
 34.7   sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to 
 34.8   payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both. 
 34.9      Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.444, is 
 34.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 34.11     Subd. 1a.  [PASSING ON RIGHT.] No person may pass or 
 34.12  attempt to pass a school bus in a motor vehicle on the 
 34.13  right-hand, passenger-door side of the bus when the school bus 
 34.14  is displaying the prewarning flashing amber signals as required 
 34.15  in section 169.443, subdivision 1. 
 34.16     Sec. 25.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.444, 
 34.17  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 34.18     Subd. 2.  [VIOLATIONS BY DRIVERS; PENALTIES.] (a) A person 
 34.19  who fails to stop a vehicle or to keep it stopped, as required 
 34.20  in subdivision 1, or who violates subdivision 1a, is guilty of a 
 34.21  misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $300. 
 34.22     (b) A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the person 
 34.23  fails to stop a motor vehicle or to keep it stopped, as required 
 34.24  in subdivision 1, or who violates subdivision 1a, and commits 
 34.25  either or both of the following acts: 
 34.26     (1) passes or attempts to pass the school bus in a motor 
 34.27  vehicle on the right-hand, passenger-door side of the bus; or 
 34.28     (2) passes or attempts to pass the school bus in a motor 
 34.29  vehicle when a school child is outside of and on the street or 
 34.30  highway used by the school bus or on the adjacent sidewalk. 
 34.31     Sec. 26.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.444, 
 34.32  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 34.33     Subd. 5.  [CAUSE FOR ARREST.] A peace officer may arrest 
 34.34  the driver of a motor vehicle if the peace officer has probable 
 34.35  cause to believe that the driver has operated the vehicle in 
 34.36  violation of subdivision 1 or 1a within the past four hours. 
 35.1      Sec. 27.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.444, 
 35.2   subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 35.3      Subd. 6.  [VIOLATION; PENALTY FOR OWNERS AND LESSEES.] (a) 
 35.4   If a motor vehicle is operated in violation of subdivision 1 or 
 35.5   1a, the owner of the vehicle, or for a leased motor vehicle the 
 35.6   lessee of the vehicle, is guilty of a petty misdemeanor. 
 35.7      (b) The owner or lessee may not be fined under paragraph 
 35.8   (a) if (1) another person is convicted for that violation, or 
 35.9   (2) the motor vehicle was stolen at the time of the violation.  
 35.10     (c) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a lessor of a motor 
 35.11  vehicle if the lessor keeps a record of the name and address of 
 35.12  the lessee.  
 35.13     (d) Paragraph (a) does not prohibit or limit the 
 35.14  prosecution of a motor vehicle operator for violating 
 35.15  subdivision 1 or 1a.  
 35.16     (e) A violation under paragraph (a) does not constitute 
 35.17  grounds for revocation or suspension of the owner's or lessee's 
 35.18  driver's license.  
 35.19     Sec. 28.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.444, 
 35.20  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 35.21     Subd. 7.  [EVIDENTIARY PRESUMPTIONS.] (a) There is a 
 35.22  rebuttable presumption that signals described in section 169.442 
 35.23  were in working order and operable when a violation of 
 35.24  subdivision 1, 1a, 2, or 5 was allegedly committed, if the 
 35.25  signals of the applicable school bus were inspected and visually 
 35.26  found to be in working order and operable within 12 hours 
 35.27  preceding the incident giving rise to the violation. 
 35.28     (b) There is a rebuttable presumption that a motor vehicle 
 35.29  outwardly equipped and identified as a school bus satisfies all 
 35.30  of the identification and equipment requirements of section 
 35.31  169.441 when a violation of subdivision 1, 1a, 2, or 5 was 
 35.32  allegedly committed, if the applicable school bus bears a 
 35.33  current inspection certificate issued under section 169.451. 
 35.34     Sec. 29.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.81, 
 35.35  subdivision 3c, is amended to read: 
 35.36     Subd. 3c.  [RECREATIONAL VEHICLE COMBINATIONS.] 
 36.1   Notwithstanding subdivision 3, a recreational vehicle 
 36.2   combination may be operated without a permit if: 
 36.3      (1) the combination does not consist of more than three 
 36.4   vehicles, and the towing rating of the pickup truck is equal to 
 36.5   or greater than the total weight of all vehicles being towed; 
 36.6      (2) the combination does not exceed 60 feet in length; 
 36.7      (3) the camper-semitrailer in the combination does not 
 36.8   exceed 28 feet in length until August 1, 1997, and 26 feet 
 36.9   thereafter; 
 36.10     (4) the operator of the combination is at least 18 years of 
 36.11  age; 
 36.12     (5) the trailer carrying a watercraft, motorcycle, 
 36.13  motorized bicycle, off-highway motorcycle, snowmobile, or 
 36.14  all-terrain vehicle meets all requirements of law; 
 36.15     (6) the trailers in the combination are connected to the 
 36.16  pickup truck and each other in conformity with section 169.82; 
 36.17  and 
 36.18     (7) the combination is not operated within the seven-county 
 36.19  metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, 
 36.20  during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 
 36.21  p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. 
