1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the state building code; establishing a 
  1.3             construction code advisory council; proposing coding 
  1.4             for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16B. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [16B.76] [CONSTRUCTION CODES ADVISORY COUNCIL.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [MEMBERSHIP.] (a) The construction codes 
  1.8   advisory council consists of the following members: 
  1.9      (1) the commissioner of administration, or the 
  1.10  commissioner's designee representing the department's building 
  1.11  codes and standards division; 
  1.12     (2) the commissioner of health, or the commissioner's 
  1.13  designee representing an environmental health section of the 
  1.14  department; 
  1.15     (3) the commissioner of public safety, or the 
  1.16  commissioner's designee representing the department's state fire 
  1.17  marshal division; 
  1.18     (4) the commissioner of public service, or the 
  1.19  commissioner's designee representing the department's energy 
  1.20  regulation and resource management division; and 
  1.21     (5) one member representing each of the following 
  1.22  occupations or entities, appointed by the commissioner of 
  1.23  administration: 
  1.24     (i) a certified building official; 
  1.25     (ii) a fire service representative; 
  2.1      (iii) a licensed architect; 
  2.2      (iv) a licensed engineer; 
  2.3      (v) a building owners and managers representative; 
  2.4      (vi) a licensed residential building contractor; 
  2.5      (vii) a commercial building contractor; 
  2.6      (viii) a heating and ventilation contractor; 
  2.7      (ix) a plumbing contractor; 
  2.8      (x) a representative of the construction and building 
  2.9   trades; and 
  2.10     (xi) a local unit of government representative. 
  2.11     (b) For members who are not state officials or employees, 
  2.12  terms, compensation, removal, and the filling of vacancies are 
  2.13  governed by section 15.059.  The council shall select one of its 
  2.14  members to serve as chair. 
  2.15     (c) The council expires June 30, 2001. 
  2.16     Subd. 2.  [DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL.] The council shall review 
  2.17  laws, codes, rules, standards, and licensing requirements 
  2.18  relating to building construction and may: 
  2.19     (1) recommend ways to eliminate inconsistencies, to 
  2.20  streamline construction regulation and construction processes, 
  2.21  and to improve procedures within and among jurisdictions; 
  2.22     (2) review and comment on current and proposed laws and 
  2.23  rules to promote coordination and consistency; 
  2.24     (3) advise agencies on possible changes in rules to make 
  2.25  them easier to understand and apply; and 
  2.26     (4) promote the coordination, within each jurisdiction, of 
  2.27  the administration and enforcement of construction codes. 
  2.28     The council shall report its findings and recommendations 
  2.29  to the commissioner of administration and the head of any other 
  2.30  affected agency by the end of each calendar year.  The council 
  2.31  may recommend changes in laws or rules governing building 
  2.32  construction.  The council may establish subcommittees to 
  2.33  facilitate its work.  If the council establishes subcommittees, 
  2.34  it shall include in their memberships representation from 
  2.35  entities and organizations expressing an interest in 
  2.36  membership.  The commissioner of administration shall maintain a 
  3.1   list of interested entities and organizations.  
  3.2      Subd. 3.  [AGENCY COOPERATION.] State agencies and local 
  3.3   governmental units shall cooperate with the council and, so far 
  3.4   as possible, provide information or assistance to it upon its 
  3.5   request.  The commissioner of administration shall provide 
  3.6   necessary staff and administrative support to the council. 
  3.7      Sec. 2.  [RULE EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  3.8      Rules adopted after February 28, 1998, under Minnesota 
  3.9   Statutes, section 16B.165 or 216C.19, subdivision 8, may not 
  3.10  take effect before March 1, 1999. 
  3.11     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  3.12     Section 1 is effective January 2, 1999.