1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to landlords and tenants; extending the 
  1.3             housing calendar consolidation program to districts 
  1.4             outside of the second and fourth judicial districts; 
  1.5             amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 484.013, 
  1.6             subdivisions 1 and 2. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 484.013, 
  1.9   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] (a) A program is 
  1.11  established in the second and fourth judicial districts to 
  1.12  consolidate the hearing and determination of matters related to 
  1.13  residential rental housing and to ensure continuity and 
  1.14  consistency in the disposition of cases. 
  1.15     (b) Outside the second and fourth judicial districts, a 
  1.16  district court may establish the program described in paragraph 
  1.17  (a) in counties that it specifies in the district. 
  1.18     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 484.013, 
  1.19  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.20     Subd. 2.  [JURISDICTION.] The housing calendar program may 
  1.21  consolidate the hearing and determination of all proceedings 
  1.22  under chapters 504 and 566; criminal and civil proceedings 
  1.23  related to violations of any state, county or city health, 
  1.24  safety, housing, building, fire prevention or housing 
  1.25  maintenance code; escrow of rent proceedings; landlord-tenant 
  1.26  damage actions; and actions for rent and rent abatement.  A 
  2.1   proceeding under sections 566.01 to 566.17 may not be delayed 
  2.2   because of the consolidation of matters under the housing 
  2.3   calendar program.  
  2.4      The program must provide for the consolidation of 
  2.5   landlord-tenant damage actions and actions for rent at the 
  2.6   request of either party.