<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>before making an appointment to fill a vacancy on a county board or city council; <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>changing the time period in which an appointment may be made;amending <br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 375.101, by adding a subdivision; 412.02, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>subdivision 2a, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>section 375.101, subdivision 4.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 375.101, subdivision 4, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>    Subd. 4. <b>Option for filling vacancies; appointment.</b> Except as provided in <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>subdivision 3, and as an alternative to the procedure provided in subdivisions 1 and 2, any <br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>other vacancy in the office of county commissioner may be filled by board appointment at <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>a regular or special meeting. The appointment shall be evidenced by a resolution entered <br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>in the minutes and shall continue until an election is held under this subdivision. All <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>elections to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired term. If the vacancy occurs before the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the next county general election and more than <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>two years remain in the unexpired term, a special election shall be held in conjunction <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>with the county general election. The appointed person shall serve until the qualification <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>of the successor elected to fill the unexpired part of the term at that special election. If <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>the vacancy occurs on or after the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the county <br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>general election, or when less than two years remain in the unexpired term, there shall be <br/>
<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>no special election to fill the vacancy and the appointed person shall serve the remainder <br/>
<a id="pl.1.24"></a><var>1.24</var>of the unexpired term and until a successor is elected and qualifies at the county general <br/>
<a id="pl.1.25"></a><var>1.25</var>election. If more than one year remains until the next county general election, a special <br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>election must be held under subdivision 1. If from one year to 90 days remains until the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>next county general election, the board may appoint a person to fill the vacancy until a <br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>qualified successor is elected at the next county general election. If less than 90 days <br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>remain until the next general election no appointment shall be made and the vacancy <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>must be filled at the next general election.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 375.101, is amended by adding a subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>    Subd. 5. <b>County boards.</b> Before making an appointment to fill a vacancy under <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>subdivision 4, the county board must hold a public hearing not more than 30 days after <br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>the vacancy occurs with public notice given in the same manner as for a special meeting <br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>of the county board. At the public hearing the board must receive public testimony from <br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>persons residing in the district in which the vacancy occurs relating to the qualifications <br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>of prospective appointees to fill the vacancy. Before making an appointment, the board <br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>also must notify public officials in the affected district on the appointment, including town <br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>board and city council members, and must enter into the record at the board meeting in <br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>which the appointment is made the names and addresses of the public officials notified. If <br/>
<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>after the public hearing, the board is unable or decides not to make an appointment under <br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>subdivision 4, it must hold a special election under subdivision 1, but the time period in <br/>
<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>which the election must be held begins to run from the date of the public hearing.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.3.0"></a><a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 412.02, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>    Subd. 2a. <b>Vacancy.</b> Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 2b, a vacancy in an <br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>office shall be filled by council appointment until an election is held as provided in this <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>subdivision. In case of a tie vote in the council, the mayor shall make the appointment. If <br/>
<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>the vacancy occurs before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the next regular <br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>city election and more than two years remain in the unexpired term, a special election shall <br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>be held at or before the next regular city election and the appointed person shall serve until <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>the qualification of a successor elected at a special election to fill the unexpired portion <br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>of the term. If the vacancy occurs on or after the first day to file affidavits of candidacy <br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>for the regular city election or when less than two years remain in the unexpired term, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>there need not be a special election to fill the vacancy and the appointed person shall <br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>serve until the qualification of a successor If more than one year remains until the next <br/>
<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>regular city election, a special election must be held within 90 days of the vacancy to <br/>
<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>fill the vacant position. If from one year to 90 days remains until the next city general <br/>
<a id="pl.2.34"></a><var>2.34</var>election, the council may appoint a person to fill the vacant position until a successor is <br/>
<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>qualified at the next city general election. If less than 90 days remain until the next general <br/>
<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>election no appointment shall be made and the vacancy must be filled at the next general <br/>
<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>election. The council must specify by ordinance under what circumstances it will hold <br/>
<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>a special election to fill a vacancy other than a special election held at the same time as <br/>
<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>the regular city election.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.4.0"></a><a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 412.02, is amended by adding a subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>    Subd. 2c. <b>City council.</b> Before making an appointment to fill a vacancy under <br/>
<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>subdivision 2a, the city council must hold a public hearing not more than 30 days after the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var>vacancy occurs with public notice given in the same manner as for a special meeting of <br/>
<a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>the city council. At the public hearing the council must receive public testimony from city <br/>
<a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var>residents relating to the qualifications of prospective appointees to fill the vacancy. Before <br/>
<a id="pl.3.13"></a><var>3.13</var>making an appointment, the council also must notify the county auditor. If after the public <br/>
<a id="pl.3.14"></a><var>3.14</var>hearing, the council is unable or decides not to make an appointment under subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.3.15"></a><var>3.15</var>2a, it must hold a special election, but the time period in which the election must be held <br/>
<a id="pl.3.16"></a><var>3.16</var>begins to run from the date of the public hearing.<br/>