 36.22     Sec. 30.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.85, is 
 36.23  amended to read: 
 36.24     169.85 [WEIGHING; PENALTY.] 
 36.25     Subdivision 1.  [DRIVERS TO STOP FOR WEIGHING.] The driver 
 36.26  of a vehicle which has been lawfully stopped may be required by 
 36.27  a peace officer to submit the vehicle and load to a weighing by 
 36.28  means of portable or stationary scales, and the peace officer 
 36.29  may require that the vehicle be driven to the nearest available 
 36.30  scales if the distance to the scales is no further than five 
 36.31  miles, or if the distance from the point where the vehicle is 
 36.32  stopped to the vehicle's destination is not increased by more 
 36.33  than ten miles as a result of proceeding to the nearest 
 36.34  available scales.  Official traffic control devices as 
 36.35  authorized by section 169.06 may be used to direct the driver to 
 36.36  the nearest scale.  When a truck weight enforcement operation is 
 37.1   conducted by means of portable or stationary scales and signs 
 37.2   giving notice of the operation are posted within the highway 
 37.3   right-of-way and adjacent to the roadway within two miles of the 
 37.4   operation, the driver of a truck or combination of vehicles 
 37.5   registered for or weighing in excess of 12,000 pounds shall 
 37.6   proceed to the scale site and submit the vehicle to weighing and 
 37.7   inspection. 
 37.8      Subd. 2.  [UNLOADING.] Upon weighing a vehicle and load, as 
 37.9   provided in this section, an officer may require the driver to 
 37.10  stop the vehicle in a suitable place and remain standing until a 
 37.11  portion of the load is removed that is sufficient to reduce the 
 37.12  gross weight of the vehicle to the limit permitted under section 
 37.13  169.825.  A suitable place is a location where loading or 
 37.14  tampering with the load is not prohibited by federal, state, or 
 37.15  local law, rule or ordinance.  A driver may be required to 
 37.16  unload a vehicle only if the weighing officer determines that 
 37.17  (a) on routes subject to the provisions of section 169.825, the 
 37.18  weight on an axle exceeds the lawful gross weight prescribed by 
 37.19  section 169.825, by 2,000 pounds or more, or the weight on a 
 37.20  group of two or more consecutive axles in cases where the 
 37.21  distance between the centers of the first and last axles of the 
 37.22  group under consideration is ten feet or less exceeds the lawful 
 37.23  gross weight prescribed by section 169.825, by 4,000 pounds or 
 37.24  more; or (b) on routes designated by the commissioner in section 
 37.25  169.832, subdivision 11, the overall weight of the vehicle or 
 37.26  the weight on an axle or group of consecutive axles exceeds the 
 37.27  maximum lawful gross weights prescribed by section 169.825; or 
 37.28  (c) the weight is unlawful on an axle or group of consecutive 
 37.29  axles on a road restricted in accordance with section 169.87.  
 37.30  Material unloaded must be cared for by the owner or driver of 
 37.31  the vehicle at the risk of the owner or driver. 
 37.32     Subd. 3.  [VIOLATION.] A driver of a vehicle who (1) fails 
 37.33  or refuses to stop and submit the vehicle and load to a weighing 
 37.34  as required in this section, or who (2) fails or refuses, when 
 37.35  directed by an officer upon a weighing of the vehicle, to stop 
 37.36  the vehicle and otherwise comply with the provisions of this 
 38.1   section, or (3) fails to comply with an official traffic control 
 38.2   device as authorized by section 169.06 that directs the driver 
 38.3   to the nearest scale is guilty of a misdemeanor. 
 38.4      Subd. 4.  [ARREST.] A peace officer may arrest the driver 
 38.5   of a motor vehicle if the peace officer has probable cause to 
 38.6   believe that the driver has operated the vehicle in violation of 
 38.7   subdivision 3 within the past four hours. 
 38.8      Subd. 5.  [IDENTIFICATION OF DRIVER.] A person who owns or 
 38.9   leases a motor vehicle that a peace officer has probable cause 
 38.10  to believe has been operated in violation of subdivision 3 must 
 38.11  identify the driver of the motor vehicle upon request of the 
 38.12  peace officer.  Violation of this subdivision is a petty 
 38.13  misdemeanor. 
