1.1A bill for an act1.2relating to Minnesota heritage; adopting a state anthem; establishing a Minnesota 1.3State Song Commission;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 1.4chapter 1.1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:1.6    Section 1. [1.1499] STATE ANTHEM.1.7    "Hail Minnesota," adopted by the legislature as the state song in 1945, is adopted 1.8as the official anthem of the state of Minnesota, provided that the lyrics of the anthem 1.9adopted by the legislature are gender neutral.1.10    Sec. 2. MINNESOTA STATE SONG COMMISSION.1.11    (a) The legislature finds and declares that it is in the interest of the state of Minnesota 1.12to adopt an official and unique state song. 1.13    (b) A Minnesota State Song Commission is established to recommend an official 1.14state song for adoption by the legislature. The commission shall consist of nine members. 1.15Four members must be appointed by the president of the Minnesota Music Educators 1.16Association in consultation with that organization's board of directors; four members must 1.17be appointed by the executive director of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission 1.18in consultation with Sesquicentennial Commission members; and one member must be 1.19appointed by the governor. Members of the commission must be appointed and the 1.20commission must convene its first meeting within 30 days of enactment of this section. 1.21Members of the commission serve without compensation.1.22    (c) The commission shall solicit musical compositions from the public.2.1    (d) The commission must recommend a new state song to the chairs of the standing 2.2committees of the house of representatives and senate having jurisdiction over state 2.3governmental operations by December 31, 2008.2.4    (e) The state Humanities Commission shall provide meeting space and administrative 2.5support to the Minnesota State Song Commission.2.6    (f) The Minnesota State Song Commission expires January 1, 2009.2.7EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.