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 regarding the best methods for 
1.8 	funding airports in the state and the state airports fund. The task force shall study:
1.9 	(1) the adequacy of current sources of revenue for the state airports fund and airports 
1.10 	in the state;
1.11 	(2) policy considerations regarding the use of the sales tax on aircraft as a potential 
1.12 	source of revenue for airports;
1.13 	(3) how other states fund airports;
1.14 	(4) projected aviation needs of the future, including required investments in aviation 
1.15 	infrastructure;
1.16 	(5) aircraft registration taxes; and
1.17 	(6) other issues relating to the funding of airports as determined by the task force.
1.18 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The task force is comprised of the following members:
1.19 	(1) three members of the senate, including at least one member from the minority 
1.20 	party, appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and 
1.21 	Administration of the senate; and
1.22 	(2) three members of the house of representatives, two appointed by the speaker of 
1.23 	the house and one appointed by the minority leader.
2.1 	The appointing authorities must select members based on knowledge and experience in 
2.2 	aviation funding issues. All appointments required by this paragraph must be completed 
2.3 	by September 1, 2007.
2.4 	(b) The chair of the task force may appoint additional nonvoting members to the task 
2.5 	force, including, but not limited to, representatives of the following organizations:
2.6 	(1) the Department of Transportation Aeronautics Office;
2.7 	(2) the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association;
2.8 	(3) the Experimental Aircraft Association/ACAA;
2.9 	(4) the Metropolitan Airports Commission;
2.10 	(5) the Minnesota Aviation Trades Association;
2.11 	(6) the Minnesota Business Aviation Association;
2.12 	(7) the Minnesota Council of Airports;
2.13 	(8) the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association;
2.14 	(9) the National Business Aviation Association; and
2.15 	(10) the Minnesota Wing, Civil Air Patrol.
2.16 	(c) The director of the aeronautics office in the Department of Transportation shall 
2.17 	convene the first meeting of the task force within two weeks after the legislative members 
2.18 	have been appointed to the task force. The members shall elect a chairperson from their 
2.19 	membership at the first meeting.
2.20 		Subd. 3.Report. By February 15, 2008, the task force shall report its 
2.21 	recommendations to the chairs of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over airports 
2.22 	and aviation issues and to the legislature as required by Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195. 
2.23 		Subd. 4.Expenses. Per diem and expenses for nonvoting members of the task force 
2.24 	are as provided for under Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059.
2.25 		Subd. 5.Expiration. This section expires after the submission of the report as 
2.26 	required under subdivision 3.

2.27 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.28 	$200,000 is appropriated from the state airports fund in fiscal year 2008 to the 
2.29 	Legislative Coordinating Commission for the administrative expenses of the task force 
2.30 	created in section 1 and for other costs relating to the preparation of the report required 
2.31 	under section 1, including the costs of hiring a consultant, if needed. Any remaining 
2.32 	amount of this appropriation shall revert to the state airports fund.

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