 38.14     Sec. 31.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.974, 
 38.15  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 38.16     Subd. 2.  [LICENSE REQUIREMENTS.] No person shall operate a 
 38.17  motorcycle on any street or highway without having a valid 
 38.18  standard driver's license with a two-wheeled vehicle endorsement 
 38.19  as provided by law.  No such two-wheeled vehicle endorsement 
 38.20  shall be issued unless the person applying therefor has in 
 38.21  possession a valid two-wheeled vehicle instruction permit as 
 38.22  provided herein, has passed a written examination and road test 
 38.23  administered by the department of public safety for such 
 38.24  endorsement, and, in the case of applicants under 18 years of 
 38.25  age, shall present a certificate or other evidence of having 
 38.26  successfully completed an approved two-wheeled vehicle driver's 
 38.27  safety course in this or another state, in accordance with rules 
 38.28  promulgated by the state board of education for courses offered 
 38.29  through the public schools, or rules promulgated by the 
 38.30  commissioner of public safety for courses offered by a private 
 38.31  or commercial school or institute.  The commissioner of public 
 38.32  safety may waive the road test for any applicant on determining 
 38.33  that the applicant possesses a valid license to operate a 
 38.34  two-wheeled vehicle issued by a jurisdiction that requires a 
 38.35  comparable road test for license issuance.  A two-wheeled 
 38.36  vehicle instruction permit shall be issued to any person over 16 
 39.1   years of age, who is in possession of a valid driver's license, 
 39.2   who is enrolled in an approved two-wheeled vehicle driver's 
 39.3   safety course, and who has passed a written examination for such 
 39.4   permit and has paid such fee as the commissioner of public 
 39.5   safety shall prescribe.  A two-wheeled vehicle instruction 
 39.6   permit shall be effective for 45 days one year, and may be 
 39.7   renewed under rules to be prescribed by the commissioner of 
 39.8   public safety. 
 39.9      No person who is operating by virtue of a two-wheeled 
 39.10  vehicle instruction permit shall: 
 39.11     (a) carry any passengers on the streets and highways of 
 39.12  this state on the motorcycle which the person is operating; 
 39.13     (b) drive the motorcycle at night time; 
 39.14     (c) drive the motorcycle on any highway marked by the 
 39.15  commissioner as an interstate highway pursuant to title 23 of 
 39.16  the United States Code; or 
 39.17     (d) drive the motorcycle without wearing protective 
 39.18  headgear that complies with standards established by the 
 39.19  commissioner of public safety. 
 39.20     Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, the 
 39.21  commissioner of public safety may, however, issue a special 
 39.22  motorcycle permit, restricted or qualified in such manner as the 
 39.23  commissioner of public safety shall deem proper, to any person 
 39.24  demonstrating a need therefor and unable to qualify for a 
 39.25  standard driver's license. 
 39.26     Sec. 32.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 171.06, 
 39.27  subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
 39.28     Subd. 2a.  [TWO-WHEELED VEHICLE ENDORSEMENT FEE 
 39.29  INCREASED.] (a) The fee for any duplicate drivers driver's 
 39.30  license which is obtained for the purpose of adding a 
 39.31  two-wheeled vehicle endorsement is increased by $16 $18.50 for 
 39.32  each first such duplicate license and $13 for each renewal 
 39.33  thereof.  The additional fee shall be paid into the state 
 39.34  treasury and credited as follows: 
 39.35     (1) $8.50 $11 of the additional fee for each first 
 39.36  duplicate license, and $7 of the additional fee for each 
 40.1   renewal, must be credited to the motorcycle safety fund which is 
 40.2   hereby created; provided that any fee receipts in excess of 
 40.3   $750,000 in a fiscal year shall be credited 90 percent to the 
 40.4   trunk highway fund and ten percent to the general fund, as 
 40.5   provided in section 171.26. 
 40.6      (2) The remainder of the additional fee must be credited to 
 40.7   the general fund. 
 40.8      (b) All application forms prepared by the commissioner for 
 40.9   two-wheeled vehicle endorsements shall clearly contain the 
 40.10  information that state the amount of the total fee charged for 
 40.11  the endorsement, $7 that is dedicated to the motorcycle safety 
 40.12  fund. 
 40.13     Sec. 33.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 171.13, 
 40.14  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 40.15     Subd. 5.  [EXAMINATION FEE FOR VEHICLE ENDORSEMENT.] Any 
 40.16  person applying to secure a motorcycle, school bus, tank 
 40.17  vehicle, passenger, double-trailer or triple-trailer, or 
 40.18  hazardous materials vehicle endorsement on the person's driver's 
 40.19  license shall pay a $2.50 examination fee at the place of 
 40.20  application. 
