1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to state government; authorizing 
  1.3             decentralization of state government; proposing coding 
  1.4             for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 15. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [15.455] [DECENTRALIZATION OF STATE 
  1.7   GOVERNMENT.] 
  1.8      Each state agency shall encourage telecommuting.  Agencies 
  1.9   may: 
  1.10     (1) determine which positions are suitable for 
  1.11  telecommuting and adjust positions as necessary to accommodate 
  1.12  telecommuting; 
  1.13     (2) create incentives for employees to telecommute; and 
  1.14     (3) set goals for achieving a specified minimum percentage 
  1.15  of positions that can be filled fully or partially by 
  1.16  telecommuting employees.  
  1.17     By July 1 of each year, each agency shall report on its 
  1.18  progress in achieving the goals in clauses (1) to (3) to the 
  1.19  fiscal and policy committees with jurisdiction over governmental 
  1.20  operations in the senate and house of representatives. 
  1.21     This section is repealed June 30, 2005. 
  1.22     Sec. 2.  [RELOCATION OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PRINCIPAL 
  1.23  OFFICES.] 
  1.24     The commissioner of administration, in consultation with 
  1.25  the commissioner of agriculture, shall develop comprehensive 
  2.1   plans and timelines for relocation of the principal offices of 
  2.2   the department of agriculture to a location within Minnesota, 
  2.3   outside the metropolitan counties listed in Minnesota Statutes, 
  2.4   section 473.121, subdivision 4.  The relocation must be 
  2.5   completed no later than June 30, 2003, the date on which the 
  2.6   current lease on the department headquarters at 90 West Plato 
  2.7   Boulevard, Saint Paul, Minnesota expires.