<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>participate in joint powers agreements;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>section 471.59, subdivision 1.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 471.59, subdivision 1, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>Agreement.</b> Two or more governmental units, by agreement entered <br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>into through action of their governing bodies, may jointly or cooperatively exercise any <br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>power common to the contracting parties or any similar powers, including those which <br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>are the same except for the territorial limits within which they may be exercised. The <br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>agreement may provide for the exercise of such powers by one or more of the participating <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>governmental units on behalf of the other participating units. The term "governmental <br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>unit" as used in this section includes every city, county, town, school district, independent <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>nonprofit firefighting corporation, other political subdivision of this or another state, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>another state, federally recognized Indian tribe, the University of Minnesota, the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>Minnesota Historical Society, nonprofit hospitals licensed under sections 
         <statute_ref>144.50</statute_ref> to 
         <statute_ref>144.56</statute_ref>, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>rehabilitation facilities and extended employment providers that are certified by the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>commissioner of employment and economic development, day training and habilitation <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>services licensed under sections 
         <statute_ref>245B.01</statute_ref> to 
         <statute_ref>245B.08</statute_ref>, and any agency of the state of <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>Minnesota or the United States, and includes any instrumentality of a governmental unit. <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>For the purpose of this section, an instrumentality of a governmental unit means an <br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>instrumentality having independent policy-making and appropriating authority.<br/>