 40.21     Sec. 34.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 171.13, is 
 40.22  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 40.23     Subd. 6.  [INITIAL MOTORCYCLE ENDORSEMENT FEES.] A person 
 40.24  applying for an initial motorcycle endorsement on a driver's 
 40.25  license shall pay at the place of examination a total fee of 
 40.26  $21, which includes the examination fee and endorsement fee, but 
 40.27  does not include the fee for a duplicate driver's license 
 40.28  prescribed in section 171.06, subdivision 2.  Of this amount, 
 40.29  $11 must be credited as provided in section 171.06, subdivision 
 40.30  2a, paragraph (a), clause (1), $2.50 must be credited to the 
 40.31  trunk highway fund, and the remainder must be credited to the 
 40.32  general fund. 
 40.33     Sec. 35.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 171.29, 
 40.34  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 40.35     Subd. 2.  [FEES, ALLOCATION.] (a) A person whose driver's 
 40.36  license has been revoked as provided in subdivision 1, except 
 41.1   under section 169.121 or 169.123, shall pay a $30 fee before the 
 41.2   driver's license is reinstated. 
 41.3      (b) A person whose driver's license has been revoked as 
 41.4   provided in subdivision 1 under section 169.121 or 169.123 shall 
 41.5   pay a $250 fee plus a $10 surcharge before the driver's license 
 41.6   is reinstated.  The $250 fee is to be credited as follows: 
 41.7      (1) Twenty percent shall be credited to the trunk highway 
 41.8   fund. 
 41.9      (2) Fifty-five percent shall be credited to the general 
 41.10  fund. 
 41.11     (3) Eight percent shall be credited to a separate account 
 41.12  to be known as the bureau of criminal apprehension account.  
 41.13  Money in this account may be appropriated to the commissioner of 
 41.14  public safety and the appropriated amount shall be apportioned 
 41.15  80 percent for laboratory costs and 20 percent for carrying out 
 41.16  the provisions of section 299C.065. 
 41.17     (4) Twelve percent shall be credited to a separate account 
 41.18  to be known as the alcohol-impaired driver education account.  
 41.19  Money in the account may be is appropriated as follows: 
 41.20     (i) The first $200,000 in a fiscal year is to the 
 41.21  commissioner of children, families, and learning for programs in 
 41.22  elementary and secondary schools. 
 41.23     (ii) The remainder credited in a fiscal year is 
 41.24  appropriated to the commissioner of transportation to be spent 
 41.25  as grants to the Minnesota highway safety center at St. Cloud 
 41.26  State University for programs relating to alcohol and highway 
 41.27  safety education in elementary and secondary schools. 
 41.28     (5) Five percent shall be credited to a separate account to 
 41.29  be known as the traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury 
 41.30  account.  $100,000 is annually appropriated from the account to 
 41.31  the commissioner of human services for traumatic brain injury 
 41.32  case management services.  The remaining money in the account is 
 41.33  annually appropriated to the commissioner of health to establish 
 41.34  and maintain the traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury 
 41.35  registry created in section 144.662 and to reimburse the 
 41.36  commissioner of economic security for the reasonable cost of 
 42.1   services provided under section 268A.03, clause (o). 
 42.2      (c) The $10 surcharge shall be credited to a separate 
 42.3   account to be known as the remote electronic alcohol monitoring 
 42.4   pilot program account.  Up to $250,000 is annually appropriated 
 42.5   from this account to the commissioner of corrections for a 
 42.6   remote electronic alcohol monitoring pilot program.  The 
 42.7   unencumbered balance remaining in the first year of the biennium 
 42.8   does not cancel but is available for the second year. 
 42.9      Sec. 36.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 173.13, 
 42.10  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 42.11     Subd. 4.  [FEES.] The annual fee for each such permit or 
 42.12  renewal thereof shall be as follows: 
 42.13     (1) If the advertising area of the advertising device does 
 42.14  not exceed 50 square feet, the fee shall be $25 $30. 
 42.15     (2) If the advertising area exceeds 50 square feet but does 
 42.16  not exceed 300 square feet, the fee shall be $50 $60. 
 42.17     (3) If the advertising area exceeds 300 square feet, the 
 42.18  fee shall be $100 $120. 
 42.19     (4) No fee shall be charged for a permit for official signs 
 42.20  and notices as they are defined in section 173.02, except that a 
 42.21  fee may be charged for a star city sign erected under section 
 42.22  173.085. 
 42.23     Sec. 37.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 174.03, is 
 42.24  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 42.25     Subd. 6a.  [ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF NONHIGHWAY ALTERNATIVES.] 
