1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; creating a sustainable growth working group; 
1.3 	appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. SUSTAINABLE GROWTH WORKING GROUP.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Creation. The sustainable growth working group consists of the 
1.7 	following members:
1.8 	(1) two senators, including one member appointed by the majority leader and one 
1.9 	member appointed by the minority leader;
1.10 	(2) two members of the house of representatives, including one member appointed 
1.11 	by the speaker of the house and one member appointed by the minority leader;
1.12 	(3) commissioners of the following agencies, or their designees: Department of 
1.13 	Natural Resources, Department of Administration, Department of Agriculture, Department 
1.14 	of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Department of Employment and Economic 
1.15 	Development, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, and the Minnesota Pollution Control 
1.16 	Agency; and the chair of the Metropolitan Council or the chair's designee;
1.17 	(4) up to 12 public members who have an interest in promoting sustainable 
1.18 	communities in Minnesota, including up to six public members appointed by the speaker 
1.19 	of the house of representatives and up to six public members appointed by the majority 
1.20 	leader of the senate. The appointing authorities must use their best efforts to include at 
1.21 	least one representative from each of the following sectors: business, environmental, 
1.22 	energy, affordable housing, transportation, local government, planning, and philanthropic.
1.23 	The membership of the working group must include balanced representation from 
1.24 	rural, urban, and suburban areas of the state.
2.1 		Subd. 2.Duties. The working group must identify strategies, recommendations, and 
2.2 	a process for implementing state-level coordination of state and local policies, programs, 
2.3 	and regulations in the areas of housing, transportation, natural resource preservation, 
2.4 	capital development, economic development, sustainability, and preservation of the 
2.5 	environment. The working group must identify sustainable development principles that 
2.6 	will address metropolitan growth concerns to guide decision making in Minnesota. The 
2.7 	working group must gather information and develop strategies relative to the strategic use 
2.8 	of state resources, to be consistent with statewide goals of sustainable development. The 
2.9 	working group must report proposed strategies, recommendations, and draft legislation to 
2.10 	the legislative committees with jurisdiction over state and local government operations 
2.11 	and the governor by February 1, 2008. In its report to the legislature and the governor, the 
2.12 	working group must identify its source of funding.
2.13 		Subd. 3.Administrative provisions. (a) The commissioner of administration 
2.14 	or the commissioner's designee must convene the initial meeting. Upon request of the 
2.15 	working group, the commissioner must provide meeting space and administrative services 
2.16 	for the group. The Office of Geographic and Demographic Analysis must provide staff 
2.17 	support for the working group. The members of the working group must elect a chair from 
2.18 	their membership at the initial meeting.
2.19 	(b) Members of the working group serve without compensation.
2.20 	(c) The working group expires June 30, 2008.
2.21 	(d) The working group may accept gifts and grants, which are accepted on behalf 
2.22 	of the state and constitute donations to the state. Funds received are appropriated to the 
2.23 	commissioner of administration for purposes of the working group.
2.24 		Subd. 4.Deadline for appointments and designations. The appointments and 
2.25 	designations authorized by this section must be completed by August 1, 2007.