1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to local government; exempting certain 
  1.3             building projects from the requirement to employ an 
  1.4             architect; providing for a study, a report to the 
  1.5             legislature, and an educational program by the board 
  1.6             of architects, engineers, surveyors, landscape 
  1.7             architects, geoscientists, and interior designers 
  1.8             relating to the design and construction of local 
  1.9             government buildings; amending Minnesota Statutes 
  1.10            2000, section 326.03, by adding a subdivision. 
  1.11  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.12     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 326.03, is 
  1.13  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.14     Subd. 2a.  [LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS UNDER 
  1.15  $50,000.] Sections 326.02 to 326.15 do not prevent a person 
  1.16  other than an architect from planning, designing, or supervising 
  1.17  the construction of a noninstitutional or nonassembly building, 
  1.18  estimated to cost less than $50,000, to be owned by a county, 
  1.19  city, town, or school district if the building plans and 
  1.20  structure meet all the requirements of the Minnesota State 
  1.21  Building Code and Fire Code. 
  1.22     Sec. 2.  [STUDY.] 
  1.23     The board of architects, engineers, surveyors, landscape 
  1.24  architects, geoscientists, and interior designers, in 
  1.25  conjunction with various local government organizations such as 
  1.26  the Association of Minnesota Counties, the Minnesota Association 
  1.27  of Townships, the Association of Small Cities, and the League of 
  1.28  Minnesota Cities, shall undertake a study and analysis of 
  2.1   buildings and structures constructed by local governmental units 
  2.2   involving projects with a cost of up to $150,000 to identify 
  2.3   buildings which can be constructed without the use of an 
  2.4   architect or engineer licensed under Minnesota Statutes, 
  2.5   sections 326.01 to 326.15, without endangering the public 
  2.6   health, safety, and welfare.  The study shall also consider 
  2.7   buildings allowed under the exemption created under section 
  2.8   326.03, subdivision 2a.  The study shall be completed not later 
  2.9   than January 15, 2002, and the board must report to the 
  2.10  appropriate standing committees of the legislature by February 
  2.11  1, 2002.  
  2.12     Sec. 3.  [EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.] 
  2.13     The board of architects, engineers, surveyors, landscape 
  2.14  architects, geoscientists, and interior designers shall develop 
  2.15  and implement a program to educate local units of government on 
  2.16  the requirements for using architects and engineers with respect 
  2.17  to the construction of public buildings and structures, 
  2.18  including exempt buildings, not later than January 1, 2002.  
  2.19     Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.20     Sections 2 and 3 are effective the day following final 
  2.21  enactment.