 42.26  If the commissioner considers congestion pricing, tolls, mileage 
 42.27  pricing, or public-private partnerships in order to meet the 
 42.28  transportation needs of commuters in the department's 
 42.29  metropolitan district between 2001 and 2020, the commissioner 
 42.30  shall, in cooperation with the metropolitan council and the 
 42.31  regional railroad authorities in the district, compare the 
 42.32  economics of these financing methods with the economics of 
 42.33  nonhighway alternatives for moving commuters.  The commissioner 
 42.34  shall analyze the economics as they relate to both individuals 
 42.35  and to the transportation system. 
 42.36     Sec. 38.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 221.84, 
 43.1   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 43.2      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITION.] "Limousine service" means a 
 43.3   service that:  
 43.4      (1) is not provided on a regular route; 
 43.5      (2) is provided in an unmarked a luxury passenger 
 43.6   automobile that is not a van or station wagon and has a seating 
 43.7   capacity of not more than 12 persons, excluding the driver; 
 43.8      (3) provides only prearranged pickup; and 
 43.9      (4) charges more than a taxicab fare for a comparable trip. 
 43.10     Sec. 39.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 296.16, 
 43.11  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 43.12     Subdivision 1.  [INTENT; GASOLINE USE.] All gasoline 
 43.13  received in this state and all gasoline produced in or brought 
 43.14  into this state except aviation gasoline and marine gasoline 
 43.15  shall be determined to be intended for use in motor vehicles in 
 43.16  this state. 
 43.17     Approximately 1-1/2 percent of all gasoline received in 
 43.18  this state and 1-1/2 percent of all gasoline produced or brought 
 43.19  into this state, except gasoline used for aviation purposes, is 
 43.20  being used as fuel for the operation of motorboats on the waters 
 43.21  of this state and of the total revenue derived from the 
 43.22  imposition of the gasoline fuel tax for uses other than for 
 43.23  aviation purposes, 1-1/2 percent of such revenues is the amount 
 43.24  of tax on fuel used in motorboats operated on the waters of this 
 43.25  state.  
 43.26     Approximately three-fourths of one percent in fiscal years 
 43.27  1998 and 1999, and three-fourths of one percent thereafter, of 
 43.28  all gasoline received in and produced or brought into this 
 43.29  state, except gasoline used for aviation purposes, is being used 
 43.30  as fuel for the operation of snowmobiles in this state, and of 
 43.31  the total revenue derived from the imposition of the gasoline 
 43.32  fuel tax for uses other than for aviation 
 43.33  purposes, three-fourths of one percent in fiscal years 1998 and 
 43.34  1999, and three-fourths of one percent thereafter, of such 
 43.35  revenues is the amount of tax on fuel used in snowmobiles 
 43.36  operated in this state. 
 44.1      Approximately 0.15 of one percent of all gasoline received 
 44.2   in or produced or brought into this state, except gasoline used 
 44.3   for aviation purposes, is being used for the operation of 
 44.4   all-terrain vehicles in this state, and of the total revenue 
 44.5   derived from the imposition of the gasoline fuel tax, 0.15 of 
 44.6   one percent is the amount of tax on fuel used in all-terrain 
 44.7   vehicles operated in this state. 
 44.8      Approximately 0.046 of one percent of all gasoline received 
 44.9   or produced in or brought into this state, except gasoline used 
 44.10  for aviation purposes, is being used for the operation of 
 44.11  off-highway motorcycles in this state, and of the total revenue 
 44.12  derived from the imposition of the gasoline fuel tax for uses 
 44.13  other than for aviation purposes, 0.046 of one percent is the 
 44.14  amount of tax on fuel used in off-highway motorcycles operated 
 44.15  in this state. 
 44.16     Approximately .164 of one percent of all gasoline received 
 44.17  or produced in or brought into this state, except gasoline used 
 44.18  for aviation purposes, is being used for the off-road operation 
 44.19  of off-road vehicles, as defined in section 84.797, in this 
 44.20  state, and of the total revenue derived from the imposition of 
 44.21  the gasoline fuel tax for uses other than aviation purposes, 
 44.22  .164 of one percent is the amount of tax on fuel used for 
 44.23  off-road operation of off-road vehicles in this state. 
 44.24     Sec. 40.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 299A.38, 
 44.25  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 44.26     Subd. 2.  [STATE AND LOCAL REIMBURSEMENT.] Peace officers 
 44.27  and heads of local law enforcement agencies who buy vests for 
 44.28  the use of peace officer employees may apply to the commissioner 
 44.29  for reimbursement of funds spent to buy vests.  On approving an 
 44.30  application for reimbursement, the commissioner shall pay the 
 44.31  applicant an amount equal to the lesser of one-half of the 
 44.32  vest's purchase price or $300, as adjusted according to 
 44.33  subdivision 2a.  The political subdivision that employs the 
 44.34  peace officer shall pay at least the lesser of one-half of the 
 44.35  vest's purchase price or $300, as adjusted according to 
 44.36  subdivision 2a.  The political subdivision may not deduct or pay 
 45.1   its share of the vest's cost from any clothing, maintenance, or 
 45.2   similar allowance otherwise provided to the peace officer by the 
 45.3   law enforcement agency. 
