1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to airports; creating an advisory task force to study airport funding issues 
1.3 	and the state airports fund; requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. AIRPORT FUNDING ADVISORY TASK FORCE.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Task force established. An advisory task force on airport funding 
1.7 	issues is established to study and make recommendations on what, if any, changes should 
1.8 	be made to the funding methods currently in place for airports in the state and for the state 
1.9 	airports fund. The task force shall study:
1.10 	(1) the adequacy of current sources of revenue for the state airports fund and airports 
1.11 	in the state;
1.12 	(2) the possibility of directing proceeds from the sales tax on aircraft as an additional 
1.13 	source of revenue for airports;
1.14 	(3) how other states fund airports;
1.15 	(4) projected aviation needs of the future, including required investments in aviation 
1.16 	infrastructure;
1.17 	(5) aircraft registration taxes; and
1.18 	(6) other issues relating to the funding of airports as determined by the task force.
1.19 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The task force is comprised of the following members:
1.20 	(1) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one 
1.21 	appointed by the minority leader;
1.22 	(2) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of 
1.23 	the house and one appointed by the minority leader; and
2.1 	(3) one legislator appointed jointly by the chair of the senate Transportation 
2.2 	Committee and the chair of the house Transportation Finance Division of the Finance 
2.3 	Committee to serve as chair of the task force, selected based on knowledge and experience 
2.4 	in aviation funding issues.
2.5 	(b) The chair of the task force may appoint additional members to the task force, 
2.6 	including, but not limited to, representatives of the following organizations:
2.7 	(1) the Department of Transportation Aeronautics Office;
2.8 	(2) the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association;
2.9 	(3) the Experimental Aircraft Association/ACAA;
2.10 	(4) the Metropolitan Airports Commission;
2.11 	(5) the Minnesota Aviation Trades Association;
2.12 	(6) the Minnesota Business Aviation Association;
2.13 	(7) the Minnesota Council of Airports;
2.14 	(8) the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association; and
2.15 	(9) the National Business Aviation Association.
2.16 		Subd. 3.Report by February 2008. The task force shall report its recommendations 
2.17 	to the chairs and members of the house of representatives and senate committees with 
2.18 	jurisdiction over airports and aviation issues by February 15, 2008. The task force shall 
2.19 	also provide a copy of its recommendations to the Legislative Reference Library.

2.20 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.21 	$200,000 is appropriated from the state airports fund in fiscal year 2008 to the 
2.22 	Legislative Coordinating Commission for the administrative expenses of the task force 
2.23 	created in section 1 and other costs relating to the preparation of the report required under 
2.24 	section 1, including the costs of hiring a consultant, if needed. Any remaining amount of 
2.25 	this appropriation shall revert to the state airports fund.

2.26 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.27 	Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final enactment.