1.1A bill for an act1.2relating to airports; creating an advisory task force to study airport funding issues 1.3and the state airports fund; authorizing agreement relating to Willmar airport; 1.4requiring a report; appropriating money.1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:1.6    Section 1. AIRPORT FUNDING ADVISORY TASK FORCE.1.7    Subdivision 1.Task force established.An advisory task force on airport funding 1.8issues is established to study and make recommendations regarding the best methods for 1.9funding airports in the state and the state airports fund. The task force shall study:1.10    (1) the adequacy of current sources of revenue for the state airports fund and airports 1.11in the state;1.12    (2) policy considerations regarding the use of the sales tax on aircraft as a potential 1.13source 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 1.16infrastructure;1.17    (5) aircraft registration taxes; and1.18    (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 tax committee, appointed by the chair of the tax 1.21committee; and1.22    (2) two members of the house of representatives tax committee, appointed by the 1.23chair of the tax committee.2.1The appointing authorities must select members based on knowledge and experience 2.2in taxes or aviation funding issues. All appointments required by this paragraph must 2.3be completed by September 1, 2007. The chair of the task force shall be elected by 2.4the members appointed by the chairs of the house of representatives and senate tax 2.5committees at the first meeting of the task force.2.6    (b) The chair of the task force may appoint additional nonvoting members to the 2.7task force, including, but not limited to, representatives of the following organizations 2.8or entities:2.9    (1) a person appointed by the commissioner from the Department of Transportation 2.10Office of Aeronautics;2.11    (2) the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association;2.12    (3) the Experimental Aircraft Association/ACAA;2.13    (4) the Metropolitan Airports Commission;2.14    (5) the Minnesota Aviation Trades Association;2.15    (6) the Minnesota Business Aviation Association;2.16    (7) the Minnesota Council of Airports;2.17    (8) the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association; 2.18    (9) the National Business Aviation Association; and2.19    (10) municipalities that own or operate airports.2.20    (c) The director of the Office of Aeronautics in the Department of Transportation 2.21shall convene the first meeting of the task force.2.22    Subd. 3.Report.By February 15, 2008, the task force shall report its 2.23recommendations to the chairs of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over airports 2.24and aviation issues and to the legislature as required by Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195. 2.25    Subd. 4.Expenses.Per diem and expenses for legislative members of the task force 2.26are as provided for under Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059. Other members of the task 2.27force may not receive per diem or expenses.2.28    Subd. 5.Expiration.This section expires after the submission of the report as 2.29required under subdivision 3.2.30    Sec. 2. WILLMAR AIRPORT.2.31    (a) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or agreement to the contrary, the commissioner 2.32of transportation may enter into an agreement with the city of Willmar to allow funds 2.33granted by the state for land acquisition purposes at the city's former airport to instead 3.1be used by June 30, 2012, as the state's share of funds for eligible aeronautical purposes 3.2at the city's new airport.3.3    (b) Funds not spent pursuant to paragraph (a) by June 30, 2012, must be paid to the 3.4commissioner of transportation and deposited in the state airports fund.3.5    Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION.3.6    $200,000 is appropriated from the state airports fund in fiscal year 2008 to the 3.7Legislative Coordinating Commission for the administrative expenses of the task force 3.8created in section 1 and for other costs relating to the preparation of the report required 3.9under section 1, including the costs of hiring a consultant, if needed. Any remaining 3.10amount of this appropriation shall revert to the state airports fund.3.11    Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.3.12    Sections 1 and 3 are effective the day following final enactment.