 45.4      Sec. 41.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 299A.38, is 
 45.5   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 45.6      Subd. 2a.  [ADJUSTMENT OF REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT.] On October 
 45.7   1, 1997, the commissioner of public safety shall adjust the $300 
 45.8   reimbursement amounts specified in subdivision 2, and in each 
 45.9   subsequent year, on October 1, the commissioner shall adjust the 
 45.10  reimbursement amount applicable immediately preceding that 
 45.11  October 1 date.  The adjusted rate must reflect the annual 
 45.12  percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban 
 45.13  consumers, published by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
 45.14  occurring in the one-year period ending on the preceding June 1. 
 45.15     Sec. 42.  [299A.70] [PUBLIC SAFETY MOTOR VEHICLE ACCOUNT.] 
 45.16     The public safety motor vehicle account is created in the 
 45.17  special revenue fund, consisting of the fees collected under 
 45.18  section 168A.29, subdivision 1, paragraph (b).  Money in the 
 45.19  account is annually appropriated to the commissioner for 
 45.20  purchasing and equipping department vehicles.  
 45.21     Sec. 43.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 299C.10, 
 45.22  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 45.23     Subd. 4.  [FEE FOR BACKGROUND CHECK; ACCOUNT; 
 45.24  APPROPRIATION.] The superintendent shall collect a fee in an 
 45.25  amount to cover the expense for each background check provided 
 45.26  for a purpose not directly related to the criminal justice 
 45.27  system or required by section 624.7131, 624.7132, or 624.714.  
 45.28  The proceeds of the fee must be deposited in a special account.  
 45.29  Until July 1, 1997, Money in the account is appropriated to the 
 45.30  commissioner to maintain and improve the quality of the criminal 
 45.31  record system in Minnesota. 
 45.32     Sec. 44.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 299C.46, is 
 45.33  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 45.34     Subd. 2a.  [NONCRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY DEFINED.] For the 
 45.35  purposes of sections 299C.46 to 299C.49, "noncriminal justice 
 45.36  agency" means an agency of a state or an agency of a political 
 46.1   subdivision of a state charged with the responsibility of 
 46.2   performing checks of state databases connected to the criminal 
 46.3   justice data communications network. 
 46.4      Sec. 45.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 299C.46, 
 46.5   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 46.6      Subd. 3.  [AUTHORIZED USE, FEE.] (a) The criminal justice 
 46.7   data communications network shall be used exclusively by:  
 46.8      (1) criminal justice agencies in connection with the 
 46.9   performance of duties required by law; 
 46.10     (2) agencies investigating federal security clearances of 
 46.11  individuals for assignment or retention in federal employment 
 46.12  with duties related to national security, as required by Public 
 46.13  Law Number 99-1691; and 
 46.14     (3) other agencies to the extent necessary to provide for 
 46.15  protection of the public or property in an emergency or disaster 
 46.16  situation.; and 
 46.17     (4) noncriminal justice agencies statutorily mandated, by 
 46.18  state or national law, to conduct checks into state databases 
 46.19  prior to disbursing licenses or providing benefits. 
 46.20     (b) The commissioner of public safety shall establish a 
 46.21  monthly network access charge to be paid by each participating 
 46.22  criminal justice agency.  The network access charge shall be a 
 46.23  standard fee established for each terminal, computer, or other 
 46.24  equipment directly addressable by the criminal justice data 
 46.25  communications network, as follows:  January 1, 1984 to December 
 46.26  31, 1984, $40 connect fee per month; January 1, 1985 and 
 46.27  thereafter, $50 connect fee per month.  
 46.28     (c) The commissioner of public safety is authorized to 
 46.29  arrange for the connection of the data communications network 
 46.30  with the criminal justice information system of the federal 
 46.31  government, any adjacent state, or Canada. 
 46.32     Sec. 46.  [360.0151] [AIR SERVICE MARKETING PROGRAM.] 
 46.33     Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.] The commissioner of 
 46.34  transportation shall establish an air service marketing program 
 46.35  to encourage the preservation and expansion of scheduled 
 46.36  passenger air carrier service to greater Minnesota.  The 
 47.1   commissioner may spend funds appropriated from the state 
 47.2   airports fund for (1) air service marketing grants and (2) 
 47.3   conducting statewide studies to determine the feasibility of air 
 47.4   service initiatives.  The commissioner may develop a single, 
 47.5   recognizable statewide marketing program to increase visibility 
 47.6   of and ridership at airports with scheduled air carrier service. 
