1.1A bill for an act1.2relating to public utilities; requiring disclosure of public utility's travel, 1.3entertainment, and related expenses included in rate change request;amending 1.4Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 216B.16, by adding a subdivision.1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:1.6    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 216B.16, is amended by adding a 1.7subdivision to read:1.8    Subd. 17.Travel, entertainment, and related employee expenses.(a) The 1.9commission may not allow as operating expenses a public utility's travel, entertainment, 1.10and related employee expenses that the commission deems unreasonable and unnecessary 1.11for the provision of utility service. In order to assist the commission in evaluating the 1.12travel, entertainment, and related employee expenses that may be allowed for ratemaking 1.13purposes, a public utility filing a general rate case petition shall include a schedule 1.14separately itemizing all travel, entertainment, and related employee expenses as specified 1.15by the commission, including but not limited to the following categories:1.16(1) travel and lodging expenses;1.17(2) food and beverage expenses;1.18(3) recreational and entertainment expenses;1.19(4) board of director-related expenses, including and separately itemizing all 1.20compensation and expense reimbursements;1.21(5) expenses for the ten highest paid officers and employees, including and 1.22separately itemizing all compensation and expense reimbursements;1.23(6) dues and expenses for memberships in organizations or clubs;1.24(7) gift expenses;2.1(8) expenses related to owned, leased, or chartered aircraft; and2.2(9) lobbying expenses.2.3(b) To comply with the requirements of paragraph (a), each applicable expense 2.4incurred in the two most recent fiscal years must be itemized separately, and each 2.5itemization must include the date of the expense, the amount of the expense, the vendor 2.6name, and the business purpose of the expense. The petitioning utility shall also provide 2.7a one-page summary of the total amounts for each expense category included in the 2.8petitioning utility's proposed test year.2.9(c) All travel, entertainment, and related employee expenses provided by a public 2.10utility for ratemaking purposes as set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) are to be construed as 2.11public data that does not meet the definition of nonpublic data or trade secret information 2.12under section 13.37, nor is it privileged data under rules of privilege recognized by law.