1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to motor vehicles; authorizing commissioner 
  1.3             of public safety to study motor vehicle safety 
  1.4             standards and inspection programs and make 
  1.5             recommendations to legislature; appropriating money. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [STUDY; EVALUATING MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY 
  1.8   STANDARDS AND SAFETY INSPECTION PROGRAMS.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [STUDY.] The commissioner of public safety 
  1.10  shall study current state motor vehicle safety standards and 
  1.11  recommend changes in state law consistent with changing motor 
  1.12  vehicle technology.  The commissioner shall also study the 
  1.13  feasibility and advisability of establishing a motor vehicle 
  1.14  safety inspection program to provide consumer protection and 
  1.15  reduce accidents, deaths, injuries, property loss, and costs of 
  1.16  insurance and litigation.  The study of motor vehicle safety 
  1.17  inspection programs must include a review of inspection programs 
  1.18  in other states and the programs recommended by the National 
  1.19  Highway Traffic Safety Administration for inspecting motor 
  1.20  vehicles under 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating.  The 
  1.21  commissioner shall recommend ways to coordinate motor vehicle 
  1.22  safety inspection with the mandatory motor vehicle emissions 
  1.23  inspection program. 
  1.24     Subd. 2.  [CONSULTATION.] In preparing the report and 
  1.25  recommendations, the commissioner shall consult with 
  2.1   organizations concerned about motor vehicle safety, including, 
  2.2   but not limited to, consumer organizations, environmental 
  2.3   organizations, representatives from law enforcement agencies, 
  2.4   automobile dealers, automotive service and service station 
  2.5   representatives, and insurance industry representatives. 
  2.6      Subd. 3.  [REPORT TO LEGISLATURE.] The commissioner shall 
  2.7   report findings and recommendations to the legislature by March 
  2.8   1, 1998. 
  2.9      Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.10     $....... is appropriated from the general fund for the 
  2.11  fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, to the commissioner of public 
  2.12  safety to pay for the studies called for in section 1. 
  2.13     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.14     Sections 1 and 2 are effective July 1, 1997.