 47.7      Subd. 2.  [GRANTS AUTHORIZED.] (a) The commissioner may 
 47.8   make air service marketing grants to political subdivisions that 
 47.9   own and operate airports designated by order of the commissioner 
 47.10  as key airports.  The commissioner shall make a project 
 47.11  agreement with each political subdivision receiving a grant 
 47.12  under this section that provides for: 
 47.13     (1) a detailed description of the project for which the 
 47.14  grant is provided; 
 47.15     (2) a schedule of the project; and 
 47.16     (3) the division of costs of the project between the state 
 47.17  and the recipient. 
 47.18     (b) Payments by the commissioner under a project agreement 
 47.19  may only be made to reimburse local costs already incurred. 
 47.20     Subd. 3.  [USES OF GRANT.] (a) Costs for the following 
 47.21  activities related to commercial passenger air service at the 
 47.22  recipient's airport are eligible for reimbursement under this 
 47.23  section:  
 47.24     (1) advertising of service; 
 47.25     (2) public relations activities intended to educate the 
 47.26  public on the value of the airport and its commercial passenger 
 47.27  air service; 
 47.28     (3) marketing studies; or 
 47.29     (4) service improvement activities such as route analysis, 
 47.30  service studies, and other activities intended to preserve or 
 47.31  increase service from an existing or new-entry air carrier. 
 47.32     (b) A grant under this section may not be used for: 
 47.33     (1) an activity that promotes an airport within the service 
 47.34  area of another airport; 
 47.35     (2) a promotional activity that features one specific air 
 47.36  carrier at an airport when more than one air carrier serves the 
 48.1   airport; 
 48.2      (3) administrative costs associated with the marketing 
 48.3   program or with the routine operation of the airport; or 
 48.4      (4) payments to air carriers as fare subsidies, service 
 48.5   subsidies, or seat guarantees. 
 48.6      Sec. 47.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 360.017, 
 48.7   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 48.8      Subdivision 1.  [CREATION; AUTHORIZED DISBURSEMENTS.] (a) 
 48.9   There is hereby created a fund to be known as the state airports 
 48.10  fund.  The fund shall consist of all money appropriated to it, 
 48.11  or directed to be paid into it, by the legislature. 
 48.12     (b) The state airports fund shall be paid out on 
 48.13  authorization of the commissioner and shall be used: 
 48.14     (1) to acquire, construct, improve, maintain, and operate 
 48.15  airports and other air navigation facilities and; 
 48.16     (2) to assist municipalities in the acquisition, 
 48.17  construction, improvement, and maintenance of airports and other 
 48.18  air navigation facilities.  The fund may also be used; 
 48.19     (3) to assist municipalities to initiate, enhance, and 
 48.20  market scheduled air service at their airports; 
 48.21     (4) to promote interest and safety in aeronautics through 
 48.22  education and information.; and 
 48.23     (5) to pay the salaries and expenses in of the department 
 48.24  of transportation related to aeronautic planning, 
 48.25  administration, and operation shall be paid from the state 
 48.26  airports fund.  All allotments of money from the state airports 
 48.27  fund for salaries and expenses shall be approved by the 
 48.28  commissioner of finance. 
 48.29     Sec. 48.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 457A.04, 
 48.30  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 48.31     Subd. 2.  [COSTS.] An assistance agreement must specify 
 48.32  those project costs which may be paid in whole or in part with 
 48.33  assistance from the commissioner.  Assistance agreements may 
 48.34  provide that only the following costs may be so paid: 
 48.35     (1) final engineering costs on a commercial navigation 
 48.36  facility project; 
 49.1      (2) capital improvements to a commercial navigation 
 49.2   facility; and 
 49.3      (3) costs of dredging necessary to open a new commercial 
 49.4   navigation facility project, to provide access to on-shore 
 49.5   facilities from existing channels, to provide for fleeting 
 49.6   operations, and for disposal of dredged material. 
 49.7      The following costs may not be paid with assistance from 
 49.8   the commissioner: 
 49.9      (1) the applicant's administrative, insurance, and legal 
 49.10  costs; 
 49.11     (2) costs of acquiring project permits; 
 49.12     (3) costs of preparing environmental documents, feasibility 
 49.13  studies, or project designs; 
 49.14     (4) interest on money borrowed by the applicant or charged 
 49.15  to the applicant for late payment of project costs; 
 49.16     (5) any costs related to the routine maintenance, repair, 
 49.17  or operation of a commercial navigation facility; and 
 49.18     (6) costs of dredging to maintain an existing channel; and 
 49.19     (7) costs for a project that involves only dredging. 
