1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the legislature; requiring each house to 
  1.3             establish a regular time for the governor and heads of 
  1.4             state agencies to answer questions put by its members; 
  1.5             proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.6             chapter 3D. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [3D.01] [QUESTION TIME.] 
  1.9      Each house shall provide by rule for a regular time during 
  1.10  each of its sessions for the governor and the heads of state 
  1.11  agencies to answer questions put to them by its members.  The 
  1.12  time must be at least one-half hour each week during a regular 
  1.13  session.  A question must relate only to a subject for which the 
  1.14  person questioned is officially responsible.  A question must be 
  1.15  presented in writing to the secretary of the senate or the chief 
  1.16  clerk of the house, respectively, no more than 14 days and no 
  1.17  less than three days before the day it is to be answered.  If 
  1.18  the question is proper in form and content, the secretary of the 
  1.19  senate or chief clerk of the house, respectively, shall promptly 
  1.20  deliver it to the official questioned.  If the member requests 
  1.21  an oral answer to the question, the official questioned must 
  1.22  personally appear before the house at the appointed time and 
  1.23  deliver the oral answer.  At that time, the questioner may pose 
  1.24  supplementary oral questions and the official must answer them, 
  1.25  as permitted and directed by the presiding officer of the 
  1.26  house.  If the member requests a written answer, the written 
  2.1   answer must be submitted to the house no later than the 
  2.2   appointed time and the answer printed in the journal for that 
  2.3   day.  Each house may provide by rule for private notice 
  2.4   questions on conditions it may prescribe. 
  2.5      Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.6      This act is effective January 3, 2001.