 49.20     Sec. 49.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.408, 
 49.21  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 49.22     Subd. 7.  [EMPLOYEE PLAN DISCOUNT PASSES.] The council may 
 49.23  offer monthly passes for regular route bus service for sale to 
 49.24  employers at a special discount subject to the provisions of 
 49.25  this subdivision.  An employer may be eligible to purchase 
 49.26  passes at a special discount if the employer agrees to establish 
 49.27  a payroll deduction plan as a means for its employees to 
 49.28  purchase the passes at a price at or below the amount charged by 
 49.29  the council.  The special discount on passes sold pursuant to 
 49.30  this subdivision shall be determined by the council. 
 49.31     Sec. 50.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 473.446, 
 49.32  subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 
 49.33     Subd. 1a.  [TAXATION WITHIN TRANSIT AREA.] For the purposes 
 49.34  of sections 473.405 to 473.449, and the metropolitan transit 
 49.35  system, the metropolitan council shall levy upon all taxable 
 49.36  property within the metropolitan transit area but outside of the 
 50.1   metropolitan transit taxing district, defined in subdivision 2, 
 50.2   a transit tax, which shall be equal to ten percent of the sum of 
 50.3   the levies provided in subdivision 1, clauses (a) to (c).  The 
 50.4   proceeds of this tax shall be used only for paratransit services 
 50.5   or ride sharing programs designed to serve persons located 
 50.6   within the transit area but outside of the transit taxing 
 50.7   district.  
 50.8      The regional transit board shall annually determine which 
 50.9   cities and towns qualify for the 0.510 or 0.765 tax capacity 
 50.10  rate reduction and certify this list to the county auditor on or 
 50.11  before September 15.  No changes shall be made to the list after 
 50.12  September 15 of the same levy year. 
 50.13     Sec. 51.  [COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE STUDY.] 
 50.14     Subdivision 1.  [STUDY.] The commissioner of 
 50.15  transportation, through the division of railroads and waterways, 
 50.16  shall conduct a study of the potential of utilizing freight rail 
 50.17  corridors in the Twin Cities metropolitan area for commuter rail 
 50.18  service.  The commissioner shall perform the study in 
 50.19  coordination with the metropolitan council and metropolitan 
 50.20  regional rail authorities and shall consider, among other 
 50.21  things, the positive and negative effects of commuter rail 
 50.22  service on surrounding neighborhoods. 
 50.23     Subd. 2.  [REPORT.] The commissioner shall report the 
 50.24  findings and recommendations of the study to the governor and 
 50.25  legislature by January 15, 1998, and February 1, 1999.  If in 
 50.26  the report required by January 15, 1998, the commissioner 
 50.27  identifies one or more rail corridors that have potential for a 
 50.28  commuter rail demonstration project, the commissioner, alone or 
 50.29  in cooperation with the metropolitan council and one or more 
 50.30  metropolitan regional rail authorities, may propose legislation 
 50.31  to the 1998 legislative session that provides for acquisition or 
 50.32  lease of the corridors, improvements necessary for their use for 
 50.33  commuter rail purposes, acquisition of commuter rail rolling 
 50.34  stock, and operation of commuter rail services. 
 50.35     Subd. 3.  [REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITIES.] Nothing in this 
 50.36  section may be construed to prohibit or restrict a regional rail 
 51.1   authority in the performance of any duty or exercise of any 
 51.2   power under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 398A. 
 51.3      Sec. 52.  [RAILROAD SERVICE PRESERVATION.] 
 51.4      No state or local agency or political subdivision may take 
 51.5   any action that would have the effect of precluding the use for 
 51.6   commuter rail service of any rail line that is providing rail 
 51.7   service within the seven-county metropolitan area on the 
 51.8   effective date of this section. 
 51.9      Sec. 53.  [REPEALER.] 
 51.10     Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 299D.10, is repealed. 
 51.11     Sec. 54.  [APPLICATION.] 
 51.12     Sections 49 and 50 apply in the counties of Anoka, Carver, 
 51.13  Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. 
 51.14     Sec. 55.  [EFFECTIVE DATES.] 
 51.15     (a) All provisions of this act that appropriate money for 
 51.16  fiscal year 1997 are effective the day following final enactment.
 51.17     (b) Sections 2, 3, 9, 10, 46, 49, and 52 are effective the 
 51.18  day following final enactment. 
 51.19     (c) Sections 19, 20, 21, 23 to 28, and 30 are effective 
 51.20  August 1, 1997, and apply to violations committed on and after 
 51.21  that date.